Episode 30: Baba Brinkman & Peer-Reviewed Rap

This podcast episode on YouTube

Episode 29: Evolution, with Ray Belli

Aven McMaster February 27, 2017

How do words change their meanings? What are the mechanisms behind semantic change? And how do technological advances -- like the development of e-books -- affect language? We discuss these topics and more with Ray Belli, host of the Words for Granted podcast.

Show Notes

Evolution video

Evolution playlist

Words for Granted Podcast

This podcast episode on YouTube

Episode 21: Haggard Hawks

Aven McMaster October 9, 2016

We talk to Paul Anthony Jones about where his love of etymology and obscure words came from, how he researches his books, the unexpected popularity of his Haggard Hawks twitter account, and more.

Come from Away official site

Our Patreon page -- and thank you to our newest supporters, Alex Smallman & Benjamin Walls!

Show Notes

"Ambition" video

@HumCommCasters & @HumCommVids

Haggard Hawks website

Episode 15: Stephen Le

Aven McMaster April 25, 2016

We talk to Stephen Le about his book 100 Million Years of Food: What Our Ancestors Ate and Why It Matters Today, and his efforts to use an understanding of evolution to help us decide what to eat. We chat about what it means to "eat what your ancestors ate", the cultural history of food, and his wide-ranging travels in search of traditional foods to try--especially insects!

Show Notes

Stephen's Website

And thank you to our Patreon supporters:

Carlos Solis
Valerie Polichar
Lukas Hägele
Evermore Anon
Ian & Susan McMaster
Chantal Sundaram
Sean Soderman

Episode 12: David Hein & Irene Sankoff

Aven McMaster February 17, 2016

We talk to David and Irene about their most recent project, "Come From Away", a musical about the town of Gander, Nfld. on 9/11, and discuss the ways the story, the musical, and their work all demonstrate the importance of connections.

The official "Come from Away" site

Show Notes

UPDATE: The show will be at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Nov. 15, 2016 - Jan. 8, 2017, and then previews on Broadway begin Feb. 18, 2017 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater. There will also be two benefit concerts in Newfoundland & Labrador on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016.

More information about "Come From Away"

And thank you to our Patreon supporters: Valerie Polichar, Lukas Hägele, Evermore Anon, Ian & Susan McMaster, Carlos Solis, and Chantal Sundaram.

Episode 10: James Andean

Aven McMaster January 25, 2016

We chat to musician and sound artist James Andean about acousmatic music, interdisciplinary improvisation, the role of narrative in music, and, inevitably, Star Wars. And make sure you listen to the piece by James that he graciously allowed us to include at the end!

We found this conversation fascinating, as it explores areas of music we didn't know much about, but also showed us some unforeseen overlaps between our own interests and the seemingly very different areas that James works in. A great example of unexpected connections around us!

Also, although we don't mention it on the podcast, we've just launched a Patreon campaign, to help us support our podcasting and the videos we make, so please take a moment to check that out. Thanks.

Show Notes

James Andean's website

James on Twitter

James on Facebook

The picture of Mars in various seasons drawn by our 5-year-old while listening to "Maledetta"

Episode 5: Janice Liedl

Aven McMaster September 14, 2015

A conversation with Dr. Janice Liedl, history prof at Laurentian University, about fandoms, science fiction, Star Wars and Star Trek, a treason trial in the time of Henry VIII, and how history and the study of history connect to all of it.