The CUSW Spotlight Podcast
The CUSW Spotlight Podcast
Podcast Description
Welcome to The CUSW Podcast!Your monthly source for all things CUSW!This podcast dives into union members' experiences, stories, and insights while also spotlighting training opportunities, union initiatives, and essential information for skilled workers across Canada.Each episode brings you closer to the people and projects driving CUSW forward, from personal stories and professional development to key topics on workplace safety, mental health, and union advocacy. Hosted by Dan Plexman, this podcast connects you with the voices of CUSW, keeping you informed and engaged.Tune in monthly for new episodes, and don’t forget to share your thoughts and let us know what topics matter most to you!Visit www.cusw.ca to🔻 Learn More About CUSW 🔻 Stay Informed 🔻 Get in Touch 🔻 Get Involved 🔻 Never Miss an Episode Listen Here 🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on diverse themes including union advocacy, workplace safety, mental health, and the evolution of the skilled trades. Episodes spotlight training opportunities and innovations within the union, such as personal narratives from members and discussions on leadership and the importance of member participation. Examples include episodes on safety initiatives and the role of mentorship in union growth.
Welcome to The CUSW Podcast!
Your monthly source for all things CUSW!
This podcast dives into union members’ experiences, stories, and insights while also spotlighting training opportunities, union initiatives, and essential information for skilled workers across Canada.
Each episode brings you closer to the people and projects driving CUSW forward, from personal stories and professional development to key topics on workplace safety, mental health, and union advocacy.
Hosted by Dan Plexman, this podcast connects you with the voices of CUSW, keeping you informed and engaged.
Tune in monthly for new episodes, and don’t forget to share your thoughts and let us know what topics matter most to you!
Visit www.cusw.ca to
🔻 Learn More About CUSW
🔻 Stay Informed
🔻 Get in Touch
🔻 Get Involved
🔻 Never Miss an Episode Listen Here
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel. Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits: Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, host Dan Plexman sits down with Valerie (Val) Vanderwyk, Executive Director of ISEAD – Indigenous Skills, Employment, Apprenticeship & Development – a national Indigenous not-for-profit committed to supporting Indigenous youth, communities, and their pathways into education, training, and the skilled trades.
Val shares her personal story as a Mi'kmaq woman and Sixties Scoop survivor, and speaks openly about the importance of community, lifelong learning, and building relationships based on trust, sincerity, and shared responsibility. She reflects on ISEAD’s longstanding partnership with CUSW, describing it as an unwavering relationship rooted in mutual respect, support, and a genuine sense of family.
Together, Val and Dan explore reconciliation as a personal journey, not a checklist. Reconciliation is a daily practice that shapes how we learn, work, and show up for one another. They discuss mentorship, culture, safety, the ripple effect of leadership decisions, and the importance of creating psychologically safe spaces where people can grow, heal, and contribute in meaningful ways.
This conversation is honest, warm, and deeply human. It highlights what is possible when organizations come together with aligned values, open hearts, and a shared vision for long-term positive impact in communities across Canada.
Want to connect with Val and learn more about ISEAD? Feel free to reach out to her directly at [email protected]
Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email Dan at [email protected].
🔻 Learn More About CUSW
Discover who we are and what we stand for: CUSW – Who We Are
🔻 Stay Informed
Get the latest news and updates: CUSW News
🔻 Get in Touch
Need to contact CUSW? Find out how: CUSW Contact Page
🔻 Get Involved
Explore opportunities to participate and make a difference: CUSW Participation Model
🔻 Never Miss an Episode
Catch up on all our podcast episodes here: Listen Here
🎧 Listen Anytime, Anywhere! – Find our podcast on all major directories, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and more.
📺 Watch the Podcast on YouTube! – Subscribe and watch full episodes on our official YouTube channel.Watch Here
🎵 Music Credits:Music Credits: Original music by Glen MacNeil (lyrics, vocals, guitar) with production by Brad MacNeil.
Tune in, stay inspired, and keep shining that CUSW spotlight!
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.