Category Archives: Podcast

Nazi Prisoners of War in Canada – What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham Nazi Prisoners of War in Canada | RSS.com Nathan M. Greenfield, author of Hanged in Medicine Hat: Murder in a Nazi Prisoner-of-War Camp and the Disturbing True Story of Canada’s Last Mass Execution, joins me to talk about POW camp 132 in Medicine Hat. We talk about how the camp came to be, the prisoners’ relationship with the… Read more »

National Film Board & Nature – What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham National Film Board & Nature | RSS.comI talk with Michael Clemens, author of Screening Nature and Nation: The Environmental Documentaries of the National Film Board, 1939-1974. We discuss the origins of the NFB, its approach to portraying the environment, and the influence of federal politicians. We also chat about the filmmakers who documented Canadian wildlife, how the… Read more »

Body Image Activism: What’s Old is News

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By Sean Graham Body Image Activism | RSS.comI talk with Jenny Ellison, author of Being Fat: Women, Weight, and Feminist Activism in Canada. We talk about the origins of fat activism, the strategies used by activists, and the tensions with second wave feminism. We also talk about fitness and healthy eating campaigns, the role of fashion, and the entrepreneurship of… Read more »

Indian Boarding School Newspapers: What’s Old is News

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By Sean Graham Indian Boarding School Newspapers | RSS.com In this episode, I amjoined by Jane Griffith, author of Words Have a Past: The English Language, Colonialism, and the Newspapers of Indian Boarding Schools to talk about the significance and legacy of Indian boarding school newspapers. We talk about why schools published newspapers, who the intended audiences were, and the… Read more »

The Importance of the Past – What’s Old is News

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By Sean GrahamThe Importance of the Past | RSS.com For as long as people have been doing history, there have been debates over how to best share the stories of the past. In recent years, this has revolved around discussions over teaching history and ways to better engage people with the history that shapes our daily lives. In this episode,… Read more »

A Samurai Suit in Fort Smith & A Blanket of Butterflies – What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham  A Samurai Suit in Fort Smith & A Blanket of Butterflies | RSS.com Fort Smith, NWT is probably not where you would expect to find a suit of samurai armour and sword, but at the local museum that’s exactly what you can find. When he first saw it, author Richard Van Camp started to think about all… Read more »

Substance Use, Overdose Deaths, & Shared Humanity: What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham Substance Use, Overdose Deaths, & Shared Humanity | RSS.comIn this episode, I explore the history of substance use disorders and overdose deaths in Canada, which have regularly be presented through a moral lens. By othering those experiencing substance use disorders, policymakers have created an environment where ensuring support is available to users and their families is not… Read more »

John Turner & Political Leadership – What’s Old is News

By Sean Graham  John Turner & Political Leadership | RSS.comIn our premier episode, I’m joined by Steve Paikin of TVO’s The Agenda to talk about Prime Minister John Turner, whose lengthy career spanned the decriminalization of homosexuality and abortion, stagflation, and free trade. We discuss Turner’s career, legacy, and what we can learn about modern politics from studying Canada’s 17th… Read more »

Introducing What’s Old is News

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Series Teaser | RSS.comBy Sean Graham In the spring of 2012, I was in Guelph, Ontario at a conference. What I thought would a typical couple days turned out to be a pretty important event in my life. Not only did it provide me with my favourite conference story, but it was there where I met several members of the… Read more »

History Slam 10th Anniversary Special: Life as Historians

https://activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/History-Slam-221.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadBy Sean Graham On July 11, 2012, we released the first episode of the History Slam Podcast. It featured my conversation with Ian Milligan, which we recorded at the 2012 CHA Annual Meeting at the University of Waterloo, where Ian is now a full professor. The idea behind the show was simple: what if… Read more »