Park Bench Ontology

In this week's episode of Uncolonized, we dive deep into the recent Canadian federal election outcomes with special guest Derek Forgie from @Partiesoverproject. Join us as we discuss the implications of the election results, the shifting political landscape, and what it means for Canadians moving forward. This insightful conversation, recorded live on Instagram, offers a fresh perspective on the p...

In this solo episode, Gavin unpacks his firsthand experience working at a Canadian federal election polling station—and why it left him more convinced than ever that capitalism and democracy are fundamentally incompatible. From authoritarian micro-behaviors to racial dynamics at play, this episode dives deep into the cracks in the illusion of “free and fair” elections. In the bonus episode on Patr...

This week on Uncolonized, Daniel and Gavin tear into the Royal Ontario Museum, where one of the board’s chairpersons is connected to a company making money off deportations from the U.S. Spoiler: colonial institutions don’t really change — they just rebrand. We also get into Martin Heidegger’s idea of enframing, and how museums, despite all their shiny updates, are still running on the same coloni...

This week on Uncolonized , Gavin Stephens and Daniel Grant dive into the media’s favorite zombie narrative: the “silent majority.” Every election cycle, pundits and pollsters act like it’s a shocking new revelation—but this trope is as old as Nixon. We unpack the latest reincarnation of it, featuring the supposed shift of white male Gen Z voters to the right, particularly towards Trump. Are they r...

This week, Daniel and Gavin dissect Bong Joon Ho’s Mickey 17, using Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital to examine who gets to be seen as an “auteur” in the public imagination — and who doesn’t. We explore how race, class, and symbolic capital shape legitimacy in the film world, questioning why specific creators are celebrated as geniuses while others are sidelined, regardless of the qual...

Uncolonized - Episode 19: You Can’t Take It With You This week on Uncolonized, Gavin Stephens talks about losing his stuff in a fire—and not in a metaphorical, "finding yourself" way. Like, literally. Gone. Every DVD, vinyl, collectible—poof. So now I'm living in the future: a full-on subscription-based model for everything I used to own. Yay capitalism. I get into what it means to live in a consu...

This week, it's just me, Gavin Stephens, diving into a bizarre but growing phenomenon—Canadians who actually want the U.S. to annex Canada. I break down the authoritarian mindset behind this and why some Canadians are in complete denial about Trump’s influence (inspired by this article ). This is just Part 1—get the full conversation by joining our Patreon . Plus, if you’re into deep dives on deco...

This week on Uncolonized , I sit down with comedian, activist, and host Derek Forgie (MTV, Just For Laughs, CBC) to discuss his new project, Parties Over . His podcast and show explore what it takes to bridge the growing divide between left and right in politics. Can real dialogue exist beyond the echo chambers? What does true common ground even look like? Derek and I break it all down in real-tim...

This week on Uncolonized, Gavin and Daniel break down the results of the 2025 Ontario election. What do the numbers say? What does it mean for the future of the province? And most importantly—how does this impact the people living here? From campaign promises to political fallout, we dive into the winners, the losers, and the bigger picture. This is just Part 1! Catch the full conversation, includ...

In this solo episode, Gavin breaks down the latest political spectacle—Trump letting his mask slip and Zelenskyy failing to navigate the game of politics. Under late-stage capitalism, the pretension is gone, exposing the raw mechanics of power, media manipulation, and imperialism. What happens when the illusion of leadership crumbles? Gavin unpacks it all with his signature insight and humour. Cat...

In this episode of Uncolonized , Gavin Stephens and Daniel Grant dive into Captain America: Brave New World , breaking down the political and social implications of the film. What does it mean to have a Black Captain America in today's world? How does the film tackle race, power, and patriotism? We get into all of it, plus our expectations for Anthony Mackie’s take on the shield. Directed by Juliu...

This week on Uncolonized , host Gavin Stephens sits down with Nichole Henderson, a registered psychotherapist (BA, SSW, MACP) and founder of Yellow Chair Therapy . Together, they dive into the realities of ADHD in adults—especially those who go undiagnosed for years. They explore the challenges of late diagnosis, how ADHD manifests differently in marginalized communities, and the urgent need for a...

In this solo episode of  Uncolonized , Gavin dives into the philosophy of Herbert Marcuse and how it connects to his real-life experiences with people who give off an  uncanny valley  vibe. He unpacks how this mindset makes capitalism feel like the natural order, making it harder to see the system at play. Critical thought is dismissed, replaced with endless consumption—so how do we...

In this week's episode of Uncolonized, hosts Gavin Stephens and Daniel Grant delve into the 2024 film Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu.   They critically examine the movie's political messaging, exploring how capitalist realism influences its portrayal of revolution. The discussion highlights the contrast between the film's narrative and the underlying economic ideologies it perpetuates. T...

This week on  Uncolonized , Gavin & Daniel take a Canadian perspective on the incoming U.S. administration and the inauguration. How does this political shift impact the U.S., Canada, and the world? We break it all down and cut through the noise. Catch the full conversation, including our extended discussion, over on Patreon:  patreon.com/theuncolonized . 🎙 Park Bench Ontology — exis...

This week on  Uncolonized , it’s a solo episode with me, Gavin Stephens. In Part 1, I dive into WWE’s big move to Netflix, focusing on the reception of Hulk Hogan. I explore how Jean Baudrillard’s theory of hyperreality applies to Hogan and why he embodies America’s myth-making machine. I also share my evolving perspective on politics—shifting from the traditional left vs. right divide to a m...

In Episode 8 of Season 16, Gavin Stephens and Daniel Grant discuss the shocking assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione, a man many are calling a class hero. The duo unpacks the growing divide between those who see Luigi’s actions as a response to wealth inequality and liberals attempting to distract from systemic issues by labelling him simply as a murderer. From th...

In Episode 7 of Season 16, hosts Gavin Stephens and Daniel Grant tackle the slow bleed of reality as social media continues to shape public discourse. They explore the alarming rise of far-right pipeline accounts using anti-immigrant, misogynist, and racist rhetoric to weaponize anger and spread dangerous ideologies. Gavin shares his recent experience falling into an Instagram rabbit hole after se...

This week on Uncolonized , we dive into the gripping thriller Heretic , starring Hugh Grant in a chilling performance as the diabolical Mr. Reed. Directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, and featuring a talented cast including Sophie Thatcher, Chloe East, and Topher Grace, the film tells the story of two young missionaries who find themselves ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse after knockin...

In this week’s episode of Uncolonized , we dive into the aftermath of the recent U.S. election and what it means for Canadians, as it looks like another four years of Trump may be on the horizon. We break down the ripple effects of Trump’s presidency on Canadian politics, the economy, and our collective social landscape. Is Canada as immune to the U.S. political climate as we like to think, or are...

In Episode 4 of Uncolonized Season 16, Daniel and Gavin dive deep into the 2023 film Jones Plantation , an indie movie created by anarcho-capitalists that uses slavery as a metaphor for government oppression. But behind the "freedom" rhetoric lies a more insidious truth: the film’s creators seem to align with ideologies that ultimately favour the oppressor’s side, not the enslaved. We dissect how...

Uncolonized Podcast Season 16, Episode 3: This week, Gavin and Daniel dive into a surreal yet unsettling event—Donald Trump’s recent rally at Madison Square Garden. Drawing parallels to the 1930s Nazi rally held in the same venue, they explore how the symbolism, spectacle, and tone feel eerily familiar. They also discuss Hulk Hogan’s peculiar speech and Tucker Carlson’s "white replacement theory,...

In this episode of Uncolonized , host Gavin Stephens dives into the heated topic of how immigrants are politicized as scapegoats in Western societies. From housing crises to public unrest, Gavin breaks down the systemic issues often buried under narratives blaming immigration, exploring events like the London riots and the myth of Western superiority. Join Gavin as he exposes the political tactics...

This week, we looked at social media companies and the lack of autonomy in art and the world. We also discussed how renters are suffering from algorithms pricing them out of housing and how education has become impossible under surveillance capitalism. Here are some articles we looked at  Surveillance capitalism in education, Teen Vogue: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/surveillance-education-...

As the title says, we are late on this one. Life has happened so this season was a bit loose. However here we are with a new and final episode for season 15. We talked politics, pop culture and so much more, so please enjoy and thank you for supporting us. 🎙 Park Bench Ontology — existential comedy for the end of the world. 🔗 Follow & Support: 🌐 Website: http://gavinstephens.ca 🎧 Podcast: h...