What's Old is News

Indigenous History & the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada

This week, Sean Graham talks with Cody Groat, author of Always Part of the Land: The Federal Commemoration of Indigenous Histories [https://www.mqup.ca/Books/A/Always-a-Part-of-the-Land]. They discuss the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada [https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/default_eng.aspx]'s approach to Indigenous history, the role of federal commemorations in colonialism, and the power of commemorations. They also chat about Board members' influence on commemorations, how public servants have shaped the process, and the Board's efforts towards Reconciliation. Historical Headline of the Week Chadd Cawson, "Plaque unveiled to honour Coast Salish knitters and the Cowichan sweater [https://nanaimobulletin.com/2026/04/02/plaque-unveiled-to-honour-coast-salish-knitters-and-the-cowichan-sweater/]," Nanaimo Bulletin, April 2, 2026.

The Beach Cure

Sean Graham talks with Meghan Crnic, author of The Beach Cure: A History of Healing on Northeastern Shores [https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295753959/the-beach-cure/]. They discuss the origins of the beach as a place to get healthy, the conditions in 19th century American cities that led doctors to prescribe the beach, and the logistics of getting to the cost. They also chat about how beach areas were built up, the transformation of space from health to recreation, and the legacy of the 19th century on beach towns. Historical Headline of the Week Emma Loewe, "Going to the beach is good for your brain, according to science [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/health/article/beach-ocean-mental-health-benefits]," National Geographic, May 22, 2025.

Colonial Newspapers

Sean Graham talks with Shelisa Klassen, author of Imprinting Empire: Land and Settler Colonialism in Manitoba Newspapers [https://uofmpress.ca/books/imprinting-empire]. They talk about late 19th century Manitoba newspapers, the audiences both in Manitoba and the rest of Canada, and how the press framed colonial practices. They also discuss how newspapers fit into other commercial projects, what information was included and what was intentionally omitted, and the legacy of the era's newspapers. Historical Headline of the Week Clare Hennig and Jean Paetkau, "Digital archive of old B.C. textbooks highlights 'constant dehumanizing of Indigenous people [https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/uvic-digitizing-old-b-c-textbooks-with-indigenous-curriculum-beyond-beads-bannock-1.4800944],' CBC.ca, September 4, 2018.

Common Sense

This week, Sean Graham talks with Michael North, author of Making Common Sense: On the Construction of the Obvious from Antiquity to AI. [https://www.sup.org/books/theory-and-philosophy/making-common-sense] They talk about what counts as 'common' sense, its relation to the 5 senses, and how that understanding shaped perceptions of common sense. They then get into a discussion about the modern understanding of common sense, the difference between that and reason, and how algorithms and AI are shaping our understanding of what counts as 'common' sense. Historical Headline of the Week Jo Marchant, "The American Revolution's Overlooked Influence? Physics. How 'Common Sense' Spelled Out Astronomical Expectations for a New Nation," [https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/american-revolution-overlooked-influence-physics-thomas-paine-common-sense-spelled-out-astronomical-expectations-new-nation-180988795/] Smithsonian Magazine, Summer 2026.

The Governors General

This week Sean Graham talks with John Fraser, author of The Governors General: An Intimate History of Canada's Highest Office [https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/the-governors-general/]. They talk about John's experiences meeting all the Canadian-born Governors General, how personality shapes the office, and the role's political limits. They also discuss the people who held the office, how they managed the position's responsibilities, and what purpose the monarch's representative in Canada has in the 21st century. Historical Headline of the Week John Fraser, "Julie Payette's disastrous reign as Governor General: 'Act of perpetual petulance, [https://nationalpost.com/feature/astronaut-julie-payette-flamed-out-as-governor-general]'" National Post, April 2, 2026.