Face 2 Face With David Peck

John Aitchison   John and I talk his new book The Shark and The Albatross about the natural world, poetry, beauty, patience and emotion and looking for subtle signs in the environment.   Biography John is a wildlife filmmaker who works for the independent production company Otter Films Ltd. Otter Films has worked with the BBC, National Geographic, PBS and Discovery Channel on series including The Hunt, Frozen Planet, Life Stories, Life, Big Cat Diary, Springwatch and Yellowstone. He is the author of The Shark and the Albatross, published recently in the UK by Profile and in North America in May 2016 by Greystone Books. The BBC's Natural World series commissioned Otter Films to produce the Amber Time Machine. It features David Attenborough's quest to discover what amber can tell us about the past. You can watch it here on the BBC Earth YouTube channel. You can download a list of productions here. The BBC's Frozen Planet website is here and The Hunt's website is is here ---------- Please visit my website for

Susan Delacourt   Susan and I talk about “image politics” and the media, Stephen Harper’s legacy, Ottawa and how it’s constantly changing and why voters are often appealed to through their wallets.   Biography Susan Delacourt is a political columnist with the Toronto Star and iPolitics and a regular political panelist on CTV, CBC Radio, and Global TV. She is the author of four books on Canadian politics and teaches strategic communications and journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa. Since arriving on Parliament Hill to report for The Globe and Mail in the late 1980s, Delacourt has covered many major political events – Canada’s constitutional battles, the ups and downs of the federal Liberal party, the rise of the Reform Party, and the merger of a united right under Stephen Harper. Her writing has appeared regularly in the Ottawa Citizen and the National Post over the past few decades, as well as in the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star. Delacourt writes often on political culture. Her most recent book,

Jürgen Todenhöfer   Photo: Copyright: Jürgen Todenhöfer   Jürgen and I talk about “truth”, ISIS, brainwashing, the media, respect for other cultures and the real face of war. Biography   Jürgen Todenhöfer was born on the 12th of November 1940 as the son of a judge in the German city of Offenburg/Baden. In 1959 he completed his high school studies in the city of Freiburg. He then studied law and political science at the Universities of Munich, Paris, Bonn and Freiburg. He completed his training as a qualified lawyer in 1969 and received his doctorate in law from the University of Freiburg. In 1970 Todenhöfer joined the political party CDU (Christian Democratic Union). Shortly thereafter, he became personal assistant of the CDU’s Secretary General Dr. Bruno Heck in Bonn. In 1972 he became a judge at the Criminal Court of the city of Kaiserslautern. In the end of 1972, he was elected to the German parliament. He remained a member of the “Bundestag” until 1990. Todenhöfer attracted as much public attention for h

  Lawrence talks in our second interview about his love for magic, dogmatism, pleasure, making mistakes, about the notion of “tools and not rules”, why we’re all storytelling animals and how Aristotle was a friend to artists everywhere.     Biography Lawrence Hass, Ph.D., is Professor of Humanities at Austin College and the Associate Dean of the McBride Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas. In 2010 he retired early from college teaching to pursue magic full-time as a performer, teacher, author, and publisher.   Lawrence Hass creates magic shows that combine astonishing, artistic magic with ideas that lift the spirit. He performs at theaters, nightclubs, universities, art museums, private parties, medical schools, public conferences, and corporate events all across America and internationally. He performs regularly in Las Vegas and at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood.   Dr. Hass has also won multiple awards both as a writer and an inspirational teacher of magic. His expertise in teaching and dire

  Greg Paul Greg and I talk about identity, justice and the possibility of hope, poverty, love and why we’re short on happiness around here. Biography Greg Paul is a pastor and member, as well as the founder, of the Sanctuary community in Toronto. Sanctuary, a community in which people who are wealthy and people who are poor live, work and share their experiences and resources on a daily basis, makes a priority of welcoming and caring for some of the most hurting and excluded people in Canada’s largest city, including people struggling with addiction, mental illness, prostitution, and homelessness. Greg is the author of four award-winning books: Close Enough to Hear God Breathe; The Twenty-Piece Shuffle; and God In The Alley. His most recent book, Simply Open, offers a contemplative path for busy people. He is the father of four children, and married to Maggie, who has three children of her own. ---------- For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here. With th

Brian McKenna   Brian and I talk about his new film Newfoundland at Armageddon, unnecessary war and how an incident with bullies changed his life.   Trailer   CBC link here.   Newfoundland at Armageddon will air on CBC TV on Thursday, June 30 at 8 pm (8:30 pm NT), mere hours before the 100th anniversary of the event that changed Newfoundland - and Canada - forever.   Synopsis   One hundred years ago, on July 1st, 1916, the Newfoundland Regiment took part in a massive First World War offensive on the Somme, led by the British to liberate France and Belgium from the claws of the Germans. Some 800 soldiers from the Regiment went over the top that morning, near Beaumont-Hamel in France.   The following day only 68 were able to answer roll call. Because of that battle, nothing about Newfoundland would ever be the same. To commemorate the one hundredth anniversary, Brian McKenna’s latest feature documentary film Newfoundland at Armageddon tells the story of this epic tragedy. Using a technique he perfected during

Alex Hinton   Alex and I talk about peace and reconciliation, trust, genocide, Hannah Arendt and our understanding of the other and what all this means about “us”.   Biography   Alexander Hinton is Director of the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights and Professor of Anthropology and Global Affairs at Rutgers University, Newark. He is also a past President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (2011-13) and holds theUNESCO Chair in Genocide Prevention.   He is the author of the award-winning Why Did They Kill? Cambodia in the Shadow of Genocide (California, 2005) and nine edited or co-edited collections, Colonial Genocide in Indigenous North America (Duke, forthcoming in 2015), Mass Violence: Memory, Symptom, and Response (Cambridge, forthcoming in 2015),  Hidden Genocide: Power, Knowledge, Memory (Rutgers, 2014), Transitional Justice: Global Mechanisms and Local Realities after Genocide and Mass Violence (Rutgers, 2010), Genocide: Truth, Memory, and Representation (Duke, 2009), N

Jay Whitelaw   Jay and I talk about his new approach to giving and an amazing new app he’s designed called Givesome. We touch on philanthropy, why’s he’s passionate about the giver and how a meeting at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas changed his life.   Biography After 10 plus years as a Manager and Director at Eagle’s Flight, a Guelph-based international experiential training company, Jay Whitelaw is pursuing his passion for charitable work around the world.    Jay is the Executive Director and recent Founder of Givesome, a non-profit that provides a giving ‘experience’ by showing donors the difference they make through the gifts they give.     Jay lived in Namibia, Africa and created the concept for Givesome after seeing first hand the tangible difference that donations can have on individuals and communities in need.    Jay's desire is that Givesome will become a catalyst for an enormous increase in global giving.    He lives in Guelph, Ontario with his wife Hannah and 4-year-old son, Jackson.   For more info a

Mac King   Mac and I talk about comedy and magic, show business and working in Las Vegas and why he’s a good listener and how that makes him a better performer and why nice guys don't always finish last.   Biography   Acclaimed by MAGIC Magazine as the premiere comedy magician in the world today, magician and comedian Mac King was just named “Magician of the Year” by the Magic Castle in Hollywood, just broke a Guinness World Record, has appeared on seven TV specials for NBC-TV, just got voted the 6th best show in all of Las Vegas, just rocked on The Late Show With David Letterman, and his book from Random House just entered it’s ninth printing. How did a kid from Louisville, Kentucky find himself in the enviable position of being perhaps the funniest magician in America?   Mac became interested in magic as a kid because both of his grandfathers (Elwood Huffman and Pax King) were keen amateur magicians. Elwood would perform a trick for Mac, and when asked how he did it, Elwood would point to his shelf of magic

  Jeff McBride   Jeff talks about magic mystery and deception and magic as “effect without a casue.” He has plenty of wisdom and insight to share on the art of practice, discipline, and “expert simplicity” and about the power of possibility.   Biography   Jeff McBride, named Magician of the Year by The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, is recognized as a foremost innovator in contemporary magic. New York Times columnist Glenn Collins writes, "What Mr. McBride gives his audiences is a mesmerizing performance...a magic show that is at once a celebration of mystery and a struggle to understand powerful forces." McBride most recently headlined at Caesars Magical Empire in Las Vegas, where he was voted critics' choice as Best Magician in Las Vegas in the Review-Journal annual poll. He is featured on the PAX TV series, "Masters of Illusion." Earlier this year, McBride previewed his new theatrical show, The Forbidden Secret of Magic with Eugene Burger and Abbi Spinner at Magicopolis magic theatre in Los Angeles, and p

Marcie and I talk about empathy and others, magic, a shift in perspective, the power of film for social change and a “real sense of belonging.” Synopsis How much are you willing to sacrifice for your dream? MAGICIANS follows four very different professional magicians on stage and off, exploring how and why these characters so passionately dedicate their lives to the artistry and craft of illusion: from the most humbling of road gigs to the grandest performances on the biggest of stages; to finding love to terrible personal loss; and, most dramatically, to the prospect of losing everything for the one constant in their lives: magic. As we come to understand why each is pursuing his own dream, we’ll discover the greatest secret that has been hidden right before our eyes all along: far more fascinating than the magic are the magicians themselves. MAGICIANS was filmed over four years with unprecedented access at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, behind the scenes in Las Vegas, the magicians’ homes and wherever the

Michael talks about his new book Epiphany, dogmatism, the religious right, why he’s still so optimistic and his desire for change. Biography For four years Michael was the host of The Arena, a nightly television show on Sun News. For more than twelve years he was host/producer of The Michael Coren Show on Crossroads Television, presenting more than 3000 episodes and winning numerous awards. Michael is a columnist for Ottawa Life, Snowbirds Magazine and The Landowner and a monthly columnist for The Winnipeg Free Press and The Toronto Star. He is also a regular contributor to Metro News and The Walrus. He appears each week on Newstalk 1010 radio and is a frequent guest on TVOntario’s The Agenda and guest hosts on CKTB radio. He is the best-selling author of fifteen books, including biographies of G.K. Chesterton, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. He has contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography and several other anthologies. He is published in many countries and in more th

  Susanne Regina Meures Susanne and I talk about her new film Raving Iran, freedom, the politics of fear, oppression and the power of friendship. Trailer   Synopsis Directed by Susanne Regina Meures, a Swiss filmmaker, the documentary addresses the hardships of following your dreams for two local DJs Anoosh and Arash. They are extremely passionate about pursuing dance music and are “tired of hiding from the police and their stagnating career." In order to follow their heart, they "organize one last manic techno rave under dangerous circumstances in the desert.” The Iranian government has banned Western music, among other things, which has lead to cultural oppression in the country. “When Anoosh is arrested, there seems to be no hope left. But then they receive a phone call from the biggest techno festival in the world. Once landed in Switzerland, the haze of the instant euphoria evaporates quickly when the seriousness of the situation starts to dawn on them.” Biography Susanne was born in the West of Germany

  Mitch and I talk today about patient centered care, meditation, why the “system” is broken, dehumanization, music and the arts and how it’s all connected to our understating of mind/body health.   Biography   Dr. Mitch Abrams, M.D. FRCP, is a Canadian radiologist, medical educator and held the post of Department Chair of Radiology at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.    His experiences as a radiologist and his observations as a patient following heart surgery changed his thoughts on the profession he loves.  Realizing medicine, as we know it has a limited scope Dr. Abrams is taking a partial leave of absence to launch a non-profit/social entrepreneurial program creating and promoting a new approach to well-being.     ----------   For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here.   With thanks to producer Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nicholas Greco   Listen in as Nicholas talks about vapid pop songs, Bono and U2, activism and idealism, why music matters more than we know and how one can transcend the here and now at a rock concert.   Please Note: Here’s a little update on a reference that Nicholas makes during the interview. The song he refers to at the end of the podcast is “Elvis Presley and America” from The Unforgettable Fire. The live track is from the the Live in Chicago DVD (right tour, but he referenced the wrong DVD), and the track is “40,” not “Yahweh.”   Biography   Dr. Nicholas P. Greco is Associate Professor of Communications and Media at Providence University College in Otterburne, Manitoba. Dr. Greco’s doctoral dissertation explored the enigmatic star image and the nature of fan desire in the case of British singer Morrissey.   He in interested in the nature of celebrity, the construction of masculinity and the sacramental nature of the televisual work of Joss Whedon.   His latest book is called David Bowie in Darkness: A

    Listen in as Peter talks about what it means to be human, why he believes in something beyond himself, how we shapes our understanding in pubic life and why he thinks we should all be eating lunch at home a little more often.   Convivium Magazine   Biography   Peter has been a professional journalist since 1979. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Montreal’s The Gazette newspaper, editor of the Calgary Sun, Editorial pages editor of the Calgary Herald, and the vice-president of English editorial for Reader’s Digest Canadian magazines, where he oversaw the launch of new publications such as the highly successful Best Health. In 2009, he co-founded with Father Raymond J. de Souza the magazine Convivium, which is published by the think tank Cardus. In 2011, Peter published the short story collection “If Only” through Montreal publisher Siren Song Press. He also has his own media company, Prima Communication, which offers strategic planning, editing, writing and photographic services. He currently divides his time

  Christal talks about finding bravery when you need it most, looking for new stories to tell, how we need to change the questions we so often ask and why there is something beautiful about the inquisitive mind.   Biography   Christal Earle is a passionate communicator and powerhouse of inspiration and insight. Over the course of her career she has co-founded an internationally recognized charity (www.livedifferent.com), worked with numerous clients and audiences around the world focused on humanitarian endeavours driven by vision and the entrepreneurial spirit. Christal’s message of understanding and embracing the brilliance of who you are and leveraging that to bring about hope and change to others resonates at both the personal level and from the stage. Since 2001, Christal has been inspiring audiences all around the world, from all walks of life. From high schools and universities to international development and aid workers, to community interest and investment groups she has brought messages that hav

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril   Alethea and I talk about her new film Angry Inuk, the “People of the Seal”, cultural prejudice, setting the Inuit record straight, song battles and a new model for animal activism.   Watch the Trailer here.   Synopsis   Anti–seal hunting campaigns have attracted high profile supporters, and with them, hefty financial contributions. From Pamela Anderson to Paul McCartney, celebrities have voiced their outrage about an issue they seem keenly unqualified to discuss. Meanwhile, seal hunters are unjustly targeted for traditional practices that have supported them for centuries.   With a way of life on the cusp of extinction, who's really at fault? How does a culture that exercises understated anger and finds peaceful ways to resolve conflict compete with animal activist groups that rely on anti-sealing sentiment they aggressively cultivate to underwrite their other causes?   Alethea Arnaquq-Baril uses her filmmaking skills to organize and embolden a new tech-savvy generation of Inuit to sta

Todd and Jedd Wider Todd, Jedd and Lori I talk about their new film God Knows Where I Am. We touch on mental health issues, the “other”, the poetic edge to filmmaking and the “ever porous cracks” in our social safety nets. Watch the Trailer here. Synopsis The body of a homeless woman is found in an abandoned New Hampshire farmhouse. Beside the body, lies a diary that documents a journey of starvation and the loss of sanity, but told with poignance, beauty, humour, and spirituality. For nearly four months, Linda Bishop, a prisoner of her own mind, survived on apples and rain water, waiting for God to save her, during one of the coldest winters on record. As her story unfolds from different perspectives, including her own, we learn about our systemic failure to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Biography For over sixteen years, Todd and Jedd Wider have produced numerous critically and commercially successful feature documentary films including the 2012 King’s Point nominated for an Academy Award for

Anjali Nayar   Anjali and I talk about the power of storytelling to change lives, her new film Gun Runners, friendship, the mediations of the marathon runner, the Global South and why we need to spend more time listening to others.   Synopsis When it comes to world-class marathon runners, Kenyans are considered the cream of the crop. Particularly those from Kenya’s Rift Valley. These athletes have won marathons in London, New York and Berlin, and have set countless world records. But some of Kenya’s top runners aren’t running for fame and fortune. Some are wanted warriors, running for their lives. For years, Julius Arile and Robert Matanda thrive among the roaming bands of warriors that terrorize the North Kenyan countryside. By the time they reach their mid-twenties, stealing cattle, raiding and running from the police is the only life they know. So when both warriors suddenly disappear from the bush, many of their peers assume they are dead or have been arrested. Instead, they trade in their rifles for snea