The Sunday Magazine

You may know Ed Helms from The Daily Show, The Office and The Hangover movies. But the actor and comedian is also a history buff. And he thinks there's a lot we can learn – and laugh about – by delving into history's greatest, zaniest and funniest screw-ups. Helms explores those stories in his podcast and book SNAFU. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to share some of his favourites – from a CIA plot to make Fidel Castro's beard fall out, to a nuclear scare in Canada where a 20-something future-president named Jimmy Carter saved the day.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with historian Arash Azizi and foreign policy expert Barbara Slavin about what may come next following U.S. strikes on Iran, astrophysicist and science journalist Adam Becker interrogates tech moguls' visions of the future, The Economist's Rob Russo and Ottawa-based journalist and author Paul Wells take stock of the new government's progress as the House rises for summer, and actor and comedian Ed Helms talks about finding laughs and lessons in historical 'screw-ups'Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

One year ago this month, Joe Biden's performance at the first U.S. presidential debate against Donald Trump sparked global headlines – and rang alarms – about his mental and physical acuity, culminating in Biden's eventual withdrawal from the race. After the Democrats went on to lose the election, CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political reporter Alex Thompson began investigating the roots of Biden's decline. In their new book Original Sin, they argue that his inner circle went to great lengths to cover it up. Tapper joins Piya Chattopadhyay to make his case, and respond to the criticism his reporting has received from across the political spectrum.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with global affairs experts Arif Lalani and Jennifer Welsh about how heightened tensions between Israel and Iran are looming over the G7 leaders' summit, historian Augustine Sedgewick looks at how fatherhood has evolved through the ages, CNN anchor Jake Tapper defends his case that Joe Biden's cognitive decline was covered up, and literary food historian Nathalie Cooke muses on what menus can reveal about art, culture and class.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Erica Jong became a literary sensation and feminist icon in the 1970s and 80s for her depictions of female agency, sexuality and relationships. And her work often drew from her real life, with friends and family members inspiring her characters... including her daughter, Molly Jong-Fast. Jong-Fast joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss her new memoir How to Lose Your Mother, which lays bare her perspective on her upbringing, relationship with her mom – and the conundrum of competing narratives in families.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with defence and security experts David Perry and Stephen Saideman about how Canada should prepare for less U.S. involvement on the world stage, Julia Pagel explores how tariffs are causing chaos for customs brokers, The Atlantic's David A. Graham outlines how Project 2025 is reshaping U.S. policy, and Molly Jong-Fast discusses her new memoir about her relationship with her famous feminist novelist mother, Erica Jong.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

In the latest edition of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against one familiar voice and one clever listener in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. Playing along this month are Brent Bambury, host of CBC Radio's Day Six, and Truro, N.S. listener Katherine Reed.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with University of British Columbia professor Lori Daniels about what Canada's early fire activity signals about the wildfire season ahead, nature writer Robert Macfarlane reflects on the push for rivers to be designated as living entities, former National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation director Ry Moran looks at progress made 10 years after the TRC's calls to action, we play an all-new round of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, and poet and lecturer Lee Campbell explains how the underground queer slang Polari went mainstream.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

This past Sunday marked five years since George Floyd's murder by a Minneapolis police officer. His death sparked global outrage and propelled a movement for racial justice. But the anniversary arrives against a backdrop of stalled police reform, and polling that shows the number of Americans who believe an emphasis on racial injustice leads to progress has declined. Selwyn Jones, Floyd's uncle, and Robert Samuels, co-author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book His Name is George Floyd: One Man's Life and the Struggle for Racial Justice, join Piya Chattopadhyay to reflect on Floyd's legacy, and what a path forward looks like for racial equality.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Rob Russo and The Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt about the key issues facing MPs as they return to the House of Commons, author and columnist Pagan Kennedy explores the history and bigger meaning of the rape kit, we take stock of the gains and setbacks for racial justice since George Floyd's murder with his uncle, Selwyn Jones, and journalist Robert Samuels, and columnist Niigaan Sinclair reflects on how Winnipeg helps tell the story of Canada.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

For many Canadians, the May long weekend means the official kick-off of the summer travel season. And if you're out on a road trip, there's a good chance you may end up sailing down the Trans-Canada Highway. Mark Richardson wants us all to know the often overlooked stories that paved this roughly seven-and-a-half thousand kilometre road system. The automotive journalist speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about the history, people and politics that shaped "Canada's Main Street", as he explores in his book The Drive Across Canada.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The New York Times' Luke Broadwater and The Economist's Gregg Carlstrom about the impact of Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East, WIRED's Louise Mataskis and University of British Columbia's Muhammad Abdul-Mageed look at how AI translation tools may affect language learning, the Atlantic Council's Michael Bociurkiw helps make sense of the latest talks between Russia and Ukraine, automotive journalist Mark Richardson shares a history of the Trans-Canada Highway, and linguist Sali Tagliamonte surveys the factors that have shaped the language we use to describe summertime escapes.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

If you've ever owned an iPhone, iPad or Mac, you may have noticed these words printed on the back: "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." But there's a bigger story behind that simple tagline. Financial Times journalist Patrick McGee tells Piya Chattopadhyay that few understand just how key China and Apple have been to each other's rise. His new book Apple in China explores a relationship that's central to the world as we know it, one which is facing new challenges from tariffs to tensions with Taiwan.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Vatican journalist Charles Collins about the path ahead for Pope Leo XIV, Financial Times journalist Patrick McGee gets to the core of Apple and China's symbiotic relationship, journalists Shannon Proudfoot, Rob Benzie and Jason Markusoff explore how Prime Minister Mark Carney might approach competing provincial priorities, and New York Times culture critic Amanda Hess delves into how tech culture is shaping modern parenting.Find more at at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

In the latest edition of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against one familiar voice and one clever listener in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. Playing along this month are CBC News reporter and videojournalist Brett Ruskin in Halifax, and Dundas, Ont. listener Brenda Bjarnason.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Rob Russo, Le Devoir's Emilie Nicolas and The Hub's Sean Speer about our post-election political reality, science journalist Laura Spinney explains how one ancient dialect inspired scores of languages we speak today, veteran political columnist Andrew Coyne talks about the "crisis" he sees in Canadian democracy, and we play an all-new round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!Find more at at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

This Wednesday marks the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. The conflict led to more than one million people fleeing the war-torn countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Canada accepted approximately 200,000 refugees from the region between 1975 and the 1990s. Canadian author Vinh Nguyen was among them. He speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about retracing his family's journey in his memoir The Migrant Rain Falls in Reverse, and how this moment in history resonates with diasporic experiences today.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Rob Russo, Le Devoir's Emilie Nicolas and The Hub's Sean Speer about what we've learned during the federal election campaign, writer Leanne Betasamosake Simpson talks about the meaning of water for Indigenous communities, Vatican expert Massimo Faggioli looks at the politics involved in electing a new pope, writer Vinh Nguyen reflects on the legacy of the Vietnam War for refugee communities, and political science professor Laura Stephenson decodes some commonly used election lingo.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday

For people who work in the business of political satire and news comedy, there's no shortage of rich source material these days. But misinformation, disinformation and leaders who can seem stranger than fiction are complicating the craft. Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with two veterans of the scene – The Beaverton's Luke Gordon Field and a founding member of The Onion, Christine Wenc – about the challenges of skewering the news today, and how satire can help people make sense of the absurdity of real life.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay sets up the final week of the federal election campaign with political journalists Rob Russo, Emilie Nicolas and Ryan Jespersen, The Beaverton's Luke Gordon Field and The Onion's Christine Wenc talk about the craft of satire in an age of misinformation, linguist Michael Erard reflects on what our first and last words say about us, and The Sunday Magazine's Howard Goldenthal looks at the legacy of the Cambodian genocide.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday

U.S. President Donald Trump's bluster about making Canada the 51st state has sparked a surge in Canadian patriotism, just in time for the federal election. But what does it really mean to be Canadian? The current wave of national pride tends to play up nostalgic tropes about hockey and hosers. But Canada is changing, and a new sense of Canadian identity may be emerging today. The Sunday Magazine's Pete Mitton explores the meaning, power and pitfalls of Canadian pride.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with trade expert Carlo Dade and political economy associate professor Gregory Chin about the week's global trade turmoil and China's role within it, author Maggie Jackson explores what science says about the impacts and potential upside of uncertainty, four Canadians share what's driving their decisions in the federal election, and Pete Mitton considers the meaning, power and pitfalls of Canadian pride.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday

In the latest edition of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against one familiar voice and one clever listener in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. Playing along this month are CBC P.E.I. meteorologist Jay Scotland and Parksville, B.C. listener Kristin Nickells.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The New York Times' Peter S. Goodman, economist Armine Yalnizyan and The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles about the impacts of U.S. President Donald Trump's expanded trade war, philosopher Mark Rowlands muses on what dogs can teach us about living a good life, journalists Ross Barkan and Mark Joseph Stern survey the state of resistance to Trump in his second term, and we play an all-new round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!

It was one of the most notorious rape trials in French history. Last year, Dominique Pelicot was convicted and jailed for drugging and raping his then-wife, Gisèle Pelicot, over the course of a decade – and recruiting dozens of other men to abuse her while she was unconscious. Gisèle Pelicot opted for a public trial, making her identity known, to raise awareness for other victims like her. The trial also put their three adult children in the spotlight. But one of them says her own experience has been overlooked. Not only was Caroline Darian forced to reckon with the shocking revelations, but also with the discovery that photographs of her were found on his computer – and with what she believes they suggest. Darian shares her journey with Piya Chattopadhyay in a Canadian broadcast exclusive interview.Note: This conversation contains frank discussion of sexual violence.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay breaks down the first week of the federal election campaign with The Economist's Rob Russo, Le Devoir's Emilie Nicolas and The Hub's Sean Speer. Then, Caroline Darian, daughter of Gisèle and Dominique Pelicot – the victim and perpetrator, respectively, at the centre of last year's notorious rape trial in France – reflects on how her father's crimes have affected their family. Finally, linguistics professor John McWhorter dives into the historic, linguistic and cultural debates surrounding pronouns.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday

For nearly half a century, Human Rights Watch has shone a light on abuses, trying to hold perpetrators accountable. And for nearly three decades, Kenneth Roth was its executive director. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to reflect on the victories, setbacks and realities of defending human rights today, as explored in his memoir Righting Wrongs.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay sets up the federal election with The Economist's Rob Russo, Le Devoir's Emilie Nicolas and The Hub's Sean Speer, Kenneth Roth looks back on nearly three decades at the helm of Human Rights Watch, The Sunday Magazine's Levi Garber explores how tariff uncertainty is affecting border communities, Barry Blitt reflects on the art of political cartooning, and we consider what Canada's symbols say about us.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday

Energy has become a flashpoint in the U.S. trade war with Canada, and Canadians should expect to hear a lot more about oil and gas – including potential new pipelines – once the federal election gets underway. And it underscores the renewed relevance of fossil fuels around the world: Energy companies like BP have backed away from their pandemic-era pledges to decarbonize, Donald Trump is vowing to "drill baby drill," and countries from Canada to Kazakhstan are signing off on new fossil fuel projects. So what does it mean for a warming planet and the future of renewables? As The Sunday Magazine's Pete Mitton explores in his documentary Oil Check... it's complicated.

Guest host David Common speaks with political journalists Rob Benzie, Stephanie Levitz and David Sanger about the ongoing trade war with the U.S. and Mark Carney's first moves as prime minister, The Sunday Magazine's Pete Mitton explores what's behind renewed energy around oil and gas, historian Stephen Bown reflects on Hudson's Bay's legacy as it as it announces plans to liquidate if it can't secure financing, retail strategist David Ian Gray talks about how primed businesses are to meet the "buy Canadian" demand, and The Atlantic's Zoë Schlanger shares the latest science around plant intelligence.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Acclaimed novelist Omar El Akkad grew up in Qatar, yearning for uncensored magazines and Hollywood movies, and believing in the Western project. But after moving to Canada as a teen, and a journalistic career covering the U.S. response to 9/11, El Akkad started seeing cracks in his conception of the West. Then, watching the response to the Israel-Hamas war changed everything for him. El Akkad speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about taking stock of those fissures with his new book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Tonda McCharles, Toluse "Tolu" Olorunnipa and Megan Janetsky about how the trade war is playing out across North America, bestselling author Joseph Finder explains the history of spy thrillers and how they connect to the current geopolitical climate, we take stock of five years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared with Dr. Zain Chagla, Helen Branswell and Dr. Peter Singer, and novelist Omar El Akkad talks about his "breakup" with the West and his new book One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

n the latest edition of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against one familiar voice and one clever listener in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. Playing along this month are John Northcott, host of the CBC Radio's World Report, and Justin and Rowan Wallace, a father-son duo from Whitehorse.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks to the Sunday political panel about the state of federal and provincial politics in light of Trump's looming tariff threats, we revisit the case of Gerard Comeau, whose Quebec beer run more than a decade ago led to a Supreme Court Case, University of Ottawa professor of international affairs Roland Paris and Michael Bociurkiew discuss the recent confrontation between US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House, and our monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

When Diane Foley meets the ISIS man who kept her son in 21 months of brutal captivity before beheading him, her family opposes the meeting. Diane Foley and bestselling author Colum McCann speak with Piya Chattopadhyay about the life and death of James Foley and the importance of listening to people you hate and who hate you.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks to Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman about the U.S.'s relationship with Russia as the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war approaches, we learn about the "cognitive crisis" of shrinking attention spans with Marion Thain, Papal commentator and author Michael Higgins speaks to why Pope Francis' papacy has differed from others, and journalist James Foley's legacy is remembered by his mother, Diane Foley, and writer Colum McCann.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

As the pandemic forced us to socialize at a distance, journalist and writer Kelsey McKinney was suddenly unable to collect the juicy stories she'd usually get over drinks with friends, so she started the popular Normal Gossip podcast… and it became an instant hit. After years of gossiping on the airwaves, McKinney joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss her new book, You Didn't Hear this From Me, to break down the origins of gossip, the reason people everywhere love to to do it and the risks that come with spreading rumours if you don't know where they came from.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks to Rob Russo and Tonda MacCharles about how Canadian politics are being affected by Donald Trump's promised tariff threats, social justice activist Loretta Ross discusses her new book Calling In and her alternative ideas to cancel culture, we get the latest on developments around the Gaza ceasefire deal from The Economist's Gregg Carlstrom, and podcaster and writer Kelsey McKinney breaks down the origins of gossip, and why people everywhere love to do it.

As founder and director of the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, Ron Deibert has spent his career tracking down and uncovering some of the world's most clandestine cyber espionage operations. Now, the cybersecurity expert is pulling back the curtain on this shadowy world in his new book, Chasing Shadows. Deibert tells David Common how our democracies have become vulnerable to these threats as we become more reliant on technology – and what we need to do to protect them.

Guest host David Common speaks with The Washington Post's Toluse "Tolu" Olorunnipa and Semafor's Kadia Goba about Donald Trump's flurry of controversial actions this past week, The Citizen Lab's Ron Deibert takes us inside the shadowy world of cyber espionage, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates reflects on how his early years shaped him, and political economist Mark Manger and Mathew Holmes from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce consider strategies to bolster Canada's economy amid Trump's tariff pause.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

As the co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft, Bill Gates made his name as one of the most influential people in modern tech. Now, in his new memoir Source Code: My Beginnings, he's looking back on the forces that made him. In a wide-ranging Canadian broadcast exclusive interview, Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Gates about navigating childhood social challenges, how his passion for computers blossomed, what drove his confidence to take on tech giants as a teen, and his candid belief that he'd be diagnosed with autism if he was growing up today.

Guest host David Common speaks with CBC News senior business reporter Peter Armstrong and The Globe and Mail's Marieke Walsh about the economic implications of – and political response to – Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, writer Pico Iyer reflects on what embracing silence has taught him about life and loss, aviation journalist Kerry Lynch discusses recent changes in aviation and politics, former CSIS national security analyst Stephanie Carvin unpacks key takeaways from the foreign interference report, and we play another round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday