In today’s episode, the Great Big Sea musician and author joins Explore host David McGuffin for a lively journey through Newfoundland and Labrador, inspired by Doyle’s book, The Smiling Land.

Travelling with his wife and teenage son, Doyle explores the landscapes, communities and characters that make his home province so distinctive and the ingenuity helping former fishing communities find new paths forward.

Along the way, he takes us back to his childhood in Petty Harbour, where music filled the family home, cutting cod tongues earned him spending money, and singing Anne Murray songs bought him a later bedtime.

Doyle reflects on Great Big Sea’s beginnings in the shadow of the cod moratorium, the band’s unexpected role as ambassadors for Newfoundland, and the resilience behind their enduring anthem, “Ordinary Day.” He also shares what decades of touring have taught him about Canada — and why St. John’s remains his favourite place to be.

Full of humour and affection, this conversation explores how the places we come from shape the stories we tell.