From the University of the Fraser Valley’s Changemaking Hub, this is Students on a Floating Rock, a student-run podcast dedicated to engaging with changemakers to learn about the skills and mindsets needed to navigate these uncertain times on this floating rock, also known as Earth.
011: Student Activism and Institutional Suppression
On today’s episode we have Sara Kishawi, a Palestinian community organizer and Sociology graduate from Vancouver Island University. She’s joining us today to talk about student activism, institutional supression, and misconceptions to unpack in relation to the ongoing genocide in Palestine.
UFV’s Faculty and Staff Association welcomed Sara in October 2025 for their event, “Promoting Community Change on Campus in the Face of Institutional Resistance with Sara Kishawi” and we had the pleasure of hosting her for this podcast recording before the event. Due to this, some minor details may have changed since the time of recording.
29 Jul 2026
010: Changemaking in a House of Transformation
On today’s episode we have Dr. James Mandigo, our own President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley. He’s joining us today to talk about how UFV embodies changemaking, the nuances of measuring impact, and how students can practice changemaking during their studies.
Please note, this episode was recorded Fall 2025 and so minor details may have changed since the time of recording.
8 Jul 2026
009: Decolonization, Oppression, and the Geopolitics of India
On today’s episode we have Dr. Ajay Parasram, Associate Professor of International Development Studies and History at Dalhousie University, joining our guest hosts Chelsea Klassen, CHASI lead researcher, and Navjot Kaur, CHASI research assistant. He joined us to talk about how Indian politics intersect with themes in his primary work, the impact of protest movements, and the future of development in India.
UFV’s School of Social Justice and Global Stewardship/GDS program welcomed Dr. Parasram in February 2026 for his lecture, “Another ‘Walt’ Is Possible: Pluriversal Sovereignty and Decolonial Development” and we had the pleasure of hosting him for this podcast recording during his time at UFV.
References from the episode:
"Another ‘Walt’ Is Possible: Pluriversal Sovereignty and Decolonial Development” (https://blogs.ufv.ca/sojust/2026/02/06/another-walt-is-possible-pluriversal-sovereignty-and-decolonial-development/)
Professor Nissim Mannathukkaren (https://www.dal.ca/faculty/arts/ids/faculty-staff/our-faculty/nissim-mannathukkaren.html)
The Annihilation of Caste by Dr. Ambedkar
23 Jun 2026
008: Ethnographic Insights into the Legitimacy Work of Chronic Illness
On today's episode, we have Jenna Kerr, MA Counselling Psychology Student at Western University. She’s joining us to talk about how qualitative research has played a role in her educational journey, her honours research, and her hopes for how healthcare providers can think more creatively about what it means to provide care.
Please note, this episode was recorded in summer 2025 and so minor details such as educational titles have changed since the time of recording.
References from the episode:
Contested illness, contested identity: How women with fibromyalgia construct legitimacy online (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40505500/) by Jenna Kerr and Carey DeMichelis
The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life by Erving Goffman (front stage and back stage behaviour)
Institutional Ethnography: A Sociology For People by Dorothy Smith
Pain BC (https://painbc.ca/)
“...chronic pain serves as an affront to the concept of the time-constrained legitimacy of the “sick” role – one which prescribes that the patient should eventually get better, or die” —Anna Gottlieb
Chilliwack Youth Health Center (https://chilliwackyhc.com/)
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma & Politicizing Your Practice by Dr Jennifer Mullan
3 Jun 2026
007: Taking Learning Beyond the Classroom
On today’s episode we have Will Dow-Kenny, a neuroscience graduate from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. He's joining us today to talk about doing applied research, his experience as a student athlete, and his post-graduation plans.
Please note, this episode was recorded in summer 2025 and so minor details may have changed. Since the time of recording, Will has joined the Nijmegen Devils hockey team in the Netherlands.
20 May 2026
006: Art as Science Communication
On today’s episode we have Aysha McConkey, a Bachelor of Environmental Studies graduate, junior biologist, and wildlife artist. She’s joining us today to talk about the importance of co-op placements during her academic journey, various types of local wildlife conservation efforts, and the synergy between art and science to mobilize knowledge.
Learn more about Aysha’s projects at her website (https://ayshamcconkeyart.myshopify.com/) and follow her on Instagram at @AyshaMcConkeyArt (https://www.instagram.com/ayshamcconkeyart).
Please note, this episode was recorded in summer 2025 and so minor details may have changed since the time of recording.
References from the episode:
Protecting BC’s Wildlife: How Aysha McConkey’s co-op experience shaped her future (https://blogs.ufv.ca/blog/2025/05/protecting-bcs-wildlife-how-aysha-mcconkeys-co-op-experience-shaped-her-future/), UFV Today
The invasive strawberry blossom weevil, Anthonomus rubi Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), uses Dasiphora fruticosa for reproduction in British Columbia (https://journal.entsocbc.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/2595) by Aysha B. McConkey, Yonathan Uriel, Jade Sherwood, Warren Wong, Tracy Hueppelsheuser, and Michelle T. Franklin
Aysha’s Richmond Mural at No 7. Road Pier parks washroom building (https://www.richmondartgallery.org/salon-mcconkey)
4 May 2026
005: Amplifying Voices From Behind the Scenes
On today’s episode we have Jeff Mijo-Burch, University of the Fraser Valley alumni and CHASI Communications & Design Specialist. He’s joining us today to talk about his academic and career journeys, amplifying and uplifting marginalized voices through knowledge mobilization, and opportunities for growth by utilizing effective communication.
Please note, this episode was recorded in summer 2025 and so minor details such as dates have changed since the time of recording.
22 Mar 2026
004: Realistic and Self-Compassionate Physical Activity for Postpartum Women
On today’s episode we have Megan Filiatrault, a Bachelor of Kinesiology student at the University of the Fraser Valley. She’s joining us today to talk about her research project with Dr. Iris Lesser, and how qualitative research has informed her work with postpartum women on realistic and self-compassionate physical activity goals.
Please note, this episode was recorded in summer 2025 and so minor details have changed since the time of recording.
References from the episode:
UFV’s 2025 Community Service Award: Examining the Impact of Postpartum Weight Retention on Physical Activity, Body Image, and Self-Compassion (https://www.ufv.ca/research/students/awards-and-funding/ure-awards/2025-recipients/#d.en.1099892) by Megan Filiatrault
Archway Community Services’ Best for Babies program (https://archway.ca/program/best-for-babies/)
Mother’s Moving Forward: A postpartum guide to being physically active (https://sirc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Postpartum-Guidebook_FINAL_19-12-25.pdf) by Corliss Bean, PhD and Iris Lesser, PhD
The research paper—MomBod: Exploring body-related perceptions and the influence of physical activity imagery among postpartum women (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13591053261419659) by Iris A. Lesser, Megan Filiatrault, Amanda Wurz, and Taniya S. Nagpal—has since been published since the time of recording
15 Jan 2026
003: In the Business of Innovation and Positive Change
On today’s episode of Students on a Floating Rock, we are happy to have Durgesh, Dueen, Mel, and Sargun of Enactus UFV as our guests. They’re joining us to talk about what Enactus is, the variety of projects they’re working on, and their experiences at the 2025 Regional and National competitions.
Learn more about Enactus UFV at ufv.ca/business/enactus-ufv (https://www.ufv.ca/business/enactus-ufv/) and follow them on Instagram @_enactusufv_ (https://www.instagram.com/_enactusufv_/)
2 Oct 2025
002: Learning How to be Settled in Uncertainty
Students on a Floating Rock is happy to have Dr. Anna Griffith, an associate professor of Theatre, and Changemaker Curriculum developer as our guest for the second episode. She’s joining us today to talk about how changemaking is already woven into the fabric of UFV, an introduction to UFV’s new social innovation certificate, and how students can benefit from changemaking-informed curriculum. And did we mention that Innovation 100 is being taught as a scenario-based roleplaying game?
1 Oct 2025
001: What Really is Changemaking Anyway?
So what really is changemaking anyway? For our first episode, Students on a Floating Rock is thrilled to have the amazing Dr. Martha Dow, an associate professor of sociology at the University of the Fraser Valley; director of the Community Health and Social Innovation hub; and Senior Advisor Changemaking. She’s joining us to talk about what role changemaking has at UFV, and what that could mean for students.
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