Atlantic Voice

Get a glimpse into the sacred tradition of sweat ceremonies, through the knowledge and experience of two elders on Lennox Island First Nation. From grandfather stones to spiritual connections, the CBC's Laura Meader brings us to a backyard sweat lodge in this documentary, first aired in the fall of 2024.

This story touches upon residential and day schools, so please take care while listening. A 24/7 support line is available for survivors, and anyone affected by residential schools: 1-866-925-4419.

There's small, and then there's McCallum. (Population: 20 or so). There's one teacher at the school, and one student - who's just about to graduate. Producer Caroline Hillier takes us to this isolated Newfoundland community to find out what comes next, in her documentary.

In 2023, the Titan submersible implosion grabbed the world's attention. But there's another side to the story you might not know about: How the family of two of the victims found solace with the St. John's Muslim community, and ended up making a generous, and much needed, gift. That's all in The Best of Planners, a documentary from Caroline Hillier.

When a small church lost its minister, its churchgoers decided to do the job themselves. Meet the 5 lay ministers in Freshwater, Newfoundland: they're keeping their church alive, even if it's not exactly the way head office would go about it. Freshwater, United first aired in 2023, and won top honours at the Wilbur Awards in 2024, for religious issues covered by secular media.

When Grace Annie Lockhart graduated Mount Allison University, she wasn't allowed a cap and gown. Why? Well, she was the first woman to ever graduate university in the British commonwealth, and "I suspect that they just did not know what to do," says archivist David Mawhinney. 150 years later, Grace isn't well known, and David and others hope to change that. A documentary from the CBC's Mariam Mesbah.

Halifax's Meaghan Smith had a hit album, a Juno, and the promise of bright things to come - until she gave birth, and it all fell apart. She's not the only musician trying to maintain her career with parenthood pressures - and finding different paths forward. Follow her, Jill Barber, and more in this documentary from Carsten Knox.

Fairies aren't just for little kids. Explore Nova Scotia's fairy beliefs - from Gaelic, Acadian, and Mi'kmaw traditions - and meet the believers, as producer Maryanne McLarty asks: why do so many adults seem to lose the ability to indulge in fairy wonder? An episode first broadcast in the fall of 2022.

10 p.m., Oct. 8, 1986: Sarah Sherman still remembers the exact date and time she met her first husband. The years after, though, involved horrific abuse and tragedy. But from her darkest moments, Sarah has emerged as a survivor, creating change in New Brunswick's health care system. As a note: this documentary contains graphic depictions of intimate partner violence, so listen with care. This story was produced by Robert Gow, with co-production from Robyn Abbott and sound from Chantal Jansen Van Rensberg.

If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence in Atlantic Canada, there is help out there, and one way is through provincial helplines. In Newfoundland and Labrador you can call or text 1-888-709-7090, in PEI you can call 1-800-240-9894, and in the Nova Scotia and New Brunswick you can call or text the provincial crisis lines at 211.

Hop on a spring snowmobile ride for an immersive journey through life on the northern coast of Labrador: time at the cabin, throat singers, and kids messing around, building a fire. Our tour guide in and out of the community of Rigolet, in Nunatsiavut, is CBC Labrador's John Gaudi. His documentary is called The Lure of the Land.

For 16 days, Lisa Johnson endured what's known as a "dry cell" in a Nova Scotia prison. Solitary confinement, with no working toilet, in conditions some liken to torture. This episode first aired in 2021, and Lisa's legal battle since has led to changes in federal regulations around dry cell use in Canada. We're airing this story again as Lisa prepares for another court date over the dry cell in June, this time with a lawsuit for damages. A note to listeners: this episode features strong language and disturbing details.