Best Ben Charland Podcasts (2024)

1
Ep. 6 - Alicia Elliott 28:54

10M ago28:54

28:54

Today Tricia chats with Alicia Elliott, writer and editor, about her "deliciously dark and disturbing" stories, how identity is not a hard-and-fast concept, how to seprate politics and art, her own personal story of becoming a writer, and more. Show Notes Do we need to feel uncomfortable when writing? When reading? What is considered correct, norma…

1
Ep. 5 - Adrian Michael Kelly 33:11

10M ago33:11

33:11

Today Aara chats with Adrian Michael Kelly, author and writing coach, about growing up in northern Ontario, class, identity, the power and meaning of failure, his upcoming memoir, and more. Show Notes How small communities and the working class informed Adrian's writing The importance of class in our society How Adrian learned to write authenticall…

1
Ep. 4 - Jessica Johns 29:34

10M ago29:34

29:34

Today Tricia chats with author Jessica Johns about identifying with one's own characters, representing the incredible diversity of Indigenous peoples, the responsibility of a writer and a reader, and so much more. Show Notes How does Jessica's writing come out? What does it mean to sustain writing with work in other areas? How do we define an indiv…

1
Ep. 3 - Paul Vermeersch 30:02

11M ago30:02

30:02

Today we’re speaking with poet Paul Vermeersch about relearning how to write, the use of failure as a learning tool, his most recent inspirational read, and so much more. Show Notes Why you can't inhale and exhale at the same time when you write. You also need to read! How taking time off from writing can work... and not work New ways to think abou…

1
Ep. 2 - Otoniya Okot Bitek 26:37

11M ago26:37

26:37

Today we’re speaking with acclaimed poet Otoniya Okot Bitek, who will be appearing at the upcoming 2023 Kingston WritersFest in Event No. 22: The Black Experience in Kingston. Otoniya chats with co-host Tricia Knowles about failure, inspiration, identity, and what her mom once thought of her poetry. Show Notes How does a writer’s identity affect th…

1
Ep. 1 - Tanis MacDonald 23:54

11M ago23:54

23:54

Welcome to the first episode of the KWF Podcast, where we go beyond author chat that typically occurs at the festival. This is an opportunity for listeners to learn more about authors not only in the context of their books but about where they come from regarding their process, their struggles and their inspirations. We want to unearth what drives …

1
...with the new novel, Seven by Farzana Doctor (Ep. 101) 54:57

4y ago54:57

54:57

Farzana Doctor's new novel, Seven, juggles family, history, culture, and the incredible weight of those forces on women today. It's a detective story and travel novel, and a powerful insight into a woman struggling with sex, identity, her past, and her vast network of relatives. But the overarching issue throughout the book is female genital mutila…

1
...after 99 Episodes (Ep. 100) 58:46

4y ago58:46

58:46

It's been over two years since host Ben Charland kicked off this podcast in a basement in Kingston, Ontario. After nearly 100 fascinating conversations about everything from the mafia to the water supply, from science to philosophy, we're revisiting some of the best moments. Author, science broadcaster and previous guest Ziya Tong (Episode 85) inte…

1
...with Changing Cities (Ep. 99) 59:01

4y ago59:01

59:01

The one thing that doesn't change about cities is the fact that they are constantly changing. Most people now live in cities, transforming them with their consumer behaviour, their culture, their ideas and their advocacy. City planners have to balance the natural development of these vast social organisms with complex, long-term plans. How do they …

1
...with Creativity, Music and Politics during COVID-19 (Ep. 98) 1:02:22

4y ago1:02:22

1:02:22

The coronavirus pandemic is altering our lives in ways we cannot yet comprehend, and in decades we will marvel at this transformative time. COVID-19 is not just accelerating trends that were in place beforehand, but it is creating new realities. How are artists coping? How about our politics and ideologies? Alex Green's podcast, Stereo Embers, addr…

1
...with Kingston WritersFest (Ep. 97) 1:10:30

4y ago1:10:30

1:10:30

What makes a book interesting? Beautiful? Provocative? Necessary? Is reading still the best way to get a message across and tell a good story, and how is it changing in our world today? The Kingston WritersFest is one of Canada's premiere literary events, drawing headline international authors as well as big crowds from the bookish Ontario city. Be…

1
...with Disability (Ep. 96) 50:30

4y ago50:30

50:30

We will all encounter disability in our lives, either ourselves or someone we know and love. What is our responsibility when that happens? What role should the greater community play to provide care and support? What about government, public policy, and spending? What's changing when it comes to disability and how we care for those who truly need i…

1
...with Rebuilding Democracy (Ep. 95) 1:13:46

4y ago1:13:46

1:13:46

What if being a Member of Parliament or Congress had nothing to do with an election, but rather worked like jury duty? What if our officials were seated randomly in a legislature? What if we innovated the very idea of government itself? Dave Meslin says our politics is broken, but instead of repeating this from the sidelines, he's got 100 common-se…

1
...with Writing Biography (Ep. 94) 1:00:13

4y ago1:00:13

1:00:13

Rosemary Sullivan is an acclaimed Canadian poet and biographer. She has written definitive biographies about Elizabeth Smart and Gwendolyn MacEwen as well as a book about the early life of Margaret Atwood. In 2015, Rosemary published Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva to widespread praise. Ben sits down …

1
...with Politics and its Future (Ep. 93) 1:02:57

4y ago1:02:57

1:02:57

Kent Hehr is a former federal Liberal cabinet minister and member of parliament for Calgary Centre. As a so-called "recovering politician" with careers on both the federal and provincial levels, Kent has a lot to say about what on earth is going on -- but he’s also got an incredible story. In October 1991 he was with some friends in Calgary when so…

1
...with Acting, Gaming and Creativity (Ep. 92) 1:11:19

4y ago1:11:19

1:11:19

Aurora Browne is one of Canada's national treasures. Best known as one of the cast members of the Baroness von Sketch Show and as co-host of the Great Canadian Baking Show, Aurora has been creating daring, funny and original work for theatre, television and film for many years. Ben catches up with Aurora in Toronto to discuss her career as an actor…

1
...with the Writing Process, Genre, and the Rise of Stupid (Ep. 91) 1:12:21

4y ago1:12:21

1:12:21

What does it take to write a novel? What about genre? How does marketing define the books we read before we even open the first page? What does it mean to find a space that isn't programmed? And is the old right-left divide being replaced by a new one: the axis of smart-stupid? Ben is in Toronto to chat with award-winning novelist Andrew Pyper abou…

1
...with Writing Novels (Ep. 90) 58:54

4+ y ago58:54

58:54

Elizabeth Hay is a Giller Prize-winning author of novels such as Late Nights on Air, His Whole Life, and Alone in the Classroom. Most recently, she published a memoir about her parents' final years in Ottawa: All Things Consoled. She has been writing since she was fifteen, and also spent ten years working as a radio broadcaster, living in Yellowkni…

1
...with Generations and the Ethical Choice to Have Children (Ep. 89) 1:14:05

4+ y ago1:14:05

1:14:05

Is dividing people up by their generation (Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, etc.) unhelpful and even harmful? Is it a form of ageism, along the same lines as racism or sexism? What is the coming crisis of our time, and have we already arrived? And is it ethically justified to have children in this world in flux? Ben is in Kingston for a fascinating …

1
...with Polling in Politics (Ep. 88) 1:02:00

4+ y ago1:02:00

1:02:00

One of the key features of the democratic process is opinion polling, whether it is leader likability or attitudes on various issues. But do these snapshots of the horserace have an impact on the race itself? How has scientific polling and statistical analysis changed? How will it change in the years to come? And, what happens when the data shows u…

1
...with the Power of Names (Ep. 87) 1:07:14

4+ y ago1:07:14

1:07:14

By Ben Charland

1
...with Political Philosophy (Ep. 86) 1:12:09

4+ y ago1:12:09

1:12:09

By Ben Charland

1
...with The Reality Bubble (Ep. 85) 54:42

4+ y ago54:42

54:42

By Ben Charland

1
...with Guy Gavriel Kay (Ep. 84) 1:14:01

4+ y ago1:14:01

1:14:01

By Ben Charland

1
...according to the novel, Ducks, Newburyport (Ep. 83) 52:21

4+ y ago52:21

52:21

By Ben Charland

1
...with Rebalancing Society (Ep. 82) 44:29

4+ y ago44:29

44:29

By Ben Charland

1
...with Poetry (Ep. 81) 1:08:08

4+ y ago1:08:08

1:08:08

Do music and poetry share the same roots? How do you write poetry that embraces complexity, history, beauty and atrocity? How can literature confront the self with the past, and the events that seem out of our control with the urgent need for a new language to understand them? What is creativity, and is there some kind of salvation there? Ben joins…

1
...with Polygraphs, Technology and the Music of Plants (Ep. 80) 51:01

4+ y ago51:01

51:01

What is the future of technology, and what does it take to be a real lifelong innovator at the ground level? Ben's guest is James Brown, a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and head of Limestone Technologies in Kingston. They have been at the forefront of polygraph and other security technology in Canada for years, and their most recent endeavour …

1
...with Theatre (Ep. 79) 59:38

4+ y ago59:38

59:38

Live theatre is one of the oldest art forms, but rather than fade away in the face of easy social media and instant entertainment, it is experiencing a resurgence. What is it about live drama that keeps filling theatres around the world? How are theatre directors keeping the form relevant, accessible and engaging? What are the cultural touchstones …

1
...with Politics in the US and Canada (Ep. 78) 1:06:22

4+ y ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Rampant and increasing polarization of our politics? The turn to populism as a result of economic inequality? The growing, scarcely regulated political power of social media and Big Data? These are some of the forces that are reshaping our politics in North America, with a minority government in Canada and an impending election (and ongoing impeach…

1
...with Gambling (Ep. 77) 1:02:15

5y ago1:02:15

1:02:15

We can't seem to talk about gambling without reference to its very real, very serious social problems -- whether it's the association with organized crime, the addictiveness, or the ruination of many people's lives. But what if we look at gambling through the lens of everyday life? Where does it come from, what does it say about us, and how should …

1
...with Elections (Ep. 76) 1:06:37

5y ago1:06:37

1:06:37

What makes an election work? Is it the technology aggregates our preferences? Is it trust that our choices will be fairly counted, that they have an impact? Is it the institutions that manage the voting process? Or is it, ultimately, the people we elect and whether or not they choose to respect the process? What happens to our democracy when these …

1
...with Being and Becoming Indigenous (Ep. 75) 1:05:24

5y ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Some argue that all of humanity today faces an identity crisis, as we struggle with rapid change and a deteriorating habitat -- and that the solutions may lie in indigenous social technologies, especially the power of the story. This is a wide-ranging discussion covering a lot of ground (reconciliation, diversity, Back to the Future), but one that …

1
...with Gamification (Ep. 74) 1:08:33

5y ago1:08:33

1:08:33

We often see video games as a form of consumer entertainment—an escape from reality, not that different from watching TV or reading a book. But the structure of games are perhaps fundamental to what it means to be human. By playing them, we can learn to be and rehearse as doctors, pilots, engineers, lawyers, and more. We might also overcome real co…

1
...with Philosophy (Ep. 73) 1:17:50

5y ago1:17:50

1:17:50

What is consciousness? Where does the mind reside? Can we create artificial intelligence that can fake intelligence, or maybe just have it? What happened in 17th century Europe that led to such a fascinating time for deep thinkers? And are we going through a similar period of churn today? Ben has a fascinating and wide-ranging chat about these big …

1
...with Luck and Probability (Ep. 72) 57:55

5y ago57:55

57:55

It's Friday 13th! What does that mean? Is it an unlucky day? According to science—no, it means absolutely nothing. But there is one exception: the date has meaning if we think it does. As meaning-machines, we impart significance everywhere we look. We don't want to live in a world where randomness reigns. So what traps have we set? Ben has a fascin…

1
...with Democracy, Conversation and the Walrus (Ep. 71) 1:11:38

5y ago1:11:38

1:11:38

What does it mean to have a good conversation about politics, democracy, our place in the world, Donald Trump and sports? How do we bring disparate and distinct voices into that dialogue, and keep it fresh? The Walrus, a weekly Canadian magazine, has been trying to figure it out. Ben is in Toronto to chat with Jessica Johnson, executive editor and …

1
...with Power, Colonialism and the San People (Ep. 70) 1:06:51

5y ago1:06:51

1:06:51

Is colonialism ongoing in the Kalahari Desert? What do the struggles of the San peoples tell us about democracy, tradition, adaptation to the environment, and the exercise and imbalances of power in today's world? What role does tourism take in all this, and is education still the silver bullet? And, can a people be truly free and fulfilled without…

1
...with the Inside of Politics (Ep. 69) 1:04:54

5y ago1:04:54

1:04:54

What is social media doing to our politics from the inside? Are politicians themselves getting along, or are the deep partisan divisions in our culture also fraying the relationships of the people who we have elected to get things done? What does it take to run and win a political campaign these days? And how can democracy evolve. Or, should it? Be…

1
...with Higher Education (Ep. 68) 1:01:10

5y ago1:01:10

1:01:10

What is the future of the university and higher education? Will the local, broad-scope, brick-and-mortar campuses that form a critical part of our society give way to a fragmented system of hyper-focused online learning nodes? What is learning, anyways? And what's the purpose of an educational institution in the first place? Ben has a fascinating c…

1
...with Gender (Ep. 67) 1:06:49

5y ago1:06:49

1:06:49

How do we understand and engage in today's conversation about gender? What on earth is going on with gender and identity politics, and what is the personal dimension? Ben is at Queen's University in Kingston to chat with Dr. Lee Airton, author of Gender: Your Guide — A Gender-Friendly Primer on What to Know, What to Say, and What to Do in the New G…

1
...with Acting and Storytelling (Ep. 66) 1:04:33

5y ago1:04:33

1:04:33

What does it mean to be a storyteller? What happens when we look into the mirror after a long day, let the masks drop, and come face to face with who we really are? What does ownership mean in the arts, and what can theatre be when it isn't a commodity? Why do we act in the first place, and are our stories and audiences changing? And what's going o…

1
...with Travel, Story and Vulnerability (Ep. 65) 1:03:46

5y ago1:03:46

1:03:46

How important is culture to the long-term success of an organization? What role does being vulnerable play in leadership? How does story help weave and even make up our everyday experience? And what can putting ourselves out there with travel teach us about our own inner storyteller and context in the world? Ben is in Ottawa to chat with Jana Dybin…

1
...according to the novel, 1984 (Ep. 64) 1:01:50

5y ago1:01:50

1:01:50

George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1984) is a touchstone of 20th-century English literature and a key piece of modern political thought and speculative fiction that continues to provoke conversation, and comparison, today. Orwell's novel from 1949 describes a bleak future where the state (Big Brother) has weaponized technology, language, propa…

1
...according to the book, Quiet (Ep. 63) 1:02:11

5y ago1:02:11

1:02:11

What does it mean to be an introvert, and is it harder in our society to keep to oneself? Is there a pressure to conform to an Extrovert Ideal? How do introverts assert themselves in education, the workplace and daily life without giving up what makes them unique, thoughtful -- and just them? Ben brings back Jody MacPherson (Episode 11) to talk abo…

1
...with Creativity and Acting (Ep. 62) 1:01:52

5y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

What does it mean to be creative? Where does creative expression lie: in the individual, in the shared experience, or in the coming together of public and private? How can an actor be more than just an interpreter, but a creative artist in their own right? Ben is in Toronto to chat with Brian Smith, acting teacher, coach and Professor Emeritus from…

1
...with Making Art in a Noisy World (Ep. 61) 1:05:24

5y ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Denise Clarke is one of Canada's most respected performing artists, perhaps best known for her work with One Yellow Rabbit. Since 1997 she has opened up the company's process with the Summer Lab Intensive. She recently published The Big Secret Book: An Intense Guide for Creating Performance Theatre. Ben talks with Denise about her book, the recent …

1
...according to the book, Thank You For Being Late (Ep. 60) 1:13:36

5y ago1:13:36

1:13:36

Thomas Friedman has been explaining the modern predicament as an author and New York Times columnist for decades. With Thank You For Being Late, he turns his sights to the unprecedented rate of change today. His main focus here is on the three M's: Markets, Moore's Law and Mother Nature, and the book's scale is grand as it tries to answer our etern…

1
...with City Planning in Toronto (Ep. 59) 1:04:07

5y ago1:04:07

1:04:07

What are the challenges and pressures that face growing cities like Toronto? How do we make housing affordable in such places? And what does the future of the city look like? Ben is in Toronto to chat with a panel of experts on the past, present and future of the city: Adam Brind, managing partner and broker of record with Core Assets Real Estate; …

1
...with Filmmaking (Ep. 58) 1:07:56

5y ago1:07:56

1:07:56

Making films is often about balance: between the singular vision of the script and director and the ideas and impulses of the team; between getting the perfect shot and keeping the project on time and under budget. And yet the end result can be like a magic trick. How do they do it? Ben is in Toronto to chat with filmmaker Christopher MacBride, who…

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