The Backroads Bill Podcast

In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, author and minister Benjamin Perry joins the show to explore the ideas behind his book Cry Baby: Why Our Tears Matter and what crying can reveal about grief, identity, masculinity and emotional healing.

Benjamin shares his own experience of going nearly a decade without crying and the process of learning how to reconnect with his emotions.

Find more about Benjamin Perry here: https://www.benjaminjperry.com/

0:00 Intro and Why Our Tears Matter
09:32 Learning to Cry Again
15:31 Shame, Masculinity & Tears
27:48 Faith, Queerness & Healing
42:10 Tears, Transformation & Hope

In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Andrew MacKellar joins the show to talk about the upcoming North Bay Sasquatch Conference on October 10th and his own experiences investigating Sasquatch in Northern Ontario.

Andrew shares how his interest in Sasquatch began, the research he has done alongside his father, and the personal encounter that strengthened his belief that something may be out there. 

To find more information head over to Facebook and search for Sasquatch Conference (North Bay)

0:00 Sasquatch Comes to North Bay
3:32 How Andrew Got Into Sasquatch
8:48 Andrew’s Sasquatch Encounter
15:01 Inside the Sasquatch Conference
23:15 Conference Turnout & Final Details

In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, Volker Beckmann shares the story of how Thompson, Manitoba built its identity as the Wolf Capital of the World.

What began as a community effort to create more pride in the city eventually grew into Spirit Way, a 2.5-kilometre route featuring public art, wolf sculptures, and a massive wolf mural inspired by the work of Robert Bateman.

Volker explains how those projects opened the door to new tourism opportunities, international connections, and plans for a dedicated wolf habitat and learning centre.

0:00 Intro
6:14 The Birth of Spirit Way
17:15 How the Wolf Sculptures Began
24:03 Building a Wolf Centre
36:07 What Happened to the Vision?

In this episode of the Back Roads Bill Podcast, lawyer Jonathan Sommer joins the conversation to break down the massive art fraud surrounding renowned Indigenous artist Norval Morrisseau and the wider problem of fake art in Canada.

Jonathan explains how he became involved in the Morrisseau case, how multiple fraud rings flooded the market with fake paintings, and why identifying and removing counterfeit works is so difficult.

We also explore the legal challenges around art fraud, the importance of provenance and authentication, and why some collectors may be reluctant to discover that a valuable painting is fake.

00:00 Inside the Norval Morrisseau Art Fraud
06:39 How the Fraud Was Exposed
13:26 Why Fake Art Stays in Circulation
23:18 Thousands of Fakes Still Out There
40:17 How Art Buyers Can Fight Fraud

In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, filmmaker Jim Hyder joins the conversation to share the remarkable story of Wendell Beckwith, the reclusive thinker, builder, and free thinking scientist who made his home on Whitewater Lake in the wilderness of Northwestern Ontario.

Jim reflects on meeting Wendell in the 1970s, the unusual cabins and inventions he created by hand, and the unconventional way he approached science, nature, and problem-solving.

He also shares how the documentary "In Search of Wendell Beckwith" came together decades later, using interviews, archival material, and personal memories to piece together Wendell’s life and legacy.

0:00 Intro
5:20 Leaving Society for the Wilderness
11:01 Making "In Search of Wendell Beckwith"
25:45 Inside Wendell’s Unconventional Mind
35:32 The Legacy He Left Behind

In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, amateur historian and author Paul Ozorak joins the conversation to explore the Cold War bunkers, fallout reporting posts, radar stations, and abandoned military installations that still remain across Northern Ontario and beyond.

The discussion begins with a bunker recently exposed at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park after the June 2025 storm brought down surrounding trees. From there, Paul explains why Canada built so much military infrastructure during the Cold War, how fallout reporting posts were used, and what made places like the Diefenbunker and North Bay’s underground complex so important.

0:00 Intro
6:14 Why Canada Built Them
12:38 Fallout Reporting Posts
19:37 Could the Bunkers Be Reused?
29:18 The Diefenbunker Spy Story

In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, Bethany and Maya from the Canadian Forces Museum of Aerospace Defence join the conversation to explore the stories, artifacts, and technology behind North Bay’s unique military history.

From the Cold War and NORAD to the underground complex, radar stations, fighter aircraft, and early air defence technology, the episode looks at how North Bay became deeply connected to Canada’s aerospace defence story.

0:00 Intro
5:52 A Century of Air Defence History
13:34 Artifacts From War to Cold War
20:47 Hands-On Cold War Technology
42:35 Why This Museum Matters

In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, psychotherapist Brigitte Lebel shares her harrowing experience surviving the June 2025 downburst at Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park.

What began as a peaceful camping trip quickly turned into a traumatic night of fallen trees, injuries, rescue efforts, and hours of uncertainty.

Brigitte reflects on what it was like to stay calm in the middle of the chaos, return to the park afterward, and process the trauma that followed.

Brigitte's episode on To North Bay With Love: https://www.northbayecho.ca/a-conversation-about-grief-care-and-community/  

0:00 Intro
5:33 Surviving the Storm
15:15 Returning to the Park
23:17 Trauma, PTSD & Self-Blame
37:34 Mental Health, Grief & Acceptance

In this episode of The Backroads Bill Podcast, clinical psychologist Margaret McKinnon joins the conversation to discuss trauma, PTSD, psychological preparedness, and the mental health challenges that can follow emergencies and disasters.

Drawing on her own experience with PTSD and decades of research with military members, veterans, healthcare workers, and first responders, Margaret explains the impact of mental health in times of crisis and trauma.

We also explore CanEMERG, a free Canadian resource designed to connect people with mental health tools, self-assessments, coping strategies, and community supports during emergencies and disasters.

Learn more about CanEMERG here: https://canemerg-urgencecan.com/

0:00 Intro
4:55 Margaret's Personal PTSD Story
10:13 How CanEMERG Supports Canadians
20:03 Psychological First Aid & Grounding
32:08 Preparing Your Mental Health Before Crisis

In this episode of the Backroads Bill Podcast, professional forester Scott McPherson shares an inside look at the science, planning, and challenges behind sustainable forestry in Northern Ontario.

From climate change and wildfires to mill closures, forest regeneration, and the future of the forestry industry, Scott explains how experts balance environmental stewardship with the need for a healthy forest economy.

He also discusses how forests are forecast decades into the future and why today's decisions will shape generations to come.

0:00 The State of Ontario's Forestry Industry
8:17 How Sustainable Forest Management Works
17:36 Why Ontario's Mills Are Closing
32:51 Wildfires, Climate Change & Forest Recovery
42:52 The Future of Forestry in Northern Ontario