The Canadians

Jared Michael
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  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

The Canadians (formerly Bad Canadians) is a Canadian long-form interview series devoted to ideas, curiosity, and thoughtful conversation. Hosted by Jared Michael, the show creates a space where writers, journalists, and cultural observers can exchange ideas across traditions while avoiding the usual culture-war trenches. Each episode is a deep, unhurried conversation with people who think differently, challenge orthodoxies, or see the country from an unexpected angle. The goal is serious, open-ended discussion about culture, institutions, history, science, media, and the stories Canada tells about itself. Working-class roots. A Free Speech lens. Canadian contrarians. That means taking disagreement seriously and treating people as full moral equals, not caricatures or mascots for a side. The aim is to understand how thoughtful people actually think, especially when you disagree with them.

Episodes

  1. 10/28/2025

    Hal Niedzviecki: Creativity, Conformity & The Rise and Fall of Broken Pencil | The Canadians Ep. 11

    Hal Niedzviecki built the heartbeat of North America’s zine movement — then lost it all for defending free expression.   In the mid-90s, his magazine Broken Pencil championed DIY art, radical self-expression, and underground culture. For nearly 30 years, it gave a voice to Canada’s creative outsiders. But in 2017, Hal published a short editorial questioning the new rules around “cultural appropriation,” and within hours, he was blacklisted by the literary establishment. Then came October 7th, 2023. When he defended Israel’s right to exist, he was labeled a “Zionist” and told to surrender his magazine to activists. Instead, he shut it down.   In this conversation, Hal reflects on founding Broken Pencil and the early zine scene that shaped him, the personal and professional fallout from his 2017 cancellation, and what it’s like being a Jewish writer in Canada after October 7th. We talk about the collapse of tolerance in the arts, the new moral orthodoxies gripping Canadian institutions, and what it costs to stay true to free expression in an age of conformity.   About Hal Niedzviecki Hal is the founder and former editor of Broken Pencil. He’s the author of multiple books, including The Lost Expert, and is currently writing his memoir for Cormorant Books. His Substack, Hal, I’m Special, offers deeper reflections on writing, culture, and identity, and he recently wrote a deep dive, long form essay describing his full story in the Australian publication, Quillette.   Hal’s Links   Substack   Cormorant Press   Quillette Essay     Bad Canadians Website and Zines   Follow us on X   Subscribe on Spotify   Subscribe on Apple    Subscribe on YouTube   Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    1h 20m

  2. 10/14/2025

    Stephen R. Bown: Finding Truth in the Middle Ground of History | The Canadians Ep. 10

    STEPHEN R. BOWN is one of Canada’s leading writers of non-fiction, and the winner of the 2024 Governor General’s Award for Popular History (the Pierre Berton Award). His books The Company and Dominion stand among the most vivid retellings of Canada’s origins; stories that remind us how ambition, ingenuity, and brutality often shared the same frontier.   In this conversation, we use The Company and Dominion as a foundation to explore the wider art of writing popular history: how to bring the past to life without bending it to modern sensibilities, and how to tell stories of exploration, commerce, and empire in a way that lets readers see themselves reflected in those who came before.   Stephen speaks candidly about the genre itself, the challenge of recapturing nuance in an era that demands moral certainty, and the need to return to a middle ground that acknowledges the good, the bad, and the ugly of history. It’s a conversation about balance, complexity, and how the ambitions and contradictions of the past still echo in who we are today.   STEPHEN R. BOWN is a popular historian and author of 12 works of literary non-fiction. His books have been published throughout English-speaking territories and have been translated into nine different languages; he has also written more than 20 feature magazine articles highlighting lesser-known characters and events in Canadian history. He strives to make the past accessible, meaningful, and entertaining by applying a narrative and immersive style to his writing, which blends story-telling with factual depth.   Stephen R. Bown’s Website   Bad Canadians Website   Follow us on X   Subscribe on Spotify   Subscribe on Apple Podcasts   Subscribe on YouTube   Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    1h 2m

  3. 10/01/2025

    Seb Bunney: The Hidden Cost of Money, Inflation, and Bitcoin | The Canadians Ep. 9

    What hidden costs does inflation place on families, savers, and communities?   On Bad Canadians, Jared Michael sits down with Seb Bunney, Bitcoin author and educator, to unpack the ideas behind his book The Hidden Cost of Money. Together they explore how today’s debt-based monetary policy quietly shapes our lives — driving up the cost of housing, reshaping family choices, and distorting the incentives that ripple through society.   Seb makes the case for a different kind of world: one where saving is rewarded, long-term thinking is encouraged, and innovation thrives. At the center is Bitcoin, a fixed-supply asset designed to resist debasement and offer an alternative to the inflationary cycle we’ve come to accept as normal. Far from just another tech fad, Seb argues Bitcoin is a tool for human thriving — a foundation for stronger families, healthier communities, and real progress.   If you’ve heard about Bitcoin but never taken a deeper look, this conversation is a great place to start — an accessible way to understand the problem it was designed to solve.   Seb Bunney is the author of two books on Bitcoin, The Hidden Cost of Money and B is for Bitcoin. He is also the co-founder of Looking Glass Education, an educational hub for all things Bitcoin.   Seb Bunney Website   Seb Bunney on X   Looking Glass Education     Bad Canadians HQ   Follow us on X   Subscribe on Spotify   Subscribe on Apple    Subscribe on YouTube   Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    1h 16m

  4. 09/16/2025

    Amy Hamm: Biological Sex, Institutional Power & the Fight for Open Debate, The Canadians | Episode 8

    Amy Hamm is a Canadian nurse, National Post columnist, and co-founder of CaWsbar, a women’s sex-based rights organization.   In this episode, she recounts her years-long battle with the BC College of Nurses and Midwives, which disciplined her for publicly affirming that biological sex is real. What began as personal expression escalated into a high-stakes test of whether Canadian institutions can silence dissent on a matter most citizens currently accept as common sense.   Our conversation traces how regulators, the media, and the majority of Canadian institutions frame this disagreement as hate speech and professional misconduct, and why that matters for women’s spaces, health care, and the future of open debate in Canada. Along the way, Amy’s story reveals how professional and cultural authority can be wielded to punish rather than persuade.   If you care about free expression, the boundaries of institutional power, and Canada’s ability to hold civil disagreement, this episode is essential listening.     Amy Hamm Links:   National Post Column   Substack   X   CaWsbar     Bad Canadians Links:   Bad Canadians HQ   Follow us on X   Subscribe on Spotify   Subscribe on Apple   Subscribe on YouTube   Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    53 min

  5. 09/02/2025

    Lawrence Krauss: The War on Science and the Danger of Dogma | The Canadians Ep. 7

    What happens when knowledge is treated as sacred dogma? On Bad Canadians, Jared Michael sits down with internationally renowned theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, editor of the new anthology The War on Science, to explore why ideas must remain open to challenge. The book brings together voices from physics, biology, mathematics, philosophy, and the humanities. Across these fields, Krauss argues that progress depends on questioning everything, even when it is uncomfortable. Midway through, the discussion drifts into possible disagreement, but in the best sense. Rather than divide, it becomes a respectful exchange that shows how ideas can be tested without hostility. Civil exchanges of this kind remain as necessary as ever in today’s culture. About Lawrence Krauss Lawrence Krauss is one of the most celebrated theoretical physicists and public intellectuals in the world. He earned his Ph.D. from MIT, was a Junior Fellow at the Harvard Society of Fellows, and later served on the faculties of Yale and Case Western Reserve University. He founded Arizona State University’s Origins Project and today serves as President of the Origins Project Foundation. He is also Chair of the Board of the Free Speech Union of Canada. Krauss is the author of bestsellers such as The Physics of Star Trek and A Universe from Nothing, and has received numerous awards including the Richard Dawkins Award. His latest book, The War on Science (2025), gathers 39 leading voices to defend free inquiry against dogma. Learn more about Dr. Krauss and his new book The War on Science here: https://lawrencemkrauss.com/ Lawrence Krauss on X: https://x.com/LKrauss1 Podcast HQ: https://www.badcanadianspodcast.ca Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/BadCanadians Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wxT42gEPMiOBGTFFU4D4?si=-p5-h-6RT-SrzUY3fI8PDA Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/bad-canadians/id1785300184 Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@badcanadians?si=BxSQORPmEAhsfbRx Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    44 min

  6. 06/24/2025

    Eva Kurilova: Gender, Queer Theory, and the Loss of Biological Reality | The Canadians Ep. 6

    Eva Kurilova is a Canadian writer and thoughtful critic of today’s gender ideology.   In this episode, she explores how the word “queer” is often misunderstood as a sexual orientation, when in fact it represents a broader ideological identity—one rooted in opposition to normativity and permanence in grievance. We dig into how this framework has helped justify the medicalization of vulnerable children, particularly through gender-affirming care, even as countries like the UK, the United States, and Sweden move toward far more cautious, evidence-based policies.   We also highlight Canada’s silence—and how our media and institutions have largely abandoned this conversation, leaving the public unaware that the global conversation has already moved on.   If you’re worried about the erosion of biological reality, the medicalization of children, and the consequences of turning identity into ideology, this conversation is essential listening.   Find Eva on X: https://x.com/eva_kurilova   Eva's Substack: https://substack.com/@evakurilova   Support the podcast: https://www.badcanadianspodcast.ca   Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/BadCanadians   Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@badcanadians?si=BxSQORPmEAhsfbRx   Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.

    55 min

  7. 06/10/2025

    Am I the Hater? | A Reflection on Tribalism, Humility, and the Elephant in the Brain | The Canadians Ep. 5

    In this solo minisode, host Jared Michael takes a step back to reflect on the deeper mission behind Bad Canadians. Drawing on the work of social psychologist Jonathan Haidt and the metaphor of the “rider and the elephant,” Jared explores why rational arguments so often fail—and how emotional connection, humility, and lived experience can move us more than facts ever could. This is a short reflection on tribalism, certainty, and the question we might all need to ask more often: Am I the hater?   Support the podcast: https://www.badcanadianspodcast.ca Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/BadCanadians Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wxT42gEPMiOBGTFFU4D4?si=-p5-h-6RT-SrzUY3fI8PDA Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/bad-canadians/id1785300184 Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@badcanadians?si=BxSQORPmEAhsfbRx

    7 min

  8. 05/27/2025

    Lisa Bildy: Free Speech Union of Canada | The Canadians Ep. 4

    Lisa Bildy is the Executive Director of the newly launched Free Speech Union of Canada—a non-partisan organization defending freedom of expression in an era where that principle is increasingly under pressure. Prior to this, she spent years at the forefront of Canada’s free speech battles—helping overturn the Law Society of Ontario’s mandatory DEI pledge and representing clients like Amy Hamm and Dr. Gill in some of the country’s most high-profile civil liberties cases. In this conversation, Lisa shares how she re-entered the legal profession after homeschooling her children, only to find a climate of growing ideological conformity. We discuss what led her to challenge institutional orthodoxy, the roots of the new Free Speech Union of Canada, and why free expression is a master principle worth protecting—even (and especially) when it’s unpopular. If you’re concerned about the shrinking space for dissent and debate in Canadian life, this is a conversation worth hearing. Join the Free Speech Union of Canada: https://fsucanada.ca/ Follow Lisa on X: https://x.com/LDBildy Podcast HQ: https://www.badcanadianspodcast.ca/ Follow Bad Canadians on X: https://x.com/Bad_Canadians Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/75wxT42gEPMiOBGTFFU4D4 Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bad-canadians/id1785300184 Corrections: In the intro, I accidentally referred to Dr. Gill as a lawyer. Dr. Gill is a physician. My apologies for the error. Lisa Bildy mentions there are five Free Speech Union chapters worldwide, but there is actually six.

    1h 16m

  9. 05/13/2025

    Ted Smith: The Fight for Medical Cannabis in Canada | The Canadians Ep. 3

    For nearly three decades, activist Ted Smith has been at the centre of Canada’s medical cannabis movement. As the founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club and a key figure in the 2015 Supreme Court case that opened the door to cannabis edibles and oils, Smith has fought tirelessly for patient rights in the face of legal and political resistance.   In this episode, we discuss how the legalization of recreational cannabis has left many medical users behind. Ted outlines how Canada’s policy shift — driven by tax revenue and corporate interests — has led to the erosion of medical access, a collapse in doctor engagement, and an increasing mismatch between patient needs and what’s available on the legal market. From grassroots compassion clubs to corporate consolidation, this is an honest look at who’s been forgotten in Canada’s cannabis revolution. Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club: https://www.victoriacannabisbuyers.club/

    31 min

  10. 04/28/2025

    Lydia Perovic: Immigration, Identity, and Canada's Cultural Unravelling | The Canadians Ep. 2

    Guest Lydia Perovic asks Canadians to look deeper - into places we've long taken for granted. What happens when the Enlightenment ideals that quietly shaped our identity are replaced by values most Canadians wouldn't recognize, let alone choose? Follow Lydia on X: https://x.com/LyyPerr Lydia's Website: https://www.lydiaperovic.com/ Watch on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BadCanadians Follow Bad Canadians on X: https://x.com/Bad_Canadians Subscribe for more episodes! Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission. #BadCanadians #Podcast #freespeech

    1h 4m
  11. Tristin Hopper: Quirky History, Modern Media, and Canada's Protests | The Canadians Ep. 1

    04/13/2025

    Tristin Hopper: Quirky History, Modern Media, and Canada's Protests | The Canadians Ep. 1

    Join host Jared Michael in a conversation with National Post journalist Tristin Hopper as they discuss odd bits of Canadian history, the state of modern journalism, and the anti-zionist protests occurring in Canada since October 7th, 2023. Tristin's new book Don't Be Canada is now available online or at a bookstore near you. He also discusses lesser known tidbits from Canadian history in his podcast, Canada Did What?  Like to be a guest on Bad Canadians? Or if you'd like to learn more, go to BadCanadianspodcast.ca

    53 min

  12. 12/12/2024

    Introduction - Contrarians, Understanding > Agreement, and Free Speech

    A brief overview of the approach and commitments host Jared Michael will use while attempting to understand Canada's contrarians.

    6 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

The Canadians (formerly Bad Canadians) is a Canadian long-form interview series devoted to ideas, curiosity, and thoughtful conversation. Hosted by Jared Michael, the show creates a space where writers, journalists, and cultural observers can exchange ideas across traditions while avoiding the usual culture-war trenches. Each episode is a deep, unhurried conversation with people who think differently, challenge orthodoxies, or see the country from an unexpected angle. The goal is serious, open-ended discussion about culture, institutions, history, science, media, and the stories Canada tells about itself. Working-class roots. A Free Speech lens. Canadian contrarians. That means taking disagreement seriously and treating people as full moral equals, not caricatures or mascots for a side. The aim is to understand how thoughtful people actually think, especially when you disagree with them.

Information

  • Creator
    Jared Michael
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Canadians