Listen Now

This episode updates listeners on Strange New Worlds, which is set to begin production in Toronto, and the rumours of Captain Archer making an appearance somewhere in the near future. What's in store for the cast and crew of Strange New Worlds? Does a possible cameo by Scott Bakula signal something bigger for the crew of the early 2000's Enterprise series?  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

We don't usually think of love songs when considering Rush. But perhaps there are a handful of songs that could make the cut as a list of love songs by Rush -- in true Rush style, of course. This episode is brought to you by the spirit of Valentine's Day and the weekend that puts that extra bit of love in the air.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

There's always so much hope when we embark on the annual journey of a new year. This year not only begins with a new season of this podcast, but coincides with the inauguration of a new US President. Earlier today, January 20, President Joe Biden gave a hint as to what the world can expect from the 46th executive and chief of the United States. And while most of us hope for a return to normalcy, the challenges for President Biden are formidable. Uniting his country, bringing Americans together, won't be easy; and the need to do so has seldom been greater.     --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

It seems that just about everyone has his or her own list of must-see Christmas and holiday movies. However, two Christmas films you've likely not added to your annual holiday playlist are the first part of the discussion in this episode. Watching a young Alan Hale Jr., who played the Skipper from Gilligan's Island, star in a 1940s holiday movie is enticing enough. Wait til you find out more about Rod Serling's only Christmas movie, which starred Peter Sellers and Robert Shaw, who played the character consumed by an angry shark in the movie, Jaws. The second focus of this episode highlights a few silent Christmas films believed to be the firsts of their kind ever made. Wherever you are, enjoy listening -- and have a safe and happy holiday season.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

You know them well. Rankin Bass, also known as Videocraft International, produced some of the most memorable holiday tv specials using stop-motion techniques. Titles included Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, the Little Drummer Boy, and many, many more. Canadians, especially Torontonians, are delighted to learn about the many local talents that went into the productions, notably the Canadian actress whose voice is also shared by Rudolph. But did you know that Rankin Bass also made feature length films, using actors that included Boris Karloff and James Cagney? They also made a couple of TV series. Enjoy this special holiday episode to learn more about the creative forces behind some of our most beloved holiday specials. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

On Monday November 30, Canada's Minister of Finance presented a "mini budget" designed to give an economic update as well as outline spending proposals over the next several months. The numbers are big, and the details are slim. Does it respond sufficiently to how the pandemic is affecting Canadians? Is it enough to keep the country from plunging into an unprecedented economic spiral? Will this spending plan get the support of enough opposition MPs to avoid a federal election? This episode gives you the key take-aways of Minister Freeland's 2020 Fiscal Update.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

One of the greatest benefits of a cluster of small businesses is the character it gives to a neighbourhood or community. Small businesses are vital to creating that "main street" feel, giving your community one of its central draws. We need those small businesses, and we need the big ones, too. This episode discusses how The Walmarts and Amazons of the world make their contributions, despite popular criticism against them -- and why some of that popular criticism is a little contradictory and lacking a consistent logic. In fact, without these "big guys", this episode argues, our communities would likely not be as economically robust.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

The ever-changing global political geography shows no sign of slowing. Anywhere you look, countries change names, sometimes even borders. Others have reduced or expanded in size. New countries are created ever ten years or so. This process has certainly not been relegated to history. As the brief survey in the episode points out, if you're a fan of world maps and flags, the ongoing momentum of change will keep you occupied. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

The Fan Controlled Football League begins its six-week season in February. Unlike anything that's preceded it, the FCFL is completely fan-based: fans choose and decide on a range of issues, from team names, to draft selections and even play calls during the games. Similar to some other social media platforms, the app will reward fans based on the worthiness of their decisions, which then translates into a stronger value per vote for the fan.   Whatever the impact or longevity of this league, the FCFL should appeal to a certain type of fan by offering a real alternative to conventional-styled pro football.    --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

It hasn't happened yet. But wouldn't it be cool? Either as a Lee-Lifeson project of taking several songs and rearranging them for an unplugged, acoustic performance? This could be a one-off.  Ort it could also be the next iteration of Rush, especially if such a project produced one or two new songs.  Either way, fans would be treated to a catalog of renewed and reworked material. And this really would be cool. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Death and celebrity together create a profound effect among people. Death is hard enough, but when we add "celebrity" to the mix, the result is often deeper than is the case with family members. This year, like most, has a large roster of celebrities who have passed. However, this year, unlike most, also features the enormous death toll that has affected many, many ordinary people and families around the globe. Which forces us to ask the question: what is it about death and celebrity that so profoundly touches us? --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Canada's Speech from the Throne is a ceremony and document that commences a new governing session of Parliament. Will this plan be enough to steer Canada through the global pandemic? Will it be enough to keep the government afloat? This episode breaks down the main policy thrusts of this year's Throne Speech, and talks about what happens if it doesn't receive the support the government hopes it will. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Star Trek: The First Frontier is a fan-made production that explores the very first commander of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701, Captain Robert April, and his crew on their maiden voyage. This episode talks about what went into putting this labour of love together, and how you can watch the film online. Star Trek: The First Frontier was released on the most recent Star Trek Day, September 8, 2020.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Rush material you never heard live? Songs that were never played live? This is the ultimate Rush setlist of more-or-less un-setlisted material -- great, interesting and odd stuff that just never made it to a setlist.   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

His most well-known quote tells us that there is no such thing as bad press. It turns out that PT Barnum had a lot more wisdom about promotion than just long-lasting quotes. I recently read Barnum's memoirs, originally published in the late 1860s. PT was not only a showman and promoter, but he knew people, how to read people, and how to build and retain a customer base. And the main advice he shares? Be polite and kind to your customers. This episode briefly highlights some of Barnum's wisdom in the context of today's challenges of communication, sales and promotion. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Did you know that some researchers  claim that the roots of so-called classical music can be found in ancient Egypt? Music genealogy is fun stuff. It's that fascinating connection of one style of music, even a single performer, to another style or performer. And the connections can sometimes be surprising. This episode highlights some of those connections, and talks about the sources of several genres of music.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

We have to fall in love with a problem, savoring it, otherwise we can never know that problem or understand it. And without that knowledge, we never build a sustainable solution. This advice has been conspicuously absent in political strategy -- until lately. The Democrats might have hit on something valuable by endorsing the Biden-Harris ticket in the 2020 presidential election. It depends more on who goes out to vote in November. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

Forty years of making music and touring results in a seriously large vault of live recordings. Each recording captures not just the setlist from a particular show (or series of performances), but the feel of the time, ambiance and acoustic quality of the venue, the fan response, and, of course, the technology available when the recording was made. Suffice to say that isolating one live recording as the "best" live Rush disc is a daunting task. This episode surveys the many live recordings out there, and demonstrates why each is one is great in itself. The background music is used strictly for contextual purposes and generates no money. Enjoy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

We generally enjoy lazy, hot days at this time of year, with motivation to do little more than take a vacation or kick-back at the beach. Surprisingly, August 2020 has been quite busy. This episode surveys the news updates during this year's summer dog days.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message

This episode features a live recording of a father-son duo performing on the beautiful historical streets of Puebla, Mexico, in July 2018. The pair was performing in the early morning outside one of the most charming cafes I've encountered. My wife recorded this song on her cell phone, as we sat and took in the sights and sounds of what is truly one of North America's loveliest cities.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-christianson/message