One of the things I love most about podcasting is that you never know where a question will lead.
As part of the Calgary French & International School's DaVinci Days program, I invited Grade 7 students to help me plan a future episode of The People Teaching People Podcast focused on what adults can learn about teaching and learning from students.
I expected their ideas to shape the episode.
What I didn't expect was how many of their responses would stay with me long after the session ended.
Their honesty, insight, and self-awareness reminded me that learning is never a one-way street. Every person, regardless of age, has something valuable to teach and something new to learn.
The strongest learning communities are built on curiosity, conversation, and a willingness to learn from one another.
What is something you've learned from someone younger than you?
Learn more about the Canadian French & International School (CFIS):
Website: https://www.cfis.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/calgary-french-&-international-school/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yycfrench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool/
➡️ To listen to Episode 82: Listening to and Learning from Student Voices with Tiana Fech, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
Tiana Fech Consulting
Tiana Fech Consulting helps businesses confidently create learning experiences that inspire, engage and connect with their clients, customers and communities.
06/18/2026
“Learning and understanding are more important than grades.” ~ CFIS Grade 7 Student
As I read through the responses from Grade 7 students at the Calgary French & International School, I was struck by the wisdom reflected in so many of their comments.
They spoke about growth instead of comparison. Understanding instead of performance. Balance instead of burnout. They reminded me that success is about more than outcomes and that learning, well-being, relationships, and personal growth are deeply connected.
Perhaps most importantly, they challenged adults to consider perspectives beyond their own. Different experiences create different insights, and meaningful learning can happen in both directions when we are willing to listen.
What is a lesson you've learned from someone younger than you?
Learn more about the Canadian French & International School (CFIS):
Website: https://www.cfis.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/calgary-french-&-international-school/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yycfrench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool/
➡️ To listen to Episode 82: Listening to and Learning from Student Voices with Tiana Fech, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
As part of the Calgary French & International School's DaVinci Days program, I recently spent the morning introducing three Grade 7 classes to the world of podcasting.
As part of the session, I asked the students to help me plan a future episode of The People Teaching People Podcast focused on a simple question:
What can adults learn about teaching and learning from students?
Afterward, as I read through their responses, one comment really stayed with me:
"We have emotions that deserve to be acknowledged rather than discounted as hormones or being a moody teen."
The students weren't just sharing opinions about school. They were sharing their reality.
They wrote about pressure, mental health, relationships, expectations, and what it feels like to grow up in today's world. More than anything, they wanted adults to understand that their experiences, perspectives, and emotions deserve to be taken seriously.
It was a simple but powerful reminder that before we can support learners, we need to understand them.
What is one thing you think adults often underestimate about young people today?
Learn more about the Canadian French & International School (CFIS):
Website: https://www.cfis.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/calgary-french-&-international-school/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yycfrench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool/
➡️ To listen to Episode 82: Listening to and Learning from Student Voices with Tiana Fech, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
06/16/2026
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend the morning with three Grade 7 classes at the Calgary French & International School as part of their DaVinci Days program. Thanks to an invitation from Lisa Webb, I was there to introduce students to the world of podcasting and explore some of the many pathways connected to the industry.
As part of the session, I asked the students to help me plan this podcast episode based on the question: What can adults learn about teaching and learning from students?
Their responses were thoughtful, honest, insightful, and sometimes surprising. They shared what helps them learn, what gets in the way, what they wish adults better understood, and what learning feels like from their perspective.
Most of all, they reminded me that if we want to better understand learning, we need to spend more time listening to our learners.
This week's episode of The People Teaching People Podcast shares what they taught me.
What is something students have taught you about learning?
Learn more about the Canadian French & International School (CFIS):
Website: https://www.cfis.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/calgary-french-&-international-school/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yycfrench
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool/
➡️ To listen to Episode 82: Listening to and Learning from Student Voices with Tiana Fech, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
“Your story is the most important and the most interesting thing about your business.” - Melissa Ninaber
Melissa Ninaber and Joanna Pariseau talk openly about what it really looks like to build a business online in today’s world.
Melissa shares that while products and ideas matter, it is ultimately the story behind a business that draws people in and creates connection.
She reflects on the importance of showing both the exciting moments and the messy parts of the journey, from failed videos and constant experimentation on social media to difficult business decisions like turning down a Dragons’ Den deal that did not align with their long-term vision.
Joanna adds that building Taste the City through social media and content creation has pushed her far outside her comfort zone, especially as someone who never imagined becoming the public face of a business.
Together, they speak honestly about the criticism that can come with putting yourself out there and the courage it takes to keep showing up anyway.
What stands out most is their willingness to stay grounded in their values, trust their instincts, and keep learning as they go. Their story is such a powerful reminder that growth often begins the moment we stop worrying so much about what other people might think.
Connect with Joanna and Melissa and learn more about Taste the City:
LinkedIn:
▪Taste the City https://www.linkedin.com/company/taste-the-city/
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-pariseau-52270166/
▪Melissa Ninaber https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-joy-ninaber-b3a051256/
Website: Taste the City https://www.tastethecity.ca/
Instagram:
▪Taste the City: https://www.instagram.com/tastethecity__
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.instagram.com/thetastyceo/
▪Melissa Ninaber: https://www.instagram.com/melissajoyliving/
Facebook: Taste The City
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/
➡️ To listen to Episode 81: Building Taste the City Through Food, Friendship and Community with Joanna Pariseau & Melissa Ninaber, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
06/04/2026
“Learning is so important for the sake of learning, but you have to want to try and do something with the learning.” ~ Joanna Pariseau
Joanna Pariseau reflects on returning to university during a difficult season of life and discovering that learning is most meaningful when it is driven by genuine curiosity.
She shares how a class project focused on revitalizing Calgary's downtown eventually became the foundation for Taste the City, reminding us that we never know where our learning might lead.
Melissa Ninaber encourages people to stop waiting for the perfect moment and simply begin. For her, the greatest lessons come through doing, trying, failing, and trying again.
Together, Joanna and Melissa highlight the importance of staying curious, embracing growth, and taking action even when the outcome is uncertain.
Their message is a simple but powerful one: you do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Sometimes the learning, the opportunities, and the magic happen because you were willing to take the first step.
Connect with Joanna and Melissa and learn more about Taste the City:
LinkedIn:
▪Taste the City https://www.linkedin.com/company/taste-the-city/
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-pariseau-52270166/
▪Melissa Ninaber https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-joy-ninaber-b3a051256/
Website: Taste the City https://www.tastethecity.ca/
Instagram:
▪Taste the City: https://www.instagram.com/tastethecity__
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.instagram.com/thetastyceo/
▪Melissa Ninaber: https://www.instagram.com/melissajoyliving/
Facebook: Taste The City
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/
➡️ To listen to Episode 81: Building Taste the City Through Food, Friendship and Community with Joanna Pariseau & Melissa Ninaber, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
Joanna Pariseau and Melissa Ninaber talk about the rare kind of friendship that begins in childhood and somehow keeps growing through every stage of life.
Although Melissa moved away in grade two and they never lived in the same city again, they stayed connected as pen pals and remained close through the years.
Their stories about childhood memories, shared humor, prank calls, music discoveries, and feeling a little different from everyone else paint such a vivid picture of the connection they formed from such a young age.
What stands out most is how deeply rooted their friendship is in shared values, trust, and character alignment.
Joanna shares that working together as co-founders felt less complicated because they already knew each other so well and genuinely wanted the best for one another.
Their story is such a beautiful reminder that some friendships do not just stay with us through life, they continue to grow alongside us and can even become part of building something meaningful together.
Connect with Joanna and Melissa and learn more about Taste the City:
LinkedIn:
▪Taste the City https://www.linkedin.com/company/taste-the-city/
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-pariseau-52270166/
▪Melissa Ninaber https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-joy-ninaber-b3a051256/
Website: Taste the City https://www.tastethecity.ca/
Instagram:
▪Taste the City: https://www.instagram.com/tastethecity__
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.instagram.com/thetastyceo/
▪Melissa Ninaber: https://www.instagram.com/melissajoyliving/
Facebook: Taste The City
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/
➡️ To listen to Episode 81: Building Taste the City Through Food, Friendship and Community with Joanna Pariseau & Melissa Ninaber, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
06/02/2026
What if the best way to reconnect with your city, and each other, started with food?
In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I sit down with Joanna Pariseau and Melissa Ninaber, the co-founders behind Taste the City, the experiential food platform transforming how people explore local restaurants, neighborhoods, and human connection.
Joanna and Melissa share the story of a friendship that began in grade one, the lessons they’ve learned building a business together, and how authenticity, storytelling, and community have become the foundation of their growth.
From turning down a deal on Dragon's Den to building a brand with millions of organic views, they open up about entrepreneurship, creativity, social media, resilience, and why being willing to look “cringe” might actually be the key to building something meaningful.
This episode is a reminder that learning doesn’t only happen in classrooms. Sometimes it happens while walking through a city, sharing a meal, trying something new, or taking a chance on yourself before you feel ready.
Listen in as we talk about:
▪Connection and community through food
▪The Taste the City experience
▪How Taste the City is so much more than just food
▪Technology with a human touch
▪Why storytelling matters more than ever in business
▪The power of friendship in entrepreneurship
▪Why the best way to learn is simply to start
Connect with Joanna and Melissa and learn more about Taste the City:
LinkedIn:
▪Taste the City https://www.linkedin.com/company/taste-the-city/
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanna-pariseau-52270166/
▪Melissa Ninaber https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-joy-ninaber-b3a051256/
Website: Taste the City https://www.tastethecity.ca/
Instagram:
▪Taste the City: https://www.instagram.com/tastethecity__
▪Joanna Pariseau https://www.instagram.com/thetastyceo/
▪Melissa Ninaber: https://www.instagram.com/melissajoyliving/
Facebook: Taste The City
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/
➡️ To listen to Episode 81: Building Taste the City Through Food, Friendship and Community with Joanna Pariseau & Melissa Ninaber, head to: https://tianafech.com/podcast-2/
🎧 The People Teaching People Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Spotify, & more!
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