HYBLA MINUTE

Guest: Councillor Bongo, Whitney Ontario

Election Fever is back - and are you enthusiastic yet?  Bongo is!  A municipal councillor from Algonquin South(Whitney) is back to and this time to talk about what it takes to campaign in rural Ontario and what he's planning for the upcoming election. Hopefully after listening to the podcast, you'll run, you'll get involved, you'll vote. You'll get engaged. Bongo and I talk about a lot of things and the Municipal Election Quiz? He won it easily! Listen up for some inspiration, some laughs and some good vibes when we need them. 

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NEW SEASON! NEW START! 

RATTLING THE CAGES: "So You Want to Have a Bylaw?"

GUEST: Councillor Bongo

MUSIC: Italian Dub Community

A roadside zoo has come to town, and it's as easy as pie if there is no bylaw to regulate it. Ontario is the only province without legislation around the ownership and care of exotic animals. In some municipalities in Ontario, owning a tiger is easier than having chickens. In fact, way easier. If there is no bylaw, you could keep a tiger, lion, zebra or any other exotic animal in your backyard with no regulations as to the height of the cage for example. You'd need a bylaw for that. So what is a bylaw and how do they happen?

Councillor Bongo, from the municipality of South Algonquin breaks down how bylaws come to be and how to understand what they are - Councillor Bongo makes municipal politics sound fun, and if not fun, at least accessible with clear and plain English. We break it down, chat it up and Councillor Bongo takes the Hybla Minute "Is This a Real Bylaw Quiz" and does a great job. 

With Hastings Highlands very own Tiger King of the North Drama unfolding before our eyes, knowing what a bylaw is and how it comes to be is helpful and useful information. This show is a great resource for people interested in municipal politics and how the system works.

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A Brazilian in New York (Ep. 38)

Guest: Glacuo Araujo

Music: Roy and the Blue Dot Sessions

Glauco Araujo left Brazil four years ago with plans to work in New York City as an actor and dancer. He’s building his career in one of the biggest cities in the world and "BANG" - Covid19 hits the world. In March of 2019 at the start of the pandemic, Covid19 hit Glauco too. We talk about what brought him to New York, what he loves and misses, how Covid19 is changing his business and what it was like to have and live through the virus. Glauco is Mr. Positive, and I don’t mean for covid19 – This is an inspiring and uplifting episode, just what the doctor ordered for these times. And, your host also does some acting too!

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GOING BACK: What Home Means (Episode 37)

Guest: Kazim Ali, Author of Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water.

Music: Cullah

The  child of South Asian migrants, Kazim Ali was born in London, England,  lived as a child in the cities and small towns of Manitoba, and made a  life in the United States. As a queer, Muslim man passing through  disparate homes, he has never felt he belonged to a place. And yet, one  day, the celebrated poet and essayist finds himself thinking of the  boreal forests and lush waterways of Jenpeg. After 40 years away from  the place, Kazim returned to Jenpeg where he lived as a child while his  father worked on Manitoba Hydro’s Jenpeg Generating Station.

Kazim’s  return visit after those 40 some years away is documented in his book, Northern Light: Power, Land, and the Memory of Water. The book is  beautiful – layered and insightful, part memoir, part history, part  journalism and at the heart of it is the history of the dam and a  history of broken promises to the Pimicikamak Cree of Cross Lake and the dam’s environmental toll on the land and the people.

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Guests: Maya Septon and Owen Smith, SunRun Cafe & Bakery

Music: Chico Trullijio

After sitting empty for a year - the SunRun is back!
The best way to a community's heart is through their stomachs. And the SunRun since it opened in Maynooth has been at the heart of the community - we are so glad to see it reopen under new ownership. Maya and Owen talk about what it's like to run the business and open one in a pandemic. They talk about their plans and yes there's a give-away! So this is a very happy Hybla Minute. And delicious too!

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GUEST: Michael Erickson from Glad Day Bookshop and Glad Day Lit

MUSIC: Darren Hanlon

From up a Rickety Set of Stairs to the Accessible Glamour of Main Street, the history of Glad Day Bookshop is at the epicentre of queer history and plays an important role in shaping and creating an LGBTQ future. 

Michael Erickson is part owner of Glad Day Bookshop, North America's oldest surviving book store - that through necessity and through vision and hard work has become much more than a bookstore. A restaurant, lounge, cafe, dance space, event space - it has everything from activist planning meetings to drag queen brunch. Michael talks about the challenges Glad Day faces and how the pandemic has created new challenges but also an opportunity to take care of the community it cares for and supports. 

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...From 1997 and GAY to 2021 and QUEER!

Guests: Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan 

Music: God is Gay

Shawna and Lorri are Winnipeg-based performance artists whose work spans three plus decades. Their work is fuelled by the love of their community and their concern for social justice. In 1997, the art project they were working on, One Gay City, was banned! The mayor refused to proclaim Pride and homophobia was pushing back against the progress being made. Fast forward 23 years to 2021 and the posters that were too provocative in 1997 are up and proud and in the bus shelters they were originally meant to be exhibited in. Shawna and Lorri talk about their beloved Winnipeg and the climate in the 90s that played into that banning. They also talk about how their art and Winnipeg has changed, but one thing has remained clear throughout all this time. Winnipeg is one GAY city! Gay! Gay! Gay!

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It's the HOLIDAYS and a PANDEMIC!

GUEST: Dr. Greg Mendelson, Psychologist

MUSIC: Will Heikoop, The HoHoHos and Maya Soloveg

Christmas is an amazing time of year, but for some who don't celebrate it, don't want to celebrate it or have other things on their minds, this season sucks and Christmas really sucks. And throw a pandemic in there and there will obviously be some concerns. So what do we do about those concerns? 

Guest, Dr. Greg Mendelson talks about how people, especially LGBTQ people, can find ways to navigate the holiday season. We talk about the anxiety and other heavy feelings that can come around this time of year. And we also talk about  this pandemic's impact on our lives and our communities' lives. 

I invited Greg on Hybla Minute because I've been thinking about this a lot lately. A friend died by suicide this fall and I heard about other gay men who did the same. It seemed like a lot. I'm concerned.

I'd be interested to know what you come away with after listening to this podcast. I'm hopeful. 

Although things are pretty bad these days, the bottom line is they won't change if we don't take care of each other. I think some of "the how and why" are talked about in this podcast. 

Whatever you do or don't celebrate, I'm writing this on a cold dark Solstice Night in Hybla. Here's to the coming sun and the year ahead.  And all the best of the Season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and Happy Solstice. 

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Guest: Councillor Bongo

Music: Bongo Pix Band (also known as The Whitney Black Fly Band)

Bongo ran and inspired campaign when he put his name forward to run for councillor in the northern municipality of South Algonquin. He's the only councillor I know from these parts that goes by a single name like celebrities Bjork or Sting. Bongo is unique and brings a fresh and enthusiastic energy to northern rural municipal politics. 

We talk about what he's concerned about, what he wants to change and what makes him proud to be a councillor. It's an upbeat interview with an upbeat ;guy. A man of many talents, the music on the show is from Bongo Pix Band, a band Bongo and his partner Andrea bring to the internet every Saturday night for a Jam Night. Enjoy the interview, the music and obey your bylaws!

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"Sometimes you have to kick down the door."  - Dave Meslin

Guest: Dave Meslin

Music: Gentleman Reg

Dave Meslin is wonderful. In times as bleak as these, Dave offers ideas on how we can rebuild democracy and create governments that are welcoming and accessible to all. Dave inspires engagement between governments and citizens. His TED Talk about apathy has more than 1.7 million views and 90-second video about how our voting system sucks has been seen by a lot of people. People you know!  

Centered around Dave's 2019 Best Selling book, Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up, the conversation covers many ways on how to engage in community and government and how to deal with the roadblocks along the way. And the pencil story is unbelievable.

Music:  'To Some It Comes Easy' from Gentleman Reg's album Jet Black

Podcast Cover Art Illustration: Marlena Zuber - it's the image from Dave's book!

LINKS for Dave Meslin

Highlights of Highlights! 

Hastings Highland Council Meeting Highlights! 

Hybla Minute's Hot Minute!
HASTINGS HIGHLANDS December 3, 2020 Council Meeting has all the drama as if Jaws and Tiger King had a baby. I swear.

It's exciting to see people engage in municipal politics because municipal politics can be an exciting place when it's a good thing we're working toward - a world  that is based in kindness and justice. I'm all in. Addressing racism and  homophobia in our community and dealing with the possibility of a tiger  attack. This council meeting has it all!

When I started this podcast, I was depressed. It seems a no-brainer: creating a  bylaw to stop the ownership of exotic animals in our municipality.  There are no provincial laws that regulate ownership of exotic animals. Right now only municipal bylaws regulate exotic animals. Exotic animal  businesses like the one in the podcast are catalysts for community organizing across Ontario. I  wish we didn't have to go through all this, but seriously it'd suck to be the last municipality to create a bylaw for this.

Maynooth is the fourth community that this business has settled in.  More and more municipalities are writing bylaws making there fewer and fewer places for these businesses to set up

This podcast actually cheered me up in the end - People are involved.  People sent letters, people sent in questions, people did deputations.  It was democracy working on a community level.

So sit back, get ready for some real Tiger King of the North  Realness! If not for the love of my friends and this great community,  I'd be crying.

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Guests: Jen and James from Fundie Fridays 

with music by Anthony Wilkerson

Living in a rural community, people can't but notice the impact of fundamental Christianity in their communities and politics. Fundie Fridays is a Youtube Channel that examines various fundamental Christian organizations and movements in the USA. The Fundie Friday Youtube Channel was started by Jen to better understand how these organizations work and the scandals and controversies around them. She looks amazing while doing it too - putting on make-up and talking about holy rollers isn't easy, but Jen does it all with style, compassion and a wonderful sense of humour. Jen is joined by her partner James who helps out and appears on the channel as well.  The two have a great connection and that comes out in the interview and the Fundie Friday Youtube Channel.

This is the first time Hybla Minute has crossed the border! Happy to bring you this latest Hybla Minute all the way from the Missouri Bible Belt!

Hallelujah!

Guests: Joey Shulman and Ian Russell

We're Back! With Season Three and a CONTEST TOO! You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out how you can win a Hybla Minute Scarf, and you'll want to listen to the podcast, because it's got two stellar guests.

Music is important and especially now during the pandemic. Music plays a role in helping us live in this pandemic - by helping us through most things - it unifies like a musical and soothes like a lone guitar. And that's what we're talking about.  

Joey Shulman has lived in Maynooth for over three decades and created five big ass musicals with plans for more. Joey talks about his love of musicals and the magic it can bring to a community.

Ian Russell is a musician who has just released his first solo album IN LIGHT. We talk about what went into creating this, how rural life has effected how he creates and listens to music. And we talk about his playlist for a car drive to Hybla. And a treat - we play his songs. You'll be humming along,

LINKS for Ian Russell

TIGERS and LIONS in RURAL ONTARIO

GUEST: Rob Laidlaw

You can own a tiger in Ontario. 

You can even have a zoo. 

But more and more people are finding fewer and fewer places to set up the business. Maynooth is finding out that Exotic Animals: lions, tigers and lemurs are coming to town and there is nothing stopping them. What are the concerns and what can people do? This podcast tries to answer some of those questions.

Rob Laidlaw, Executive Director at ZooCheck, a Canadian-based international wildlife protection charity in 1984 to promote and protect the interests  and well-being of wild animals. Zoocheck works with a broad range of  collaborating partners around the world.  

Hybla Reads is here! This show features writers of books and lyrics. The panel has assembled. We discuss books and music and the writing life. No rules, no losers - everyone is a winner. You'll be inspired!

Christine McRae is a writer and an Algonquin Woman who has a deep commitment to this  land and the Algonquin people - she is a young and important voice that  is part of the movement to rebuild and relearn who her people are. 

Farzana Doctor is a writer, activist, and psychotherapist. Her ancestry is Indian, and  she was born in Zambia while her family was based there for five years,  before immigrating to Canada in 1971. Her new novel is Seven (Sept. 2020)

Lisa Myers is a musician, independent curator and artist with a keen interest in  interdisciplinary collaboration. Myers has a Master of Fine Arts in  Criticism and Curatorial practice. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Environmental  and Urban Change (formerly Faculty of Environmental Studies) at York  University. Myers is a member of Beausoleil First Nation and she is  based in Port Severn and Toronto, Ontario.

LINKS TO CHECK OUT

Christine McRae on Instagram @@waaseyaaconsulting for information about her work

GUEST: Lynne Fernie
MUSIC: The Parachute Club

Toronto in 1983 was a small, button down and conservative town - which made fighting to change it exhilarating and important. Rise Up grew out of that bubbling up of voices, many voices that weren't being heard at the time. Songs like The Parachute Club's Rise Up brought us to the dance floors and the streets.  And Lynne Fernie who co-wrote the song with the band talks about the times and how the song came to be. 

In 2020, Rise Up resonates and always has. It unites progressive politics, feminism, queerness and marginalized voices in a groove that is timeless. Lynne is an activist, filmmaker and cultural leader who had no idea she'd write a song - and look what happened! 

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Guest and Music: Count Klassy

What's it like to be at the beginning of your career in music and there's a pandemic? Hip Hop artist, Count Klassy talks about what that is like, what inspires him and gives some sound advice for how to approach these days or any days whether you're an artist or just trying to make some sense of these times. Count Klassy is ambitious, positive, political and fun. And you'll like his music too. 

This may even be the summer anthem you've been looking for. Some Good Vibes from Count Klassy

LINKS for Count Klassy

GUESTS Marlena Zuber and Sheila Wilmot from Anti-Racism North Hastings
MUSIC: LAL

Marlena Zuber is a community arts builder, and an illustrator based in  Maynooth. Marlena inspired by the groundswell of activism against  anti-Black Racism following the murder of George Floyd found a group of  amazing local people and started Anti-Racism North Hastings.

She is joined by Sheila Wilmot is a Toronto-based educator and  organizer who has been working with people in the North Hastings area on  anti-racism and other social justice issues.

We talk about Anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism  and how it is a Canadian social problem; a white supremacy problem. We talk about organizing in a pandemic and in a rural area and how people can stand  in solidarity with Black and Indigenous people. We talk about defunding the police and what that means and we talk about how to move forward in our communities for a better world.

Many of us in this area are no stranger to LAL - many of us have danced  on dance floors here and in Toronto to their music and been inspired by  their lyrics that demand justice and inspire some ass-shaking. Thanks  to Rosina Kazi, the band's lead singer for the generosity of this music.

Contact Anti-Racism North Hastings at antiracismnorthhastings@gmail.com

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Guest: Martha Chaves
Music: The Salt Cellars

Martha Chaves is a dynamo - you can hear her on her regular guest appearances on the CBC's Because News and The Debaters. Despite the pain of a root canal, she brought it all to this Hybla Minute. We talk about comedy, breaking into the business and all the serendipity of her life in comedy. The conversation covers how Martha got into the business of comedy and how she is dealing with the pandemic. Martha is an activist, comedian and great story teller. Hybla Minute will refund your money if you don't laugh!

Episode 21 cover illustration of Martha by illustrator and comedian Kyle Brownrig

The Salt Cellars
The Salt Cellars are Virginia deCarle, Rob Bersan, Ron Kapitain, Richard Joudrey, Anne Wilde and Brendon Burgess
Music mixed music at Anax Junius studios by Richard Joudrey.

Links for Martha Chaves

CT Rowe shares stories about what it was like to work for the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, how she ended up playing what she did there and what she's playing now - CT is a remarkable person who tells me that she lived her whole live practicing how to live her life here in the country - from the glamorous concert halls of the world to a lovely home on Fraser Lake. We talk about it all. I love that she picketed Carnegie Hall. She'll tell you why.  And an added treat, the music at the end is CT playing. Enjoy!

#BLACKLIVESMATTER

And last week was a hard week for many, especially people of colour who are exhausted from having to explain again and again how their lives are in peril by the police and the system of anti-black racism that is destroying lives. Give a listen to these podcasts - Black people talking about Black Lives. We've been told it will get better - it won't if we don't do anything. I am posting these links in the hope that they will amplify the voices of Black people at a time when we should all be listening. Things have to change.

Canadian Podcasts
I highly recommend Sandy and Nora Talk Politics Podcast. Sandy Hudson was one of the co-founders of Black LIves Matter Toronto and she and co-host Nora Loreto talk about important issues - they hold no punches and are a refreshing voice and reality check.

Christine McRae is an Algonquin Woman who has a deep commitment to this land and the Algonquin people - she is a young and important voice that is part of the movement to rebuild and relearn who her people are. It's hard work that she loves. Her passion and vision for this is evident in the interview - we talk about starting her new business, Waaseyaa Consulting in the middle of a pandemic, her work as Executive Director at NativeLand.ca Digital, effective land acknowledgments, colonialism and the future.  Waaseyee is an Algonquin word that translates to "bright light".  And it's clear, and you'll see that in this interview, that people like Christine are making indigenous and non-indigenous people's lives brighter with the knowledge she shares.

LINKS TO CHECK OUT

Waaseyaa Consulting on Instagram @waaseyaaconsulting