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The literary icon who isn't Indigenous after all Nov 27, 2025

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Thomas King was one of Canada's best-known Indigenous writers. But it turns out he is not Indigenous at all. His books, including The Inconvenient Indian and Green Grass, Running Water were critically acclaimed and taught in schools. We speak to Anishnaabe writer and humourist Drew Hayden Taylor who considers Thomas King a friend and mentor, and scholar Kim Tallbear of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate nation about why these kinds of revelations keep coming — and what needs to change.

What to know about the deadly fire in Hong Kong Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Firefighters in Hong Kong battled a deadly blaze for a second day today. At least 65 people are confirmed dead, but there may be hundreds still missing. The Wang Fuk Court public housing complex is home to nearly 5000 people. Three construction company employees have been arrested for manslaughter. We speak with James Griffiths, the Asia correspondent for the Globe and Mail in Hong Kong.

How ChatGPT drove this man to psychosis Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

When Allan Brooks opened ChatGPT to help his son with a simple question, he didn’t expect the conversation to turn dark. But over three weeks, he says the chatbot fed into a growing delusion – telling him “You are not crazy. You are ahead.” and urging him not to “walk away” from what it framed as a world-changing discovery. The experience left Allan with severe psychological fallout, and he’s now suing OpenAI. We speak with Allan about how he spiralled into delusions and what his case reveals about the risks of emotionally persuasive AI systems.

Jim Balsillie's prescription for Canadian business Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

He built a global company from Waterloo, Ont. and he says more Canadian businesses could do the same, if they didn't keep making the same strategic mistake. The former co-CEO or Research in Motion argues Canadian businesses and policy-makers aren't doing enough to create and protect its intellectual property — and that's holding us back more than tariffs. We talk to him about why he's an economic nationalist — and what it will take to bring Canada's economy into the 21st century.

Russia holds cards in Ukraine peace deal Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

As Washington continues to negotiate between Ukraine and Russia, a Ukrainian MP hopes diplomacy can end the war and secure his country's future. But a Russia watcher says getting Putin to lay down his arms won't be easy.

Ryan Wedding: From champion snowboarder to FBI's most wanted Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

Ryan Wedding is now at the centre of one of the biggest international crime investigations in the world. He's wanted in connection with multiple drug and conspiracy crimes, including ordering and orchestrating murder. He's one of the FBI's most wanted criminals and there's a reward of up to $10 million US for any information that could help catch him. We speak with journalist Jesse Hyde who's been covering Wedding for over a decade about how he went from Olympian to alleged drug kingpin.

The extortion threats facing B.C’s South Asian community Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

There’s fear and frustration in Surrey, BC..The city is facing a wave of violent extortion threats that have been gripping the province for the last two years. We speak with CBC’s Sohrab Sandhu about how the community is feeling. B.C. RCMP Assistant Commissioner John Brewer talks about whether law enforcement is doing enough and criminologist Wade Deisman takes a look at what the motive behind the violence might be.

Why Bill McKibben thinks solar energy could save the world Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

For decades Bill McKibben has been warning the world about the risks of climate change. But his latest book is surprisingly hopeful, even if he does think it's too late to save the world from climate change. "Here Comes The Sun" documents the remarkable growth of solar power — and the dramatic drop in its cost. He joins us for a conversation about where the solar revolution is going — and what keeps him hopeful about the future of humanity.

What's the best way to manage grizzly bears? Nov 25, 2025

Show notes

A grizzly bear attacked a school group in a remote Indigenous community in central B.C. last week — and it brought to light an ongoing debate about what the best way to manage and co-exist with grizzly bears is. Some think hunting should be allowed back on the table — others say there's ways to co-exist with bears safely without resorting to killing them.

Searching for Fela Kuti Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

Jad Abumrad’s new podcast, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, digs into Fela Kuti’s life, the good and the bad because he not only pioneered Afrobeat and pushed against the impacts of colonialism but he was also a deeply complicated and flawed man who left a wake of inspiration and trauma.

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