Best Colony Drop Podcasts (2025)

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0145: The Gundam Credit Card 44:23

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14d ago44:23

44:23

Would you sign up for a Gundam co-branded credit card? We sure would! We discuss all the perks and discounts that such a program should have, including the cards that already exist in Japan and Hong Kong! Isaac envisions a travel sweepstakes and an ace pilot leaderboard, while Brian demands Bandai complete the Gundam spending synergy circle. Plus, …

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What life was like for Luke Galati in a psychiatric ward 54:08

16h ago54:08

54:08

Writer and filmmaker Luke Galati shares what it is like living with bipolar I disorder and staying in a psychiatric ward — an experience he says feels like being in a fish bowl. While being hospitalized meant he lost his sense of freedom and control, he never lost hope. Luke's documentary is both a personal essay and a series of conversations with …

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How Inuk activist Aaju Peter learned to 'decolonize' her mind 54:08

22h ago54:08

54:08

Aaju Peter was 11 years old when she was taken from her Inuk community in Greenland and sent away to learn the ways of the West. She lost her language and culture. The activist, lawyer, designer, musician, filmmaker, and prolific teacher takes IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed on a tour of Iqaluit and into a journey to decolonization that continues still. *Th…

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Can the fierce wars of today end in peace? 54:09

13h ago54:09

54:09

If intractable conflicts in the 90s could end in peace agreements, is there hope for the ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond? What can we learn from the successes and failures of the past about how to create a more peaceful world? And what solutions are obstructed by lack of will? Nahlah Ayed and guests explore what peacemaking and rebu…

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Kentucky and Slavery: From Statehood to the Civil War 55:15

2d ago55:15

55:15

When Kentucky in 1792 became a state, it had a choice; keep slavery or abolish it. University of Kentucky professor Melanie Goan teaches a class on the state's relationship with the institution of slavery until the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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How rhythm helps us walk, talk — and even love 54:01

4d ago54:01

54:01

Rhythm is more than a fundamental feature of music. It's what makes us human. Rhythm begins in the womb and the heartbeat. And neuroscience research reveals that for the rest of our lives, rhythm will continue to have a core impact on our innermost selves: how we learn to walk, read and even bond with others. Rhythm — as one researcher puts it — is…

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The natural — and unnatural — history of air on Earth 54:08

5d ago54:08

54:08

Air is one of the most essential elements for human life. Yet even though we depend on air, we humans are dramatically changing the atmosphere — making the air unbearably hot in some parts of the world, unbreathable in the most polluted parts of the world, and pushing the climate toward tipping points. As humans who caused this, we have to adapt to…

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Why the world feels like a shipwreck 54:08

6d ago54:08

54:08

For thousands of years, Shipwrecks have been a mainstay trope of literature and storytelling. IDEAS dives into the history of shipwreck tales to discover the allure of maritime disaster, why they resonate today, and why life so often feels like it’s heading for the rocks.

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Can a conference change our troubled world? 54:08

7d ago54:08

54:08

As the United Nations turns 80, calls for reform are louder than ever. Against the backdrop of multiple global crises, strongman diplomacy and rising threats from climate change to AI, a growing campaign is calling on the UN to revisit the outdated charter established in 1945 and work on reinventing the organization. "We need to start rethinking wh…

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Was justice served by South Africa's peace accord? 54:08

8d ago54:08

54:08

The apartheid era in South Africa ended in 1991 with the National Peace Accords. The peace agreement also paved the way for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Yet TRC head Desmond Tutu considered the process “scandalously unfinished.” Lawyer Prakash Diar agrees: "You don’t undo centuries of colonization just like that.” Diar and writer Kagiso L…

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Black Education in Colonial America: The Story of the Williamsburg Bray School 1:36:18

9d ago1:36:18

1:36:18

William & Mary Bray School Lab director Maureen Elgersman Lee discusses the history of the 18th-century Williamsburg Bray School for Black children and the legacies of the 300 to 400 scholars it enrolled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy C-SPAN

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Can a trucker's life entice young people to take the wheel? 54:08

11d ago54:08

54:08

An Ontario trucking union predicts a shortage of 30,000 truckers in Canada as old hands retire faster than new ones take on the job. IDEAS producer Tom Howell visits a trucking school in northern Ontario, where recruits consider their options, and the road ahead. *This episode originally aired on March 4, 2024.…

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Listen to the sound of metal in musical form by 8 composers 54:07

12d ago54:07

54:07

Eight composers, five instruments, and a world of metal. IDEAS explores a project by the University of British Columbia called The Heavy Metal Suite that conveys the challenges and opportunities of the mining industry, through music. Each composer draws inspiration from their country’s mineral resources in their original pieces. *This episode origi…

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Without justice, can unbearable grief subside? 54:07

13d ago54:07

54:07

In June 1985, Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland. It's considered the worst terror attack in Canadian history. Sujata Berry's 16-year-old brother, Sharad was on that flight. The shock of his horrific death morphed into an unshakeable grief. The family's sorrow was augmented with the lack of justice for victims' families — a flaw…

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Why smell — our invisible superpower — deserves more acclaim 54:08

15d ago54:08

54:08

Smell this yogurt, is it still good? Our sense of smell has the ability to keep us healthy and safe. In fact in some cases, our ability to detect "off" foods using our sense of smell can be superior to dogs and other animals. Smell is often undervalued and yet capable of inspiring profound admiration if we stop turning our noses at it. Producer Ann…

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How leaders in the former Yugoslavia forged peace in 1995 54:08

15d ago54:08

54:08

For almost four years, the Bosnian War in the former Yugoslavia was characterized by ethnic hatreds, atrocities, and a refugee crisis. So when leaders of the warring factions were sequestered in an American air base and forced to come up with the 1995 peace agreement known as the Dayton Accord, the world was relieved. But is a cessation of violence…

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Lectures in History: 1992 Republican National Convention 59:47

17d ago59:47

59:47

The 1992 Republican National Convention speeches by former President Ronald Reagan and Pat Buchanan - who had run for the GOP nomination that year against incumbent President George H.W. Bush - was the topic of a class taught by University of Kansas political communication professor Robert Rowland. The University of Kansas is in Lawrence. Learn mor…

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How our education system is far from its original ideals 54:08

18d ago54:08

54:08

Acclaimed author Gabor Maté joins the conversation in part two of our series exploring Wilhelm von Humboldt’s public education system. Maté is a former English teacher. In this episode we ask: Is Humboldt's 200-year-old system equipped to meet the challenging demands of the 21st century? And does it still reflect his ideals, especially at the unive…

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Meet Alex Neve, the 2025 CBC Massey Lecturer 19:45

19d ago19:45

19:45

Ahead of the Massey tour, Alex Neve sits down with Nahlah Ayed to talk about his lectures, Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World. This year, the lectures are coming to: Toronto, Sept. 19 Vancouver, Sept. 25 Edmonton, Oct. 1 Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Oct. 15 Ottawa, Oct. 30 Tickets are available now for the 2025 CBC Massey Lectures — a…

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Public education was built on this key concept — now it's gone 54:06

19d ago54:06

54:06

Two hundred years ago, Wilhelm von Humboldt created the education system as we know it today. At the heart of his philosophy of education was the concept of Bildung — reaching one's inner potential. Yet over the years, as his public education system was adopted, Bildung may well have been the critical piece left out. *This episode is part one of tw…

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How this 19th-century Indian feminist defied colonial customs 54:08

20d ago54:08

54:08

In the 19th-century, feminist and scholar Pandita Ramabai travelled America delivering lectures on how the caste system and patriarchy shaped the trajectory of women’s lives. When she came back to India, she explained America's customs around gender and race relations, and their experiment with democracy. IDEAS explores her rich life and legacy. Gu…

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Why there's no place like Oz 54:08

22d ago54:08

54:08

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was an instant bestseller in 1900. It's still popular today, with a sequel to the movie Wicked coming out this fall. For 125 years, there have been an abundance of derivative works of Oz, from Broadway musicals, films, comic books, sitcom parodies and more. IDEAS follows the proverbial yellow brick road to uncover how thi…

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Lessons from last century’s failed Mideast peace deal 54:08

22d ago54:08

54:08

When Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat met in Washington to sign the first Oslo Accords in 1993, it was supposed to usher in a new era of peace and lay the groundwork for a more stable Middle East. Three decades later, the Accords are primarily remembered as a failure. Nahlah Ayed and gu…

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FEED DROP: BN+ Richard J. Evans, "Hitler's People" 1:02:55

25d ago1:02:55

1:02:55

Sir Richard J. Evans has been writing about Germany and Adolf Hitler for his entire professional life. He was knighted in Britain in 2012 for his service to scholarship. From 2003-2008, Professor Evans published a trilogy of the Third Reich with a total of over 2,500 pages. His latest book is titled "Hitler's People: The Faces of the Third Reich." …

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How the principles of St. Augustine guide the Catholic Church 54:08

24d ago54:08

54:08

Pope Leo XIV has been deeply influenced by St. Augustine, and so, the fourth century titan of Western thought has re-entered the global conversation. IDEAS Producer Seán Foley reaches out to Canadian scholars who have read St. Augustine closely to determine what it is about how Augustine’s thought and character might shape the Catholic Church in th…

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Are we 'born obsolete'? How technology makes us feel ashamed 54:09

26d ago54:09

54:09

Günther Anders predicted the exact technological crises we’re facing today… but 70 years ago. The uncanny relevance of Anders’ thoughts about technology — from the atomic bomb to artificial intelligence — and how it makes us feel what he called “Promethean Shame."

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What does it mean for a river to be ‘alive’? 58:21

29d ago58:21

58:21

Renowned natural history writer Robert Macfarlane traveled to Ecuador, India and Quebec, pondering the question of whether rivers are living beings -- the premise behind much of the movement to legally recognize the rights of nature. He found that the answer to that question is more complicated and wondrous -- and more life-altering and world-chang…

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What Chinese Science Fiction Has to Tell Us 54:09

28d ago54:09

54:09

With vengeful alien civilizations, virtual realities and hologram wives, Chinese science fiction is in its heyday — not just in China but around the globe. Renowned author Cixin Liu is at the forefront of the movement. His book, The Three-Body Problem is a Netflix's series. IDEAS explores what we can learn about China through it's science fiction.…

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# 1: What it took to end a 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland 54:08

29d ago54:08

54:08

The process of making peace is often imperfect, and can shape the future in both positive and destructive ways. In a five-part series called Inventing Peace, Nahlah Ayed asks panelists to reflect on one pivotal 20th century effort to make peace, and its relevance for our own time. In this first episode, the “constructive ambiguity” of Northern Irel…

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0144: Mobile Fighter G Gundam Review Part 1 1:17:41

29d ago1:17:41

1:17:41

Join us at ringside of the 13th Gundam Fight as we review the first half of 1994’s Mobile Fighter G Gundam! As the Gundam franchise’s first alternate universe, this show had it all – love, anger, sorrow, abstract nanotech villains created to solve 1990’s environmentalism’s worst nightmare, and much more! Plus, in a shocking turn of events, Brian’s …

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The threat next door: How NATO’s newest members are preparing to defend against Russia (via The House) 47:14

29d ago47:14

47:14

NATO’s secretary general has warned Russia could launch an attack on the alliance within the next five years. Talk to NATO’s two newest members, Finland and Sweden, and they’ll tell you preparation involves a lot more than just boosting military spending. As Canada seeks to strengthen ties with both countries, what can we learn from our newest NATO…

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James Broussard, Colonial America Before the Revolution 1:10:38

1M ago1:10:38

1:10:38

Professor James Broussard taught a class on the lead-up to the American Revolution. He described actions by the British government, such as the Stamp Act and stationing British troops in Boston, that American colonists began to view as an overreach of power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

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How Brutalist architecture goes beyond aesthetics 54:07

1M ago54:07

54:07

Brutalist architecture has been celebrated as monumental and derided as ‘concrete monstrosity.' But the people who depend on these buildings are often caught in between. IDEAS explores the implications of Brutalism’s 21st-century hipster aesthetic in a world of housing challenges, environmental crisis, and economic polarization. *This episode origi…

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Libraries are fighting for their freedom — and our democracy 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

In Canada and the U.S., public libraries have become a target in the culture wars. It’s an urgent conversation to have, no matter where one sits on the political spectrum. Libraries exist to give everyone access to a wide variety of content, even when books may offend others. Yet librarians are increasingly having to persuade skeptics that all idea…

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Why PEI cares more than any other province about voting 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

PEI has the highest voter turnout of any other province in Canada. Voting is fundamental to this community. Residents see firsthand how their vote matters — several elections were decided by 25 votes or less. In this small province, people have a personal and intimate connection with politicians. MLAs know voters on an individual basis and they fee…

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Has the housing crisis shaken your trust in democracy? 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

According to Nanaimo, B.C.'s last official count, there are 515 unhoused people in Nanaimo at any given time. By population, that is a higher homelessness rate than the city of Vancouver. Our series, IDEAS for a Better Canada (produced in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy), explores how homelessness affects the health of our democrac…

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Attacking our biggest fear — political polarization 54:07

1M ago54:07

54:07

Canadians’ biggest fear for the country’s future is “growing political and ideological polarization,” according to a 2023 EKOS poll. As part of our series, IDEAS for a Better Canada (produced in partnership with the Samara Centre for Democracy), host Nahlah Ayed headed to the fast-growing city of Edmonton to talk about the creative ways local resid…

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Eric Hinderaker, Western Lands Before and After the American Revolution 1:20:59

1M ago1:20:59

1:20:59

University of Utah Professor Eric Hinderaker taught a class about western settlement before, during and after the American Revolution. Using the Kentucky territory as an example, he described the conflicts and relationships between the new federal government, settlers and Native Americans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi…

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#5: What makes a great conversation? 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

You might think the subject makes a great conversation, but according to Massey lecturer Ian Williams, it's more than that. It's full of layers and you never really know where it’ll end up — how it will change you by the time it ends. Williams explores the art of good conversation in the final episode of his Massey Lectures. *The 2024 CBC Massey Le…

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# 4: What it means to truly listen 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

We’re in an era where many people feel an ownership over certain words, and how a community expresses itself; the term ‘appropriation’ has come to create guardrails around what can be said, and by whom. In his fourth Massey Lecture, Ian Williams considers the role of speech and silence in reallocating power. *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally…

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#3: How a dispute can lead to unity 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

Difficult conversations are almost always about something under the surface, and hidden. In his third Massey Lecture, Ian Williams illustrates what we’re listening for isn’t always obvious. He explains how personal conversations aren't about finding answers — it's for communion. *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally aired in November.…

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#2: What we can learn from our conversations with strangers 54:07

1M ago54:07

54:07

In his second Massey Lecture, Ian Williams explores the power of conversation with strangers. He says humanity comes out when interacting with them. But how do we open ourselves up to connect with strangers while safeguarding our personal sovereignty? *The 2024 CBC Massey Lectures originally aired in November.…

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#1: Why we need to have a conversation about conversations 54:08

1M ago54:08

54:08

Ever felt that no one is really listening? In the first of his 2024 CBC Massey Lectures, novelist and poet Ian Williams explores why we need to have a conversation about conversations. His five-part lecture series confronts the deterioration of civic and civil discourse and asks us to reconsider the act of conversing as the sincere, open exchange o…

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Professor Joyce Lee Malcolm, Benedict Arnold 1:09:22

2M ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Law professor and author Joyce Lee Malcolm discussed Benedict Arnold's triumphs as an American army general in the Revolutionary War and questioned whether his legacy as a notorious American traitor is entirely accurate. Professor Malcolm is the author of, The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life. This one hour talk was hosted by the Univer…