They were classmates at Niagara College more than a decade ago and now Sarah Christie and Shannon Burns have collaborated on a passion project to help increase awareness about the issues affecting Mother Earth.
Throughout the month of April, the alumnae, who graduated from the Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film program in 2013, have been co-hosting Virgin Radio’s Earth Day Party podcast. The podcast is part of Virgin’s first annual national Earth Month awareness campaign in support of World Wildlife Fund Canada and features conversations with some of the most renowned climate and wildlife experts in the world.
The opportunity to work together has been a memorable experience for the dynamic duo, blending their personal interests for climate action and their professional talents in top 40 radio – Christie is National Music Director for Virgin Radio and host of the Earth Care podcast, and Burns is Virgin Radio’s National midday host and iHeart Radio personality.
“I often hear Shannon share climate-related news on her national show and for past Earth Day’s, she has also made a conscious effort to celebrate the Earth on-air and share actionable steps for the listeners,” said Christie. “Personally, I knew this was a world Shannon cared about, so between that and her rockstar interview skills, it felt like a no brainer to ask her to be a part of the series!”
“Sarah has always been my go-to for advice and hope when it comes to the climate crisis and it’s been a joy to witness her passion for the planet in the conversations we’ve had with other experts,” said Burns. “A consistent theme on my radio show is to always maintain a level of positivity, so this whole project aligns perfectly.”
Christie and Burns have interviewed a range of inspiring experts through the series, including Canadian icon David Suzuki, an award-winning geneticist and broadcaster, and Dr. Jane Goodall, a British ethologist who is considered the world’s leading expert on chimpanzees.
Christie and Burns interview David Suzuki for an episode of the Earth Day Party podcast
Dr. Jane Goodall speaks with Christie and Burns
Over the course of her career, Burns says she has spoken with some of the most famous entertainers of our time, but these particular interviews felt especially meaningful to her.
“Getting to ask questions directly to people like David and Jane – who have selflessly dedicated their lives to helping others, has been an incredibly rewarding experience,” she shared. “The climate crisis is a real issue and hearing the urgency in both of their voices in our conversations has helped me better understand the work that still needs to be done and how it’s up to us and the younger generations to continue the work that they have been doing.”
“I feel so grateful that our co-workers have launched this (awareness) campaign to help amplify important conversations. The radio industry is filled with powerful storytellers and what we quickly learn from these interviews is there are so many important stories that need to be shared,” added Christie.
The Earth Day Party series complements Christie’s Earth Care Show, which she launched in 2021 in response to the climate anxiety she was experiencing. Christie uses the platform to amplify the climate issues that she feels need more attention. Throughout the five seasons so far, the show has featured water protectors, environmental scientists, green entrepreneurs and other experts.
“Season five was especially fun because it focussed on sustainability in the live music industry,” she shared. “I spoke with representatives from organizations who have worked with Billie Eilish to green her tour, the company that designed Coldplay’s kinetic dance floor for their tour, the Executive Director of an award-winning low-waste music festival and more.”
For Burns, who is an Allan Waters Young Broadcaster of the Year recipient (2022), the project follows an exciting time in her career after landing a role with etalk last summer.
“My time at etalk was incredibly memorable. The position gave me the opportunity to broaden my interview experience, shifting from primarily speaking with musical artists to having more in-depth conversations with actors in film and television,” she said.
“One of the highlights was covering the Toronto International Film Festival with the team, which was a whirlwind of back-to-back sit-down interviews and red carpet coverage. I’m proud to now include names like Tom Hanks, Seth Rogen, Kate Hudson, Kristen Stewart, and Will Ferrell on my list of notable interviews,” added Burns, who also covered red carpets for etalk at the iHeartRadio Awards and JUNO Awards last month.
Burns (left) and Christie at their NC convocation in 2013. The friends have kept in touch since college, through internships and jobs in Winnipeg and further west
Although the Earth Day Party podcast officially brought Christie and Burns together professionally for the first time in their careers, the two have kept in touch through the years.
“It’s special to look back on how the BRTF program brought us all together,” said Christie, who remembers working on the Radio-a-thon and Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade with Burns. “Multiple late nights in the editing studio or cross collaborating with other classmates on projects inherently builds a bond.”
“This podcast has been such a fun opportunity to finally collaborate on a project again, just like we used to back in school!” added Burns. “It’s also been a great reminder that the connections you make in school can open doors to meaningful opportunities later in your professional life.”
Witnessing the accomplishments of the Christie and Burns is a point of pride for faculty who taught the alumnae in the BRTF program.
“Sarah and Shannon are two incredible, inspiring, trailblazing young women who are exceptional role models for current broadcasting students,” said BRTF Professor and Program Coordinator Peter “Dutch” VandenBerg.
“We are very proud of Sarah and Shannon for all they have accomplished in their careers so far and we look forward to following their future successes,” added BRTF Professor Bruce Gilbert.
Listen, learn and engage
Visit Virgin Radio’s Earth Day Party podcast webpage to listen to past episodes in the series. A resource guide (Earth Day: Protect Our Planet) is also available with environmental tips and links.
Follow Sarah Christie’s Earth Care Show at earthcareshow.com.
Listen to Shannon Burns weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on your local Virgin radio station.
