Those who know me well know that I like to talk. A lot. My mother consistently tells me that I should be a lawyer since I like to argue, to which I’ve always rebutted: it’s no fun. What’s always been fun to me is the way that dialogue brings people together (and sometimes drives them apart) because of the way that it brings the best and worst out of people. You learn what they are passionate about, and what they could care less about. You learn about where people come from. And most of all, you learn about what kinds of solutions can be started to address any issues that come up during the conversation.
This is why in recent years, I’ve learned that using my voice–and enabling that of others–in various forums is one of my best ways to deal with motions to everything around us. So far this has taken a few forms: being a subject matter expert on national radio, teaching in academic environments, and leading workshops in corporate settings, both as an employee and as a consultant.
This year, I’m taking it to the next level–meeting people where they are and in forums that are both interesting and have a potential for action beyond the talking stage. I’m super excited to go on a mini speaker tour during February and March 2025, speaking at the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies’ Lecture Series and at Podcamp Toronto, an awesome summit for the Canadian podcasting community. I call it the IRL Speaker Series, since we’re taking the ideas from the feed to real-time, in-person conversations. Maybe we’ll get to high-five.
Lecture Topics for Your Listening Pleasure
I’ll be speaking on three topics that have been on my mind and heart lately and take my thoughts from the group chats and personal conversations to the public stage. As always when starting a conversation, an essay or a speech, I’ll pose the key questions that my upcoming talks will hopefully answer, or at least lead you to ask more questions in your search for the answers that will help those around you and beyond:
How do we create a community that takes action online AND offline? As someone who has benefitted from a career in social media that didn’t exist 20 years ago and is terminally online to a fault, I have had the privilege of meeting some amazing people online, learning about movements and random bits of trivia that not only enrich my life but help me put things into perspective. Now that the online world is full of disinformation, weird stuff, people and corporations endlessly selling you things, and straight-up lies, it’s a little discouraging when you’re trying to find some sense of purpose, never mind a community to be with–even more so if you’re a brand that is trying to do some good in the world. At Podcamp Toronto, I’ll be talking about what podcasts and other online communities that started on the internet are doing to take their communities, actions and money offline to serve their purpose. It’s called IRL: Creating Community Beyond Social Media. Buy your tickets here using my code IRLCRECOM39 for 25% off a pass.
Why does the advertising world still continue to ignore yet exploit the value of culture? Full disclosure: I’ve worked in marketing and advertising for over 12 years, so this is something I think about and apply to my work all the time. As a Black woman working in this industry, however, it’s a bit harrowing to see campaigns, digital content and even print material make it to the public knowing that someone who wasn’t part of the ruling class decided to have brands use AAVE, queer culture, or even generic pop culture to sell things to people they wouldn’t talk to if said people weren’t deemed worthy to engage with outside of a sales transaction. I’ll be talking about this and more related things during my talk called Culture Vultures: The Reciprocal Relationship Between Advertising and Cultural Appropriation at the University of Toronto’s Lecture Series.
How can we use food to fight back against corporate interests? It’s well-known 9and documented) that food has always been political, cultural and essential for all of human history. What’s changed for a lot of people in North America is the fact that since the pandemic, basic needs have suddenly increased without a real explanation from the companies or governments that facilitate these increases and what the effects are on everyone, no matter their income bracket. I’ve been inspired by the various ways that people, organizations and even individuals have been taking a stand against the oligopolies that make up much of the Canadian economy. I’ll be talking about this and more during my talk called Breaking the Food Chain: Food Justice Movements in Canada at the University of Toronto’s Lecture Series.
Join me as I present my thoughts and field your questions about these topics! I’m super excited to talk about these subjects in places where I think action can start to take place. Here’s how to see me speak in person if you’re based in Toronto:
Podcamp 2025: Sunday February 23, 3 p.m., George Brown College’s School of Media and Technology. Tickets are 25% off with my code IRLCRECOM39. For those on a budget, I got you– there are free tickets available, too. Get your tickets/passes here.
U of T Lecture Series: These talks are unfortunately closed to those who enroll in the series, but I’ll have a video available on my website later in March after my talks are complete. If you’d like to enroll and hear a few other awesome speakers from all walks of life, you can do so here and attend in person or online:
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