Cross Talk

What can small and remote communities do to attract and entertain more visitors? The answer might lie in the stories that are told and the people who tell them.

Some say the federal government is choosing one at the expense of the other. Does it have to be a choice?

Meghan McCarthy, assistant horticulturist, Memorial University Botanical Garden

How can communities, countries and governments support the viability and sustainability of small-scale fisheries?

Signal Hill marks the 75th anniversary of its designation as a National Historic Site. GUESTS - Pascale Gerdun, Robin Martin, Christina Dove, Jake Billard, Jon Harrison from Parks Canada

Ukrainian show with Canadian Booker-prize nominee Maria Reva and fellow Ukrainians from the local community in N.L., to talk about how they portray and express emotions brought from war through art, writing, music and gatherings.GUESTS - Maria Reva, Ukraine-born, Canadian Booker-prize nominee Maria Reva for her book ‘Endlings'; Kateryna Melanych, Artist and owner of Cremel Handmade; Brian Cherwick, Musician and band member in Kubasonics

Start of June. Any signs of summer? What's a gardener to do?

The festival is into its 16th year of supporting the independent, DIY music experience in Nfld and Labrador. Guests talk about how it's grown and built an audience in the streaming age.

The N.L. government declared gender-based violence an epidemic in the province. Today's panel are advocates who will breakdown why the rates gender-based violence are so high, what supports are available, and what the province has to do to see a change. GUESTS - Olivia Lynch, Executive Director of Violence Prevention Avalon-East; Malin Enström, acting executive director of Iris Kirby House; Laura Winters, Stella's Circle Lead Executive Officer; Maria Gentle, Executive director of YMCA St. John's; Brooke Temple, First Light's Coordinator of Residential and Indiqueer Inclusion.

Forensic nursing is the intersection where healthcare meets the legal system. With forensic nurses from across Canada in St. John's for a conference, we gather several of them to talk about the job and the role it fills.

Does Newfoundland and Labrador need a social media ban for its youth? In this episode we are looking at the pros and cons of the proposed idea and how it can look like for youth in our province. GUESTS - Paris Marx, Host of the ‘Tech Won't Save Us' podcast & analyst of the politics of technology; Olive Jones, Gr. 12 student; Kalista Barrett, Gr. 12 student

End of May and temperatures are all over the place. How do gardeners make the best of it?Guest: Meghan McCarthy, assistant horticulturist, Memorial University Botanical Garden

The reality of living with a disability in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today's panel are long-time advocates and they discuss the challenges, the supports and benefits available that people might not know, and the gaps in our systems that make life even harder with a disability.GUESTS - Nancy Reid, executive director of the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities Newfoundland and Labrador; Joby Fleming, EmpowerNL manager of advocacy services; and Sean Wiltshire, CEO of Avalon Employment Inc.

With summertime finally upon us, it's important to prioritize safety when heading out into the outdoors to go fishing, hop on an ATV, set up camp, and so much more. GUESTS - Barry Fordham, Outdoor Safety Advocate; Rick Noseworthy, ATV Safety Advocate; Taylor Reid, Outdoor Enthusiast & Safety Advocate

We bring you two episodes from the podcast this is Newfoundland and Labrador. First is a breakdown and everything you need to know about the Churchill Falls MOU as it currently stands, and the second is about why housing in N.L. is still in a crisis and what solutions are on the table.

We are approaching mid-May. Today's show can help get you in a gardening frame of mind. Guest: Meghan McCarthy, assistant horticulturist, Memorial University Botanical Garden

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. On this episode of The Signal, a panel of motorcyclists highlight how road safety is everyone's responsibility as riding season begins. GUESTS - Lez Snow, Motorcycle Safety Coordinator for the Iceberg Alley Riders; Wayne Morgan, Chapter Director of the Iceberg Alley Riders; Ellen Thompson, Chapter Director of the Iceberg Alley Riders; David Moores, Motorcyclist traveller

Today on the show we talk about the importance of funding and supporting research about the historic, geographic, and economic circumstances of Newfoundland and Labrador.Guests: Sharon Roseman, director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research; Barbara Neis, professor emerita, Dept. of Sociology at MUN; Lisa Rankin, research chair in Northern Indigenous Community Archaeology; Alison Carr , managing editor, Memorial University Press; Fiona Polack, academic editor at Memorial University Press.

A recent report from the Fraser Institute says young people are leaving Atlantic provinces in search for jobs. On this episode of The Signal we have a panel of economic and business experts talking about the changing demographics of Newfoundland and Labrador and what it means to the workforce. GUESTS - Tony Fang, economist and professor at Memorial University; Tom Cooper, business professor at Memorial University; Wanda Cuff Young, vice president of operations at Work Global Canada Inc.; Sharon McLennon, director at NL Workforce Innovation Centre; and Alexandra Stefanovic-Chafe, faculty researcher with NL Workforce Innovation Centre.

We are approaching mid-May. Today's show can help get you in a gardening frame of mind. Guest: Tim Walsh, nursery manager, MUN Botanical Garden

In a time of big defence spending and the re-tooling of the Canadian military we spend the hour talking about it what it means for this province.Guest: Mark Norman, retired vice-admiral who commanded Canada's Navy and was vice-chief of Defence.

It is the 5th time for The Signal to attend the Municipal Symposium in Gander. We take the show on the road each year because we get to meet municipal leaders from right across the province.

Today's show is about the joys and challenges of motherhood with a guest panel full of moms just in time for Mother's Day.GUESTS - Opeyemi Jaunty-Aidamenbor, Mom of two and owner of St. John's Kumon Math and Reading Centre;Terrilyn Pickett, mom of 3, and owner of Making Music Academy; Damilola Akingbola, Mom of 3; Ogaga Johnson, Mom of 2 and business owner; Tess Hartmann. postpartum doula.

It's the first gardening show of the season. Horticulturist Todd Boland joins us to talk tips and take questions from callers.

On this episode we are taking a look at education in Newfoundland and Labrador. More specifically we talk about the demand for teachers and the challenges of recruitment and retention. We also highlight a Memorial University program that is trying to help teachers stay rural towns.GUESTS - Pamela Osmond-Johnson, dean and professor at Memorial University's faculty of education; Dale Lambe, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers Association; Corey Samson and Theresa OKeefe , education students in the MUN's rural cohort.

The provincial budget is out and people are taking in what it may mean for the year ahead. It focuses on affordability and spending promises made by Premier Tony Wakeham's Progressiv Conversatives, but also flags some big decifits in the years to come. Today on the show, we drill into what it may mean for you.

Today on the show we're talking to authors and publishers about Breakwater Books' spring launch, and what goes on behind the scenes to get these books from inspiration to the shelves.

April is Cancer Control Month, dedicated to raising awareness about cancer prevention, early detection and improving the quality of life for those living with and recovering from cancer. Today on the show you will hear a story about patient innovation that restored comfort and confidence.

Today on the show we are talking to the Kidney foundation of Canada and medical professionals on kidney health. From catching the signs of kidney diseases, to treatments, dialysis, diets and the supports available to people in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Ahead of a global conference on a "just transition" away from fossil fuels, Memorial University students discuss their research, and how this could be applied to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sci-Fi on The Rock is back in St. John's this weekend and we have a panel of lovers of fantasy, dressing up as their favorite characters, crafting and telling stories to talk about the event. Plus, what it means to find a friendly space for friendship and community building.

The 2026 Canadian Housing and Renewal Association National Congress on Housing and Homelessness is taking place in St. John's so we went and met up with folks from across the country to talk housing, homelesness and solutions. Guests: Sheldon Pollett, executive director, Raising the Roof; Leslie Bellingham, director of strategic initiatives and partnerships, Raising the Roof; Lisa Ker, executive director, Canadian Housing Transformation Centre; Shannon Wiebe, architect, lead of Shared Ground Initiative; and others

More and more babies are born exposed to substances in N.L. as one doctor says the system struggles to keep up.GUESTS: Dr. Anne Drover; Renee Williams, executive director, Daybreak

The Health Accord for Newfoundland and Labrador was released in 2022 as a 10-year plan to transform this province's heath-care system. So where do things stand with it in 2026? We have both former co-chairs in studio to talk about it. Guests: Former co-chairs Sister Elizabeth Davis and Dr. Pat Parfrey

Low funding, low volunteering and burnout: challenges plaguing the community sector in N.L.. On today's show: what do communities need to do to adapt and thrive in today's world? This episode's panel are organizing a festival aiming at “future-proofing” community organizations. GUESTS - Nicole Dawe, Executive Director, Community Foundation of Newfoundland an Labrador; Mariana Jiménez Ojeda, Manager of Social Innovation, Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador; Nancy Leung, Strategic Initiatives Coordinator, Centre for Social Enterprise, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador; Kristen Murray, Co-operative Development Officer, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Cooperatives; Genevieve McCorquodale, Project Manager with Irish Loop Tourism with CBDC Celtic; and Sean Wiltshirewith Avalon Employment.

On this episode of the Signal, we play two episodes of the podcast This is Newfoundland and Labrador. First, the trial of the accused killer Dean Penney explained. From the day his estranged wife Jennifer Hillier-Penney went missing to how, years after, police arrested Penney. Second, how computers in NL are becoming more expensive because of AI and one small but crucial memory chip.

The report's title is Overrepresented and Undercounted: A Snapshot of Indigenous Adult Incarceration in Newfoundland and Labrador, 2025. Today on the show we talk about it and what needs to change. Guests: From First Light: Noah Sheppard relational connections coordinator; Teri Slade, research and public policy lead; Michael Johnson, coordinator of justice supports

The N.L. Historic Heritage recently gave out awards to people whose projects were on preserving, restoring or designing buildings with N.L. heritage in mind. From a hundred year old homes to memorials, todays' panel talks about their projects and the importance of keeping remnants of history alive. GUESTS - Luke Quinton, President of the NL Historic Trust; the wiiners of the Southcott Awards: Matthew Mills and Tom Wright with Mills&Wright Landscape Architecture, Kris Drodger and Amy Chislet, Stephanie Moyst and Tyler Stapleton.

We are living in a time of climate change charged extreme weather and dealing with its impacts. Today we speak with people who after seeing the impacts of climate change took action and started supporting renewable energy solutions.Guests: Community Organizer Sophia Lindfield, Spencer Scott from Fridays for Future, Atlantic Organizer of the National Campaign for a Youth Climate Corps and Volunteer Coordinator of the Social Justice Co-op NL. Lea Movelle, Student Jessica Warren, AngajukKak for Makkovik Barry Andersen, Student Brandon Power

Today on the show we speak with folks from the Food Producers Forum who have a new report out that attempts to answer the question 'How dow we feed ourselves?' Guests: Alison Snow, chair of the Food Producers Forum, Heather Zurel founder, Data Farms; John Finn, executive director, School Lunch Association

Today on the show we talk about Love Our Local Authors (LOLA) Month which is brought to you by Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries. So join us for a conversation about writers and stories that help shape the province's literary culture.

Today on the show we talk science with eight univeristy researchers and it's all jargon free. It's part of this week's Scientific Endeavours in Academia conference at Memorial University.