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Episodes

  • Episode 1

    "Hope Labour": The Reality of Sessional Academia

    Guest

    Jamie Paris

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    Academic careers have long been associated with stability, prestige, and a clear path from graduate school to tenure. But in today’s universities, an increasing number of scholars find themselves trapped in precarious, low-paid sessional contracts – far from the secure careers they once envisioned.
    In this episode of The Academic Issue, Dr. Jamie Paris joins Kate to discuss the systemic issues behind unstable employment in academia, drawing from his article The Exploitation Trap of Hope Labour. We explore the emotional and financial toll of “hope labour” and why universities continue to rely on precarious workers – but is real change possible?
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  • Episode 2

    AI and Academia

    Guest

    Mark Daley

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    Generative AI tools like Chat GPT have already sent shockwaves through the academic world, raising complex questions about academic integrity and the nature of learning. As AI and its applications continue to develop at a rapid pace, what will the technology mean for the future of higher education? In this inaugural episode, Kate speaks with Mark Daley, the first Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer appointed at a Canadian university.

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  • Episode 3

    Under Pressure: Mental Health and the Academic Life

    Guest

    Kim Hellemans

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    Almost two thirds of Canadian academics experience mental health issues during their career. What is behind this? Kate speaks with Kim Hellemans, a professor at Carleton University, to explore the multiple pressures faced by today’s professor, including the often complex student-supervisor relationship.

    What duty of pastoral care do faculty have for their students? Are some academics bearing more of the burden of student support than others? And what should faculty do to safeguard their wellbeing against the many strains of the academic life?

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  • Episode 4

    The Public Intellectual: A Conversation with Steven Pinker

    Guest

    Steven Pinker

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    Steven Pinker is a cognitive scientist and the author of nine books written for a general audience. Prolific in his writing and media appearances, he is among the most prominent public intellectuals to have emerged from Canada.

    But what impact does a lifetime communicating with the public have on an academic? How is writing for a general audience different to writing for an academic one? And what role should the public intellectual play in today’s information age?

    Kate speaks with Steven in his office at Harvard University.

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Kate Kenyon

Producer and Host

Kate Kenyon is a digital content creator with a passion for research and academia.

Originally from the U.K., Kate began her career at The British Academy in London, where she collaborated with the Home Office to develop international mobility pathways for world-leading academics. Following a move to Montreal, she deepened her knowledge of the Canadian university landscape as the producer and host of Mitacs’ inaugural podcast, The Edge.

Kate holds a degree in Modern Languages from University College London, and speaks English, French, and Italian.

Read our Q&A with Kate.