#802 Jody Porter And A Complicated Legacy

August 1, 2022

SHARE

CANADALAND

Jody Porter was a reporting powerhouse at the CBC and advocated for human rights and Indigenous rights in Northwestern Ontario for decades. But she had complicated feelings about her work toward the end of her life. Jody passed away on July 19, 2022 and we are re-airing a conversation where she talked about these complicated feelings she had about her legacy. This interview originally aired in 2020.

Jesse Brown

Host & Publisher

Sarah Lawrynuik

Senior Producer

Tristan Capacchione

Audio Editor & Technical Producer

Kieran Oudshoorn

Managing Editor, Podcasts

Jody Porter worked for CBC in Thunder Bay for more than two decades. Her work on the injustices faced by Indigenous people in Northwestern Ontario from Grassy Narrows to Thunder Bay was cited in many hearings and reports including the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. And yet, she viewed her work with a very critical lens toward the end of her life after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

In July, Jody succumbed to cancer and died at the age of 50. We are re-airing a conversation Jesse had with Jody in November 2020 during the Brayden Bushby trial.

Featured in this episode: Jody Porter, senior reporter at CBC News

More from this series

#1362 The Truth About Residential School Graves

I think we need to respect what the families want and not force them to do something for anybody else but their own healing and their own search for justice. -Kisha Supernant, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Alberta

May 11, 2026

BONUS: Chat, Does Anyone Like Social Media?

Rage Bait, Activist Aesthetics, Pinterest Slop, and more…

May 7, 2026

#1358 The A.I. App for Rich People to Fight Journalists Who Embarrass Them

“Journalists ruined your reputation, not with evidence, with a narrative. And when they come for you, there's no way to fight back… until now. Introducing Objection!” -ad for Objection.ai

May 4, 2026

#1354 The Fantasia Cold Case

None of it makes sense because it's all unbelievable. -Katie Steele

April 27, 2026

#1350 Academy of Dunces: A Decade of Campus Censorship

“ People told me, why are you touching this subject? It's a career ender.” - Ric Bienstock

April 20, 2026

#1346 Who Is Spoonkymonkey and why we Phished Reddit

“Our Reddit fucking sucks.” -Jesse Brown

April 13, 2026

#1342 Nardwuar: An Oral History

The history of Canada’s weirdest and most prolific interviewer.