Podcast
The Big Story
Episodes — page 101
Why we need to market masks like condomsIt's clear from the politicization of masks in the United States, and the mandatory mask policies being enacted in Canada, that we're not seeing enough voluntary compliance to impa…
We have a rare opportunity to reimagine the way we travel. Will we take it?Since the pandemic put a sudden stop to foreign travel, places around the world that were once overrun by tourists have had a chance to breathe. And the people living in them have…
Migrant farm workers are dying of COVID-19. What’s being done to stop the spread?Hundreds of migrant farm workers in Ontario have tested positive for COVID-19 and three have died, leaving behind wives and children. Health officials say the workers arrived healt…
Internet Folklore: The case of the heart-shaped honeycombYou may have seen the picture during one of its many trips around the internet over the past seven years. It's a honeycomb shaped like a heart, allegedly made by the bees themselve…
A Turning Point: Race Relations In SportsIn this special episode of the Big Story, Arash Madani of Sportsnet hosts a discussion of racism and activism in sports. The games we love have been at the forefront of many waves…
Why do ‘wellness checks’ keep ending in killings?In a perfect world, a "wellness check" would be exactly what it says. A person seems like they’re having trouble or are in crisis, so we call someone to check on them, to help them…
Our second birthday: So, how’s 2020 treating everyone?The Big Story turns two today. We're officially entering our toddler years, just in time to throw a tantrum at the news cycle with two of our favourite guests. This year is not yet…
How do we fix hockey culture without burning it down?The allegations in a recent lawsuit are horrifying to read. Teenagers allegedly being bullied and abused by older teammates as coaches watched and did nothing. These aren't the fir…
A long fight to make the Air India bombing a ‘Canadian’ tragedyToday is the 35th anniversary of the Air India bombing, which killed 329 people, 280 of them Canadian citizens. In the immediate tragedy, the terrorist attack was seen largely as a…
A Guide To Relationships on LockdownWhen we discuss how COVID-19 has changed everything on this show, there's one big topic we haven’t covered yet. It’s sensitive. It’s intimate. It’s not easy to talk about even when…
What does Tim Horton’s (and other companies) know about you?You might expect the world's biggest technology companies to have your data and know a lot about your life. But your favourite (or least favourite) coffee chain?! This is the stor…
“Outside is closed!”: What’s COVID-19 doing to kids in the long run?The Hospital for Sick Children issued a report Wednesday that recommends children go back to school in September—even though it admits the virus likely won’t be eradicated by then.…
What does “Defund The Police” mean today, tomorrow and next year? What other options are there?It's a slogan gathering steam, and support--but not enough support to make it practical. Yet. What don't people understand about the phrase and the options on the table for police…
What does the future of the U.S.-Canada border look like?It's been closed to all but essential travel for months, and polls show most Canadians want it closed for a good while longer. The border is the most visible symbol of the increasi…
What do you really know about country music?Most of us have a very specific image in our minds of what country music is. It shouldn’t be surprising—that's how it’s been promoted and sold for decades. But it wasn’t how the m…
It’s getting harder and harder to stop disinformationIt's been a banner year for disinformation, and the past few weeks have been the worst of all. Coronavirus hoaxes and miracle cures are still circulating, but there's also been a d…
If everything’s opening up, why am I so anxious?Three months ago, Canadians were asked to adapt to a 'new normal'. We were told to stay inside, avoid contact with others, and limit trips to the bare necessities. It was awful, an…
How the pandemic put health inequality on displayThe rates of COVID-19 among Black and other racialized communities in the United States and around the world are staggering. It would be interesting to have that data in Canada...b…
How much ‘working from home’ will become permanent?Several of the world's leading technology companies—including Shopify, the largest in Canada—have announced that they don't ever plan to return to full-time office work. Other comp…
How worried should we be about foreign takeovers?Right now, Canadian businesses are vulnerable. Many of them are worried they won't survive COVID-19, and that makes them attractive targets for foreign investors. In some cases, it…
