Meet the Esri Canada Podcasts Team
Having recently welcomed a new host to the Geographical Thinking podcast in January 2024, we wanted to take the opportunity to formally introduce you to the voices behind the Esri Canada podcasts!
Spatial Report connects you with the latest trends in the ArcGIS universe. Join Maggie Samson and Mark Ho as they unpack what you need to know about ArcGIS today and how it can help you take your mapping and geographic analysis solutions to the next level.
Spatial Report explores the ever-changing world of all things ArcGIS.
Geographical Thinking showcases inspiring stories from prominent thought leaders and GIS users spanning various industries in Canada. From navigating everyday obstacles to tackling the most pressing issues facing our world today, Michelle Brake is our guide as we explore how geospatial solutions can help solve problems and drive positive change.
Geographical Thinking explores stories, ideas, and conversations through the lens of geography.
Meet Mark Ho – Host of the Spatial Report Podcast
With a collection of hockey jerseys that would make the Hall of Fame envious, Mark makes his mark from Vancouver, BC.
Position: Technical Solutions Specialist
Team: Technical Marketing
Podcast: Spatial Report
Time at Esri Canada: 25 years (sort of)! 12.5 years at Esri Inc. in Redlands and Washington, DC; and 12.5 years at Esri Canada in Toronto and Vancouver.
What areas of GIS do you specialize in?
Nothing! I’m more of a jack of all trades, knowing just a little bit about a bunch of things: ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Hub, ArcGIS Arcade among them
Favourite map and/or app?
My favourite map is the New York City Subway Map – Hang it in The Louvre!
Do you have any hobbies when you're not behind a computer desk?
Want to travel more (aiming to visit the Seven Wonders of the World), and collect more airline barf bags and frequent traveler points along the way 😊
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
As much as I want to say sushi, gimme a bowl of fried rice any time any day any way!
If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future, and what would you do there?
I’ll take the future over the past any day - I need to know what’s on the McDonald’s menu of tomorrow!
If your podcast had a mascot, what would it be, and why?
Buffy the Buffer – our loveable fuzzy-tolerant pairwise polygon with a mischievous attitude and a heart of gold (but only at a specified distance).
How do you choose the topics and guests for your podcast episodes?
Our philosophy is to be as current and relevant as possible. And of course, we also try to pick subjects that will be of interest for our audience. We aim to choose topics that are newsworthy now, and guests who are passionate about GIS.
Could you share a bit about the process behind producing an episode of your podcast?
The biggest challenge for me is our game show at the end of each episode, M versus M. It’s tough to find topics to write questions about that our listeners can play along with. And it’s even tougher because my opponent is Evil Maggie Samson. If you’ve listened to the pod, you know that Maggie is clearly smarter about everything ArcGIS. I try my best to come up with fun and interesting questions that will stump her. But it usually ends up with me losing badly and consistently reading the outro as punishment. My winning percentage is pathetically low. 🙁
What do you hope listeners will take away from each episode of your podcast?
When Spatial Report was first conceived, our view has always been that GIS is fundamentally fun and that should be reflected in our podcast! In each episode, our hope is that our listeners learn a little something about the ArcGIS universe that they didn’t know about. And they had a good time along the way (although my laughs are really annoying).
Meet Maggie Samson – Host of the Spatial Report Podcast
With a melody in her heart, Maggie adds her voice from Hamilton, ON.
Position: Technical Solutions Specialist
Team: Technical Marketing
Podcast: Spatial Report
Time at Esri Canada: Just shy of 5 years: Joined July 2nd, 2019
What areas of GIS do you specialize in?
All areas! Just like Mark, I have the pleasure of doing something new all the time and working with all our products. Right now, I love ArcGIS Online and all the configurable apps it has available, but I will never turn away from the traditional analysis in ArcGIS Pro; it is too powerful to be ignored.
Favourite map and/or app?
I am going to be cliche here and say the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 dashboard. We here at Esri Canada already know GIS is not just for directions anymore; but this app shared that knowledge with the rest of the world in a way that had never been done before.
Do you have any hobbies when you're not behind a computer desk?
I have been a lifelong lover of music and I spend a lot of my time singing in an upper voices choir. It was started by a member of the children's choir I was in growing up and has been so much fun to meet with a talented group of people every week and make music together. I can’t miss an opportunity to give a shout it out, so I recommend everyone gives Myriad Ensemble a listen we are on Spotify now!
When I am not signing, I am walking the trails with my dog, Darla, and have recently started taking pottery classes.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would have to say soup. I love a nice warm bowl of soup on a winter's day or a fresh Gazpacho in the summer. And really, what is soup? Chilli? Ramen? A bowl of cereal? It has a liquid base, and you eat it with a spoon, so I'd say yes, it’s all soup!
If you could time travel, would you go to the past or the future, and what would you do there?
Hmm tough question but I would say the (recent) past – was the hair REALLY that big in the 80s? Inquiring minds want to know.
If your podcast had a mascot, what would it be, and why?
My beautiful dog Darla of course! She is in no way related to GIS, but any excuse to see more of her makes me happy. She can show off her Darlatitude. Get it? Like latitude? Plus, I know it would annoy Mark.