Isobel Barlow-Busch

Beyond the Jargon

I produce Beyond the Jargon, a CFUV 101.9 FM podcast that translates graduate research at the University of Victoria into engaging, plain-language conversations for a broad audience. I produced Season 11 and Season 12 (ongoing in Spring 2026), shaping each episode from initial concept to final cut. This includes recruiting guests, developing episode narratives, conducting and recording interviews, and managing all aspects of post-production.

A huge amount of exciting research happens behind institutional and disciplinary boundaries, and is completely inaccessible to a non-specialist. My goal is to create space for researchers to talk about their work as people (why they care, how they got there, and what their findings mean) while still communicating the substance and significance of the research itself. Episodes from the seasons I produced have been streamed approximately 250 times, and consistently rank among the top ten most-streamed episodes in the podcast’s 12-year run.

The storytelling doesn’t stop when the episode ends. I also run the Beyond the Jargon Instagram account, where I share episode launches, guest highlights, and behind-the-scenes moments from each student’s research.

Episode Summaries

How do you learn an Indigenous language when there aren’t any first language speakers around to help? In this episode, Nicki Benson, a PhD student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, shares how adult learners are finding creative, community-driven ways to bring Indigenous languages back into daily life.

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How did colonialism unfold off the coast of the Pacific Northwest? Jesse Robertson, a PhD student in the Department of History, explores how encounters between Indigenous mariners and colonial newcomers at sea shaped the course of history. In this episode, we dive into how the ocean became a central stage for colonial encounters.

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What if we could make chemical reactions faster, cleaner, and smarter? This week, I’m joined by Ian Chagunda, a PhD student in the Department of Chemistry, who studies catalytic reactions—key processes behind the production of everything from medicines to materials. Using mass spectrometry, he uncovers their hidden mechanisms to make chemistry more efficient and sustainable.

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How does the growth of cities affect the lakes around us? Biology master’s student Ashley Mickens is using a small but mighty fish, the threespine stickleback, to investigate how urban development impacts freshwater ecosystems on Vancouver Island.

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Immigrating to a new country is never easy, and for Sikh women in Canada, the experience comes with its own unique challenges. Jasmine Padam, a master’s student in the Department of Sociology, explores the stories of Sikh women in British Columbia’s Lower Mainland to fill a critical gap in our understanding of immigration. We discuss how history, policy, and community shape these women’s experiences, and why their voices are essential to the conversation.

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This week, we’re exploring how education policies can shape a student’s future, especially for those new to the country. Alycia Garcia, a PhD student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, breaks down how American educational policies impact newcomer students and what that means for their learning, belonging, and success.

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In today’s episode, we’re zooming out from individual stars to entire galaxies! Max Kurzner, a PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, takes us on a journey through the Virgo Cluster—the closest galaxy cluster to our own.

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This week on Beyond the Jargon, we’re looking to the stars—literally! Breanna Crompvoets, a PhD student in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, joins us to chat about the science of star formation and what fuels the birth of these celestial giants.

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Social Media

Throw back to Jesse Robertson's episode from last season (link in bio!) That’s a wrap on Season 11 of Beyond the Jargon! I had such a blast learning about the incredible research happening at UVic and helping grad students share their work with the world. How do you learn an Indigenous language when there are no first language speakers around to help? How did colonialism unfold off the coast of the Pacific Northwest? How do catalysts help speed up chemical reactions—and why does it matter? Ever wondered how city growth affects the lakes and rivers around us? 🎙️New Episode! Immigrating to a new country is never easy, and for Sikh women in Canada, the experience comes with its own unique challenges. How do education policies shape the experiences of students who are new to the country? This week, I sit down with Alycia Garcia, a PhD student in Curriculum and Instruction, to explore how American educational policies can help—or hinder—newcomer students. We discuss the rapid shifts in policy, the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion in education, and what needs to change to create a more supportive system. This week, we’re zooming way out—from individual stars to entire galaxies! I sat down with Max Kurzner to talk about the Virgo Cluster, the closest galaxy cluster to our own Milky Way. By studying the shapes and structures of these galaxies, Max is piecing together the story of how galaxies form, evolve, and interact over time.