The Sill - podcast cover

The Sill

Peter Noce & Harry Posnerwww.thesillpodcast.com
From Canada, with Peter Noce, a media producer and technology trainer/tutor and Harry Posner, a writer, author and former Poet Laureate; sharing our interests and passions with you, on 'The Sill'. The original concept of our podcast was to explore areas relating to Art and Technology, evolving into a virtually ‘no limits’ conversation. Neither of us are experts, nor profess to be. We are on the same level as the listener, offering up ideas and thoughts that come from our life experiences, inviting listeners to eavesdrop on what we hope is an enjoyable and interesting dialogue. We discuss artificial intelligence, the power of poetry in the digital age, explore the worlds of tea and coffee, aging, death and dying, and interview a range of fascinating people. The whole point is to both educate and entertain, and to re-enliven the art of conversation.
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Episodes

TSP138 - Time Trek: From promise to disaster.

Disaster has befallen humanity countless times throughout history, From the Titanic to The Great Depression to the failed revolution of the 1960's, the hosts, along with Canadian historian Hugh Brewster, explore the promise that preceded the calamity. Duration - 42:51

Nov 22, 202043 min

TSP136 - PH Factor: Muzzling Dissent - Access denied.

The right to free speech is not a given. In this day of ‘unfriending’, it is easy to muzzle our fellow human beings, in order to control the narrative. From censorship on campuses to discouraging your children from, “Speaking until spoken to”, the impulse to deny self expression is a social sickness in need of healing. Duration - 39:41 YouTube excerpt with Brendan O'Neill - ‘Freedom of Speech and Right to Offend’

Oct 25, 202040 min

TSP135 - Time Trek: It’s the apocalypse and Armageddon outta here!

“It’s the end of the world as we know it.”, has been a refrain heard many times before in human history. From the cult of Christianity to Nostradamus’s prophecies to the tragedy of Jonestown to the Covid-19 crisis, the challenge to avert disaster has been a catalyst for change. Duration - 37:11 YouTube excerpt with Rod Serling - Twilight Episode ‘Obsolete Man’

Oct 11, 202037 min

TSP134 - The Undefinable Spirit: Simran Bhamu - From India with love.

From Delhi to Canada, Simran Bhamu’s journey has taken her through poverty, immigration, racism, politics, and ultimately a fulfilling life in a country she now calls home. Simran Bhamu is the definition of a very capable, compassionate and enlightened soul. Simran Bhamu simran.bhamu@gmail.com Duration - 42:32

Sep 27, 202043 min

TSP133 - PH factor: Becoming Other - If not now, when?

This period of Covid-19, has catalyzed the impulse towards personal and societal change. The question is how capable are we, as individuals and members of society, to realize these changes, given the power of traditional thinking and habits? Duration - 34:56

Sep 13, 202035 min

TSP132 - Time Trek: Pasteurization - Don’t cry over ‘spoilt’ milk.

The invisible universe of the biome became more visible through the work of many 19th century scientific researchers. One of the preeminent adventurers into the microbial world, Louis Pasteur unveiled the essential role micro-organisms play in the healthy functioning of our ecosystems. Famous for the process of pasteurization, Pasteur was also instrumental in breaking new ground in the vaccine and hygiene domains. Duration - 35:52 YouTube excerpts with comic Orny Adams - ‘I Was Raised on Germs’ ...

Aug 30, 202036 min

TSP131 - The Undefinable Spirit: Janet-Lynn Morrison - From 0 to fierce.

If there was ever an example of how a world view can impact one’s life, Janet-Lynn Morrison is one. Understanding, forgiveness and resiliency resonate throughout our phone conversation with this intelligent and caring soul. Her story of moving ‘from 0 to fierce’ is compelling and inspirational. Janet-Lynn Morrison: https://www.janet-lynn.com Duration - 45:21 Book Link: Million Dollar Soup - https://www.janet-lynn.com/the-million-dollar-soup/

Aug 16, 202045 min

TSP130 - PH Factor: Every Breath You Take - The body politic.

Is it even possible anymore, that human beings can communicate with each other, directly and authentically, given the pandemic of politicization? The challenge to defy categorization is paramount in our attempt to resist the ‘isms’ that have engulfed us. Duration - 48:52 Two additional YouTube segments featuring Esther Perel on ‘The communication error we all make, and how it intensifies conflict’

Aug 02, 202049 min

TSP129 - Time Trek: F’ Me, F’ You - The history of pejoratives.

The history of pejoratives touches on religion, social mores and political correctness, vividly expressing strong emotions or sentiments. The use of swear words was well accepted up until the Renaissance, after which these so-called ‘dirty’ words became ostracized, litigated, and otherwise suppressed. EXPLICIT CONTENT Duration - 35:04 Additional YouTube segment featuring swear words in different languages.

Jul 19, 202035 min

TSP128 - The Undefinable Spirit: Nicole Wicki - Courage, conviction and cure.

Numerous times in her young life, Nicole Wicki, has had the courage to make life changing decisions en route to making a life more connected to nature, balancing body and mind. Swiss born and raised, she currently makes her home on a remote 10 acre farm on ‘Te Waipounamu’ (Maori name for New Zealand’s South Island), striving to live off the grid, while embracing a healthier lifestyle. Nicole Wicki: http://www.wickiwell.com Duration - 27:32 Additional segment featuring interviewee Nicole Wicki, w...

Jul 05, 202028 min

TSP127 - PH Factor: It’s A DIY World - Peggy Lee’s Delicious Lips

Do-it-yourself, on the surface a new fad propelled by the COVID crisis, is in fact an age old go to and accepted MO throughout human history. Using the creation of a DIY audiobook - Peggy Lee’s Delicious Lips - as an example, we talk about the process from A to Z. Duration - 34:12 Segment with author Harry Posner narrating a section from his newly released audiobook, Peggy Lee’s Delicious Lips

Jun 21, 202034 min

TSP125 - PH Factor: Necessity is the mother.

During the mother of all crises, another mother is stepping up to give birth to a plethora of creative responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not surprising, in light of other historical upheavals, out of which emerged new and unique technologies and approaches to problem solving. Duration - 36:14 VoxBox: YouTube segment - Family invents ‘Hug Glove’ so they can cuddle their Grandma on Mother’s Day.

May 24, 202036 min

TSP124 - The Undefinable Spirit: Sandy Brown, citizen first, Mayor second.

A down to earth conversation with the Mayor of Orangeville, a small town in Southern Ontario Canada, as the community responds to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. From Zoom coffee chats to encouraging support for small business, Mayor Sandy Brown offers a very candid and grounded perspective. Mayor Sandy Brown: https://www.orangeville.ca/council-1/members-of-council/sandy-brown-mayor Duration - 34:22 VoxBox: YouTube segment - 'My Corona' by Chris Mann...

May 10, 202034 min

TSP123 - Time Trek: What a difference a year makes.

We hop in our time machine and come out Sept 11, 2021, a year after the all clear was given on the COVID-19 Pandemic and we have witnessed numerous changes for the better, and some for the worse. From the micro to the macro, we’ve undergone a variety of transformations on a scale previously unimagined. Duration - 30:53 VoxBox: YouTube Segment - Corona Lockdown! Can Anything Positive Come From This? with Russell Brand

Apr 26, 202031 min

TSP122 - PH Factor: COVID-19 - What is a life worth?

At the time of this podcast, the number of global COVID-19 cases has eclipsed the 1,000,000 mark with over 50,000 deaths. We are confronting an unparalleled firestorm of ethical and moral dilemmas, in the face of mushrooming economic turmoil. Over 3 days, and from a distance, these issues and more, inform a time-lapse dialogue. Duration - 1:05:21 Featuring author Andrew Welch, “Save the people, save all of the people, and we’ll save the economy - Hammer vs. Paint Roller” https://thevaluecrisis.b...

Apr 12, 20201 hr 5 min

TSP121 - PH Factor: COVID-19, tragedy or opportunity?

The COVID-19 is proving transformational on a level that has not been seen since 911. Could this be a pivotal paradigm shift in the way we treat each other and all life forms on the planet? Duration - 47:28 Poems by: Harry Posner - Ode To A Virus - written on January 29, 2020 & Father Richard Henrick, OFM - Lockdown - March 13, 2020 Music by: Erin Bolton - erinboltonmusic.com - 'World Speaking' and 'Quarantine'

Mar 30, 202047 min

TSP120 - Time Trek: Hagia Sophia - Church of the holy wisdom.

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.' Highlights: Architectural features of the Hagia Sophia Transformation of the Hagia Sophia from a church to a mosque Historical and cultural significance of th...

Mar 16, 202023 min

TSP118 - PH Factor: Hurry up and wait.

We spend an average of 5 years waiting in lines and queues during our lifetime. Is waiting a waste of time, or can we alter our perspective about these (commonly) anxiety-making situations? Duration - 33:11 VoxBox: Harry Posner - "Wait for it.”

Feb 17, 202033 min

TSP117 - Time Trek: Paradise or infogedden?

An exploration into the evolution of information gathering, its historical milestones, including moral and ethical implications for the human condition. From Tesla to Turing and beyond, does the expanding data highway offer us more unprecedented challenges than benefits? Duration - 36:49 VoxBox: You Tube excerpts from 1970 - IBM Vintage Computers Promo Film - Historical Data Processing and The Myths of Big Data/Science Comedian Vince Ebert

Feb 03, 202037 min

TSP116 - The Undefinable Spirit: Richard Mongiat and the big picture.

On the heels of the last podcast, between dog and wolf, inspired by a painting (Entre Chien et Loup) of the same name, the hosts discuss all things art with painter Richard Mongiat, whose focus and range of activities elevate him beyond the typical one note artist. Richard Mongiat: https://www.richardmongiat.com Duration - 40:47 VoxBox: CBC digital archives - Excerpt from ‘Gallery patrons shocked by Prent sculptures’ - Broadcast March 12, 1973...

Jan 20, 202041 min

TSP115 - PH Factor: Between dog and wolf.

The balancing act of our primal instincts versus our domestic existence from children’s stories to the world of cinema, from Paganism to Christianity, the symbol of the wolf has been a central theme, painted in both a positive and negative light. Duration - 22:26 VoxBox: Audiobook excerpt from White Fang, by Jack London - DBS Audio Books

Jan 06, 202022 min

TSP114 - Time Trek: Inside The Pod - Where to, from here?

A look at the future of podcasting and its relevance as just another media platform, among many that have been or will be absorbed by the ‘big boys’. The hosts, Peter and Harry, discuss the joys, challenges and purpose of the Sill podcast and its ‘limitless’ possibilities. Duration - 26:28 Opening Segment: Beau York on Ted Talks - The Power of Podcasting VoxBox: Excerpt from The BBC Academy Podcast - Podcastology episode six: Future directions

Dec 23, 201926 min

TSP113 - PH Factor: Hunger Reigns - Feast, famine and faith.

Nearly a billion people in the world experience hunger, while nearly a billion are obese. Like many challenges confronting society in today’s world the issue is not availability, it is excessive waste and distribution. Our collective hunger and survival is not limited to food. From fasting to spiritual searching, and everything in between, our quest for ‘nourishment’ comes in many forms. Duration - 28:50 Included Segment: Harry Posner recites his poem ‘We Of The Full’

Dec 09, 201929 min

TSP112 - Transcendent Tunes: Harry Chapin’s shot to the heart.

Harry Chapin left us too soon, but he left us with compelling stories reflecting the era he lived in. Although not one of his most well known hits, Sniper, is perhaps his most eloquent, timeless comment on humankind’s fragile psyche. Duration - 29:43 VoxBox: YouTube - Harry Chapin questions and answers (Soundstage) Music Credit: Harry Chapin - Sniper & Cats In The Cradle.

Nov 25, 201930 min

TSP111 - Time Trek: Sapien Signatures - Traces of us.

Kilroy was here. The urge to leave our stamp on history seems to be inherent to the nature of homo sapiens. Stepping into the past at a local museum, provides the hosts a context for examining our obsession with legacy. Museum of Dufferin (MOD): https://dufferinmuseum.com Duration - 38:10 VoxBox: YouTube PBS interview on ‘Internet history is fragile. This archive is making sure it doesn’t disappear’ Music Credit: Al Stewart - Time Passages...

Nov 11, 201938 min

TSP110 - PH Factor: Branding - Look at me, I’m relevant.

From the personal to the political, from products to corporate identity, the rise of branding as a way of creating and maintaining relevance is understandable in a world that encourages hubris. Duration - 23:46 VoxBox: YouTube interview with Yuval Harari Music Credit: k. d. Lang - Constant Craving

Oct 28, 201924 min

TSP109 - Transcendent Tunes: Non, Je Ne Regret Rien - The little sparrow’s anthem.

No other singer has as powerfully embodied their music as did Edith Piaf. Rising from her hard scrabbled life, spanning two world wars, she sang her way to international stardom, until her untimely death at 47. Duration - 26:32 VoxBox: YouTube interview on Je Ne Regret Rien Music Credit: Edith Piaf - Je Ne Regret Rien

Oct 14, 201927 min
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