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From a Dal psychology degree to being Joe in the iconic 鈥淚. AM. CANADIAN!鈥� beer commercial to moderating this year鈥檚 Stanfield Conversation,聽Jeff Douglas (BSc鈥�93)聽is no stranger to variety. He is up for just about anything and approaches each new task with an enthusiasm that he says blossoms from a bedrock of scientific thinking.

A scientific foundation聽

Although his career path took a distinctly creative bend, Douglas originally attended Dal for his Bachelor of Science. There, he learned about designing experiments and challenging preconceived notions.
鈥淯p to that point there was kind of binary in my mind of success or failure,鈥� says Douglas. 鈥淲hat I learned at Dal was, if your hypothesis is not confirmed, then you design another experiment.鈥澛�

It鈥檚 an interesting notion to take into a career in journalism. Douglas credits his old History of Psychology professor, Jim Clark, with teaching him how to read critically and listen meaningfully; two skills vital for someone who converses for a living. 鈥淗is whole thing was, be critical of聽everything聽鈥� even things you ascribe to,鈥� says Douglas. 鈥淛ust because someone agrees with you, doesn鈥檛 mean you should dismiss every other argument and assume yours is right.鈥澛�

Interviewing live on air

While completing his science degree, Douglas decided to act on his love for theatre and performing. He landed a series of acting roles (perhaps most recognizable: the ever-popular 鈥淚. AM. CANADIAN!鈥� rant for Molson). Those roles led to a career hosting and interviewing on CBC Radio, first on the national 鈥渃all-out鈥� show As It Happens, and currently as host of mainland Nova Scotia鈥檚 afternoon news and entertainment show Mainstreet.听听

And Douglas applies what he learned at Dal to his hosting gigs. Live on air, Douglas鈥檚 signature interview style is warm and charismatic. He connects with his guests on a personal level and teases out lines of conversation that don鈥檛 always follow the script his producers lay out for him.聽

鈥淚 go where the guest leads,鈥� Douglas says with a shrug, as if it鈥檚 something he can鈥檛 quite explain. 鈥淲hen I ask a question and I see their eyebrows go up, I go, 鈥極K, that鈥檚 the story they want to tell,鈥� and I follow them.鈥澨�听

That cozy, kitchen-table鈥搒tyle conversation applies to all of Douglas鈥檚 interviews, whether the story is jokey or serious. He is a staunch optimist and gives every guest the benefit of his doubt. 鈥淲e are instructed constantly, as journalists, to 鈥榓sk tough questions,鈥� 鈥� says Douglas. 鈥淎nd a lot of times people assume that means, 鈥榓sk questions in a tough manner,鈥� when that鈥檚 not necessarily the same thing.鈥�

Asking tough questions聽

Threading the needle of asking tough questions in a conversational way will be Douglas鈥檚 challenge as the moderator of this year鈥檚 Stanfield Conversation on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. The conversation 鈥淐an Democracies Meet the Challenge of Climate Change鈥� will feature speakers聽Megan Leslie (LLB鈥�04),聽Mark Jaccard (Simon Fraser University) and Naheed Nenshi (former mayor of Calgary).听听

聽to either attend in-person (seating is limited) at the Joseph Strug Concert Hall in the H漫画 Arts Centre or participate virtually via live stream. American Sign Language interpretation will be provided on stage and on the live stream.听听

H漫画 University鈥檚聽Stanfield Conversations: Talking Democracy聽series builds on the legacy of Rt. Hon. Robert L. Stanfield, former Premier of Nova Scotia and former leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party, who was known for his integrity, intelligence and openness to other鈥檚 opinions. The aim is to tackle subjects of national and international importance.聽

In this, the third iteration of the annual lecture, the conversation will focus on whether democracies can meet the challenge of climate change, and the imaginative and inspiring responses to that quandary.聽

鈥淚t will be interesting to talk to [Leslie, Nenshi and Jaccard] about whether robust and meaningful action can be taken if we wait for democracy,鈥� says Douglas. 鈥淲e just came through a pandemic and there was robust and decisive action taken without a whole lot of consultation.鈥� But he acknowledges the starting point on climate is far more divided.聽

鈥楧isagree with the view, but respect the mind鈥櫬�

Douglas admits he鈥檚 slightly nervous about moderating such a weighty event but knows his scientific training will come in handy once again. 鈥淥ur part is to model what a debate looks like among equals who have respect for each other, despite their stances on things. And I think that comes back to [former Dal prof] Jim Clark: you can disagree with the view, but respect the mind that arrived at it. That will be my challenge to the panelists.鈥�

More than any nervousness, Douglas says he feels privileged to engage in discourse with this level of intellect and is excited for the stimulation it will offer himself and the attendees. 鈥淭he speed with which people can take a question they鈥檝e never heard and then have an answer that is full of information, stats and support for their argument,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like seeing a great athlete compete.鈥澛�

Headphones, not the microphone

In the end, moderating a good conversation comes down to active listening. Douglas, whose arms are decorated with tattoos, points to one on his left forearm 鈥� his first. 鈥淗eadphones, not the microphone,鈥� he explains. 鈥淏ecause the job is mostly listening, even though I do a lot of talking. They go hand in hand, but there鈥檚 no talking without the listening.鈥澛�

Learn more about this year鈥檚 Conversation and how to register.听听