Sean Graham is joined by Daniel Robinson, author of Cigarette Nation: Business, Health, and Canadian Smokers, 1930-1975. They discuss Daniel's initial interest in studying smoking culture, the increase in smoking rates in the 1930s and 1940s, and the initial studies linking cigarettes to cancer in the 1950s. They also chat about the industry's and government's response, the social side of smoking, and the cultural significance cigarettes in Canada. Historical Headline of the Week Aurelia Foster, "What is the UK smoking ban, how will it work and when will it start?" BBC, April 23, 2024.
Sean Graham is joined by Catherine Larochelle, author of School of Racism: A Canadian History, 1830-1915, which is also available in French. Recorded live in Montreal, they discuss Catherine's study of educational materials, the challenge of studying the history of schools, and the importance of exploring the history of both French and English language materials. They also chat about how colonialism influences curricula, how colonial ideas shape classroom programming, and the difficulty in confronting deeply engrained ideas. Historical Headline of the Week Sam Thompson and Daisy Woelk, "'Shock and disbelief' after Manitoba school trustee's Indigenous comments," Global News, April 25, 2024.
Sean Graham is joined by Patrick Bixby, author of License to Travel: A Cultural History of the Passport. They talk about the origins of the modern passport, the reaction to its introduction, and how artists and writers responded. They also chat about the role of the nation state in immigration, the relative value of nations' passports, and what the document tells us about its holder. Historical Headline of the Week Kanis Leung, "Hong Kong Invokes a New Law to Cancel Passports of 6 Overseas-Based Activists, Including Nathan Law," Associated Press, 12 June 2024.
Sean Graham is joined by Raymond Blake, author of Canada's Prime Ministers and the Shaping of National Identity. They discuss the role of the Prime Minister, how mass media changed the office, and the ways in which Prime Ministers have influenced national identity. They also chat about how international affairs shape domestic discussions, how the length of a government shapes public perceptions, and how retail politics influence conversations on identity. Historical Headline of the Week Erna Paris, "Canada's Multiculturalism is our Identity," Globe & Mail, April 27, 2018.
Sean Graham welcomes Adam Zientek, author of A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front. They chat about how wine became a staple of French rations in the First World War, the perceived benefits of wine, and how it was transported to the front lines in such large quantities. They also discuss perception of liquor compared to wine, the role of alcohol in French mutinies, and the cultural legacy of wine's role during the First World War in France. Historical Headline of the Week Brigit Katz, "Hundreds of Liquor Bottles, Downed by British Soldiers During WWI, Found in Israel," Smithsonian Magazine, March 24, 2017.