The Walrus Podcasts

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Channel • 14 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated 6d ago
History

History

Updated 2025-12-03
History

History

Updated Weekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Semimonthly
History

History

Updated Biweekly
News Commentary

News Commentary

Updated Weekly
Business

Business

Updated 2025-04-15

2025-12-17

The Furry Gold of Canada: The Beaver’s 50-Year Legacy

Fifty years ago, Canada made the beaver an official national symbol. But long before that, this little animal was shaping rivers, driving trade, and quietly transforming the land. Wildlife ecologist Dr. Glynnis Hood and Jan Kingshott, director of animal welfare at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, take us inside the beaver’s world—from its role in the fur trade to its work as an ecosystem engineer today—and show why it remains one of Canada’s most remarkable and resilient symbols. To read the episode transcripts in French and English, and to learn more about historic Canadian milestones, please visit thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. This podcast receives funding from The Government of Canada and is produced by The Walrus Lab. Check out the French counterpart podcast, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. -- Le trésor canadien : 50 ans du castor Il y a cinquante ans, le castor est devenu officiellement un symbole national du Canada. Mais bien avant cela, ce petit animal façonnait déjà les rivières, alimentait le commerce et transformait discrètement le paysage. La biologiste spécialisée en faune Dr. Glynnis Hood et Jan Kingshott, directrice du bien-être animal au Sanctuaire faunique Aspen Valley, nous font découvrir l’univers du castor — de son rôle dans la traite des fourrures à son impact écologique aujourd’hui — et expliquent pourquoi il demeure l’un des symboles les plus fascinants et résilients du Canada. Pour lire les transcriptions des épisodes en français et en anglais, et pour en savoir plus sur les jalons historiques canadiens, veuillez visiter le site thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. Ce balado reçoit des fonds du gouvernement du Canada et est produit par The Walrus Lab. Découvrez le balado en français, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-12-17

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31 min
2025-01-27

Episode 1: Flight

With the rise of the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler in Germany, destruction comes quickly for a prominent and respected Jewish family, the Kuppenheims. Members of the family are murdered, exiled or chased into hiding. Some eighty years later, Canadian novelist Timothy Taylor inherits a ten thousand page archive of diaries, letters, photographs and other documents kept by his grandfather and begins to piece together the story of his family’s Holocaust legacy. Travelling to Germany to meet with historians and other experts, Timothy unpacks his grandfather Felix’s fate, from the fallout of the antisemitic Nuremberg Laws, to his long and improbable path of escape from Nazi Germany, through the Soviet Union and Japan, and finally to Ecuador. The voice of Felix Kuppenheim is provided by Jonas Osmann. The Hidden Holocaust Papers: Survival. Exile. Return. is a production of The Walrus Lab in partnership with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. It's presented by Timothy Taylor. The Executive Producers are Anthony Cantor and Timothy Taylor. Anthony Cantor is the showrunner. Written by Timothy Taylor and Anthony Cantor. Co-produced and edited by Eric Anderson and Sean Prpick. Technical Production, Sound Engineering and Design, and Music Supervision by Rob Julius Janson. Research and translation by Joel Pinsker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-01-27

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1h 6m
6D AGO

Honouring Lives: The Art of Eulogies and Obituaries

In this episode of Sorry For Your Loss, we explore how we speak about the dead—and why it matters. From traditional newspaper tributes to personal videos and self-written obits, the way we honour people after they’re gone is changing. First, Denise and John hear about the art of writing and delivering eulogies from Reverend Dr. Brent Hawkes, who was Senior Pastor at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto for over 40 years. Then, longtime Globe & Mail obituary writer and author Sandra Martin joins Denise in conversation to unpack what makes a good obituary, how to find the right words in the face of loss, and why these tributes can be just as meaningful for the living as they are for the dead. Links & Resources Visit the Mount Pleasant Group website for more information and resourcesA Good Death: Making The Most of Our Final Choices by Sandra MartinGreat Canadian Lives: A Cultural History of Modern Canada through the Art of the Obit by Sandra Martin Please note that the opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or beliefs of Mount Pleasant Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6d ago

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39 min
2025-12-03

Inside the Halls of Power: Stories from Canada’s Supreme Court

Founded in 1875, the Supreme Court of Canada has shaped the country for 150 years—yet the stories behind its decisions, its building, and the people who have walked its halls often remain out of view. To mark this milestone, Canadian Time Machine goes beyond the headlines and into the quieter, more surprising corners of Canada’s highest court. Angela sits down with filmmaker and lawyer Étienne Trépanier, whose new project reimagines how Canadians might experience the Court at a moment of major change. Then, former Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin reflects on the institution she helped guide for nearly two decades, offering rare insight into what makes the Supreme Court both uniquely Canadian and profoundly human. To read the episode transcripts in French and English, and to learn more about historic Canadian milestones, please visit thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. This podcast receives funding from The Government of Canada and is produced by The Walrus Lab. Check out the French counterpart podcast, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. -- Les coulisses de pouvoir: l’histoire de la Cour suprême du Canada Fondée en 1875, la Cour suprême du Canada façonne le pays depuis 150 ans. Pourtant, les histoires derrière ces décisions, son édifice et les personnes qui y ont marché restent souvent méconnues. Pour souligner cet anniversaire, Canadian Time Machine explore les recoins plus surprenants et méconnus de la plus haute instance judiciaire du pays. On rencontre le cinéaste et avocat Étienne Trépanier, dont le nouveau projet réinvente la façon dont les Canadiens peuvent vivre l'expérience de la Cour a un moment de grands changements. Ensuite, l’ancienne juge en chef Beverley McLachlin revient sur l’institution qu’elle a guidée pendant près de deux décennies, offrant un aperçu rare de ce qui rend la Cour suprême à la fois profondément humaine et résolument canadienne. Pour lire les transcriptions des épisodes en français et en anglais, et pour en savoir plus sur les jalons historiques canadiens, veuillez visiter le site thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. Ce balado reçoit des fonds du gouvernement du Canada et est produit par The Walrus Lab. Découvrez le balado en français, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-12-03

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31 min
2025-03-05

Promises Unkept: Treaty 8 and the Battle for Indigenous Rights

125 years after the signing of Treaty 8, many of the promises made to Canada's northern First Nations remain unfulfilled. In this episode, we explore the history, impact, and ongoing struggles surrounding one of Canada’s largest treaties. Charmaine Willier-Larsen, a descendant of a Treaty 8 signatory, shares how reconnecting with her heritage led her to create the Bannock n Bed, a cultural inn just two kilometres where the treaty was signed on Lesser Slave Lake in 1899. We also hear from Grand Chief Trevor Mercredi of Treaty 8 First Nations of Alberta, who breaks down the treaty’s original promises, the systemic barriers that persist, and the fight to uphold Indigenous rights. To read the episode transcripts in French and English, and to learn more about historic Canadian milestones, please visit thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. This podcast receives funding from The Government of Canada and is produced by The Walrus Lab. Check out the French counterpart podcast, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. -- Au-delà des promesses : Le traité numéro 8 et les droits des peuples autochtones Plus de 125 ans après la signature du traité numéro 8, de nombreuses promesses faites aux Premières Nations du Nord demeurent toujours non tenues. Dans cet épisode, nous plongeons dans l’histoire, l’impact et les défis persistants liés à l’un des traités les plus significatifs du Canada. Charmaine Willier-Larsen, descendante d'un des signataires du traité numéro 8, nous raconte comment cet héritage l’a inspirée à fonder The Bannock n Bed, une auberge culturelle située à seulement deux kilomètres du site où le traité a été signé, près du Petit lac des Esclaves en 1899. Nous accueillons également le grand chef Trevor Mercredi, des Premières Nations du traité numéro 8 de l'Alberta, qui revient sur les promesses faites dans le traité, les obstacles systémiques toujours présents et la lutte pour faire respecter les droits des peuples autochtones. Pour lire les transcriptions des épisodes en français et en anglais, et pour en savoir plus sur les jalons historiques canadiens, veuillez visiter le site thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. Ce balado reçoit des fonds du gouvernement du Canada et est produit par The Walrus Lab. Découvrez le balado en français, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-03-05

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31 min
2025-02-03

Episode 3: Going Underground

Ursula’s situation grows much more dangerous in 1944, when the Nazis move to round up Mischlinge like her. Timothy learns that his mother went into hiding on rural farms and scours the archive for clues to the exact locations. Through photographs, he identifies a man who seems to have played a role in protecting Ursula. Tracking down this man’s granddaughter provides an emotional breakthrough, and, remarkably, her family’s photo albums contain pictures of Ursula from 1944. Timothy pieces together clues that lead to the town of Delbrück, where he speaks with a local historian, standing on the very spot where the 1944 photographs of his mother were taken. Through these discussions, another local man is identified who helped Jews hide from Nazis. In a second shock discovery, Timothy learns that that man’s grandson still runs the family jewellery store, and that he has some tantalizing information for Timothy. Timothy has traced his mother’s survival to the very moment she went into hiding. But at this point, the trail seems to have gone cold. Timothy speaks to a survivor who can shed light on his mother’s time underground. Following the story to the immediate post-war period, Timothy learns that Ursula’s experience of liberation was accompanied by its own tribulations. The voices of Ursula Kuppenheim and Charlotte Knobloch are provided by Hanna Feldhaus Kent. The Hidden Holocaust Papers: Survival. Exile. Return. is a production of The Walrus Lab in partnership with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. It's presented by Timothy Taylor. The Executive Producers are Anthony Cantor and Timothy Taylor. Anthony Cantor is the showrunner. Written by Timothy Taylor and Anthony Cantor. Co-produced and edited by Eric Anderson and Sean Prpick. Technical Production, Sound Engineering and Design, and Music Supervision by Rob Julius Janson. Research and translation by Joel Pinsker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-02-03

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1h 15m
2025-02-03

Episode 2: Dictatorship 101

While his grandfather managed to flee Nazi Germany in 1940 and make it to safety in Ecuador, Timothy’s half-Jewish mother and his gentile grandmother were unable to escape. Timothy turns to his archive to discover what those years were like for them. His mother, Ursula, who was only ten years old when her father fled, bravely writes of her family’s Jewish history in a school assignment, which Timothy is able to read and discuss with experts. He also learns that when German children were sent to the countryside to avoid Allied bombings, Ursula went along despite having to keep her Mischling status a secret. Timothy learns from experts and from his mother’s own account about the desperate hardships of hiding in plain sight. He also discovers the shocking fallout when his mother’s secret identity is discovered. The voice of Ursula Kuppenheim is provided by Hanna Feldhaus Kent. The Hidden Holocaust Papers: Survival. Exile. Return. is a production of The Walrus Lab in partnership with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre. It's presented by Timothy Taylor. The Executive Producers are Anthony Cantor and Timothy Taylor. Anthony Cantor is the showrunner. Written by Timothy Taylor and Anthony Cantor. Co-produced and edited by Eric Anderson and Sean Prpick. Technical Production, Sound Engineering and Design, and Music Supervision by Rob Julius Janson. Research and translation by Joel Pinsker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-02-03

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1h 6m
2025-12-17

Small Voices, Big Questions: Talking to Kids About Death

In this episode of Sorry For Your Loss, we explore how to talk to children about death—what to say, how to say it, and how to support them through grief. Sarah Keast shares her story of losing her husband and how she spoke with her young daughters about his death. Then, Denise sits down with Kitrina Fex, Executive Director of Hospice Mississauga and creator of the HUUG program, to learn how grief shows up in children and how caregivers can help them feel seen, supported, and safe. Links & Resources Visit the Mount Pleasant Group website for more information and resources.Learn more about the HUUG program Please note that the opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or beliefs of Mount Pleasant Group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-12-17

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37 min
2025-12-04

Jesse McCormick: We Can’t Build Canada Strong Without Building Trust First

Canada is racing to build the infrastructure that will shape its economic and political future. But moving faster means little unless the systems guiding that development are strong enough to be trusted. Independent lawyer and consultant Jesse McCormick argues that making any meaningful progress with Canada’s major projects will require building trust with First Nations by prioritizing their consent and establishing regulatory systems that put First Nations behind the wheel. McCormick spoke at The Walrus Talks Sovereign Canada in Toronto on October 28, 2025. To register for upcoming events happening online or in a city near you, and to catch up on our archive of The Walrus Talks, visit thewalrus.ca/events. And subscribe to The Walrus Events newsletter for updates and announcements, at thewalrus.ca/newsletters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-12-04

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8 min
2025-10-22

150 Years of Women in Medicine: The Legacy of Jennie Trout

In this episode of Canadian Time Machine, we mark 150 years since Jennie Trout became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada—a breakthrough that helped open the doors of the profession to women across the country. We hear from historian Heather Stanley about Trout’s fight for education and equality, and from Dr. Ramneek Dosanjh, a physician and advocate for equity in healthcare, on the legacy of her achievement. Together, they trace how one woman’s determination helped shape 150 years of progress in Canadian medicine. To read the episode transcripts in French and English, and to learn more about historic Canadian milestones, please visit thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. This podcast receives funding from The Government of Canada and is produced by The Walrus Lab. Check out the French counterpart podcast, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. -- 150 ans depuis Jennie Trout : pionnière de la médecine au Canada Dans cet épisode de Canadian Time Machine, nous célébrons les 150 ans depuis que Jennie Trout a ouvert la voie aux femmes dans la médecine canadienne, devenant la première femme autorisée à exercer dans le pays. L’historienne Heather Stanley revient sur son combat pour l’éducation et l’égalité, tandis que la Dre Ramneek Dosanjh, médecin et militante pour l’équité en santé, explique comment cet héritage continue d’inspirer et de transformer la profession. Ensemble, elles retracent l’impact durable d’une pionnière dont la détermination a façonné un siècle et demi de progrès en médecine au Canada. Pour lire les transcriptions des épisodes en français et en anglais, et pour en savoir plus sur les jalons historiques canadiens, veuillez visiter le site thewalrus.ca/canadianheritage. Ce balado reçoit des fonds du gouvernement du Canada et est produit par The Walrus Lab. Découvrez le balado en français, Voyages dans l'histoire canadienne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2025-10-22

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25 min

The Walrus Podcasts are an extension of our award-winning storytelling, so whether it’s a look at those moments that change your life forever, an analysis of our unique political system, or a trip to one of the most amazing locations in Canada, The Walrus Podcasts have your ears covered.