Pop culture isn’t just entertainment—it’s a powerful mirror of who we are and what we value. In Season 3 of Level the Paying Field, Ontario’s Pay Equity Commissioner Kadie Philp takes us on a dynamic journey through the world of pop culture, uncovering how the spaces we escape to are also places where real battles for pay equity are being fought.
Across six compelling episodes, we meet the women at the heart of it all. In music, we explore the legacy of artists who’ve used their voices to resist exploitation while demanding creative and financial control. In television, we examine how gender gaps in writers’ rooms and production studios affect not only who tells the stories but whose stories are told. The sports episode tackles pay inequity on the field, revealing how athletes are organizing for better treatment, better funding, and greater recognition.
Gaming, one of the largest and fastest-growing sectors in the entertainment industry, presents a notable contradiction: nearly half of gamers are women, yet only 23% of developers are. Through that lens, we explore not only representation on screen but also toxic work cultures, wage gaps, and the resilience of women carving out space in digital spaces.
Art-related careers uniquely intertwine personal identity with professional practice, often requiring artists to navigate deeply gendered experiences and societal expectations. Artist Alexa Mazzarello speaks candidly about the realities of trying to thrive creatively and economically in a system that undervalues care work, both in life and on canvas. Her work—and her collective—remind us that equity isn’t just about being included; it’s about being valued.
Throughout the season, one message rings clear: pop culture is a powerful reflection of who holds power, whose work gets rewarded, and whose stories shape the mainstream. It’s also a space of possibility. A place where norms can be challenged, narratives reclaimed, and industries rebuilt to be more equitable.
Whether it’s through mentorship programs in gaming, collective bargaining in sports, or public art that speaks truth to power—change is happening. And Level the Paying Field is here to document that shift, one episode at a time.
🎧 Season 3 is now available on all major podcast platforms!
