In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Jean-Marie Leduc about Lace Up: A History of Skates in Canada. They talk about the origins of his extensive skate collection, how he built the collection, and some of his favourite pairs. They also talk about the book, how they put it together, and what readers can expect.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/History-Slam-109.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Gordon Nelson about his book The Magnificent Nahanni: The Struggle to Protect a Wild Place. They talk about his geography background, the physical landscape in the park, and the process of establishing a national park. They also discuss Indigenous communities in the North, their involvement in the process, and the traditional ways in which the land has been used. They conclude by talking about Canadians’ affinity for natural landscapes and whether we do enough to protect those landscapes.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/History-Slam-108.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with City of Ottawa archivist Paul Henry about the city’s old Barrack Hill Cemetery, the discovery of human remains during LRT construction, and the recent re-interment ceremony. They also chat about the effort to identify the individuals, funeral practices before the Victorian age, and how spatial meaning is altered with changes to the physical landscape.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/History-Slam-107.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with two of the central figures from the new History Channel show Hunting Nazi Treasure. First, he chats with Robert M. Edsel, author of The Monuments Men, about the book,the Monuments Men Foundation For the Preservation of Art, and the challenges of conducting research into Hitler’s art collection. Sean then talks with Series Producer Steve Gamester. They discuss the show’s investigative style, the production effort of shooting in various locations, including Second World War historical sites, and the difficulties in telling this story. The show debuts on Tuesday October 24 at 10 E/P on History Channel.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/History-Slam-106-Nazi-Treasure.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with artist Martha Johnson about her new exhibit Shadow Red, which commemorates the 100th anniversary of Tom Thomson’s death. They chat about her personal connection to Tom Thomson, his legacy in Canada’s art community, and her artistic style. They also talk about the exhibit, using blankets as a canvas, what visitors can expect, and how nature has influenced Canadian art. The exhibit runs through October 1 at Toronto’s ArteMbassy.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/History-Slam-105.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, which is a special bonus episode as part of Activehistory.ca’s taxation week, Sean Graham talks Shirley Tillotson of Dalhousie University. They chat about her new book Give and Take: The Citizen-Taxpayer and the Rise of Canadian Democracy, Elsbeth Heaman’s new book Tax, Order, and Good Government: A New Political History of Canada, 1867-1917, and the role of taxes in Canadian life. They also talk about how taxation has been written about by historians, the merits of a flat tax, and how people feel about government spending. Be sure to check out Active History all week for all the taxation content.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/History-Slam-Episode-104.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, podcast Hall of Famers Aaron Boyes and Madeleine Kloske join Sean Graham as they walk through the new Canada Hall at the Canadian Museum of History. They give their thoughts before they head into the exhibit, break down each of the sections as they walk through, and even play one of the new interactive games. They then sit down following the visit and give their thoughts on the exhibit as a whole, its strengths and weaknesses, and give their grades for the revamped Canada Hall.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/History-Slam-Episode-103-Reviewing-the-New-Canada-Hall-at-the-Canadian-Museum-of-History.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Andrea about one of the most influential blogs in Canadian history, Unwritten Histories. They chat about the blog’s origins, the process of curating her lists, and how she manages to produce so much original content. They also talk about the state of the field in 2017, how history can be improved in schools, and what the future may hold for history in Canada.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/History-Slam-Episode-102-Andrea-Eidinger-of-Unwritten-Histories.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, the first ever episode with a live audience, Sean Graham talks with Beth A. Robertson about her new book Science of the Seance: Transnational Networks and Gendered Bodies in the Study of Psychic Phenomena, 1918-40. They talk about the scientists who conducted the research on seances, how they connected with each other, and the ways in which the space became gendered. They also open the floor to questions from the audience and discuss the challenges of researching such a unique topic.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/History-Slam-Episode-101-Science-of-the-Seance.mp3

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with the podcast’s most frequent (starting with the never released pilot episode) guest Aaron Boyes. They talk about the podcast’s origins, how history has changed over the past five years, and the adoption of digital tools by historians. They also talk about the job market for historians and the pros and cons of doing a PhD in history. As an added bonus, they talk with Megan Reilly-Boyes about the benefits and challenges of doing history in the 21st century.

https://media.blubrry.com/activehistory.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/History-Slam-Episode-100-History-Five-Years-Later.mp3