The Sunday Magazine

After more than 50 years as a scholar of the ancient Greek and Roman worlds, Mary Beard is looking back on her career and considering why studying the Classics is still worthwhile today. She says they may not give us answers to modern questions, but believes they can offer crucial ways of seeing ourselves differently. She joins Piya Chattopadhyay to explore why this history still has the power to shock.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Hub's Falice Chin, The Globe and Mail's Marieke Walsh and Max Fawcett from Canada's National Observer about the politics of Ottawa and Alberta's energy dealTravel journalist Will Ferguson shares his favourite Canadian hidden travel gemsFarmers Carl Stewart and Morgan Charlton, and agriculture economist Stuart Smyth, discuss how rising fuel and fertilizer costs are affecting the industryClassicist Mary Beard considers why studying the ancient Greek and Roman worlds is still worthwhile today

From grades and rankings to follower counts and performance metrics, our lives are constantly being measured, compared and optimized. But at what cost? Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with philosopher C. Thi Nguyen about how the systems we use to measure success can reshape our goals – and even change who we become.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Yeganeh Torbati, The New York Times' Iran correspondent, about how sentiment in Iran has changed over the course of the war in the Middle East. Then, Iranian-Canadian author and activist Marina Nemat discusses how diaspora communities view the country's future.Biologist David George Haskell makes the case that flowering plants are critical architects of life on Earth.NPR's Emily Feng and The Economist's Simon Rabinovitch set up U.S. President Donald Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and explore how China is positioning itself on the world stage.Philosopher C. Thi Nguyen reflects on how the systems we use to measure success can reshape our goals – and even change who we become.

In 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 this week are retired Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Mark Tewksbury and Winnipeg listener Nancy Voth.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with political science professor Amy Verdun and The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo about Prime Minister Mark Carney's courting of Europe, and how the federal government's spring economic update is landing at homePhilosopher Vincent Delecroix discusses his novel Small Boat, which fictionalizes a real-life migrant boat disaster in the English Channel to probe questions of apathy and complicity in tragedyThe Atlantic's David A. Graham surveys the state of American democracy and the fight over the integrity of the U.S. midterm electionsOur monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns with Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Mark Tewksbury and Winnipeg listener Nancy Voth

Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared in book form in 1926, and the fictional teddy bear has only grown more beloved in the century since. Author Gyles Brandreth joins Piya Chattopadhyay to explore how the "pure happiness" and childhood innocence that Pooh and his friends represent help explain the enduring appeal, and why creator A.A. Milne and his son – the real-life Christopher Robin – had a love-hate relationship with Winnie-the-Pooh.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with economists Randall Bartlett and Jim Stanford about Canada's financial future and how to weather the economic challenges we faceLexicographer Kory Stamper explores the rich history of how Merriam-Webster dictionaries have defined colours, and what it reveals about the craft of definition itselfJournalist Tyler Dawson breaks down the history of Alberta's separatist sentiments, and why they're different todayAuthor Gyles Brandreth reflects on why Winnie-the-Pooh endures, 100 years after the fictional teddy bear made his book debut

Former U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón says poetry can be an antidote in trying times, because it reminds us how to feel, celebrate, connect, and grieve.She joins Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about why we should embrace the form even if it feels intimidating, her mission to connect people with nature by putting poems in parks, and the message she sent to the Library of Congress in the early days of U.S. President Donald Trump's second term.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Gregg Carlstrom and David Sanger from The New York Times about the latest developments in the Middle East and the stakes for U.S. President Donald TrumpFormer U.S. poet laureate Ada Limón reflects on the power of poetry in challenging timesThe National Catholic Reporter's Michael J. O'Loughlin explores what the rift between Pope Leo and Donald Trump reveals about the changing Catholic Church404 Media's Matthew Gault unpacks how memes are shaping the narrative of warFormer CBC reporter Whit Fraser looks back on his career covering Canada's North

Longtime Toronto Blue Jays fans know Hazel Mae well. The on-field reporter for Sportsnet is beloved by the players she covers and admired by her broadcast colleagues. And when the team made its historic World Series run last year, millions more Canadians got to know her too.Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Mae about how her family's immigration to Canada shaped her, being a trailblazing woman of colour in her industry, the recent honours she's received for her body of work... and, yes, the Gatorade showers.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo and The Toronto Star's Ottawa bureau chief Tonda MacCharles about what a potential Liberal majority government could mean for the countryToronto Blue Jays on-field reporter Hazel Mae looks back on her career in sports broadcasting and her tenure with Canada's teamThe Economist's Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom unpacks the latest on the shaky U.S.-Iran ceasefire, and Iranian historian Arash Azizi explores what might lie ahead for the Iranian regime and peopleOur monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns with actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee and Ottawa listener Ryan Porter.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Gas. Groceries. Rent. The stock market. As economic forces swirl all around, it can be tough to figure out what it all means for your life. For almost 20 years, the folks at the NPR podcast Planet Money have worked to demystify that world. And now they're bringing their signature style to the printed page. David Common speaks with Alex Mayyasi, a longtime contributor to the show, about making economics accessible, and his new book, Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life.

Guest host David Common speaks with Stanford economist Ryan Cummings and Macdonald-Laurier Institute energy expert Heather Exner-Pirot about how today's oil shock compares to past crises, and how Canada may fare as war in the Middle East continuesArchitect and author John Ota traces the cultural history of dining rooms, and why they're disappearingBusiness Insider's Amanda Hoover and York University's Natasha Tusikov break down the issues shaping conversations around youth social media bansPlanet Money contributor Alex Mayyasi helps us understand the economic forces shaping our lives.

At the University of Montreal's Dream Engineering Lab, scientist Michelle Carr works through the night trying to better understand why we dream – and especially why we experience nightmares. She says we too often dismiss bad dreams as "just dreams," when they're actually real experiences with real effects. Carr joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss the latest developments in sleep science, and how we have more control over our dreams than we may think.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with political strategists Jordan Leichnitz and Zain Velji, along with pollster James Valcke, about what the federal NDP needs to do to rebound as the party picks a new leaderThe Washington Post data reporter Jeremy Merrill and linguist Naomi Baron explore how artificial intelligence is creeping into our written worldThe Economist's Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom and the International Crisis Group's Ali Vaez unpack the latest news and state of negotiations in the United States and Israel-Iran warMichelle Carr from the University of Montreal's Dream Engineering Lab shares developments in dream and nightmare science and tips on how we can influence our sleeping mind

As he celebrates his 90th birthday, David Suzuki is reflecting on the lessons he's learned from his decades of science communication and environmental activism. The former host of CBC's The Nature of Things joins Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about what made him the orator he is today, the current state of the environmental movement, and how he's changing his approach to climate action as science indicates we have failed to heed past warnings

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Semafor White House reporter David Weigel and Fawaz Gerges, an international relations professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, about past and present U.S. intervention in the Middle EastNovelist Mark Haddon reflects on the nature of memory and narrative with his new memoirDavid Suzuki celebrates his 90th birthday with a look back on his decades of science communication and environmental activismCBC producer Julia Pagel explores Canada's long-lasting relationship with Cuba, and efforts among some Canadians to bolster aid to the country amid the humanitarian crisis

For years, governments and tech companies told students that learning to code would provide a pathway to stability and high-earning salaries. But with AI reshaping the tech industry and jobs disappearing, there are questions about whether "learn to code" campaigns were oversold as a silver bullet. University of Waterloo associate professor Troy Vasiga and New York Times technology reporter Natasha Singer join Nora Young to discuss the promise and payoff of coding, and whether today's "learn AI" message is taking a page from that old Big Tech playbook.

Guest host Nora Young speaks with Reuters national security reporter Phillip Stewart about Washington's military objectives as the United States and Israel-Iran war intensifies, and Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari discusses the situation inside IranFinancial Times columnist and author Simon Kuper discusses how the World Cup reflects global politics, culture and powerToronto Star national columnist Susan Delacourt and The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo take stock of Mark Carney's first year as prime ministerUniversity of Waterloo associate professor Troy Vasiga and New York Times technology reporter Natasha Singer look back on "learn to code" campaigns and whether they delivered on their promise as AI disrupts tech

It used to be the source of great skepticism. But now, many consider Wikipedia a public good… and even, the last best place on the internet. As the crowdsourced encyclopedia marks its 25th anniversary, Nora Young speaks with co-founder Jimmy Wales about Wikipedia's early days, criticisms and controversies it's faced around bias, and why it continues to endure in today's digital age of misinformation, disinformation and artificial intelligence.

Guest host Nora Young speaks with University of Ottawa public and international affairs professor Thomas Juneau, and Jasmine El-Gamal, a Middle East policy analyst and former Pentagon advisor, about how the latest developments in the U.S. and Israel-Iran warAuthor and journalist Simon Winchester explores how wind carries the story of our history and futureThe New York Times global economy reporter Peter S. Goodman explains the global cost of conflict in the Middle EastWikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales reflects on the site's early days, criticisms and controversies it's faced, and why it continues to endure in today's digital age

In 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 this week are actor and comedian Shaun Majumder and Melfort, Sask. listener Susan Plant.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist's Gregg Carlstrom, historian Arash Azizi, foreign policy expert Barbara Slavin and international human rights lawyer Payam Akhavan about the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran and what may come nextWriter and activist Rebecca Solnit reflects on what history can reveal about our turbulent times today, and why what looks like collapse may also be the messy birth of something newOur monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns with actor and comedian Shaun Majumder, and Melfort, Sask. listener Susan Plant

Fifteen years ago, Dr. Brian Goldman gave us a front-line account of life in the emergency room with his book The Night Shift. Now, the ER physician and host of CBC's White Coat, Black Art and The Dose is revisiting that setting with his new book The Casino Shift. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss what's changed for the better and worse at ERs across our country in the last 15 years, and what treatments for our ailing system may look like.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Slate justice reporter Mark Joseph Stern and The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo break down the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on Donald Trump's emergency tariffsDefence and security expert Andrea Charron and international affairs historian Susan Colbourn explore Canada's changing military strategyFormer Olympians Clara Hughes and Beckie Scott size up Canada's performance at the Milano-Cortina Winter GamesDr. Brian Goldman discusses treatments for our ailing emergency roomsWriter Matt Alt and international relations expert Shaoyu Yuan reflect on Pokémon's legacy and how it became a source of cultural soft powerDiscover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

In 2024, Gisèle Pelicot was the victim in one of the most notorious rape trials in France's history. Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was found guilty of drugging and raping his then-wife – and recruiting scores of men online to abuse her while she was unconscious, over the course of a decade. Fifty other men were also found guilty, most on rape charges. What made the trial all the more remarkable is that Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity, inviting the world into the courtroom. In a Canadian broadcast exclusive interview, Gisèle Pelicot speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about the shocking crimes, the ripple effects within her family, and how going public made her a feminist hero, as explored in her memoir, A Hymn to Life.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Gisèle Pelicot about her public rape trial and her thoughts on becoming a feminist heroLaw professor Elaine Craig breaks down the intersection of sexual assault, law and culture in Canada -- and why the courts alone can't address society-wide issuesProfessor Emeritus of Social Work at the University of British Columbia Edward Taylor unpacks the mental health effects of mass violence following the deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.Harvard professor Jarvis R. Givens explains why on the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, the occasion is as big a cultural flashpoint as ever

In January, Russian authorities officially labeled the anti-Kremlin activist art group Pussy Riot an "extremist organization," a move that makes even sharing their music or images a potential crime. The group's co-founder Nadya Tolokonnikova joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss what that designation means for dissidents both inside and outside Russia, the message she's sending with her latest work, Police State, and how art can confront authoritarian power at a moment when repression is spreading far beyond Russia.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt and The Economist's Rob Russo about calls for Canadian unity from former prime ministers Stephen Harper and Jean ChrétienPussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonniokva reflects on power, protest and Russia's parallels with the U.S.Writer Chuck Klosterman nerds out about American football and its many contradictions ahead of Super Bowl LXCanadian curling legend Jennifer Jones looks back on her journey both on and off the ice

In 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 this week are former speed skater and the co-host of CBC's primetime coverage of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, Anastasia Bucsis, and Vancouver listener Jonathan Waller.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The New Yorker's Emily Witt and Ted Hesson of Reuters about how backlash to immigration enforcement in Minnesota is affecting the Trump administration's strategyBooker-Prize winning author George Saunders discusses his new novel, Vigil, and how its themes resonate with the United States' tumultuous political landscapeJournalist Kenneth Rosen shares his experience travelling in the Arctic to explore the forces tilting the region toward conflictOur monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns with special guest Anastasia Bucsis, a former speed skater and co-host of CBC's primetime coverage of the Milan-Cortina OlympicsDiscover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Nursing is a tough job in normal conditions. Seasonal viruses, an aging population and staff shortages only compound that stress. In their book The Handover, retired nurse Tilda Shalof and emerging nurse Lisa Mochrie share wisdom, hopes and fears about their profession amid these challenges. They join Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss their mission to foster more positive conversations in the field, in the hopes it will lead to better outcomes for patients and nurses alike.

Guest host David Common speaks with The New York Times' David Sanger and The Economist's Rob Russo about where the world order is heading after a charged week at the World Economic ForumLegal scholar and former White House antitrust advisor Tim Wu charts how the open internet ideal gave way to platform power, and whether the tide can turn as the AI age dawnsAhead of the federal Conservative Party's national convention, strategists Regan Watts, Kate Harrison and former MP Monte Solberg explore what party needs to do to win back CanadiansRetired nurse Tilda Shalof and emerging nurse Lisa Mochrie share their hopes, fears and prescriptions for the future of their professionDiscover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

As multilateralism gives way to a more authoritarian world order, Mary Robinson says the fight for human rights needs to focus on the grassroots. The former Irish president and United Nations human rights commissioner joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss what her time as a lawyer and politician fighting for women's rights in Ireland taught her, the importance of holding on to visions for a better world, and why smaller countries need to band together to take politics out of human rights.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Globe and Mail's Stephanie Levitz and Joël-Denis Bellavance from La Presse about the politics of Canada's new trade deal with ChinaIranian-Canadian historian Arash Azizi and The Economist's Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom unpack the anti-government protests in Iran, and the deadly ensuing crackdownFormer Irish President and United Nations human rights commissioner Mary Robinson shares her vision for preserving human rights in a fractured worldCrossword constructor Natan Last explores the puzzle's history, and how culture and creators are pushing it forward

In 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 this week are Andi Petrillo, host of CBC's daytime coverage of the Milan-Cortina Olympics, and Annapolis Royal, N.S. listener Jennifer Goddard.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Canada's former NATO ambassador Kerry Buck and international politics professor Mark Webber about the future of NATOReporter Jacob Soboroff explores what last year's L.A. fires reveal about the politics of disasterCanadian Nobel Prize laureate Peter Howitt unpacks the economic theory of "creative destruction"Our monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns with special guest Andi Petrillo

To kick off a new year of Word Processing, our ongoing look at language, Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with lexicographer Susie Dent about the old words you didn't know you needed to sum up our modern times, and her pitch to get "recombobulation" – the opposite of discombobulation – properly in the dictionary.So, nevermind the "snollygosters," just gather round your "copemates" and head on a "coddiwomple" with us as we ring in 2026.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with reporter Ana Vanessa Herrero, Lulu Garcia-Navarro from The New York Times, and University of Ottawa's Roland Paris about the bigger implications of U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the capture of President Nicolás MaduroLexicographer Susie Dent resurfaces old words you didn't know you needed to sum up our modern timesActor, author and director Stephen Fry reimagines ancient Greek mythsPsychology professor Dacher Keltner and workplace culture strategist Jennifer Moss discuss the benefits of cultivating awe

In October, the legendary naturalist Jane Goodall died at age 91. During her life, Goodall not only saw a lot of change in the world, but made a lot of it too.Her field work with chimpanzees transformed how both science and the general public view our fellow primates. In later years, as an activist and conservationist, she inspired countless young people to follow her lead and change the world. And despite political leaders recently seeming to prioritize the economy over the environment, Goodall always found reasons to remain hopeful.In September, Piya Chattopadhyay spoke with Goodall about her journey and her desire to keep sparking positive change.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The New York Times' Stephanie Nolen, Council on Foreign Relations fellow Ebenezer Obadare and international affairs expert Suparna Chaudhry about the consequences of recent cuts to foreign aidWe revisit our conversation with the late conservation icon Jane Goodall about keeping hope for our planet aliveChef and cookbook author Samin Nosrat shares how grief reframed her relationship with food