What's Old is News

Sean Graham talks with Nina Studer, author of The Hour of Absinthe: A Cultural History of France's Most Notorious Drink . They talk about the drink's origins, its cultural importance in France, and its consumption by French soldiers. They also chat about the class distinctions associated with the drink, how gender dynamics influenced its perception, and the absinthe's an in France in 1915. Histori...

Sean Graham talks with Ruby Smith Diaz , author of Searching for Serafim: The Life and Legacy of Serafim 'Joe' Fortes . They discuss Ruby's introduction to Serafim's story, how she went about researching the book, and some of the challenges she faced in the process. They also chat about how Ruby's artistic background shaped the book's structure, the importance of telling the whole story, and the i...

Sean Graham is joined by Amanda Bittner , author of Platform or Personality: The Role of Party Leaders in Elections . They talk about how polling data is used, partisan voting patterns, and the role of leaders in swaying voters. They also discuss policies v. personalities, the significance of branding leaders, and the challenges of attracting people to politics. Historical Headline of the Week Dou...

Sean Graham is joined by Dan Black , author of Oceans of Fate: Peace and Peril Aboard the Steamship Empress of Asia . They talk about the ship's earliest voyage following its 1913 commissioning, its service during the First World War and the Chinese Labour Corps, and its refitting after the war. They also talk about its interwar service, its sinking during the Second World War, and how the ship's...

Sean Graham is joined by Eugenia Kisin, author of Aesthetics of Repair: Indigenous Art and the Form of Reconciliation . They discuss what qualifies as 'art', how the intent shapes understanding of cultural materials, and how works are commoditized. They also chat about artistic agency, the impact of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the value of having time to reflect on research before...

Sean Graham is joined by Jennifer Neville, author of Truth is Trickiest: The Case for Ambiguity in the Exeter Book Riddles . They discuss the background of the riddles, who may have transcribed them and why, as well as the challenge of deciphering their meaning. They also talk about the literary tradition behind the riddles, the various interpretations and arguments surrounding potential answers,...

Sean Graham is joined by Robin C. Whittaker, author of Alumnae Theatre Company: Nonprofessionalizing Theatre in Canada . They discuss the establishment of the Alumnae Theatre Company and its place as Canada's longest-running women-led theatre group, how the group survived its early years, and the place of non-professional theatre in 20th century Canada. They also chat about the economics of amateu...

Sean Graham talks with Aidan Forth, author of Camps: A Global History of Mass Confinement . They talk about the definition of camps, the commonalties among camps, and the ubiquity of mass confinement. They also talk about studying these sites across cultures, how echoes of past camps inform modern confinement, and the continuing legacy of camps. Historical Headline of the Week Nurith Aizenman, " W...

Sean Graham is joined by Tonya Davidson, author of Inside the Snow Globe: Ottawa Monuments and National Belonging . They discuss Tonya's approach to monuments as a primary source, how publics respond to monuments, and how national monuments fit into local communities. They also talk about some of Ottawa's less known monuments, how memorials change public spaces, and how current events can alter a...

Sean Graham is joined by Crystal Gail Fraser , author of By Strength, We Are Still Here: Indigenous Peoples and Indian Residential Schooling in Inuvik, Northwest Territories . They discuss the lesser known story of northern residential schools, conducting oral history with survivors, and the Gwich'in concepts of individual and collective strength. They also chat about the significance of the Inuvi...

Sean Graham is joined by Stephen Osborne, author of The Coincidence Problem: Selected Dispatches 1999-2022 . They talk about Stephen's involvement in the launch of Geist magazine, what makes a good dispatch, and why the format is good for storytelling. They also discuss coincidences, how to write about them, and what makes them so entertaining. Historical Headline of the Week Keegan Kozolanka, " N...

Sean Graham is joined by Bonnie Robichaud, author of It Should be Easy to Fix . They discuss the timeline of her Supreme Court case calling for justice, her reaction to the case taking so long, and having other women reach out to her throughout the process. We also chat about the decisions leading to the Supreme Court case, the problem with non-disclosure agreements, and her advice for anyone goin...

Sean Graham talks with Cristina Vatulescu, author of Reading the Archival Revolution: Declassified Stories and Their Challenges . They talk about the Soviet archives that have been declassified over the past 20 years, how to approach newly available material, and how trustworthy the Soviet documents can be. They also discuss the individuals who were followed by the Soviet police as well as those w...

Sean Graham is joined by Ian Kennedy, author of Ice in their Veins: Women's Relentless Pursuit of the Puck . They talk about the challenge of finding sources for early women's hockey, the sport's development in the first half of the 20th century, and some of the challenges faced by women's hockey pioneers. They then discuss Ian's oral history interviews, the introduction of women's hockey in the O...

This week, Sean Graham talks with Holly Miowak Guise, author of Alaska Native Resilience: Voices from World War II . They talk about the lived memory of the Second World War in Alaska, the American occupation of Alaska, and the diversity of the local population. They also discuss local community responses to the war, forced relocation, and how colonial structures shaped the post-war experiences of...

With Halloween here, Sean revisits his 2013 conversation with the University of Glasgow's Sabine Wieber about death masks. They talk about the artistic meaning of the masks and how they affected people’s understanding of death. They also chat about the material culture nature of the masks and how she deals with what would generally be considered a dark topic. Historical Headline of Week Hayley Cam...

Sean Graham talks with Jennifer Clark, author of Producing Feminism: Television Work in the Age of Women's Liberation . They discuss the role of women in the television in the 1970s, the ways in which women organized, and how societal changes were reflected in the industry. They also chat about the challenges of finding women in the archives, how production changes made their way to the screen, an...

Sean Graham talks with Bethany Kilcrease, author of Falsehood and Fallacy: How to Think, Read, and Write in the Twenty-First Century . They discuss the assumption that young people are well prepared for online misinformation, increased accessibility of quality sources, and the pros and cons of gatekeepers’ reduced power. They also chat about the CRAAP test, the benefits of short-form online writin...

Sean Graham talks with Rosemary Pennington , author of Pop Islam: Seeing American Muslims in Popular Media . They discuss how Ms Marvel contributed to the book's origins, what forms of media are included in the book, and how stereotypes of Muslims are perpetuated in popular culture. They also chat about the challenges faced by Muslim stand-up comedians, how reality show editing influences percepti...

Sean Graham talks with Molly Schneider, author of Gold Dust on the Air: Television Anthology Drama and Midcentury American Culture . They talk about the origins of television anthologies, the transition from radio, and their popularity among audiences. They also discuss the role of anthologies in reflecting American culture, pushback from audiences and studios, and the legacy of anthologies and wh...

Sean Graham is joined by Eric Porter, author of A People's History of SFO: The Making of the Bay Area and an Airport . They talk about the importance of airports, telling local stories through the airport, and how battles over airports speak to questions of power. They also get into the specifics of San Francisco's airport, how its development shaped the city and region, and some of the major mile...

Sean Graham talks with Blair Mirau , author of The City of Rainbows: A Colourful History of Prince Rupert . They talk about the benefits of the city's geography, the impact of colonialism on local Indigenous communities, and the different eras in the city's history. They also discuss Prince Rupert during the world wars and Great Depression, its challenges through the second half of the 20th centur...

Sean Graham talks with Marth Hanna, author of Anxious Days and Tearful Nights: Canadian War Wives During the First World War . They discuss Martha's entry into the world of First World War letters, the challenge of tracking down letters from over 100 years ago, and how women on the front lines managed their relationships with significant others fighting the war. They also chat about censorship of...

This week Sean revisits a 2017 discussion with Jean-Marie Leduc, noted expert on skates, and the principal author of Lace Up: A History of Skates in Canada . They talk about Mr. Leduc's skate collection, why he wanted to write a book, and the cultural significance of sports on ice in Canada. Historical Headline of the Week Darren Bernhardt, " Brandon-made Tackaberry skate - Tacks - recognized for...

Sean Graham is joined by Daniel Robinson, author of Cigarette Nation: Business, Health, and Canadian Smokers, 1930-1975 . They discuss Daniel's initial interest in studying smoking culture, the increase in smoking rates in the 1930s and 1940s, and the initial studies linking cigarettes to cancer in the 1950s. They also chat about the industry's and government's response, the social side of smoking...