In this episode of the AAA/CASCA Annual Meeting podcast, Monica Heller talks with guest host Isabelle LeBlanc about the theme of transitions and her work in linguistic anthropology. She highlights the multicultural and multilingual nature of the city, emphasizing the importance of understanding diversity and inequality. Monica shares her experiences of conducting ethnography in Toronto and the significance of language in building social relations.

Monica Heller is currently President of the Canadian Anthropology Society/Société canadienne d’anthropologie. She is also a Past President of the American Anthropological Association. Professor emerita at the University of Toronto, she is a linguistic anthropologist interested broadly in the role of language in the making of social difference and social inequality. More specifically she follows the development of ideologies and practices linking language, nation and State in francophone Canada.

Isabelle LeBlanc is an Assistant Professor at the University of Moncton's Department of French Studies since 2019. Her research delves into the intersection between feminist theories and critical sociolinguistics, examining biographical methods in sociolinguistics, sociolinguistic narratives, family language policies, the interplay of gender ideologies and linguistic ideologies, as well as discourses on sexual violence. She teaches various subjects, including methodology, sociolinguistics, language history, linguistic anthropology, language policies, and the relationship between language and gender (feminization, inclusive writing, etc.). Isabelle also collaborates with the Canada Research Chair in Acadian and Transnational Studies at the University of Sainte-Anne and co-founded the Research Group on Archives and Women in Acadia (GRAFA). She participates in the research project "Rethinking Acadia in the World: Comparative and Transnational Studies" and serves as a researcher at the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Diversity and Equity (LGBTQ2+)

The 2023 

In this episode of the AAA/CASCA Annual Meeting podcast, Cassandra Hartblay talks with Matt Artz about the theme of transitions, her research on the cultural dimensions of disability in post-Soviet Russia, and her use of performance ethnography as a method to explore and understand disability. They also discuss the importance of accessibility and inclusion, both within the academic field and in the city of Toronto. Finally, Cassandra shares recommendations for places to visit and highlights the Tangled Art + Disability art gallery as a vibrant hub for showcasing the artwork of disabled artists.

Cassandra Hartblay is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Health Humanities at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She is also the Director of the Centre for Global Disability Studies. With a background in sociocultural and medical anthropology, Cassandra specializes in gender, sexuality, and disability theory, with a specific regional focus on Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Cassandra's research combines ethnographic methods with documentary arts, performative and visual formats, and traditional academic writing. She brings a unique blend of academic expertise and experience in non-profit work, digital media, and event planning to her work in academia, contributing to institution building within the field.

At the core of Cassandra's research is an exploration of citizenship and disability, particularly within the context of post-Soviet Russia. Her work bridges the fields of Medical Anthropology, Disability Studies, and Queer Theory, offering a synthesis of theoretical perspectives to understand and address the complex intersectionalities of disability and citizenship. Cassandra's ethnographic approach enables her to delve deep into the lived experiences and perspectives of individuals, contributing to a nuanced understanding of disability in its social and cultural contexts.

The 2023