User:Miketod/sandbox

The Folk is a podcast about folk music history in Canada by Mike Tod. The 14-episode first season debuted in October 2019. The show received acclaim, and in late 2019 was in the top 10 music podcasts on iTunes Canada

Each episode examines the "true stories and lesser-known histories of folk and old-time music in Canada. Season One topics include: Winston 'Scotty' Fitzgerald, considered to be one of the greatest Cape Breton fiddler's of the 20th century; the story of The Romaniuk Family from Alberta and how they formed a relationship with The Carter Family from the United States (this episode features a newly discovered recording of Sara Carter a few years before her death); Jean Carignan, the Quebecois fiddler; and the story of how bluegrass music came to the Maritimes of Canada, and how the first bluegrass band in Canada had two Black Canadian members. The show's "painstakingly, obsessively, and thoroughly researched" episodes present "playful narration," with an "encyclopedic knowledge," "occasionally strange segues" and "obsessive attention to detail." While the show is not overtly political, sexism in the country music industry is a recurring theme.

There is one hour-long episode per province and territory in Canada, with each episode presenting a musician or band or song from each region. In addition to hosting, Tod is the sole researcher, writer and producer of the podcast. Tod has said each episode takes "about 100 hours" to complete.

Tod is a folk singer and ethnomusicologist. Previous to this series, he conducted a study of the history of folk music in Alberta, resulting in a book on the topic and a yet-to-be-released two-disc set of music, recorded on the historic tape machine of Canadian folklorist Edith Fowke. He currently resides in Okotoks, Alberta and performs live and tours in an old-time duo called Godfrey & Tod.