Advertise on podcast: Reflections

On January 25th, 2026 the Greater Toronto Area received almost 60 centimetres of snow in a storm that many people have dubbed historic. While most of us may have been hunkered down in our homes for the storm, what was going on in the City of Toronto?  Joeita Gupta speaks to representatives from organizations across the city, and residents to gather their stories and capture a snapshot of Toronto life during a major snowstorm.   Harold Hosein is a meteorologist with 50 years of experience in his field, and will shed some light on how meteorologists prepare the public for a significant weather event.  Neelam Nayak is Joeita’s neighbour who made the most of the snow day with a visit to Nathan Philips Square.  Disability advocate David Lepofsky will explain how the City of Toronto could work to eliminate as many snow-caused accessibility barriers as possible.  Joeita is joined by Maritza Sanchez the Executive Director of Red Door Family Shelters to speak to the homelessness crisis and how unhoused individuals are affected by major weather. Stuart Green is a spokesperson for the Toronto Transit Commission and will explain how the TTC prepares for a major weather event to ensure service runs smoothly.  Plus, Bill Shackleton will join Joeita with some of his snowstorm tips and tricks to make sure you and your home are prepared for extreme weather. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The CCRW’s second annual Untapped Talent Summit takes place online February 10, 2026. It provides resources for job seekers and employers on inclusive employment. The theme, Disability in Action: Navigating the School-to-Work Transition, is particularly welcome this year with an uncertain job market and some of the lowest rates of employment for youth with disabilities that we’ve seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. Grant Hardy learns more about the work that CCRW does, and their upcoming Summit. Vanessa Sinclair, Director of Research and Evaluation at CCRW, explains the organization's work and gives us a sneak-peak of what we can expect from the summit, including some advice for employers and job seekers. Chelsea Masson is Outreach Coordinator for the CNIB’s Come to Work Program. She’s one of the panelists at the Summit, and shares her perspective on seeking employment as a person with a disability. To learn more about the Summit and begin the registration process, you can visit the CCRW’s website: https://www.untappedtalent.ca/s/about?language=en_US About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Countries are racing to regulate big tech and keep kids safe from the harms of social media, but the fight isn’t over. Grant Hardy examines how far countries like Australia are willing to go to legislate in hopes of a safer internet. Lifestyle and Tech Expert Andy Baryer provides his perspective on Australia’s new social media laws, and whether there’s an appetite to bring them to Canada. It’s unclear if Australia’s tough new legislation would survive in Canada, or even if it should. Danielle McLaughlin is the Retired Director of Education for the Canadian Civil Liberties Association and Senior Consultant for the Centre for Freedom of Expression at TMU. She breaks down the legal perspectives around this type of law. Emilee Schevers is a social media influencer who founded “True Faces” to amplify the voices of people with disabilities. She’s experienced the benefits and drawbacks of social media, and shares her thoughts on internet safety. We all want to create a safer internet world, but it matters how we do that. Here’s a taste of the debates that are taking place surrounding internet safety, and how far we should go to prevent online harm. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We know we’re tired. We talk about burnout constantly. And yet, when we finally slow down, rest can feel uncomfortable. Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores why rest so often feels like failure, and how we can take small steps towards embracing rest and reassessing our needs. Susi Niazi is a senior corporate executive navigating leadership responsibilities and a nonstop pace at work. She's also a mother of two figuring out how to balance work and life, by adding bits of restful moments into her day. We hear from Katrina Onstad, author of The Weekend Effect, who highlights the history of the 5-day workweek, and how to make the best of our 2-day weekends. Nathan Sartore, artist and Managing Director of The Disability Collective, introduces us to the idea of Crip Time, which is very popular in artistic spaces, and challenges the way we bend to the clock. And Frances Wong is a yoga instructor who helps us unpack our complicated relationship with stillness, and offers suggestions on starting our relationship with rest slowly. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc - Email [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Joeita Gupta finds some helpful tips to navigate a complicated relationship with food from culinary expert Mary Mammoliti, Master Chef winner and restaurant owner Christine Ha, and Dietician Gena Hamshaw.  Learn to be gracious with yourself, approach your diet with moderation in mind, and find ways that work for your season of life to make those weeknight dinners less stressful. To find support for an eating disorder, reach out to the National Eating Disorder Information Centre’s helpline at: 1-866-622-4220 or visit their website: nedic.ca About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It takes a bit of thought and a bit of change, but not as much effort as we believe, to create and maintain a sustainable lifestyle. Kelly MacDonald brings us along as he learns how our small choices impact how we care for our Earth. Laura Newton, Founder of The Kind Matter Company, is an expert on sustainable living, and shares how we can move to clean purchases and clean products, without it having to break the bank. Laura explains what it actually means to buy clean and organic. Spoiler alert: it goes way beyond the packaging label and ingredient list. Laura also shouts out some of her favourite natural products and clean Canadian companies for us to jot down. One of these companies is Oneka, producing self-care products that stay friendly to the environment, which we learn more about from Co-founder, Philippe Choinière. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc - Email [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Generally speaking, there's an honour system when it comes to using public transit, but when it comes to priority seating on buses, trains, and planes, it can get grey. Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores this topic. Suzanne Holder is the Customer Experience Manager at MiWay, Mississauga, Ontario's major transport system. She shares how riders with invisible disabilities can identify themselves through the Sunflower program, which extends to Metrolinx-operated transit as well. Sonia Gangopadhyay, Director at the Centre of Expertise for Accessible Transportation with the Canadian Transportation Agency, explains the One Person, One Fare policy, legislated for travelers with disabilities within Canadian borders. Debbie Gillespie, 2026 ACAT Vice-Chair for the Advisory Committee on Accessible Transit, which works with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), explains how accessible travel is handled in the big city. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Returning to the office due to new mandates? The adjustment isn’t being taken well by all, and there are some serious accessibility issues to address. Joeita Gupta is answering all our burning questions around which employers are insisting workers come back to the office and why. What role is the Canadian government playing in all of this? And how are people with disabilities being affected?  Opeyemi Akanbi is an Assistant Professor at the School of Professional Communication at Toronto Metropolitan University, who will lend us her expertise to understand why employers want their employees back in the office.  Jennifer Hope is the Director of Development and Capacity Building at the Ontario Disability Employment Network. Jennifer shares the role that employers and employees should take in the accommodation process.  Plus, Mette Aubé is Principal Consultant at Untapped Accessibility in BC. Mette will bring valuable tips and perspectives for employers who want to create work environments with accessibility at the forefront. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

London, Ontario was designated as Canada's first UNESCO City of Music in 2021, recognizing its vibrant music scene and commitment to cultural development, and Kelly MacDonald was thrilled to commemorate. Mario Circelli, Founder and Chair of The London Music Hall of Fame, introduces us to this special music community, and helps us explore what the UNESCO title means for London's growth. We hear about fostering collaboration, increasing music opportunities, and supporting local art initiatives with passionate world-class concert pianist Clark Bryan, Darin Addison of the Home County Folk Festival, and Dario Novoa, Founder of Simple Reflections for Artists. Let's celebrate how truly rich in music this Canadian city is. Music Credits: The Forest City by Simple Reflections for Artists; composed by Juan David Gomez and Gianny Correa Arcos, with lyrics by Juan David Gomez, Dario Novoa, Karen Sandoval-Santana, and Louis Rudolph Engel About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Last fall, a group of eleven blind hikers traveled to Tanzania to tackle Mount Kilimanjaro. Grant Hardy speaks with climbers Peter Quaiattini, David Brown, and Tammy Adams about the triumphs, challenges, and highlights of their hiking journeys. The trip was made possible by Nana Safaris. It’s a mainstream tour and travel company based in Arusha – Tanzania that incorporates accessibility into its tours. Director Idrisa Abel shares how they facilitated the journey and explains why inclusivity is built right into the heart of the company. Whether checking off a personal goal or advocating for the blind community, each hikers’ story was different. But they all had one thing in common: they worked together as a team. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s the first moment when life after vision loss starts to feel possible again? Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores the small, powerful breakthroughs that reshape independence, the moments that may look ordinary from the outside but carry deep emotional weight for the people experiencing them. Through firsthand stories, Ariana Noughira shares what it meant to regain confidence with her guide dog by her side. Becki Zerr reflects on how losing her vision forced her to reimagine parenting, identity, and daily life. And Leanne Baarda, an Independent Living Skills Specialist with Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, offers insight into how learning everyday skills from cooking to technology can restore confidence, control, and connection. Access isn’t always about sweeping change, it can be about the first moment you realize you can move forward again. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The memoir genre is booming, disability memoirs specifically. But what makes these books so entertaining, informative, powerful, or groundbreaking? Is it pressure from publishers? Or is it the translation of a person's lived experience into a digestible, easy-to-read format? Andreae Callanan is a writer and researcher who studies neurodiversity and the disability memoir. Andreae provides her perspective on what disability memoirs can bring to the literary industry.  Dorothy Ellen Palmer is an author of the memoir “Falling for Myself” and she shares why she wrote her memoir, and the compromises and sacrifices she had to make to write the memoir in the most accurate way.  Listen to Joeita Gupta’s conversation with Andreae and Dorothy to find out how authors can balance sharing the joyous moments of their lives while also being critical of the systems that exclude people with disabilities.  Plus, Karen McKay the Communications Manager at the Centre for Equitable Library Access, will provide some of CELA’s top memoir picks from their collection.  About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grant Hardy is joined by tech experts Shaun Preece, Andy Baryer, and John Biehler to compare and contrast the benefits of the smart home with the perils of planned obsolescence and tech troubleshooting. Let's figure out if the smart home is really worth it. Andy Baryer from Handy Andy Media shares what he’s most excited about in his smart home for 2025, as well as his thoughts on futureproofing. Double Tap Host Sean Preece provides his own thoughts and experiences from an accessibility perspective. AMI Friend and Tech Contributor John Biehler reflects on some of the impact that planned obsolescence had on his household, and his thoughts on mitigating it. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: X /Twitter @AccessibleMediaInstagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audioFacebook at @AccessibleMediaIncTikTok @AccessibleMediaIncEmail [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are older employees in the workforce wrongfully keeping work away from young people who are fresh out of school? Is AI taking over older workers' jobs first? Are aging employees too expensive to keep around? Let's get to the bottom of these questions. Kelly MacDonald speaks with Lisa Taylor, Founder and CEO of Challenge Factory, a Canadian research and advisory firm focused on the future of work, dedicated to career services for older workers. She, along with Project Coordinator Jennifer St.Denis and Research Associate Emily Carew, gives us the decades of research-backed answers to our questions and teaches us what we can learn from older employees in the workforce. Michael French, National Director at Robert Half Canada, gives us the trending patterns, statistics, and market research around the current state of employment in Canada, helping us place our bets on where things are headed this year and into the future. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc - Email [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From crowded buses and train stations to classrooms, gyms, and healthcare settings, we’re constantly negotiating hygiene in shared spaces. Nisreen Abdel-Majid explores how to approach the tricky conversations of hygiene, addressing environment, expectation, and access. Kindergarten teacher Melinda Morbi shares how hygiene is introduced early in classrooms and how those messages can follow us into adulthood. Cardio and kickboxing instructor Noura Sadek reflects on fitness spaces where sweat is expected, and how fitness culture shapes ideas of cleanliness and confidence. Ada Juristovski, co-founder and CEO of Nala Care, compares health choices like antiperspirants versus deodorants, while registered nurse Leslie Depoe discusses hygiene standards in healthcare settings and their impact on care and comfort. We ask where the line lies between private choice and public responsibility when it comes to hygiene in shared spaces. About AMI AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca. Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+ Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online: - X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia - Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio - Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc - TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc - Email [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.