During a period of profound adjustment in the way we work, learn, and socialize, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) sets out to inspire with stories of resilience and adaptability on Fireweed. Fireweed is BCIT’s first-ever podcast series that shares stories about people who have preserved in the face of disruption and re-written their story.
Why Fireweed?
After the devastation of a forest fire, the first plant to grow back is fireweed. A vibrant wildflower from the Pacific Northwest, fireweed symbolizes hope, resilience, and adaptability—things we could all use a little more of right now.
Adaptability is now seen as the critical skill by leading employers across the country. But the trick is: we need to adapt in the right ways. Ways that will help us move forward, together. Through Fireweed, BCIT is connecting education and industry to power resilience, foster hope, and strengthen adaptability.
Stories and guests on Fireweed
Listeners will follow host and BCIT Broadcast and Online Journalism alumna Maria Vinca through conversations with thought leaders and experts from throughout the Cascadia Corridor and beyond. Meet academics, industry leaders, and people from business and tech who are working to create resilient systems—all built to handle change. Compelling and personal stories from people with vastly different experiences who have demonstrated their ability to grow and adapt to whatever challenges life throws at them and—like fireweed—come back stronger than ever.
That’s why this diverse and inter-generational podcast, brought to you by BCIT, tells stories that embody our never-ending human potential to adapt to change.
In season one of this podcast series, listeners will enjoy discussions around:
- Accessibility – Featuring Humboldt Bronco player Ryan Straschnitzki’s journey from hockey hopeful to accessibility advocate. Brad McCannell from the Rick Hansen Foundation also highlights what we need to do to make the built environment work for people with disabilities, and how eventually we’ll all have accessibility needs.
- Sustainability – Building cities has traditionally meant altering or destroying the natural environment, but it doesn’t have to be like that. Explore Ecocities beyond the “eco” with Mark Angelo, Founder of World Rivers Day.
- Cybersecurity – Cybersecurity experts and IT departments warn us about it, but how seriously do we really take our online security? Join Derek Manky, Chief of Security Insights and Global Threat Alliances for Fortinet and discover the dangers of doing business in a hyper-connected world.
- Mid-career shift – The mid-life crisis is a well-documented trope, but recently, mid-life career transition is gaining recognition as a uniquely modern phenomenon. Ryan Chynces from Hootsuite speaks to how micro credentials have helped him recruit and support current staff.
- Digital transformation and education – Education is changing. Technology has always been a part of the classroom but the current wave of innovation is kicking open doors we didn’t even know existed. Hear from local educators, including UBC professor Claudia Krebs.
- The future of transportation – From an electric vehicle (EV) early adopter to a researcher working on smart microgrids, these are some of the pioneers shaping the future of transportation.
Fireweed launches with episode one on September 20, 2021, and is available wherever you get your podcasts. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify to get notified as soon as each episode is available.