The Walrus Podcasts

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Channel • 18 Shows

History

History

Updated 2025-12-17
History

History

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Society & Culture

Society & Culture

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Education

Education

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History

History

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Society & Culture

Society & Culture

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Technology

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Jul 17

Montréal 1976 : quand le Québec a accueilli le monde

Le sujet des Jeux olympiques de Montréal de 1976 évoque souvent le fameux gouffre financier ou le célèbre toit du Stade olympique… ou plutôt son absence. Pourtant, il y a énormément de choses à célébrer dans ces Jeux. Certains des plus grands athlètes de l’histoire ont brillé sur la scène internationale, dont Nadia Comăneci, Bruce Jenner, Sugar Ray Leonard et bien d’autres. Cinquante ans plus tard, Voyages dans l’histoire canadienne revient sur les premiers Jeux olympiques accueillis par le Canada et explore comment cet événement a contribué à façonner les décennies suivantes à Montréal et dans le reste du Québec. Notre animatrice, Ariane-Li Simard-Côté, s'entretient avec Hélène Boivin, une athlète québécoise qui n’avait que 17 ans lorsqu’elle a participé aux Jeux de Montréal. On vous invite à voyager avec elle dans ses souvenirs de cette grande aventure olympique. Ensuite, Pierre Gince, auteur du livre « Les Jeux olympiques de Montréal et nous : 50 ans, 50 regards », revient sur les grands moments des Jeux : les scandales, les réussites, leur héritage durable et, bien sûr, l’incroyable performance de Nadia Comăneci. Les transcriptions de cet épisode sont disponibles en anglais et en français. Pour les consulter, rendez-vous sur le site de The Walrus à l’adresse : TheWalrus.ca/CanadianHeritage. Ce balado reçoit des fonds du gouvernement du Canada et est produit par The Walrus Lab. Découvrez le balado en anglais, Canadian Time Machine. --- Montreal 1976: When Quebec Welcomed the World The 1976 Montreal Olympics are often remembered for their infamous cost overruns and the Olympic Stadium's iconic roof—or rather, the lack of one. But there's much more to celebrate about these Games. Some of the greatest athletes in history shone on the world stage, including Nadia Comăneci, Bruce Jenner, Sugar Ray Leonard, and many others. Fifty years later, Canadian Time Machine revisits the first Olympic Games ever held in Canada and explores how this landmark event helped shape the decades that followed in Montreal and across Quebec. Host Ariane-Li Simard-Côté speaks with Hélène Boivin, a Quebec athlete who was just 17 years old when she competed at the Montreal Games. She takes us back through her memories of that extraordinary Olympic experience. Then, Pierre Gince, author of The Montreal Olympics and Us: 50 Years, 50 Perspectives, reflects on the defining moments of the Games—from the controversies and triumphs to their lasting legacy and, of course, Nadia Comăneci's unforgettable performance. Transcripts of this episode are available in English and French. Visit TheWalrus.ca/CanadianHeritage to access them. This podcast is funded by the Government of Canada through Canadian Heritage and produced by The Walrus Lab. You can also listen to the English version of this podcast, Canadian Time Machine. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
5d ago

Anna Gallagher-Ross: The Power of Public Space

Beneath the noise of traffic, one Toronto space is quietly proving that conversation—not commerce—is what makes a neighborhood. Anna Gallagher-Ross is senior manager of programming at The Bentway, a public space beneath Toronto's Gardiner Expressway that hosts year-round arts programming and social gatherings. Drawing on The Bentway's research, she shows how seating, art, and play turn passersby into neighbours—and why public space is public health infrastructure. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum. Gallagher-Ross spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging on November 4, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 21

Music: A Language We All Speak with Mekaal Hasan

"I don't want perfect. Perfect is boring.” In this episode of This Being Human, host Mai Habib chats with Mekaal Hasan, a renowned Pakistani musician to discuss his lifelong journey of connecting the worlds of traditional South Asian music with more contemporary genres like rock, jazz, and fusion. Growing up in Lahore, Pakistan, Mekaal was heavily influenced by his father, a music critic and a columnist. In 1995, he graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, and returned to Pakistan where he founded the Mekaal Hasan Band in 2001. Mekaal’s mission is to create music that connects cultures, lifts up other artists, and preserves tradition while redefining what Qawwali music can look like. The Museum wishes to thank Nadir and Shabin Mohamed for their founding support of This Being Human. Links & Resources: This was just one example of Muslim art that sparked curiosity and a great conversation. There is so much more to see at the Aga Khan Museum. Support the museum's vision to impact lives and contribute to more inclusive and peaceful societies. Go to agakhanmuseum.org to plan your visit or make a donation.Watch this video episode on YouTube.Visit Mekaal Hasan’s website and watch his band on YouTube.Mekaal Hasan | Aga Khan MuseumWhy Mekaal Hasan refuses to live in the past Key Moments 0:00 Introduction to This Being Human and Mekaal Hasan 2:57 Mekaal’s time at the Berklee College of Music 7:53 Breaking down barriers through music 11:20 The cultural shift between 1990’s Pakistan and today 15:35 Honouring Qawwali legend Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 20:18 Comparing Eastern and Western music and performance styles 25:32 The future of the Mekaal Hasan Band Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 16

Michelle Hoar: Housing and Belonging

Housing is a human right we don't yet action—so what happens to belonging when your address depends on your bank account? Michelle Hoar is a fellow at the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University and project director for the Hey Neighbour Collective, an initiative building neighbourly connection and resilience in multi-unit housing. This special episode of The Conversation Piece features content from her presentation at The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging, supported by The Belonging Forum. Hoar spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Place and Belonging on November 4, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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.
2025-02-10

Episode 4: Unrequited Love

Having traced his grandparents’ and mother’s journeys from Germany to Ecuador, Timothy considers the German-Jewish family history that gave rise to both the Kuppenheims’ success and to their persecution. He begins with the archive’s oldest record, dating from 1813. This document allows him to unpack the groundbreaking career of his great-great-great-grandfather, and also to situate his ancestor in a moment of profound change for German Jews. Continuing in this vein, Timothy visits a collector of the work of his great-great-grandfather, a legendary jeweller. He then considers the tragedy of his great grandparents, visiting the sites of their successes and learning how it all came crashing down. A trip to Heidelberg to learn about his great uncle’s experience of antisemitism gives Timothy an idea for bringing his family’s story full circle. 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

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.
2025-12-17

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.
2025-02-03

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.
Jan 28

Behind the Scenes of Goodbye: Logistics and Rituals of Death

In this episode of Sorry For Your Loss, we explore what happens in the hours and days after someone dies—before they reach their final resting place. What actually happens between the deathbed and the gravesite, the crematorium, or wherever a person’s remains are destined to go? First, we join Mount Pleasant Group funeral director Sarah Mannone to take a look at the unseen world of transfer teams and funeral logistics. Then, we speak with Rev. Dr. Karen Hamilton, an ordained minister, interfaith consultant, and former General Secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches who brings a rich understanding of the rituals, customs, and cultural differences that shape how we honour the dead. From faith-based traditions to modern shifts in funeral planning, we explore how the steps after death are deeply human, and never one-size-fits-all. Links & Resources Visit the Mount Pleasant Group website for more information and resources. 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.

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.