1. What is the Life Skills 101 podcast?
  2. Recent Episodes
  3. Podcast Reflections
  4. Previous Podcast Episodes
  5. Past In-Person Life Skills 101 Events

What is the Life Skills 101 podcast?

The Life Skills 101 Podcast is a series of episodes that will engage, empower and encourage Carleton University students to identify, grow and reflect upon life skill development, through various enriching episodes featuring young Carleton Alumni. Alumni will share their successes and challenges to support students in building persistence and capacity, and provide a space for skill development and reflection for listeners.

Students who complete a Podcast Reflection are entered to win $25 toward their Campus Card.

Catch the podcast on Spotify and Google Podcasts

Recent Episodes

Noah Segal Headshot

Episode 8: Be the Best You You Can Be with Noah Segal

Noah Segal, originally from Calgary, Alberta, expresses his passionate journey while a student at Carleton. He shares his story of how he found his niche in the entertainment world. He is currently the Co-President of Elevation Pictures and a Film Producer in Toronto. Some of Noah’s films in the recent months he has produced with Elevation Pictures are The Son starring Hugh Jackman and The Whale starring Brendan Fraser.

In this episode, Noah explains his Tips for Success, guiding listeners to explore their passions.

Episode Released: March 10, 2023

Podcast Reflections

By listening to the Life Skills 101 Podcast, we hope that students will:

  • Have more tangible examples of success stories from a local content
  • Have the opportunity to obtain advice, referrals and resources in creating their career and life paths
  • Be able to view post-secondary education as a continued and viable option
  • Feel greater confidence in navigating and building upon their life skills, whichever they may be
  • Have the opportunity to connect students with Career Services and/or the Alumni Mentorship Program through the Carleton University Alumni Association, to take further steps in forging their career paths
  • Have had the opportunity to network with fellow students, alumni, etc.

DID YOU KNOW: You can receive a Co-Curricular Record (CCR) for Life Skills 101 podcast participant by completing a podcast reflection. Learn about how to add a position to your CCR on the CCR website.

Submit a Reflection Here

Additional resources:

Previous Podcast Episodes

Episode 7: Impacts of Trauma on Mental Health with Sheila MacVicar

Carleton Journalism alumni, Sheila MacVicar, is now the CEO of the International Documentary Production Company called 4th Act Factual. She currently produces long-form documentaries that explain the world around us by challenging assumptions. In this episode, Sheila opens up about her career as a foreign correspondent in various countries. She discusses the effects the journey has had on her mental health.

Some subject matter in this podcast may be sensitive.

Episode 6: Developing Your Own Path with Stenley Philippe

Carleton student turned Undergraduate Recruitment Officer, Stenley Philippe, shares how to make the most out of campus life and university resources. Stenley encourages students to explore their surroundings while creating their own pace going with the ebb and flow of their individual journeys. His central theme is to be proud of who you are.

Episode Released: February 1, 2023

Episode 5: Understanding Mental Health Obstacles with Elizabeth Manley

Former Olympic figure skater, Elizabeth Manley, talks about her mental health struggles and how she overcame them. Check out her 1988 Olympic performance.

Episode 4: Transitions from School to the Workplace with Ben O’Bright

Ben O’Bright studied political science and was heavily involved in the community as an orientation week leader. He now works as a Policy Lead on hardware and devices with Trust and Safety at Google’s European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland.

Episode 3: Starting a Non-Profit Organization with Keenan Reynolds

Keenan Reynolds is studying political science with a focus on international relations at Carleton University. Prior to his time at Carleton, he played junior hockey with the Ontario Hockey League and the CCHL. Keenan is the co-founder of the Front Nine Project, an Ottawa-based non-profit organization.

Episode 2: The Importance of Community Engagement with Sissi De Flaviis

Sissi De Flaviis is a Carleton alum. Sissi studied journalism with a double minor in Italian and political science and was an active member of the Carleton community. She is currently a reporter and editor at CBC North writing and editing stories for online, radio, and television. Sissi tells us how important it was for her to be an active member of the Carleton community and how she wouldn’t be the same without those experiences.

Episode 1: Be Bold, Fail Forward, and Stay Well with Emily Kate Gray

Emily Kate Gray is a Carleton Alum who was extremely involved with the Carleton community. Gray talks about how her experience with volunteering and leadership at Carleton has helped her in her current career.

Past In-Person Life Skills 101 Events

Nate Behar – March 25, 2021

Please note: This event took place in-person on the date above.

Nate Behar is a professional football player, founder, writer and advocate. Since being drafted in the first round of the 2017 CFL Draft he has founded Formula 11 Football and Scholarship and most recently ATNMY Marketing, an athlete-influencer marketplace committed to empowering small businesses and athletes across the world. With a passion for writing, Nate has been featured and published in several national publications including CBC, Macleans, Toronto Star and several others while also being a frequent speaking guest on CBC, CTV and other news networks to speak on all things race, politics, entrepreneurship and activism.

Nicholas Osborne – November 19, 2020

Please note: This event took place in-person on the date above.

Nicholas is a proud Carleton Alumni, having graduated with a degree in Computer Science he is now Capitol Music Group’s (UMG) Senior Vice President of Digital Strategy & Business Development. At Capitol he oversees all digital deals, digital marketing, marketing technologies, advertising, audience insights, and co-leads the Capitol 360 innovation centre. Nick is focused on finding & developing new revenue opportunities to exploit and extract value from CMG’s copyrights, content, brand assets, and artists.  He has been described as a Rebel Computer Grad and is clearly trail-blazing for the rest of us.

Giovanna Mingarelli – October 8, 2020

As a graduate of Political Science and International Relations at Carleton, Giovanna Mingarelli is the CEO and Co-Founder of two international companies, M&C Consulting and MC2. Giovanna plays the dual role of technology entrepreneur and thought leader. For 15 years, Ms. Mingarelli has worked in the field of political and digital communications and has served in the office of a former Prime Minister of Canada. Ms. Mingarelli is a member of the Government of Canada Treasury Board Secretariat External Advisory Board for Talent Cloud, developing the future of work for Canada’s Public Service. She has been a Parliamentary witness and a keynote speaker relating to the advancement of young women in politics and digital democracy through her work with Equal Voice: Electing Women in Canada. A prolific writer, Ms. Mingarelli has contributed to: The Globe and Mail, The Toronto Star, CBC-Radio Canada, and the Hill times. She is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and is cited by Harvard Business Review and Forbes. In 2015, Ms. Mingarelli was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the WXN. To this end, she’s involved in many youth empowerment initiatives, such as Global Dignity Canada, which she Chairs in Canada and for which she serves on the Board of Directors internationally.

Missed Giovanna's Session? Check it out here!

William Johnson – September 24, 2020

An alumnus of Carleton’s Political Science program, William Johnson is the Senior Editorial Strategist at CSuite Content. William is a Vancouver-based writer and strategist. He has more than a decade of experience bringing people together, solving problems, and helping organizations create value through strategic communications. His knowledge, skills, and experiences span multiple sectors, and his writing on business, technology, and culture has appeared in publications like Maclean’s, Globe and Mail, BetaKit, BCBusiness, and Daily Hive. Prior to his current role at CSuite Content, he was director of marketing and communications at Innovate BC, and he led communications at the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. He is actively engaged in the Metro Vancouver business community, currently serving in volunteer roles with the HR Tech Group, Vancouver Entrepreneurs’ Forum, BrainStation, and Business Council of B.C. William is active on Twitter @notionport.

Missed William's session? Check it out here.

Komal Minhas – March 4th, 2020

Please note: This event took place in-person on the date above.

A Carleton Journalism alumna, Komal is a curator of powerful experiences and conversations. In 2016, Komal produced the documentary film, Dream, Girl, about female entrepreneurs that landed her on Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul 100 list. The film premiered at the Obama White House, where Komal shared her story as part of a White House Council on Women and Girls initiative. In addition to having her own podcast, Lessons Learned, Komal is also the host of the THRIVE Podcast for women entrepreneurs in partnership with Startup Canada, Scotiabank and the Business Development Bank of Canada. Finally, through her work Komal has interviewed former US first lady Michelle Obama, Canada’s First Lady Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, NYTs bestselling author Rupi Kaur as well as prominent business women and politicians across North America.

Photo of Komal Minhas with the Life Skills 101 logo