Minute Women

Minute 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.

Listen on:

Episodes

Apr 1, 2020

59 min

In this special episode of Minute Women in isolation, producer Marc Boudreau joins Grace and Linnea as they discuss the life of the less-than agreeable Governor Frontenac. **Hint: The Heritage Minute on him may be his only shining moment. Tune in now! https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/governor-frontenac

Rural Teacher

Mar 25, 2020

Mar 25, 2020

56 min

Can't read a word? No problem! Let the Minute Women teach you everything you need to know. This week's episode features Canadian painter Robert Harris and the mystery of his famous painting A Meeting of the School Trustees. The painting depicts a female rural school teacher addressing the male school trustees in a one room schoolhouse. https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/rural-teacher

Marconi

Mar 18, 2020

Mar 18, 2020

58 min

This week, Grace and Linnea explore the life of famous inventor Guglielmo Marconi. They delve into his family history, his work with wireless telegraphs, and the controversy surrounding his achievements (did somebody say fascism?!). Tune in now! https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/marconi

Wilder Penfield

Mar 11, 2020

Mar 11, 2020

56 min

The history of medicine is terrifying and the only way the Minute Women can truly appreciate the accomplishments of the amazing (and surprisingly handsome) Dr. Wilder Penfield is to trace how epilepsy was treated for the millennia before him. Is it just me, or can you guys smell burnt toast? Tune in now! https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/wilder-penfield

Basketball

Mar 4, 2020

Mar 4, 2020

1hr 2 min

This week, Grace and Linnea explore the origins of basketball and the life of its inventor James Naismith. From hucking rocks to one of the most popular sports in the world, the history of basketball is weird. https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/basketball

Kenojuak Ashevak

Feb 26, 2020

Feb 26, 2020

41 min

The Minute Women delve into the life and work of renown Inuit artist Kenojuak Ashevak on this week’s episode. Grace apologizes in advance for the mispronunciations… https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/kenojuak-ashevak

Irish Orphans

Feb 26, 2020

Feb 26, 2020

49 min

The Minute Women dive into a crowd-favourite Heritage Minute: the Irish Orphans. Things get dark as Grace and Linnea discuss the events at Grosse Ile Quarantine Station in 1847 that lead to little orphans asking to keep their Irish names. https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/orphans

Feb 26, 2020

58 min

On the first episode of Minute Women, Grace and Linnea fittingly learn about the strange and tumultuous life of Canada’s first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. How did the son of a failed businessman become the Father of Confederation? Well, it’s a long story… https://www.historicacanada.ca/content/heritage-minutes/sir-john-macdonald

Feb 21, 2020

1 min

Welcome to Minute Women, a comedy-history podcast! Each week, Grace and Linnea investigate the untold stories behind the iconic Canadian Heritage Minutes and uncover the funny, weird, and terrifying stories left out of Canada’s national history. Follow us on Instagram @minutewomenpodcast and let us know what Heritage Minute you'd like us to do an episode on!

© 2025 Minute Women

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Version: 20241125