One in four men will have to deal with a hernia in their lifetime. Peter and Harry have a phone discussion about their respective inguinal hernias and compare their private versus public care experiences in Ontario, Canada: Peter at the Shouldice Hospital, Harry at a public hospital. SPECIAL NOTE: While private hospitals are not allowed under Ontario's Private Hospitals Act, Shouldice Hospital is one of seven private hospitals in the province grandfathered under the Act. The hospital has been co...
May 05, 2024•32 min
It’s an open secret that Peter’s co-host Harry is obsessed with the game of chess, as is The Sill’s interview guest, Kyle Creamer, who harry met at the Bluenose Open chess tournament in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Kyle’s first published book chronicles his journey towards the title of Grandmaster. Kyle Creamer - https://kylecreamerauthor.com Duration: 37:07 Credit: Kyle Creamer reads an excerpt from his book ‘My Chess Memoir” and movie segment from ‘The Life Of A King’. Posted: April 21, 2024 Highligh...
Apr 21, 2024•37 min
Following Harry’s recent talk at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Peter reached out to him by phone to discuss the highlights of the presentation and celebrate the release of Harry’s latest poetry book titled ‘Fractures’. Duration: 27:23 Credit: YouTube Segment with Mary Oliver - Wild Geese Posted: April 7, 2024 Highlights Harry discusses his poetry and latest book release "Fractures" Peter engages in a conversation with Harry about the relevance of poetry in the digital age and the ...
Apr 07, 2024•27 min
Dreams can become a reality. In this informative and very expressive episode of travel adventures abroad, join our guest and world traveler, Stefania Ingrosso, as she shares her experiences and insights on embarking on her transformative journey, offering a glimpse into the joys, challenges, and rewards of exploring half the world’s countries together as a family. Duration: 39:10 Posted: March 24, 2024 Highlights Stefania Ingrosso's extensive travel experiences (98 countries and counting) Her fi...
Mar 24, 2024•39 min
The hosts reminisce on their formative years growing up in the 50’s, 60’, and 70’s, culminating in the question: Was life more straightforward and less fragmented in those days, as compared to life today? Duration: 31:16 Credit: YouTube Segment with Karen Morgan - Every Generation Explained Posted: March 10, 2024 Highlights Comparison of culture and lifestyle between the 50s, 60s, and 70s and the current times Changes in technology, information flow, and societal shifts Impact of increased immig...
Mar 10, 2024•31 min
The notion of evil is nothing new, but the word itself has become an increasing part of our daily lexicon. Is this word overused? Should we modify our understanding of this word and the way we apply it in our daily life? Duration: 31:27 Credit: YouTube Segment with Ricky Gervais - Invite Hitler Or Little Girl With Food Allergies Posted: February 25, 2024 Highlights: Concept of evil and its evolution in society Different types of evil and their connections to religious beliefs Societal perception...
Feb 25, 2024•31 min
In acknowledgement of the exponential growth of podcast listeners around the world, The Sill presents a montage of episode segments for those of you who are new to our podcast. This episode includes excerpts from some of our past ‘Planetary Postcards’ and ‘The Undefinable Spirit’ interviews. The complete episodes of the included interviewees, in sequential order: 1. TSP064 - The Undefinable Spirit: Dr. Claudia Six on her book, Erotic Integrity. 2. TSP081 - The Undefinable Spirit: Re-imagining Ar...
Feb 11, 2024•38 min
In this post - not - post period of the Covid Chapter, it seems clear that there’s still no absolute clarity about the impact this chapter is having on our individual and collective well being. What happened and how do we gain perspective on that period, and move towards a healing process? Duration: 37:28 Credit: Excess deaths debate on January 16 with UK Parliament member Andrew Bridgen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ej5Se4gMRA Posted: January 28, 2024 Highlights: COVID-19 pandemic Excess d...
Jan 28, 2024•38 min
A conversation exploring the physiological and psychological effects of a hurried lifestyle on people's innate and natural rhythms. As life’s tempo accelerates exponentially around us, how can we not only cope, but also thrive in this frenetic environment? Duration: 29:01 Posted: January 14, 2024 Highlights: Impact of technology on the pace of life Negative effects of constant hurry Devaluation of language and communication Lack of thoughtful responses Art of listening being lost Physiological a...
Jan 14, 2024•29 min
Last rights, or last rites? Before the curtain is drawn, somber or joyful, which would you choose? Duration: 25:18 Posted: December 31, 2023 Highlights: * Preferences for own funerals and ways to celebrate life and honour the deceased * Personal experiences with funerals, including those of family members * Harry's desire to be cremated and have his ashes spread under an oak tree * Celebrating life instead of tear-filled ceremonies and sadness at funerals * Pre-funeral funerals and involving the...
Dec 31, 2023•25 min
Automation’s impact on our everyday life. A wolf in sheep’s clothing? Duration: 21:41 Music Credit: Flight Of The Conchords - Robots Posted: December 17, 2023 Highlights: Impact of automation on society Historical context of automation and the industrial revolution Automation affecting both blue-collar and white-collar workers Challenges of transitioning to new jobs in the technological landscape Increasing number of people who do not want to work Need for developing new skills and financial inc...
Dec 17, 2023•22 min
Unpacking the idea of freedom in a world seemingly bound by restrictions and limitations. Breaking the shackles. Duration: 21:42 Posted: December 3, 2023 Highlights: Limitations of freedom of speech and self-censorship in society Societal norms and the influence of religion on censorship Control of information and manipulation in censorship Personal education and open-mindedness for a more tolerant society Role of education in changing societal norms and laws Impact of technology on freedom of s...
Dec 03, 2023•22 min
From the Humongous Fungus of Oregon to the wave of human migration spreading across our planet, life has become more dependent than ever on the value of connectivity. Duration: 28:19 VoxBox: Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. Posted: November 19, 2023 Highlights: Importance of connection and continuity in communities Symbiotic relationship between a Hippo and an Oxpecker Interconnectedness of nature and the humongous fungus Role of storytelling in communities Challenges of technolo...
Nov 19, 2023•28 min
Is it live or is it Memorex? Sifting through a world of facsimile in a quest for authenticity. Duration: 18:58 Music Credit: Ella Fitzgerald singing behind, ‘Is it live or is it Memorex?’. Posted: November 5, 2023 Highlights: Lack of authenticity in food and the rise of simulated products Disconnect between people and the source of their food Decline of authenticity in music and art Personal authenticity and the different personas people adopt Self-perception and living an authentic life Financi...
Nov 05, 2023•19 min
Modern western medicine would be wise to embrace and integrate the traditional art of healing. Duration: 24:25 Posted: October 22, 2023 Highlights: Benefits of natural remedies and integrative medicine Importance of considering weight, lifestyle, and nutrition before medication Holistic and naturopathic treatments gaining popularity Criticism of profit motive in pharmaceutical industry and side effects of medications Limited focus on nutrition in medical education Benefits of garlic, oil of oreg...
Oct 22, 2023•24 min
The short answer is yes… The sonic landscapes through which we move offer us both challenges to, and opportunities for, our general health. Duration: 24:32 Posted: October 8, 2023 Highlights Impact of technology on sound and noise levels Effects of sound on hearing impairment Characteristics of sound: frequency, quality, and loudness Measurement of sound volume in decibels Introduction of noise pollution through technology Positive and negative aspects of sound Challenges faced by people with he...
Oct 08, 2023•25 min
Ageism is the new social prejudice, at a time when people over 65 are beginning to outnumber those under 15. Coping with the disadvantages of aging, while cherishing the advantages a long life can bring. Duration: 22:16 Posted: September 24, 2023 HIghlights: Aging and its perception in different cultures Prevalence of ageism in society Bridging the generation gap and learning from each other Impact of traumatic experiences on internal age Correlation between music preference and youth Increasing...
Sep 24, 2023•22 min
For millennia, lullabies have lulled children into slumber land. From ancient Egypt to modern day, tunes like Twinkle,Twinkle, Little Star and their relative importance often goes unnoticed or unappreciated. Duration: 22:41 VoxBox: Audio segments from YouTube - Various artists and performers. Music Credit: Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Posted: September 10, 2023 HIghlights: History and significance of lullabies Origins and variations of the song "Twinkle Twinkle Little...
Sep 10, 2023•23 min
Solo bassoonist, Nadina Mackie is the most widely recorded Canadian bassoonist in history, with 17 new works for solo bassoon and orchestra written for her in the last decade. Nadina intimately describes her journey. Nadina Mackie: https://nadinamackie.com Duration: 37:54 VoxBox: Audio segments from YouTube - March 2014 - Trumpet virtuoso Guy Few and bassoonist Nadina Mackie. The Canadian duo stopped by the Classic 107 studio to talk with host Bill Richardson. Music Credit: Nadina Mackie and Guy...
Aug 27, 2023•38 min
For almost fifteen hundred years, the largest basilica in the world, Hagia Sophia, was at the spiritual centre of both the Christian and Muslim worlds. An architectural wonder, it inspired builders and designers of sacred spaces for centuries. Duration - 23:12 Credit: NPR excerpt on 'The Sound of The Hagia Sophia, More Than 500 Years Ago.' Posted: August 13, 2023 Highlights: Architectural features of the Hagia Sophia Transformation of the Hagia Sophia from a church to a mosque Historical and cul...
Aug 13, 2023•23 min
The early industrial revolution spawned a spirit of experimentation and invention, and gave birth to innovative individuals - as noted in this podcast - Thomas Edison, Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse. These inventors, among others, were instrumental in creating technologies that fundamentally changed the world forever. Duration - 31:07 Credit: YouTube Segment on Thomas Edison with Comic Tim Wilson Posted: July 30, 2023
Jul 30, 2023•31 min
Two of the most fundamental human activities, rocking and rolling, have catalyzed human behaviour and invention for thousands of years. From technological developments to popular toys, their influence is immeasurable. Duration - 27:17 Credit: YouTube Segment on Alan Freed - Rock & Roll Radio Show Posted: July 16, 2023
Jul 16, 2023•27 min
Getting old is inevitable, and yet we struggle with accepting this very natural process. As a society, how do we navigate the minefield of social obligations, economic necessities and physical reality of a fast growing sector of the population? Duration - 31:55 Posted: July 2, 2023
Jul 02, 2023•32 min
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is enveloping humankind like an uncertain cloud. From its unofficial origins in 1940’s wartime Europe to the modern day furor over ChatGPT, advancements in AI magnify the critical questions about human evolution and the world of technology. Duration - 36:21 Credit: YouTube Segments on AI co-produced Taryn Southern's new album and Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner Posted: June 18, 2023
Jun 18, 2023•36 min
Much of what we take for granted in the affluent West is a direct result or consequence of the impulse to protest injustices and other forms of oppression. There are more ways than ever, in the modern world, to express and actualize our discontent. From the use of social media to creating a podcast to approaching a local politician, protest, both individual and group, continues to be a powerful agent for change. Duration - 32:30 Credits: YouTube Segment with Peter Finch from the movie Network Po...
Jun 04, 2023•33 min
From ancient Etruscan jewelry to barbed wire to submarine cables criss-crossing the world’s oceans, the ubiquity of wire in underpinning our current way of life is undeniable. Not only is the history of wire fascinating, it’s the precursor to the wired and now wireless world we live in. Duration - 31:03 Posted: May 21, 2023
May 21, 2023•31 min
No one flies solo in this world. All life forms, from beginning to end, are engaged in acts of ongoing collaboration, the joys of which should be extolled. Duration - 32:59 Credits: YouTube Segments with John Lennon & Paul McCartney and Abbot & Costello Posted: May 7, 2023
May 07, 2023•33 min
Smartphones have become the Swiss Army knives of the 21st century, in that they provide one source access to many tools. Has our dependence on smartphone technology created deep psychological and/or sociological dis-ease?… The debate continues. Duration - 31:30 Posted: April 23, 2023
Apr 23, 2023•32 min
In this milestone - 200th episode of The Sill, hosts Peter and Harry mine the audio landscape created over the last six years. Favourite episodes, experiences gained and lessons learned, we share the joys and challenges of producing more than one hundred hours of varied and thoughtful content. Duration - 31:13 Posted: April 9, 2023
Apr 09, 2023•31 min
The dynamics of the late Middle Ages, which included the Black Plague, famine and religious wars, paved the way for the historical period most commonly referred to as the Renaissance. Are there parallels between the evolutionary developments - the printing press, individualism and humanism - of the Renaissance and our current world? Duration - 34:52 Posted: March 26, 2023
Mar 26, 2023•35 min
