In this week's episode of Body Banter, Vancouver-based fashion designer and spinal cord injury advocate Chloë Angus shares her unique perspective on the human body through the lens of fashion design. Chloë reveals how her experiences in the fashion industry as well as her own experience of living with a spinal cord injury have deeply influenced her understanding and appreciation of the body. She talks about her involvement with Human in Motion, supporting the development of innovative wearable exoskeleton technology, and her vision for a future where this technology can empower folks with motion disabilities to move freely and independently.

In this episode of Body Banter, Dr. Lara Boyd joins us to talk about neuroplasticity, aka the brain’s capacity to change, from her perspective as a physical therapist-turned-neuroscience researcher. We discuss the inseparable relationship between the brain and the body, as well as how the sweet spot for changes in the brain occurs when we engage in activities that are challenging yet achievable. Lara also shares her 'recipe for brain health and longevity' (surprise, it’s really quite simple!) and how we all have the agency to change our brains.

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jen Gunter, the internationally known gynecologist and author of the newly released book "Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation" on this week's episode of Body Banter. Dr. Gunter discusses the profound influence of the patriarchy on women's perceptions of worth regarding their bodies, particularly concerning menstruation and the so-called "reproductive years". She challenges long-standing myths and misconceptions, the importance of debunking widely accepted beliefs that lack scientific evidence, and sheds light on the truths about women's health often obscured by hearsay and mythology. Join us for a fascinating discussion that redefines the narrative around menstruation, menopause, and the menstrual years.

Dr. Gunter's new book "Blood" is now available in bookstores, and Claudia and Segun give the practical, empowering guide to all things menstruation a combined four thumbs up review.

For our first episode of 2024, we are joined by Dr. Margaret Moss to discuss the importance of Indigenous cultural safety and awareness in healthcare. Dr. Moss shares insights from her role as a consultant on the investigation team for the In Plain Sight Report (2020). She explores both the devastating impact of anti-Indigenous racism in BC's healthcare system and the system's shortcomings in supporting Indigenous cultural practices or ways of knowing. We delve into the importance of trust, humility, and our responsibility to understand the context and needs of those we care for.

For the second of our two-part series on "The Body of Music" and our final episode of 2023, we explore the potential of music in the anatomy classroom. Dr. Sunit Jadhav, during his recent visit to Canada, joins Claudia and Segun to talk about his passions for anatomy education and music—and how he combines these two passions to make learning anatomy more fun and engaging for his students. Sunit also treats us to a mini concert where he plays us a song he wrote, inspired by a lecture on the visual system he attended in Claudia's neuroscience course.

In this episode of Body Banter, we're joined by Dr. Tara Gaertner—a neuroscientist and music educator—to delve into the fascinating relationship between our brains and music. We talk about Tara's rich background ranging from music education, to neuroscience in the context of occupational therapy, and now psychiatry as a resident doctor. Tara shares how music can be used to better understand our brains and to support our health and wellbeing, as well as the bridge between the realms of science and music.

This week, Anthony Saraco and Ursula Krebs join us on Body Banter to explore their very different experiences of inner visualization and what they "see" in their mind's eye. Anthony shares how his inability to visualize shapes mentally, also known as aphantasia, impacts his day to day experiences, as well as his approach to teaching anatomy in what is usually considered a highly visual field of study. Conversely, Ursula reveals the colourful world of synaesthesia and discusses how she experiences sound and other sensory inputs as inherently linked with colours. Tune in for a captivating conversation that challenges the traditional views of what happens in the mind's eye and the role of visualization for different lived experiences.