The Walrus Podcasts

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Channel • 18 Shows

History

History

Updated 2025-12-17
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Semimonthly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Monthly
History

History

Updated Biweekly
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated 2020-12-15
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Mar 25
News Commentary

News Commentary

Updated Weekly

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
Jun 23

The Shape of Culture: Arabic Typography with Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès

When Dr. Huda Smitshuijzen AbiFarès moved from Beirut to study in the United States, she found herself doing something she'd never had to do before: explaining her own visual culture to people who'd never seen it. That challenge changed everything. It sent her deep into the history of Arabic typography—how it grew from calligraphic tradition, was codified by ninth-century philologists in Baghdad, and is now being reimagined through algorithms and animation. And it gave her a lifelong mission: to show the world a side of SWANA creative culture that rarely makes it into the conversation. In this episode, host Mai Habib sits down with Dr. Smitshuijzen AbiFarès to go behind the scenes of her exhibition Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms, explore what makes Arabic letterforms so uniquely expressive, and make the case that contemporary graphic design from the SWANA region is one of the most direct living continuations of Islamic artistic heritage. *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.Can't make it in person? Explore the 3D virtual tour of Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms from anywhere in the world.Check out more episodes in full video. Key Moments 0:00 Introduction to This Being Human and the world of Arabic typography 1:20 Dr. Smitshuijzen AbiFarès' background and how studying abroad sparked her passion for typography 3:07 Defining typography, and how it differs from calligraphy and hand lettering 5:59 How the Arabic script connects cultures across the SWANA region and beyond 8:58 The Quran as connector: Arabic, Islam, and the preservation of a shared script 11:51 What makes Arabic letterforms uniquely readable across wildly different styles 13:36 Behind the scenes of Inner Structures, Outer Rhythms: vision, work, and journey 18:11 How the exhibition adapted to audiences in Qatar, Germany, and Toronto 21:10 Why sparking new conversations—not delivering answers—was the ultimate goal 27:55 The future of Arabic typography: algorithms, animation, and a script that endures Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jun 23

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31 min
Jun 18

Prasanna Ranganathan: Using Storytelling to Advance Accessibility

Conversations about accessibility are often framed around legislation and accommodations, but the stories we tell about disability can be equally powerful in shaping how accessibility is perceived and lived. Human rights lawyer and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) consultant Prasanna Ranganathan argues that accessibility requires more than policy change—it demands new narratives that allow us to imagine the inclusive world we seek to build. Ranganathan spoke at The Walrus Talks AccessAbility in Toronto on May 26, 2026. 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.

Jun 18

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10 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
May 7

Alex Munter: Shaping Canada's Healthcare Future

Duncan Sinclair speaks with Alex Munter about the future of healthcare in Canada. Alex shares insights from his journey in healthcare leadership, unpacking the urgent challenges facing the country’s health system and the innovative solutions emerging to address them. He explores how technology, policy reform, and community engagement can work together to transform care delivery and build a more resilient, accessible healthcare system for all Canadians. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May 7

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27 min
2025-02-24

Episode 6: Live from Vancouver

Hannah Marazzi, Executive Director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre, introduces an intimate evening of conversation and reflection hosted by Timothy Taylor and recorded live on February 13th, 2025, at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Timothy speaks about the podcast, his family's experiences and the broader meaning of these stories with three guests: Mariette Doduck, a Holocaust survivor and co-founder of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre; David Bercovici-Artieda, an Ecuadorian-Jewish filmmaker who now calls Vancouver Island home; and Shelagh Genuis, Timothy's sister who first brought him the boxes of family documents that became the source material for The Hidden Holocaust Papers. Then, Timothy and Showrunner/Co-Executive Producer Anthony Cantor share some behind-the-scenes insights into the making of this series. Questions from the live audience round out the evening. This live episode was directed by Eric Anderson. Will Howie served as Technical Producer and Sound Engineer. Justin Brown was the Live Mix Engineer. The Venue Crew Lead and Lighting Operator was Emily Trepanier. 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.

2025-02-24

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1h 31m
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
2025-10-08

Oscar Peterson at 100: The Heart of Canadian Jazz

In this episode of Canadian Time Machine, we explore the life, music, and legacy of jazz legend Oscar Peterson on what would have been his 100th birthday. We hear from jazz pianist Taurey Butler about the profound influence Peterson has had on his own music. Then we meet Kelly Peterson, Oscar’s wife and trustee of his estate, who shares personal stories and insights into the man behind the music. Featuring the performances of both Oscar and Taurey, this episode celebrates a Canadian icon whose joy, artistry, and advocacy continue to inspire musicians and audiences around the world. 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 100 ans d'Oscar Peterson : le coeur du jazz canadien Dans cet épisode de Voyages dans l’histoire canadienne, nous plongeons dans la vie, la musique et l’héritage du légendaire pianiste de jazz Oscar Peterson, à l’occasion de ce qui aurait été son 100e anniversaire. Le pianiste de jazz Taurey Butler raconte l’influence profonde que Peterson a eue sur sa propre musique. Puis, nous rencontrons Kelly Peterson, l’épouse d’Oscar et administratrice de sa succession, qui partage des souvenirs personnels et des témoignages éclairants sur l’homme derrière la musique. Avec des prestations d’Oscar et de Taurey, cet épisode rend hommage à une icône canadienne dont la joie, le talent et l’engagement continuent d’inspirer les musiciens et le public partout dans le monde. 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.

2025-10-08

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26 min
Jun 4

Tranna Wintour: Transcending Gender Labels

Gender shapes how we move through the world, but the expectations attached to it can be limiting and exclusionary, most especially for trans and gender non-conforming people. Comedian, writer, and singer Tranna Wintour meditates on her experience as a trans woman and argues that it is not trans people who complicate our understanding of gender but the narrow binary that limits who we are allowed to be. Wintour spoke at The Walrus Talks Disruption in Toronto on November 6, 2018. 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.

Jun 4

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9 min
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

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.