The Kingstonian Podcast

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the podcast, Dave Cunningham welcomes award-winning journalist , Maegen Kulchar , for a conversation about the evolving world of local news. The discussion explores Maegen’s journey into journalism through Carleton University and Niagara College, early years reporting for CKWS-TV in Kingston, and the dramatic shift that followed the 2025 restructuring and layoff...

Send us Fan Mail This archival episode features a 2017 conversation with the late Jim Neill , recorded when this program was still airing as a radio show. Jim Neill was well known in Kingston, Ontario, for his decades of public service as a teacher, community activist, school board trustee, and Kingston city councillor. In this conversation, Jim reflects on several civic issues facing Kingston at...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Kingstonian Podcast , Dave speaks with a Kingston-area musician, Tom Mawhinney - songwriter, and community builder - whose journey began at Queen’s University in Kingston, in the early 1970s. Over the decades, he has released six albums for adult listeners and three children’s albums, written more than 30 songs for choirs.  The conversation explores: Early m...

Send us Fan Mail Jean Gillespie devoted more than fifty years to Scouting in Kingston and Eastern Ontario, working with an estimated 2,400 young people along the way. She was a Cub leader, a camp organizer, a traveller, and a founding force behind events like the International Brotherhood Camporee. But Jean was also a historian at heart. Through decades of careful notetaking, scrapbooks, and binde...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we mark the 150th anniversary of the Royal Military College of Canada with a wide-ranging conversation about service, education, history, and adaptation. My guest, Alexander Landry , reflects on his first days as a cadet, his decade of service in the Regular Force, and his continued involvement in the Reserves and the RMC alumni community.  Recorded during the ope...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Podcast , host Dave Cunningham sits down with Patrick Deane , Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University. Born and raised in South Africa, Principal Deane traces his academic journey from the University of the Witwatersrand to Canada, where his career has included faculty and leadership roles at the University of Toronto, Western University, the Uni...

Send us Fan Mail Artificial Intelligence is one of the most powerful and misunderstood technologies of our time. In this episode, host Dave Cunningham sits down with David Eliot, an author, academic, and former professional magician to explore the real story behind AI in his book, Artificially Intelligent , — where it began, how it evolved, and what it means for the future of humanity.  The conver...

Send us Fan Mail This episode was first published last December 2024.  It was so well received, I decided to make it available a little earlier than last time.  Enjoy! In this heartwarming holiday special, we step into Santa’s workshop for an intimate and low-key conversation. Our guest? None other than Saint Nick himself. We talk about the elves' tireless work, the reindeer team’s preparatio...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, host Dave Cunningham welcomes back Jamal Saeed , returning to the show nearly three years after the release of his acclaimed memoir, My Road from Damascus . We revisit the response to the book here in Canada and internationally, and reflect on the meaningful moments that have come from readings, talks, and community conversations. With significant political shifts...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Leo Lund , longtime member of the Canadian Armed Forces and current Past President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 560 in Kingston, Ontario. Leo reflects on more than 30 years in uniform, the friendships that endure long after service, and what ultimately led him to make Kingston his home in retirement. We also explore the history and purpose of th...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we meet Julie M. Green — a Kingston-based writer whose work has been featured in The Globe and Mail , Chatelaine , Today’s Parent , and The Washington Post . Julie’s memoir, Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance , explores her family’s journey with autism — beginning with her son’s diagnosis and, years later, leading to he...

Send us Fan Mail Season 9 of The Kingstonian Podcast kicks off with a legend.  Jerry Mercer has been keeping time for more than 70 years — three decades of that behind the drums with one of Canada’s most beloved rock bands, April Wine . In this conversation, Jerry talks about his lifelong passion for music, the instrument that’s captured his curiosity these days, and the moments that defined his j...

Send us Fan Mail Back in 2003, Ryan Malcolm became a familiar face across Canada as the first-ever winner of Canadian Idol . After a whirlwind year that included performing with artists like Elton John and Kelly Clarkson, Ryan returned to his roots just west of Kingston. Over the past 20 years, he’s worn many hats: musician, restaurant manager, Buddy Holly onstage, and now, real estate agent. In t...

Send us Fan Mail With Canada heading to the polls on April 28th, 2025, voters across the country are weighing some big questions. Should we re-elect the incumbent party or opt for change? Who’s best positioned to lead the country—and how will the next government navigate the relationship with the U.S.? Should we be focusing on local candidates or national leaders? In this episode, recorded on Apri...

Send us Fan Mail Kingston has a deep-rooted musical community, and few names stand out as much as Dave Barton ’s. A self-professed "guitar nerd," Dave’s passion for the instrument began in Grade 4 and has shaped a lifelong career in performance, composition, and education. As co-leader of the Big Phat Horn Band, he brings bold, dynamic energy to the stage while continuing to explore a wi...

Send us Fan Mail Physics is everywhere—even if you haven’t thought about it since high school! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Art McDonald , a professor of astrophysics at Queen’s University and winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2015. For forty years, Dr. McDonald and his team focused their research on neutrinos—tiny, elusive particles that help us understand the fundamental workings...

Send us Fan Mail The role of Rector at Queen’s University is truly one of a kind—no other Canadian university has a position quite like it. Rooted in Scottish tradition, the Rector has been a key part of Queen’s governance. In this episode, I sit down with Niki Boytchuk-Hale , the 39th Rector of Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, to discuss her journey to this unique role. We explore the respo...

Send us Fan Mail U.S. politics has been making headlines nonstop, and with so much happening, it can be difficult to keep up. In this episode, I’m joined by Paul Gardner , Assistant Professor of Political Studies at Queen’s University, to help break it all down. Paul’s expertise in American law and politics comes from years of research at Queen’s, the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, and Pri...

Send us Fan Mail “Organizing is what you do before you do something so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” — A. A. Milne In this episode, we explore the art of decluttering and organizing with Jocelyn Taylor , founder of Popped Closet . Whether you’re at home, in the office, or anywhere in between, we’ve all experienced those moments of wondering, "Where did I put my phone, my keys,...

Send us Fan Mail Join me as we take a look at the fascinating world of preservation and archives. Did you know Queen’s University Archives is home to an extraordinary collection of records—both paper and digital—that document not only the University’s history but also that of Kingston, its surrounding regions, and countless notable Canadians and everyday lives? To uncover the secrets behind this i...

Send us Fan Mail Join us in this special episode as we explore the remarkable legacy of Jimmy Carter , the 39th President of the United States. Known for his dedication to public service, both during and after his presidency, Carter's impact resonates deeply with people around the world. For Kingstonian Arthur Milnes , Carter has been a hero since he was eleven years old. Milnes, an accomplis...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartwarming holiday special, we step into Santa’s workshop for an intimate and low-key conversation. Our guest? None other than Saint Nick himself. We talk about the elves' tireless work, the reindeer team’s preparations for the big night, and reflect on the joy and impact that gifts have brought to children around the world. Then, with the sleigh packed and ready, w...

Send us Fan Mail It all began in the mid-‘60s, when a young drummer named Kim Berly placed an ad in a Calgary newspaper, hoping to find a band to join. What he found was the start of something much bigger—a musical journey that would span more than five decades. Alongside fellow musicians Rich Dodson and Ronnie King, Kim became part of The Stampeders , a band that would go on to leave an indelible...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we continue our exploration of Canada’s Arctic, shifting focus from the history of exploration to a pressing contemporary issue: sovereignty. How has Canada asserted its control over the vast, remote Arctic region, and what strategies are in place to protect its interests as global dynamics shift? Joining us again is Major Stan Bennett , Commander of the Canadian...

Send us Fan Mail The Arctic is one of Canada's most mysterious, beautiful, and dangerous regions—yet it’s an area that is increasingly capturing the attention of Canadians and the world. Why did the Inuit migrate across the Bering Strait 5,000 years ago to settle in the harsh north? What motivated European explorers to search for the elusive Northwest Passage? And today, with Canada asserting...