Conversations on The Road

 Hockey: A People’s History is a CBC Television Documentary that first aired in 2006.

Much like an earlier documentray Canada: A People’s History, the series told the history of the sport of hockey from a personal perspective, giving voice to various individuals, major and minor, as the sport grows and evolves in Canada.

There was an accompanying book by the same name authored by award-winning documentary film-maker Michael McKinley.

We speak with Michael McKinley about Hockey: A People’s History, and about just what hockey has meant and continues to mean to Canada.

Taped in Fall, 2008 – Aired on XM, January, 2009 

 

 Hockey: A People's History [21:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This conversation is a journey into life in Bangor County, Ireland. International journey-caster Jeremiah Tittle speaks with New York Times bestselling author Patrick Taylor about Irish culture on St. Patty’s Day and his new book, An Irish Country Village.

 

 Irish Country [17:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Guinness is famous for its beer. But Guinness is more than a beer.

Beer expert, journalist and historian Bill Yenne went on a journey of his own. The result is a book, “Guinness: The 25o-Year Quest for the Perfect Pint” (Wiley, 2007) in which Yenne traces the tale of this remarkable family and its beer.

He follows not just the fortunes of the Guinness family through the years, but also the development of the brand and beer – from Arthur Guinness’ earliest porter to a beer that is enjoyed in 150 countries today.

Bill Yenne joins us in this journey into beer to share his journey.

 

 Guiness [25:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Traditionally turkey vultures return on or around St. Patrick’s Day to their roosting sites in and around a “world-famous living sign” at Canisteo, New York. A mentioned in Ripley’s Believe It or Not”, the sign spells out the town’s name in 250 trees.

 We speak with Wolf Berry about his community, the Living Sign, turkey vultures and how they all come together for this rite of Spring.

 

 Turkey Vultures [9:35m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

In football, there’s Notre Dame. In basketball, it’s Duke. But in the world of hockey, one school stands above all as perhaps teh most important contributor to developing hockey players for the N.H.L. as well as other significant levels of organized hockey – and that’s St. Michaels College of Toronto.

Since initiating its hockey program, 184 alumni have gone on to play in the National Hockey League – including the likes of Gerry Cheevers, Dick Duff, Tim Horton, Red Kelly, Dave Keon, Ted Lindsay, Frank Mahavolich, and Joe Primeau. Then there are the legendary coaches like Father David Bauer and Murray Costello.

Kevin Shea is a co-author of a book about St. Michaels (St. Michael’s College – 100 Years of Pucks and Prayers). He is also hockey historian and the Editor of Publications and online features at the Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as a teacher of a course on hockey history at Seneca College in Toronto.

Kevin Shea joins us for this journey into hockey on St. Mike’s (as heard on Xm Radio).

 

 St. Michaels [19:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A favorite stop for tourist and native alike in Washington, DC is the Smithsonian’s Musuem of American History.

After being closed for renovation, the museum is now open again. We speak with Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher about the museum – what iit was, what it is and what that means to us all. 

 

 Marc Fisher [14:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On February 22, 2009 Harry Howell and andy Bathgate were honored at New York’s Madison Square Garden by having their numbers 3 and 9 retired respectively.

Bathgate was an artistic, creative forward who saw the ice like few others of his era. He was the Rangers all-time leader in goals, assists and points at the end of the Original Six era and still holds the team record of scoring goals in 10 consecutive games.

Howell was a disciplined, steady defenseman whose greatness wasn’t fully appreciated until the latter stages of his career, when he became the last Original Six era blueliner to win the James Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best at his position. He remains the Rangers’ all-time games-played leader with 1,160. Given the nature of today’s free agency and salary cap restrictions, that could be the most daunting mark in the entire Rangers record book.

In anticiaption of the night honoring these two former greats, not too long ago we spoke with both Harry Howell and Andy Bathgate.

This podcast is our talk with Andy Bathgate.

 

 Andy Bathgate [22:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Beer has always been an important part of American culture. Bill Yenne wrote a book that looks at the history of a dozen brewers (Acme, Ballantine, Fallstaff, Hamm’s, Lone Star, Lucky, Miller High Life, Olympia, Pabst, Rainer, Rheingold and Schlitz) and what made them matter. It’s about beer but its’ about much more.

Bill Yenne joins us for this Journeys into Beer.

 

 Great American Beers [14:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mardi Gras is best known in New Orleans. But the tradition is not limited to the Crescent City.A traditional Mardi Gras is to be found in the form of a Courir de Mardi Gras in Church Point, Louisiana, On Louisiana’s Cajun Prairie northwest of Lafayette.

 The object of the Courir is to go from farm to farm in costume and on horseback or by wagon and collect ingredients for a communal gumbo to be served at the Church Point Saddle Riders Club. The meal is accompanied by live Cajun French music and dancing.

We speak with Todd Richard about the Courir de Mardi Gras (actuall two – one for adults and one for kids).

A more complete description of the event follows or can be found at the event website: http://www.churchpointmardigras.com

 

 Courir de Mardis Gras [23:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For Mike Walsh, the answer was simple: bowl. Propelled by a curiosity to see America through a common, if beer-framed, lens, he quits his job and sets out to meet the people who populate the country’s bowling alleys. His adventure becomes much more than a simple bowling trip as he veers beyond the game’s ten frames and into the heart of America. The result was a book, BOWLING ACROSS AMERICA: 50 States in Rented Shoes.

We speak with Mike Walsh about the inspiration for his trip, the trip itself and how the experience changed him. 

 

 Bowling Across America [20:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download