Ideas

Latest Episodes:

How to Flourish in a Broken World Nov 12, 2024

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The world is full of problems — our broken healthcare, out-of-reach housing, a democracy in shambles and a dying planet. Is it actually possible to fix this mess? IDEAS hears from people working to fix our most intractable problems at a time when it can feel easier to just give up. *This episode originally aired on Sept. 21, 2023.

Pt 2: Acts of Remembrance: Canadian Veterans Share Postwar Experiences Nov 11, 2024

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Canada’s veterans have a conflicted relationship with Remembrance Day, an idea that may be shifting as older war vets leave us. In a two-part series, IDEAS continues exploring postwar experiences from The Canadian War Museum’s oral history project called In Their Own Voices. *This is part two of a two-part series.

Pt 1: What Came After: Canadian Veterans Share Postwar Experiences Nov 08, 2024

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Even when wars end, they go on — transforming the people who fought them, their families, and even society. More than 200 veterans were interviewed for a project by the Canadian War Museum called In Their Own Voices. The initiative explores the profound changes that come after veterans return home. *This is part one of a two-part series.

Massey at 60: The Legacy of Doris Lessing and the 'Prisons We Choose to Live Inside' Nov 07, 2024

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Doris Lessing addressed Canadian audiences with her CBC Massey Lectures in 1985, warning warn us against groupthink and what she called the intellectual “prisons we choose to live inside." Now, a response from the present day: Professor Miglena Todorova reflects on Lessing’s message and puts it into the context of today’s politics.

The Seven Wonders of the World: A Bucket List for Ancient Travellers Nov 06, 2024

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More than 2,000 years ago, someone sat down and drafted a list of what they thought were the seven man-made wonders of the ancient world. From the Pyramid of Giza to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, historian Bettany Hughes shares her enthusiasm for the monumental achievements brought into existence by ancient cultures.

Do Dogs Feel Guilt? Animal Cognition Discoveries Nov 05, 2024

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Animals — what on earth are they thinking? A panel of scientists explore the notion of animal cognition from what your dog means when it wags its tail, to the incredible problem-solving skills of crows, as part of the Aspen Ideas Festival. *This episode originally aired on November 5, 2021.

Experts Say American Democracy is at a Precipice, and Time is Ticking Nov 04, 2024

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Ahead of the U.S. presidential election, there are growing fears that American democracy is headed toward a crisis point. In this 2022 episode, IDEAS contributor Melissa Gismondi unpacks the idea that America as we've known it may be ending, while exploring where the country may be headed, and what — if anything — can save it.

Can a New Conservatism Offer Solutions to Modern Social Problems? Nov 01, 2024

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Canadian conservatism remains a contested territory, even for those who see themselves firmly entrenched in its ideas and history. IDEAS examines how contemporary conservatism has shifted over the last decades — and how conservatives are wrestling with their own movement's internal pressures, including a sustained call for a return to socially conservative values.

The Role of Nonfiction in a World of Contested Truths: Writer Pankaj Mishra Oct 31, 2024

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Award-winning writer Pankaj Mishra argues that self-serving narratives of Western countries have masked agendas of imperialism and exploitation, resulting in widespread suspicion of liberal democracy itself. He is the winner of the 2024 Weston International Award, which he received in September. After delivering a talk, Mishra joined IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed onstage to have a conversation.

Is Fascism Coming Back? Oct 30, 2024

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An ideology that emerged with catastrophic consequences 100 years ago, has become a rising political force globally. With the possible re-election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, some observers believe that if he were to win again, a fascist would be inhabiting the most powerful political post in the world. IDEAS examines the ideology of fascism — and why it poses such a danger now.

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