Podcast
WOW: Politics and Leadership
Hosted by Melinda Munro · EN
A podcast who's only agenda is to get women into leadership - elected and otherwise.
We talk, listen and laugh with women about leadership and life with a goal to encourage more women to consider entering politics or senior leadership and working for the community.
We post episodes every second tuesday morning.
We talk, listen and laugh with women about leadership and life with a goal to encourage more women to consider entering politics or senior leadership and working for the community.
We post episodes every second tuesday morning.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Women Win US Elections
Nov 1100:45:59Tap to summarizeWomen won landmark elections across the US on Tuesday November 4, and the transition team for the NYC mayor is all women. What does this mean for women locally? Darcie Renaud and Anastasia Adams join us for a great conversation. We also talked about how even the President of Mexico is not safe from men thinking they have the right to touch her in public. Do women in positions of authority have a higher duty to take action when they are victims of assault?
Transcribe →Women Talking about Books
Oct 2800:42:51Tap to summarizeLeigh Vachon was so moved by the decision of the Alberta Government to direct school boards to limit access to books that she wrote an impassioned Facebook post about it. That prompted Jessica to invite her to WOW Politics to talk about how the debate about access to books is really a debate about access to understanding the other. When politicians limit our ability to understand our neighbours, friends and colleagues, they limit our political discourse in ways that go beyond simply prudishness about bodies.
Transcribe →Lori Wightman
Apr 23, 202500:26:42Tap to summarizeLori Wightman is running for the NDP in Essex County. She is one of only two women running in the region. She had a good chat with Melinda and Jessica about being drawn to public life, running for election and whether women are just better at getting things done.
Transcribe →Sherry Bondy
Apr 15, 202500:29:09Tap to summarizeSherry Bondy, Mayor of the Town of Essex is a household name in this region. She joined Melinda and Jessica for a fun and inspiring conversation about the work of being a rural mayor in challenging times. She also let us in on a bit of the ELK Energy story.
Transcribe →Kelsey Santarossa
Apr 1, 202500:43:27Tap to summarizeKelsey Santarossa was the youngest person ever elected in an Ontario municipality in 2018 when she ran in Lakeshore for the first time. Melinda and Jessica talk about the challenges of not only being a woman but being a young woman. Kelsey shares her incredible optimism for the future even in trying times.
Transcribe →Helga Reidel
Mar 18, 202500:39:59Tap to summarizeAlthough not an elected official herself, Helga Reidel is easily one of the most influential public servants in Windsor and Essex County. As a senior executive and CAO at the City of Windsor followed by becoming CEO of Enwin Utilities, Helga has worked with polticians at every level of government. Who better to have on our podcast to talk about what it takes to be a leader and how to make a good elected official?
Transcribe →WOW Politics Ontario Election Review
Mar 6, 202500:33:30Tap to summarizeJessica and Melinda talk about their overall impressions of the Ontario Election from the perspective of women observers and they reflect on the interviews with Gemma Grey-Hall, Tamara Stomp, Rachael Mills and Lisa Gretzky. There are a few statistics at the beginning but hang in there, they are important later.
Transcribe →WOW Politics Lisa Gretzky
Feb 26, 202500:33:53Tap to summarizeIn the final episode of our Ontario Election 2025 series, Melinda talks to sitting NDP Member of Provincial Parliament Lisa Gretzky. Their conversation ranged from some of Lisa's formative experiences as a young woman to the value of being able to work across the aisle with other women from all parties. She gives us an inside look into the work of being an MPP and some stories of making connections on the sidewalks during the campaign.
Transcribe →WOW: Politics Rachael Mills
Feb 24, 202500:35:22Tap to summarizeIn the next in our series on women running in the 2025 Ontario Election, we talk to Rachael Mills, candidate for the NDP in Essex. Rachael, Jessica, and Melinda discuss whether women are more emotional than men in politics and calling critics in with equal parts kindness and reality.
Transcribe →WOW: Politics Tamara Stomp
Feb 17, 202500:46:33Tap to summarizeTamara Stomp, Liberal Candidate for MPP in Essex County joins Melinda and Jessica to talk about how 42 years as a litigator and more than a decade on Kingville Council prepared her for her run for the county seat at Queen's Park. As a politician and community activist she tells us how she was always driven by issues in the community and keeping her focus on what matters to the people.
Transcribe →