In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Grant Hayter-Menzies about Muggins, a purebred Spitz who raised thousands of dollars for charities during the First World War in Victoria, British Columbia. They chat about how Grant’s new book Muggins: The Life and Afterlife of a Canadian War Hero, including how Grant approaches his biographies of animals (7:25) and Muggins’ career as a prominent fundraiser (12:10). They also discuss the agency of animals in their relationships with people (18:45) and whether the story is one of animals or human beings (27:58).

In addition to Muggins, Grant has written biographies of other notable animals, which you can find on his website.

For more, please visit us at Activehistory.ca

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Claire Carter, author of Who’s Coming Out to Play: Disruption and Disorientation in Community Sports. They discuss what draws people to queer community leagues (5:39), how players have built social networks through sport (12:56), and challenging stereotypical depictions of women in sports (14:16). They also chat about fighting misogyny within the rules of play (19:26), why sports are so effective at building community (31:16), and the impact of Covid on the leagues (37:47).

For more episodes, be sure to visit us at Activehistory.ca

In this episode, Sean Graham talks with Judith Nasby, former Director of the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre/Art Gallery of Guelph and author of The Making of a Museum. They discuss the gallery’s style (1:51), the challenges facing smaller museums (5:21), and how a dedicated space changed the gallery’s prospects (14:12). They then chat about the gallery’s relationship with the university (17:02), writing memoir as history (23:00), and what advice Judith would give to anyone wanting to work in museums (25:24).

For more, visit us at Activehistory.ca

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Carmen Rodriguez, author of Atacama: A Novel, tells the story of two 12-year-olds in Chile in the early 20th century, brought together at a time when workers’ rights and collective action around the world were changing the face of Chilean life. Together they forge a lifelong connection through their opposition and resistance to the autocratic regime and repressive military.

They discuss the benefits of telling historical stories through fiction, the challenge of having more historical context than the characters, and Carmen’s personal history with Chilean political resistance. They also chat about the book’s message of hope, the contributions of Chilean immigrants in Canada, and the universal themes present in the book.

Visit Carmen’s webiste at CarmenRodriguez.ca

Be sure to visit us at ActiveHistory.ca

Before we put 2021 to bed later tonight, I wanted to look back at some of the great conversations we’ve had on the History Slam this year. The past 12 months have not been the easiest for anyone, but I’ve been so energized by the discussions, insights, and expertise that has been part of the show. So in this special edition, we re-visit a few of the great guests from 2021:

• Samantha Cutrara discusses the idea of ‘We’ in Canadian History (1:52)
• Shannon McConnell explains the decision to use poetry in telling a traumatic historical story (4:07)
• Rita Shelton Deverell talks about the power of national myths (5:48)
• Francesca D’Amico Cuthbert outlines her criteria for selecting road trip songs (11:08)
• Habiba Cooper Diallo describes the challenges of creating inclusive and welcoming environments in schools (16:14)
• Lynn Gehl chronicles her legal battle against the Indian Act (21:35)
• John Sandlos profiles the expansion of mining in Canada through the 20th century (24:50)

You can find the full catalogue of 197 episodes under the podcast tab or wherever you get your podcasts. Happy New Year and all the best for 2022!

In this special edition of the History Slam, Sean Graham shares an episode from the documentary series How We Helped, which explores the history of the Eastern Branch of the Ontario Association of Social Workers. This episode explores the Eastern Branch’s role in creating a community of social work in the region and the support provided to members. You can find the whole series here.

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with three outstanding history podcasters to explore the past, present, and future of history podcasting. David Borys of Cool Canadian History, Kathy Kenzora of History of the 90s, and Craig Baird of Canadian History Ehx discuss the origins of their shows, telling historical stories in an audio format, and how they build relationships with their audiences. They also chat about how of them pick topics, the use of analytics, and what advice they might give any aspiring history podcasters.

Be sure to check out each of their shows wherever you get your podcasts!

For more great content, visit us at Activehistory.ca

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Daniel Francis, author of Becoming Vancouver: A History. They discuss civic history, Indigenous communities in what is now Vancouver, and the city’s early development through natural resources. They also chat about housing prices, inequality, racism, 1960s protests, and the city’s cultural growth.

For more information on Daniel’s work, you can find him at DanielFrancis.ca

To read the full post, head to Activehistory.ca & be sure to rate and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham talks with Bruce McIvor, author of Standoff: Why Reconciliation Fails Indigenous People & How to Fix It, about Reconciliation and his new book. They talk about his background as a lawyer challenging colonial laws, the pervasiveness of colonialism, and treaty obligations. They also discuss the the current protests, what actions non-Indigenous Canadians can take, and the impact on Indigenous youth across Canada. If you are interested in purchasing the book, head to Bruce’s website where you can find a list of independent, Indigenous-owned bookstores around the country.

In this episode of the History Slam, Sean Graham chats with John Sandlos, one of the co-authors of Mining Country: A History of Canada’s Mines and Miners. They talk about displacement and mining as part of the colonial project, the popular imagery associated with mining, and the how rural mining sites influence urban industries. They also discuss the environmental impact of mining, the industry’s treatment of workers, and the communities built around mines.