COMMONS

Our new season is about the people on the extremes. The activists, the terrorists, and the revolutionaries who took things right to the edge for what they believe in... for good or for ill.

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new investigative series about the cocaine smuggling ring inside Vice Media.

To hear episode 2 right now, subscribe to Cool Mules. Or get all six episodes ad-free for $5/month by clicking here.

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Harts are Canada’s first family of professional wrestling and one of the most famous dynasties the country has ever produced. And sure, wrestling is scripted.  But what happens when reality begins to invade that fiction? The story of the Harts is one of triumph and tragedy that transcends the world of pro wrestling. 

Featured in this episode: Damian Abraham, Omar Mouallem

To learn more:

Wrestling With Shadows by Paul Jay

The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling by David Shoemaker

“The Rise and Fall of Wrestling’s Weed-Dealing, Cat-Breeding Phenom” in Rolling Stone by Omar Mouallem

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible. 

Additional music:

“Unanswered Questions” by Kevin Macleod and “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted.

“I dunno” by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

“SUNBIRDS” by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC /

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerald Regan was the premier of Nova Scotia, the founder of a powerful political dynasty, and one of the most prolific sexual predators in Canadian political history. Even after his death last November, few in the establishment are willing to recognize, let alone reckon with, his crimes. 

This episode contains graphic depictions of sexual violence and won’t be suitable for all listeners.

Featured in this episode: Stephen Kimber, Maggie Rahr

To learn more:

Aphrodisiac: Sex, Politics, Power and Gerald Regan by Stephen Kimber 

“Uncomfortable silence at Province House” in The Coast by Maggie Rahr

“The complicated narrative of Gerald Regan” in The Chronicle Herald by Andrea Gunn

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible. 

Additional music:

“Clean Soul” by Kevin Macleod, “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, and “Easy Life” by Lee Rosevere, adapted.

"I dunno" by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

"SUNBIRDS" by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC /

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the Olands have been one of Canada’s most prominent brewing dynasties, the makers of Moosehead Beer. But in the last decade, they’ve made the news for much darker reasons. Richard Oland was murdered in 2011. And police and prosecutors believe that he was killed by his only son. 

Featured in this episode: Greg Marquis

To learn more:

Truth & Honour: The Oland Family Murder Case that Shocked Canada by Greg Marquis

Shadow of Doubt: The Trials of Dennis Oland by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon

“Murder and a Maritime dynasty: The Dick Oland case” in Maclean’s by  Nicholas Köhler and Tamsin McMahon.

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible. 

Additional music:

“Clean Soul” by Kevin Macleod, “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, and “Running Water” by Jason Shaw, adapted.

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Desmarais family is by far the most influential Canadian dynasty of the last half-century. But if you don’t live in Quebec, chances are you haven’t even heard of them. Paul Desmarais had Prime Ministers and Premiers in his pocket and billions of dollars at his disposal. He wasn’t just a Laurentian elite; he was the Laurentian emperor. 

Featured in this episode:

Robin Philpot (Derrière l'État Desmarais: Power)

To learn more:

Derrière l'État Desmarais: Power by Robin Philpot

Rising to Power: Paul Desmarais and Power Corporation by Dave Greber

“Chrétien and Bouchard, sitting in a (very expensive) tree” by Martin Patriquin in Macleans’

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Leesa and Wealthbar.

Additional music:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

reNovation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. 

“Lee Rosevere” by A List of Ways to Die, adapted. 

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sahotas are Vancouver’s most notorious slumlords. For decades they’ve let their buildings rot, leaving their tenants to live in filth and desolation. But the Sahotas are not like any other dynasty you’ve ever heard of. Their story is far stranger, and far darker, than anything you can imagine.

Featured in this episode: Jen St. Denis, Christopher Cheung (The Tyee), Sam Dharmapala

To learn more:

“For low-income residents in Vancouver, a different kind of real estate crisis” by Wendy Stueck and Mike Hager in The Globe and Mail

“'Out-of-control' SROs: Everyone wants to help, but no one seems to have the tools” by Denise Ryan in The Vancouver Sun

“Room 821” by Crackdown

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Audible and Wealthbar.

Additional music:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

eighteen pieces (soda) by Soda (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. 

SUNBIRDS by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC /

“I Am A Man Who Will Fight For You Honor” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted. 

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Rizzutos are Canada’s first family of crime. For decades, they dominated Montreal’s underworld with an iron fist. With the help of corrupt politicians and police officers, the Rizzutos built one of the most fearsome and lucrative criminal enterprises this country has ever seen.  Their reign was long and bloody. But their fall, was even more gruesome.

Featured in this episode: Peter Edwards (Toronto Star), Pietro Poletti 

To learn more:

Business or Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto's Last War by Peter Edwards and Antonio Nicaso

The Sixth Family: The Collapse of the New York Mafia and the Rise of Vito Rizzuto by Lee Lamothe and Adrian Humphreys

“Death of the Don” by CBC’s The Fifth Estate

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Leesa and HelloFresh.

Additional music:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

Spheres (Hip Hop Instrumental) by Robbero (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. 

“Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted. 

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada is a big, interesting, and complicated place and COMMONS is committed to bringing you thoughtfully crafted and illuminating stories that will challenge everything you think you know about this country. 

We make a complex scripted podcast that’s unlike anything else available in this country and cover stories from all across the nation. We want to keep doing this work, but we need your support.  

This week we’re going to tell you a little bit about the work that goes into making this show and about what’s next for Canadaland. Click here to see we’re hoping to do with your support.

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They call themselves the Canadian Kennedys. And they’re one of the most famous political dynasties to ever exist in this country. But the rise of the Ford family has been marred by violence and self-destruction at almost every turn. The story of the Fords is tragic — for them, for everyone who falls into their orbit, and for the people of Toronto.

Featured in this episode: Jonathan Goldsbie (Canadaland).

CORRECTION [Nov. 18, 2019]: We state in this episode that Rob Ford died in 2014. He died in March of 2016. We regret the error.

To learn more:

Crazy Town: The Rob Ford Story by Robyn Doolittle

The Only Average Guy: Inside the Uncommon World of Rob Ford by John Filion

“The Rob Ford Story” by CBC’s The Fifth Estate

This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. 

This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks and Audible.

Additional music:

I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque

ＭＩＬＬＥＮＮＩＡＬＳ by Analog By Nature (c) copyright 2018 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.

Reverie (small theme) by _ghost (c) copyright 2010 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: Pitx

“Unanswered Questions” by Kevin Macleod, adapted. 

Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.