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History Slam Podcast

History Podcasts

History Slam is a conversational podcast that features discussions and debates around various historical topics or issues relevant to the understanding of history. Whether we talk with a historian about their new book or a musician about including historical references in their songs, History Slam focuses on the stories of the past, how those stories influence us today, and their role in shaping our shared culture. Within a relaxed environment we’re going to try and have some fun with history while highlighting stories from the past.

Location:

Canada

Description:

History Slam is a conversational podcast that features discussions and debates around various historical topics or issues relevant to the understanding of history. Whether we talk with a historian about their new book or a musician about including historical references in their songs, History Slam focuses on the stories of the past, how those stories influence us today, and their role in shaping our shared culture. Within a relaxed environment we’re going to try and have some fun with history while highlighting stories from the past.

Twitter:

@activehist

Language:

English

Contact:

613-327-1297


Episodes
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10th Anniversary Special: Life as Historians

7/7/2022
In this 10th Anniversary Special, Sean Graham catches up with the first 3 guests from the early days of the podcast to reflect on life as historians over the past decade. He starts by talking with Ian Milligan about his shift towards digital methodology, where he sees history going, and his advice for prospective graduate […]

Duration:01:27:27

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Canada’s Abortion History

6/30/2022
Last Friday, the United States Supreme Court made its much anticipated decision in the Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization case. In the majority opinion, the court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which ruled that the privacy clause in the U.S. Constitution protected a woman’s right to an abortion. In the week since, […]

Duration:01:10:53

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Canadiana & Historical Storytelling on the Web

6/23/2022
In this episode of the History Slam, I talk with Adam Bunch and Kyle Cucco of of the outstanding web series Canadiana, which has its Season 3 debut on Tuesday June 28. We talk about the delays to season 3 caused by Covid (3:27), how they pick topics for the show (12:07), and the benefits of […]

Duration:00:45:45

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Local Culture, Tourism, & PEI’s Summer Trade

6/16/2022
After two down years, tourism is rebounding as we head into the summer. From long lines at airports to rental car shortages to sold out hotels, there is a strong, pent up demand for travel. This is welcome news to communities where hospitality is the main economic driver as employees return to work and prepare […]

Duration:00:51:30

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Storytellers, Colonialism, and Community in the Chilcotin Plateau

6/2/2022
For every strong, thriving community, there are people actively keeping it alive at its centre. Whether that’s hosting events, checking in on others, or sharing the living memory of the place, these individuals build an environment where stories are shared and passed to the next generation. But when they’re gone, what happens to their stories? […]

Duration:00:40:04

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Heroin & the History of Canada’s Drugs Laws & Use

5/26/2022
In recent years, there has been no shortage of news stories on opioids and overdose deaths in Canada. What tends to be missing from these reports, however, is the historical context that shapes public understanding of these issues. The legal, social, and cultural processes that have shaped both access and perception of drugs and drug […]

Duration:01:00:34

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Provincial Political Trends & Saskatchewan’s Transition from Left to Right

5/19/2022
In the past two years, 7 provinces and territories have held elections, with Quebec and Ontario holding campaigns this year. And if that wasn’t enough, Jason Kenney’s resignation earliere this week further thrust provincial politics into the news. While campaigns and leadership changes generate plenty of interest, the pandemic has served as an important reminder of […]

Duration:00:47:03

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Indigenous Voices, Resources, & Learning in Canadian Classrooms

5/12/2022
In its final report, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission included several Calls to Action regarding education. One of these was to develop and implement learning resources for all students in Canada so that more Indigenous voices, perspectives, and approaches were included in provincial and territorial curricula. As we’ve seen, however, some efforts to do this […]

Duration:00:38:46

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Colonial Violence, National Myths, & the Lynching of Louie Sam

5/6/2022
On February 24, 1884, Louie Sam, a Stó:lo teenager, was accused by an angry mob of starting a fire that killed James Bell, a shopkeeper in the settler community Nooksack, in what is now Whatcom County, Washington, which borders British Columbia. Without any evidence, the assembled mob determined that Sam was responsible and, despite him […]

Duration:00:40:41

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Bernie Langille’s Death and the Long Journey Towards Truth, Healing, & Trust

4/28/2022
On a cold February night in 1968, Bernie Langille drove his friends to play darts and have a drink at CFB Gagetown. The next morning, his wife found him bloody and bruised in bed without knowing what happened. He was taken to the base’s hospital where it was recommended he be flown to Halifax for […]

Duration:00:43:40

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Marcel Marceau, Movement, & the Art of Silence

4/21/2022
In 2022, mime is probably not what you think of when discussing popular culture. The image of an individual with their face painted white, probably acting like they are trapped in a box, doesn’t demand attention within the ever-so-crowded cultural landscape. At the same time, however, the idea of movement as medicine remains popular. For many […]

Duration:00:34:59

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Inter-Generational Healing & Love in Scratching River

4/14/2022
I always thought that I was alone in connecting my personal surroundings to those I was researching. From the First World War soldier who wrote about loving and missing going to the theatre to the CBC producer who hated the number of memos they got, relating to people from the past and connecting them to […]

Duration:00:37:32

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The Impact of R. Buckminster Fuller’s Visit to London in From Remote Stars

4/7/2022
In 1968, American architect R. Buckminster Fuller visited London, Ontario. Known for his geodesic domes, Fuller spent his time in the city meeting with students, artists, and industrial planners at Western. For years, Fuller’s visit has been part of the city’s lore, a moment in time where the city attracted praise from a one of […]

Duration:00:43:58

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The Story of Yonge St, a City’s Transformation, & The Heart of Toronto

3/31/2022
If you’ve visited Toronto for any length of time, you’ve probably found yourself on Yonge St. Starting on the shores of Lake Ontario, the street includes theatres, the Eaton Centre, the Air Canada Centre, and one of the city’s subway lines. Every day, thousands of people head to the street to work, shop, and socialize. […]

Duration:01:01:59

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Navigating Online (Mis)Information

3/25/2022
Over the past two years, the onslaught of misinformation has increasingly attracted public and government attention. From the Covid pandemic, to election results, to protest movements, we are bombarded by a daily avalanche of information and it can be, at times, challenging to distinguish reputable sources from those peddling nonsense. Many creators of misinformation are […]

Duration:00:58:28

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Fighting Sexual Harassment in the Workplace & “It Should be Easy to Fix”

3/9/2022
On July 29, 1987, the Supreme Court of Canada issued its ruling in the case Robichaud v. Canada. In its decision, the court noted that the Canadian Human Rights Act places “responsibility for an organization on those who control it and are in a position to take effective remedial action to remove undesirable conditions.” For […]

Duration:00:44:20

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Asiniskaw Ithiniwak Storytelling & The Gift of the Little People

3/4/2022
As a child, William Dumas’ father told him the story of European fur traders arriving on what is now commonly referred to as Hudson Bay. The encounter between the Asiniskaw Ithiniwak (Rocky Cree) people and the Europeans resulted in an endemic. greatly reducing the local population. In telling the story, Dumas’ father explained how elder […]

Duration:00:35:09

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Cultivating Community

2/17/2022
In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Jodey Nurse about her new book Cultivating Community: Women and Agricultural Fairs in Ontario. They chat about what happened at fairs, who was involved in the planning, and the evolution of what constituted ‘acceptable’ women’s activities. They also discuss the economic challenges and benefits […]

Duration:00:55:52

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Flying to Extremes

2/10/2022
In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Dominique about his experience flying in the North of Canada, as told in his book Flying to Extremes: Memories of a Bush Pilot. They chat about Dominique’s entry into aviation (7:16), the skillset required to be a pilot (11:28), and the day-to-day of flying in […]

Duration:00:47:52

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The Racial Mosaic

2/4/2022
In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talk with Daniel R. Meister, author of The Racial Mosaic: A Pre-History of Canadian Multiculturalism. They discuss how he defines the pre-history of multiculturalism and pluralism, how these have contributed to colonialism, and the changing interpretation of race in the interwar years. They also chat about […]

Duration:00:52:16