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.

Sean Graham talks with Peter Fortna, author of The Fort McKay Métis Nation: A Community History. They talk about the origins of the Nation, which is located in northeastern Alberta, the community connections between the Métis and First Nation, and how colonial government structures have influenced community relationships. They also discuss the role of resources and resource extraction in the economic history of the nation, the significance of the trapline system, and Peter's motivation to make the book open access.

Historical Headline of the Week

Chris Nelson, "Fort McKay Métis Nation builds booming business in oilsands sector," Calgary Herald, March 25, 2021.

Sean Graham talks with Judith Weisenfeld, author of Black Religion in the Madhouse: Race & Psychiatry in Slavery's Wake. They discuss about the origins of the book, how the antebellum period shaped perceptions of African American religion, and the role of 'religious excitement' in insanity diagnoses. They also chat about the connections between race and religion, the pathologizing of religion by professional psychiatrists, and the legacy of this era.

Historical Headline of the Week

Mark Moran, "Faith Communities Are Potent Resources for Creating Connection and 'Mattering'," Psychiatric News, December 9, 2020.

Sean Graham is joined by Sarah E.K. Smith, author of Trading on Art: Cultural Diplomacy and Free Trade in North America. They talk about Sarah's interest in cultural diplomacy, what constitutes art in the context of free trade, and how cultural policies shaped artistic and curatorial expression at the end of the 20th century. They then discuss art as a form of resistance, the benefits and challenges of touring exhibitions across countries, and how contemporary questions on trade have influenced the book.

Historical Headline of the Week

"Mexico says Canada wishes it had its 'cultural riches' amid tariffs feud," The Guardian, December 4, 2024.

With the Canadian election days away, Sean Graham revisits his 2022 conversation with Steve Paikin about his biography John Turner: An Intimate Biography of Canada's 17th Prime Minister. They talk about Turner's lengthy career, which spanned the decriminalization of homosexuality and abortion, stagflation, and free trade. They also discuss Turner’s career, legacy, and what we can learn about modern politics from studying Canada’s 17th Prime Minister.

Historical Headline of the Week

Robert Libman, "Will John Turner's Fate Befall Mark Carney?" Montreal Gazette, March 1, 2025.

Sean Graham talks with Barbara Messamore, author of Times of Transformation: The 1921 Canadian General Election about one of Canada's turning point elections. They discuss the post-war economy's, including tariffs, role in the campaign, how suffrage influenced the election, and the emergence of William Lyon Mackenzie King on the national stage. They also chat about whether the lauded 'ballot question' truly exists, how historians and political scientists can differ in their approach to elections, and the legacy of the 1921 campaign.

Historical Headline of the Week

Jamie Bradburn, "Canada's first female MP and the federal election that changed Ontario," TVO Today, September 23, 2019.