paulcrosstoronto’s Podcast

Cross Talk Season 9, Episode Four

On remembering the Quebec referendum of 1995: I was there. From October 30th, 2025. Thirty years ago, voters in Quebec voted narrowly -- narrowly -- to remain in Canada, and against pursuing separation.  It was a tumultuous time 15 years after the previous referendum.  It's one of the rare occasions when I spent an entire week broadcasting the CHUM Radio Network National News on the road; this time from CKGM In Montreal. Today I'm remembering that historic day, and how it was for me that night...reporting live from the headquarters of the Yes forces for separation.  Makes fair dealing use of archive audio from CBC national tv and CPAC archive audio. For educational purposes. 

Cross Talk: Season 9, Episode 3

On the radio call-in heard around the world: WWL New Orleans and local radio in times of local crisis. On September 2nd 2005 the mayor of New Orleans phones radio station WWL970 after the fifth day of the crisis brought on by Hurricane Katrina. Mayor Ray Nagin's call -- his words on the radio -- are so striking, so significant...the call gets picked up and broadcast around the world.  It's widely recognized as being the moment that woke up senior levels of government and agencies and got real help on the way to New Orleans.  Today, I am looking back at that event of 20 years ago.  This episode makes fair dealing use of audio from WWL Radio New Orleans.  Includes bits from my own personal interview with the host who got the call -- Garland Robinette -- from when I visited New Orleans and went to talk to him at WWL in 2008. In Robinette's own words, had the mayor not phoned the radio station that day...and said what he did...it likely would have been even longer before help arrived and "...more people would have died." 

WWL's own documentary and interview series about its remarkable performance during the Katrina crisis may be available to you at:  

https://www.audacy.com/wwl/news/local/wwl-presents-katrina20-years-later-a-new-orleans-story

The radio station's live stream appears to be unavailable outside the United States.

This episode is being posted on September 2, 2025 - 20 years after this historic broadcast. 

 

 

Cross Talk: Season 9, Episode Two

Forty years ago: Remembering Air India Flight 182. When an Air India jet was bombed over the Atlantic Ocean on June 23rd 1985 hours after taking off from Toronto, it was recognized as the single deadliest incident of terrorism involving a passenger flight in world history.  I remember that day vividly, as I explained in Episode One this season. Today, I'll tell you why it stands out in my memory.  It's unfortunate to hear reports that many Canadians have never heard of Air India flight 182.  It's a tragic Canadian story.  There's so much more to continue exploring. Today...what I remember.

The book I refer to in these episodes is The Death of Air India Flight 182 by Salim Jima. Star Books, London 1986.

The report for the Canadian government by Bob Rae referred to in this episode is here: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/lssns-lrnd/index-en.aspx

This episode uses some of my archived audio from an interview conducted for the In Toronto program on 104.5 CHUMFM Toronto in June 1986.  Fair dealing use. For education and review purposes.

Cross Talk: Season 9, Episode 1

On Air India - in 2025 and 40 years ago. The tragic crash of an Air India jet on June 12, 2025 comes just days before the 40th anniversary of the bombing of an Air India jet on its way from Toronto to India.  I was already planning an episode in time for that stark anniversary, digging into my archives of coverage from the time.  There will be still more to come on that.  But I was getting the impression some people telling me the news now have no idea about the earlier case, and its very deep Toronto and Canadian roots.  So let's get started. For educational and review purposes. This episode uses archive audio from my work at CHUMFM Toronto back at the time.  You'll hear the voice of reporter Salim Jiwa, author or the book The Death of Air India Flight 182.  We spoke at different times over the years of the story.  Salim passed away in September 2024.  

Cross Talk: Season 9 Trailer

From February 13, 2025: In time for World Radio Day.  But I'm not focused on the annual tribute to radio today.  I'm thinking about the need for better radio in Canada as the very sovereignty of this country is threatened.  Canada needs tougher, bolder, more thoughtful and life-experienced radio.  And mature analysis. Season 9 is coming soon.

Cross Talk: Season 8, Episode 5

On World Radio Day 2024: A century of radio history - entertaining, informing and educating.  From February 13, 2024.  Each year I produce an episode of the pod focused on the themes of World Radio Day - designated by UNESCO. Yes, well into its second century, radio continues to entertain, educate and inform. For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of archive audio from WWL New Orleans, WLS Chicago, Chase and Sanborn Hour on NBC.  The book I refer to is Shadow of the New Deal: The Victory of Public Broadcasting by Josh Shepperd - University of Illinois Press, 2023. This episode will be broadcast on Radio Humber - CKHC 96-9FM in Toronto - on World Radio Day along with features produced by some of my students in Radio and Media Production at Humber College. #WorldRadioDay #UNESCO Image: UNESCO

Cross Talk: Season 8, Episode 4

How corporate ownership imperils local radio – and the few voices raised to save it. From February 9, 2024.  No company owning radio stations in Canada has ever made a move to shed so many radio stations on the basis of wanting to get out. Forty-five radio stations are being sold off by Bell.  But other companies want them! And they're companies that are about radio! Also, I follow up on my promise in Episode 3 to cover some of the ongoing effort to save AM radio. For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of audio from Global TV news, Premier David Eby, and public domain audio from the US House of Representatives hearing, distributed by the representatives heard speaking. 

Cross Talk: Season 8, Episode 3

On getting past a terrible, horrible, really bad year for AM radio in Canada. From January 18, 2024. Canadian listeners lost several AM radio stations in 2023.  Many were heritage stations that had been on the air almost as long as radio itself has been around.  Tuning around on the dial to the places where those radio stations used to be...brings in nothing but static now.  For educational purposes. I will start to explore some of the efforts to save AM radio in Episode 4, coming soon. 

Cross Talk: Season 8, Episode 2

On the 85th anniversary of the War of the Worlds radio broadcast. From October 30th, 2023.  This is the sixth in my series of episodes in defence of the Mercury Theatre on the Air broadcast as brilliant radio drama that has been the subject of flawed research and what I perceive as a bias against radio content by both academia and legacy print-oriented media.  For educational purposes.  Makes fair dealing use of audio from the original CBS Mercury Theatre of the Air broadcast and the NBC Chase and Sanborn Hour - both from October 30, 1938.  The previous five episodes about War of the Worlds are here:

2021:  https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-six-episode-one/

2020: https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-5-episode-1/

2019:  https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-3-episode-5/

2018:  https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-1-episode-8/

2018:  https://paulcrosstoronto.podbean.com/e/cross-talk-season-1-episode-7/

 

Cross Talk: Season 8, Episode 1

On radio and the great power failure of 2003. From August 14, 2023. On the 20th anniversary of a power failure that left 50 million people in Canada and the United States without electricity.  Radio knew exactly what to do. But 20 years later, there are consumers unaware of local radio, failures in broadcasting, and distracted corporate ownership. Commentary. For educational purposes. Makes fair dealing use of bits of audio found online from CTV Toronto, CBC National News, NBC News New York.