Face 2 Face With David Peck

Marcie and I talk about empathy and others, magic, a shift in perspective, the power of film for social change and a “real sense of belonging.” Synopsis How much are you willing to sacrifice for your dream? MAGICIANS follows four very different professional magicians on stage and off, exploring how and why these characters so passionately dedicate their lives to the artistry and craft of illusion: from the most humbling of road gigs to the grandest performances on the biggest of stages; to finding love to terrible personal loss; and, most dramatically, to the prospect of losing everything for the one constant in their lives: magic. As we come to understand why each is pursuing his own dream, we’ll discover the greatest secret that has been hidden right before our eyes all along: far more fascinating than the magic are the magicians themselves. MAGICIANS was filmed over four years with unprecedented access at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, behind the scenes in Las Vegas, the magicians’ homes and wherever the

Michael talks about his new book Epiphany, dogmatism, the religious right, why he’s still so optimistic and his desire for change. Biography For four years Michael was the host of The Arena, a nightly television show on Sun News. For more than twelve years he was host/producer of The Michael Coren Show on Crossroads Television, presenting more than 3000 episodes and winning numerous awards. Michael is a columnist for Ottawa Life, Snowbirds Magazine and The Landowner and a monthly columnist for The Winnipeg Free Press and The Toronto Star. He is also a regular contributor to Metro News and The Walrus. He appears each week on Newstalk 1010 radio and is a frequent guest on TVOntario’s The Agenda and guest hosts on CKTB radio. He is the best-selling author of fifteen books, including biographies of G.K. Chesterton, H.G. Wells, Arthur Conan Doyle, J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. He has contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography and several other anthologies. He is published in many countries and in more th

  Susanne Regina Meures Susanne and I talk about her new film Raving Iran, freedom, the politics of fear, oppression and the power of friendship. Trailer   Synopsis Directed by Susanne Regina Meures, a Swiss filmmaker, the documentary addresses the hardships of following your dreams for two local DJs Anoosh and Arash. They are extremely passionate about pursuing dance music and are “tired of hiding from the police and their stagnating career." In order to follow their heart, they "organize one last manic techno rave under dangerous circumstances in the desert.” The Iranian government has banned Western music, among other things, which has lead to cultural oppression in the country. “When Anoosh is arrested, there seems to be no hope left. But then they receive a phone call from the biggest techno festival in the world. Once landed in Switzerland, the haze of the instant euphoria evaporates quickly when the seriousness of the situation starts to dawn on them.” Biography Susanne was born in the West of Germany

  Mitch and I talk today about patient centered care, meditation, why the “system” is broken, dehumanization, music and the arts and how it’s all connected to our understating of mind/body health.   Biography   Dr. Mitch Abrams, M.D. FRCP, is a Canadian radiologist, medical educator and held the post of Department Chair of Radiology at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.    His experiences as a radiologist and his observations as a patient following heart surgery changed his thoughts on the profession he loves.  Realizing medicine, as we know it has a limited scope Dr. Abrams is taking a partial leave of absence to launch a non-profit/social entrepreneurial program creating and promoting a new approach to well-being.     ----------   For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here.   With thanks to producer Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nicholas Greco   Listen in as Nicholas talks about vapid pop songs, Bono and U2, activism and idealism, why music matters more than we know and how one can transcend the here and now at a rock concert.   Please Note: Here’s a little update on a reference that Nicholas makes during the interview. The song he refers to at the end of the podcast is “Elvis Presley and America” from The Unforgettable Fire. The live track is from the the Live in Chicago DVD (right tour, but he referenced the wrong DVD), and the track is “40,” not “Yahweh.”   Biography   Dr. Nicholas P. Greco is Associate Professor of Communications and Media at Providence University College in Otterburne, Manitoba. Dr. Greco’s doctoral dissertation explored the enigmatic star image and the nature of fan desire in the case of British singer Morrissey.   He in interested in the nature of celebrity, the construction of masculinity and the sacramental nature of the televisual work of Joss Whedon.   His latest book is called David Bowie in Darkness: A

    Listen in as Peter talks about what it means to be human, why he believes in something beyond himself, how we shapes our understanding in pubic life and why he thinks we should all be eating lunch at home a little more often.   Convivium Magazine   Biography   Peter has been a professional journalist since 1979. He was the Editor-in-Chief of Montreal’s The Gazette newspaper, editor of the Calgary Sun, Editorial pages editor of the Calgary Herald, and the vice-president of English editorial for Reader’s Digest Canadian magazines, where he oversaw the launch of new publications such as the highly successful Best Health. In 2009, he co-founded with Father Raymond J. de Souza the magazine Convivium, which is published by the think tank Cardus. In 2011, Peter published the short story collection “If Only” through Montreal publisher Siren Song Press. He also has his own media company, Prima Communication, which offers strategic planning, editing, writing and photographic services. He currently divides his time

  Christal talks about finding bravery when you need it most, looking for new stories to tell, how we need to change the questions we so often ask and why there is something beautiful about the inquisitive mind.   Biography   Christal Earle is a passionate communicator and powerhouse of inspiration and insight. Over the course of her career she has co-founded an internationally recognized charity (www.livedifferent.com), worked with numerous clients and audiences around the world focused on humanitarian endeavours driven by vision and the entrepreneurial spirit. Christal’s message of understanding and embracing the brilliance of who you are and leveraging that to bring about hope and change to others resonates at both the personal level and from the stage. Since 2001, Christal has been inspiring audiences all around the world, from all walks of life. From high schools and universities to international development and aid workers, to community interest and investment groups she has brought messages that hav

Alethea Arnaquq-Baril   Alethea and I talk about her new film Angry Inuk, the “People of the Seal”, cultural prejudice, setting the Inuit record straight, song battles and a new model for animal activism.   Watch the Trailer here.   Synopsis   Anti–seal hunting campaigns have attracted high profile supporters, and with them, hefty financial contributions. From Pamela Anderson to Paul McCartney, celebrities have voiced their outrage about an issue they seem keenly unqualified to discuss. Meanwhile, seal hunters are unjustly targeted for traditional practices that have supported them for centuries.   With a way of life on the cusp of extinction, who's really at fault? How does a culture that exercises understated anger and finds peaceful ways to resolve conflict compete with animal activist groups that rely on anti-sealing sentiment they aggressively cultivate to underwrite their other causes?   Alethea Arnaquq-Baril uses her filmmaking skills to organize and embolden a new tech-savvy generation of Inuit to sta

Todd and Jedd Wider Todd, Jedd and Lori I talk about their new film God Knows Where I Am. We touch on mental health issues, the “other”, the poetic edge to filmmaking and the “ever porous cracks” in our social safety nets. Watch the Trailer here. Synopsis The body of a homeless woman is found in an abandoned New Hampshire farmhouse. Beside the body, lies a diary that documents a journey of starvation and the loss of sanity, but told with poignance, beauty, humour, and spirituality. For nearly four months, Linda Bishop, a prisoner of her own mind, survived on apples and rain water, waiting for God to save her, during one of the coldest winters on record. As her story unfolds from different perspectives, including her own, we learn about our systemic failure to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Biography For over sixteen years, Todd and Jedd Wider have produced numerous critically and commercially successful feature documentary films including the 2012 King’s Point nominated for an Academy Award for

Anjali Nayar   Anjali and I talk about the power of storytelling to change lives, her new film Gun Runners, friendship, the mediations of the marathon runner, the Global South and why we need to spend more time listening to others.   Synopsis When it comes to world-class marathon runners, Kenyans are considered the cream of the crop. Particularly those from Kenya’s Rift Valley. These athletes have won marathons in London, New York and Berlin, and have set countless world records. But some of Kenya’s top runners aren’t running for fame and fortune. Some are wanted warriors, running for their lives. For years, Julius Arile and Robert Matanda thrive among the roaming bands of warriors that terrorize the North Kenyan countryside. By the time they reach their mid-twenties, stealing cattle, raiding and running from the police is the only life they know. So when both warriors suddenly disappear from the bush, many of their peers assume they are dead or have been arrested. Instead, they trade in their rifles for snea

Viveka Melki   Viveka and I talked about her new film After Circus and about memory and recollection, about what defines us as we approach the dubious notion of retirement and how she loves performing and the circus. Watch the Trailer here. Synopsis AFTER CIRCUS is an utterly charming look at circus folk and their world. I’d qualify that by saying it’s actually about retired & semi-retired circus performers, but it quickly becomes clear, watching the film that circus people never really retire. The circus is in their blood. The film details the sense of community circus folk have with each other and their world. Many in this community have been circus people for many generations, passed down from parent to child. The film is about those family histories. It also touches on the fact that most circus people aren’t getting rich doing what they do – they do it for the love of performing and the love of community. And the film deals with the inexorable march of time, when performer’s bodies fail even as the pa

Best and Most Beautiful Things   Michelle Smith and I talk about authenticity, truth and transparency and the new film she stars in called Best and Most Beautiful Things. We’re also joined by some of the film team, Jeff Consiglio, Ariana Garfinkel and Jordan Salvatoriello and we chat about notions of the other, playing with you senses and that there are not just two types of people in the world.   Watch the Trailer here.   Synopsis   Off a dirt road in rural Maine, a precocious 20-year-old woman named Michelle Smith lives with her mother Julie. Michelle is quirky and charming, legally blind and diagnosed on the autism spectrum, with big dreams and varied passions.   Searching for connection, Michelle explores love and empowerment outside the limits of “normal” through a provocative fringe community. Will she take the leap to experience the wide world for herself?   Michelle’s joyful story of self-discovery celebrates outcasts everywhere.   Read more about the film here.   ----------   For more information abo

In part 2 Eden and I talk about the Genomic revolution, the double helix and Francis and Crick and where insights and innovation germinate. We chat about efficacious data, the move towards precision medicine and why biotech is not involved in “nice to haves.” Biography   Eden’s approach represents a progression in Investment solutions, applying options to source Income and returns through strategies not easily accessible to investors, while protecting their capital with hedges designed over his career. Eden’s experience includes two decades of Portfolio and Hedge Fund Money Management, Options Strategist, Derivatives & Biotech Analyst and Portfolio Manager.  He has managed and traded an options book spanning 250+ securities globally and 4 commodities, with open interest of 500,000 contracts in addition to 14 Covered Call ETFs (over $0.5 Billion AUM) in Canada, US & Australia employing his dynamic options writing discipline at Horizons Exchange Traded Funds. Eden possesses a Top Quartile 5-year, 5-Star

Eden and I talk about the Bio Tech industry and amazing innovations in the field of bio-logic pharmaceuticals. It’s remarkable what’s going on in the sector and Eden has plenty of insight to share. We talk about idiosyncratic risk, disease modifying drugs and why he believes this is a virtuous industry.   Biography   Eden’s approach represents a progression in Investment solutions, applying options to source Income and returns through strategies not easily accessible to investors, while protecting their capital with hedges designed over his career. Eden’s experience includes two decades of Portfolio and Hedge Fund Money Management, Options Strategist, Derivatives & Biotech Analyst and Portfolio Manager.  He has managed and traded an options book spanning 250+ securities globally and 4 commodities, with open interest of 500,000 contracts in addition to 14 Covered Call ETFs (over $0.5 Billion AUM) in Canada, US & Australia employing his dynamic options writing discipline at Horizons Exchange Traded Fund

  Alon talks about his new film Transfixed, activism and action, walking in the shoes of others and how it can help us to understand the world in a new and more inclusive way. Film Synopsis Martine Stonehouse and John Gelmon are middle-aged underdogs, living with Asperger Syndrome.  Despite their social challenges, both dream of getting married, but straight-identifying John refuses to tie the knot until transsexual Martine gets gender reassignment surgery. Will Martine and John find the happiness together that they deserve? Alon Kol has worked in film and television for seven years as a director and editor. He recently directed the "Holy Threads" episode of The Naked Archaeologist for the History Channel. Kol has written, directed and edited his own award-winning films, which have been shown on television and at numerous festivals. He is also a senior film editor who has edited for broadcasters such as Vision TV, History US, and National Geographic. Transfixed is a feature independent documentary film produc

  Sean and I talk about our role in serving others, why he’s more interested in what unites than what separates us and his definition of love and compassion.   Biography   Dr. Sean Campbell is Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives. He began his career working in refugee camps in Thailand, before serving for several years as Samaritan’s Purse Canada’s Executive Director, then for a time at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s international headquarters in North Carolina, before returning to Calgary and assuming his current role. Sean’s career has revolved around a passion for excellence in charitable work and connecting people who want to make a difference with organizations that are changing the world.  He was involved with the launch of Operation Christmas Child, the global Samaritan’s Purse initiative that has provided gift-filled shoeboxes to more than 113 million children so far as part of the Christian international relief and development organization’s work in more

  Drolkar and I talk about finding happiness in all the wrong places, discipline, meditation, Buddhism and how it’s possible to bike from Toronto to Thailand.   Biography Drolkar McCallum is the North American regional coordinator for the FPMT, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition - an international non-profit Buddhist organization. She also works with the ordained Sangha of the FPMT and is a volunteer with the Liberation Prison Project. Born and raised in Toronto, Drolkar earned a BA from the University of Western Ontario. She has traveled extensively and lived in India, France, Australia, Taiwan and Israel. A Buddhist since 1995, Drolkar spent seven years as a nun, attended many meditation retreats, and received teachings from many of the great masters including Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the spiritual director of the FPMT, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.   ----------   For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here.   With thanks to

Ron Chapman  Ron and I talk about his beautiful new film The Poet of Havana, the magic of music, the generosity of poets like Carlos Varela and why piracy at one time was seen as a blessing in Cuba.  Film Synopsis Enter the world of internationally renown Cuban musician Carlos Varela…singer, song-writer, lyricist, one of the most influential and well-loved artists of his time as he celebrates his 30th anniversary in poignant performances.  Discover his cultural, political and social significance. How he was influenced by his country, politics and people, and how he has influenced them in return. His struggle for individual freedoms, and his efforts to build bridges between Cuba, the United States, disenfranchised Cubans, and the people of the world.  Shot in Havana, with unique access, exclusive interviews, stunning concert and insider back-stage moments. Varela is joined by international stars, his friends, Jackson Browne, Benicio del Toro, Ivan Lins, Luis Enrique, Juan and Samuel Formel, Diana Fuentes, X Al

Jacob talks today about Rush and music, “live looping”, why the hands are often like jokers to him, the difference between gifting and practice and why he has fosterd a heart for social justice. Biography Jacob Moon considers himself first and foremost to be a singer-songwriter. The songs he has written have gone on to win awards in International Song Competitions (Unisong, Great Lakes Song Contest, West Coast Songwriters, GMA Canada). His songwriting heroes include Jackson Browne, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Peter Gabriel and Rich Mullins, and Moon's timeless and eclectic style can be compared to those artists, among others. Likewise, his music is hard to pigeonhole, and Moon is okay with that. "My music is borne from all the listening I've done over the years, and I listen to a lot of different music. In a way it makes sense that what comes out would be a mash-up of all those different influences, and tough to pin a style on", Moon says. Though not exactly born with a guitar in his hands, Moon's own father ha

  Terry talks about “weaponized” religion, compound worldviews, about living in a “both/and” world, and unpacks notions of interdependence, integration and inter-relationship.   Biography Terry is Mi’kmaq / Acadian. He and his wife Bev are in their 44th year of marriage. They have three adult children – twin daughters and one son. In addition to being the Executive Director of Indigenous Pathways, he is also the founding Chair and current Director of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Terry holds an interdisciplinary PhD from Asbury Theological Seminary, specializing in Theology and Anthropology. Terry serves as adjunct professor at George Fox Evangelical Seminary in Oregon, Acadia University and Divinity College in Wolfville, William Carey International University, and Tyndale University College and Seminary in Toronto, where he also resources the B.Ed. program. Terry has accrued over 38 years of community work in Native North American and global Indigenous contexts including as an educator in theolog