Jan Doering, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto explores the complex relationship between sound, behavior, and social conflict, unpacking the social, cultural, and neurological dimensions of sound, and discussing how we can move toward a more considerate coexistence in our shared environments.

Sound that delights one person can deeply distress another. Clare and Jan explore how our appreciation of sound is deeply subjective and why this gap often turns into tension in urban life. Through examples from everyday environments, they discuss how noise reflects culture, how it can become a form of power and resistance, and why some people respond to it with frustration or even aggression.

The conversation challenges policymakers, urban planners, and designers to take sound seriously as an issue of well-being issue and accessibility, highlighting how neurological safety and collective responsibility can help create more peaceful and inclusive soundscapes.

Clare and Jan also reflect on the deeper psychological and emotional layers behind how we relate to sound, revealing that finding peace in a noisy world might start with changing how we listen.

Jan Doering is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto. His research explores social control and conflict in urban neighborhoods, as well as how individuals experience and respond to discrimination. He has received research funding from the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Commission, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Councils.

His first book, “Us Versus Them: Race, Crime, and Gentrification in Chicago Neighborhoods” (Oxford University Press, 2020), examines the dynamics of community conflict and identity during the era of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown.

Key Takeaways

• Hearing is a sense we cannot turn off, making sound a constant, shared experience.
• Noise is not just about volume - there are more elements to consider
• Urban “vibrancy” often comes at the expense of rest and recovery, highlighting a policy blind spot.
• Municipalities, designers, and leaders can promote neurological safety by designing environments that support well-being and reduce sensory stress.

CHAPTERS

03:00 Introduction

06:05 Tension Around Noise

09:10 Defining Noise and Perception

12:16 Reframing Noise Experiences

18:05 Joy in Noise: Machines and Gender

22:18 Noise and Cultural Responsibility

29:08 Government and Policy Failures

36:50 Consequences of Noise Stress

45:50 Allergic to Peace?

51:31 Sadism, Pleasure, and Noise-Making Behavior

58:45 Emotional vs. Intellectual Arguments for Quiet

01:04:40 Density, Well-being, and Cultural Vision

01:08:00 Creative Solutions and Happy Spaces

Sources

• Clamor by Chris Berdik — https://www.chrisberdik.com
• Golden: The Power of Silence in a World Full of Noise by Justin Zorn & Leigh Marz — https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Power-Silence-World-Noise/dp/0063027607
• Just Think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind – Wilson, T.D. et al., Science (2014) — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4330241
• Epstein, M. J. (2020). Sound and noise: A listener's guide to everyday life. McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP....

Dr. Ernesto Morales discusses evidence-based research for accessible airports and airplanes, emphasizing co-design, sensory needs, and the need for accountability in aviation accessibility.

In episode 61 of the Happy Space Podcast, I spoke with Dr. Ernesto Morales, Full Professor at Université Laval, about two federally funded projects on accessible aviation in Canada. One focuses on airport accessibility, while the other addresses aircraft lavatories. Ernesto shares how involving 72 participants with diverse disabilities through walking interviews and mockups helped surface nuanced barriers and identify improvements. We also discuss the challenges of coordination between stakeholders, the need for sensory-friendly spaces, and the importance of dignity in travel. Ernesto stresses the value of co-design and inclusive research methods, calling for regulatory clarity and deeper accountability in delivering equitable air travel experiences.

Ernesto Morales studied architecture and finished a Masters’ Degree in Industrial Design in Mexico City. He obtained a grant from the Government of Mexico to study his Ph.D. in Design at the Faculté de l’aménagement, of the University of Montreal. He did his first post doc in “Environmental Gerontology” at the Research Centre from the Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal and a second post-doc at the Research Centre for Innovation in Health Care at Utrecht, the Netherlands on “Healing Environments”. He is Full Professor at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Faculty of Medicine at the Universté Laval and he is a Researcher at the Centre interdisciplinaire de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale in Quebec City. He is also a member of the Quebec government's Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Safety of Buildings for Persons with Disabilities. His research interests fall into the following areas: Inclusive design and adaptation of the physical environment. Design solutions to improve the quality of life of people with permanent or temporary disabilities (either cognitive, motor or sensory) in terms of objects, home spaces or urban design. Working and care environments in health institutions (acute and long-term care) and accessibility in emergency situations.

CHAPTERS

[00:00] Meeting Ernesto Morales and Project Overview

[02:00] Walking Interviews at Airports

[04:00] Designing Solutions Collaboratively

[06:00] Challenges in Airport Coordination

[08:00] Public and Private Reporting

[09:00] Ernesto’s Personal Motivation

[11:00] Co-Design as a Core Practice

[13:00] From Heritage Sites to Airports

[14:00] Merging Qualitative and Quantitative Data

[16:00] Why Canada is Leading in Accessibility

[18:00] Federal and Ministry Involvement

[20:00] Autism, Sensory Input, and Airport Design

[23:00] Stress at Security Checkpoints

[26:00] Benefits of Hidden Disability Lanyards

[28:00] Advertising and Sensory Overload

[30:00] Sensory Zones, Not Just Rooms

[33:00] Washroom Accessibility and Service Dogs

[36:00] Dignity in Air Travel

[38:00] Future Reports and Timelines

[39:00] Centralizing Responsibility for Accessibility

[41:00] Systemic Change Through Procurement and Training

LINKS

Rick Hansen Accessibility Certification

Accessibility Standards Canada

Airports

Quebec City

Calgary Airport

Ernesto’s Website

IMAGE CREDITS (see images on Youtube video)

LOGO - Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Plane Mockup Photos -...

Ivan Berazhny, Senior lecturer at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and accessibility advocate, shares how INCLAVI, an EU-funded initiative, equips aviation professionals with certified training to better support diverse travellers across the full journey.

In this episode of the Happy Space Podcast, host Clare Kumar speaks with Ivan Berazhny, Senior lecturer at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, about INCLAVI, an EU-funded initiative to improve accessibility in aviation and tourism. Ivan shares the development of a free, multi-module training curriculum designed to educate industry professionals on best practices for supporting travellers with disabilities. Built through a wide consortium of partners, the program covers the full travel journey, from planning to post-arrival, and includes accredited modules with formal certification. During the conversation, they explore the importance of language in accessibility, the value of humility in learning, and the potential to apply this framework across industries.

Ivan Berazhny is a senior lecturer at Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences (Finland), where Ivan has been developing and leading research projects and courses on topics including leadership, entrepreneurship, aviation business environment, corporate social responsibility and others.

Prior background includes studies of international economic relations, communication, and vocational pedagogy. Ivan also holds several professional certifications in aviation and hospitality industries.

In Haaga-Helia, Ivan has been engaged actively in curriculum development, export of education, RDI cooperation with industry partners, internationalisation, and other activities. Particularly, Ivan is committed to advocate inclusive society for people with disabilities.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction and Welcome

02:15 – Origins of the INCLAVI Project

05:45 – Building a Practical, Multi-Stakeholder Curriculum

10:10 – Implementation and Early Impact

14:05 – Language, Translation, and Accessibility

17:30 – Clarifying Terms: Accessibility vs. Inclusion

21:00 – Beyond Labels: Focusing on Needs

24:40 – Expanding Awareness Through Storytelling

27:50 – Encouraging Curiosity in Accessibility

30:25 – Ivan’s Happy Space

LINKS

For active links, visit www.clarekumar.com/podcast

IMAGE CREDITS (see images on Youtube video)

Mediterranean Sea Video - Canva

Horizon Video - Canva

Learn more about and follow Ivan:

Haaga-Helia University

INCLAVI (Inclusive aviation curriculum)

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program

😀😃😄😁😆

Everyone deserves a Happy Space. It might sound frivolous, but what I’m talking about is creating environments for each person to be able to perform at their best. Too often, people are invited to burn out or opt out of spaces, cultures, or experiences that are at best uncomfortable and at worst, toxic. Inclusion is a design opportunity. I hope to shine a light on those craftive more inclusive spaces, cultures, and experiences, leading the way to a more hospitable world because everyone deserves a Happy Space.

Believing that productivity is personal, the podcast is produced in a variety of formats so you can enjoy it in the medium you prefer:

Listen to the audio right here or on your fave podcast platform.

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