UNBeknownst
A podcast for UNB alumni, by UNB alumni. Sharing interesting and surprising stories of people you may not have known attended the University of New Brunswick. Discussions on lessons learned, insights gained and hot takes on current topics.
- Update frequency
- every 22 days
- Average duration
- 40 minutes
- Episodes
- 50
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
#50: Matt Symes on confronting change – and why every business must embrace A
Serial entrepreneur Matt Symes (BA'04/BEd'04) is an expert on helping leaders confront change and develop sound strategies to navigate through uncertain times. As founding partner and CEO of Symplici…
#49: Mike LeBlanc on innovative tech for good
Mike LeBlanc has been building and growing tech and tech consulting companies in New Brunswick over the last 25 years, including Blue Spurs, which he sold to Deloitte Canada in 2019 to help the compa…
#48: Aimée Foreman on the silver economy, care economy and addressing the needs for aging well
Aimée Foreman (MBA’01) is founder and CEO of Silvermark, an advisory firm that specializes in working with aging care leaders in private business, not-for-profits, and all levels of government to def…
#47: Andrew MacLean on travel, Atlantic Canada history and why storytelling matters
Andrew MacLean (BA’07) writes the weekly Atlantic Canadian newspaper column Backyard History and hosts the podcast and TV show of the same name. He has also written 3 books about the forgotten storie…
#46: Alexandre Hayward on rising up after a tragic accident to compete on the world stage
Paralympic cyclist Alexandre Hayward (BScEng’23) had a big year in 2024: he opened the season with gold in the C3 time trial and bronze in the road race at World Cup in Australia and added a time tri…
#45: Randy Hatfield on the realities of poverty and practical solutions
Randy Hatfield (BA’78, LLB’88) is the executive director of the Human Development Council, an organization dedicated to identifying and addressing social issues in New Brunswick through research, inf…
UNBeknownst #44: Kelsey Hogan on the universal lessons learned from ultramarathon trail running
Kelsey Hogan (BPhil'16) is an ultramarathon trail runner and mental performance consultant who has recently returned from Europe after completing the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc — a 171-kilometre race …
#43: KJ Conyers-Steede on community-centric innovation and creating sustainable policies for rural Atlantic Canada
Kjeld Mizpah “KJ” Conyers-Steede (BA’18) is director of strategy and partnerships for Inspiring Communities, a nonprofit working to build collaborative relationships for social change in Atlantic Can…
#42: Josh LeBrun on social enterprise and building community
Josh LeBrun (BBA’17) is Executive Director of 12 Neighbours, the tiny-home affordable housing community in Fredericton which has seen success – and global admiration – over the past couple of years. …
#41: Shilo Boucher on building a healthy, strong community
Shilo Boucher (BBA’00), is President and CEO of the YMCA of Southwest New Brunswick, one of the largest employers and community service organizations in the province. Shilo attended UNB on the Saint …
#40: Host Katie Davey on her own work in public policy, social innovation and social entrepreneurship in New Brunswick
In this special episode as the finale to Season 3, we turn the tables on UNBeknownst host Katie Davey (BA’17). In her day job, Katie is a public policy expert and social innovator, currently serving …
#39: Nicole LeBlanc on sustainable communities, tech investment and women in venture capital
Nicole LeBlanc (BBA’00) is a partner with Woven Capital in Tokyo, focusing on investments in mobility, energy, and sustainability that support and accelerate Toyota’s mission to build the safest mobi…
#38: Dr. Jen Woodland on integrated health research and the importance of knowledge translation
Dr. Jennifer Woodland (MA’09, PhD’15) is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at UNB’s Saint John campus and an Integrated Health Initiative researcher who teaches within the Bachel…
#37: Victoria LaBillois on economic reconciliation in Canada
Mi’gmaq entrepreneur Victoria LaBillois (BA’91, MBA’04) is the owner of Wejipeg Excavation Inc. and co-owner of Wejuseg Construction Inc, and oversaw the completion of a major wind park in Gaspesie, …
#36: Tosin Ajibola on blending social good with technology in Canada
Social and technology entrepreneur Tosin Ajibola (MEng’20) moved from Nigeria to Canada to earn a Master of Engineering degree in Technology Management and Entrepreneurship from UNB. Out of that hand…
#35: UNB Chancellor Wade MacLauchlan on the role of universities and education in our collective future
H. Wade MacLauchlan (LLB’81) is a well-known Canadian legal expert, academic, university administrator, politician and community leader. As premier of Prince Edward Island from 2015-19, he led an exp…
#34: Mohamed Bagha on growing strong communities by engaging newcomers
Mohamed Bagha (BAMHT'05, MIDST'13) is the managing director of the Saint John Newcomers Centre and chair of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce. Originally from Kenya, he arrived in Saint John …
#33: Barbara Wasson on how technology and AI are shaping the future of learning
Barbara Wasson (BScCS’82) is the director for SLATE - The Science of Learning and Technology, the Norwegian national centre for learning analytics. She is one of the founders of Kaleidoscope, a Europ…
#32: Sara Taaffe on the tension between economic progress and sustainability
Sara Taaffe is a senior project manager with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership in London, England. After graduating with a leadership degree from UNB’s Renaissance College, Sara b…
#31: Mike Corey on facing your fears to go far
Mike Corey (BSc’08) is a biology graduate turned travel host who never turns down an adventure. His curiosity has sent him searching out cultures, creatures, and locations that most people avoid – wi…