COMMONS

It began as a mysterious disease from a far off place. It turned into the deadliest plague humanity has faced since the Black Death. AIDS has ravaged and reshaped us in so many ways. But in Canada, the battle against AIDS wasn’t just a fight against a virus. It was a fight against a system that didn’t care if some people lived or died. Featured in this episode: Gary Kinsman, Darien Taylor, John Kozachenko To learn more: Queer Progress: From Homophobia to Homonationalism by Tim McCaskell AIDS Activist: Michael Lynch and the Politics of Community by Ann Silversides Never Going Back: A History of Queer Activism in Canada by Tom Warner This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar, Freshbooks & Images FestivalSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There have been books and songs and plays written about Anna Mae Aquash. But she was no folk hero — she was flesh and blood. A young Mi'kmaq woman who took up arms against the United States government, Anna Mae was a revolutionary. But when she was found murdered in the South Dakotan countryside, it tore her movement apart. It took thirty years to find out who pulled the trigger. But that’s not the same thing as knowing who’s responsible for her murder.  Featured in this episode: Kevin McKiernan, Steve Hendricks To learn more: From Wounded Knee to Standing Rock: A Reporter's Journey by Kevin McKiernan The Unquiet Grave: The FBI and the Struggle for the Soul of Indian Country by Steve Hendricks The Spirit of Annie Mae by Catherine Anne Martin   This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar, Freshbooks & Images Festival Additional music: “Unanswered Questions” and “Clean Soul” by Kevin Macleod, “I Am A Man Who Will Fight For Your Honor” by Chris Zabriskie, and “The Wrong Way” by Jahzzar adapted. “I dunno” by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, MorusqueSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s one of the most audacious plots in North American history. Turn a Caribbean island nation into a criminal state — then use the money to fund Neo-Nazis and Klansmen across Canada, the US and Europe. The scariest part? They almost pulled it off.  Featured in this episode: Stewart Bell (Global News) To learn more: Bayou of Pigs: The True Story of an Audacious Plot to Turn a Tropical Island into a Criminal Paradise by Stewart Bell Cups Up: How I Organized a Klavern, Plotted a Coup, Survived Prison, Graduated College, Fought Polluters, and Started a Business by George Malvaney   This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.    This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible.    Additional music: “Spheres” (Hip Hop Instrumental) by Robbero (c) copyright 2013 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our new season is about the people on the extremes. The activists, the terrorists, and the revolutionaries who took things right to the edge for what they believe in... for good or for ill.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new investigative series about the cocaine smuggling ring inside Vice Media. To hear episode 2 right now, subscribe to Cool Mules. Or get all six episodes ad-free for $5/month by clicking here.Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Harts are Canada’s first family of professional wrestling and one of the most famous dynasties the country has ever produced. And sure, wrestling is scripted.  But what happens when reality begins to invade that fiction? The story of the Harts is one of triumph and tragedy that transcends the world of pro wrestling.  Featured in this episode: Damian Abraham, Omar Mouallem To learn more: Wrestling With Shadows by Paul Jay The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling by David Shoemaker “The Rise and Fall of Wrestling’s Weed-Dealing, Cat-Breeding Phenom” in Rolling Stone by Omar Mouallem   This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible.  Additional music: “Unanswered Questions” by Kevin Macleod and “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted.   “I dunno” by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque   “SUNBIRDS” by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC /  Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gerald Regan was the premier of Nova Scotia, the founder of a powerful political dynasty, and one of the most prolific sexual predators in Canadian political history. Even after his death last November, few in the establishment are willing to recognize, let alone reckon with, his crimes.  This episode contains graphic depictions of sexual violence and won’t be suitable for all listeners. Featured in this episode: Stephen Kimber, Maggie Rahr To learn more: Aphrodisiac: Sex, Politics, Power and Gerald Regan by Stephen Kimber  “Uncomfortable silence at Province House” in The Coast by Maggie Rahr “The complicated narrative of Gerald Regan” in The Chronicle Herald by Andrea Gunn This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible.    Additional music: “Clean Soul” by Kevin Macleod, “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, and “Easy Life” by Lee Rosevere, adapted. "I dunno" by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque "SUNBIRDS" by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC /Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For 150 years, the Olands have been one of Canada’s most prominent brewing dynasties, the makers of Moosehead Beer. But in the last decade, they’ve made the news for much darker reasons. Richard Oland was murdered in 2011. And police and prosecutors believe that he was killed by his only son.  Featured in this episode: Greg Marquis To learn more: Truth & Honour: The Oland Family Murder Case that Shocked Canada by Greg Marquis Shadow of Doubt: The Trials of Dennis Oland by Bobbi-Jean MacKinnon “Murder and a Maritime dynasty: The Dick Oland case” in Maclean’s by  Nicholas Köhler and Tamsin McMahon. This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Wealthbar and Audible.  Additional music: “Clean Soul” by Kevin Macleod, “Cylinder Five” by Chris Zabriskie, and “Running Water” by Jason Shaw, adapted. I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, MorusqueSupport COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Desmarais family is by far the most influential Canadian dynasty of the last half-century. But if you don’t live in Quebec, chances are you haven’t even heard of them. Paul Desmarais had Prime Ministers and Premiers in his pocket and billions of dollars at his disposal. He wasn’t just a Laurentian elite; he was the Laurentian emperor.  Featured in this episode: Robin Philpot (Derrière l'État Desmarais: Power) To learn more: Derrière l'État Desmarais: Power by Robin Philpot Rising to Power: Paul Desmarais and Power Corporation by Dave Greber “Chrétien and Bouchard, sitting in a (very expensive) tree” by Martin Patriquin in Macleans’ This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Leesa and Wealthbar. Additional music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque reNovation by airtone (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.  “Lee Rosevere” by A List of Ways to Die, adapted. Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Sahotas are Vancouver’s most notorious slumlords. For decades they’ve let their buildings rot, leaving their tenants to live in filth and desolation. But the Sahotas are not like any other dynasty you’ve ever heard of. Their story is far stranger, and far darker, than anything you can imagine. Featured in this episode: Jen St. Denis, Christopher Cheung (The Tyee), Sam Dharmapala To learn more: “For low-income residents in Vancouver, a different kind of real estate crisis” by Wendy Stueck and Mike Hager in The Globe and Mail “'Out-of-control' SROs: Everyone wants to help, but no one seems to have the tools” by Denise Ryan in The Vancouver Sun “Room 821” by Crackdown This show was brought to you by our patrons. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter.  This episode is sponsored by Freshbooks, Audible and Wealthbar. Additional music: I dunno by grapes (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: J Lang, Morusque eighteen pieces (soda) by Soda (c) copyright 2008 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license.  SUNBIRDS by BOCrew (c) copyright 2012 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. Ft: THEDEEPR / THECORNER / feat : FORENSIC / “I Am A Man Who Will Fight For You Honor” by Chris Zabriskie, adapted. Support COMMONS: http://commonspodcast.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.