From Far and Wide with Tod Maffin

During the Second World War, the Allies dreamed up something that sounds impossible — an aircraft carrier made of ice and sawdust. Not a metaphor, not a Canadian stereotype, but a real, bulletproof iceberg ship, built in secret on a frozen Alberta lake.This is the story of Project Habakkuk, the bizarre wartime invention that could have changed the war. We’ll travel to Jasper National Park, where pacifists worked under RCMP guard to build the prototype, and to the meeting rooms where Winston Churchill became giddy at the thought of a floating fortress.It’s a tale of wild ingenuity, Canadian resourcefulness, and a legacy that still shapes Arctic engineering today. Sometimes, wartime courage isn’t about storming beaches — it’s about building an iceberg and seeing if it floats.In this episode:Why the Allies needed a floating mid-Atlantic airbaseHow Canadian scientists turned ice and sawdust into bulletproof pykreteThe strange role of conscientious objectors in the projectWhy the ship never sailed, and how its legacy lived onSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If Alberta wants to leave Canada, fine. But they’re not going alone. I made a packing list. It includes some national treasures we probably don’t need anymore. From dial-up-speed Senators to the world’s saddest coffee coupons, this is what I’d send along with them. Call it tough love, Canadian style.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Air Canada flight attendants are striking, and I get it. Imagine doing 35 hours of unpaid labour every week, while being responsible for safety at 35,000 feet. In this episode, I break down why this strike is long overdue and how Canada’s outdated regulations keep letting airlines off the hook. Disclosure: An earlier version of this episode, up for about 30 minutes, had a significant factual error in it. This version of the video has removed that part of the script.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

She wasn’t a spy. She wasn’t in the military. Judy Feld Carr was a Canadian mother of six who used whispers, money, and Torah messages to save thousands. Her quiet mission reveals something profound about Canada’s past—and raises urgent questions about our present immigration system. This is the moment we decide what our values really mean.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Every Canadian has had the fantasy: sell it all, move to PEI, and live in a charming farmhouse by the sea. But the reality? Well water, blackflies, and no Costco for hundreds of kilometres. In this video, I unpack why the dream is so tempting, why it rarely works, and why that’s perfectly okay.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You may have seen the viral “Rachel Maddow” clip praising Canada. It’s fake — and dangerous. In this video, I expose how to spot AI-generated propaganda, why this clip’s details point to a larger agenda, and how seemingly harmless content can be weaponized to stir resentment. The threat isn’t just the video. It’s what comes after.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The words that carried us through a crisis, and could shape our future.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sobeys, Loblaws, Metro: caught mislabelling American food as Canadian. If you're trying to shop local, this matters. Here's how to fight back. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What is summer camp prank can teach us about negotiating with a con man. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A single flag. A nation’s conscience. Curtis Wilson’s design is quietly transforming Canada’s identity. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Did you know Canada has a syrup reserve?! Like, an actual vault of maple syrup barrels? It got ROBBED in 2012 — $19M worth. Only in Canada 🇨🇦📰 Get my newsletter — https://join.farandwide.news🦋 Follow me on Bluesky — https://bsky.app/profile/todmaffin.com☕ Like my stuff? Buy me a coffee — https://buymeacoffee.com/todmaffin🔗 See all my social media and links — https://todmaffin.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Americans issued a travel advisory for Canada? Cute. Here's my travel advisory for them. 🇺🇸 Florida, Texas, New York — you’re up.📰 Get my newsletter — https://join.farandwide.news🦋 Follow me on Bluesky — https://bsky.app/profile/todmaffin.com☕ Like my stuff? Buy me a coffee — https://buymeacoffee.com/todmaffin🔗 See all my social media and links — https://todmaffin.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How did no one realize this TV icon was secretly Canadian?Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s easy to be an ally when things are sunny. But if your brand only shows up when it’s convenient, you were never really with us. This is about more than logos. It’s about values..📰 Get my newsletter — https://join.farandwide.news🦋 Follow me on Bluesky — https://bsky.app/profile/todmaffin.com☕ Like my stuff? Buy me a coffee — https://buymeacoffee.com/todmaffin🔗 See all my social media and links — https://todmaffin.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Don't stop. Stay petty. Elbows up. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You call it Canadian bacon. We call it “ham in a Halloween costume.” Let’s talk about culinary theft. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The world is turning its back on science. But maybe, Canada can be its lighthouse.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Tod chats with Dr. Robert Beck about his journey of moving from the United States to Canada as a physician. He discusses the motivations behind the move, the processes involved in obtaining a job and work permit, and the complexities of medical licensing in Canada. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Trump did more to unite Canada than half our premiers combined. Tariffs? Thanks for the motivation. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s okay to feel let down by this country. But calling it broken helps no one — least of all the people still trying to fix it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/from-far-and-wide-with-tod-maffin/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy