The Big Story

Ukraine has shocked the world by carrying out a daring attack on Russian bomber planes thousands of kilometres inside enemy territory.It's a feat that would have been unimaginable before the war. Now, Ukraine has shown it has the capabilities to take its fight directly to its much more powerful foe.What will Vladimir Putin do now? And what does it mean for hopes of peace negotiations?Host David Smith speaks with security expert Marcus Kolga about the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

We've all seen it: the coach constantly yelling at their team, the parent trying to coach on the sidelines…and the kid in the middle of it all. Youth sports can bring out the best in people, but it can also be a breeding ground for toxic behaviour. Host Melanie Ng speaks with Playball Ambassador with the MLB and author of Coach Ballgame, James Lowe, about how focusing on the RIGHT approach to sports can make a world of difference.You can learn more about James' work on his Instagram: @coachballgame. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A whirlwind trip for King Charles, in his first visit to Canada as a sitting monarch, is being viewed by some as a success.It was a show of support amid annexation talk by the U.S. president but it also served as a benefit to the King.Host Kris McCusker speaks to Carolyn Harris - Historian, Author and Royal Commentator - about how it compares with other royal visits - and why the timing is so relevant. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

For years, we've been programmed to view hustle culture as the norm, and one's ability to navigate it as the definition of success.Throw parenthood into the equation and you've got the recipe for a juggling act that is always being judged. So what happens when people, specifically mothers, take a purposeful pause from their traditional career path to focus on other priorities like family or personal growth?In this episode of The Big Story, host Melanie Ng speaks with the founder and CEO of Mother Untitled and author of the new book “The Power Pause”, Neha Ruch @neha_ruch. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

For just the third time in our country's history, a sitting monarch delivered the speech from the throne. On a brief royal visit, King Charles addressed Canadians to lay out the priorities of the new Carney government. The theme was clear, asserting Canada's independence and charting a path to end our reliance on the U.S. But did it hit the mark? Will the Prime Minister hit roadblocks with his ambitious plan? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, and you've noticed things are getting worse – you're not imagining it.Scientists say things have gotten worse around the world for a variety of reasons – and unless something is done – it could become dangerous for some.And those without allergies could even face challenges.Host Kris McCusker speaks to BBC Science and Features journalist, Amanda Ruggeri, about the in-depth piece she wrote on the issue, discussing how allergy sufferers can improve their circumstances and how climate change plays a role in it all.You can read the story here: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250410-how-climate-driven-thunderstorms-supercharge-pollen-allergies Photo credit: (CREDIT: SEBASTIAN SMIT/FREEIMAGES.COM) We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A new study out of the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that older adults who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years than those who didn't receive the vaccine. But what does this mean in terms of finding a tried and true cure to dementia, and who's more at risk than others? Host Pooja Handa speaks to Sabina Vohra-Miller, founder of Unambiguous Science, about the study's findings and what it for the future of the disease. You can find the study here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08800-x You can read more about Sabina's work here: https://www.instagram.com/unambiguousscience/We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The pandemic was a boom time in the cottage industry. As people decamped out of the city, the prices for cottages skyrocketed.However, in this softened real estate market, it's not easy to hold on to two homes, and that's becoming more obvious with the amount of cottages currently on the market.Host Mike Eppel digs into cottage life with Kingsley Ma, area VP of Re/Max Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A deep run into the second round of the playoffs once again ended in game 7 heartbreak for Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Big Story hosts Cormac Mac Sweeney, Gurdeep Ahluwalia, Alex Bloomfield and Kris McCusker got together in a bit of a therapy session this week to chat about their favourite team and where they go from here. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It used to be a place to find what you need and when you want it...but now, the internet has transcended into a playground of ads, cookies and algorithms. But why? Who made it that way? And when did things take such a sharp turn in the wrong direction? Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks to Cory Doctorow, author and host of the CBC podcast 'Understood: Who Broke the Internet' on who's pockets are being lined at the expense of our experience on the internet, and what how users can fight back against what he calls the 'enshitification' of the web. You can find more on the CBC series below: It's not you — the internet really does suck. Novelist, blogger and noted internet commentator Cory Doctorow explains what happened to the internet and why you're tormented by ads, bots, algorithms, AI slop and so many pop-ups. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an accident. In Understood: Who Broke the Internet, Doctorow gets into the decisions made by powerful people that got us here, and most importantly, how we fix it. Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. Over a handful of episodes, each season unfolds as a story, hosted by a well-connected reporter, and rooted in journalism you can trust. Driven by insight and fueled by curiosity…The stories of our time: Understood. More episodes of Understood are available at: https://link.mgln.ai/g2ug4r We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Without skipping a beat, Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleaded not guilty to the five federal charges he was hit with in September of 2024. However, the evidence that pours out into the courtroom day after day during his criminal New York trial, continues to work towards an unrepairable, dramatic shift in identity for the now-disgraced rap mogul. With several testimonies still to be heard and evidence to be presented, the racketeering and sex trafficking charges Diddy is facing have the real possibility of putting him behind bars for the rest of his life. Host Maria Kestane speaks to 1010 WINS New York reporter, Juliet Papa, about where Diddy's criminal trial stands week 2, and what it's like both inside and outside the Manhattan courthouse throughout the latest chapter of the music industry's scandal history book.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The union representing Canada's postal workers has served strike notice to Canada Post, meaning 55-thousand employees at the crown corporation could walk off the job on Friday. Unless a last minute deal is reached, it will be the second time in roughly 6 months that Canadians will lose access to our national postal service. Small and medium sized businesses are bracing for impact, with the last job action costing them a lot of cash in lost business and more expensive shipping alternatives. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Jasmin Guenette, VP of National Affairs at the Canadian Federation of Independent Business about the impact a postal strike would have, how Canada Post needs to change, and what the federal government can do in the event of a strike. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A warning to our listeners: this episode includes description and discussion of sexual assault. Please take care.Another stunning development in the sexual assault trial of five former world junior hockey players - a second jury is dismissed and the trial now moving forward with a judge alone. Before that, graphic details shared in the courtroom by the complainant, referred to as E.M, recounting a night at a hotel room in 2018.Host Melanie Ng speaks with CityNews journalist Michelle Mackey, who has been watching what has been happening both inside and outside of the courtroom. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

After Honda announced it is hitting pause on a $15 billion investment in electric vehicle production in Canada, questions are swirling about three other major EV projects in line for billions of dollars in public subsidies. With Trump's tariffs and overall economic uncertainty, how realistic is it the Canadian auto sector will transition to nearly all-electric production by 2035?Host David Smith speaks with Tim Dimopoulos, publisher of Automotive News Canada, about the outlook for the dream of a made-in-Canada EV supply chain. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

A big week on the budget front, for multiple reasons.Not only did Ontario release a budget that aims to get the province through the trade war, we learned that the new Liberal government will NOT be releasing a spring document.Host of "In This Economy" Mike Eppel digs into the consequences of all the budget news this week and has a sneak peek on what the Bank of Canada might do next. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Today on The Big Story - we're debriefing, big time.Hosts David Smith, Kris McCusker and Cormac Mac Sweeney get together to chat about Prime Minister Carney's choice of cabinet and the fallout from a mixed week on the job.Join us for "The Big Debrief", a weekly examination of the news events of the week, as seen through the eyes of the people reporting on them. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It's been a rough few weeks at the airport in New Jersey after two radar and radio outages - but there's a lot more to the story.The acting administrator with the U-S Federal Aviation Administration says travel into Newark is safe.But it's not the only issue with air travel in the U-S this year, which might have some travelers concerned ahead of the summer travel season.Host Kris McCusker speaks to George Ferguson - Senior Aerospace, Defense & Airline analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence – about what's been happening, how it gets fixed and who is to blame. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Has the White House gone completely "pay for play"? While experts debate the ethics of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest actions including accepting a plane from Qatar, others are watching his foray into cryptocurrency closely. While many in the space have called for more regulation of crypto, "Trump coin" is causing issues for those trying to build cryptocurrencies as a legitimate financial instrument.Host Mike Eppel discusses this with Erica Pimental, Assistant Professor at the Smith School of Business at Queen's University. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Canada's unemployment rate remained relatively stable for the month of April, sitting at 6.9%. But the rate for youth unemployment jumped to its highest figure in the past two decades excluding pandemic figures, now sitting at a little more than 15%. And as companies continue to strategize how to stay afloat among tariffs, more specifically, who they can get rid of and who they have to keep around, the term 'last hired, first hired' enters the chat. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Emily Durham, career coach and host of the Straight Shooter Recruiter podcast, on how to enter, move through, exit and gracefully re-enter the workforce in a time of bottom line uncertainty thanks to a global trade war.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

You can't always see it but plastic is everywhere. So much so – that it's now in our rain and it's there because of humans. It's almost as worrisome as acid rain was in the 1970s – an issue that is no longer a major concern. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Benji Jones, Environmental Correspondent at Vox in New York, about how pervasive plastic has become – and what you can do to mitigate your exposure. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Tomorrow Prime Minister Mark Carney will be unveiling his first cabinet since receiving a minority mandate from voters 2 weeks ago. The decisions will not be easy, as Carney has to navigate regional representation, a leaner inner circle, and a trade war with the U.S. that hangs over every federal decision. So who stays and who may get promoted?Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking about the delicate art of cabinet making with Marci Surkes, Chief Strategy Officer at The Compass Rose Group, and a former Executive Director of Policy and Cabinet Affairs to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Punctuality – its definition and importance really depend on who you speak to. A recent study out of the UK shows a generational divide when it comes to tardiness and how it could be perceived by those around us. Host Melanie Ng speaks with peak performance coach and best-selling author, Hina Khan @coachwithhina, about a number of scenarios and why there is a sweet spot when it comes to how you show up both professionally and socially. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

“Peace be with you”. Those were the first words spoken from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica to the massive crowd below by the newly chosen pontiff, now known as Pope Leo XIV.133 cardinals from around the world voted in a handful of rounds before the final decision was made and the white smoke billowed from the Sistene Chapel chimney.Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo is the first pope from the United States – a choice that shocked some and has many wondering what this may signal.Host Melanie Ng speaks with religious scholar Héctor Acero Ferrer from the Institute for Christian Studies about the new pontiff and how he will position himself on the world stage. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Prime Minister Mark Carney has made his first trip to the White House to meet President Donald Trump, with Trump heaping praise on Carney. But the meeting wasn't all sunshine, as the two leaders clashed over trade positions and Trump's ongoing musings of making Canada the 51st state. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney breaks down the first face-to-face in the oval office with Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat who also helped negotiate the first two trade deals between Canada and the U.S. They also discuss where negotiations may go from here, and the hard work that has to be done here at home to buffer our economy from further shocks.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Is Hollywood North in jeopardy, based on a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump? After musing about hitting foreign film production with a 100% tariff, there are concerns this could shut down the film industry in Canada.Host Mike Eppel is gauging reaction from Andrew Barnsley, President of the Toronto Film School. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney will make his first trip to the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Tariffs, the economy, and military defense will be the key focus for Carney as he looks to set Canada on a path to negotiations to end the trade war between our countries.This first face to face meeting between the leaders will be crucial to set the tone of the relationship for the next four years. Will they get along? How should Carney address Trump's "51st state" comments? Could this meeting backfire? And what will Trump and Carney be able to achieve?Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Jon Allen, a former Canadian Ambassador and diplomat who is now a senior fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

After a stunning election loss in which Pierre Poilievre couldn't hold on to his own seat in Parliament, what comes next for the federal Conservatives?Will there be a push to oust Poilievre? What will the Party look for in its campaign post-mortem? Why are Conservative premiers calling out their federal counterparts? Host David Smith speaks with two veteran conservative strategists, Jordan Paquet and Neil Brodie, to get answers on what happens next for the team in blue. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

We're dropping a timely episode of In This Economy into the weekend feed. We now have clarity now on Canada's new government, but predictions about the state of economy going forward are murkier.There are signs the economy is contracting, so what does that mean for you?Host Mike Eppel speaks with Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Canadians could be in for a break at the grocery store for the next couple of months.After food inflation ticked higher in March, a food economist is expecting more stability through the summer months with the next update from Statistics Canada coming on May 20th.Host Kris McCusker speaks to Stuart Smyth, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan about what is influencing prices - and why it's subject to change. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Warning: this episode may be triggering for some listeners. Friday has been declared a day of mourning in British Columbia for the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival attack.What was meant to be a celebration quickly turned to tragedy on Saturday, as nearly a dozen people were killed and dozens more injured when a suspect drove their vehicle into a crowd at a Filipino festival in Vancouver.The man charged in the alleged attack was overseen by a mental health team and was on extended leave at the time of the incident – which is now raising questions about mental health reform.Meantime, we are learning more about some of the victims and how members of the community are supporting one another.Host Melanie Ng speaks with Sonia Aslam, journalist with 1130 NewsRadio and CityNews Vancouver, who has been following this story closely. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The Liberal minority government is now officially set.What's also now official is the deep dive into what went wrong into the campaigns of Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh, two party leaders who lost their seats on Monday night. Between the Doug Ford fight with Poilievre and the NDP losing official party status, there are many storylines to emerge from the election.Here to break it down with host Mark Day is Rob Snow, NewsRadio's national talk show host. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

In what's been a very upside down election campaign - the results were just as wild. At time of writing at 2:30am, it's a Liberal minority government. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is in danger of losing his seat and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down as leader after losing his seat of Burnaby Central. In this stripped down version of The Big Story, host David Smith stayed up really late to put together the full results for you this morning. Much more to come on all the election storylines throughout the week. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

After 36 days, it all comes down to this. Canada is voting for his next leader and all eyes are on the Liberals and Conservatives with a neck and neck race. It comes after a wild swing from the winter when the Conservatives had a double digit lead in the polls.Host Richard Southern and NewsRadio's Parliament Hill Correspondent Cormac Mac Sweeney discuss the campaign and all the political events over the past year that have led to this vote. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Owning a small or medium sized business is never easy, and this year, it's been even more challenging. The small business sector is the country's largest employer and they're facing a ton of uncertainty from tariffs and the threat of higher inflation and a potential recession.Host Mike Eppel talks to Simon Gauldeault, Chief Economist and VP of Research for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business to get his take. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

In today's episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I will be talking to Dr Emily Contois, an Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa specializing in how identities are formed at the vital intersection of food, the body, and ideas about health. She is the author of “Diners, Dudes, and Diets: How Gender and Power Collide in Food Media and Culture” and co-editor of “Food Instagram: Identity, Influence, and Negotiation”. Today we will be riding on the heels of the popular Netflix show Adolescence, we are exploring the very scary effect of the manosphere, incel and “red pill” subcultures on young boys. Today we're going to chat about how the patriarchy harms not just women, but men as well. We discuss the dangerous teachings of the manosphere and leading influencers like Andrew Tate. We also talk about the pipeline that young men are finding themselves going down starting with innocuous places (ie. self improvement, dating, fitness, dieting) that lures them into incel culture. We talk in detail about the intersection between diet culture and the manosphere and the lack of body positivity movements for men. We talk about the role of bullying, social isolation, AI, p0rn, types of school, and gender roles modelled at home. I finish with a list of potential actionable tips to help you start to build emotional resilience, media literacy and tolerance to different expressions of gender to help set the stage to allow your kids to reject these manosphere ideologies. https://bite-back-with-abbey-sharp.simplecast.com/episodes/the-shocking-pipeline-to-the-red-pill-manosphere-from-health-nutrition-content-online-with-dr-emily-contoisBe sure to check out my first episode with Emily: “Ladies eat salad, men eat steak & burgers”.References:https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/primary/readhttps://aibm.org/research/male-suicide-data/?https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html?https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/news/children-see-pornography-as-young-as-seven-new-report-findshttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39907845/https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-continues-to-rise-among-youth-in-the-united-states-2023?https://tribune.com.pk/story/2536330/netflix-drama-adolescence-prompts-anti-misogyny-curriculum-shift-in-uk-schoolshttps://unpluggedcanada.com/Check in with today's amazing guest: Dr Emily Contois, Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa. Follow at @emilycontoisWebsite: www.emilycontois.comBooks: - Diners Dudes and Diets - Food InstagramDisclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you're struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com.

The federal election....from the "fringe". Most voters are familiar with the major national parties running in this election, such as the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, & Greens.But there are actually 16 registered political parties looking for your vote. Some of them are known as fringe parties, while others are upstarts, hoping to make an impact down the road. Today on The Big Story, we're shining a light on some of the lesser known parties in this campaign, and letting them have their voice heard as the country goes through the democratic process.Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with the Leaders of the Animal Protection Party, the Canadian Future Party, the Communist Party, and the Marijuana Party. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Elections Canada saw a record-breaking 2 million people cast their ballot on the first day of advanced voting for the federal election, resulting in a grand total of more than 7.3 million over the four day period. And as Canada enters the final stretch of campaigning in one of the most critical elections of our time, what can these preliminary numbers tell us about what's to come? Which party could benefit the most from those who vote early? And will we see this sort of momentum on April 28? Host Maria Kestane talks to John Beebe, Founder and Director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange for Toronto Metropolitan University about whose voice will be heard the most among these numbers and what it means for the future of Canada's civic engagement. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of breaking ground in the vatican and his attempts to modernize the Catholic church. Francis also left a lasting impact on Canada, with a 2022 trip to apologize for the church's role in the residential school system. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Emma Anderson, a professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa, about the tenure of Francis, what comes next in the process to pick a new pope, and could a Canadian be in the running? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It's been hotly debated by scholars and advocates for decades: do we need to change the way we elect governments in this country?On April 28th, there will be 91 candidates on the ballot in the riding of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. It will be the longest ballot in Canadian election history. Of 91 candidates, 85 are independent protest candidates from the Longest Ballot Committee, a group raising awareness about electoral reform.Host David Smith speaks with one of those candidates, Blake Hamilton, about what the group hopes to accomplish with this move. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

One week from today Canadians will cast their ballots to pick their next government, in what has been described as an existential election amid U.S. President Trump's trade and sovereignty threats. As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, parties are shifting their strategies to ensure they get supporters to the polls and secure every vote they can. What can we expect from the parties in these final days, can we see a major shift in the polls and could leaders lose their jobs? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is breaking it down with Lori Williams of Mount Royal University. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It used to be a social no-no, but Canadians now seem to find themselves diving head-first in political engagement, dialogue, and awareness, all in the wake of what's perceived to be one of the most critical federal elections of our lifetime. Just three months ago, however, Canadians were at odds with each other over who they wanted the face of their country to be, what name they wanted the flag to be associated with, and the type of Canada they wanted moving forward. How do we navigate this new patriotic momentum while still meeting the moment on deciding what's best for our future according to the morals we hold so close to ourselves? How do we turn to our neighbours, family, loved ones to push for a stronger Canada all while seeking out different qualities in who we want and need out of a leader? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Justin Ling, journalist and author of the Chaos Campaign newsletter, to discuss what's driving Canadians to the ballot box and how we're engaging in a refined era of political polarization amid threats to our sovereignty and personal safety. You can check out Justin's newsletter here: https://www.bugeyedandshameless.com/s/chaos-campaign. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

This week, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre re-ignited debate about Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Poilievre is pledging to use the Notwithstanding Clause to bring in justice reforms, including reviving Harper-era consecutive life sentences that were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. Host David Smith speaks with constitutional law expert Professor Eric Adams from the University of Alberta about why this section of the Canadian constitution is so controversial.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter