Podcasts

When one thinks about art and culture, people often conjure up images of old dusty museums, paintings and objects behind hermetically sealed glass. Less imagined are spaces for community, contestation and engagement. With controversies arising from issues of representation, cultural management and repatriation, it seems that art and culture is at a crossroads. Before we can understand how to move forward, we need to understand. Why is art and culture important?

Featuring Constance Devereaux (associate professor in the School of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut), Arthur Carkner (career unionist, member, producer and former president of the Workers' History Museum), Jenn Budney (professional research associate, arts journalist and former curator), Jonathan Paquette (Research Chair in International Francophonie on Cultural Heritage Policies, University of Ottawa), Helanna Gessner (curatorial, exhibits and collections manager for the Diefenbaker Canada Centre, Saskatoon).

"Reconciliation is dead." That was the message coming out of many recent actions and mobilizations in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en land defenders. For some Indigenous peoples and communities, reconciliation had never existed in the first place. If reconciliation is not the answer, what about resurgence? Resurgence of Indigenous culture, knowledge and power. In this episode we explore some of diverse ways in which Indigenous peoples are organizing, resisting, making change and building community. Featuring the voices of Brooke Morrow, Sophia Sidarous, Melissa Mollen Dupuis and Bob Lovelace.

Featuring music by:

Jah'kota – Woke

**A small note on terminology. There is a rich and complex discussion about terminology – Indigenous, First Nation (Metis and Inuit), Aboriginal. Our starting point was Indigenous, but we have adapted to terminology used by those we were interviewing; thus, you may hear different terminology used at different points in this episode.

We continue our discussion exploring what collective organizing looks like under the Ford government in Ontario. What are some of the effective strategies and tactics, and how do folks stay engaged and optimistic in a challenging political climate? Building on our conversations in the last episode with Karen Cocq (Fight for $15 and Fairness), Susan Rabb (OSSTF) we speak with Kate Logue (parent of two children with autism) and Brigit Crumley (Students Say No) to give us their take.

Featuring music/audio by CBC News, Ontario students walkout to protest education changes, April 4th 2019

Social change doesn’t happen in a vacuum - the social and political context matters. So what happens when a Conservative government comes to power, bent on destroying the very thing you're fighting for? We talk to four community organizers in the fight against Ford in Ontario to find out. From teachers, precarious workers, students and parents of children with autism - they've all been active in fighting against austerity measures brought in by the Ford government. Karen Cocq (Fight for $15 and Fairness), Susan Rabb (OSSTF), Kate Logue (parent of two children with autism) and Brigit Crumley (Students Say No) give us their take.

There was so much to say on this topic that we've broken it down into two parts. Part one features Karen Cocq and Susan Rabb, Part 2 features Kate Logue and Brigit Crumley.

Featuring music by:

• Chloe x Halle, The kids are Alright
• Rebel Diaz, Fight for Chicago (Chicago Teacher Pt. 2)

Check out the crowd-sourced list of Doug Ford's cuts & changes to policies and programs referenced in this episode.

Our current food system faces many challenges - environmental, social and economic. We speak with three individuals who are actively working to transform our food system to one that is just and equitable for all.

Featuring Adrienne Lickers Xavier (Our Sustenance/Queen's University), Leticia Deauwo (Black Creek Community Farm) and Gabriel Allahdua (Justice for Migrant Workers).

What are the things that we value in our current society; growth, productivity, efficiency? These are the very things that drive many of the problems we see today. If we are seeking to transform the world, we must also transform the core values and assumptions that underpin our institutions, systems and relationships. We speak with Hartmut Rosa, German sociologist and philosopher, who has written extensively on these questions and proposes a new basis for a "good life": the idea of resonance, not growth.

Starting in January you'll find 4 episodes on conceptualizing the good life, re-building our food system, organizing against Ford and Indigenous resurgence.