Minute Women
170 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsMinute Women is your weekly dose of Canadian history and corny 90s nostalgia. We are best friends Grace McNutt and Linnea Swinimer and we are on a mission to tell the untold stories behind the iconic Canadian Heritage Minutes. Along the way, we uncover the funny, weird, and downright terrifying stories left out of Canada’s national history.
Did you know John A. Macdonald's younger brother was murdered in a freak gin incident? Or that Sandford Fleming was going to call standard time "cosmic time"? Or that Governor Frontenac was a legendary jerk?
Well, neither did we! Join us to learn more! A not-so-proud part of our national heritage.
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Episodes
Introducing Thomas Spence
May 09, 2022 08:06 - 1 minute - 1.52 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "The Republic of Manitobah (LIVE)". You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website.
The Republic of Manitobah (LIVE)
May 04, 2022 08:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBThe Minute Women examine the life of Thomas Spence and his failed Republic of Manitobah. Recorded live at HopYard on Gottingen in Halifax, NS. Minute Women Podcast
Titanic Tangent
May 02, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.07 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Charles Ora Card and the Canadian Mormons". Staying on topic has never been a Minute Women strong suit. Case and point, here is a tangent about the Titanic! You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website: https://www.minutewomenpodcast.ca/
Charles Ora Card and the Canadian Mormons
April 27, 2022 08:00 - 46 minutes - 37.5 MBIn 1886, Charles Ora Card was the first man to bring the Church of Latter Day Saints to Canada. Grace and Linnea dive into his life and settlement of Cardston, Alberta. minutewomenpodcast.ca
Trickster Isaac Brock (Part 2)
April 25, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutes - 3.74 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Isaac Brock (Part 2)". There is only one thing Isaac Brock loved more than serving in the British army and that was playing tricks on people. Especially Americans. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website: https://www.minutewomenpodcast.ca/
Isaac Brock (Part 2)
April 20, 2022 08:00 - 31 minutes - 22.7 MBMinute Women are back to conclude the story of Canadian war hero Isaac Brock! Look big everyone because we are covering the War of 1812, the Battle of Queenston Heights, and the most important character of all - Brock's horse Alfred. https://www.minutewomenpodcast.ca/
Boxing Kid Isaac Brock
April 18, 2022 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.53 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Isaac Brock (Part 1)". As child, Isaac Brock was known for his prowess in a boxing ring. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website: https://www.minutewomenpodcast.ca/
Isaac Brock (Part 1)
April 13, 2022 08:00 - 39 minutes - 28.3 MBWhile the Queenston Heights Heritage Minute does an amazing job covering the contribution made by John Norton and the Grand River warriors, Grace and Linnea want to cover another facet - the life and death of Isaac Brock. General at the Battle of Queenston Heights, Brock famously met his end on that fateful day in 1812. But what else is there to know about this legendary figure?
The King is Alive (Quick Bits)
April 11, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutes - 3.68 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Tweed, Ontario (HYGAM 20)." 30 years ago, rumour spread that Elvis Presley was not dead. Rather, he was hiding out in the little town of Tweed, Ontario. The town ran with it and now hosts the annual Tweed Elvis Festival. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website!
Tweed, Ontario (HYGAM 20)
April 06, 2022 08:00 - 28 minutes - 21.6 MBThe King lives!! Tweed is a municipality located in central-eastern Ontario, Canada, in Hastings County. As Grace and Linnea learn, this small town is home to the smallest jailhouse in Canada and the annual Tweed Tribute to Elvis Festival. Minute Women Podcast
Cartier Kills 1000 Birds (Quick Bits)
April 04, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.63 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Jacques Cartier." When Cartier arrived in North America, he and his crew immediately got to work. And by that, we mean he killed over 1000 birds and then started kidnapping people. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website!
Jacques Cartier
March 30, 2022 08:00 - 48 minutes - 38.1 MBJacques Cartier was so many things: navigator, cartographer, captain, colonizer, kidnapper, terrible prospector, and bird-slaughterer, just to name a few. This week, Linnea and Grace are discussing the infamous Cartier and his failed attempts to find China and set up a colony. Say it with us now: "Ca-Na-Da." Jacques Cartier Heritage Minute Minute Women Podcast
Introducing Mi-Carême (Quick Bits)
March 28, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutes - 2.66 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Mi-Carême." You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website!
Mi-Carême (HYGAM 19)
March 23, 2022 08:00 - 35 minutes - 27.4 MBThe Minute Women love nothing more than weird holidays and Mi-Carême is exactly that. Listen to learn how some French-Canadians celebrate the mid point of Lent in a strange combination of Mardi Gras, Halloween, and Spring Break. Minute Women Podcast
Baking Soda and Vinegar (Quick Bits)
March 21, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.37 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Avro Arrow." The Avro Arrow was designed and tested before the advent of computer test simulating. So, instead, the Arrow team at A. V. Roe made a bunch of scale models, attached them to rockets, and launched them (with varying degrees of success) over Lake Ontario. Science is weird. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your ...
Avro Arrow
March 16, 2022 08:00 - 40 minutes - 32.8 MBThe Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow was a delta-winged interceptor aircraft designed and built by Avro Canada. The CF-105 held the promise of Mach 2 speeds at altitudes exceeding 50,000 feet and was intended to serve as the Royal Canadian Air Force's primary interceptor into the 1960s and beyond. But a host of political and financial issues grounded this extraordinary plane before it had a chance to take to the skies. This week, Grace and Linnea explore the strange history of the Arrow and...
Lost in the Woods (Quick Bits)
March 14, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutes - 4.21 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "2nd Anniversary (HYGAM 18)." Grace and Linnea never got to formally interview each other for the position of co-host. On Minute Women's 2nd Anniversary, they finally rectify that! First question: if you're lost in the woods, what Heritage Minute hero do you take with you? You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite po...
2nd Anniversary (HYGAM 18)
March 09, 2022 09:00 - 41 minutes - 31.9 MBOn February 26, Minute Women turned 2 years old! Grace and Linnea decide to celebrate the occasion with a listener Q&A as well as some long over due interview questions for one another. Congratulations to Karlee who won the Minute Women Anniversary Giveaway! Minute Women Podcast
"I hate to do it but... you're free" (Quick Bits)
March 07, 2022 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.44 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "Chloe Cooley." Ending slavery in Canada was a slow legal process, with incremental abolition victories over the course of many decades. Grace and Linnea discuss some of those victories here. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website.
Chloe Cooley
March 02, 2022 09:00 - 46 minutes - 39 MBThe Minute Women are always excited to see a new Heritage Minute! Especially one that addresses Canada's rich BIPOC history. Grace and Linnea dive into the story of Chloe Cooley, slavery in Canada, and the long road to abolition and emancipation. Minute Women is 2 years old! We are so grateful for all the people have the taken time to listen and support the show. As a sign of our gratitude we are doing a giveaway on the Minute Women Instagram page! Go to @minutewomenpodcast on Ins...
Aaron from Missouri (Quick Bits)
February 28, 2022 09:00 - 3 minutes - 2.85 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from "PaRx and Fan Mail." We added an email form to our website and the fan mail has started rolling in... sorta. You can find the full episode and the rest of our content on your favourite podcast platform or on our website
PaRx Passes and Fan Mail (HYGAM 17)
February 23, 2022 09:00 - 25 minutes - 19.3 MBFor the first HYGAM of 2022, Grace and Linnea discuss the new PaRx Pass program, which allows doctors in some provinces (currently) to prescribe passes to Canada's National Parks in hopes of getting Canadians out in nature more. We also dive into some "fan mail." If you would like to get in touch with us, with business inquiries or other stuff, you can find our new contact form on the Minute Women website.
Lucy Maud Montgomery is Going to Hell? (Quick Bits)
February 21, 2022 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.47 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Check out this snippet from our latest episode, Lucy Maud Montgomery Part 2. Lucy's husband has decided that the whole family is not part of the elect, and according to Calvinist theology that means the whole lot of them is damned. He doesn't handle it well. Minute Women
Lucy Maud Montgomery (Part Two)
February 16, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 38.3 MBThe Minute Women are back for the epic (depressing?) conclusion of the Lucy Maud Montgomery story. For a woman who brought so much joy to the lives of so many, her own life was definitely lacking in that department. This week we cover her move to Toronto, her husband's deteriorating mental health, and a surprise Heritage Minute cross-over! Lucy Maud Montgomery Heritage Minute Minute Women
Terry Fox's Hero (Quick Bits)
February 14, 2022 09:00 - 4 minutes - 3.67 MBMiss our most recent episode? Busy schedule keeping you from listening to your favourite podcast? We got you! Enjoy this snippet from our Terry Fox episode. The origin of the Marathon of Hope and Terry's running inspiration. Minute Women
Terry Fox
February 09, 2022 09:00 - 48 minutes - 37.4 MBCanada has one golden rule: Don't F*** with Terry Fox During the Freedom Convoy protests that descended upon Ottawa in late January, the memorial statue of Terry Fox was defaced. And all of Canada was enraged. Why? If you don't know what made Terry Fox so special and beloved, this is the episode for you! The Minute Women are discussing the life of Terry Fox and his incredible Marathon of Hope. Terry set out to raise money for cancer research and ended up raising the spirits of an e...
Lucy Maud Montgomery (Part One)
February 02, 2022 09:00 - 57 minutes - 46.1 MBYou may just know her as the woman who wrote the beloved Anne of Green Gables novels but this week the Minute Women are pulling back the curtain on the life of PEI-native Lucy Maud Montgomery, who was so much more than a writer. The world saw a simple woman, writing for the pure joy it. But behind the scenes, Lucy battled depression, rejection, and sexism, while facing global and personal tragedy. An avid journal-keeper, Lucy tells you about her life in her own words and Grace and L...
Welcome to Minute Women
January 31, 2022 09:00 - 1 minute - 1.11 MBMinute Women is your weekly dose of Canadian history and corny 90s nostalgia. Best friends Grace McNutt and Linnea Swinimer are on a mission to tell the untold stories behind the iconic Canadian Heritage Minutes. Along the way, they uncover the funny, weird, and downright terrifying stories left out of Canada’s national history. minutewomenpodcast.ca
Johnny May, the Real Santa Claus
December 25, 2021 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.65 MBOn the twelfth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... an airplane full of candy! Merry Christmas! Way up north, there is a jolly man who flied through the sky dropping presents to excited children on Christmas Day. Only this year, he is taking a break. No, it's not Santa Claus: it's 76-year-old bush pilot Johnny May! Thank you for joining us for the Minute Women 12 Days of Christmas! Make sure you rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewome...
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade
December 24, 2021 09:00 - 11 minutes - 9.73 MBOn the eleventh day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a Christmas parade (beep beep!) The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is the oldest Santa Claus parade in the world. It has had many iterations over the years and Grace and Linnea and breaking down the good, the bad, and ugly of it all. Make sure you rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
Tibb's Eve
December 23, 2021 09:00 - 10 minutes - 8.24 MBOn the tenth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... lots of drunken partying! Tibb's Eve is celebrated by Canadians across the country as an excuse to get out of the house, away from the family for a bit, and share a couple of brews with friends. But there was a time when Tibb's Eve was just a turn of phrase, referencing a made up saint who did some pretty un-saintly things. Celebrate the day that never happens about a woman who never existed with us! Make s...
Canada's First Christmas Tree
December 22, 2021 09:00 - 10 minutes - 8.85 MBOn the ninth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... Canada's first Christmas Tree! Strangely enough, we know exactly when the Christmas tree was introduced to Canada and Grace and Linnea are here to tell you all about it! Don't put real candles on your Christmas trees kids. Make sure you rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
Is Santa Claus Canadian?
December 21, 2021 09:00 - 7 minutes - 6.05 MBOn the eighth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... holiday citizenry! Canada has a pretty strong case when it comes to Santa Claus's citizenship but we're not the only country with their hat in the ring. Grace and Linnea review the file to try to understand where does Santa really live and what nationality does he hold. Remember to rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
King's Cake
December 20, 2021 09:00 - 8 minutes - 6.59 MBOn the seventh day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... pocket change inside pastries? Quebec is probably the Canadian capital for weird holiday traditions. The King's Cake is one of them. Eaten on January 6th, the end of the Christmas season, King's Cake is a dessert with a fun game built in. Chow down on this episode and let us know your holiday traditions! Make sure you rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
H0H 0H0
December 19, 2021 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.98 MBOn the sixth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a Christmas delivery! For years, Santa Claus did not have a postal code. Post workers were sad to see some many letters get sorted in with the rest of the undeliverable mail, so they started replying to letters on a volunteer basis. Listen to find out about how Canada developed its postal system and how Santa ended up with the most famous postal code of all. Remember to rate and review the podcast and visit...
Saint Catherine's Day Taffy Pull
December 18, 2021 09:00 - 15 minutes - 12.3 MBOn the fifth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a weird and scary saintly story. On the 25th of November, Saint Catherine's Day, young Quebec women pull taffy and give the candies to their sweethearts! But what is the origin of this Christmas-kick-off tradition? Well... let's just say Saint Catherine won't put you in the festive spirit. Make sure to rate and review the podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
Mischief Mummering
December 17, 2021 09:00 - 12 minutes - 10.1 MBOn the fourth day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... mischievous mummering! Many of us are now familiar is the Newfoundland Christmas tradition of mummering that originated in the UK and Ireland. However, you may not have known that back in the day mummering was more like the Victorian purge. Beware of mummers this holiday season folks! Make sure to rate and review the Minute Women Podcast and visit our website: minutewomenpodcast.ca
Woody the Christmas Tree
December 16, 2021 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.77 MBOn the third day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a talking Christmas tree! The world became exposed to the Halifax tradition of Woody the Christmas Tree, a giant robotic tree that lives in the Mic Mac Mall and talks with children every year during the holiday season. For 15 years, Woody was retired by the Mall but he came back this year much to the community's delight. What about the rest of the world though? After many saw him on Late Night with Jimmy Fal...
The Mystery of Sinck Tuck
December 15, 2021 09:00 - 9 minutes - 7.65 MBOn second day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a holiday mystery? Since the ancient times (2004 to be exact) the internet has been recording the hallowed traditions of Sinck Tuck, the Inuit winter celebration that occurs every year during the Winter Solstice. Only, the Minute Women aren't so sure the Inuit celebrate Sinck Tuck during the darkest days of the year. Could the internet possibly be wrong?! Editor's note: Out of curiosity, I did find the name of...
The Tree for Boston
December 14, 2021 09:00 - 14 minutes - 11.4 MBOn first day of Minute Women Christmas, Linnea and Grace gave to me... a Bostonian Christmas Tree! In this minisode, we revisit the Halifax Explosion to deep dive on the beloved Christmas tradition it spurred. Following the devastating 1917 explosion, the city of Boston sent aid workers, supplies, and funds to help Halifax get back on its feet. Some of those aid workers even stayed through the Christmas season. In 1918, Halifax sent Boston a Christmas tree as a small token of grati...
12 Days of Minute Women Christmas
December 11, 2021 09:00 - 1 minute - 2.29 MBTo celebrate the festive season, Grace and Linnea present to you: the 12 Days of Minute Women Non-Denominational Christmas! Everyday from December 14th to December 25th, the Minute Women will be releasing a new minisode every single day. We're reviewing the old, new, and downright weird holiday traditions you can find across Canada! Is Santa Claus Canadian? What is Sinck Tuck? Was Martin Luther a stoner? These and other very important questions might be answered! Happy Holidays! M...
Timbiebs Taste Test and Big Announcement (HYGAM16)
December 08, 2021 09:00 - 13 minutes - 10.9 MBTimbiebs: are they worth the hype? Should you rush out and spend your hard earned cash on the latest timbiebs merch? Don't waste your precious pennies Minute Women listeners because Grace and Linnea have got you covered. We reviewed all three new timbit flavours and let you know our honest, critical, timbitty opinions. Also, we have a very festive announcement! Starting December 14th and running until Christmas day (December 25th) we will be releasing a new holiday-themed minisode...
O Canada
December 01, 2021 09:00 - 53 minutes - 42.9 MB"O Canada" was far from destined to become our national anthem. This underdog composition, however, swept the country and stole our hearts. This week, we cover what drove Calixa Lavalle and Adolphe-Basile Routhier to write "O Canada" in 1880 and how it was adopted by the Canadian government as the official national anthem 100 years later. That's right. 100 years later. And if you've always felt kinda mild about "O Canada" like Linnea... let's just say it could have been a whole lot ...
The Winnipeg Falcons
November 24, 2021 09:00 - 35 minutes - 29.8 MBIn 1920, the Winnipeg Falcons hockey team represented Canada at the Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium. The rest of the world was not prepared for the Falcon's display of dominance as they breezed to first gold medal ever awarded in hockey. 80 years later, this story of not only hockey, but immigration, bravery, and sacrifice was all but forgotten to Canadians until it resurfaced due to the love of some devoted fans in 2002. This week, we are looking at the incredible story of the Wi...
Timbiebs and Para Hockey (HYGAM 15)
November 17, 2021 09:00 - 28 minutes - 22.7 MBBREAKING NEWS! Justin Bieber is teaming up with Tim Horton's to release three new Timbit flavours, or should we say Timbiebs flavours. Well, the Minute Women have to discuss and go over the hilarious press release that came with the announcement. This week, we also discuss the new (sorta?) Taylor Swift album, our celebrity drinking buddy of choice, and the invention of Para Hockey! Please rate and review the show! It is the best way to support Minute Women. minutewomenpodcast.ca ...
Vimy Ridge
November 10, 2021 09:00 - 58 minutes - 47.9 MB"In those few moments, I witnessed the birth of a nation." The Canadian victory at Vimy during the First World War was a defining moment for Canada, when the country emerged from under the shadow of Britain and felt capable of greatness. Canadian troops also earned a reputation as formidable, effective troops because of the stunning success. But it was a victory at a terrible cost, with more than 10,000 killed and wounded. This week, the Minute Women discuss the Battle of Vimy Ridg...
The Last Post and Madame E. Guérin (HYGAM 14)
November 03, 2021 08:00 - 42 minutes - 35.2 MBWhere did the Last Post come from? And why do we wear plastic poppies to commemorate our fallen soldiers? Well, we have the answers folks! This week, Linnea uncovers the history of the Last Post. Then, Grace goes into the life and work of Madame E. Guérin, the French woman responsible for popularizing poppy-wearing campaigns around the world! For all your Minute Women needs, visit minutewomenpodcast.ca
Expo 67
October 27, 2021 08:00 - 44 minutes - 36.7 MBGrace and Linnea are covering the Heritage Minute classic (and one of Grace's favourites): Expo 67! The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was a general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century with the most attendees to that date and 62 nations participating. Island building, nationalist movements, and N...
Unicef Trick-or-Treating and Updates (HYGAM 13)
October 20, 2021 08:00 - 29 minutes - 24.1 MBWhatever happened to those orange boxes? The Minute Women have been busy over the last few weeks! We received an awesome email from a listener who helps fill in some details about the Dr. Lucille Teasdale Corti story. We also share some clips from our recent features on the North of Normal Podcast and the InTALKSicated Podcast. And (eventually) we get around to talking about Halloween in Canada, the iconic Unicef collection boxes, and the mystery of whatever happened to them! minut...
Dr. Lucille Teasdale Corti
October 13, 2021 08:00 - 32 minutes - 27.9 MBNew favourite badass alert! This week we dive into the life of totally under-rated badass Dr. Lucille Teasdale Corti. A Canadian physician who dedicated her life to running a Uganda hospital from 1961 to 1996. Her work was constantly threatened by political upheaval and war, not to mention she worked throughout the height of the AIDS epidemic. Long story short, she was amazing and we love her. Listen to learn about Lucille's incredible life. minutewomenpodcast.ca