The Sill

Numerous times in her young life, Nicole Wicki, has had the courage to make life changing decisions en route to making a life more connected to nature, balancing body and mind. Swiss born and raised, she currently makes her home on a remote 10 acre farm on ‘Te Waipounamu’ (Maori name for New Zealand’s South Island), striving to live off the grid, while embracing a healthier lifestyle. Nicole Wicki...

Do-it-yourself, on the surface a new fad propelled by the COVID crisis, is in fact an age old go to and accepted MO throughout human history. Using the creation of a DIY audiobook - Peggy Lee’s Delicious Lips - as an example, we talk about the process from A to Z. Duration - 34:12 Segment with author Harry Posner narrating a section from his newly released audiobook, Peggy Lee’s Delicious Lips

In our second interview with Dr. Six we explore changes to relationships in the face of a global pandemic. Surprisingly, when it comes to the world of our primal instincts, our sexual life has remained for the most part remained unchanged during this period of personal and social upheaval. Claudia Six: http://www.drsix.net Duration - 27:12

During the mother of all crises, another mother is stepping up to give birth to a plethora of creative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprising, in light of other historical upheavals, out of which emerged new and unique technologies and approaches to problem solving. Duration - 36:14 VoxBox: YouTube segment - Family invents ‘Hug Glove’ so they can cuddle their Grandma on Mother’s Day.

A down to earth conversation with the Mayor of Orangeville, a small town in Southern Ontario Canada, as the community responds to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. From Zoom coffee chats to encouraging support for small business, Mayor Sandy Brown offers a very candid and grounded perspective. Mayor Sandy Brown: https://www.orangeville.ca/council-1/members-of-council/sandy-brown-mayor Duration...

We hop in our time machine and come out Sept 11, 2021, a year after the all clear was given on the COVID-19 Pandemic and we have witnessed numerous changes for the better, and some for the worse. From the micro to the macro, we’ve undergone a variety of transformations on a scale previously unimagined. Duration - 30:53 VoxBox: YouTube Segment - Corona Lockdown! Can Anything Positive Come From This...

At the time of this podcast, the number of global COVID-19 cases has eclipsed the 1,000,000 mark with over 50,000 deaths. We are confronting an unparalleled firestorm of ethical and moral dilemmas, in the face of mushrooming economic turmoil. Over 3 days, and from a distance, these issues and more, inform a time-lapse dialogue. Duration - 1:05:21 Featuring author Andrew Welch, “Save the people, sa...

The COVID-19 is proving transformational on a level that has not been seen since 911. Could this be a pivotal paradigm shift in the way we treat each other and all life forms on the planet? Duration - 47:28 Poems by: Harry Posner - Ode To A Virus - written on January 29, 2020 & Father Richard Henrick, OFM - Lockdown - March 13, 2020 Music by: Erin Bolton - erinboltonmusic.com - 'World Speaking' an...

For almost fifteen hundred years, the largest basilica in the world, Hagia Sophia, was at the spiritual centre of both the Christian and Muslim worlds. An architectural wonder, it inspired builders and designers of sacred spaces for centuries. Duration - 23:12 Credit: NPR excerpt on 'The Sound of The Hagia Sophia, More Than 500 Years Ago.' Highlights: Architectural features of the Hagia Sophia Tra...

Singer songwriter, music therapist, belly dancer and more, Sohayla shares her very human approach to art and community. Sohayla Smith: http://www.sohaylasmith.com Duration - 24:29 VoxBox: Sohayla Smith’s - For A Moment and Oh The Day Medley

We spend an average of 5 years waiting in lines and queues during our lifetime. Is waiting a waste of time, or can we alter our perspective about these (commonly) anxiety-making situations? Duration - 33:11 VoxBox: Harry Posner - "Wait for it.”

An exploration into the evolution of information gathering, its historical milestones, including moral and ethical implications for the human condition. From Tesla to Turing and beyond, does the expanding data highway offer us more unprecedented challenges than benefits? Duration - 36:49 VoxBox: You Tube excerpts from 1970 - IBM Vintage Computers Promo Film - Historical Data Processing and The Myt...

On the heels of the last podcast, between dog and wolf, inspired by a painting (Entre Chien et Loup) of the same name, the hosts discuss all things art with painter Richard Mongiat, whose focus and range of activities elevate him beyond the typical one note artist. Richard Mongiat: https://www.richardmongiat.com Duration - 40:47 VoxBox: CBC digital archives - Excerpt from ‘Gallery patrons shocked...

The balancing act of our primal instincts versus our domestic existence from children’s stories to the world of cinema, from Paganism to Christianity, the symbol of the wolf has been a central theme, painted in both a positive and negative light. Duration - 22:26 VoxBox: Audiobook excerpt from White Fang, by Jack London - DBS Audio Books

A look at the future of podcasting and its relevance as just another media platform, among many that have been or will be absorbed by the ‘big boys’. The hosts, Peter and Harry, discuss the joys, challenges and purpose of the Sill podcast and its ‘limitless’ possibilities. Duration - 26:28 Opening Segment: Beau York on Ted Talks - The Power of Podcasting VoxBox: Excerpt from The BBC Academy Podcas...

Nearly a billion people in the world experience hunger, while nearly a billion are obese. Like many challenges confronting society in today’s world the issue is not availability, it is excessive waste and distribution. Our collective hunger and survival is not limited to food. From fasting to spiritual searching, and everything in between, our quest for ‘nourishment’ comes in many forms. Duration...

Harry Chapin left us too soon, but he left us with compelling stories reflecting the era he lived in. Although not one of his most well known hits, Sniper, is perhaps his most eloquent, timeless comment on humankind’s fragile psyche. Duration - 29:43 VoxBox: YouTube - Harry Chapin questions and answers (Soundstage) Music Credit: Harry Chapin - Sniper & Cats In The Cradle.

Kilroy was here. The urge to leave our stamp on history seems to be inherent to the nature of homo sapiens. Stepping into the past at a local museum, provides the hosts a context for examining our obsession with legacy. Museum of Dufferin (MOD): https://dufferinmuseum.com Duration - 38:10 VoxBox: YouTube PBS interview on ‘Internet history is fragile. This archive is making sure it doesn’t disappea...

From the personal to the political, from products to corporate identity, the rise of branding as a way of creating and maintaining relevance is understandable in a world that encourages hubris. Duration - 23:46 VoxBox: YouTube interview with Yuval Harari Music Credit: k. d. Lang - Constant Craving

No other singer has as powerfully embodied their music as did Edith Piaf. Rising from her hard scrabbled life, spanning two world wars, she sang her way to international stardom, until her untimely death at 47. Duration - 26:32 VoxBox: YouTube interview on Je Ne Regret Rien Music Credit: Edith Piaf - Je Ne Regret Rien

Dufferin - Caledon federal Green Party candidate Stefan Wiesen says, quote, “We must take a holistic approach to build a modern state that leaves nobody behind.” His obvious passion and commitment for the environment and people is evident in his clear-headed and grounded approach to the issues we all face. Duration - 35:21 VoxBox: On YouTube, 2 clips from ‘This Hour Has 22 minutes’ Music Credit: L...

Surprisingly, the modern toy called the Yo-yo has a long venerable history. From ancient China, to Napoleon’s France, to Richard Nixon at the Grand Ole Opry, this toy for all ages continues to fascinate and entertain. Duration - 22:03 VoxBox: On YouTube, Doctor Lucky Meisenheimer - Inside The World’s Biggest YoYo Collection Music Credit: Blood, Sweat & Tears - Spinning Wheel

Brampton born and Orangeville raised Michael McCreary is an ‘aspie’ of a different colour. With a mind as agile as a whippet, Michael navigates his life with humour and humility, bestowing on us a deeper understanding of what it means to be autistic. Michael McCreary: https://www.aspiecomic.com Duration - 35:48 VoxBox: Compilation of Michael McCreary bits and clips Music Credit: Isley Brothers - I...

The impulse to archive has been aided and abetted by the exponential advance in recording technologies, which begs the question: What have we sacrificed in pursuit of our never ending desire to preserve memories? Duration - 24:06 VoxBox: YouTube segment with comedian Norm MacDonald on the Evolution of Photography Music Credit: Fastball - G.O.D. (Good Old Days)

The nature of conservatism is more complicated than current polarized thinking would suggest. From its political beginnings after the French Revolution to populist America and Britain, the impulse to remain true to inherited tradition is both a stabilizing force and one prone to ossification. Duration - 35:19 VoxBox: Rowan Atkinson - excerpt from Conservative Conference on YouTube Music Credit: Th...