Join us for a night of true, personal stories about science and dive into moments of comparison, deviation, and setting standards. From measuring ourselves against plants to finding out how far from the norm things really are, these stories explore what it means to measure up—or stand out.
Hosted by Misha Gajewski and Sara Mazrouei.
Doors at 6:30 pm, show at 7:00 pm.
Stories by:
Part existential crisis and part leap of faith, Veronica Antipolo started storytelling and stand-up comedy as hobbies which became such transformational experiences that she continued to share stories, as well as, help others find and share theirs. She is a professional storyteller, storytelling coach, comedian, and writer who explores themes of self-identity, empowerment, diversity, equity, and inclusion to foster connections, build communities, and spark social change. Veronica has been featured in CBC Radio’s “The Doc Project”, Reader’s Digest, Stories We Don’t Tell: The Book, award-nominated RICE Asian comedy podcast, Toronto Storytelling Festival, Museum London. She has worked with clients such as the London Catholic District School Board, McMaster University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Western University, and the Words Literary and Creative Arts Festival. Find out more at SassyLaV.com and MosaicPearl.com
For the past 20 years, Rachel Ward-Maxwell has worked as a science communicator and program developer for a variety of organizations, appeared as a content expert on TV and radio broadcasts, and, in her current role as the Researcher-Programmer in Astronomy and Space Sciences at the Ontario Science Centre, has supported the development of exhibits and public programs, including planetarium shows and virtual content. Rachel received her doctoral degree in astrophysics from McMaster University in 2015, where she used computer simulations to model the structure of interstellar clouds and formation of Sun-like stars.
Panagiota Vogdou: I was born in Kozani, Greece and moved to Toronto, Canada in 2015. I am a Greek teacher and a flight attendant, but my heart is set on acting and of course storytelling. Even though I am based in Toronto, I am eager to fly anywhere to tell my stories! I have been doing community theatre both in my native, Greece, and in Toronto. In 2020, I fell in love with storytelling. Since then, I have been crafting and sharing my stories at the Replay Storytelling Show and But That’s Another Story Show in Toronto, and Confabulation Show in Montreal.
Misha Gajewski is the managing producer and host of The Story Collider podcast. She is also a freelance journalist, educator, and copywriter. Her work has appeared on Vice, Forbes, BlogTO, CTV News, and BBC, among others. She’s the co-founder of the world’s first 24-hour true storytelling festival and has written scripts for the award-winning YouTube channel SciShow. She also has a cat named Satan and when she’s not working in her pyjamas, she can be found exploring the world or refinishing old furniture.
Nazima Qureshi is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist with a Masters of Public Health. She is a two time author, a food journal entitled Eat Better, Feel Better, Live Better, and The Healthy Ramadan Guide. She has been featured in CNN, CBC, Canadian Living, Self Magazine, Globe and Mail, and NY times. Her philosophy is to live a healthy lifestyle that includes enjoying all foods that include all ethnic cuisines as well as enjoying being physically active. Instead of focusing on restricting ourselves, she teaches clients which foods they should be adding to improve their lives. Nazima has helped many people make real changes in their lives, such as weight loss, improving their health, and improving their relationship with food. She is co-founded thehealthymuslims.com with her husband, which is dedicated to helping Muslims make healthy eating and fitness the easy choice. You can connect with Nazima at @nutritionbynaz on Instagram.