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Indie Thread: A Proposal for a New CBC Program Celebrating Canadian Indie Creators

Indie Thread: A Proposal for a New CBC Program Celebrating Canadian Indie Creators

For decades, CBC has been a powerful champion of Canadian culture. From spotlighting homegrown musicians to amplifying the voices of independent filmmakers, it has helped carve out space for creators who might otherwise go unheard. But there’s one group that consistently slips through the cracks: Canadian indie authors.

I believe there’s an opportunity to change that—and to do something even more ambitious in the process.

This is my proposal for a new CBC radio program and podcast: Indie Thread.

Professional studio microphones mounted on boom arms against a dark background. The foreground microphone is a silver/gray dynamic microphone with a mesh grille and diamond-shaped logo, while a second similar microphone is visible but slightly out of focus in the background. The microphones appear to be suspended from black adjustable boom arms with shock mounts, creating a dramatic lighting effect typical of recording studio or podcast setup photography.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/two-gray-condenser-microphones-270288/

What Is Indie Thread?

Indie Thread is a cross-medium cultural program that weaves together Canadian indie voices from film, music, and literature. Each episode explores a central theme—grief, rebellion, belonging, water, silence—through three distinct lenses:

  • an independent filmmaker
  • an independent musician
  • an independent author

Together, their stories create a layered, resonant portrait of that theme as it moves through different creative forms.

The result? A dynamic, exploratory listening experience that champions the full spectrum of Canadian indie art.

Why Now?

Canadian indie creators are making some of the most urgent, beautiful, and boundary-pushing work in the country. But they often work in silos, separated by industry-specific platforms and algorithms that reward sameness over depth.

At the same time, readers—especially those who seek out independent voices—rarely hear authors featured alongside musicians or filmmakers. And self-published or small-press authors are still too often dismissed as “not quite real” in the eyes of cultural gatekeepers.

CBC has the reach and reputation to shift that narrative. Indie Thread is a chance to:

  • elevate indie authors alongside their film and music counterparts
  • connect audiences across disciplines
  • spark new cultural conversations rooted in Canadian stories

The Format

Each 30–45 minute episode would be structured around a single theme. It would include:

  1. Opening Reflections — The host introduces the theme and why it matters now.
  2. Segment 1: Indie Film — Interview with a Canadian indie filmmaker. Short clips or sound design elements bring their work to life.
  3. Segment 2: Indie Music — A conversation with a musician, woven with excerpts from their music.
  4. Segment 3: Indie Book — Spotlight on an indie author, including a brief reading or dramatized passage.
  5. Closing Threads — The host draws out connections, contrasts, and questions raised by the three voices.

Bonus: select episodes could feature collaborative cross-medium segments or include listener-submitted mini-creations.

Who It’s For

Indie Thread would speak to:

  • CBC listeners with a love for arts and ideas
  • fans of indie film, CanLit, live music, and small-press publishing
  • emerging creators seeking community and inspiration
  • anyone curious about the stories shaping this country from the ground up

It would especially resonate with listeners between 20 and 55 who are hungry for authentic, layered storytelling across platforms.


Production Notes

Format: Audio program (CBC Radio + podcast)
Length: 30–45 minutes per episode
Frequency: Weekly or biweekly
Season Length: 8–10 episodes

Host: Ideally a Canadian cultural critic, author, or artist who moves fluidly between disciplines. (Pick me!)

Produced by: Details, details, details… but the spirit is indie, collaborative, and deeply rooted in Canadian storytelling. Think flexible partnerships—with CBC, arts festivals, small presses, or wherever the good creative energy lives.

Let’s Talk

This is a program I’d love to help build. I already have a shortlist of compelling themes and creators from across the country who would make for powerful inaugural guests. Whether as a pilot, a limited-run season, or a long-term offering, Indie Thread offers a way for CBC to deepen its commitment to independent Canadian voices—across forms, regions, and generations.

If this sparks something in you, I’d love to talk more.

To readers of this blog: feel free to share this proposal or reach out if you’d like to be involved. Indie art thrives in community. Maybe this is one more thread we can weave together.

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