
96 episodes

The Secret Life of Canada CBC
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- History
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4.8 • 217 Ratings
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The Secret Life of Canada is a podcast about the country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. Season 6 coming early 2024!
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The Secret Life of Canada Introduces: Stuff The British Stole | Season 3
Throughout its reign, the British Empire stole a lot of stuff. Today the Empire's loot sits in museums, galleries, private collections and burial sites with polite plaques. But its history is often messier than the plaques suggest. In each episode of this global smash hit podcast, Walkley award-winning journalist, author and genetic potluck, Marc Fennell, takes you on the wild, evocative, sometimes funny, often tragic adventure of how these stolen treasures got to where they live today. These objects will ultimately help us see the modern world - and ourselves - in a different light. This is a co-production between the ABC and CBC Canada. More episodes are available at: https://link.chtbl.com/-_tmpF0a
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BONUS | The story Falen never thought she’d tell: On stage at Hot Docs
Falen Johnson took to the stage at the Hot Docs festival to speak candidly about her experience of growing up on Six Nations, a place that was both idyllic and complicated — especially when it came to water and the lack thereof.
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S5: Crash course on losing the Shanghai Restaurant
In this episode we talk about lost buildings across Canada. Falen and Leah look into the history of the now torn-down Shanghai Restaurant, owned by the Lee family for over 70 years and a long-time staple of downtown Winnipeg and find out if the #99 Wonton in sweet ketchup sauce is as good as former customers say it is?
Featuring Raymond Biesinger.
For more about this episode visit us at : www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada -
S5: The Potlatch Ban
In 1921, Chief Dan Cranmer held a secret Potlatch — a ceremony celebrated by many First Nations along the Pacific Northwest. But because the ceremony had been banned by the Canadian government, authorities arrested people and confiscated many ceremonial items. These items then ended up in private collections and museums all over the world. This episode traces the winding journey of the ripple effects of a ban that lasted almost 70 years. We sit down with Dan Cranmer's son Bill Cranmer from the U'mista Cultural Centre to learn about his father’s story and the long process of repatriation by the Kwakwaka'wakw people of these precious items. We also speak with educator Sara Florence Davidson to talk to her about the book Potlatch as Pedagogy, what she has learned through the Potlatch and how her father, Haida artist Robert Davidson, worked to reclaim ceremony and artistic practice after the ban.
With guests Chief Bill Cranmer and Sara Florence Davidson.
For links and more about this episode visit us at: www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada -
S5: Crash Course on Bread and Cheese
Bread and Cheese. More than just two of Falen and Leah’s favourite foods. Did you know it’s also a day? In Falen’s community of Six Nations, every Victoria Day weekend people from the community get in line and walk through the local arena to get a big squishy slice of bread and a giant hunk of orange cheese. Delicious? Yes. But why?
For more about this episode visit us at : www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada -
S5: Eugenics in Canada: Leilani Muir's fight for justice
In 1992, Leilani Muir decided to sue the government. Along with thousands of other people Muir was forcibly sterilized as part of a robust government plan for members of the population it deemed “unfit.”
In this episode we learn why some of the most notable Canadians from history championed eugenics, what it is and why Leilani Muir’s decision to step forward and tell her story changed everything.
With guests Dr. Megan Davies and Dr. Ericka Dyck from the Eugenics Archive.
Warning: this episode contains strong language and content.
For more about this episode visit us at: www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada
Customer Reviews
Excellent Pod!
Californian here. This pod entertains and informs about so many varied aspects of Canadian life and culture - stories I haven’t heard elsewhere. Kudos to the hosts!
Best Canadian Podcast 2023
This is the best Canadian podcast of 2023 and I’ve been saying this since 2019. Using historical facts to inform modern discourse, I never fail to learn something!
Love every episode
Only thing wrong with this podcast is that new episodes frequently enough. Our history is embarrassing but we have to expose the truth so as not to repeat. Great work!