In the early hours of August 2, 1990, Iraq invaded Kuwait, setting off a chain of events that would draw Canada into the first Gulf War. In this opening episode of Rocket War, we explore how Canada went from peacekeeping posture to active military engagement in the Persian Gulf.

Featuring firsthand accounts from sailors, air force personnel, and military historians, we trace Canada’s early response to the crisis, the political calculations of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, and the rapid deployment of Canadian naval and air assets under Operation Friction. From Halifax Harbour to the Strait of Hormuz, listeners hear what it was like to prepare for war, enforce the UN embargo, and confront the reality of a modern conflict unfolding on live television.

Thirty-five years later, Rocket War revisits the decisions, risks, and human experiences that defined Canada’s role in the Gulf War—beginning with the moment everything changed.

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Written by William Patterson

Host/Executive Producer Ryan Barnett

This podcast was made possible thanks to funding from Veterans Affairs Canada’s Commemorative Partnership Program.

Featuring original interviews with Tim Courtney, Harold Davis, David Deere, Chris Linford, Donald MacPherson, Dr. Sean Maloney, Nathasha Mohr, Paul Molnar, Jean Morin, Claude St.Onge, and the Honorable Rebecca Patterson 

Voice direction by Sonia Gemmiti 

Series consultant is Jean Morin

An original production of Knockabout Media

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

S1, E6: In this episode, the Kids in the Hall embark on making their feature film debut. They struggle to stay together as a troupe as opportunities begin to spring up for them as individuals. 

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

Watch the entire Kids in the Hall series on Amazon Prime.

Written and Produced by Ryan Barnett | Co-producer Sonia Gemmiti. Additional voices: Matt Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti. Special archival audio courtesy of Retrontario.

Reading/Viewing List:

Kids in the Hall: Complete Series

One Dumb Guy by Paul Meyers

This Book Is a Book about the Kids in the Hall by John Semley

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

S1, E5: In this episode, Kids in the Hall is in full swing on HBO and CBC. The guys are beginning to gain notoriety, and rub elbows with celebrities. Then, a network shakeup threatens to upset the apple cart. 

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

Watch the entire Kids in the Hall series on Amazon Prime. 

*Content Advisory* This episode includes an archival excerpt from a sketch featuring a white actor in Yellowface.

Written and Produced by Ryan Barnett | Co-producer Sonia Gemmiti.

Additional voices: Matt Barnett & Sonia Gemmiti.

Special archival audio courtesy of Retrontario.

Follow us @knockaboutmedia

Reading/Viewing List:

Kids in the Hall: Complete Series

One Dumb Guy by Paul Myers

This Book Is a Book about the Kids in the Hall by John Semley

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

In this episode, we revisit the Kids in the Hall as they count down to the premiere of their groundbreaking HBO comedy special—a pivotal moment that set the stage for their rise to fame.

Featuring rare archival audio from Retrontario, this story captures the excitement, uncertainty, and ambition of Canada’s most iconic sketch comedy troupe. Stream The Kids in the Hall series now on Amazon Prime.

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

Watch the entire Kids in the Hall series on Amazon Prime. Try Prime for 30 days by using our link: https://amzn.to/3FbEcKR

Written and Produced by Ryan Barnett. Additional voices: Matt Barnett, Susan Passmore & Sonia Gemmiti. Special archival audio courtesy of Retrontario. Additional Music: Daniel Vodovoz Additional clips: UNMASKED podcast  Follow us @knockaboutmedia on TWITTER, INSTAGRAM & TIKTOK

Reading/Viewing List:

Kids in the Hall: Complete Series https://amzn.to/3s5CCow

One Dumb Guy by Paul Myers https://amzn.to/3MK4UNw

This Book Is a Book about the Kids in the Hall by John Semley https://amzn.to/3s8cn0L

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

In this episode, the Kids find themselves apart. Bruce and Mark are in New York working as writers for SNL, while the other three tour Southern Ontario with Second City. But not all is going well. Their secret sauce may just be in performing together -- they just need to figure out how to stay together. 

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

Written and Produced by Ryan Barnett.

Additional voices: Matt Barnett, Susan Passmore & Sonia Gemmiti.

Special archival audio courtesy of Retrontario. 

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

In this episode, the Kids are together, performing as a group in the back room of The Rivoli on Toronto's Queen West. But will they stay together as they catch the eye of a talent scout from Saturday Night Live? 

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

Written and Produced by Ryan Barnett. Additional voices: Matt Barnett, Susan Passmore & Sonia Gemmiti. Special archival audio courtesy of Retrontario. 

Reading/Viewing List:

Kids in the Hall: Complete Series

One Dumb Guy by Paul Myers

This Book Is a Book about the Kids in the Hall by John Semley

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

Hey Story Girl listeners!

I hope you enjoyed the repost of our series Among Equals. We’re busy at work right now on our follow up series to Story Girl, which I’ll have more information about that soon. But, in the meantime, we're sharing a season from another Knockabout podcast: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North.

Discover the captivating stories behind Canada's film and television industry with 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood North,' the must-listen podcast that takes you deep into the making of iconic movies and the stars who shaped the history of Canadian filmmaking. In this episode, we're focusing on the days before the Kids were the Kids in the Hall. How did Kevin meet Dave? How did Bruce meet Mark? And where did Scott enter the picture? Its origin stories galore as we look back at the Canadian improv comedy scenes of the early 1980s.  

Written & Hosted by Ryan Barnett

Additional Voices by Matthew Barnett

Where to find: Buster: A Life in Pictures

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

In this episode, we look at the factors that resulted in the dissolution of the PNIAI, what happened to the artists in the years that followed, and the group's ongoing legacy, today.

Download the listening guide

Hosted by Soleil Launière

Produced by Ryan Barnett, Maia Foster-Sanchez and Nahka Bertrand

Artwork by Caleb Ellison-Dysart

Theme by Justin Delorme

This series features interviews with Bonnie Devine, Greg A. Hill, Michelle LaVallee, Carmen Robertson, Pauline Beardy, Philip Gevik, Corey Dingle, Donna Feledichuk and Joseph M. Sanchez.

A Knockabout Media Production | Funded by the Government of Canada

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

In this episode, Daphne, Jackson, Alex, Eddy, Carl, Joseph and Norval begin exhibiting together. And then, an idea starts to take form. The seven of them will form a collective; one of the first self-organized art activist groups in Canadian history. One of its main goals: to fight to establish a forum and the spaces for the voices and perspective of Indigenous artists.

Download the listening guide

Hosted by Soleil Launière

Produced by Ryan Barnett, Maia Foster-Sanchez and Nahka Bertrand

Artwork by Caleb Ellison-Dysart

Theme by Justin Delorme

This series features interviews with Bonnie Devine, Greg A. Hill, Michelle LaVallee, Carmen Robertson, Pauline Beardy, Philip Gevik, Corey Dingle, Donna Feledichuk and Joseph M. Sanchez.

A Knockabout Media Production | Funded by the Government of Canada

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

In this episode, we meet Joseph Sanchez and Eddy Cobiness, and Daphne reconnects with her roots and opens her own little shop inspired by Andy Warhol's famed studio: The Factory.

Download the listening guide

Hosted by Soleil Launière

Produced by Ryan Barnett, Maia Foster-Sanchez and Nahka Bertrand

Artwork by Caleb Ellison-Dysart

Theme by Justin Delorme

This series features interviews with Bonnie Devine, Greg A. Hill, Michelle LaVallee, Carmen Robertson, Pauline Beardy, Philip Gevik, Corey Dingle, Donna Feledichuk and Joseph M. Sanchez.

A Knockabout Media Production | Funded by the Government of Canada

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