In this episode of Me, Myself, and AI, Casey explores the groundbreaking rise of AI-generated music—and why it hits so close to home. From growing up in Canada admiring artists like Kardinal Offishall, Jully (Julie) Black, Keisha Chanté, Nelly Furtado, Justin Bieber, and Drake, to navigating the high costs and gatekeeping of the music industry, Casey shares a personal journey of embracing AI as a tool for creative freedom.

In this episode of Me, Myself, and AI, we dive deep into the mysterious world of credit—how it works, who controls it, and why it feels like an uphill battle, especially for people who weren’t taught the system early on. Casey shares her personal journey with credit—from her first university credit card to the snowball effect of debt—and unpacks how credit scores are calculated, why rent-reporting programs can be both helpful and risky, and the real deal behind consumer proposals. Plus, we look at how other countries handle credit and ask the big question: is there a fairer way? Whether you’re rebuilding your credit, starting from scratch, or just curious about how this system runs your life, this episode is for you.

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Sources:

• Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO): https://www.fico.com

• VantageScore Solutions: https://www.vantagescore.com

• Equifax Canada: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca

• TransUnion Canada: https://www.transunion.ca

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB): https://www.consumerfinance.gov

• Ontario Consumer Reporting Act: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90c33

• National Consumer Law Center, “Past Imperfect: How Credit Scores and Other Analytics ‘Bake In’ Past Discrimination and Perpetuate Bias,” 2022

• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC): https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca

• Experian Boost: https://www.experian.com/consumer-products/boost

• RentTrack: https://www.renttrack.com

• Equifax Rent Advantage: https://www.consumer.equifax.ca/personal/products/rent-advantage/

• Government of Canada—Insolvency Statistics and Consumer Proposals: https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/bsf-osb.nsf/eng/home

• OECD Reports on International Credit Reporting Systems (2023)

• World Bank: “Credit Reporting Knowledge Guide” (2020)

Hey, it’s Casey B. Today’s episode is a little different—it’s the full audiobook version of How to Make Something Out of a Mess. I wanted to share this with you because I know what it feels like to be building something new while navigating life’s chaos. This is my story, my blueprint, and my encouragement to you. I hope it resonates.

This episode examines President Trump’s 2025 invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants without due process, as reported by This American Life and other news outlets. It also explores recent changes in Canadian immigration policy, including reductions in international student visas and asylum access, highlighting how immigration is being redefined across North America.

Sources referenced or explored in this episode:

• This American Life

• Reuters

• Associated Press

• NPR

• Fox News

• The Guardian

• Politico

• CBC

• CTV News

• Government of Canada immigration updates

• ACLU legal responses to the Alien Enemies Act

• U.S. Supreme Court rulings on recent deportations

• Reports on El Salvador’s CECOT prison agreement

• Safe Third Country Agreement changes

• Research on the economic impact of immigration in the U.S. and Canada

In this deep-dive episode, we explore how Google came to settle a $28 million class-action lawsuit for underpaying Latinx, Indigenous, and Native employees—and why Black employees were pursuing separate legal action. We unpack the data, the leaked spreadsheets, the whistleblowers, and how this landmark case was proven. Then we zoom out and look at similar patterns across Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, and others. Finally, we investigate the rollback of DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) programs in the U.S. and Canada. Are companies backing away from racial equity? Were these programs ever enough? And who actually benefited? This episode pulls from legal documents, internal testimony, and a balanced mix of media and academic sources to reveal the real story behind the pay gaps in tech.

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Sources Cited in the Episode:

Legal & Primary Documents:

• Class-action lawsuit Cantu v. Google (California Superior Court)

• April Curley’s federal lawsuit against Google

• U.S. Department of Labor v. Oracle (OFCCP complaint)

• EEOC complaints filed against Facebook

• National Labor Relations Board documents (Apple pay transparency case)

Media Outlets – Left & Center:

• Reuters

• The Guardian

• Black Enterprise

• TechCrunch

• Fortune

• NPR

• Time

• CNBC

• People of Color in Tech (POCIT)

• ClassAction.org

Media Outlets – Right & Balanced Perspectives:

• Fox Business (coverage of anti-DEI shareholder push and state backlash)

• Wall Street Journal (commentary on DEI performance)

• Resourceful Finance Pro

Academic & Policy Reports:

• McKinsey & Company – “Race in the Workplace” & DEI outcomes reports

• Harvard Business Review – Research on diversity program effectiveness (Dobbin & Kalev)

• EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) – 2023 tech sector diversity report

• Statistics Canada – Racial pay gap data and employment equity outcomes

• Conference Board of Canada – Reports on DEI and representation in the Canadian workforce

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the policies that have shaped Canada over the past 20 years. From the federal level under Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government to the provincial level under Doug Ford’s Conservative leadership, we uncover the key policies that have impacted housing, healthcare, the economy, immigration, and more. We’ll break down what’s been passed, what’s been struck down, and what it all means for everyday Canadians.

Is Canada truly progressing, or are we caught in a cycle of political promises and practical failures? Join us as we make sense of the data and explore how federal and provincial priorities clash, intersect, and shape the way we live. Whether you’re just tuning in to politics or trying to make sense of the headlines, this episode cuts through the noise and lays out the real impact of our leaders’ choices.