the hidden island

Join our guest, Dr. Josh MacFadyen, as well as podcast host Matthew McRae as they go subterranean into the world of Prince Edward Island's terrain! Director of the GeoREACH Lab at UPEI, MacFadyen shares a wealth of knowledge and know-how into the methods and beauty of laying out and mapping out the island's landscapes. Whether it's historical chartmakers you're interested in, modern methods of map...

PEI's rich history in architectural expression has captured the hearts of many - including but not limited to this week's guest! Joining hosts Matthew McRae and Lesley Caseley, housing enthusiast and creator of the Old Island Homes social media pages, Heather Harris, takes them on an enthusiast's tour through the captivating sights and constructs of PEI's most famous and interesting buildings, as...

*Editor's Note: Apologies for the hissing noise, all! Other episodes in the season won't be like this, but this was indeed a hardware and environmental-related issue that struck our equipment at the time of recording and was not caught. There's still some fantastic conversations to be had here, so thank you very much in advance for the continued support and for bearing with us this one time. :)* W...

What if we told you PEI was once home to prehistoric creatures older than dinosaurs? Join hosts Matthew McRae, Lesley Caseley, and special guest Laura MacNeil, owner of Prehistoric Island Tours, as they uncover the not-so-secret facts of Prince Edward Island’s prehistoric past and answer burning questions like: Why is the Island becoming a fossil hotspot? Are we related to dimetrodons, and did the...

Discover the delicious history of raising, harvesting – and shucking – oysters on Prince Edward Island! Host Samantha Kelly is joined by Jason Woodside, oyster-shucking champion and inventor of the banjo knife. Together, they delve into the story of how our relationship with oysters started, how it became a globe-spanning industry and the ins and outs of our relationship with oysters in the presen...

We are kick-starting the season with an exciting two-part episode: Podcast host Matthew McRae tells the stranger-than-fiction tale of Walter Patterson, Prince Edward Island's first Governor. Laugh and learn co-host Evelyn Bradley as well as guest comedian Shawn Hogan.  Did you know that privateers kidnapped our government? Or that Patterson gave an island off the coast of the island to his girlfri...

We are kick-starting the season with an exciting two-part episode: Podcast host Matthew McRae tells the stranger-than-fiction tale of Walter Patterson, Prince Edward Island's first Governor. Laugh and learn co-host Evelyn Bradley as well as guest comedian Shawn Hogan.  Did you know that privateers kidnapped our government? Or that Patterson gave an island off the coast of the island to his girlfri...

The Hidden Island - in partnership with our friends at The Walrus Labs - presents a hosting collaboration for their podcast episode of Canadian Time Machine, recognizing and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of known PEI author Lucy Maud Montgomery. From The Walrus Labs: "November 30, 2024 marks 150 years since Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth, and her legacy continues to endure. Best kno...

Did you know that Chinese Islanders have been living on Prince Edward Island since as early as 1850? Trista Jiali Liang and Camellia Nguyen take us back in time to discuss the history of Chinese immigration to Canada and PEI, and how Asian immigration has contributed to a resilient and culturally diverse Island community. The book "Chinese Islanders: Making a Home in the New World" by Dr. Hung-Min...

Happy National Tourism Week! Host Camellia Nguyen, Communications Coordinator of the Museum & Heritage Foundation will take you on a journey to explore how tourism became PEI's leading industry. In addition to the history of tourism, this episode also covers discussions about the Island's food culture, the impact of climate change on tourism, emerging tourism sectors, and the love-hate relatio...

Hurricane Fiona in 2022 prompted us to reflect on the state of climate change on the Island. Join Daniel McRae, Lead Researcher at MacPhail Woods, and Matthew McRae, Executive Director of the Museum & Heritage Foundation as they discuss the many natural (or human) disasters that happened on PEI. Spoiler: brace yourself for a stormy future. Features guest interviews: Dr. Douglas Sobey, Peter Ni...

In this episode, we travel back with the Canadian Time Machine podcast to look at the moment Prince Edward Island entered Confederation.  Historian Dr. Edward MacDonald takes us back to the Charlottetown Conference, where it’s said that discussions about the Dominion of Canada flowed over several glasses of champagne. He’ll also help us understand why PEI joined the country six years after it was...

Continuing on the previous conversation about Black Islanders' past and present, Evelyn Bradley is joined by Dante Bazard, Manager of Anti-Racism Initiatives with the Government of PEI. Learn about Dante's advocacy journey, as well as what the future holds for the Black community in PEI.  Features guest interviews: Aaron Sardinha, Tamara Steele, and Jasonique Moss.     

In this first myth-busting episode of season four, diversity specialist Evelyn Bradley and Dr. Matthew McRae - Executive Director of the PEI Museum & Heritage Foundation debunk common misconceptions about Black Islanders. Was there slavery in PEI? What happened to The Bog? Tune in to find out! Features guest interviews:  Linda Hennessey and Debbie Langston.  Featured music: Scott Parson's "Dar...

Back for more? Good - we're back again for season four! Check out the teaser for things to come and join us on February 29th for the premiere episode.

There’s something about the flickering light of a campfire that brings out the storyteller in everyone. Ghost stories, creation legends, family history – you name it, it’s been talked about. Today’s episode is inspired by those summer storytelling nights. We discuss different folklore found on Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island, including supernatural creatures and spooky forerunners. We’ll also hear a...

BIPOC USHR is hosting a takeover episode of ‘the hidden island!’ Listen to Sobia Ali-Faisal, Kendi Tarichia (King Kxndi), Amirah Oyesegun and Stephanie Arnold talk about their experiences living on the Island – beginning in the 1980s up until today. They discuss the many barriers and discriminating experiences BIPOC folks living on the often Island face, and what the road to joy has looked like th...

Did you know that before European colonization, Epekwitk/PEI was 98% forested? For the final episode in season three, we go back to the last Ice Age, tracking the history of PEI’s forests before, during, and after colonization up until today. We travel through the eyes of the forest, stopping to learn about the early French settlers, the English shipbuilding regime, and what a PEI forest feels lik...

Anne of Green Gables isn’t exactly hidden history here on the Island, we know. It’s a timeless tale loved by many, and millions have visited ‘Anne’s Island’ over the years. But what about the real Green Gables? The story behind one of Canada’s most visited National Parks is a surprising one. It involves the unwilling expropriation of land from local residents, Maud Montgomery’s mixed feelings abou...

Fiona is joined by Evelyn Bradley as co-host in this episode all about 2SLGBTQIA+ history on the Island. We discuss how and where members of the queer community gathered in the 1970s to the 1990s (think: emails and word of mouth invitations before the internet came into play), and what our history might look like if it wasn’t heteronormative. Features guest interviews: Dave Stewart and Treena Smit...

In episode four, Tamara Steele, Executive Director with the Black Cultural Society of PEI, is hosting a panel with Aaron Sardinha and Debbie Langston. Listen to them chat about Black history on the Island, as well as an education initiative Aaron and Debbie are spearheading: The Black Women’s History Project. https://bcspei.ca Features: Tamara Steele, Aaron Sardinha, and Debbie Langston.  

In part two of PEI’s wild and wacky 1970s, we learn about The Kitten Club. It opened in 1970, and it was something like a Playboy Bunny Club that operated in Brudenell. Yes, you read right. We also discuss the Ark – an experimental bio-shelter built at Spry Point and designed to be a world-leader in renewable energy. Finally, we celebrate the founding of the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. Fea...

The 1970s are known for being a groovy decade, but on PEI they brought massive changes. In Part 1, we learn about how the Comprehensive Development Plan is the reason why we have fewer family farms, zero one-room schoolhouses, and an economy more focused on tourism today. We also discuss Junction ’71 – the rock festival that never happened because the PEI government shut it down.   Features guest...

Did you miss us? We're back again for season three! Check out this trailer and join us on September 13, 2022 for the entire season.