In a period marked by heightened political tensions between the United States and Canada, two podcasters from each side of the border are collaborating to foster a connection with their cross-border counterparts. Using humor as their medium of choice, “Reverse Jackass” is the brainchild of Evelyn Flanagan, a former high school music teacher turned social media strategist from London, Ontario, and Nick Bognar, a family and marriage therapist based in Pasadena, California.
Described as “brave peace talks between North American neighbors,” the podcast features a conversational style where the duo engages in banter covering topics ranging from The Tragically Hip to NASCAR, all in the pursuit of discovering common ground. They describe their endeavor as a risk taken by an American and a Canadian to promote harmony despite being geographically bound together.
Their aim was to create content that is entertaining yet substantial, according to Flanagan during an interview on CBC’s “Afternoon Drive,” emphasizing that the podcast delves into deeper issues. She stated, “For us, this is a way to maintain connections, prioritize relationships over politics.”
Flanagan pointed out the prevalent ease of misunderstanding each other in the current climate, not just between Canada and the U.S., but also within families and globally. The two hosts, who initially met four years ago through a social media project, have since developed a strong friendship.
Bognar highlighted the historically strong relationship between Canada and the United States, cautioning against taking it for granted. They aspire for their friendship to symbolize the positive relationship between the two nations. Bognar expressed hope that amidst a climate where dehumanization is prevalent, people can remember the shared humanity between the citizens of both countries.
