The Podcast Series
Anyone who has attempted to bake a cake will tell you the importance of accurate measurement. A small error in measurement can spell disaster for hours of work. Imagine for a moment, what it would be like if the way we measured ingredients was not standardized? Even worse, what if we couldn’t even agree on what we were actually trying to make in the first place? This has been the state of wellbeing metrics over the last century, and although excellent projects have been implemented, all too often they are dismissed before their impact can be felt.
Currently, wellbeing & prosperity metrics are benefiting from a wave of innovation stemming from all around the globe. These pushes against traditional boundaries are leading the way to more inclusive and resilient frameworks. This podcast will explore the bleeding edge of social metrics, lessons learned from past attempts, and potential futures, through interviews with experts in community prosperity measurement and decision-making. The podcast will also dig deeper into the question “How is Calgary really performing as a city?”
Understanding the Context for Community Prosperity Metrics in Calgary
Click on the button below to access the report linked to this ‘Measuring What Matters’ podcast. The purpose of this report is to provide the reader with a better context as to how community prosperity is (or can be) measured, why this is particularly important to Calgary today, and what an optimal model for measurement could look like. This paper has quotes from the various podcast guests dispersed throughout.
Episode 1 - James Stauch
Join Marshal McCallum and his first guest, James Stauch, as they unpack the Measuring what Matters project. Measuring what Matters is an independent community forum for nurturing dialogue and critical conversations associated with community performance metrics.
Episode 2 - Dr. Katharine McGowan
Join Marshal McCallum and Dr. Katharine McGowan in the second episode of the Measuring What Matters series. Katharine McGowan is an Associate Professor of Social Innovation at Mount Royal University's Bissett School of Business
Episode 3 - Jacie Alook
Jacie is a member of Bigstone Cree Nation, Woodland Cree, in Treaty 8 territory. She has worked as a Reconciliation Coordinator for the Women's Centre of Calgary and is currently working with Native Counselling Services of Alberta.
Episode 4 - Cynthia Watson
Cynthia Watson is Chief Evolution Officer of Vivo for Healthier Generations Society, a charity on a mission to inspire a wholistic mindset for healthy living. She loves to tinker in the realms of social innovation, service design and social economics to co-create solutions with communities at a systems level.
Episode 5 - Kylie Woods
Kylie is a passionate social entrepreneur who believes in leading through listening and vulnerability. She’s the founder of Chic Geek, a non-profit committed to building gender diversity in technology. Through its Career Pathing initiative, Chic Geek helps intermediate women in technology achieve greater career visibility and invest in their strategic professional networks.
Episode 6 - Sara Bateman
With 15 years in public and corporate community investment and the non-profit sector, Sara Bateman brings a broad perspective of the philanthropic and non-profit organization challenges and opportunities. As a graduate of the Social Innovation Graduate program at the University of Waterloo, Sara brings an adaptive strategy and system-thinking lens to her work.
Episode 7 - Colin Jackson
Colin Jackson currently serves as Co-Chair of Calgary on Purpose, Senior Scholar at the University of Calgary, Board Secretary of the National Theatre School of Canada and is a member of the Arizona State University New American Council for Art and Design.