Welcome to Let’s Talk Local, where hosts Khadeeja and Umaymah discuss local issues in our communities, specifically those around Laurier’s Brantford and Waterloo campuses. They’ll be tackling crises on a municipal scale, such as Islamophobia, police brutality, substance abuse, homelessness, and more while featuring a guest in each episode. Their goal is to help raise awareness on local issues around us, create a platform to amplify community members’ voices, and ultimately provide a learning experience for other students at Laurier.
Tune in bi-weekly to listen live to Let’s Talk Local on Mondays at 5pm
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Let's Talk Local - Ep. 7
Mar 24, 2021 • 00:30:00
In this episode, Umaymah and Khadeeja lead an opinion-based conversation on toxic masculinity in our communities. They address their opinions, thoughts, and observations on this issue, exploring topics such as the effect of toxic masculinity in the media and literature. They dig deeper into this social issue with research and statistics. The hosts then debate possible relations between toxic masculinity and themes, like sexual violence. Throughout the episode, the hosts provide resources available to Laurier students for support against toxic masculinity. Don’t forget to follow the Let’s Talk Local official Instagram account, @lets.talk.local.
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Let's Talk Local - Ep. 6
Mar 10, 2021 • 00:52:23
In the second part of their discussion on homelessness, Umaymah and Khadeeja first continue the conversation by touching on the criminalization and dehumanization of those experiencing homelessness. Then, they introduce this episode’s featured guest, Tim Philp, the Executive Director of the Rosewood House in Brantford. The show hosts ask Tim about the Rosewood House and homeless shelter services before diving into an insightful exchange on the stigma surrounding homelessness and what we can do about it. For previews and announcements of new episodes, follow Let’s Talk Local on Instagram at @lets.talk.local.
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Let's Talk Local - Ep. 5
Feb 24, 2021 • 00:42:09
In their first episode of this term, Khadeeja and Umaymah explore long-term care homes in our local communities. The show hosts first discuss their personal experiences in long-term care homes and their own observations of the environment. Then, they examine Canada’s relationship with long-term care facilities, especially after the COVID-19 outbreak spread across the country. They close in on Ontario, as they describe legislation governing long-term care homes and concerns throughout the province. Finally, they take a look at long-term care homes and their quality in surrounding communities of both Wilfrid Laurier University campuses, Waterloo and Brantford. Throughout this episode, the role of the Canadian government and privatized facilities in managing the issues present in long-term care homes are debated. For updates on this show and previews of new episodes, follow the Let’s Talk Local Instagram page @lets.talk.local.
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Let's Talk Local - Ep. 4
Dec 7, 2020 • 00:42:09
In their last episode of the fall semester, Umaymah and Khadeeja discuss homelessness in our local communities. They start by talking about the prevalence of homelessness in our society, despite capitalist beliefs. They explore homelessness problems across Canada, like in Moncton, New Brunswick and Montreal, Quebec. They also examine homelessness in Ontario, like in Ottawa and Toronto. Then, the hosts take a look at the growing homeless population near both of Wilfrid Laurier University’s campuses in Waterloo-Kitchener and Brantford. They conclude the episode by discussing ideas surrounding homelessness, like stigma, crime, and classism, and how they alter students’ view of the social issue in our communities. Remember to follow @lets.talk.local on Instagram for updates on when the Let’s Talk Local show will start up again for the winter semester in January!
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Let's Talk Local - Police Brutality Pt. 2
Nov 23, 2020 • 00:16:36
In the second part of their discussion on police brutality, Khadeeja and Umaymah review the importance of police officers to be open-minded and confident to debate police brutality. They go over the history of the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and their initial goals that contribute to the systemic racism we see today in law enforcement. The hosts also compare classism and elitism to racism in the Canadian police department while referring to an episode of ‘Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man’ where the host interviews a group of American police officers. Lastly, they explore questions for law enforcement officers in our communities. Don’t forget to follow @lets.talk.local on Instagram for updates on the Let’s Talk Local podcast as the fall semester comes to a close!
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Let's Talk Local Ep 2: Police Brutality
Nov 9, 2020 • 00:29:57
In this episode, Khadeeja and Umaymah discuss police brutality in Canada, our local communities, and our neighbourhoods. We start by establishing their different opinions and views on law enforcement, police reform, and defunding the police. The hosts give a trigger warning for racism, police brutality, and graphic content before proceeding to discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and one of its countermovements, Blue Lives Matter. -
Let's Talk Local - Ep. 1
Oct 27, 2020 • 00:59:11
In their very first episode, Khadeeja and Umaymah discuss Islamophobia in our local communities. First, they touch on Québec’s recent Bill 21, “The Act of Respecting the Laicity of the State", and how Islamophobia affects their personal lives. Then, they review an Islamophobic incident that occurred last year on Laurier’s Waterloo Campus and they take a look at some Islamophobic tweets produced by a professor on Laurier’s Brantford Campus. They've also had the opportunity to interview the honourable Sheikh Omar Subedar for further insight. The episode closes with the co-hosts posing a final reflection question for listeners: Where do you draw the line between the freedom of expression and unlawful hate speech?