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Tune in: Explore the world of podcasting

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Podcasts have transformed the way we learn, connect, and share stories with each other. From investigative journalism to intimate conversations, podcasting offers a unique blend of accessibility and creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just curious about the craft, our latest book display celebrates the voices shaping this dynamic industry.

The art of storytelling
Jessica Abel’s Out on the wire: The storytelling secrets of the new masters of radio explores narrative techniques that make audio compelling. Abel’s work emphasizes how structure and emotion create unforgettable stories. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to develop their expertise.

Voices of change
Sarah Florini’s Beyond hashtags: Racial politics and Black digital networks examines how podcasting intersects with race and activism. Florini explores how Black creators use digital platforms to challenge narratives and build community, demonstrating how podcasting can be a powerful tool for social justice.

Academic innovation
Lizzie Beckstead’s Podcast or perish: Peer review and knowledge creation for the 21st Century reimagines scholarly communication through audio. This book shows how podcasts are reshaping academic publishing, making research more accessible and engaging for wider audiences.

Decolonizing podcasting
Baham and Higdon’s The podcaster’s dilemma: Decolonizing podcasters in the era of surveillance capitalism examines how podcasters navigate issues of power, identity, and resistance in a digital landscape dominated by surveillance and profit motives.

Streaming stories about podcasts
The display also features streaming films like Catch and kill: The podcast tapes (available to stream on Kanopy), which delves into the Ronan Farrow’s reporting behind one of the most explosive media stories of our time.

Works of fiction 

Sadie by Courtney Summers is a gripping novel that follows a young woman’s quest for justice after her sister’s murder, told through alternating perspectives of Sadie’s journey and a true-crime podcast investigating her disappearance, making it a perfect pick for fans of Serial or Someone Knows Something. 

Global perspectives
Ying Huang’s Ear economy: China audio streaming programs study offers insight into the booming audio industry in China. Huang’s analysis reveals how cultural and economic forces shape podcasting trends worldwide, providing a deeper look at how local trends influence global listening habits.

This book display invites you to explore podcasting from every angle: technical, cultural, and creative. Stop by McLennan-Redpath and discover how these authors are amplifying voices and shaping the future of audio storytelling.

My FAIR Data: A book display on equity, ethics, and the power of information 

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Written by Marcela Isuster and Emily Kingsland

What does it mean for data to be fair? 

Inspired by the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) this book display reimagines the acronym to ask deeper questions about justice, representation, and responsibility in the digital age. “My FAIR Data” brings together a diverse collection of works that examine how data shapes our lives, our institutions, and our futures. Its works communicate the stories that data tell.  

From the biases embedded in algorithms to the fight for Indigenous data sovereignty, these books explore the social, ethical, and political dimensions of data. They challenge us to consider who is counted, who is left out, and how data can be used to empower or oppress. 

Highlights include: 

Critical viewpoints on artificial intelligence, surveillance, and algorithmic discrimination, such as Big data and democracy, a collection of essays in four parts, which explores the relationship that exists between citizens and data; political advertising; technical issues; and the implications for trust in society.  

Feminist and queer approaches to data collection and analysis, such as Dr. Safiya Noble’s work Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism, which examines how women of colour are negatively biased against in search engine results and algorithms.  

Historical and contemporary insights into data governance, privacy, and stewardship, such as How data happened: A history from the age of reason to the age of algorithms, by Drs. Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones, which delves into the history of data and statistics, from eugenics in Victorian England to facial recognition today.  

Creative storytelling that brings data to life through fiction, memoir, and visual narratives, such as former tech sector startup employee Anna Wiener’s memoir Uncanny valley, which details her time living in San Francisco and her disillusionment with Silicon Valley.  

Indigenous perspectives on research ethics, information governance, and the legacy of colonialism, such as Indigenous statistics: From data deficits to data sovereignty, which brings together research projects from Indigenous Peoples in the United States, Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and Canada.   

Whether you’re a data scientist, a student, or simply curious, this display invites you to reflect on the values we embed in our data practices and the kind of future we want to build. 

Come explore “My FAIR Data” and discover how information can be a tool for equity, accountability, and change. 

Reproductive Justice – Redpath Book Display, January 2025

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Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, we have continued to see reproductive freedom taken away at the highest levels of government in the United States. There has been a ripple effect in Canada, as some members of parliament have become more outspoken about limiting access to reproductive health in this country. As we begin 2025, let us take a moment to look at the breadth of literature on reproductive rights. Much of this display features writings from and about the Canadian context, but there are topics ranging from Victorian Toronto to present-day Mexico and everything in between.  

Some noteworthy works on the local history of reproductive health in McGill Libraries’ collection include: After Morgentaler : The politics of abortion in Canada, which examines the landmark 1988 decision of R. v. Morgentaler that struck down Canada’s abortion law; Shout your abortion, a hashtag that went viral in 2015 following the United States Congress’ attempt at defunding Planned Parenthood; and Portrait of a scandal: The abortion trial of Robert Notman, about the younger brother of Montreal’s noted photographer William Notman who arranged for a woman’s abortion. In consideration of how abortion has been utilized by both proponents for and critics of eugenics, we have also included works on the history of eugenics in Canada such as: Our Own Master Race Eugenics in Canada, 1885-1945 and In the public good : eugenics and law in Ontario. 

Beyond abortion, another theme explored in the display is the timely and hotly debated topic of surrogacy. Surrogacy in Canada: Critical perspectives in law and policy addresses the health and well-being of surrogates, as well as the lack of surrogacy regulation in Québec. In My body, their baby : A progressive Christian vision for surrogacy, author Grace Y. Kao draws on her experience as a surrogate mother and assess the ethics of surrogacy through feminist and Christian lenses. Intimate strangers: Commercial surrogacy in Russia and Ukraine and the making of truth examines the transactional and financial nature behind some surrogate births and the impact it has on women’s bodies.