In this conversation with scholar and author Tom Cooper, we trace the overlapping currents of McLuhan and Innis — how McLuhan’s Catholicism quietly shaped his media theory, and how geography steered Innis’ thinking. Tom shares stories from his time as McLuhan’s teaching assistant, giving us a rare, inside look at the man behind the aphorisms.

We also dig into his new book, a fresh lens on the Toronto School’s history and influence, and how those ideas keep mutating in today’s media environment. It’s a blend of personal memory, intellectual history, and a little bit of myth-busting.