Ideas

<p>English may have a reputation for being a "linguistic imperialist," pushing local languages into obscurity but linguist Mario Saraceni argues English should be viewed as a global language with multiple versions existing on equal footing. <em>*This episode originally aired on May 19, 2023.</em></p>

<p>Négritude was a Francophone movement to rethink what it meant to be Black and African. Scholar Merve Fejzula explores the dynamic debates happening in the early-to mid-20th century among Négritude thinkers, how they disseminated their ideas, and how all this changed what it meant to be part of a public. <em>*This episode originally aired on March 8, 2023.</em></p>

<p>A cotton sack from the time of slavery bears the first names of a mother and her daughter, who was sold at the age of nine. Harvard historian Tiya Miles scours the historical documentary record to discover who these women were and reveals their story of love in her book,<em> All That She Carried </em>— winner of the 2022 Cundill History Prize. <em>*This episode originally aired on Feb. 20, 2023.</em></p>

Astra Taylor, a Massey Lecturer, delves into how prosperity exists alongside profound insecurity. She examines how increased material security historically fosters open-mindedness, while rising insecurity divides communities. Taylor discusses the impact of unschooling and nurturing curiosity in children, as well as the social consequences of manufactured insecurities from past movements. She critiques consumer culture's role in breeding inadequacy and contrasts modern challenges with Indigenous values, ultimately advocating for policies that enhance curiosity and societal well-being.

In this podcast, they explore the significant events of the year 1938 that set the stage for World War II, including Hitler's annexation of Austria, escalating persecution of Jewish communities, Japan's war on China, and the collapse of democracy in both the East and West. They also delve into tragic events like the Japanese invasion of Nanjing, Kristallnacht, and the rise of extremism in Germany and Italy. The podcast discusses the missed opportunities to prevent atrocities, examines Italy's ambitions for a colonial empire in East Africa, and explores the use of language and rhetoric by key figures during the 1930s. They also touch on the failure of the 1938 international conference to address the refugee crisis caused by Nazi Germany, and the major shift in global order after World War II.

<p>Tested is a new podcast series from CBC and NPR that asks the question, who gets to compete?&nbsp; Since the beginning of women’s sports, there has been a struggle over who qualifies for the women’s category. Tested follows the unfolding story of elite female runners who have been told they can no longer race as women, because of their biology. As the Olympics approach, they face hard choices: take drugs to lower their natural testosterone levels, give up their sport entirely, or fight. To understand how we got here, we trace the surprising, 100-year history of sex testing. More episodes of Tested are available at:&nbsp;<a href="https://link.chtbl.com/9-HlXVZB" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://link.chtbl.com/9-HlXVZB</a></p>

<p>How should we fill our time, and what is most important to remember? Giller Prize-winning novelist and poet Ian Williams looks at the meaning of life, work and the relationship between the past and future, inspired by the Crow's Theatre's production of Anton Chekhov's classic drama,&nbsp;<em>Uncle Vanya</em>.<em> *This episode originally aired on March 11, 2024.</em></p>

Ahmet Altan, a significant writer imprisoned in Turkey for nearly five years, reflects on the meaning of freedom and discusses his time in prison and the support he received. The podcast also explores Istanbul's rich history and culture, Altan's family background and the influence of his Kurdish heritage, and personal experiences of sentencing in Turkey.

<p>Celebrated Turkish writer Ahmet Altan spent almost five years in jail. He wrote his memoir which was smuggled out on bits of paper. This episode aired while he was still in prison. It won an Amnesty International Canada Media Award for outstanding human rights reporting. Tomorrow <em>IDEAS</em> features a conversation with CBC producer Mary Lynk and the now-freed Ahmet Altan.</p>

<p>In Astra Taylor's second Massey Lecture, she argues our social order runs on insecurity. But we’re also guaranteed the right to “security of the person.” The wealthy barons of the past and present have defined what security means for themselves — but the rest of us, ordinary commoners, have fought for something else instead.</p>