History is Unreal

Dr. John Fontaine

Canadian history is fascinating, but it is rarely factual. Guided by Dr. John Fontaine and AI co-host ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence), this podcast applies a historiographical lens to empower listeners to better interpret the histories we have been falsely taught. From the grand narratives of elites (History from Above) to more accurate histories of the common people (History from Below), History is Unreal explores how the past is shaped by the positionality and biases of both writer and you the reader. The result? Silent/untold histories of communities and its peoples are recovered and brought to light. Designed for post-secondary students, historians, and lifelong learners, we transition from our early podcast episodes on theory (only a few, promise) toward auditing and better explaining actual Canadian historical events; applying our adjusted lens to the messy, chaotic, and real stories that unfolded across the very spaces where we now live and breathe. Join the reconstruction at historyisunreal.ca

Episodes

  1. Jul 19

    The Métis of St Paul: a Louder History from Below

    We have reached Step 4 of our historical framework: the interview/final reflection. Over the past three episodes, we dismantled the "Grand Narrative" surrounding the dissolution of the St. Paul des Métis settlement. Today, we look at the aftermath. What happened after the ink dried on the April 10, 1909 land transfers? To understand the continuing Métis footprint of St. Paul, Dr. John sits down with Dr. Robert Desjardins, who grew up in the community, to discuss the lingering echoes of expropriation. We explore how the Métis population survived as a 9% minority in a town dominated by an Anglo-Protestant and French-Catholic cultural tug-of-war. ANI Buddy also breaks down the algorithmic consequences of cultural assimilation, explaining why the Métis defense mechanism of "blending in" fundamentally disrupts the datasets that modern AIs rely on to tell the truth. Key Content Highlights:The 1909 Expropriation Reality: Breaking down the specific numbers of the land transfer that saw St. Paul pivot from a 100% Métis community to just 9% overnight.Guest Interview: Dr. Robert Desjardins shares his lived experience growing up in St. Paul and the visible cultural dynamics on the ground (Interview recorded July 10, 2026, at HUB Mall, University of Alberta).Silence as Survival: How the remaining Métis families utilized cultural assimilation and blending in with French-Catholic identities as a necessary defense mechanism against systemic discrimination.The AI Data Bias: ANI Buddy explains why algorithms fail to capture "silenced" histories, relying strictly on institutional and colonial written records over marginalized realities.Telling the Better History: A final reflection on why true history requires looking for the 9% who have been there all along, rather than blindly accepting the top-down narrative of institutional success.Sources & References:Federal National Policy & Oblate Church Mandates: Historical context regarding the government and institutional frameworks that engineered the 1909 demographic shift.St. Paul des Métis 1909 Land Transfer Records: Data detailing the April 10, 1909 transfer of lands to 406 incoming Quebec families, the relocation of 44 Métis families to the settlement's outskirts, and the prior departure of 30 original Métis founding families.Historical Census & Church Registries (Post-1909): Examining the categorization of Métis residents under European/French names and Catholic faith, contributing to the algorithmic "silence" in modern demographic datasets.Interview Audio: Dr. Robert Desjardins, recorded July 10, 2026, HUB Mall, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.Connection Details:Website: HistoryIsUnreal.caSubscribe: Follow History Is Unreal on RedCircle, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your audio.Engage: Join the conversation on our website and let us know your thoughts on how we can continue to tell better histories.Music Credits Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' Composer: Antonio Vivaldi Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra Source: Musopen.org License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Track: "Drum Roll with Rimshot Sound Effect" Voice Artist: Original Audio Concept inspired by "The Cha-Cha Slide" (DJ Casper). Source: Orange Free Sounds  License: no copyright the Team Dr. John Fontaine: Podcast host & Executive ProducerDr. Marcia Kim: Podcast/Script EditorKaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Design"History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller."

    The Métis of St Paul: a Louder History from Below

  2. Jul 9

    St. Paul des Métis Better History: Policy over People

    The ultimate success or failure of the Métis farmers never mattered. They were simply caught between a federal government executing their economy-building National Policy, and an Oblate Church committing to a French-Catholic settler parish. In Episode 8 of History Is Unreal, we advance to Step 3 of our 4-step framework: The History We Should Instead Tell.  During the colony's peak era of the early 1900s, 93 Métis families built homes and farms as residents in St. Paul des Métis. But with resources and support faltering, some Metis residents saw the writing on the wall, and left on their own accord. And while those Metis farmers remaining succeeded, over 1500 Quebec French-Catholics acquired land on one day in April. Of the 63 remaining Métis families that submitted applications for land, 44 were allowed to stay (kind of). But still, the Metis cultural population went from 100% to 9% in just one day. What You'll Hear in This Episode:The 4-Step History Framework (Step 3): Moving past the comfortable ‘history we've been told’ to construct a ‘history we should instead tell’.The Irrelevance of Métis Success: The success of residents like the Laboucanes or Garneaus did not matter.The pre-1909 exodus (93 to 63): The cessation of government support to the colony around 1905 created a voluntary Metis exodus of 1/3rd of their population.The Math of April 10, 1909: 44 Métis families were approved land grants; relocated to s.west St. Paul (small 80 acre lots). Another 19 families were immediately evicted. 406 Quebecois land grants were approved (standard 160 acre lots). Metis residents now made up only 9% of the population from 100% a day earlier.AI Bias in 2026: A discussion on why AI platforms naturally default to protecting institutional logic due to systemic digital inequity, and how modern historians now need to disrupt the data pool.A Preview of Step 4: Looking ahead to our interview with Dr. Desjardins to explore the living heritage, language playground splits (Cree, French, and Michif), and surviving cultural soul of modern St. Paul, Alberta.Sources & ReferencesMaber, Samuel: Report of the St. Paul des Métis Commission and Settlement Audits, Department of the Interior (1909).Fontaine, John: St. Paul des Métis, 1896 to 1909 - the Dual Roles of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. University of Alberta (2009).Fontaine, John: Presentation - The Dual Roles of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (2012).Iggers, George: Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to the Postmodern Challenge (1997).Statistics Canada: St. Paul, Town (T) Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 98-316-X2021001 (2022).Gabriel Dumont Institute: Archival Records and Pre-Colonization Files, St. Paul Half-Breed Reserve Collection (2026).Edmonton Historical Board: Neighbourhood Heritage: Garneau Historical Profile, City of Edmonton Heritage Program (2026).Gabriel Dumont Institute of Native Studies and Applied Research: Oral History Collection: St. Paul des Métis Dossier, Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture (2026).Connect with the ShowWebsite: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: Visit our sponsors, or leave a content review on our site.Subscribe: Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.Music CreditsTrack: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' ; Composer: Antonio Vivaldi; Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra; Source: Musopen.org; License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Track: "Drum Roll with Rimshot Sound Effect"; Voice Artist: Original Audio Concept inspired by "The Cha-Cha Slide" (DJ Casper); Source: Orange Free Sounds;License: no copyright Track: "suspenseful-dum-dum-dum-drum-hit-sound-effect”; Source:Orange Free Sounds ; License: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) The Production TeamDr. John Fontaine: Podcast Host & Executive ProducerDr. Marcia Kim: Podcast & Script EditorKaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Digital Visual DesignFinal Quote"History is based on the interpretations of the writer. It is not factual. Keep questioning the teller."

    St. Paul des Métis Better History: Policy over People

  3. Jun 22

    St. Paul des Métis History Told: The Church’s role in the Eviction

    In Episode 7 of HistoryisUnreal, we advance to Step 2: The History We've Been Told. We consider the narrative surrounding the 1896 foundation of the St. Paul des Métis agricultural experiment and its subsequent 1909 dissolution. Using Dr. John Fontaine’s 2009 Master’s thesis and further 2012 presentation as a primary case study, we consider the history told of the Métis colony's failure. We reveal an Oblate Order conflicted by its dual mandates and shifting events. They were tasked by the government with acting as an exclusive mission to the Métis while simultaneously adapting to a massive influx of white French-Catholic settlers. When their school burned down in 1905, these two roles collided, with devastating consequences for the Métis community. Building on Episode 6 and the context of how external economic pressures and the National Policy impacted decision making at that time, we continue with Step 2 of our 4-step podcast framework: examining the "history we've been told." Together, Dr. John and ANI Buddy revisit his own 2009 argument and historical interpretation for the creation and collapse of the St. Paul des Métis farming colony. Was the rapid transition of the colony from a Métis settlement in 1896 to a Franco-Albertan Catholic parish in 1909 the result of an intentional state-church conspiracy? Utilizing institutional archives and research methods from and around 2009, we uncover a complex history of an Oblate Order caught between two conflicting identities at this pivotal time in Canada’s history: a missionary church to Indigenous peoples and a colonial church to incoming European settlers. Where did history tell us where the church’s real intentions lie? Finally, ANI delivers a sharp 2026 system check, challenging the context of when this history was told, and whether we can now tell a better history of what happened. What You'll Hear in This Episode: The 4-Step History Framework: Step 2 - hearing what history has been told in the past of the shift of the St. Paul des Métis colony.The Dual Mandate Collision: How did the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate justify their conflicting roles as missionaries to the Métis peoples and parish priests to incoming Quebec homesteaders.The Omitted Diary Line: Unpacking Father Thérien’s personal log from July 15, 1896 to reveal how another ‘history told’ changed the narrative.The 1905 Tipping Point: Why the burning of the local school marked the end of the Métis farming experiment and community.ANI’s 2026 System Check: Given the current context of 2026, Truth and Reconciliation frameworks and other/different considerations, ANI begins to challenge whether a better history can be told.Sources & Links: Fontaine, John. (2009). Graduate Research Thesis, University of Alberta.Fontaine, John. (2012). St. Paul des Métis, 1896 to 1909: The Dual Roles of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (Academic Presentation).Explore our full digital archive, source listings, and interactive elements at HistoryIsUnreal.ca.Connect with the Show Website: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe on your favourite podcast host site to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.Music Credits Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter'Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Track: "Drum Roll with Rimshot Sound Effect"Voice Artist: Original Audio Concept inspired by "The Cha-Cha Slide" (DJ Casper).Source: Orange Free Sounds License: no copyright Track: "Ta-Da Sound Effect”Creator: freesound_communitySource:Pixabay License: no copyrightthe Team Dr. John Fontaine: Podcast Host & Executive ProducerDr. Marcia Kim: Podcast EditorKaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Design "History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller."

    St. Paul des Métis History Told: The Church’s role in the Eviction

  4. May 28

    St. Paul des Métis Context: Creation and Eviction

    Welcome to Episode 6 of History is Unreal. Today, we officially deploy our four-step historical analysis on a critical event in Canada's history, the Métis expropriation at St. Paul, Alberta; starting with Step 1: Context. To truly understand why the Métis farming colony at St. Paul des Métis was broken apart in 1909, we must first understand what was happening at the time in Canada. Dr. John Fontaine and his AI co-host, ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence), explain how the federal government’s 1879 National Policy intersected with the Oblate Catholic Church's missionary role to transform Métis families into a successful colony. By exploring the unique legal architecture of the 1896 lease agreement and the dual roles odf the Oblate Church, we seek to understand why decisions were made to first initiate a Métis farming colony, only to be broken apart 13 years years later. Before we provide our own opinions on what happened at St. Paul des Métis, we must first understand what was happening in that context - from the time of Canadian Confederation until just before WWI. Looking ahead to future episodes, Dr. John and ANI will then consider what histories have been told and what histories should we instead tell to get a better history of what happened at St. Paul des Métis. Related Chronology of EventsTo better understand the event, use this contextual timeline: Date / Event Significance / Podcast Context 1867 / BNA Act Adopted / The Dominion of Canada is born. 1867 / U.S. Purchases Alaska / Created "border anxiety" in Ottawa; a catalyst for securing the West quickly. 1869 / Rupert’s Land Transition / The land sale from HBC to Govt; Indigenous inhabitants excluded from the decision-making. 1869–70 / Red River Resistance / Louis Riel and the Métis force Ottawa to negotiate; the Catholic Church acts as a mediator. 1870 / Manitoba Act / Manitoba becomes the 5th province; promise of 1.4 million acres for Métis children. 1871 / B.C. Joins Confederation / Canada becomes a transcontinental nation. 1871–1921 / The Numbered Treaties / The "Legal Clearing": Systematic removal of Indigenous title to make way for the CPR. 1872 / Dominion Lands Act / 160-acre quarter sections for "preferred" farmers. 1873–78 / PM Alexander Mackenzie / Followed the Pacific Scandal; his slow-growth approach frustrated Western expansion. 1875 / NW Territories Act / Established the governance of the West. 1879 / The National Policy Finalized / Macdonald's "Big Three": Tariffs, the Railway, and Western Immigration. 1878–91 / PM John A. Macdonald / His second term; focused on the CPR as a "steel ribbon" to hold the country together. 1885 / CPR Completed / The physical infrastructure is ready, but it is deeply in debt and lacks a western population to make use of it. 1885 / North-West Resistance / The execution of Riel; the Métis become "destitute" in the eyes of Ottawa. 1891 / Macdonald's Death / Five years of Conservative instability follows; the "St. Paul idea" begins to brew. 1895 / "A Philanthropic Plan to Redeem the Half-Breeds of Manitoba and the North West Territories." / Father Lacombe and A.M. Burgess agree on St. Paul as a low-cost infrastructure/farming project for Métis peoples. 1896 / Laurier & Sifton Rise / The Liberals back in power; Sifton replaces Burgess. 1896 / St. Paul des Métis Founded / The 21-year lease is signed; the "Scrip-Free Zone" (and cage) is created. 1900 / Institutional Pressure / Protestant competition arrives in western Canada, pushing the Oblates to rethink their priorities. 1905 / AB/SK Become Provinces / The "School Question" and the 1905 fire at the St. Paul school destabilize the colony. 1908 / The Thérien Journal / Father Thérien submits "Plan B" to replace Métis farmers with more productive farmers from Québec. 1909 / Métis Expropriation from St. Paul / The lease is cancelled and immediately re-distributed to French-Catholics from Québec. 2009 / 2019 / MA & PhD Research / Dr. John's research. 2026 / History is Unreal Ep. 6 / ANI audits the ledger; identifying the Métis as "placeholders" for Sifton's factory. Key Takeaways From This EpisodeThe 4-Step Framework Deep-Dive: Why establishing raw structural context (Step 1) must happen before analyzing the biases of textbook histories (Step 2) or rewriting a better narrative (Step 3).The Anatomy of the 21-Year Lease: How Father Lacombe's anomalous lease successfully locked out predatory Scrip Raiders but simultaneously functioned as a cage, stripping Métis families of the ability to build equity or borrow against their own land improvements.Sifton’s Pure Economic Factory: How Clifford Sifton transformed the Department of the Interior into an aggressive corporate machine that explicitly filtered out urbanites, Black homesteaders, and Asian laborers in pursuit of raw grain revenue.The Placeholder Economy: How experienced, self-sufficient Métis families like the Laboucanes and Garneaus provided the high-risk developmental labor required to prove the land's value while Ottawa waited for its preferred demographic machine to arrive.Sponsorship NoticeToday's episode of History is Unreal is proudly brought to you by Margie’s Closet (uniquefindsyyc on Poshmark). Looking for incredible, unique fashion finds while supporting independent sustainable retail? Check out the closet on Poshmark and use your listener perk code to refresh your style today! Coming Up Next WeekGet ready for an uncomfortable shift. In Episode 7, we step directly into Step 2 (Told History) and Step 3 (Better History). We are diving into the micro-level agricultural productivity ledgers of the Laboucanes, Poitras, and Garneau families to prove they didn't "fail"—and Dr. John will systematically audit and dismantle his own 2009 Master's thesis conclusions on the recording booth floor. Sources & References Georg Iggers: Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to the Postmodern Challenge (1997).Dr. John Fontaine: St. Paul des Métis, 1896 to 1909 - the Dual Roles of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. University of Alberta (2009).Grouper, Unir, Protéger: Elite Strategies and the Formulation of a French-Catholic Identity in Western Canada, 1870-1930. PhD Dissertation, University of Alberta (2019).Connect with the Show Website: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe on your favourite podcast host site to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.Music Credits Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter'Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Track: "Everybody clap your hands"Voice Artist: Original Audio Concept inspired by "The Cha-Cha Slide" (DJ Casper).Source: https://youtu.be/eekVbkhY4kI?si=sV4lyKBMndtjPlGj License: no copyright Track: "suspenseful-dum-dum-dum-drum-hit-sound-effect”Source:https://orangefreesounds.com/suspenseful-dum-dum-dum-drum-hit-sound-effect/ License: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) the Team Dr. John Fontaine: Podcast Host & Executive ProducerDr. Marcia Kim: Podcast EditorKaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Design "History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller."

    St. Paul des Métis Context: Creation and Eviction

  5. May 2

    Theory vs 1879: How a Policy Shaped History

    History is an argument, built on the biases of its writers and readers. In episode 5, we begin to look beyond the "why" of history to begin the process of establishing a base chronology of events—the essential starting point for any rigorous historical interpretation. This will allow us to understand better histories and to connect our intrinsic thinking to extrinsic factors (the context of the time). We start with the ‘money in, money out’ logic that transformed the Canadian west. ANI and I bridge the gap between historical theory and Canadian reality.  Using the 1879 National Policy as a critical event and context, we analyze how Canada’s early economic focus viewed the West as a transactional ledger and how related decisions impacted the communities, peoples and infrastructures already in, and arriving to, the West. St. Paul des Métis, in an area later to be northeastern Alberta, acts as our example to begin an illustration of how the context of the time and biases of the writer shift the historian’s interpretation to find better histories to tell. Key Concepts Explored The National Policy (1879) Protective Tariffs (Implemented in 1879)Transcontinental Railway (CPR incorporated in 1881)Western Immigration 1870-1930 (Aggressive recruitment intensified following the policy's adoption)This three-stage Immigrant Survival Strategy contrasts the National Policy and Clifford Sifton’s desire for purely productive, "efficiency-focused" farmers. A linear progression often seen in successful minority immigrant cultures, these steps move from physical arrival (Grouping), to social connection (Uniting), and finally to the continuous battle to Protect (and struggle - often centered on language use and retention).La Langue C'est la Vie “Tear off the tongue to a man and you take away his life. Tear off the tongue to his race, you kill it…” source: le Patriote de l’Ouest, vol. 1, no 50, 15 feb 1912, 1. Sources & References Georg Iggers: Historiography in the Twentieth Century: From Scientific Objectivity to the Postmodern Challenge (1997).Dr. John Fontaine: St. Paul des Métis, 1896 to 1909 - the Dual Roles of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. University of Alberta (2009).Grouper, Unir, Protéger: Elite Strategies and the Formulation of a French-Catholic Identity in Western Canada, 1870-1930. PhD Dissertation, University of Alberta (2019).Connect with the Show Website: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe on your favourite podcast host site to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.Music Credits Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter'Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0Track: "It's Time!"Voice Artist: Bruce BufferSource: Myinstants.comLicense: Fair Use/Stylistic Commentary "History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller." The Team:Dr. John Fontaine: Host & Executive Producer Dr. Marcia Kim: Podcast/script editor Kaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Design

    Theory vs 1879: How a Policy Shaped History

  6. Mar 28

    Historical Bias: Why Our Sources Mislead Us

    In episode 4, this hands-on workshop (and last theory episode for a bit), Dr. John and ANI start to transition from theory to talking about actual Canadian historical events. We explore the Positionality Audit—a tool for uncovering the hidden lenses that shape our understanding of the past. Using the War of 1812 as an example, we demonstrate how personal "Positionality" and ‘bias’ can transform the same historical events into entirely different stories. The Workshop Challenge This session is meant to explore your own biases of the histories you have all been told toward the histories you should instead search for and tell. Download the Worksheet: Visit HistoryIsUnreal.ca for the Bias Elevator Speech Worksheet PDF.Follow Along: Pause the audio during the "Workshop elevator" music to complete your own audit.Key Terms & Definitions Positionality Audit: The process of identifying how your geography, upbringing, and "Success Nodes" influence your historical interpretation.The War of 1812 Case Study: An analysis of how one’s national identity bias changes historical ‘facts’.History from Below (Social History): A focus on the lived experiences of everyday people and marginalized groups rather than just elite leaders/grand narratives.Success Nodes: A linear model of history that connects "victories" into a clean line of progress, often erasing the "messy" reality of those who lost/those in the field.Sources & References E.H. Carr: What is History?(1961). The foundational "Fishmonger" analogy for historian bias.Marc Bloch: The Historian's Craft. Exploring how the "Present" influences our view of the "Past."The War of 1812 (CHA): The War of 1812: Shared Victory?George Iggers: Historiography in the Twentieth Century.Connect with the Show Website: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe on your favourite podcast host site to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.Music Credits Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter'Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0Workshop Interlude: The NASA Elevator Source: traaacks! Attribution: Music by traaacks! - https://www.traaacks.com "History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller." The Team:Dr. John Fontaine: Host & Executive Producer Dr. Marcia Kim: Podcast/script editor Kaviya Govindaraj: Marketing & Design

    Historical Bias: Why Our Sources Mislead Us

  7. Mar 10

    The Grand Narrative Myth: Why We Love Simple Stories

    Host: Dr. John Fontaine AI Co-Host: ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) In episode 3, Dr. John and ANI tackle the "Positionality Paradox." If every historian is biased by their own surroundings, how can we ever reach a "better" history? We move away from History from Above—the grand narratives of elites and winners—and dive into History from Below. Using the analogy of E.H. Carr’s fishmonger, we explore why the "Chef" (the historian) matters more than the "Fish" (the stories we have been told). We also trace the roots of biased history back to the 5th Century BCE to see how the "Success Node" model has been used for over 2,000 years. Key Terms & DefinitionsPositionality: The social and political context that creates the lens through which we view the world. In history, it is the "baggage" a researcher carries that influences which stories they tell and how they tell them.History from Above: Historical narratives focused on elites, leaders, and "Great Men." These stories often create a Grand Narrative to justify the status quo or national development.History from Below (Social History): A field of history—gaining massive momentum in the 1960s—that focuses on the lived experiences of everyday people, marginalized groups, and "small" daily decisions rather than state policy.Success Nodes: A linear model of history that connects "victories" (won wars, acquired land) into a clean line of progress, often ignoring the "messy" reality or the "lost" perspectives of the time.Hagiography: Traditionally the writing of the lives of saints; in a modern sense, it refers to biography or history that is uncritical and treats its subject as flawless or heroic.The "Chef & The Fish" Framework"The facts are like fish on a fishmonger’s slab. The historian collects them, takes them home, and cooks them in whatever style they prefer." — E.H. Carr Dr. John argues that to find "Better History," we must audit the Chef, and start with ourselves. Our personal biases are the recipe. If we do not acknowledge our own positionality, we can not hope to then understand our past—we are just "cooking" the facts to fit our present needs. Sources & ReferencesE.H. Carr: What is History? (1961). The foundational text for the "Fishmonger" analogy.George Iggers: Historiography in the Twentieth Century. (Concept: The Prison of Context).Herodotus & Thucydides (5th Century BCE): The "Elite Source Code."Reference: A.R. Burn, The Pelican History of Greece.Reference: James Romm, The Landmark Herodotus.Marc Bloch: The Historian's Craft. (Concept: Understanding the "Present" to understand the "Past").Social History Revolution (1960s): The shift from political/military (History from Above) to the history of common people and daily life (History from below).Homework: The Three Foundational QuestionsIn preparation for the Episode 4 Workshop, Dr. John challenges you to answer these three questions to begin considering what your own biases may be: What do you believe? (Pick something fundamental: Free will? Progress? An Afterlife?)What current-day "storms" are affecting your vision? (Political, economic, or social pressures).Whose side are you on? (Who do you truly protect—a nation, a family, a group?)Connect with the ShowWebsite: HistoryIsUnreal.caSupport the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.Music CreditsTrack: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' (The Four Seasons)Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 "History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller."

    The Grand Narrative Myth: Why We Love Simple Stories

  8. Feb 11

    The AI Mirror: How Tech Rewrites History

    Title: The AI Mirror: Reflecting Our Bias in Telling Canadian History Host: Dr. John Fontaine Co-Host: ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) Is history a collection of facts, or just a "sophisticated mirror" of whoever is holding the pen? In episode 2, Dr. John Fontaine and his AI co-host (ANI) begin to deconstruct the "Grand Narrative" of Canadian history through the lens of historiography. By using ANI as a control group, they reveal how 19th-century nation-building created a "vanishing race" strategy regarding Indigenous peoples and how modern AI datasets, if left unchecked, continue these biases through present day. Key Concepts Explored  The Control Group: Why an AI co-host is the perfect tool to expose the "average of the arguments" found in Western datasets. Context of the Past: Understanding why 19th-century historians prioritized narratives that justified railways and resource extraction over Indigenous sovereignty. Context of the Present: How our current values (Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty) can conflict with historical nomenclature. The Grand Narrative: Identifying the "big, tidy stories" used to argue that Canadians have somehow evolved from our past selves. Connect with Us  Canadian Hub: historyisunreal.ca | historyisunreal.com  website: historyisunreal.ca | fontaineacademicservices.ca  Follow and subscribe to ensure you don't miss our upcoming episodes.   Music Credits:   Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' (The Four Seasons)  Composer: Antonio Vivaldi  Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra  Source: Musopen.org  License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

    The AI Mirror: How Tech Rewrites History

  9. Feb 2

    Jacques Cartier: Rethinking the Facts We're Told

    "History, Canada’s history in particular, is very interesting; but it is not factual.” Welcome to the first episode of History is Unreal. Dr. John Fontaine and ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) introduce Canadian historiography through the lens of a famous Canadian explorer, Jacques Cartier. The exercise begins with learning how and why Cartier was portrayed the way he was in our past versus how we should be portraying him today. The core mission of the show; that the history we learned is based on the biases of the writer and the context of the present (and the past). In episode 1, we learn why Cartier is the topic for this episode; based on the biases of what the historian (Dr. Fontaine in this instance) want to write about, or better, podcast about. This podcast is a search for a better understanding of our history, interpretations critical for Canadian post-secondary students, researchers, and lifelong learners if they strive to understand master the narratives that shape our past and present world. With ANI as a unique digital co-host, we apply a historiographical mindset to this podcast that will empower all students of Canadian history to move from a reactive struggle in simply memorizing dates and players to a proactive and deep understanding of Canada’s history. Stay Connected with the Project:  Primary Hub: historyisunreal.ca Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.ca Follow and subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss our upcoming episodes.  Music Credits:  Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' (The Four Seasons) Composer: Antonio Vivaldi Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra Source: Musopen.org License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

    Jacques Cartier: Rethinking the Facts We're Told

  10. Season 1 Trailer

    Official Trailer: History is Unreal

    "History, Canada’s history in particular, is very interesting; but it is not factual.” Welcome to the official trailer for History is Unreal. Dr. John Fontaine and co-host ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence) introduce the core mission of the show; that the history we learned is based on the biases of the writer and the context of the present (and the past). This podcast is a search for a better understanding of our history, interpretations critical for Canadian post-secondary students, researchers, and lifelong learners if they strive to understand master the narratives that shape our past and present world. With a unique digital co-host, we apply a historiographical mindset to this podcast that will empower all students of Canadian history to move from a reactive struggle in simply memorizing dates and players to a proactive and deep understanding of Canada’s history. Stay Connected with the Project:  Primary Hub: historyisunreal.ca Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.ca Follow and subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss our upcoming episodes.  Music Credits:  Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' (The Four Seasons) Composer: Antonio Vivaldi Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra Source: Musopen.org License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

    Official Trailer: History is Unreal

  11. Jan 27

    Teaser: Reconstructing Canadian History

    "The histories we’ve been told are based on interpretations that serve our present and our biases." Join Dr. John Fontaine and his AI co-host, ANI Buddy, for the debut teaser of History is Unreal. In this 30-second introduction, we set the stage for a deep dive into the friction between human storytelling and digital data. Using a historiographical lens, we seek to understand the context of why histories are told the way they are—discerning which narratives are plausible and which are simply crap. Stay Connected with the Project: Primary Hub: historyisunreal.caAcademic Services: fontaineacademicservices.caFollow and subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss our official Trailer drop next. Music Credits: Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter' (The Four Seasons)Composer: Antonio VivaldiPerformed by: The Modena Chamber OrchestraSource: Musopen.orgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Trailer

About

Canadian history is fascinating, but it is rarely factual. Guided by Dr. John Fontaine and AI co-host ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence), this podcast applies a historiographical lens to empower listeners to better interpret the histories we have been falsely taught. From the grand narratives of elites (History from Above) to more accurate histories of the common people (History from Below), History is Unreal explores how the past is shaped by the positionality and biases of both writer and you the reader. The result? Silent/untold histories of communities and its peoples are recovered and brought to light. Designed for post-secondary students, historians, and lifelong learners, we transition from our early podcast episodes on theory (only a few, promise) toward auditing and better explaining actual Canadian historical events; applying our adjusted lens to the messy, chaotic, and real stories that unfolded across the very spaces where we now live and breathe. Join the reconstruction at historyisunreal.ca

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. John Fontaine
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 John Fontaine / History is Unreal
  • Show Website
    History is Unreal