On Docs

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, carpenter Khaleel Seivwright found himself busy building shelters for unhoused people. He'd calculated that a person living in one of the structures he was making could act as a heat source. His tiny shelters would be a vital resource as winter arrived in the city and they had the potential to save lives. But the City of Toronto took a dim view of his work. John Tory's government filed a court injunction against Seivwright and continued to criminalize those living in parks. The city's argument against the shelters was that the tiny wooden houses were unsafe, fire hazards for those who lived in them, and for the surrounding neighbourhoods. In protest, community activists organized rallies and placed signs on the small shelters stating, "Someone lives here. Please don't remove." They criticized the government for this move against unhoused people and its lack of action when it came to the housing and homelessness crisis. The documentary "Someone Lives Here" captures Khaleel Seivwright's struggles to get the buildings certified as safe and his search for accountability from municipal politicians. The film won the Roger's Audience Award at Hot Docs. Zack Russell, the film's director, and Khaleel Seivwright, the subject of the documentary, speak to Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka on this episode of TVO's On Docs podcast. They dissect the making of the documentary, how the tiny house project started, how the tiny shelters were made, and the public response to the initiative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's in New York or Toronto, Chinatowns are being attacked by the forces of gentrification, development pressure, and much more. But communities are resisting this pressure to retain their intangible cultural heritage forged by the bonds of a shared history - often tied together by the historical racist policies of their new homes. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka talk with director Karen Cho and community organizer Rick Wong about how Cho's new documentary, "Big Fight in Little Chinatown," shows how people are mobilizing to save these places.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Satanic Panic - a phenomenon of the 1980s and '90s - was a terrifying rollercoaster for all involved. Accusations of child sacrifice ruined lives as the public sought answers for why everyone suddenly seemed to have been victims of Satanists and Satanic rituals. Amplified by the Catholic Church, law enforcement and daytime TV, rumours of these cults made their way through fearful communities, creating a witch hunt for anyone believed to be part of alleged Satanic worship groups.At the centre of this conspiracy was a book called "Michelle Remembers," a memoir published in 1980 by Canadian psychiatrist Larry Pazder and his patient Michelle Smith in which Smith's recounted false memories where she was abducted and tortured by a satanic cult in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.The new documentary, "Satan Wants You," describes the experiences of the satanic panic, how the memoir (,Michelle Remembers,) sparked it, and exposes how a lie from a Canadian patient and doctor became an enduring myth. The film was featured at HotDocs and SXSW, and its filmmakers Sean Horlor and Steve J. Adams speak to Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka on this episode of TVO's On Docs podcast. They dissect the chilling story and production behind "Satan Wants You," and the satanic panic phenomenon of the 1980s and '90s. Stay connected to On Docs and TVO's latest documentaries: https://www.tvo.org/ Listen to more TVO Podcasts: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters Follow Nam Kiwanuka on Twitter - https://twitter.com/namshine Follow Colin Ellis on Twitter - https://twitter.com/ColinEllis81 Get the TVO Today app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.tvo.tvomediaapp&pli=1 TVO Today is a trusted source of insight and information about life in Ontario and beyond. Our award-winning current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts explore relevant issues and inspiring solutions. Visit https://www.tvo.org for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka celebrate On Docs' 100th episode with Jane Jankovic, TVO's executive producer for documentaries, in a wide-ranging discussion about the evolution of the documentary genre.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a spectacle, but in the spotlight is the country's use of migrant labour to build everything from stadiums to highways. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by Michael Page, Human Rights Watch's deputy director in the Middle East and North Africa, to talk about the sacrifices made for football. Canada Soccer has released a statement stating that, "Canada Soccer supports the ongoing pursuit of further progress regarding workers' rights and inclusivity as Qatar prepares to host the world."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with director Stacey Tenenbaum about "Scrap," the stuff that gets thrown into landfills and the title of her latest documentary on how we need to rethink our waste-filled consumer culture. They talk about photojournalists like Saumya Khandelwal who are capturing the stories of those most affected by waste and the movement trying to give consumers the right to repair their things.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka watch HBO's "Woodstock 99: Peace, Love, and Rage" and Netflix's "Trainwreck: Woodstock '99," and discuss the disastrous concert that redefined a legendary music festival. Nam Kiwanuka clip from Woodstock '99 credit: MuchMusic/BCE Inc./YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with filmmaker Sinead O'Shea about her latest documentary, "Pray for our Sinners," which explores the role of the Catholic Church in her hometown of Navan, Ireland.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis speaks with legendary singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie about how a new documentary, "Carry It On," captures her life and career. Clips courtesy Eagle Vision & White Pine Pictures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka chat with director Henri Pardo about his new documentary, "Dear Jackie." The film explores how Montreal attempted to cast itself as a post-racial city after legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson played for the Royals, but, as we learn from the stories of people from the city's historic Black neighbourhood Little Burgundy, it was anything but.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with Michelle Shephard and Sahal Abdulle about "The Perfect Story," a new documentary that examines what happens when cracks form in a journalist's story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this livestreamed conversation, Colin Ellis sits down with Mitch Azaria to talk about "TRIPPING The Bruce," which takes viewers on a tour of the northern coast of the Bruce Peninsula. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Abigail Disney thought about changing her name when she got married. While it's associated with Mickey Mouse and Marvel, the Happiest Place on Earth is also associated with poverty wages and trampling on workers' rights. Colin Ellis speaks with Disney about her documentary "The American Dream and Other Fairytales," and why it's important to advocate for workers' rights in the face of abusive corporate practices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm Crushing Your Head! Not actually, but if you know the phrase then there's a good chance you know The Kids in the Hall. Colin Ellis sits down with director Reg Harkema to talk about his latest film which explores the history of the comedy troupe and the many challenges - both professional and personal - they faced along the way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Months after Dewayne "Lee" Johnson was soaked from head to toe with a herbicide called Ranger Pro, he noticed lesions on his skin. What he'd developed was called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a form a cancer that's associated with glyphosate, the chemical the Monsanto Company had long touted as completely safe for humans. In this episode, Colin Ellis speaks with director Jennifer Baichwal about her latest doc "Into the Weeds," which explores Lee's fight for a warning label. Clip credits: Official trailer and clip: courtesy of Mongrel Media See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka speak with culture writer Sumiko Wilson about three different artists from three different generations: Olivia Rodrigo, Charlie XCX, and Ye. They also discuss how documentaries are being used to explore the stories behind these artists. Clip credits: Charli XCX: Alone Together | Official Trailer - Bradley&Pablo Film/Greenwich Entertainment/youtube.com OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film) | Official Trailer - Disney Entertainment/youtube.com jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy | Official Teaser - Netflix/youtube.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a world of rising cost and debt, calls for relief are growing stronger. Colin Ellis speaks with filmmaker Astra Taylor about her 2021 documentary "You Are Not a Loan," which looks at the power debtors possess that can change systems if they organize. They discuss how COVID changed the debt relief movement and how democracy is affected by people being forced to take on loans. You Are Not a Loan clip credit: Courtesy of Astra Taylor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Canada, only 31% of workers are unionized, but that's higher than it was in 2019. So, what's with the rise? It might have something to do with a global pandemic that's put workers in constant danger. In this episode, Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka watch 2019's "American Factory." Then, Colin digs further into the history of unions in Canada with economist Jim Stanford. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carbon: The Unauthorized Biography gives viewers an inside look at carbon - which could both doom us and save us in the climate emergency. To better understand this often-misunderstood element, Colin Ellis speaks with Phil De Luna, program director for the Energy Materials Challenge program at the Nation Research Council Canada, about the future of carbon including Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage technology. The Nature of Things clip credit: Handful of Films and Genepool Productions/facebook.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flee has been nominated for a trifecta of Oscars including Best Documentary Feature. In this episode, Colin Ellis speaks with Justin Chandler, co-host of Radio Free Krypton and TVO's Niagara-Hamilton Reporter on how this sub-genre of documentaries is evolving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bill Cosby had an enormous impact on the culture of the United States. He was a comedian, an educator, and a father figure, but accusations of sexual misconduct by 60 women, and his subsequent conviction and then release from prison in June 2021, have cast his legacy into a new light. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka discuss why it's so complicated to talk about Bill Cosby, and why it's necessary right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka as they discuss the crimes of Simon Leviev, the subject of the Netflix documentary The Tinder Swindler, and why his victims aren't to blame. Then Colin speaks with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre on how to avoid these scams and why they're so prevalent. Link to transcript See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who's going to win the Oscar for Best Documentary this year? Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by Jane Jankovic to go through this year's Oscar picks and decide who is going to be the winner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka are joined by TVO's slate of documentary and podcast people to recommend the best docs for the holidays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka take a deep dive into the friendship and eventual fallout between Malcolm X and Muhammed Ali in Netflix's new documentary about the two titans. Want to learn more? Check out these great recommendations from Colin and Nam: The Autobiography of Malcolm X - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/92057.The_Autobiography_of_Malcolm_X  Thrilla in Manila - https://youtu.be/rEtCq6X7fUI Manning marble: Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/297990/malcolm-x-by-manning-marable/ When We Were Kings - https://www.criterion.com/films/30086-when-we-were-kings Malcolm X (dir. Spike Lee) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FtH94TiL0I Ted Ed - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJcUnXTaCgU&list=PLw3JWyQ-DV4QnVdtJJqkx9mFGqWfhdhBX See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director Karen Shopsowitz and producer Meredith Usher join On Docs to discuss "Magic Shadows, Elwy Yost: A Life in Movies." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fear of rejection from coming out as gay is something that all of Sharon Lewis and Vinay Giridhar's subjects expressed while filming their latest documentaries, "With Wonder" and "Emergence: Out of the Shadows." While some faced alienation, many found acceptance - a sign of changing times and attitudes. They join On Docs to discuss their films and the intersections of faith, culture, and sexuality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elamin Abdelmahmoud, host of CBC's Pop Chat, joins On Docs to discuss celebrity documentaries from pop stars Billie Eilish and Demi Lovato, and what we get out of them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alanis Obomsawin joins On Docs to discuss "Honour to Senator Murray Sinclair," which explores the importance of talking about residential schools. There is a national, 24-hour, Indian Residential School Crisis Line to provide support to former students and others affected. Their phone number is 1-866-925-4419. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eva Orner joins On Docs to discuss her documentary, "Burning," which explores Australia's Black Summer and the alarms sounding on the climate crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Avrich joins On Docs to discuss Oscar Peterson: Black + White, which explores Peterson's legacy as one of the greatest pianists of all time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deeyah Khan joins On Docs to discuss Muslim in America: Legacy of Fear, which explores the discrimination faced by Muslims in a post-9/11 world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frishta Bastan was only a kid when the U.S. and its allies invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Growing up in Canada, she heard stories about the country's rich culture and beauty from her parents. She fought back against stereotypes of the country and its people. She speaks to Colin Ellis about a side of Afghanistan we don't hear about very often, and what she's been doing to help Afghan refugees. For more information: https://ayedi.ca/ccap/ https://idrf.ca/project/afghanistan/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist and filmmaker Julian Sher discusses the TVO Original documentary "Ghosts of Afghanistan" about the war in Afghanistan, 20 years after 9/11. Narrated by former Canadian war correspondent Graeme Smith, the doc looks at the failure to bring democracy, and women's rights to a country now in the hands of the Taliban. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back to On Docs, TVO's podcast about the stories documentaries tell. Join Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka as they explore fascinating films with the creators who bring them to life. New episodes start October 8th. Can't get enough of documentaries and the diverse stories they tell? Make a donation today at www.tvo.org/supportpods to support TVO's On Docs podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anonymous. We may not know who they are, but we know what they've done. They've targeted the Church of Scientology, kept the internet on during the Arab Spring, and boosted the sales of Guy Fawkes masks. Their anonymity and ubiquity as their power, so that's why Commander X is such a controversial figure. Director Gary Lang joins On Docs to talk about "The Face of Anonymous," which follows Commander X who was once part of a notorious hacktivist group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1968, while white women were burning their bras in protest of the Miss America beauty contest, Black women and men were protesting the fact that no one from their community had ever been able to participate. Fast forward to 2019, every single major beauty pageant in America was won by a Black woman. What changed? Director Jen Holness joins On Docs to talk about "Subjects of Desire," which explores how Black women have redefined beauty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sesame Street was created with a simple idea: Kids spend a lot of time watching television, so could that screen time be used to educate? It seems obvious now, but this is how the show created the template for educational programming. And the show's aim went even higher with an integrated cast and a goal of educating America's Black children. Director Marilyn Agrelo joins the podcast to talk about her documentary, "Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street," and explore Sesame Street's legacy. Can’t get enough of documentaries and the diverse stories they tell? Make a donation today at www.tvo.org/supportpods to support TVO’s OnDocs podcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of us are accustomed to accessing goods and services at pretty much anytime of the day. For workers, who don't work nine-to-five, grabbing a late-night snack or visiting a hospital, this is just part of modern life. Loira Limbal joins On Docs to talk about her film, "Through the Night," which visits a 24-hour daycare in New York run by Dolores "Nunu" and Patrick Hogan that lets kids stay the night as their parents work the night shift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canada is one of the only countries in the world with legislation that directly targets LGBTQ refugees for sponsorship. Directors Sean Horlor and Stephen J. Adams latest documentary "Someone Like Me" follows one of these newcomers, a young man named Drake, as he arrives in Vancouver from Uganda and sets out on a new life. But while he's able to be out and proud, Drake starts to experience racism and economic disparity - two huge challenges that his sponsors struggle to help him overcome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In what's become an annual tradition, On Docs is taking a look at the Oscar nominees for best documentary. This year's nominees include: "Crip Camp," "Collective," "Time," The Mole Agent," and "My Octopus Teacher." Joining Colin and Nam is Jane Jankovic, TVO's Executive Producer of Documentaries, to discuss the best of the best in documentaries this year. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tina Turner's name is synonymous with rock and roll, but what you might not know is that she was born as Anna Mae Bullock. Her stage name was given to her by legendary musician Ike Turner, but as we discover in HBO's documentary "Tina," the name was about the only positive aspect of her relationship with him. Colin Ellis and Nam Kiwanuka dig into the documentary and what it uncovers about Turner's life and career, and the power of reclaiming a name. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.