Knockabout Media

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Channel · 11 Shows

Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Weekly Series
History

History

Updated Weekly
History

History

Weekly Series

History

History

Weekly Series
History

History

Biweekly Series
TV & Film

TV & Film

Biweekly Series
History

History

Weekly Series
History

History

Weekly Series
Society & Culture

Society & Culture

Updated Weekly
History

History

Updated Weekly

Season 1, Episode 1

The Front’s Favourite Gal

What if I told you the roots of Canadian drag weren’t in a nightclub, but in the mud and mayhem of the Western Front during the First World War? In this episode of Lavender Ranks, hosts Em and Karbon introduce you to Ross Hamilton, adored by audiences as “Marjorie” and remembered today as one of Canada’s earliest drag performers. Under the guise of “boosting morale,” the military somehow became the perfect stage for queer aesthetics, performance, and desire to emerge in plain sight. Today, Em and Karbon are spilling the tea on wartime concerts, the ingenuity in creating glamour at the front, and the blurry line between performance and identity during the First World War. And yes, in this episode, you’ll even hear from Ross Hamilton himself. Download our Discussion Questions. Lavender Ranks explores queer life during the First World War and contains frank discussions of war, discrimination, repression, sexuality, and historical violence. Listener discretion is advised. Written by Emily Gioskos Hosts Emily Gioskos & Karbon Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Edited by Sonia Gemmiti Series consultant Sarah Worthman Illustration by Henry Fong Additional Research Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Featuring original interviews with Sarah Worthman, Mitchell LaFramboise, Cameron Telch, Andrea McKenzie, and Martine Roy. An original production of Knockabout Media This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 2

The White Blood of No-Hope

For much of history, queer lives were criminalized, and what survives of us is too often filtered through police files and court records; stories told by those who sought to erase us. But every so often, a different kind of record survives: a story the community protected; a story someone loved enough to keep alive. Charles McDonell's is one of those rare stories. His life was captured not by the state, but by queer hands: poets, lovers, and friends who refused to let him disappear. This is a tale of forbidden queer love in the mud-soaked trenches of the Great War… of a soldier who found tenderness in the unlikeliest place, and the grief and trauma that followed him home like a shadow. Regional Mental Health Resources. Download our Discussion Questions. Lavender Ranks explores queer life during the First World War and contains frank discussions of war, discrimination, repression, sexuality, and historical violence. Listener discretion is advised. Written by Emily Gioskos Hosts Emily Gioskos & Karbon Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Edited by Sonia Gemmiti Series consultant Sarah Worthman Illustration by Henry Fong Additional Research Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Featuring original interviews with Sarah Worthman, Mitchell LaFramboise, Cameron Telch, Andrea McKenzie, and Martine Roy. An original production of Knockabout Media This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 3

Sisters in Arms

And the were “roommates”... or at least that’s what some historians would like you to believe. This is episode three of Lavender Ranks, in which we enter our Hallmark era to share a great sapphic love story between war-time Nursing Sisters Ellanore and Murney. Today, hosts Em and Karbon are digging deep to explore how women-loving women relationships were seemingly able to slip under the radar during the First World War only to be erased from the record. Download our Discussion Questions. Lavender Ranks explores queer life during the First World War and contains frank discussions of war, discrimination, repression, sexuality, and historical violence. Listener discretion is advised. Written by Emily Gioskos Hosts Emily Gioskos & Karbon Executive Producer Ryan Barnett Edited by Sonia Gemmiti Series consultant Sarah Worthman Illustration by Henry Fong Additional Research Dr. Sarafina Pagnotta Featuring original interviews with Sarah Worthman, Mitchell LaFramboise, Cameron Telch, Andrea McKenzie, and Martine Roy. An original production of Knockabout Media This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 4 Bonus

Bonus: Jo Whitehead Served at the Eastern Front

This episode was produced by Queer Collective and previously published on their feed. The feral, gender-defiant life of a Canadian WWI veteran who ditched a wealthy upbringing, lived alone in the woods, enlisted three times, fought on the Serbian front as a man, got captured as a prisoner of war, fell in love in a prison camp, and spent decades confusing barbers and bureaucrats alike. We’re queering the Great War, unpacking gender outlaw survival, and asking the spicy question: early non-binary icon or radical dissident woman? CONTACT US Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queer.collective/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@queercollectivepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/queer.collective.to/ Website: https://www.queercollectiveto.com/ Email: queer.collective.to@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 5

We Think You'd Like: The Bosom Friends Affair

This is an episode from Story Girl: The Life of Lucy Maud Montgomery, a 7-part podcast in which we explore L.M. Montgomery's childhood, literary journey, and the timeless impact of Anne of Green Gables on generations of readers. In this episode, the final in the series, we explore queer interpretations of Anne of Green Gables. In conversation with playwright Rosemary Rowe and cartoonist Kathleen Gros, we delve into the deep bond between Anne and Diana, often dubbed the "Bosom Friends Affair." For more: Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros I Hated You in High School by Kathleen Gros Anne and Diana Were Totally Doing It by Rosemary Rowe Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Associate Producers Maia Foster-Sanchez & Kristi Prophet Recorded by Tyler Rauman This series features interviews with Kate Macdonald Butler, Kate Scarth, Jessica Young, Laura Robinson, Yuko Matsumoto, Rosemary Rowe & Kathleen Gros. A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer

Introducing Lavender Ranks

lavender (noun) /ˈlæv.ən.dər/ A symbolic colour associated with LGBTQ2S+ identity, queer culture, and queer resistance. ranks noun / ræŋks / The members of a military force considered collectively. Hosted by The Queer Collective’s Emily and Karbon, Lavender Ranks explores the stories that didn’t make it into the official record because they were too tender, too queer, or too dangerous to preserve. From Canadian soldiers performing in drag at the front, to forbidden love in the trenches, to nurses whose lifelong relationship was dismissed as mere “friendship,” the series uncovers a hidden history buried beneath the mythology of war. If you’re interested in queer history, Canadian history, the First World War, or military history, follow Lavender Ranks now and discover the stories history tried to leave behind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 3, Episode 4

John Candy: Bigger Fish

John Candy enlists in Stripes, returns to the familiar chaos of Melonville on SCTV, and then makes waves in Hollywood with a breakout role in Splash. This episode follows a pivotal stretch in Candy’s career, as his comedic chops earn him big-screen attention and set the stage for stardom. John Candy: The Lou Gehrig of Comedy is a series that honours the timeless humour and heartfelt performances of John Candy, star of hits like Splash, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Home Alone. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Recorded by Tyler Rauman Additional voices by Matthew Barnett & Sean Quinlan A Knockabout Media Production Additional audio material: The Bobbie Wygant Archive, Later with Bob Costas, Late Night with David Letterman, Nebraska State Historical Society, Terrence Thompson, Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, Columbia Pictures *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 1

Spadework

In this episode, we explore the formative years of author Lucy Maud Montgomery. We delve into her early life in Prince Edward Island and discuss the influences and experiences that shaped her writing, including the loss of her mother and the complexities of growing up in a strict household. Join us as we uncover how Montgomery’s youth laid the foundation for her beloved novels. Regional Mental Health Resources. Follow us on our socials: Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube & Substack About This Series: Discover the life and legacy of L.M. Montgomery in this insightful 7-part podcast, in which we explore her childhood, literary journey, and the timeless impact of Anne of Green Gables on generations of readers. Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Associate Producers Maia Foster-Sanchez & Kristi Prophet Recorded by Tyler Rauman This series features interviews with Kate Macdonald Butler, Kate Scarth, Jessica Young, Laura Robinson & Yuko Matsumoto. Additional voices by Candace Amarante & Matthew Barnett A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 3, Episode 3

John Candy: The Lou Gehrig of Comedy

As SNL takes off, the Second City crew launches SCTV, carving out their own place in sketch comedy history. Hollywood soon comes calling, and John Candy lands a coveted role in Steven Spielberg’s 1941—his first real taste of movie stardom. This is the moment Candy begins to bridge the gap between cult favourite and big-screen contender. John Candy: The Lou Gehrig of Comedy is a series that honours the timeless humour and heartfelt performances of John Candy, star of hits like Splash, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and Home Alone. Consider supporting us by becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/cw/knockaboutmedia Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Recorded by Tyler Rauman Additional voices by Matthew Barnett & Sean Quinlan A Knockabout Media Production Additional audio material: Retrontario, The Bobbie Wygant Archive, Breadcrustcouncil, Dash Retro, Kamenliter, Ugazzovision *This program and all relevant content is for educational purposes only and to the best of our knowledge is being used under Fair Dealing/Fair Use Act guidelines and within Canadian and United States standards of fair dealing/fair use* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Season 1, Episode 5

At Journey's End

Maud faces some of the toughest years of her life : nuisance lawsuits, an unwanted pursuer, social ostracism, personal humiliations, and drug dependency colour her final days. Regional Mental Health Resources. Follow us on our socials: Bluesky, LinkedIn, YouTube & Substack About This Series: Discover the life and legacy of L.M. Montgomery in this insightful 7-part podcast, in which we explore her childhood, literary journey, and the timeless impact of Anne of Green Gables on generations of readers. Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett Produced by Ryan Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti Associate Producers Maia Foster-Sanchez & Kristi Prophet Recorded by Tyler Rauman This series features interviews with Kate Macdonald Butler, Kate Scarth, Jessica Young, Laura Robinson & Yuko Matsumoto. Additional voices by Candace Amarante, Matthew Barnett & Becca Redden A Knockabout Media Production This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knockabout Media specializes in creative non-fiction storytelling. We are the makers of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North, Story Girl, Among Equals, and The Black Hum.