Ode to the Auraculous

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This episode is an ode to the auraculous, as we delve into the extraordinary world of sound with writer and journalist Caspar Henderson, author of ‘A Book of Noises: Notes on the Auraculous’.

Caspar invites us to tune the dial of our minds and truly listen to the hidden harmonies of nature, the mysteries of music, and the profound ways sound shapes our world. We explore the bizarre and beautiful: from whistling to bears and singing birds, to the first musical instruments and the resonance of ancient spaces. What is sound? Why does rhythm matter? And can a frog’s croak be as poetic as Shakespeare? 

Joining the show is Canadian-American poet Nehassaiu deGannes, who shares selections from ‘Music for Exile’, weaving sound and silence into powerful verse exploring life on the border.

We’re debuting a new game this week! Maple Leaf or Make Believe, where we test your ability to spot the true Canadian headlines from the truly ridiculous. Play along and see if you can guess the real Maple Leaf!

Plug in your headphones, open your ears, and join us for a journey through the science, poetry, and sheer wonder of sound. And remember - if you sneeze, you might just deafen thousands…

Follow us on Instagram @thebigsmokevariety and leave us a 5-star review to help make some noise! 

Time Stamps

Intro - (00:00)

Maple Leaf or Make Believe - (01:07)

Caspar Henderson Interview - (02:10)

Parish Notices - (51:53)

Nehassaiu deGannes Poetry - (55:05)

Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer - (1:09:40)

Outro - (1:11:01)

Links

Caspar’s Book 

Nehassaiu’s Book 

Answer to Maple Leaf or Make Believe 

Hosted & Exec Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

And a big thanks to Ahmad Wonly, our on-street correspondent