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The 519 Podcast

The 519 Podcast

About

The 519 Podcast brings you the stories, people, and events that matter most in our communities all from a 519 perspective. Hear about local crime, missing persons cases, and the issues shaping Southwestern and Midwestern Ontario including London, Windsor, Sarnia, Chatham-Kent, and beyond.

Recent Episodes

Derek Ritz and the search for justice
July 25, 2025 27:39

<p>When we think of Stratford, we think of a charming Ontario town with beautiful parks, world renowned theatre productions, and one of the world’s biggest pop stars. </p> <p>But the town that has seen actors like Sir Alec Guinness, Maggie Smith, and Christopher Plummer grace its…

Pride and Prejudice: how bigotry makes Pride Month more important than ever
June 20, 2025 30:29

<p>55 years ago, marches were held in four U.S. cities – New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. </p> <p>These marches were held one year after the Stonewall riots, and in many ways, could be considered the very first Pride parades. </p> <p>The Stonewall riots of 1969 …

30 years later: the disappearance of Mistie Murray
May 16, 2025 25:42

<p>Children go missing far more than the average Canadian might think, and finding them can require the help of the surrounding community, province, and beyond.</p> <p>But, in some cases, the searches come to an end and there’s no resolution for families whose loved ones have dis…

Online Misinformation: how to separate what's real from what's not.
April 11, 2025 25:41

<p>When it comes to elections, there are battles for votes, and there are battles for information. Candidates hope that their messages will resonate with voters more than those of their opponents. </p> <p>And that battle is made all the more difficult for voters when information …

The Windsor Slasher: A City Gripped by Fear
March 13, 2025 28:50

<p dir="ltr">In the summer of 1945, Windsor’s post-war optimism was shattered by a series of brutal murders and stabbings. It quickly became clear that a killer was stalking the city, causing widespread panic and fear. As the attacks continued, investigators uncovered a chilling …

Beyond the Scoreboard: battling sports betting addiction
February 14, 2025 19:39

<p>We’ve all seen the onslaught of advertisements for betting platforms in virtually every part of our life. On our social media feeds, on streaming platforms, during every single sporting event we watch, gambling is everywhere. </p> <p>To no one’s surprise, this has led to a ser…

Parvovirus: how a contagious disease killed several dogs in a Windsor neighbourhood
January 10, 2025 17:34

<p>We all love our pets, and we would do just about anything to protect them. </p> <p>But sadly, sometimes our furry friends fall victim to contagious diseases. That's what happened in Windsor, where an outbreak of Parvovirus has claimed the lives of at least 18 dogs (as of the e…

The Disappearance of Lisa Maas
December 06, 2024 22:29

<p>On July 16th, 1988, 22-year-old Lisa Maas went to a house party in the Owen Sound area. She was separated from her husband of two years and had recently broken up with a boyfriend. </p> <p>The next morning, she and a male companion went to retrieve her car. It was the last tim…

Joseph Spracklin, the anti-alcohol crusading Minister who got away with murder
November 07, 2024 22:23

<p>In this episode of the 519 Podcast, we tell the story of Joseph Spracklin, an anti-alcohol crusader in Windsor during the time of Prohibition, who got away with killing a bar owner. This episode is written and produced by Patrick Magermans and hosted by Scott Kitching. </p>

The Unsolved Murder of Sonya Cywink
October 03, 2024 32:00

<p dir="ltr">Sonya Cywink was last seen alive on August 26, 1994, in Old East London. Four days later, her body was found at Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site of Canada in Elgin County.</p> <p>In the 30 years since her murder, no one has been arrested. </p> <p dir="ltr"…

The Disappearance of Neil McDougall
August 31, 2023 24:37

<p>Neil McDougall had been married for less than six months when he went missing in October of 1985.</p> <p>38 years later, his wife Mary Ellen is still looking for answers - even as police have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.</p> <p>This episode of…

The Great Northeast Blackout - 20 years later
August 17, 2023 18:50

<p>Where were you that day? Were you driving when the lights went out? Trapped inside an elevator? Camping and completely unaware?</p> <p>At 4:11 pm on August 14, 2003, approximately 55 million North Americans found themselves without power.</p> <p>The widespread outage stretched…

A 519 Campfire Story: The Gordon House Haunting
August 03, 2023 20:58

<p>The town of Amherstburg has been around for over 200 years. And as we’ve learned in previous episodes, many places with a long and deep history are also entrenched in paranormal activities. Amherstburg is not immune. </p> <p>We’ve explored the ghost stories of Texas Road and t…

Ontario’s Adoption Search Angel
July 20, 2023 22:32

<p>It’s always fascinating learning about your family’s history. Did your Grandpa fight in a war? Or did your great-aunt Jess invent the shoe umbrella? The good part is you can easily just ask them, or ask your parents who have heard the stories at every family dinner growing up.…

The Secrets of Radar and the Second World War
July 06, 2023 19:04

<p>More than a million Canadian men and women contributed to the war effort during the 1940s. Most of them were given full recognition for their efforts. But some stories, like the Farmerettes, fell by the wayside. This was also the case for the thousands of men and women who wor…