Footsteps
This podcast serves as an educational platform, featuring insightful discussions with students, professors, experts and practitioners in the field of human rights.
Social justice, international law, and more Educating and inspiring
Each episode delves into various topics, such as social justice, international law, and humanitarian efforts, providing listeners with a comprehensive view of the MHR program and how it is responding to challenges through human rights education and advocacy. By highlighting stories and perspectives of MHR students and other change-makers around the globe, the podcast not only educates but also inspires listeners to consider an educational and career path in human rights and become agents of change.
Footsteps brings you closer to the people shaping the future of human rights. Each episode features in-depth conversations with students, professors, experts, and practitioners, hosted by the University of Manitoba’s groundbreaking Master of Human Rights program – the first of its kind in Canada. Hear how they confront global challenges, push for justice, and turn human rights education into real-world impact.
Whether you are a student, a professional, or simply an interested individual, this podcast offers valuable insights and perspectives on the vital issues surrounding human rights and human rights education today.
More than a 'pile of books': The Librarian as an Advocate – Realizing Human Rights Within Prison Communities Episode 7
Why is a library more than just a pile of books? In this episode of Footsteps, host Maddy Nowosad speaks with Kirsten Wurmann, who serves as program coordinator with the Manitoba Library and oversees the Prison Libraries Committee and Master of Human Rights student, Ege Kaymaz, who is completing his practicum under Kirsten’s supervision.
Together, they explore the vital role of libraries and librarians in advancing human rights within the prison environment through listening, relationship building, and resource development to help ensure incarcerated people can access books and information. Both guests reflect on how personal experiences, family influences and relationships have shaped their respective commitments to serving incarcerated people - a marginalized population whose lives and circumstances many of us, as Maddy points out, have limited opportunities to understand.
From Ege’s accessible resources explaining the Mandela Rules to Kirsten’s reflections on participant-led projects and relationships, the conversation considers what realizing human rights requires in practice - and the intergenerational inspiration, community and collective courage that sustain this very human work.
Episode Host: Maddy Nowasad (she/her)
Guests: Kirsten Wurmann (Manitoba Law Library) and Ege Kaymaz (Master of Human Rights student)
Listen to ep. 7 on Spotify Listen to ep. 7 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 7 on Apple Podcasts
Caring About People: Community, Harm Reduction and Human Rights Episode 6
In this episode, Master of Human Rights student and host Maddy Nowosad speaks with fellow MHR student Ellie Namit and Jonny Mexico of the Manitoba Harm Reduction Network about what it means to approach harm reduction through dignity, care, and community. As Jonny explains, harm reduction is not only about safer substance use; at its core, it is about relationships, connection, and recognizing that people who use substances deserve not to die.
Their conversation explores a challenging subject with an emphasis on kindness, community, and the responsibility to care about one another. They discuss common misconceptions about harm reduction, the importance of language and framing, and the ways public narratives can either deepen stigma or create space for brave and creative responses centred on dignity, health, and care.
Ellie and Jonny also reflect on both the possibilities and limitations of law and policy. While legal and policy frameworks can protect rights, strengthen services, and support community-based work, they can also become restrictive or punitive when they lose sight of the people most affected. Throughout the episode, they return to a central question: how can communities respond to the toxic drug crisis with the full range of supports people need, while respecting their dignity, agency, and fundamental human rights.
Episode Host: Maddy Nowasad (she/her)
Listen to ep. 6 on Spotify Listen to ep. 6 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 6 on Apple Podcasts
Interview with Annie Guglia Episode 5
Canadian Olympian Annie Guglia advocates for the Human Right to Participate in Sport
Annie Guglia (she/her) is a four-time Canadian national champion and the first Canadian woman to compete in street skateboarding at the Olympic Games. Through her work as a professional athlete, community organizer, and advocate, she is helping advance gender equity and the right of everyone to participate in sport and the right to play.
At eleven, Annie was fascinated by skateboarding but too intimidated to enter her local skatepark. In conversation with Master of Human Rights student Maddy Nowosad, she reflects on the people who invited her in, the importance of creating welcoming first experiences, and why grassroots organizing must be supported by policies and structures that make inclusion real.
Episode Host: Maddy Nowasad (she/her)
Listen to ep. 5 on Spotify Listen to ep. 5 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 5 on Apple Podcasts
Interview with Ana-Maria Costa Episode 4
Honouring our relatives through research
Ana-Maria Costa (she/her) is a Master of Human Rights student, honouring her family and the thousands of other victims of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état through her thesis research.
In elementary school, her teacher gifted her Underground to Canada by Barbara Smucker, sparking a care and curiosity for the causes of human rights violations that she would carry throughout her academic career. As Ana-Maria approaches her thesis, she reflects on the relational nature of human rights research, and the importance of talking with our own families and communities about the places we come from, and how those contexts shape our human rights work.
Episode Host: Maddy Nowasad (she/her)
Listen to ep. 4 on Spotify Listen to ep. 4 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 4 on Apple Podcasts
Interview with Dr. Laura Reimer Episode 3
Do you really know your ABCs? The curious connections between education and human rights
This podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Laura Reimer (she/her), whose lifelong commitment to human rights stemmed from childhood observations of injustice and invisibility. Her career path, from political science to public administration, education, and peace and conflict studies, reflects a growing understanding of the interconnectedness of justice, governance, education and human rights-informed decision-making. Dr. Reimer emphasizes the importance of addressing identity conflicts through understanding common ground, highlighting her research in education, the experiences of Indigenous students and her early role in developing the experiential practicum, a hallmark of the Master of Human Rights program at the University of Manitoba. The interview concludes with advice for aspiring human rights advocates, stressing the need for empathy, humility, and perseverance in the face of challenging work.
Episode Host: Dr. Mary Shariff
Listen to ep. 3 on Spotify Listen to ep. 3 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 3 on Apple Podcasts
Interview with Kyra Campbell Episode 2
Maybe you already know, even if you don’t...
In this episode, we sit down with Kyra Campbell (she/her), a Master of Human Rights student at the University of Manitoba, to explore her unexpected but powerful journey into the world of human rights. Kyra's story is a perfect example of how, even when we think we don’t have it all figured out, the path forward often becomes clear when we allow ourselves to explore and follow our passions.
Episode Host: Dr. Mary Shariff
Listen to ep. 2 on Spotify Listen to ep. 2 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 2 on Apple Podcasts
Episode 1
How can I make a difference?
Explore the first Master of Human Rights Program in Canada at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Law
Join us for an exciting episode of Footprints as we dive into the University of Manitoba’s groundbreaking Master of Human Rights program—the first in Canada! Explore its unique interdisciplinary approach, vibrant Winnipeg as a human rights centre, and essential admissions insights. Discover how this program can support you to make a difference!
Listen to ep.1 on Spotify Listen to ep. 1 on Amazon Music Listen to ep. 1 on Apple Podcasts