Log out or lean in? How to balance social media and your mental health

The Big Story

#Daily News #Politics #Canada #Frequency Podcast Network #Don't Get #News #News Talk

26:18

How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…

4 days ago 16:24

MP3•Episode home

We’ve all heard how social media can have a negative impact, but unfortunately putting your phone down can be a tricky task.

New research out of the University of British Columbia shows there’s a way to manage your mental health while staying up to date on your favourite apps.

Host Melanie Ng speaks with lead study author and psychology professor at UBC, Amori Mikami, about their findings.

More info: pearl.psych.ubc.ca

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

1409 episodes

Log out or lean in? How to balance social media and your mental health

The Big Story

198 subscribers

published 4 days ago

MP3•Episode home

We’ve all heard how social media can have a negative impact, but unfortunately putting your phone down can be a tricky task.

New research out of the University of British Columbia shows there’s a way to manage your mental health while staying up to date on your favourite apps.

Host Melanie Ng speaks with lead study author and psychology professor at UBC, Amori Mikami, about their findings.

More info: pearl.psych.ubc.ca

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

1409 episodes

#Daily News #Politics #Canada #Frequency Podcast Network #Don't Get #News #News Talk

All episodes

1
Foreign Interference & Election 2025 25:48

1 day ago25:48

25:48

Foreign election interference is back in the news after week one of the federal election campaign. Questions about foreign interference followed both Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney on the campaign trail this week. Poilievre again defended his refusal to obtain security clearance, while Carney was pressed to explain why the Liberals dropped a candidate with ties to the Indian government. Host David Smith speaks with University Ottawa criminology professor Michael Kempa about the latest developments and how foreign interference may play a role in this election race.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
One month to go: breaking down week 1 of the federal election campaign 19:43

2 days ago19:43

19:43

The federal election is several days in and it’s already been a wild ride. This vote has been framed as an existential election for our country, amid the trade war and sovereignty threats from the US. While President Trump’s tariffs are having a massive impact on the campaign there are also many policy promises, questions around security clearance and business dealings, and gaffes from some of the leaders. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is checking the pulse of the race to form the next federal government , by speaking with Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Election polls: how trustworthy are they in one of Canada's most important elections 17:39

3 days ago17:39

17:39

It’s been a busy first week on the campaign trail for federal leaders. One storyline that's stood out is the early election poll tracking. All the major polling firms are showing a huge surge in support for the Liberal Party under new leader Mark Carney. But how full a picture do the polls show? Host David Smith speaks with Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, about what goes into a modern election poll. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Log out or lean in? How to balance social media and your mental health 16:24

4 days ago16:24

16:24

We’ve all heard how social media can have a negative impact, but unfortunately putting your phone down can be a tricky task. New research out of the University of British Columbia shows there’s a way to manage your mental health while staying up to date on your favourite apps. Host Melanie Ng speaks with lead study author and psychology professor at UBC, Amori Mikami, about their findings. More info: pearl.psych.ubc.ca We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
What's the future for Tesla amid a market tailspin 25:45

5 days ago25:45

25:45

Tesla is in a tailspin. Sales are dropping and the stock has been cut in half since December, blamed on Elon Musk's involvement with DOGE in the U.S. There have been incidents of vandalism against Tesla dealerships and on top of that, the automaker is facing ramped up competition from a Chinese company that's dramatically decreased charging time. Host Mike Eppel talks to Seth Goldstein, Equity Strategist at Morningstar Research Services, who covers Tesla and many other brands in the auto sector. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Why are concert tickets so expensive and hard to get? 16:31

6 days ago16:31

16:31

Getting concert tickets is harder than it used to be – and it means many Canadians have been shut out or forced to pay much higher prices with a reseller. Is this ever going to change? What needs to happen? Host Kris McCusker took those questions to Dan Wall of Live Nation Inc., which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. It is Wall’s first an in-depth feature interview on the subject since he joined the company in 2023. He describes a complicated landscape – but says there are some options – while a court case in the U.S is scheduled to proceed. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
A real and raw conversation with Dina Pugliese 21:47

9 days ago21:47

21:47

Live TV is often unpredictable, but at least the team behind the scenes is ready. However, this week, the ultimate surprise was pulled off — morning show legend, Dina Pugliese, shocked everyone by announcing her return to Breakfast Television, two years after stepping away from the spotlight. Host Melanie Ng speaks with her long-time colleague and friend, Dina, tackling topics she’s never talked about before. From burnout to family health, social media criticism to what makes her tick, nothing is off the table. This episode is a rollercoaster of emotions - with laughter and tears within the first few minutes. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Checking in on how Prime Minister Carney's first week is going 22:50

10 days ago22:50

22:50

Prime Minister Mark Carney is almost through his first week of Prime Minister. So, how's it going? He's already completed an international trip, had some interesting dealings with the media and is expected to call an election as soon as this weekend. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is rating the first week with Barry McLoughlin, President, TLC Transformational Leadership Consultants Inc. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Is Doug Ford Canada's most unlikely diplomat? 19:49

11 days ago19:49

19:49

Is Doug Ford Canada's most unlikely diplomat? Doug Ford travelled to Washington last week to talk tariffs, after threatening to impose tariffs on energy or even turn off power to 3 U.S. states. Although the temperature has been dialed down, Queen's Park reporter Richard Southern talks to pollster John Wright about Ford's actions last week and how this all ties in to the upcoming federal election. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Examining Taylor Swift as a historical figure 25:38

12 days ago25:38

25:38

Imagine being so famous that there are university courses studying your every move! Taylor Swift will be the subject of course being taught at Brock University this spring – by Associate Professor of history Elizabeth Vlossak. Host Kris McCusker examines how the course was created – what it’s all about – and why it’s more relevant than you might think. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
What you need to know about buying a car in a trade war 21:20

13 days ago21:20

21:20

Spring is usually the hottest time of year for car sales. But with Trump’s tariffs affecting aluminum, steel and auto parts, this year could be different. If tariffs on cars come into force on April 2nd as scheduled, there are fears it could upend the automotive supply chain. Host David Smith speaks with automotive specialist Tim Dimopoulos, publisher of Automotive News Canada, about what it all means for Canadian consumers. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Weekend listen: How Canadian business operators are dealing with so much uncertainty 10:18

14 days ago10:18

10:18

Trying to run a business in this economy is anything but easy. Uncertainty, unease and pressure from so many different factors are creating a very difficult situation for Canadian operators. Host Mike Eppel speaks with Mike Tzimas, president of the Napoleon Group of Companies about the current situation, the impact on tariffs, and how difficult it is to be a Canadian business operator in this climate. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
Weekend listen: Is Canada a NATO freeloader? 32:18

15 days ago32:18

32:18

For a longer weekend listen, we're going back in the archives from November to talk about an issue that's back in the headlines - NATO, and the U.S. concerns that Canada is not paying its fair share. Host David Smith talks to Richard Shimooka, a defence policy expert and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
The power of punctuality and what it says about you 20:03

16 days ago20:03

20:03

Punctuality – its definition and importance really depend on who you speak to. A recent study out of the UK shows a generational divide when it comes to tardiness and how it could be perceived by those around us. Host Melanie Ng speaks with peak performance coach and best-selling author, Hina Khan @coachwithhina, about a number of scenarios and why there is a sweet spot when it comes to how you show up both professionally and socially. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter…

1
The trade war goes metal 16:43

17 days ago16:43