What's the Big Idea
Episodes
Unlocking Brain Resilience: Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions for Alzheimer's and Dementia
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Season 4, Episode 5Zahra Moussavi discusses her findings into using non-pharmaceutical interventions for Alzheimer's and dementia. With a background i...
Matters of the Heart: Uncovering Sex Differences in Heart Failure with Dr. Lorrie Kirshenbaum
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Season 4, Episode 4Episode Summary:Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, globally. In conversation with the Director of the Institute...
Economic Reconciliation: A Model for Shared Prosperity
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Season 4, Episode 3Episode Summary:What are the challenges and the opportunities in creating a just and inclusive economic future? Hosted by Angie B...
Rethinking Capitalism: Beyond Profit to Purpose
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rethinking Capitalism: Beyond Profit to Purpose with Bruno Dyck In a world where the wealth gap continues to widen, with the richest 5% reaping the v...
Nation-Building in the Sky: How UM is Shaping Space Stewardship with Philip Ferguson
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Season 4, Episode 1 - Nation-Building in the Sky: How UM is Shaping Space Stewardship with Philip FergusonNo longer just a frontier for governments an...
Business as Unusual: Risk, Research and Rethinking Productivity with Dave Angus
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3, Episode 7 - Business as Unusual: Risk, Research and Rethinking Productivity with Dave Angus In the wake of Canada’s federal election—a...
A Prescription for Change: Solving Healthcare’s Workforce Crisis with Drs. Peter Nickerson and Aaron Jattan
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Season 3, Episode 6Healthcare systems across Manitoba—and Canada—are facing a critical challenge: a shortage of doctors, nurses, and allied health...
Trailer: What's The Big Idea Season 3
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"What's the Big Idea" is a new podcast featuring University of Manitoba President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch in conversation with some of t...
Get Dying Right: Why Dignity in Care Matters with Dr. Harvey Chochinov
29 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get Dying Right: Why Dignity in Care Matters with Dr. Harvey Chochinov Season 3, Episode 5 How can we get dying right? In this episode, Distingu...
Gut Instincts: Unlocking the Microbiome’s Secrets to Health and Happiness with Dr. Heather Armstrong
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gut Instincts: Unlocking the Microbiome’s Secrets to Health and Happiness with Dr. Heather ArmstrongIn this episode, UM president, Michael Benarroch...
For the love of tariffs: Amanda Lang on how Trump’s re-election will impact Canada
20 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For the love of tariffs: Amanda Lang on how Trump’s re-election will impact Canada: UM president, Michael Benarroch and renowned business and polit...
From Sea Ice to Shipping Lanes: Manitoba's Maritime Future, with Feiyue Wang
09 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
From Sea Ice to Shipping Lanes: Manitoba’s Maritime Future, with Feiyue Wang: S3, Episode 2 As Canada Research Chair in Arctic Environmental Chem...
AI and the Future of Humanity: Work, Worship, and Relationships with Neil McArthur
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
AI and the Future of Humanity: Work, Worship, and Relationships with Neil McArthurNamed by Maclean’s Magazine as one of Canada’s leading experts o...
What you need to know about climate change with sea-ice expert, Dr. Julienne Stroeve
03 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Benarroch is joined by Professor Julienne Stroeve, a renowned climate change researcher. She is a professor in the University of Manitoba's Ce...
Why breast milk matters to all of us with Dr. Meghan Azad
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Benarroch is joined by Dr. Meghan Azad, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health at the University of Manitoba with cross appointments in immu...
Thriving with Mental Illness featuring Dr. Joss Reimer
07 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Benarroch sits down with Dr. Joss Reimer, Chief Medical Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and someone who not only led Manito...
How leaders can remain relevant in the changing global context with Dr. Suzanne Gagnon
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Show notes:How can you become a better leader? In this episode, Michael Benarroch explores this question with Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, the Associate Dean o...
Feeding the world without costing the earth with Dr. Nazim Cicek
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Michael Benarroch speaks to Dr. Nazim Cicek whose big ideas are proving that it doesn't have to cost the earth to feed the world. He'...
Climbing the mountain of Reconciliation with Dr. Niigaan Sinclair
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Benarroch sits down with Professor Niigaan Sinclair, one of the most sought after national voices on education, politics and Reconciliation. S...
Menopause, menstruation and the weaponization of women's health with Dr. Jen Gunter
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, guest host University of Manitoba's Chancellor Anne Mahon speaks to UM alum and New York Times best-selling author of the Vagina Bibl...
Why Guaranteed Income is affordable, effective and just with economist Evelyn Forget
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why Guaranteed Income is affordable, effective and just with economist Evelyn Forget. University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversati...
Understanding Indigenous Self-Determination and Water Rights with Dr. Nicole Wilson
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Dr. Nicole Wilson, Canada Research Chair in Arctic Environmental Change and Go...
How Canada Can Become a World Leader in Public Health with Dr. James Blanchard
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Executive Director of the University of Manitoba’s Institute for Global Publ...
Creating a Home for Survivors’ stories, with NCTR Director Stephanie Scott
07 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Executive Director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Stepha...
Deep Inclusion with Dr. Robert Mizzi
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Canada Research Chair in Queer, Community, and Diversity Education and Associa...
Anti-Racism in Medical Education with Dr. Marcia Anderson
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Vice-Dean of Indigenous Health, Social Justice and Anti-Racism at the Rady Fac...
Cosmology and Beyond with Dr. James Peebles
21 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch live in conversation with Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist, UM alum, and the Albert Einstein Prof...
Preview: What's the Big Idea
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
University of Manitoba President Michael Benarroch live in conversation with Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist, UM alum, and the Albert Einstein Prof...