The Future Fix is your new favourite podcast. Here’s why.

If you are creating a new interview-based podcast in Canada there are many elements to consider. And when your podcast specifically explores how data and technology is transforming communities across the country, well, more issues emerge such as:

• Does data and tech help or hinder progress in equity/inclusion and sustainability?
• What new perspectives can we bring to the conversation? 
• Will our guests be representative of experiences from coast to coast to coast? 
• How can we connect to French-speaking listeners? 

Launched in the spring of 2019, the Future Fix is produced collaboratively by Spacing Radio and Evergreen. Now with 13 episodes under their belt (not including Face au futur, the French-language version of the series), the production team is cool and confident in their approach. “Tech and data are buzz words that get bandied about a lot,” says host Glyn Bowerman. “But there is really interesting work being done in those fields at a municipal level — big or small — could be Toronto, could be a First Nations community up North.” 

Here are more reasons why you should be listening and subscribing to this podcast.

Data and tech can be used for real community progress.

Past episodes reveal how data and tech applications have helped solve local problems like food security and waste, emergency and natural disaster prevention, as well as health interventions and problems for local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We also try to cut through the tech bro nonsense and provide case studies with tangible examples that are happening in Canada as we speak,” says Glyn. A full round-up of previous episode guests and topics can be found in this post. 

Content producer Sanchita Rajvanshi has her finger on the pulse.

“The approach is doing the right research. Deep digging into initiatives and pilot projects that are taking place all across Canada, making sure we’re not just consulting people in the big cities, we are consulting Indigenous leaders and community leaders in small, rural, remote [places] to identify the projects they are running and that have created meaningful impact.” 

Host Glyn Bowerman listens and learns more than he speaks.

“We rely on the partnership with Evergreen to be introduced to a lot of the people working in these spaces. Obviously, Evergreen with its network is very tapped into networks all across Canada. The story ideas are brought to me, and I get to learn alongside the audience about the various topics.”

Guests are people with lived experience and a passion for where they live. No successful project is too small, but impact is key.

Sanchita recalls an interview with an Elder in Nunavut about the constant threat of food insecurity. With the assistance of the Arctic Research Foundation, they now collaboratively operate a smart farm and research station. For Glyn, it was an interview with the Mayor of Hamiota, Manitoba that stands out. Hamiota along with surrounding small communities (and school boards!) worked together to bridge the digital divide and create their own broadband network. 

Find the Future Fix on Soundcloud, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sanchita Rajvanshi is a researcher/content producer for the Future Fix / Face au Futur and a program officer at Evergreen. She is an engineer by trade and formally associated with the UN UNLEASH Global Innovation Lab for youth working on the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities. She is also pursuing a Masters of Public Policy and Digital Society from McMaster University.
 

Glyn Bowerman is a Toronto-based journalist and editor. He is the host of the Spacing Radio podcast and the editor of Ground magazine for the OALA (Ontario Association of Landscape Architects). He lives in Moss Park with two cats and his partner.