Sean Graham talks with Peggy Nash, one of the co-authors of Women United: Stories of Women's Struggles for Equality in the Canadian Auto Workers Union. They discuss women's contributions to the union in its early years, how negotiating priorities were shaped, and the Second World War's influence on the labour movement. They also chat about the impact of the Autopact and free trade on labour, women's leadership in the modern labour movement, and what it's like to be in the room negotiating against an employer.

Historical Headline of the Week

René Morisette, "Unionization in Canada, 1981 to 2022," Stats Canada, November 23, 2022.

Sean Graham talks with Matthew S. Wiseman, historian of science and medicine in modern Canada. They discuss why militaries engage in scientific research, the civilian benefits of that research, and how scientists navigated their research during the Cold War. They also chat about research consent within a military environment, the challenges of researching the Cold War era, and the legacy of scientific research in the mid-20th cenetury,

Matthew will be the delivering the second session of the Shannon Lecture series on Monday October 6 entitled 'Cold War Consent? Military Experimentation and Research Ethics in Mid-Century Canada.'

Historical Headline of the Week

Matthew S. Wiseman, "Canada Created a Cold War Isolation Laboratory. It Ended in Scandal," The Walrus, July 31, 2025.

As part of our series with the 2025 Shannon Lecture Series, Sean Graham talks with Sarah Hogenbirk, who will deliver the opening lecture on Monday entitled 'Fighting for Their Place and Recognition: Canadian Servicewomen and Women Veterans in Post-Second World War Canada. The lecture will serve as a launch for Cold War Workers: Labour, Family, and Community in a Nuclear State, in which Sarah has a chapter entitled "Constructing the Military Career Woman, 1950s-60s." They discuss the legacy of women's Second World War service, how the Cold War impacted women's service, and the differences between the three armed services. They also chat about the roles in which women served, the differences in service pre- and post-unification, and the long-term impact of the Cold War era on women's service in the Canadian military.

Historical Headline of the Week

RAdm Jennifer Bennett, "Leading as a Woman in the Canadian Forces," The Lookout, October 15, 2012.

We're back from our summer hiatus with a new season and we're kicking it off by talking with Craig Baird, the host of Canada History Ehx about his new book Canada's Main Street: The Epic Story of the Trans-Canada Highway. We talk about his motivation to write about the highway, why the highway doesn't have the same romanticized history as the railroad, and the contested circumstances of its origins. We also chat about the highway's route, how it shaped different regions, and its legacy in Canadian history.

Historical Headline of the Week

"Ontario is the weakest link in the Trans-Canada Highway, group says," Sootoday.com, August 25, 2025.

Sean Graham talks with Mary Frances Phillips, author of Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins. They talk about the process of writing a historical biography of a living person, tracking down new archival sources, and how Ericka Huggins ended up in prison. They also chat about COINTELPRO plots and how Ericka ended up in prison, her spiritual journey and self-car in prison, and how her story serves as an example for other activists.

Historical Headline of the Week

Amanda Font, "How the Black Panthers Shaped U.S. Schools," KQED, November 14, 2024.

Sean Graham talks with Paul Kahan, author of Philadelphia: A Narrative History. They talk about the city's origins, its connection to the American Revolution, and how the city's history is distinct from the national story. They also chat about community, Philadelphia's political history, and the local culture.

Historical Headline of the Week

Nancy Steinbach, "Philadelphia: A City Famous for its History," Voice of America, March 9, 2025.

Sean Graham talks with Caitlin Keliiaa, author of Refusing Settler Domesticity: Native Women's Labour and Resistance in the Bay Area Outing Program. They discuss the residential schooling system in the United States, the goal of outing programs, and Indigenous young women and girls' domestic labour as part of the program. They also chat about the community built by the women, how they resisted in their workplaces, and program's legacy.

Historical Headline of the Week

Cecily Hilleary, "Indian Boarding Schools 'Outings': Apprenticeships or Indentured Servitude?" Voice of America, November 14, 2021.

Sean Graham talks with John M. Efron, author of All Consuming: Germans, Jews, and the Meaning of Meat. They discuss the relationship between Jewish culture and meat consumption, the unique relationship between Germans culture and Jewish meat, and how that has been depicted over the years. They also chat about the cultural significance of meat and meat production, displays of anti-Semitism related to meat and meat production, and the current discussions surrounding Kosher and Halal meat in Germany.

Historical Headline of the Week

James McAuley, "Why Halal meat generates so much controversy in Europe," Washington Post, October 8, 2018.