Podcast
The Secret Life of Canada
Hosted by CBC · EN
The country you know and the stories you don't. Join hosts Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson as they reveal the beautiful, terrible and weird histories of this land. New episodes every second Thursday.
Visit us at www.cbc.ca/secretlife for show links, transcripts and more!
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18episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S6: An American Indian in London
Sep 12, 202400:43:39Tap to summarizeIn a lot of history books we hear the names of European explorers who “discovered” the Americas. Columbus, Cook, Champlain. All boo-worthy men. But what about the people who went the other way? Indigenous people have been crossing oceans and going to Europe, too. But why don’t we know their names? In this episode Leah and Falen look into the story of those who went willingly and those who did not, those who came home and those who did not. With special guests Caroline Pennock, Coll Thrush, and Peter Morin.For more links and more about this episode visit us at cbc.ca/secretlife. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.
Transcribe →S6: The Caribana* Episode (*and yes we're still calling it that)
Aug 29, 202400:26:21Tap to summarizeHow did this country end up with the biggest Caribbean Carnival in North America? Leah and Falen dive into history of how a small one time event during Expo ‘67 became one of the longest running street parties in Canada — all courtesy of Trinidad and Tobago. With special guests Michelle Walker and Martin Scott-Pascall.For more links and more about this episode visit us at cbc.ca/secretlife. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tik Tok.
Transcribe →S4: Crash Course on Kanata
Jun 23, 2022Tap to summarizeHow did this place end up being called Canada? We look into the lore behind the naming of the country and the push to reclaim Indigenous place names across this land. Links: Reclaiming Indigenous Place Names: https://yellowheadinstitute.org/2019/10/08/reclaiming-indigenous-place-names/ The Squamish Language Atlas: squamishatlas.com Visit us at: www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada
Transcribe →S4: Crash course on beavers
Mar 17, 2022Tap to summarizeBeavers are everywhere, on our money, crests, and keychains. So, why do some people see them as a nuisance? We take a look back at the story of the animal who was almost wiped out to build the early Canadian economy and how these “ecosystem engineers” are a key in helping fight forest fires due to climate change.
Transcribe →S3: Crash Course on Trees
Nov 25, 2020Tap to summarizeWhen did the Apple tree arrive in Canada and why do some trees in B.C live over a thousand years? A quick peek into some of the history kept by our land’s oldest living knowledge keepers — trees. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372
Transcribe →S3: Crash Course on L. M. Montgomery (a.k.a. Maud without an E)
Aug 19, 2020Tap to summarizeToday we look into the life of Lucy Maud (L.M.) Montgomery, creator of iconic characters like Anne of Green Gables and Emily of New Moon. The lesser-known story is that of the writer herself, who had many struggles within her own life, especially with her mental health. Today we are going to talk about that. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372
Transcribe →S3: Crash Course on Superheroes!
Jul 15, 2020Tap to summarizeFrom Captain Newfoundland to Shaman and Alpha Flight, what can some of the most iconic Indigenous and Canadian Superheroes tell us about our history? Turns out, quite a lot. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/inappropriate-questions-transcripts-listen-1.6740372
Transcribe →Introducing: CBC Podcasts in Class
Sep 26, 2019Tap to summarizeFree teaching resources have been developed for select episodes of The Secret Life of Canada! If you — or someone you know — teaches high school history, geography, civics or Indigenous Studies, visit cbc.ca/teachingguides to learn more.
Transcribe →