Sean Graham is joined by Raymond Blake, author of Canada's Prime Ministers and the Shaping of National Identity. They discuss the role of the Prime Minister, how mass media changed the office, and the ways in which Prime Ministers have influenced national identity. They also chat about how international affairs shape domestic discussions, how the length of a government shapes public perceptions, and how retail politics influence conversations on identity.

Historical Headline of the Week

Erna Paris, "Canada's Multiculturalism is our Identity," Globe & Mail, April 27, 2018.

Sean Graham welcomes Adam Zientek, author of A Thirst for Wine and War: The Intoxication of French Soldiers on the Western Front. They chat about how wine became a staple of French rations in the First World War, the perceived benefits of wine, and how it was transported to the front lines in such large quantities. They also discuss perception of liquor compared to wine, the role of alcohol in French mutinies, and the cultural legacy of wine's role during the First World War in France.

Historical Headline of the Week

Brigit Katz, "Hundreds of Liquor Bottles, Downed by British Soldiers During WWI, Found in Israel," Smithsonian Magazine, March 24, 2017.

Sean Graham talks with Jennifer VanderBurgh, author of What Television Remembers: Artifacts and Footprints of TV in Toronto. They discuss the challenge of studying Canadian television, how to find old programs, and why television researches often rely on the public. They also talk about Toronto as a television Canada's television production centre, how the city stands in for other locations, and how that shapes what Canadians see on their screens.

Historical Headline of the Week

Kate Taylor, "For CBC fans, TV history is just out of reach," Globe & Mail, June 2, 2017.