Well-being and YU

About Well-being and YU

Well-being and YU is a podcast created by students for the York University community and beyond, connecting well-being resources and practices to real-life student experiences. Each episode we highlight a topic that is important to our community, sharing resources and conversations that uncover the relationship between well-being and YU. We are students too. We know how busy university life is, so we have designed each episode to fit into your day—whether it’s on your commute to school, or taking 5 minutes to re-centre yourself before an exam. Connect with us at our website: https://counselling.students.yorku.ca/well-being-podcast (go.yorku.ca/WBpodcast) and subscribe to Well-being and YU Wherever you listen to podcasts. We hope you join us on this journey, because a few mindful minutes can really make a difference!

Publisher

York University, Department of Student Counselling, Health and Well-Being (SCHW)

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Jan 2023

Latest episode

18 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

32 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   18 Oct 2026

   The Full Picture: An Episode on Body Positivity

   What do you think of when you hear “size XXXL”? You might see it simply as a clothing size, classified according to a seller’s measurements in a capitalist marketplace. But others may see those three letters and immediately make assumptions about someone’s health, energy, discipline, or attractiveness; without ever meeting them. This depersonalization is an experience many plus-sized individuals and students face, which is why in this episode of Well-being & YU, our host Susu B. sits down with Emily Donahue (she/her), who works at NEDIC as a Community Engagement Facilitator within their Community Education team and as a Direct Client Support Worker on their helpline. As we approach Body Confidence Awareness Week, it’s important to recognize that conversations around body positivity go far beyond appearance or self-esteem. Fatphobia can shape our mental, physical, social, occupational, and financial well-being, while the assumptions attached to body size can follow people into classrooms, healthcare settings, workplaces, and everyday relationships. Today’s episode is about renewing a contract we all signed at birth: that this body is yours. Yours to exist in, care for, shape, or change; but only on your own terms, not society’s. Join us as we rethink what body positivity means beyond appearance and explore how creating space for all bodies can contribute to a more compassionate approach to well-being! Resources: Body-Positivity and Female Empowerment on Instagram: https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/9056c164-012e-443e-a070-0df7612a044a (https://yorkspace.library.yorku.ca/items/9056c164-012e-443e-a070-0df7612a044a) Body Positivity: https://canadianwomen.org/blog/body-positivity/ (https://canadianwomen.org/blog/body-positivity/) Social Media and Body Image: https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2018/11/19/york-u-study-shows-social-media-negatively-affects-the-way-we-view-our-bodies/ (https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2018/11/19/york-u-study-shows-social-media-negatively-affects-the-way-we-view-our-bodies/) Take a break from social media: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524000378 (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144524000378)

2. 

   4 Oct 2026

   You Are Not Alone in Loneliness

   What does belonging feel like for you? Each and every one of us may have a different answer to this question. Maybe, to you, belonging is the absence of loneliness, or maybe it’s being around people who share similarities with you. But what happens when we are surrounded by people and still feel lonely? While university may provide us with opportunities for belonging and community-building through clubs, classes, and even a filled subway during our commute, the 2025 Cross-Campus Well-being Survey (CCWS) shows that many students on YorkU’s campus may still be struggling with loneliness. This is why, in this episode of Well-being & YU, our host Susu B. sits down with Dr. Ami Rokach, a York University instructor who has spent the past four decades researching loneliness and relationships and has taught psychology at York for the past 36 years. Together, Dr. Rokach and Susu explore what belonging really means, the difference between loneliness and solitude, and ways students can build meaningful connections. Join us on this journey to better understand what it means to feel connected, supported, and like you belong. Resources: Student Well-being Resources: https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/resources/students/ (https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/resources/students/) Loneliness, Campus Life and Making Deeper Bonds: https://yublog.students.yorku.ca/lonliness-campus-life-making-deeper-bonds (https://yublog.students.yorku.ca/lonliness-campus-life-making-deeper-bonds) Anti- Mattering Scale: https://news.yorku.ca/2021/12/21/new-tool-developed-by-york-university-could-offer-more-ways-to-assess-distress-in-youth-and-adults/ (https://news.yorku.ca/2021/12/21/new-tool-developed-by-york-university-could-offer-more-ways-to-assess-distress-in-youth-and-adults/) Better Together is a University initiative begun in 2024 and co-led by Equity People & Culture, the Division of Students and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Its purpose is to create the time, space and skills needed for community members to engage with each other, including across differences. https://www.yorku.ca/bettertogether/ (https://www.yorku.ca/bettertogether/) CCWS Executive Summary: https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/reports/ (https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/reports/) Student Well-being Resources: https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/resources/students/ (https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/resources/students/) Loneliness, Campus Life and Making Deeper Bonds: https://yublog.students.yorku.ca/lonliness-campus-life-making-deeper-bonds (https://yublog.students.yorku.ca/lonliness-campus-life-making-deeper-bonds) Anti- Mattering Scale: https://news.yorku.ca/2021/12/21/new-tool-developed-by-york-university-could-offer-more-ways-to-assess-distress-in-youth-and-adults/ (https://news.yorku.ca/2021/12/21/new-tool-developed-by-york-university-could-offer-more-ways-to-assess-distress-in-youth-and-adults/) Better Together is a University initiative begun in 2024 and co-led by Equity People & Culture, the Division of Students and the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Its purpose is to create the time, space and skills needed for community members to engage with each other, including across differences. https://www.yorku.ca/bettertogether/ (https://www.yorku.ca/bettertogether/) CCWS Executive Summary: https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/reports/ (https://www.yorku.ca/well-being/reports/)

3. 

   6 Sept 2026

   Understanding the Odds: An Episode on Gambling.

   If I asked you to place a bet on how this school year will unfold, would you take the chance? While you may be stepping into September with fresh notebooks, new goals, and lessons carried over from last year, one thing remains true: none of us can predict the future with certainty. Yet every day, millions of people are encouraged to believe they can. Gambling is currently the only behavioural addiction recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), reflecting the significant impact it can have on our well-being. In this episode of Well-being & YU, our host Susu B. sits down with Lisa Couperus, Associate Director of Education and Programs at the Responsible Gambling Council. Lisa leads the Council's youth and young adult initiatives and developed its first gambling awareness program for post-secondary students in 2001. For more than two decades, she has translated research into prevention programs created alongside educators, communities, and young people. Together, Susu and Lisa explore how gambling has evolved in the digital age from sports betting and social media advertising to online games and everyday promotional features that can normalize gambling behaviours. They also discuss why gambling is often misunderstood compared to other addictions, how it can affect multiple dimensions of well-being beyond finances, and what students can do to recognize warning signs, reduce harm, and support themselves or someone they care about. Whether you've never gambled, occasionally buy a lottery ticket, enjoy sports betting, or simply want to better understand how gambling shows up in today's world, this conversation offers practical strategies, evidence-based insights, and a reminder that seeking support is always a sign of strength. Resources: 1. Books Before Bets: (https://events.yorku.ca/events/books-before-bets/) A popular, interactive workshop designed by students and presented in partnership with the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). 2. YGAP Workshops: (https://www.ymcagta.org/youth-programs/youth-gambling-awareness-program) York occasionally partners with the YMCA Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) for sessions like "Separating Skill from Illusion of Control". (https://events.yorku.ca/events/sports-betting-separating-skill-from-illusion-of-control-2/) 3. CAMH Gambling, Gaming and Technology Use (GGTU): (https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu/) For students looking for self-directed clinical tools or professional modules, the CAMH GGTU program (https://kmb.camh.ca/ggtu/) offers specialized public webinars on topics like video game micro-transactions, digital slot mechanics, and the psychology of betting ads. 4. Blocker Software: Install gambling site blockers like BetBlocker (https://betblocker.org/) , Bet guard or Gamban on all your phones and computers to restrict access to betting sites. 5. RGC Website (https://responsiblegambling.org/): You can find the self-assessment tools and other resources under the public tab 6. York University Student Counselling Health and Well-being (https://students.yorku.ca/counselling): You can access counselling sessions in person and online for free on our website. 7. Connex Ontario (https://connexontario.ca/): Free 24/7 Access to Mental Health, Addiction, and problem

Reach and audience

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

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

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

Quality

43

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

60

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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