Basket Traffic: entertainment meets history

Craig Chubb and Shawn Clements

Welcome to Basket Traffic! Hailing from Vancouver, this podcast is brought to you by hosts Craig, Shawn and Susie. Through story telling and conversation, our podcast grinds and plods along a meandering path of history and film. Craig thinks he knows history. Shawn is apparently into cinephilia (cinema lover), and Susie wants nothing to do with any of it. In short, we're seriously unserious and a little irreverent.  Have a listen and press "follow" if you enjoy it. We'd really appreciate it.

  1. Lusitania: got that sinking feeling!

    3D AGO

    Lusitania: got that sinking feeling!

    On the morning of May 7, 1915, the RMS Lusitania sliced through the cold waters off the coast of Ireland, just hours from its destination. She was a marvel of modern engineering—a symbol of speed, luxury, and the confidence of the early 20th century. But beneath the surface of the Atlantic, war was already waiting. When a German U-boat fired a single torpedo into the liner’s side, the world changed in just eighteen minutes. Nearly 1,200 passengers and crew were killed, including 128 Americans. But this was more than a maritime disaster. It was a collision of civilian life and industrialized warfare, of neutrality and global conflict. Was the Lusitania an innocent passenger ship—or a legitimate military target? What cargo was she really carrying? And how did this single event reshape public perception, propaganda, and the course of World War I? Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    1h 2m
  2. 2025: Indie Film and Current Events of the Year

    JAN 4

    2025: Indie Film and Current Events of the Year

    While studios in 2025 chased scale, algorithms, and intellectual property, something quieter—and more meaningful—was happening on the margins. Independent films stepped into the gap, telling smaller stories with sharper edges, clearer voices, and something increasingly rare: conviction. As blockbuster releases grew bloated and risk-averse, indie filmmakers delivered character-driven dramas, bold genre experiments, and personal stories that actually trusted the audience. Even as high-profile films like One Battle After Another made headlines, it was the independent scene—festival standouts, limited theatrical runs, and word-of-mouth releases—that reminded us what cinema can still be. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    44 min
  3. Alvin York: A World War One Hero (and is cinema dead?)

    12/16/2025

    Alvin York: A World War One Hero (and is cinema dead?)

    Heroes used to earn their victories. They faced fear, made sacrifices, and returned changed. But somewhere along the way, the journey itself began to disappear.  Today, corporate money shapes what stories get told, while algorithms decide which ones survive. Franchises are engineered for global markets, risk is minimized, and characters are sanded down until no one stands too tall. At the same time, postmodern writing has reworked the very idea of heroism—blurring good and evil, questioning moral certainty, and turning once-mythic figures into vessels for commentary rather than transformation. In this episode, Craig, Susie and Shawn will use the story of Alvin York to explore how corporate interests and postmodern storytelling have reshaped the hero’s journey—and ask a simple question: when meaning, courage, and growth are stripped away, what’s left of the hero? Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    47 min
  4. Alien Earth: No You Didn't!

    11/19/2025

    Alien Earth: No You Didn't!

    In this episode, we dive into the new sci-fi series Alien Earth, a bold reimagining of humanity’s future and our struggle to survive on a rapidly changing world. The show blends political tension, frontier exploration, and alien mystery—and our hosts have very different opinions about it. Craig comes in mostly impressed by its potential, praising the series for its gripping atmosphere, layered mythology, and its introduction of a whole host of new and scary creatures. Craig believes the show’s potential is enormous, but not fully realized… at least not yet. Shawn, however, isn’t fully convinced. While he appreciates the ambition and visual throwbacks to 1979, he argues that the pacing lags, the character motivations feel murky, and certain plotlines—especially involving boy genius—raise more questions than answers.  Susie on the other hand couldn't finish it. She chose having a peaceful sleep over enduring 8 episodes of horror with a Xenomorph and "The Eye". Together, they break down the themes, standout moments, and where the series might go next—offering a lively, thoughtful, and occasionally fiery debate. Whether you’re a die-hard sci-fi fan or just curious about the hype, this is your guide to understanding the strange, fascinating world of Alien Earth. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    55 min
  5. Halloween: The Story Behind Dracula (Part 2)

    10/27/2025

    Halloween: The Story Behind Dracula (Part 2)

    As the nights grow longer and shadows creep across the land, one name still sends a chill through the centuries—Dracula. But before he became the immortal count of gothic legend, there was a real man behind the myth: Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century prince whose brutal rule inspired Bram Stoker’s timeless tale of blood and fear. Tonight, Shawn, Susie and Craig will sink their teeth into the history behind Halloween’s most iconic monster—exploring how folklore, fear, and fact intertwined to give birth to the world’s most famous vampire. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    51 min
  6. Halloween: From Celtic Tradition to Disney Reinvention (Part 1)

    10/14/2025

    Halloween: From Celtic Tradition to Disney Reinvention (Part 1)

    Every October 31st, we carve pumpkins, wear costumes, and wander into the night—but where did it all begin? From ancient Celtic rituals honoring the dead to medieval superstitions and modern candy-filled traditions, Halloween has transformed over centuries into the celebration we know today. Join Craig as he explores how Samhain became All Hallows’ Eve, and how fear, faith, and fun blended into one hauntingly fascinating holiday. So light your jack-o’-lantern, grab some candy, and step with us into the shadows of history—welcome to the story behind Halloween. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    11 min
  7. 1982: Movies and Music: E.T., Poltergeist, Tron, Thriller and…

    08/31/2025

    1982: Movies and Music: E.T., Poltergeist, Tron, Thriller and…

    1982 wasn’t just another year at the movies—it was a turning point. Audiences were transported to fantastical worlds, terrified by creatures from the deep, and inspired by visions of the future. From the emotional magic of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to the neon-drenched dystopia of Blade Runner, from Tron’s groundbreaking digital landscapes to the terror of Poltergeist—this was the year Hollywood redefined what blockbusters could be. So grab your popcorn, rewind the VHS, and join Shawn, Susie and Craig as we journey back to 1982—a year that shaped the way we watch movies forever. Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    56 min
  8. Jaws: The 50th Anniversary of the Movie and the Harrowing Story of the USS Indianapolis

    07/31/2025

    Jaws: The 50th Anniversary of the Movie and the Harrowing Story of the USS Indianapolis

    “You’re gonna need a bigger boat…” Shawn says to Craig incredulously. Welcome to Basket Traffic, where we dive deep (actually we stay in the shallows because we’re terrified of sharks) into a classic that changed cinema forever. Today, Susie, Shawn, and Craig are plunging into the waters of suspense and terror with Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece: Jaws. From its unforgettable score from John Williams to the shark that kept an entire generation out of the ocean, we’ll explore how this film redefined summer blockbusters, terrified audiences worldwide, and turned a simple story about a seaside town into one of the greatest thrillers ever made. So grab your life vest because we’re also going to explore the real historical story of the USS Indianapolis and its crew that was stranded at sea for five days in shark-infested waters. Book: In Harm’s Way, by Doug Stanton Click here to send us feedback, or if you have a request please reach out.

    1h 6m
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About

Welcome to Basket Traffic! Hailing from Vancouver, this podcast is brought to you by hosts Craig, Shawn and Susie. Through story telling and conversation, our podcast grinds and plods along a meandering path of history and film. Craig thinks he knows history. Shawn is apparently into cinephilia (cinema lover), and Susie wants nothing to do with any of it. In short, we're seriously unserious and a little irreverent.  Have a listen and press "follow" if you enjoy it. We'd really appreciate it.

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