Podcast or Perish
Podcast or Perish is a show about academic research and why it matters. In each episode, host Cameron Graham, a professor of accounting at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto, speaks with a fellow academic about how they approach their research, the obstacles they run into, and the impact of their findings. The conversations give listeners an inside look at the realities of scholarly work and the difference it can make beyond the university.
Episodes
Episode 057: Matthias Kipping
What importance does history hold for management researchers and business leaders? In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Matthias Kipping, the Richard E. Waugh Chair in Business History at the Schulich School of Business. Matthias is a business historian. Our discussion centres on his important 2014 paper that distinguishes between two approaches to historical research: "history to th
Episode 056: Grant Packard
What difference does it make whether you say “I” or “you”?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Grant Packard, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. He talks about his research on the way saying “I” or “you” when talking to customers changes how they feel about the interaction. Do they feel acknowledged and heard, or did you make it all about you? Do the
Episode 055: Erin Twyford
What does it mean to be a critical scholar in an academy obsessed with metrics?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Erin Twyford, Senior Lecture in Accounting at the University of Wollongong. She describes her experience of a recent academic conference as a "fever dream." She sees her academic role as profoundly relational - to her family, to her colleagues, to her students, a
Episode 054: Adam Diamant
Who should get the next MRI scan?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Adam Diamant of the Schulich School of Business, York University, who studies waiting lists using complex models and artificial intelligence. We discuss the ethics of waiting lists for scarce resources, such as MRI scans and life-saving surgeries. Adam says we can improve on the “first come, first served” model
Episode 053: Moshe Milevsky
How can we make our money last as long as we do?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Moshe Milevsky of the Schulich School of Business, York University, a leading expert on pensions and financial planning. We discuss “longevity risk,” which is all about what happens if you outlive your retirement savings. We look at the origins of pensions in the Church of Scotland, the psycholo
Episode 052: Eileen Fischer
What drives people to start businesses that matter?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Eileen Fischer, the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the Schulich School of Business, York University. She studies the cultural and emotional dimensions of entrepreneurship, exploring how meaning and identity motivate business creation beyond profit.
Episode 051: Ela Veresiu
How do brands shape who we think we are?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk once again with Dr. Ela Veresiu, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her research in consumer culture theory examines how markets reproduce social inequality through everyday consumption. We discuss gender, class, and the hidden power of marketing in defining citiz
Episode 050: Maxim Voronov
What makes one product seem more authentic than another?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Maxim Voronov, Professor of Sustainability and Organization Studies at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Drawing on his paper “Distilling Authenticity: Materiality and Narratives in Canadian Distilleries’ Authenticity Work,” we discuss how industries craft credibility thr
Episode 049: Giri Kanagaretnam
Do the beliefs of people who live near a company’s head office affect the company’s actions on climate change?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Giri Kanagaretnam, Ron Binns Chair in Financial Reporting, Banking, and Governance at the Schulich School of Business, York University. We explore his work on whether local beliefs about climate change are related to corporate tax beh
Episode 048: Olaf Weber
Can climate change reshape how banks see risk?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Olaf Weber, CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance at the Schulich School of Business, York University. His research connects environmental risk to financial stability. We discuss how credit ratings, lending policies, and investor decisions are being transformed by the realities of a warming planet—and
Episode 047: Irene Henriques
How can business help rebuild relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Irene Henriques, of the Schulich School of Business, York University. A sustainability economist, her collaborative research examines Indigenous entrepreneurship and the economics of reconciliation. We discuss how communities and corporations can co-crea
Episode 046: Winny Shen
What makes a workplace truly inclusive—and not just diverse?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Winny Shen, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at York University’s Schulich School of Business. Her research on bad bosses explores the nuances of leadership, mental health, and diversity in organizations. We discuss how identity, empathy, and systemic change can help bui
Episode 045: Alison Halsall
How do pictures and words help children imagine the world anew?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Alison Halsall, Associate Professor of Humanities at York University. She researches children’s literature, comics, and graphic novels, tracing how visual storytelling shapes childhood imagination and social awareness. We explore the artistry of the illustrated page and its power to
Episode 044: Susan Dieleman
Can democracy survive in the age of algorithms?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Susan Dieleman, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at the University of Lethbridge. She studies democratic theory and the ethics of online discourse, examining how social media and digital platforms affect deliberation and civic trust. We discuss what philosophers can teach us abou
Episode 043: Emily Rosenman
Can finance ever serve the public good?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Emily Rosenman, Assistant Professor of Geography at Penn State University. Her research investigates how financial systems shape inequality and urban life—from disaster recovery to affordable housing. We explore the politics of financialization and what justice-oriented economies might look like.***Full tr
Episode 042: Elizabeth Greene
How can ancient artifacts rewrite women into history?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Elizabeth Greene, Associate Professor of Classical Studies at Western University. Her archaeological research at Roman military sites uncovers the overlooked roles of women and families on imperial frontiers. We discuss how small finds—sandals, jewelry, writing tablets—reveal the hidden textu
Episode 041: Markus Giesler
Do our shopping habits reflect our values or do our values reflect our shopping habits?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Markus Giesler, Professor of Marketing at York University’s Schulich School of Business. A cultural sociologist of markets, he studies how moral ideas—like sustainability and fairness—get built into consumer culture. We explore why consumption is a site of
Episode 040: Françoise Baylis
Does gene editing change what it means to be human?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Françoise Baylis, University Research Professor Emerita at Dalhousie University and a leading voice in bioethics. We discuss her work on reproductive technologies and genome editing, the global ethics of CRISPR, and why public engagement must shape how science rewrites the human future.***Ful
Episode 039: Josh Thienpont
What can the mud at the bottom of an Arctic lake tell us about the planet’s future?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Josh Thienpont, a paleolimnologist from York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. By analyzing ancient sediments, he reconstructs the history of northern freshwater ecosystems to trace the accelerating impacts of climate change. We discuss fiel
Episode 038: Alison Harvey
Who gets to feel at home online?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Alison Harvey, Associate Professor of Communications at York University. Her research examines gender, race, and labor in digital gaming and online communities. We discuss how inclusion efforts sometimes reproduce exclusion, and how critical media scholarship can make digital spaces more equitable.***Full transcr
Episode 037: Ozzy Mermut
Can beams of light save sight?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Ozzy Mermut of York University’s Centre for Vision Research. Her pioneering work in biophotonics uses lasers and optical imaging to study and treat age-related eye diseases. We explore how light reveals the structure of the retina, how multidisciplinary science drives discovery, and why she calls the eye “the windo
Episode 036: Dayna Scott
Who bears the cost of Canada’s green transition?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Dayna Scott, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Law and Justice at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. She examines how Canada’s push for critical minerals and renewable energy development intersects with Indigenous rights and environmental governance. We discuss what a just transitio
Episode 035: Andrea O’Reilly
How has feminist theory transformed our understanding of motherhood?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Andrea O’Reilly of York University. She studies motherhood. We explore how decades of feminist scholarship have challenged cultural myths about mothers, caregiving, and equality—and how storytelling itself becomes a form of resistance.***Full transcript, photos, and related r
Episode 034: Sarah Barrett
How did teachers balance care, conviction, and exhaustion during the pandemic?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Sarah Barrett, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, York University. We discuss her research on how educators’ personal beliefs and values shaped their response to online learning, and how empathy and integrity guided classrooms through crisis.***Full tran
Episode 033: Patrick Alcedo
Can a camera capture the soul of a dancer?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Patrick Alcedo, Chair of Dance at York University and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Drawing on his fieldwork in the Philippines, he shows how movement, ritual, and film come together to tell stories of faith, resilience, and community—and how scholarship itself can move between art and advocac
Episode 032: Johnny Rungtusanatham
How do everyday products make their way to store shelves—and what happens when that journey breaks down?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Johnny Rungtusanatham, Canada Research Chair in Supply Chain Management at York University. We discuss how climate disasters, pandemics, and policy decisions ripple through supply networks, what the B.C. floods reveal about Canada’s economi
Episode 031: Leeat Granek
How do doctors cope with the emotions of life-and-death decisions?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Leeat Granek of the School of Health Policy and Management, York University. Her research brings psychology and medicine together to explore how grief, empathy, and moral distress shape clinical judgment—and how acknowledging emotion can make healthcare more humane.***Full transc
Episode 030: Satinder Brar
How do we detect pollutants that hide at parts per trillion?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Satinder Brar, James and Joan Love Chair in Environmental Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University. She explains what “emerging contaminants” are, how her lab tracks them in wastewater, and how collaboration across science, engineering, and policy is essenti
Episode 029: Jeremy Kerr & Catherine Sirois-Delisle
What can bees and dragonflies tell us about a warming world?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Jeremy Kerr and doctoral candidate Catherine Sirois-Delisle from the University of Ottawa. Drawing on massive datasets and fieldwork, they show how climate change reshapes the ranges of pollinators and other species—and what those shifts mean for conservation, ecosystems, and humanit
Episode 028: Steven Bittle
When does corporate negligence become a crime?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Steven Bittle, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Ottawa. We explore how Canada’s for-profit long-term-care system left seniors vulnerable during COVID-19, and what his research on corporate crime reveals about accountability, policy failure, and justice in the face of mass harm
Episode 027: Public Scholars
What can we learn from early-career academics about how to communicate research results?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I interview three outstanding emerging scholars from Concordia University in Montreal. Dr. Bettina Forget works at the intersection of art and science, using image‑making to communicate science and encourage girls’ participation in STEM. Dr. Sylvie Ouellette is a chemist/bi
Episode 026: Gold Medallists
What can newly minted scholars tell us about academic research?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I interview three award-winning graduate degree recipients from York University in Toronto. Dr. Siobhan Angus is an art historian whose work explores how images shape our values, linking environmental harm and economic inequality. Dr. Athina Peidou is an earth and space scientist who builds gravity
Episode 025: Fatoumata Seck
How do comics and literature reshape how we think about African society and its global audiences?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Fatoumata Seck, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Stanford University. She studies African and diasporic literature, with special attention to Senegalese graphic comics and their intersections with journalism, translation, and
Episode 024: Lamia Balafrej
What can medieval art teach us about the politics of work and representation?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Lamia Balafrej, Associate Professor of Art History at UCLA. Her research focuses on image-making, materiality, and labor in premodern Islamic art. We explore how artistic practices reflected hierarchies of craft, race, and gender, and what those histories reveal about
Episode 023: James Smith
What can robots teach us about the human body and how to teach engineering?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. James Smith of the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University. A mechanical engineer and innovative educator, Dr. Smith designs robotic models of the human cervix and quadrupeds to study how biological systems move and adapt. We explore how biomimetic design chall
Episode 022: Uzo Anucha
How can research partnerships empower marginalized communities?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Uzo Anucha, Associate Professor of Social Work at York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group. Her work promotes community-engaged approaches to issues such as youth development, immigration, and housing. We explore her belie
Episode 021: Thy Phu
How do family photographs shape our understanding of identity and belonging?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Thy Phu of the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University in London, Ontario. Her research explores the social life of photographs, particularly how images of families, refugees, and diasporic communities convey care, trauma, and resilience. We di
Episode 020: Senator Kim Pate
How can research and advocacy change the justice system from within?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Senator Kim Pate, an independent senator for Ontario and longtime advocate for criminal justice reform. Drawing on decades of work with marginalized women, she reflects on systemic inequities in sentencing, incarceration, and rehabilitation. We discuss her transition from activist
Episode 019: Marcia Annisette
What can the history of accounting tell us about race and imperialism?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Marcia Annisette, Associate Dean of Students and Professor of Accounting at the Schulich School of Business, York University. A leading critical accounting scholar, she examines how the profession has been shaped by colonial histories and global institutions like the World
Episode 018: Bernie Pauly
What does it mean to make harm reduction a matter of social justice?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Bernie Pauly of the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria and scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. She discusses her community-based research on housing, substance use, and public health, and the importance of embedding harm reduction into
Episode 017: Lord Prem Sikka
Can accounting serve democracy instead of capital?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Lord Prem Sikka, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and a member of the UK House of Lords. A long-standing critic of corporate power, he exposes how accounting practices enable inequality, tax avoidance, and corruption. We explore his vision for socially responsible accounti
Episode 016: Ela Veresiu
How does marketing shape our moral understanding of consumption?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Ela Veresiu, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her research examines how consumers are taught to see themselves as moral actors responsible for solving global problems like poverty and climate change. We discuss her influential pa
Episode 015: Steve Gaetz
What would it take to end youth homelessness in Canada?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Stephen Gaetz, Director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Homeless Hub at York University. A leading advocate for housing first policies, he brings decades of experience connecting academic research with government and community practice. We discuss his efforts to build
Episode 014: Marie-Soleil Tremblay
Do women make better board members?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Marie-Soleil Tremblay of the École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP) in Québec. A specialist in corporate governance, she studies auditing and ethics in both the public and private sectors. We discuss her work on financial accountability, the gender composition of boards of directors, and what its l
Episode 013: Jen Gilbert
How can research challenge the ways schools talk about gender and sexuality?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Jen Gilbert, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University. A gender theorist and sex-education scholar, she leads the Beyond Bullying Project, working with students to understand how identity and power shape everyday school life. We explore her res
Episode 012: Jean-François Mercure & Hector Pollitt
How do assumptions about money and finance change what climate-economy models tell us about decarbonization?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Jean-François Mercure, Senior Lecturer in Global Systems at the University of Exeter, and Hector Pollitt, Head of Modelling at Cambridge Econometrics. We compare mainstream models used by environmental economists, explore how different as
Episode 011: Ellen Bialystok
How does speaking more than one language shape the mind?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Distinguished Research Professor Ellen Bialystok of York University. A psychologist, she studies how bilingualism influences cognitive development across the lifespan, from infancy to old age. We discuss her findings on attention and executive control, the policy implications of her work in a
Episode 010: Markus Milne
Can corporate sustainability reporting really address ecological collapse?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Prof. Markus Milne, a critical accounting scholar at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. His research explores how corporate social and environmental reporting reflects, and often masks, the impacts of consumer capitalism. A mountaineer and environmental advocate, P
Episode 009: Debra Pepler
What do children’s relationships teach us about aggression and kindness?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Distinguished Research Professor Debra Pepler of York University, a psychologist and leading authority on bullying and child development. Her pioneering work uses video recordings and observational research to study children’s real-time interactions. We discuss how social relat
Episode 008: Christine Cooper
How can accounting reveal—or obscure—power in society?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Christine Cooper of the University of Edinburgh Business School, a leading critical accounting scholar. Drawing on Marxist and feminist theory, she studies how accounting practices sustain capitalist hierarchies and gendered inequalities. We discuss her research on the social consequences
Episode 007: Lauren Sergio
How does the brain coordinate movement as we age — and what happens when it falters?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Prof. Lauren Sergio, a neuroscientist at York University’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science. Her research examines how the brain plans and executes complex movements, combining insights from sports science and neurology. We talk about her studies of athlete
Episode 006: Victoria Metcalf
How can marine biology inspire public engagement with science?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Victoria Metcalf, National Coordinator of the Participatory Science Platform for the Government of New Zealand. A marine biologist by training, Dr. Metcalf’s research explores how Antarctic fish and shellfish respond to environmental stressors such as rising temperatures and ocean ac
Episode 005: Dawn Bazely
How do plants in the Arctic tell us about climate, political power, and ecological security?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with University Professor Dawn Bazely of York University, a biologist whose work bridges ecology, policy, and advocacy. We discuss her research on plant–animal interactions, her engagement in Arctic political discourse, and her commitment to advancing women in ST
Episode 004: Kevin Milligan
How do public finance and tax policy shape everyday realities — for families, labour, and inequality?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Kevin Milligan of the University of British Columbia. His work spans universal childcare, parental leave, income distribution, and tax fairness. We examine how economic theory meets policy design, the communication challenges of economics, and
Episode 003: Michelle Larue
How can satellite imagery help us count penguins — and what does that reveal about ecosystems under stress?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Dr. Michelle LaRue, Lecturer in Ecology at the University of Canterbury. She uses high‐resolution satellite imagery to model populations of Emperor penguins and Weddell seals, and explores how computational tools and ecological theory interse
Episode 002: Heidi Matthews
How do international criminal trials shape our understanding of justice and human rights?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with York University’s Dr. Heidi Matthews, Assistant Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School. She is a scholar of international criminal law and political theory, and an outspoken social critic. We discuss her critical approach to the politics of international justice,
Episode 001: Celia Haig-Brown
How can documentary film bring Indigenous perspectives on education and reconciliation to a wider audience?In this first episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with York University’s Prof. Celia Haig-Brown, an ethnographer, filmmaker, and leading scholar of Indigenous education. We explore her documentary film on Indigenous schooling in Canada, her approach to combining research with filmmaking, and
Welcome to Podcast or Perish!
Welcome to Podcast or Perish, a podcast about academic research and why it matters.Hosted by Cameron Graham, Professor of Accounting at York University. In each episode, Cameron interviews a fellow academic about their research—how they actually do it, what they learn from it, and why it matters to them and to the rest of us.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorpe
