EstoCast

Countermeasure, a Canadian a cappella band that’s performing at Estonian Music Week in Toronto on May 24th, is keen on defying genre, breaking down the sounds of instruments, and plenty of collaboration, which has resulted in some literally breathtaking music! In this episode of EstoCast, Elora Burns, a member of this 12-piece group, shares: 🎤 the Estonian linguistic experience that played a role...

Winning an Etnokulp award (a big wooden ladle) was a surprise for flautist and composer Katariina Tirmaste. There she was, happily singing a runo song together with the audience at the Estonian Traditional Music Center in Viljandi… when all of a sudden her name was called out! Of course, she’s very active as a musician, and in this episode of EstoCast, we hear about the: 🪈 the many projects and c...

Vahest juhtub nii, et leiame oma tõelise kutsumuse küpses eas. Nii juhtus meie tänase külalisega, Toronto eestlasest kirjaniku Eerik Purjega. Milline on olnud 98-aastase kirjaniku elu ja mida ta arvab kirjandusest ja kirjutamisest, saate teada meie järjekordses Eesti Raamatu Aastale pühendatud episoodis.  Saates kuuleme:   ✍🏻 kuidas jõudis luuletajana alustanud Eerik romaanide ja mälestuste kirju...

As Gerda Märtens describes the creation of a picture book, text is at the core; but for an illustrator, there’s both expressive freedom and a sense of responsibility, considering how much space there is to work with. In this episode, she’s sharing more about what goes into the making of a book. Learn about: 🎨 the essential, foundational things we all gain from children’s literature 🎨 how Italy h...

2025. aasta on kuulutatud Eesti Raamatu Aastaks - möödub 500 aastat esimese eestikeelse trükise ilmumisest. Sel puhul kutsub EstoCast külla põnevaid inimesi - lihtsalt kirglikke raamatusõpru, aga ka selle valdkonna professionaale Eestist, Kanadast ja mujalt. Meie esimeseks külaliseks on Muhumaalt pärit dr. Kadri Tüür, kirjandusteadlane ja semiootik, kes õpetab alates 2024. aasta sügisest Toronto ü...

For Karl Raudsepp Hearn, visiting Estonia for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival wasn’t just exciting because he was premiering his latest film, The G . It was also the first time he had ever been to Estonia, ever. The release of his film has seen its share of heart-warming and thought-provoking moments. In the latest episode of EstoCast, hear Karl talk about: 🎥 The important Estonian diaspor...

Head uut aastat, hea EstoCasti kuulaja! Uus aastaring toob meie stuudiosse värske külalise - Toronto eestlase Elle Rosenbergi. Aktiivse kogukonnaliikmena on Elle tegutsenud mitmetes organisatsioonides, muuhulgas juhtinud pikka aega Toronto Eesti Seltsi Täienduskooli ja viinud koolikoori mitmel korral Eestisse laulupeole. Räägime Ellega üleskasvamisest väikeses eesti kogukonnas St. Catherines´is, e...

Singer, songwriter, and soundscape builder Mart Avi is bound to turn your head when you first hear his music. Even through the sounds alone, you can tell he has a very physical approach to music, including an almost percussive style of singing. And there are an abundance of stories to dig into lyrically. Before he hits the stage at 2025’s Estonian Music Week festival, hear him speak on the latest...

1944. a. suurpõgenemise 80. aastapäeva puhul kutsume stuudiosse neid, kes on pidanud ette võtma pika ja raske põgenemisteekonna. Vilme Pede oli üks nendest, kelle saatus tahtmatult niimoodi läks. Vilme on olnud pikaaegne aktiivne liige Toronto eesti kogukonnas ning hoidnud eesti keelt ja meelt tugevana ka oma peres. Kuidas oli jätta hüvasti kodumaaga, leida uus koht, kus juured alla ajada ja palju...

How could a bowl of soup lead a family to safety in war-torn Europe? Find out in the latest episode of EstoCast, where we met with Estonian-Canadian artist, award-winning community volunteer, and self-described people person, Mai Reet Vomm Järve. Mai, who left Estonia as a little girl 80 years ago, with her mother Benita Vomm and brother Ants Erik Vomm, has an extraordinary story that takes us fro...

1944. a. suurpõgenemise 80. aastapäeva puhul kutsume stuudiosse neid, kes on pidanud ette võtma pika ja raske põgenemisteekonna. Hille Viires on Kanada eestlaste seas laiemalt tuntud kunstnikuna. Kuid oma kodulinnas Montréalis on ta agaralt kaasa löönud paljudes muudeski ettevõtmistes. Sellest, milline on olnud tema põgenemis- ja elutee, kuidas ta jõudis Kanadasse ning miks ta pere otsustas Montré...

In this bonus episode, we're bringing you the highlight stories from Eesti Elu / Estonian Life newspaper this week. Get an overview of what's happening in the Estonian world, from the art that's attracting attention in major auction houses to new activities with Estonian scouts and guides in Canada. (Image: "Rooma" [Rome] by painter Konrad Mägi) Socials: ➡️ @estonianmusicw...

Between Peeter Põldre’s family leaving Estonia at the end of WWII and settling in Canada, they spent several years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This city became a new home for quite a few Estonians in fact. And for Peeter, who was born in Argentina, memories from his early years there and a connection to the country have remained with him as he has moved forward in life and his career. In this epis...

Welcome back to EstoCast, we hope you enjoyed the summer! As this is the year of multiculturalism in Estonia, we’re continuing on with that theme but there’s also another important occasion that we’re marking in our episodes here this fall - the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape of 1944. We’ll be having guests in the studio that both have first-hand experience of the Great Escape and with young...

For Ahto Külvet, rare vinyl records became part of his day-to-day quite naturally. It all started with a love of listening to music. Then, just as his vinyl collection became too big for his family’s apartment, an opportunity came around to open a small record store. Nowadays he runs Psühhoteek record store in Tartu, hosts radio shows and conferences, and DJs regularly at events and festivals. Alo...

Sebastian Buccioni, who moved from Canada to Estonia a year ago, has noted a sincerity in social interactions among several other cultural observations. Moving to Estonia connects to a long-term goal of his, and in this episode of EstoCast, Buccioni is sharing what it’s been like to relocate, including: 🌍what similarities to Estonian culture he noticed in his own Jewish, German, and Italian herit...

EstoCasti studios käis külas Kanadas elav soomlanna Johanna Helin, kes kirjutab Toronto Ülikoolis doktoritööd rahvusvahelisest haridusest ja globaalsest poliitikast, aga on ka  tegus ettevõtja ning aktiivne Toronto eestlaskonna liige. Tänases Eesti lipu päeva saates vestleme Johannaga sellest, kuidas erinevad kultuurid temas igapäevaselt kohtuvad.  Uhiuues EstoCast’i saates uurime järgnevaid multi...

Jarek Kasar is an innovator in Estonian music, not only having created his own approach to hip hop in the Estonian language but also combining this with singing over the years. Prior to his recent concerts in Toronto, he shared how it all began and the many historic moments that he has participated in through his music. In this episode of EstoCast, hear about: 🎵 living part-time in New York City,...

Having a culturally diverse background has a truly positive and often eye-opening effect on your life, the world, and to the people that surround you daily. Young Estonian-Canadian Nicole Pede is visiting our studio, where we get into a discussion that touches upon many topics, among them how multiculturalism broadens horizons and opens up many new doors and how familial support helps strengthen t...

Singing, songwriting, and performing are things that have always felt natural to ALIKA. Music has always been there in her life. Audiences could tell this right away when she recently performed in Canada. But the path to singing for millions of viewers and listeners still has its challenges, as much as it’s exhilarating. In this episode of EstoCast, hear about: 🎙️her “Bridges” songwriting and reco...

2024 on Tartu koos Lõuna-Eestiga Euroopa kultuuripealinn. Aasta vältel toimub suur hulk suuremaid ja väiksemaid üritusi ning aktsioone, mida seob teema "Ellujäämise kunstid". Meie järjekordses Tartu 2024 eri-saates vestleme Tartu 2024 välissuhete juhi Erni Kasega.  Kuulates värsket EstoCasti saadet, saad teada huvitavatest kultuuriga seotud teemadest, sealhulgas: 🇪🇪  Mida põnevat pakub T...

Over the course of the year that journalist Sten Mahov has lived in Montréal, he’s faced certain challenges in getting set up. For example, finding work and a place to live. However, he has also observed that Canada is a fruitful place for the cultures of the world to interact. As we continue to explore the celebration of the Cultural Diversity Year in Estonia in this episode, hear Sten’s perspect...

There’s much, much more to see in Estonia than just the Old Town of Tallinn! Kati Torp, the Artistic Director of @tartu2024 , can share many reasons why Tartu and southern Estonia (a European Capital of Culture in 2024) should be on your travel itinerary this year. Especially as the region interacts with the theme “Arts of Survival.” In this episode of EstoCast, hear about: 🏛️the diverse cultures...

In a culturally diverse country such as Canada, we are blessed with having multiple cultures intermingle and work together, but it can also be hard to make your own cultural background stand out in this whole hodgepodge. Latvian-Estonian Elva Palo speaks about how she has allowed her cultural identity to shine, her positive outlook on a multicultural society and much more in this fresh episode!  I...

Human geography specialist and world traveller Hendrik Tork has visited 60 different countries, but he makes it clear when talking about travelling that his aim hasn’t been to merely pass through as many nations as possible. Rather, travel is an opportunity to interact thoughtfully with people, cultures, and landscapes. And he has many valuable insights on this approach. In this episode of EstoCas...