At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, carpenter Khaleel Seivwright found himself busy building shelters for unhoused people. He'd calculated that a person living in one of the structures he was making could act as a heat source. His tiny shelters would be a vital resource as winter arrived in the city and they had the potential to save lives. But …

Whether it's in New York or Toronto, Chinatowns are being attacked by the forces of gentrification, development pressure, and much more. But communities are resisting this pressure to retain their intangible cultural heritage forged by the bonds of a shared history - often tied together by the historical racist policies of their new homes. Colin El…

The Satanic Panic - a phenomenon of the 1980s and '90s - was a terrifying rollercoaster for all involved. Accusations of child sacrifice ruined lives as the public sought answers for why everyone suddenly seemed to have been victims of Satanists and Satanic rituals. Amplified by the Catholic Church, law enforcement and daytime TV, rumours of these …

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka celebrate On Docs' 100th episode with Jane Jankovic, TVO's executive producer for documentaries, in a wide-ranging discussion about the evolution of the documentary genre. Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a spectacle, but in the spotlight is the country's use of migrant labour to build everything from stadiums to highways. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by Michael Page, Human Rights Watch's deputy director in the Middle East and North Africa, to talk about the sacrifices made for football. Canada Soccer…

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with director Stacey Tenenbaum about "Scrap," the stuff that gets thrown into landfills and the title of her latest documentary on how we need to rethink our waste-filled consumer culture. They talk about photojournalists like Saumya Khandelwal who are capturing the stories of those most affected by waste and the …

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka watch HBO's "Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage" and Netflix's "Trainwreck: Woodstock '99," and discuss the disastrous concert that redefined a legendary music festival. Nam Kiwanuka clip from Woodstock '99 credit: MuchMusic/BCE Inc./YouTube Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf…

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with filmmaker Sinead O'Shea about her latest documentary, "Pray for our Sinners," which explores the role of the Catholic Church in her hometown of Navan, Ireland. Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Colin Ellis speaks with legendary singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie about how a new documentary, "Carry It On," captures her life and career. Clips courtesy Eagle Vision & White Pine Pictures. Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka chat with director Henri Pardo about his new documentary, "Dear Jackie." The film explores how Montreal attempted to cast itself as a post-racial city after legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson played for the Royals, but, as we learn from the stories of people from the city's historic Black neighbourhood Little Bur…

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with Michelle Shephard and Sahal Abdulle about "The Perfect Story," a new documentary that examines what happens when cracks form in a journalist's story. Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

In this livestreamed conversation, Colin Ellis sits down with Mitch Azaria to talk about "TRIPPING The Bruce," which takes viewers on a tour of the northern coast of the Bruce Peninsula. Donate to TVO: http://tvo.org/give See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Abigail Disney thought about changing her name when she got married. While it's associated with Mickey Mouse and Marvel, the Happiest Place on Earth is also associated with poverty wages and trampling on workers' rights. Colin Ellis speaks with Disney about her documentary "The American Dream and Other Fairytales," and why it's important to advocat…

I'm Crushing Your Head! Not actually, but if you know the phrase then there's a good chance you know The Kids in the Hall. Colin Ellis sits down with director Reg Harkema to talk about his latest film which explores the history of the comedy troupe and the many challenges - both professional and personal - they faced along the way. Donate to TVO: h…

Months after Dewayne "Lee" Johnson was soaked from head to toe with a herbicide called Ranger Pro, he noticed lesions on his skin. What he'd developed was called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form a cancer that's associated with glyphosate, the chemical the Monsanto Company had long touted as completely safe for humans. In this episode, Colin Ellis speak…

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with culture writer Sumiko Wilson about three different artists from three different generations: Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, and Ye. They also discuss how documentaries are being used to explore the stories behind these artists. Clip credits: Charli XCX: Alone Together | Official Trailer - Bradley&Pablo Film/Gre…

In a world of rising cost and debt, calls for relief are growing stronger. Colin Ellis speaks with filmmaker Astra Taylor about her 2021 documentary "You Are Not a Loan," which looks at the power debtors possess that can change systems if they organize. They discuss how COVID changed the debt relief movement and how democracy is affected by people …

In Canada, only 31% of workers are unionized, but that's higher than it was in 2019. So, what's with the rise? It might have something to do with a global pandemic that's put workers in constant danger. In this episode, Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka watch 2019's "American Factory." Then, Colin digs further into the history of unions in Canada with e…

Carbon: The Unauthorized Biography gives viewers an inside look at carbon - which could both doom us and save us in the climate emergency. To better understand this often-misunderstood element, Colin Ellis speaks with Phil De Luna, program director for the Energy Materials Challenge program at the Nation Research Council Canada, about the future of…

Flee has been nominated for a trifecta of Oscars including Best Documentary Feature. In this episode, Colin Ellis speaks with Justin Chandler, co-host of Radio Free Krypton and TVO's Niagara-Hamilton Reporter on how this sub-genre of documentaries is evolving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Bill Cosby had an enormous impact on the culture of the United States. He was a comedian, an educator, and a father figure, but accusations of sexual misconduct by 60 women, and his subsequent conviction and then release from prison in June 2021, have cast his legacy into a new light. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka discuss why it's so complicated to …

Join Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka as they discuss the crimes of Simon Leviev, the subject of the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, and why his victims aren't to blame. Then Colin speaks with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on how to avoid these scams and why they're so prevalent. Link to transcript See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info…

Who's going to win the Oscar for Best Documentary this year? Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by Jane Jankovic to go through this year's Oscar picks and decide who is going to be the winner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by TVO's slate of documentary and podcast people to recommend the best docs for the holidays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka take a deep dive into the friendship and eventual fallout between Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali in Netflix's new documentary about the two titans. Want to learn more? Check out these great recommendations from Colin and Nam: The Autobiography of Malcolm X - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92057.The_Autobiography_of_Mal…

Director Karen Shopsowitz and producer Meredith Usher join On Docs to discuss "Magic Shadows, Elwy Yost: A Life in Movies." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

The fear of rejection from coming out as gay is something that all of Sharon Lewis and Vinay Giridhar's subjects expressed while filming their latest documentaries, "With Wonder" and "Emergence: Out of the Shadows." While some faced alienation, many found acceptance - a sign of changing times and attitudes. They join On Docs to discuss their films …

Elamin Abdelmahmoud, host of CBC's Pop Chat, joins On Docs to discuss celebrity documentaries from pop stars Billie Eilish and Demi Lovato, and what we get out of them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Alanis Obomsawin joins On Docs to discuss "Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair," which explores the importance of talking about residential schools. There is a national, 24-hour, Indian Residential School Crisis Line to provide support to former students and others affected. Their phone number is 1-866-925-4419. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac…

Eva Orner joins On Docs to discuss her documentary, "Burning," which explores Australia's Black Summer and the alarms sounding on the climate crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Barry Avrich joins On Docs to discuss Oscar Peterson: Black + White, which explores Peterson's legacy as one of the greatest pianists of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Deeyah Khan joins On Docs to discuss Muslim in America: Legacy of Fear, which explores the discrimination faced by Muslims in a post-9/11 world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Frishta Bastan was only a kid when the U.S. and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Growing up in Canada, she heard stories about the country's rich culture and beauty from her parents. She fought back against stereotypes of the country and its people. She speaks to Colin Ellis about a side of Afghanistan we don't hear about very often, and wha…

Journalist and filmmaker Julian Sher discusses the TVO Original documentary "Ghosts of Afghanistan" about the war in Afghanistan, 20 years after 9/11. Narrated by former Canadian war correspondent Graeme Smith, the doc looks at the failure to bring democracy, and women's rights to a country now in the hands of the Taliban. See omnystudio.com/listen…

Welcome back to On Docs, TVO's podcast about the stories documentaries tell. Join Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka as they explore fascinating films with the creators who bring them to life. New episodes start October 8th. Can’t get enough of documentaries and the diverse stories they tell? Make a donation today at www.tvo.org/supportpods to support TV…

Anonymous. We may not know who they are, but we know what they've done. They've targeted the Church of Scientology, kept the internet on during the Arab Spring, and boosted the sales of Guy Fawkes masks. Their anonymity and ubiquity is their power, so that's why Commander X is such a controversial figure. Director Gary Lang joins On Docs to talk ab…

In 1968, while white women were burning their bras in protest of the Miss America beauty contest, Black women and men were protesting the fact that no one from their community had ever been able to participate. Fast forward to 2019, every single major beauty pageant in America was won by a Black woman. What changed? Director Jen Holness joins On Do…

Sesame Street was created with a simple idea: Kids spend a lot of time watching television, so could that screen time be used to educate? It seems obvious now, but this is how the show created the template for educational programming. And the show's aim went even higher with an integrated cast and a goal of educating America's Black children. Direc…

Many of us are accustomed to accessing goods and services at pretty much anytime of the day. For workers, who don't work nine-to-five, grabbing a late-night snack or visiting a hospital, this is just part of modern life. Loira Limbal joins On Docs to talk about her film, "Through the Night," which visits a 24-hour daycare in New York run by Dolores…

Canada is one of the only countries in the world with legislation that directly targets LGBTQ refugees for sponsorship. Directors Sean Horlor and Stephen J. Adams latest documentary "Someone Like Me" follows one of these newcomers, a young man named Drake, as he arrives in Vancouver from Uganda and sets out on a new life. But while he's able to be …

In what's become an annual tradition, On Docs is taking a look at the Oscar nominees for best documentary. This year's nominees include: "Crip Camp," "Collective," "Time," The Mole Agent," and "My Octopus Teacher." Joining Colin and Nam is Jane Jankovic, TVO's Executive Producer of Documentaries, to discuss the best of the best in documentaries thi…

Tina Turner's name is synonymous with rock and roll, but what you might not know is that she was born as Anna Mae Bullock. Her stage name was given to her by legendary musician Ike Turner, but as we discover in HBO's documentary "Tina," the name was about the only positive aspect of her relationship with him. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka dig into t…

Richard B. Pierre and Gina Marie join On Docs to talk about the mixed-race experience through a question that many people they have been asked: "What are you?" It's a troubling question that makes them feel othered, but it opens up a dialogue about how we see race in our society. Colin Ellis digs into the conversation with them, and asks why this q…

Mr. Miyagi's resolve to fight only when there was no other option cemented him as an 80's movie icon. Miyagi taught restraint and passivity, a stark contrast to White protagonists at the time who went around killing Asians. Here to help us explore "More Than Miyagi: The Pat Morita Story" is Guy Aoki from the Media Action Network for Asian Americans…

"Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell" digs into the life of Christopher Wallace who would become the Notorious B.I.G., and unlike other documentaries on the hiphop artist, this doc focuses far more on his life than his death. Joining the podcast is Shad, creator of Netflix's "Hip-Hop Evolution," to talk about the new doc with Colin Ellis and new co-host …

In the spring of 2020, a field hospital was erected at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. Filmmaker Matt Gallagher and producer Cornelia Principe were intrigued by it, and pitched a documentary about what it was like to be inside. But when they met resistance, the pair were forced to park the idea until Gallagher's father was diagnosed with COV…

"John Ware Reclaimed" explores the history of one of Canada's most famous cowboys, and how his mythologization affected the perception of his story. Documentary filmmaker Cheryl Foggo joins Colin Ellis to explore the man, the myth, and the reality of John Ware. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.…

Colin Ellis is joined this week by Word Bomb hosts Pippa Johnstone and Karina Palmitesta to review Netflix's "History of Swear Words," which digs into the etymological origins of your favourite curse words. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By TVO

Since 2008, Britney Spears has been living under a conservatorship, a legal arrangement where her father, Jamie, is a guardian over her life and her estate. But is she a prisoner? Joining Colin Ellis are executive producer of The New York Times Presents Mary Robertson, and New York Times senior editor Liz Day to talk about reframing the narrative a…

James Baldwin was born in Harlem in 1924, but spent most of his life in France. There, he wrote observations of systemic racism in America. Filmmaker Raoul Peck's documentary "I Am Not Your Negro" traces Baldwin's journey back to the United States as an observer and witness of the civil rights movement where he watches as one-by-one its leaders are…