Face2Face with David Peck

In this conversation, David Peck interviews Tanya Talaga and Shane Belcourt about their film Red Power Rising, which explores Indigenous storytelling, narrative sovereignty, and the ongoing struggles faced by Indigenous communities in Canada. The discussion delves into the importance of reclaiming narratives, the layers of history and human rights within the film, and the distinction between being a warrior and a terrorist. They also address the systemic issues within Canadian society, the need for education reform, and the hope for future generations to thrive through cultural reclamation.
Tanya Talaga is an award-winning Anishinaabe and Polish Canadian journalist, author, and filmmaker whose work powerfully centers Indigenous voices in Canadian public life. Raised in Toronto with deep roots in Fort William First Nation, Talaga spent more than two decades at The Toronto Star, becoming a leading voice on Indigenous affairs. Her acclaimed first book, Seven Fallen Feathers (2017), examined the deaths of seven First Nations students in Thunder Bay and won the RBC Taylor Prize and the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize. She later delivered the CBC Massey Lectures, published as All Our Relations.
Through her company Makwa Creative and her latest book The Knowing (2024), Talaga continues to illuminate history, justice, and Indigenous resilience. For more info on Tanya head here: www.makwacreative.ca
Shane Belcourt is a Métis filmmaker, writer, cinematographer, and musician whose work explores Indigenous identity, urban Métis life, and the complexities of belonging. Born in Ottawa, Belcourt gained national recognition with his debut feature Tkaronto (2007), which premiered at imagineNATIVE and won Best Director at the Dreamspeakers and Talking Stick Film Festivals. His diverse body of work includes feature films, documentaries, and television, including Red Rover (2018), the acclaimed documentary Beautiful Scars (2022), and the drama Warrior Strong (2023).
A four-time Canadian Screen Awards nominee, Belcourt continues to tell compelling stories that blend cultural insight, creativity, and emotional depth in contemporary Canadian cinema.
For more info on Shane head here: www.shanebelcourt.com
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.
He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.
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In this episode of Face2Face, David Peck speaks with magician, actor and creator Steve Valentine about creativity, the subconscious mind and rediscovering the art of magic. Steve reflects on how the brain is always working beneath the surface, often producing creative breakthroughs when we least expect them. He shares how revisiting the history of magic and returning to routines he once performed has reignited his passion and opened new perspectives on his craft. Their conversation explores how reflection, curiosity and our past experiences shape the way we create and perform. Thoughtful and engaging, this episode is a reminder that creativity is rarely linear and that sometimes the best way forward is to look back.
Steve Valentine is a Scottish-born actor, magician, and creator whose career spans television, film, voice acting, and live performance. Born in Scotland and raised near London, he began performing at the age of five, training in theatre and dance before discovering a lifelong passion for magic.
Valentine has appeared in more than 250 hours of television and over 15 feature films. He is best known for his starring roles as criminologist Nigel Townsend on NBC’s Crossing Jordan, choreographer Martine on WB’s Nikki and 80s rock legend Derek Jupiter on Disney’s I’m In the Band. He also hosted SYFY’s Estate of Panic, earning a Rose d’Or nomination. A versatile performer, Valentine has appeared in The Big Bang Theory, CSI, Supernatural, Psych, and Hot in Cleveland and had a memorable role in Robert Zemeckis’ The Walk. His voice work includes beloved characters in Sofia the First, Tinker Bell and the globally popular Dragon Age video game series.
Beyond screen work, Valentine is an internationally acclaimed magician and live entertainer. A multi-award winner at Hollywood’s Magic Castle, including Close-Up Magician of the Year and Stage Magician of the Year. He has performed everywhere from Las Vegas stages to royal palaces. He is also a keynote speaker who blends magic, storytelling, and performance insights to inspire audiences worldwide. A prolific creator, Valentine founded the global training platform Magic On The Go, hosts the popular podcast Magicians Only and continues to develop television projects, stage shows, and creative work that reflects his boundless curiosity and love of performance.
Learn more about Steve here.
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.
He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.

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What happens when we slow down long enough to really listen, to our stories and to one another? In this episode of Face2Face, I sit down with George Strombolopoulos for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about the power of storytelling in shaping who we are, personally, culturally and as Canadians. We talk about authenticity, the responsibility and possibility of art and why shared narratives matter more than ever in a fractured world. From truth and reconciliation to community building, this is a conversation about paying attention, staying curious, and making space for voices that need to be heard. If you believe stories can still bring us together and maybe even point us toward something better you’ll want to lean in for this one.
George Stroumboulopoulos is a multi-faceted storyteller, broadcaster, producer and filmmaker. His range of experience is unparalleled in Canadian media. Including hosting iconic prime-time news and late-night talk shows, CBC’s The Hour and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, his interview series on CNN and anchoring the nation’s most-watched television show, Hockey Night in Canada. He hosted and produced Canada's premiere culture show, The New Music, on MuchMusic.
Canada's first Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), travelling to Haiti, Pakistan, Darfur, Lebanon and Syria. He established the George Stroumboulopoulos Music Therapy Scholarship, funding music therapy education. He’s also worked closely with the World Wildlife Fund, Innocence Canada, Amnesty International, Music Heals, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He serves on the Artists for Peace and Justice Canada board. Building schools and funding medical clinics in Haiti.
Learn more about George here.
The MADE | NOUS campaign shines a spotlight on the achievements of Canadians who bring exceptional stories to life and encourages audiences to discover and celebrate their work.
This campaign is the result of a collaborative effort between Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada.
Made Nous - watch the first episode here.
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.
He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recorded live at the Toronto International Film Festival, David Peck sits down with filmmaker Bryan Fuller to discuss Dust Bunny, Fuller’s darkly playful and deeply personal feature debut. What begins as a conversation about genre influences, Frankenstein, Blade Runner and Gremlins, turns inward, as Fuller reflects on childhood fear, imagination, and fairy tales. Together they explore how the film reframes monsters as emotional realities rather than fantasy creatures, and how humour, wonder, and visual style create both distance and healing. Dust Bunny emerges as a story for adults that is frightening, funny, and so tender. Bryan Fuller is an acclaimed writer, producer, and filmmaker celebrated for his visually striking, emotionally complex storytelling. He is best known as the creator of genre-defining television series including Hannibal, Pushing Daisies, Wonderfalls, and Dead Like Me, as well as his work on Star Trek: Discovery and American Gods. Across television, Fuller has built a reputation for blending dark humour, heightened fantasy, and deeply human themes, often exploring identity, trauma, and transformation through bold, imaginative worlds.
With Dust Bunny, his feature-film debut, Fuller brings his singular voice to cinema. Premiering at TIFF’s Midnight Madness, the film merges fairy tale, horror, and wit into a deeply personal story rooted in childhood fear and resilience. Whether working in television or film, Fuller continues to push genre boundaries, crafting stories that are visually lush, emotionally resonant, and unafraid to confront the monsters—real and imagined—that shape us.
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis.
With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation. He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people.
At heart, he simply loves good conversation and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck, ICBL and Face2Face. Used with permission.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this engaging conversation, David Peck interviews Matt Whitaker and Rupert Evans about their film Truth and Treason. They explore the complexities of good and evil and the emotional weight of loyalty and doubt in the context of Nazi Germany. We dig into the nature of violence, the importance of subtext in relationships, and the challenges of bravery and conformity. The film serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassion and the call to action against oppression in today's world.
Rupert Evans is an actor and director best known for his leading roles in Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle, CBS’s Charmed & Netflix’s Bridgerton Season 2. His recent work includes the BBC adaptation of the Moonflower Murders alongside Lesley Manville, & the Nordic crime drama Wisting. Evans’ feature breakthrough came as FBI agent John Meyers in Guillermo Del Toro’s Hellboy. He has since starred in American Pastoral with Ewan McGregor & Jennifer Connelly, the thriller The Boy with Lauren Cohan, and Alejandro Amenábar’s Agora opposite Rachel Weisz. Evans has led acclaimed productions such as the Golden Globe–nominated Emma & the BAFTA nominated Fingersmith. His other notable credits include The Secrets, Fleming, The Village, Lucan, World Without End, and Poirot.
On stage, Evans is a Royal Shakespeare Company alumnus, having played the Dauphin in King John, earning an Ian Charleson Award nomination.
Matt Whitaker has written and directed for film and television, becoming a leading storyteller for more than 30 years, in the WWII genre. His produced screenplays include the acclaimed war dramas Saints & Soldiers & Instrument of War. Beyond narrative features, he has creative-produced or directed over 100 commercials and short films across more than 30 countries. Whitaker’s documentary work includes award winning films for PBS such as Ancestors & Small Fortunes: Microcredit & the Future of Poverty, featuring Nobel Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus & Academy Award–winning actress Linda Hunt.
In 2002, Whitaker traveled to Germany with the last surviving member of a teenage resistance group opposing the Nazis. That profound experience resulted in the PBS documentary Truth & Conviction: The Helmuth Hübener Story.
David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis.
With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation. He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people.
At heart, he simply loves good conversation and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.
For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.
F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck, ICBL and Face2Face. Used with permission.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.