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Controversy as World Cup quarterfinals kick-off Jul 09, 2026

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It's been a wild ride so far this World Cup. With the quarterfinals underway we’ve got your World Cup roundup. The highs, the lows, the final games to come. And the controversy – Could US President Donald Trump's call to Gianni Infantino cost the FIFA head his job? And has VAR (Video Assistant Referee) contributed to questionable calls? Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Laurent Dubois, author of Soccer Empire and The Language of the Game and Tim Elcombe, Professor of Kinesiology at Wilfred Laurier University, who is currently writing a book on FIFA and its role as a geopolitical body.

Hamas says it’s ready to hand over power. What comes next? Jul 09, 2026

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Hamas announced this week it was ready to dissolve its government after being in charge of Gaza for more than a decade. Israel says it's a trick move because the military group will be in charge as long as it stays armed. Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks with Diana Buttu, Palestinian Canadian lawyer, who tells us what this means for Palestinians. And Aaron David Miller, breaks down the role of the Board of Peace and if there's a way for the stalled peace plan to move forward.

Stampede Politics! Separatism, pipelines & pancakes Jul 08, 2026

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Politicians of all stripes are out in full force at the Calgary Stampede, squeezing into jeans and cowboy boots. This year's focus: The upcoming referendum on Alberta separatism. Federal politicians are there in droves making their case for national unity. Independent pollster Janet Brown and CBC writer and producer Jason Markusoff join guest host Catherine Cullen to talk Stampede politics. And we'll hear what some Albertans are thinking when it comes to their province's future in the federation.

When procrastination becomes problematic Jul 08, 2026

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Why do we procrastinate? Joseph Ferrari, a Professor of Psychology at DePaul University, has spent his career studying why we put things off, and says while some of us do it once in a while, 20 per cent of the population has a problem with serious, chronic procrastination. The good news: his research shows it's not genetic, or "natural" -- and Joseph Ferrari says there are steps you can take to turn things around and start getting stuff done.

Trump says the peace deal with Iran is over Jul 08, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump says the interim agreement to end the war in Iran is over after Tehran carried out attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf. The U.S. meanwhile launched military strikes against Iran in response to earlier attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East correspondent for The Economist Gregg Carlstrom speaks to guest host Catherine Cullen about the escalation of the war.

Are you being upsold at the dentist? Jul 07, 2026

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When you’re sitting in the dentist’s chair – it can sometimes be hard to know for sure if the treatment being recommended is really the right one. Dr. Brandon Doucet, from the Coalition for Dentalcare, joins guest host Catherine Cullen to talk about why he's worried about dental overtreatment in Canada, and what patients should look out for. And while he says most dentists are caring professionals, health lawyer and former dentist, Gary Srebrolow, joins us to explain when overtreatment crosses the line.

Can Canada become a NATO leader as US support wanes? Jul 07, 2026

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NATO members are gathering in Ankara, Turkey at a fraught time. The wars in Ukraine and Iran are ongoing and there are questions about how the alliance will reimagine itself as the US reduces support. Guest host Catherin Cullen speaks with Kerry Buck, Canada's ambassador to NATO from 2015 to 2019, Gönül Tol, the founding director of the Middle East Institute's Turkish Program, and Oana Lungescu, NATO's principal spokesperson from 2010 to 2023 about the future of NATO and Canada’s role in the alliance.

Where is the Canadian economy headed? Jul 06, 2026

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Is your job at risk, can you afford your home and when will things stop being so expensive? Guest host Catherine Cullen speaks to Deloitte’s Chief Economist Dawn Desjardins about the risks to the Canadian economy in the face of rising energy costs, trade tensions and low business and consumer confidence. Plus McGill University business prof Robert Nason has advice for entrepreneurs on how to find opportunity in the midst of an economic storm.

How Ivanka Trump helped spark Albania's 'Flamingo Revolution' Jul 06, 2026

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It's being called the 'Flamingo Revolution' – Albanians have taken to the streets in record numbers for more than a month, protesting their government's approval of a mega resort backed by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump. Freelance reporter Alice Taylor joins guest host Catherine Cullen to explain what flamingos have to do with the protests, what the protestors want, and why the government is digging in.

What's Canada doing in Eurovision? Jul 06, 2026

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The Eurovision Song Contest is famous for bringing us major musical artists, plus healthy doses of kitsch -- and politics. Now Canada is joining the competition next year. But what does it mean for another non-European nation to take part? And what can Canadians expect from the wildly popular competition? Guest host Catherine Culled talks to Karen Fricker, of Brock University, and William Lee Adams, a culture reporter at the BBC who also runs a Eurovision YouTube channel.

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