CBC Radio Available in Podcast Form

June 5, 2006 5:44 AM

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) is pumping out a pile of podcasts that have covered the importance of offensive comics to Art Spiegelman, 600 bands over 54 shows, Captain America versus the American government, Amy Sedaris and geekdom, the journey of young immigrants, French philosopher Alain Finkielkraut and Harper's publisher John MacArthur discussing Europe and America perspectives since 9/11, the after life, sex with monkeys, what radio producers do, the french word "corps", Bonnie Fuller's "The Joys of Much Too Much: Go For the Big Life — The Great Career, The Perfect Guy, and Everything Else You've Ever Wanted (Even If You're Afraid You Don't Have What It Takes)", Veteran Washington reporter Helen Thomas and some other bits & bobs [Breakdown inside]
posted by boost ventilator (25 comments total)

These podcasts have actually been streaming for about a month and it has been a great opportunity for me to re-connect with the mother corp by sampling the programs on my schedule. I plan on sticking with As It Happens, Ideas, DNTO and the Current for the long haul, but if you want a taste try the CBC Radio Editor's Choice. Here is my breakdown of what they have to offer:

• File Under International Stories Behind the Stories: As It Happens podcast

• File Under Music: CBC Radio 3 podcast (mentioned here)

• File Under Current Affairs: The Current podcast

• File Under Pop Culture: Definitely Not The Opera (DNTO) podcast

• File Under International Docs: Dispatches podcast

• File Under Contemporary Thought: Ideas podcast

• File Under Listener Docs: Outfront podcast

• File Under Science and Technology: Quirks & Quarks podcast

• File Under Canadiana Chat: Sounds Like Canada Digital Extra podcast

• File Under French Vocab: Word of the Week podcast

• File Under Literature: Words at Large podcast

• File Under Misc: CBC Radio Editor's Choice podcast

• File Under Coast-to-Coast-to-Coast: regional podcasts.

I will also stop holding my breath for Brave New Waves when I turn as blue as this page.
posted by boost ventilator at 5:45 AM on June 5, 2006

Nice work! The Radio 3 podcast is really good, but I'm gonna try the ones you recommend too.
posted by jamesonandwater at 7:04 AM on June 5, 2006

As It Happens is definitely a keeper. My favourite CBC radio program, since Peter Gzowski and Vickie Gabereau are no longer around on the radio.
posted by Savannah at 7:11 AM on June 5, 2006

Wow, I am impressed. Nice work!!
posted by wheelieman at 7:16 AM on June 5, 2006

Very nice. Thank you, boost ventilator.
posted by sveskemus at 7:38 AM on June 5, 2006

Proof that the CBC is taxpayer's money well spent.
posted by slatternus at 7:51 AM on June 5, 2006

Also holding my breath for a proper Brave New Waves podcast. Dropped CBC a line awhile back explaining that us aging youngins still absolutely love the show, but can rarely catch it due to working the 9 to 5 grind...

BNW itself still recommends using ye olde VCR, or a PC, to record the show. Been keeping an eager eye out for someone who's doing the latter, encoding to mp3, and basically hosting an unauthorized podcast, but no dice.

Heard some noise late last year about BNW being in imminent danger of cancellation (again) as the CBC went on another clumsy "capture the youth demographic" reshuffling. Hopeful that it isn't so, although I just found a blog posting from last month which seems to take for granted that its demise is still imminent. Anybody have any more current links or a clear idea of what the situation is?

Even when I can't listen, I'm happy to know its still out there, blowing the minds of kids staying up late out in the boonies to get an earful of weird and wonderful things.
posted by blackberet at 7:52 AM on June 5, 2006

It also sucks that every time I go to the BNW site that I see there Top 50 is frozen at 2004. I really don't know what the story is with the show's future, but I haven't be able to listen to the show in years...the late Brent Bambury/early Patti Schmidt years.

I would assume the lack of an actual podcast has to do with the wacky world of music publishing and CBC would have to follow the letter of the law on this one. But I still think they should start with just having the profiles and interviews available.
posted by boost ventilator at 8:07 AM on June 5, 2006

I too miss BNW (and Nightlines) deeply, but I understand the issues with releasing those archives. Still, I remain hopeful.

Thanks, boost ventilator. I will be digging into this.
posted by chicobangs at 8:46 AM on June 5, 2006

What about that golden "National Playlist"...that was the best show ever! I still can't figure out why they cancelled it.
posted by badkarmaboy at 8:47 AM on June 5, 2006

I believe you are correct about the lack of a BNW podcast being due to publishing rights, etc. I think that's also the reason that DNTO (great show on Saturday afternoons) does not include any, or much, of the tunes and concerts that they play. Too bad, really, because I'm too over the hill to stay up and listen to, say, the Nurse with Wound retrospective or whatever on BNW these days. Still, Radio 3 makes up for it.
posted by hobocode at 8:55 AM on June 5, 2006

Nightlines!
What is the fantastic David Wisdom up to these days?
For that matter, what about his occasional substitute Garnett Harry (sp?).
I cherish the tapes I made of some of these shows, with Brent B, Patti (that voice!), David W. I remain bitter to this day that someone in Barcelona (one of my classmates at arch. school) swiped my cassette of Garnett Harry's favourite singles.

Anyway, thanks, it will be great to reconnect with some CBC radio.
posted by Flashman at 9:05 AM on June 5, 2006

What is the fantastic David Wisdom up to these days?

He's got a show on CBC Radio Two, cleverly dubbed "Pearls of Wisdom" and writing occasional columns for the Georgia Straight, a Vancouver weekly.
posted by antifreez_ at 9:32 AM on June 5, 2006

as the CBC went on another clumsy "capture the youth demographic" reshuffling.

Freestyle is wretched, isn't it..

This podcasting thing though... Quirks & Quarks has been available for download for many years, As It Happens and The Current too. Oh, but now it is a podcast, so it is special!

I really want to see Ideas made available. I hear so many things on Ideas that I am dying to share and discuss, not having an archive available is very frustrating.
posted by Chuckles at 9:41 AM on June 5, 2006

The Captain America link is wrong (seems off by a week). Other than that, thanks!
posted by dig_duggler at 11:29 AM on June 5, 2006

Nevermind, it's just like 40 minutes in. The whole show is seperated into 3 parts if you want to listen through real...
posted by dig_duggler at 11:50 AM on June 5, 2006

Usually I hate linkfest FPPs, but... holy crap, this rocks.
posted by knave at 12:58 PM on June 5, 2006

Fantastic. Thank you! Yay for intelligent, inquisitve broadcasting. Seems the CBC, like the BBC, is doing good stuff for the national mind - gives me a thrill that government-funded bodies founded on liberal, humanist ideals can do such a good job.
posted by Drexen at 1:37 PM on June 5, 2006

Another show missing from that list is Wiretap.

link to unofficial Wiretap podcast
posted by sunexplodes at 1:38 PM on June 5, 2006

thanks for the FPP and the breakdown of all of these by genre. My god, Brave New Waves - now THAT's a blast from the past! yeah, one day I hope...

coupled with the podcasts, cbc.ca just released a redesign on Friday as well - not only a redesign, but an explanation of what they did and where. Great stuff. Viva Mother Corp!


posted by rmm at 5:10 PM on June 5, 2006

The Current rocks... The CBC as a whole is an incredible organization and we are only so lucky to have radio like this. I love their new podcasts - but I'm still waiting for them to release every show. Great links
posted by azman at 9:54 PM on June 5, 2006

sunexplodes: Thanks for the wiretap link! I've been waiting for cbc to add that one.
posted by kechi at 11:28 PM on June 5, 2006

Thanks, BV!

More quality podcasts here from another national broadcaster with similarly high standards.
posted by flabdablet at 1:21 AM on June 6, 2006

I want a vinyl Cafe podcast, and I want it now.
posted by jimmythefish at 8:15 AM on June 6, 2006

Vinyl Cafe and Dead Dog Cafe, both.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:21 PM on June 6, 2006