Season Five - Episode One - Phillip Harder

09/15/22 • 41 min

1 Listener

Every superhero has an origin story. For hydrologist Phillip Harder, who I consider a water superhero, his origin story traces back to when he first saw a culvert sticking straight up in the air near his farm at the age of seven.

Phillip wanted to know why there was fresh water at the bottom of that odd-looking culvert when there was an alkali body of water nearby. To a seven year-old kid growing up on a farm southeast of Saskatoon, this question needed an answer.

The answer to this question, and the great story that surrounds it, is in this episode of YXE Underground.

Season 5 of YXE Underground begins with Phillip Harder. He is a hydrologist and a Research Associate for the Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is also a member of a national team called the Global Water Futures research project.

Phillip is helping communities on the prairies, and especially farmers, learn to best use their fresh water resources. He’s doing this through careful research, flying expensive drones and engaging with people on social media.

I really admire the work Phillip is doing for our communities. I think the issue of fresh water will become more prominent in the years to come here in Saskatoon as we continue to see the impact of climate change and how it impacts the South Saskatchewan River. We rely so much on the South Saskatchewan River here in Saskatoon, but as Phillip points out in the podcast, so do many people in Saskatchewan and Alberta. We are going to need to share this valuable resource and Phillip’s research will help guide us in how best to do so.

You will also hear from Jay Famiglietti in this episode. Jay is the Executive Director for the Global Institute of Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan and hosts a wonderful podcast called What About Water which is produced here in Saskatoon. Jay does an excellent job of putting Phillip’s work into a larger context and discusses the challenges of sharing research with people who are set in their ways when it comes to using water.

This was such a fun episode to produce! I spent a very hot August afternoon with Phillip on his family’s land just south of Clavet, Saskatchewan, which is about 15 minutes southeast of Saskatoon. He not only took me to the infamous vertical culvert but also to a research site where some of his work is taking place. Phillip is passionate about educating people on issues surrounding fresh water and is gifted at explaining things in clear and understandable ways.
I hope you enjoy the Season 5 debut of YXE Underground and I want to thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! When I started this podcast in September of 2018, I had no idea it would find such a caring and engaged audience, and I sure didn’t think I would make it to a fifth season! Thank you so much for your continued support as I really love sharing the stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

The answer to this question, and the great story that surrounds it, is in this episode of YXE Underground.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Previous Episode

Bonus Episode -Saskatoon Fringe Festival Preview

Anita Smith is one of my favourite people and it was wonderful to have her back on the podcast for this special summer bonus episode.

Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and a fierce advocate for the arts in our community. When she's not directing and acting in plays, Anita empowers local artists from all backgrounds to tell their stories on local stages. That's one of the many reasons why she is so excited for the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.

25th Street Theatre puts on the Fringe Festival which means Anita and her team are busy all year preparing for the 10 day festival in Saskatoon's Broadway District. This year's festival features the return of international theatre companies to Saskatoon as well as some fantastic local and national companies.
Anita was kind enough to swing by my house on a Sunday morning to offer a preview of this year's Fringe Festival for the podcast. We also discuss the importance of getting kids interested in the arts at a young age and why she feels so strongly about our community supporting local artists.

You can learn more about this year's Fringe Festival and purchase tickets to any of the festival performances by visiting the 25th Street Theatre website.
I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer and don't forget that Season 5 of YXE Underground drops on September 8th! I have started gathering interviews for the new season and can't wait to share them with you!!
Thank you, as always, for supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it. Have a great rest of your summer and maybe see you at the Fringe!
Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Next Episode

Season Five - Episode Two - Charmaine Panko

Spend some time with Charmaine Panko and you will quickly realize how important meaningful and empathetic discussion is to her.

Charmaine is a Saskatoon lawyer who takes a lot of pride in helping couples and families who are going through the divorce process. She worked in a corporate law firm for 10 years after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan's law program but was always intrigued by family law.

She started a niche practice in our community focusing on conflict resolution and uses collaborative law and mediation when working in family law.

Charmaine explains how collaborative law and mediation can help couples going through a divorce make sure their priorities are in the right place while being kind and respectful to one-another in this episode. She also shares her motivation for helping others and why getting people in a room to talk through their concerns is often the best way to reach a solution.

You will also hear from Colleen Mpofu-McBride in this episode. Colleen is a clinical social worker and works in private practice as a therapist with women, couples and families. She knows Charmaine well and has taken her mediation training. Colleen offers her unique insights into the advantages mediation and collaborative law offers couples going through a difficult time.

I really learned a lot from Charmaine in our conversation. She is a warm and generous person who really wants to help people in our community. I really admire that.

I hope you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear! Don't forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and listen wherever you find your podcasts including the YXE Underground website.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric