The Well Endowed Podcast

Hosted by The Well Endowed Podcast

Business Society Culture

Website RSS feed

Episodes

223

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-CA

About the show

The Well-Endowed Podcast is a production of Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). If you live in Edmonton, chances are you’ve been touched by the work facilitated by the support ECF provides to the city’s shakers, movers and doers. As a bridge between donors and charitable causes, ECF helps donors create endowment funds that will continue giving for generations. With that kind of support, those movers and doers can do a lot! On the Well Endowed Podcast, you will hear stories about donors, and what inspires their generosity. And you will hear about the people who use our support to build and sustain social initiatives, empower youth, strengthen arts and culture, and so much more. Edmonton is full of passionate people dedicated to building a vibrant community. The Well Endowed Podcast explores the impact that these municipal champions are having on our city.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 4, 202625 min

EPISODE 211: A Bird in the Hand

What can Alberta’s migratory bird population teach us about our environment? Alberta’s declining bird populations are an important indicator of growing pressures on the natural systems that sustain all life. At the heart of understanding those changes is Beaverhill Bird Observatory (BBO), one of Canada’s longest-running migration monitoring stations, where every observation contributes to the long-term data that drives conservation action. In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, Andrew Paul travels to the Beaverhill Natural Area, where he joins Assistant Biologist John Van Arragon and his crew during one of the final bird-monitoring nights of the season. Together, they explore how scientific research, community education, and Edmonton Community Foundation’s Environmental Operating Grants are helping protect Alberta’s migratory birds and build the capacity to continue this vital work for generations to come. Show Notes: Our guests today were John Van Aragon, Assistant Biologist and Geoff Hilroyd, Board Chair at Beaverhill Bird Observatory Read the companion article, “Birds of a Feather” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. Read BBO’s story of achieving sustainability through partnership in the 2025 Impact Report Learn more about BeaverHill Bird Observatory (BBO) Learn more about the Beaverhill Bird Observatory Endowment Fund. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Learn more about ECF’s Environmental Operating Grants . Register today for Fall 2026 Community Grants informal sessions and explore funding ideas ahead of applying. Check out some of the amazing endowment funds our donors have established. Upcoming Student Awards: Al Maurer Awards Charmaine Letourneau Scholarships Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 211: A Bird in the Hand appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

July 22, 202620 min

EPISODE 210: Clearing the Air

Could one of the greatest risks to your lung health be the one you can’t see, smell, or taste? Even more surprising, it might be hiding inside your homes. Canadians spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, where hidden risks such as radon, a naturally occurring gas that is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, can build up inside homes and buildings. Along with poor ventilation, mould, and everyday air pollutants, these risks can affect long term lung health. The good news? There are practical steps you can take to create healthier indoor spaces. In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, Ben Freeland sits down with Jamie Happy from Alberta Lung to explore indoor air quality, radon awareness, and how education and resources can help Albertans make informed decisions about their lung health. With support from Edmonton Community Foundation’s Community Grants program, Alberta Lung is expanding access to radon awareness resources and workshops. Show Notes: Our guest today was Jamie Happy, Health Promotions Coordinator from Alberta Lung Read the companion article, “Breathe Easier,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. Learn more about Alberta Lung Learn more about mitigating Radon ensuring Health Canada guidelines ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Learn about Community grants and how they can help support your organizational needs Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. Read 2025 Impact Report Upcoming Student Awards: Al Maurer Awards Charmaine Letournea Scholarships Click here to find details for all of our student awards! Ben Freeland’s interview with Jamey Happy was produced by Odvod Media. The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 210: Clearing the Air appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

June 15, 202626 min

EPISODE 209: Built to Give

How do you turn a successful business into a generous one? Bill Knight started out selling vacuum cleaners door to door, knowing, in his own words, nothing about business. Decades later, he and his family run Mosaic Home Services, a home-services company that now spans the country, with giving built into the way it operates. In this episode, Trudy Callaghan from Odvod Media sits down with Bill and his son and business partner, Steven, to talk about Mosaic’s monthly Charity Day, the funds they’ve created with ECF, and why generosity has been part of the family business from the start. It’s a conversation about what it really takes to build a company that gives back, and how everyday business decisions can grow into lasting community impact. Show Notes: Our guests were Bill Knight and Steven Knight of the Mosaic Home Services. Read Caitlin Hart’s companion article, “Built to Give,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. See the Knights’ story featured in ECF’s 2025 Impact Report. Learn about EPL’s Children’s Enrichment Fund. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Al Maurer Awards Click here to find details for all of our student awards! ECF Community Champions:   Trudy Callaghan’s interview with Bill Knight and Steven Knight was produced by Odvod Media. The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 209: Built to Give appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

June 1, 202637 min

EPISODE 208: Forging Ahead

What does it take to build a career in a field that wasn’t built with you in mind? Women Building Futures has been helping women enter the trades and transportation since 1998 — not just with job training, but with the wraparound supports that make it possible to actually get there: childcare plans, housing support, fitness training, and a food pantry. Since the beginning, more than 3,000 women have come through their programs. Their work is supported in part by the JudyLynn Archer Fund, an endowment held at Edmonton Community Foundation. In this episode, we hear from WBF CEO Carla Madra and Red Seal welder Natalie Bak — a graduate who went from a nineteen-year-old with no experience to a welder who’s worked across Western Canada and up into the Northwest Territories. Show Notes: Our guests today were Carla Madra, CEO of Women Building Futures, and Natalie Bak, WBF graduate and Red Seal welder. Read the companion article, “Forging Ahead,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. Learn more about Women Building Futures Learn more about the JudyLynn Archer Fund ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Al Maurer Awards Click here to find details for all of our student awards! Alyssa Noel’s interview with Carla Madra and Natalie Bak was produced by Odvod Media. The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 208: Forging Ahead appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

May 15, 202617 min

EPISODE 207: Independence Through Cooking

What does it mean to truly live independently? For AiLA — the Autism Independent Living Association — independence isn’t just about having a place to live. It’s about having the skills, confidence, and support to navigate daily life on your own terms. In this episode, we hear about AiLA’s new cooking program: a series of hands-on workshops teaching autistic adults to prepare nutritious meals, manage a grocery budget, and build real kitchen confidence. The program runs out of The Kitchen at the Stanley A. Milner Library, and was made possible through a $15,000 Community Grant from Edmonton Community Foundation. Show Notes: Our guest is Leanne Carr, President of AiLA. Read Justin Bell’s companion article, “Independence Through Cooking” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine. Learn more about AiLA. Read ECF’s full $20 million affordable housing announcement. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! Justin Bell’s interview with Leanne Carr was produced by Odvod Media. The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 207: Independence Through Cooking appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

May 4, 202637 min

EPISODE 206: A Space to Grow

What happens to the artists who fall through the gap between school and a professional career? In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, we catch up with alumni of Pro Coro Canada‘s Emerging Artist Program — a free, professional-level training program for singers, conductors, and composers that’s been quietly building something in Edmonton for over a decade. This episode features Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian, also known as hundredmillionthousand. Together, they explore what it looks like to come up through a program like this — and where it can take you. From launching a youth-led nonprofit choir to collaborating on a live performance that fuses choral sound, electronics, and audio-visuals, this conversation is a window into the ecosystem Pro Coro has been building for the next generation of choral artists in Edmonton. Show Notes: Our guests today were Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian (hundredmillionthousand). Learn more about Pro Coro Canada’s Emerging Artist Program. Explore Sóley Singers’ upcoming season. Follow Noelle / hundredmillionthousand for updates on upcoming performances. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 206: A Space to Grow appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

April 22, 202632 min

EPISODE 205: Protecting Life on Land

What does it really take to protect the land beneath our feet — and the wildlife that depends on it — as our city continues to grow? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore how volunteers are shaping a more sustainable future right here in Edmonton, in recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Ramy Abdel-Keriem and co-host Scott Lundell from ECVO are joined by Sheila Campbell from Edmonton and Area Land Trust and Dale Gino from Wild North. Together, they unpack what environmental volunteerism really looks like — beyond the stereotypes — and how meaningful, long-term contributions are helping protect ecosystems, care for injured wildlife, and strengthen our connection to the natural world. From stewarding conservation lands to rehabilitating thousands of animals each year, this conversation highlights the critical role volunteers play in balancing growth with sustainability — and why that work is more urgent than ever. Show Notes: Our guests today were Sheila Campbell, Executive Director of Edmonton and Area Land Trust, and Dale Gino, Executive Director of Wild North, in conversation with Ramy Abdel-Keriem and Scott Lundell from Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO). Learn more about volunteering with Edmonton and Area Land Trust. Explore volunteer opportunities with Wild North. Find your next volunteer opportunity at ECVO’s Edmonton Volunteer Fair 2026 on April, 25th. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 205: Protecting Life on Land appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

April 1, 202640 min

EPISODE 204: Improving the Odds

What happens when the odds of survival depend on something as simple — and as complex — as who’s in the system? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore the story of Ezra Marfo — and how one family’s search for a stem cell match has grown into a national movement to increase diversity in donor registries. Jacob Marfo, Ezra’s father and founder of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, shares the journey of navigating his son’s leukemia diagnosis, the urgent search for a donor, and the reality that for many patients, a match may never come. We also hear from filmmaker Sandro Silva, whose documentary The Perfect Match brings this story to life and is helping raise awareness about the need for more diverse donors. Together, their work is creating change to encourage more people to register, break down barriers, and build a future where more lives can be saved. Show Notes: Our guests today were Jacob Marfo, founder of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, and filmmaker Sandro Silva, in conversation with Renato Pagnani from Odvod Media. Learn more about blood and stem cell donation Watch The Perfect Match, premiering at Northwest Fest on April 11 Learn more about the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 204: Improving the Odds appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

March 3, 202629 min

EPISODE 203 – Rooted in Water, Guided by Community

How do we protect the waters that sustain our communities — and what does it take to turn a personal passion into a lifelong career? In this episode of The Well Ended Podcast, we head to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River for a conversation with Kirsten Letendre, a proud Métis scientist whose journey from Lac Ste. Anne to a career in lake management has been shaped by culture, community, and support. Kirsten shares how her connection to land and water began early in life, and how receiving a Belcourt Brosseau Métis Award (BBMA) through Edmonton Community Foundation helped her pursue post-secondary education and build a path in environmental science. Now working with the Alberta Lake Management Society, she helps protect Alberta’s lakes through monitoring, research, and public education. Her story is a powerful reminder that when students are supported, communities benefit — and the impact can ripple far beyond the classroom. Show Notes: Our guest today was Kirsten Letendre, who shared her journey as a Métis scientist and water steward, and how support from the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards helped shape her path. Read Kirsten Letendre’s story, From Lures to Legislation, in the Fall 2025 edition of Thrive Magazine. Learn more about the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards Learn more about the Alberta Lake Management Society ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 203 – Rooted in Water, Guided by Community appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

February 18, 202640 min

EPISODE 202 – Where We Came From (and where we go from here)

What does it mean to carry a refugee story across generations, and how do we keep those memories alive? In this special Lunar New Year episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, guest hosts Jessica Truong and Linda Hoang, co-founders of Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau (“We Are Together”), lead a heartfelt conversation about identity, belonging, and the Vietnamese Canadian experience in Edmonton. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon in 2025, this episode reflects on the journeys of Vietnamese boat people and their descendants who rebuilt their lives in Edmonton. Linh Vu shares her memories of escaping Vietnam by boat at six years old and being rescued at sea. David Nguyen speaks about interviewing his parents and uncle to document their family’s refugee story for the next generation. Together, they explore cultural traditions, intergenerational expectations, gratitude, and the importance of preserving family history before it’s too late. Show Notes: Our guest hosts today were Jessica Truong and Linda Hoang, co-founders of Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau. Learn more about their work and upcoming gatherings Our guests were: Linh Vu, owner of Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen, who shared her family’s journey to freedom as a Vietnamese boat refugee. David Nguyen, co-founder of Agnt, who shared reflections from documenting his family’s story. ECF Happenings: Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own. Read the latest issue of Thrive. Read the latest on  our blog. Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created. ECF Youth Grants: Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! CreditsPhoto credit: David Thao Nguyen At ECF, building meaningful relationships with communities across Edmonton is central to our work. Our connection with the Vietnamese community is one we’re proud of. Through our grants, we’ve supported local organizations, including the Edmonton Viets Association, and have had the privilege of joining the community at a Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau event in November and at the Tết New Year celebrations on February 7. These connections help us better understand the hopes and aspirations of diverse communities so we can support what matters most to them. If you’re part of a community you’d like us to connect with, or want to explore how ECF can support your work, please reach out to Sherilyn Trompetter, our Manager of Equity Advancement. We’d love to hear from you. The post EPISODE 202 – Where We Came From (and where we go from here) appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.