Shaping Our World

About Shaping Our World

You're a parent or maybe you work with young people in your job - but either way, you have a desire to inspire the young people in your life. Hi, my name is Chris Tompkins, a 20 plus years veteran of youth development. Both on the front lines and leading the youth development organization, Muskoka Woods. I'm also a dad. Shaping Our World is a podcast that invites you into a conversation that will leave you more confident in inspiring and understanding the young people in your life.

Publisher

Chris Tompkins

Category

education · kids & family

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

28 Mar 2021

Latest episode

8 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

111 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   8 Oct 2026

   Making Canada a Better Place for Kids with Sara Austin

   Children's rights advocate Sara Austin has spent more than 20 years championing the well-being of young people in Canada and around the world. In this episode, Sara joins Chris Tompkins to explore the state of childhood in Canada and why the country has fallen behind on key measures of children's well-being. They discuss challenges including child poverty, preventable injuries and online safety, while examining the important role young people can play in shaping solutions. Sara also shares practical ways parents and caregivers can listen to children, advocate for their needs and help create safer, healthier communities where every child can thrive.

2. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Shaping Our World Replay - Balancing Act: Parenting Our Kids in a Digital World with Richard Culatta

   As Canada debates new legislation that could set a minimum age for social media accounts, conversations about how to keep young people safe online are once again front and centre. That makes our Season 2 conversation with technology and learning expert Richard Culatta especially timely. Rather than focusing only on whether young people should or shouldn't have access to technology, Richard asks a different question: How do we prepare them to use it wisely? From misinformation and online safety to persuasive algorithms, data privacy, digital citizenship and finding balance, this replay offers practical, hopeful guidance for helping young people navigate the digital world with wisdom and confidence. Revisit our conversation with Richard Culatta.

3. 

   10 Sept 2026

   Supporting Creativity, Underdogs and Big Dreams with Gordon Korman

   What can nearly five decades of writing for young people teach us about creativity, belonging and growing up? In this episode, host Chris Tompkins talks with beloved Canadian author Gordon Korman, whose 100+ books have reached millions of readers around the world. Gordon shares how a Grade 7 assignment launched his writing career, why he's drawn to underdogs and outsiders, and why great stories continue to resonate with kids despite an ever-changing world. He also offers thoughtful advice for parents on encouraging young people's passions: provide support, give them room to explore and remember that the best time to start is now.

Who has been a guest on Shaping Our World

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Dr Regine Galanti
• Jules Porter
• Dr Tenelle Porter
• Dr Karen Bluth

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

65

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

Contact Shaping Our World

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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• 

  The Mel Robbins Podcast

• 

  The Daily

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• 

  Good Inside with Dr. Becky

Questions about Shaping Our World