Canada is Boring

Brian Spencer grew up in remote Fort St. James, pushed toward the NHL by a hard working, hyper-intense sports dad who saw hockey as a path to opportunity. On the night of Brian’s first nationally televised NHL game, his father drove to a CBC station armed and took staff hostage after the Leafs game wasn’t aired, a standoff that ended with his father shot dead as Brian was being interviewed on Hock...

After 499 episodes proving that Canada is anything but boring, we’ve reached Episode 500, and we’re handing the microphone to the people who made it possible. This special milestone episode of Canada Is Boring is a chaotic, heartfelt, occasionally abusive celebration featuring listener voice notes and a best-of clip reel pulled from hundreds of episodes. This episode isn’t a victory lap. It’s a no...

In 1886, Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, finally set out to see the country he had helped stitch together by rail. The Canadian Pacific Railway had just been completed, and a grand cross-country tour was planned, complete with speeches, pomp, and a private rail car. What no one planned for was his wife. Lady Agnes Macdonald was bored. So bored, in fact, that she abandoned the...

When a beloved Canada Post program lets kids write letters to Santa, what could possibly go wrong? In 2007, Ottawa families found out the hard way. Rhys and Jesse dive into the true story of the “rogue elves” who sent obscene letters “from Santa,” the full-blown national panic that followed, and why the myth of Santa can be both magical and messed up. 0:00 – Intro Banter & Cozy Studio Set...

Join hosts Rhys and Jesse as they dive into one of Canada’s wildest headlines: the ostrich farm saga! When bird flu hits a BC farm, government agencies, courts, and a whirlwind of online activists get involved in a controversy that's part public health crisis, part property rights battle, and all-out spectacle. Expect sharp commentary, hilarious asides, political twists, and impassioned protests....

In this explosive episode of Canada Is Boring , we dive into the political earthquake shaking Ottawa and Nova Scotia as MP Chris d’Entremont crosses the floor from the Conservative Party to the Liberals. The longtime Acadie–Annapolis MP, known for his strong local voter loyalty, stunned Parliament by announcing his decision immediately after the federal budget was tabled — a move that has triggere...

Join hosts Rhys Waters and Jesse Harley as they explore Canadian culture and share quirky, viral stories on their podcast. This episode features the unforgettable tale of Jim Sautner, Alberta rancher and wildlife enthusiast, who raised Bailey D, a domesticated bison, as his best friend, driving him around Spruce Grove, Alberta, in a modified Pontiac Bonneville. Dive into discussions about animal c...

In this episode of Canada Is Boring , we dive beak-first into one of the strangest and most important inventions in Canadian aviation history: the Chicken Cannon . As bird strikes continue to threaten aircraft worldwide, with over 50 bird strikes happening every day and more than 13,000 reported annually in the U.S. alone, engineers needed a way to test aircraft safety against high-speed avian imp...

In this Remembrance Day special, Rhys and Jesse dive into the unbelievable World War II adventure of Leo Major, the one-eyed Canadian hero who liberated the Dutch city of Zwolle all by himself. This episode is packed with war stories, heroic undercover missions, and enough action to make Hollywood jealous (seriously, can we get a movie already?). Tune in for an epic story of liberation, resilience...

In 1830s Ontario, one of Canada’s most documented hauntings unfolded in the isolated Baldoon settlement. The McDonald family’s story of flying stones, ghostly fires, and a supposed witch’s curse became legend. Two centuries later, historians still debate what really happened. Was it hysteria, fraud or something no one could explain? This Halloween, we’re digging up one of Canada’s oldest—and weird...

Meet Mo Norman, the legendary, quirky, Canadian golfer with a wild story! We dive into his unique golf style, neurodiversity, epic wins, and why he’s a cult hero amongst those who know. Explore the fascinating story of Mo Norman, the iconic Canadian golfer celebrated for his unique golfing technique, neurodiversity, and record-breaking career. This podcast episode delves into Mo Norman’s rise from...

In this episode, we unpack the bizarre story of an Ontario man who stumbled across mind-boggling North Korean television broadcasts on his home set. From military parades and patriotic songs to scripted news anchors praising the regime, we'll discuss how this surreal broadcast offers a rare glimpse into North Korea’s highly controlled media machine. All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This pod...

In this special episode, Rhys Waters and Jesse go undercover to attend an Action4Canada livestream, dissecting and fact-checking the group’s controversial claims about book banning, indigenous rights, UNDRIP, and Canadian history. With a mix of research, critical analysis and dick jokes, they expose the dangers of cherry-picked facts and emotional manipulation. TRIGGER WARNING: Jesse doesn't like...

This episode dives into the legend of "the Boss," a famous grizzly bear from Alberta's Banff National Park. We discuss the bear's remarkable life, survival stories, including being hit by a train and outliving most wild grizzlies, its dominance in the park, and its unique behaviours. All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This podcast is hosted two idiots and created purely for entertainment purp...

Sorry, this is a weird one! All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This podcast is hosted two idiots and created purely for entertainment purposes. By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the CIB Podcast makes no warranty, guarantee, or representation as to the accuracy or sufficiency of the information featured in this Podcast. The information, opinions presented in this Podcast are for ge...

In this episode, we dive into the heated debate over the removal of classic and culturally significant books from Edmonton school libraries. From "The Handmaid’s Tale" to "Brave New World," we explore why these works are being targeted, who’s behind the push for censorship, and what it means for students, parents, and educators. Join us as we unpack the difference between banning and curating, the...

Love it or hate it, few foods spark as much debate as Hawaiian pizza . But here’s the kicker: it’s not Hawaiian at all...it’s Canadian. That’s right, pineapple-on-pizza was invented in Ontario in the 1960s by a Greek immigrant named Sam Panopoulos , and somehow it went on to divide the planet into Team Pineapple vs. Team Purist. In this episode of Canada is Boring , we chew over the bizarre origin...

In this episode of Canada is Boring , we dive into the strange, stubborn, and slightly tragic life of Willard Kitchener MacDonald , better known as the Hermit of Gully Lake . Draft dodger? Freedom fighter? Just a guy who really, really hated small talk? For more than 60 years, Willard lived alone in the woods of Nova Scotia, no phone, no electricity, no Amazon Prime. We unpack how a man survives (...

In this episode, we spin the tale of Daniel Boria , Calgary’s self-styled “balloonatic.” Seeking promo gold for his cleaning business, he strapped over 100 helium balloons to a lawn chair, then soared above the Stampede grounds like something out of Up . His plan to parachute in fell apart fast, high winds blew him far off target and toward airport airspace. He reached an astonishing 14,000 feet b...

Step back into the 1990s, when Canadian teens in Ontario scratched their heads, dared each other, and dialed the one‑eight‑double‑O that wasn’t quite what it seemed: 1‑800‑GOLF‑TIP . All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This podcast is hosted two idiots and created purely for entertainment purposes. By accessing this Podcast, I acknowledge that the CIB Podcast makes no warranty, guarantee, or r...

Nova Scotia just told everyone to keep out of the woods, no hiking, no camping, no fishing, no ATVs, trails closed, effective 4:00 p.m. on August 5, 2025 , with fines up to $25,000 . Camping’s only allowed in official campgrounds, and a province-wide burn ban is in effect through October 15 (unless conditions improve). We break down what’s actually forbidden and brainstorm some bizarre solutions....

In this episode of Canada Is Boring , we dive into the viral mystery of the "scantily clad witches" caught on a backyard trail cam seemingly snacking on a deer carcass in the dead of night. Rhys also reveals his own paranormal hoax that went viral. Grab your antlers and salt, it’s going to get weird. All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This podcast is hosted two idiots and created purely for e...

In this episode, we return to the Diefenbunker, not just Canada’s Cold War relic, but now possibly a place where you can survive a nuclear attack and get a massage. We've already unpacked the bunker’s Cold War backstory in past episodes, but this time, we’re diving into the weirder side: A new elite survival shelter for the 1%, right in the heart of rural Nova Scotia. Join us for a tour through Ca...

This Canada Day, we're lighting the fireworks and revisiting one of the most awkward house calls in history, the 1775 Invasion of Quebec. Yep, before America was even officially America, they tried to "liberate" Quebec. We unpack how a ragtag group of revolutionaries, led by guys named Benedict, Montgomery and the Green Mountain Boys, who marched through the snow, begged the French to join the reb...

A Winnipeg couple’s $5 million lottery win has sparked a messy legal battle after their relationship went from romantic to radioactive. Lawrence says he bought the ticket; Krystal cashed it in and kept the money. Now the courts are involved, the assets are frozen, and the love story has officially hit its bitter jackpot. All our links: https://bio.to/canboring This podcast is hosted two idiots and...