With Halloween here, Sean revisits his 2013 conversation with the University of Glasgow's Sabine Wieber about death masks. They talk about the artistic meaning of the masks and how they affected people’s understanding of death. They also chat about the material culture nature of the masks and how she deals with what would generally be considered a dark topic.

Historical Headline of Week

Hayley Campbell, "How Death Masks Blur the Lines Between Art, Mourning, and Remembrance," Literary Hub, August 24, 2022.

Sean Graham talks with Jennifer Clark, author of Producing Feminism: Television Work in the Age of Women's Liberation. They discuss the role of women in the television in the 1970s, the ways in which women organized, and how societal changes were reflected in the industry. They also chat about the challenges of finding women in the archives, how production changes made their way to the screen, and the legacy of women's labour in television during this era.

Historical Headline of the Week

Chris Gardner, "Gender-Balanced Hiring Dips for Women Working in Television, Study Finds," The Hollywood Reporter, August 8, 2024.

Sean Graham talks with Bethany Kilcrease, author of Falsehood and Fallacy: How to Think, Read, and Write in the Twenty-First Century. They discuss the assumption that young people are well prepared for online misinformation, increased accessibility of quality sources, and the pros and cons of gatekeepers’ reduced power. They also chat about the CRAAP test, the benefits of short-form online writing, and proving causation.

Historical Headline of the Week

Angela Haupt, "9 Ways to Respond to Political Misinformation," Time, October 9, 2024.

Sean Graham talks with Rosemary Pennington, author of Pop Islam: Seeing American Muslims in Popular Media. They discuss how Ms Marvel contributed to the book's origins, what forms of media are included in the book, and how stereotypes of Muslims are perpetuated in popular culture. They also chat about the challenges faced by Muslim stand-up comedians, how reality show editing influences perceptions, and how popular culture reflects society at large.

Historical Headline of the Week

Anika Steffen, "'Ms Marvel' treats being Muslim as ordinary - and that makes it extraordinary," NPR, June 17, 2022.

Sean Graham talks with Molly Schneider, author of Gold Dust on the Air: Television Anthology Drama and Midcentury American Culture. They talk about the origins of television anthologies, the transition from radio, and their popularity among audiences. They also discuss the role of anthologies in reflecting American culture, pushback from audiences and studios, and the legacy of anthologies and what they tell us about the significance of television programs.

Historical Headline of the Week

Joshua Rothman and Erin Overbey, "How TV Became Art," The New Yorker, August 28, 2017.

Sean Graham is joined by Eric Porter, author of A People's History of SFO: The Making of the Bay Area and an Airport. They talk about the importance of airports, telling local stories through the airport, and how battles over airports speak to questions of power. They also get into the specifics of San Francisco's airport, how its development shaped the city and region, and some of the major milestones in SFO's history.

Historical Headline of the Week

Tim Fang, "City files motion to stop OAK airport from using 'San Francisco Bay' name," CBS News, Bay Area, September 17, 2024.

Sean Graham talks with Blair Mirau, author of The City of Rainbows: A Colourful History of Prince Rupert. They talk about the benefits of the city's geography, the impact of colonialism on local Indigenous communities, and the different eras in the city's history. They also discuss Prince Rupert during the world wars and Great Depression, its challenges through the second half of the 20th century, and how the city's history speaks to local histories across the country.

Historical Headline of the Week

"Prince Rupert port to get busier with $1.35B gas export plant," The Canadian Press, May 30, 2024.

Sean Graham talks with Marth Hanna, author of Anxious Days and Tearful Nights: Canadian War Wives During the First World War. They discuss Martha's entry into the world of First World War letters, the challenge of tracking down letters from over 100 years ago, and how women on the front lines managed their relationships with significant others fighting the war. They also chat about censorship of letters, the challenge of what to share and what to hide from your spouse during the war, and what happened to relationships following the war.

Historical Headline of the Week

Arthur White-Crummey, "Captured First World War pilot's note reunited with family in Ottawa," CBC.ca, August 17, 2024.