UNIFY | United Nations For Youth

Period Poverty, Pink Tax, and Why We Need to Talk About It

65% of women and girls in Kenya cannot afford menstrual products. 20 to 70% of women in the UK face the same reality. And yet in most of the world, we still treat menstruation as something to whisper about. In this episode, Jacob, Jasmine, and new member Adelaide Cunningham tackle menstrual equity and period poverty head on, and they do not hold back. They break down the different types of poverty, what "material poverty" actually looks like for people who menstruate, and why simply handing out period products is not enough to solve the problem. They debate whether menstrual products should be free, unpack the difference between equality and equity, and get into the pink tax: why women are paying more for lower quality products just because they come in a different colour. The conversation also goes deeper, into the lack of medical research on women's bodies, the stigma that stops people from even asking questions, and why education and open dialogue are the most powerful tools we have. Any question asked with genuine curiosity is worth asking. We are UNiFY. Got an idea for an episode? Let us know here: https://unify-podcast.ca/ [https://unify-podcast.ca/]

The Drug & Alcohol Crisis Teens Aren't Talking About (But Should Be)

Cotton candy vapes. Cough syrup. Household cleaners. The substances teens are using might surprise you, and so will how easy they are to access. In this episode, Lily, Rachel, Jasmine, Violet, and Jacob dig into teen drug and alcohol use in Canada and beyond: the legal ages, the actual ages, and why there's such a dangerous gap between the two. They cover the short and long-term effects of drugs and alcohol on developing brains, how vape companies have deliberately marketed to teenagers through flavours, influencers, and social media, and why gateway behaviours like TikTok addiction are more connected to substance use than most people realize. They also get into the global picture, spotlighting countries that criminalize drug use versus those that have decriminalized it, and what that means for young people. This isn't a "just say no" episode. It's a real conversation. Because the best way to de-stigmatize something is to talk about it. Learn the past. Build the future. We are UNiFY. Got an idea for an episode? Let us know here: https://unify-podcast.ca/ [https://unify-podcast.ca/]

Animal Testing: What's Really in Your Makeup Bag?

Did you know that over 110 million animals are killed in U.S. laboratories every year, and some of it is just to test your foundation? In this episode, Lily, Rachel, Jasmine, and Violet break down everything you need to know about animal testing: the difference between cosmetic and research & development testing, which countries are leading the charge against it (looking at you, Switzerland and India 🌍), and the sneaky third-party loopholes that let brands say "cruelty-free" while still paying others to do the dirty work. They also cover which animals are most commonly used, why the science behind cosmetic testing is more flawed than you'd think, and most importantly, what you can actually do about it. From Essence to The Body Shop, the alternatives are more accessible than ever. The answer is at your fingertips. Do the research. Do the work. We are UNiFY. Got an idea for an episode? Let us know here: https://unify-podcast.ca/ [https://unify-podcast.ca/]

What Even is UNESCO Anyways?

In our first ever episode, we'll introduce ourselves, and dive right in to what UNESCO and ASPNet are, what they mean in our school, and what they mean to us. Learn about how your school can become a UNESCO school, and what you can do to help with their mission.