The Sunday Magazine for December 19, 2021
This week on The Sunday Magazine with Piya Chattopadhyay:
'Use it or lose it': Transit guru Andy Byford on the future of public transportation
When pandemic lockdowns first hit London, ridership on the iconic Tube hit "Victorian" levels. Almost two years later, efforts to slow the spread of the Omicron variant are hitting public transit again. So what will it take to keep the networks running after the pandemic? "Use it or lose it," says Andy Byford. The former head of transit for Toronto and New York City is now running Transport for London. He joins Chattopadhyay to share wisdom from his 32-year career, why he considers riding the bus a badge of honor, and why a post-pandemic transit system must include new ways of getting around.
Why an Oji-Cree community is trying to rebuild its Catholic church
It's been a trying year for Indigenous Catholics across Canada. The discovery of hundreds of children's unmarked graves at church-run residential school sites reopened old wounds and served as a reminder of how much work remains to be done for reconciliation. The community of St. Theresa Point in northern Manitoba faced an additional test of faith after its Catholic Church – long the centre of the community – burned down on Easter Sunday. The Sunday Magazine producer Pete Mitton brings us the voices of residents of St. Theresa Point, who talk about working to rebuild the church, despite the trauma... and the "miracle" that's giving them the faith to go on.
Finding fun in trying times
As the holidays approach and the Omicron variant continues to dominate headlines, it's harder to come by the kind of joy many of us expect to find this time of year. But science journalist and The Power of Fun author Catherine Price says it's more important than ever to prioritize what she calls "true fun". She speaks with Chattopadhyay about how she found fun and offers insight on how others can do so too, including taking something called a "fun audit'', identifying your "fun magnets", and creating a "delight practice".
Sesame Street star Sonia Manzano builds on her legacy with a new kids' show
Six years after ending her legendary run as a writer and star on Sesame Street, Sonia Manzano – beloved by many as Maria – is back with a new kids' program called Alma's Way that's based on her own childhood in the Bronx. She joins Chattopadhyay to discuss her lifelong dedication to empowering kids through television, and how she hopes the new show will build on Sesame Street's legacy around diversity and representation, especially for Latinos like herself.
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