Before Canada Had a Name, Part 1- Courage (for Gord Downie): Discovery, Maps, and the Tragically Hip
Manage episode 484138632 series 3665615
Canadian Grit: North of Ordinary
Before Canada had a name, there was only wilderness—vast, unknown, and full of risk. In this powerful two-part episode, host Jamie Jackson takes us on a sweeping journey through time and psyche: from uncharted oceans to the inner maps we carry as human beings navigating uncertainty.
Part history, part myth, part reflection—this episode explores the raw courage it takes to sail into the unknown, whether in the 10th century or today’s hybrid digital world. We reflect on early explorers, the Halifax Explosion, and the enduring legacy of Canadian author Hugh MacLennan, whose words inspired Gord Downie and The Tragically Hip's iconic song Courage.
We unpack identity, regret, resilience, and the universal need to belong—drawing parallels between the age of discovery and our own 21st-century crisis of disconnection. With ambient soundscapes, poetic narration, and real talk about demoralization, burnout, mental health, and the cost of not acting with courage, this episode calls on all of us to remember: we are not machines. We are human. We are Canadians. Together.
And our story isn’t finished.
It's just getting started!
Featuring: Hugh MacLennan, The Tragically Hip, Gabor Maté, Peter Levine, Jackson's "Hybrid Reality Theory" (2025), Canadian history, public education, and the enduring power of grit.
I am so incredibly grateful that you stopped by. Thanks for listening to the show.
I hope you loved it. If you're interested, check me out on socials
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OR: @canadiangritmedia
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Remember, my friends: We're in this thing together. It means more than you know. We're just getting started!
If you know of anyone-- or if YOU have an amazing story of grit, or even something to share with the world, why not reach out and let me know?
I'd love to give voice to your stories.
All the very best.
Your good pal,
-Jamie
3 episodes