Podcast or Perish

How do we extend ourselves through our possessions?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Prof. Russ Belk, the esteemed consumer culture theorist from the Schulich School of Business. Russ is widely known for his research on the connection between the things and experiences we consume and our sense of self. I talk to him about his seminal research in this area, and about how he remains so extraordinarily prolific as an elder academic.

What importance does history hold for management researchers and business leaders? In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Matthias Kipping, the Richard E. Waugh Chair in Business History at the Schulich School of Business. Matthias is a business historian. Our discussion centres on his important 2014 paper that distinguishes between two approaches to historical research: "history to theory" and "history in theory." Either way, he argues, businesses need to take history into account when strategizing.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-057-matthias-kipping***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What difference does it make whether you say “I” or “you”?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Grant Packard, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. He talks about his research on the way saying “I” or “you” when talking to customers changes how they feel about the interaction. Do they feel acknowledged and heard, or did you make it all about you? Do they feel like you took responsibility for the situation, or did you put the blame on them? Pronouns are short words with long consequences.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-056-grant-packard***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

‍ ‍What does it mean to be a critical scholar in an academy obsessed with metrics?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Erin Twyford, Senior Lecture in Accounting at the University of Wollongong. She describes her experience of a recent academic conference as a "fever dream." She sees her academic role as profoundly relational - to her family, to her colleagues, to her students, and to the Indigenous country on which she lives. She talks about finding hope as an academic despite pushing the mythical boulder of Sisyphus up the hill every day.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-055-erin-twyford***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Who should get the next MRI scan?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Adam Diamant of the Schulich School of Business, York University, who studies waiting lists using complex models and artificial intelligence. We discuss the ethics of waiting lists for scarce resources, such as MRI scans and life-saving surgeries. Adam says we can improve on the “first come, first served” model that we often default to.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-054-adam-diamant***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can we make our money last as long as we do?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Moshe Milevsky of the Schulich School of Business, York University, a leading expert on pensions and financial planning. We discuss “longevity risk,” which is all about what happens if you outlive your retirement savings. We look at the origins of pensions in the Church of Scotland, the psychology of retirement, and how Moshe’s research bridges economics and human behavior to design safer financial futures.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-053-moshe-milevsky***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What drives people to start businesses that matter?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Eileen Fischer, the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the Schulich School of Business, York University. She studies the cultural and emotional dimensions of entrepreneurship, exploring how meaning and identity motivate business creation beyond profit.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-052-eileen-fischer***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do brands shape who we think we are?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk once again with Dr. Ela Veresiu, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her research in consumer culture theory examines how markets reproduce social inequality through everyday consumption. We discuss gender, class, and the hidden power of marketing in defining citizenship and belonging.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-051-ela-veresiu***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What makes one product seem more authentic than another?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Maxim Voronov, Professor of Sustainability and Organization Studies at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Drawing on his paper “Distilling Authenticity: Materiality and Narratives in Canadian Distilleries’ Authenticity Work,” we discuss how industries craft credibility through storytelling, material culture, and emotion—and what that reveals about change inside organizations.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-050-maxim-voronov***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Do the beliefs of people who live near a company’s head office affect the company’s actions on climate change?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Giri Kanagaretnam, Ron Binns Chair in Financial Reporting, Banking, and Governance at the Schulich School of Business, York University. We explore his work on whether local beliefs about climate change are related to corporate tax behavior, specifically when firms take advantage of green tax incentives. Giri’s data says that firms in counties with strong climate-change norms tend to have lower effective tax rates. Giri says this means that social beliefs—not just financial incentives—shape corporate action. I take some convincing.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-049-giri-kanagaretnam***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.