Shows / The Decibel
The Decibel
Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story shaping our world, in conversation with reporters, experts, and the people at the centre of the news.
Episodes
The DecibelSkinny, Inc. Part 1: the Canadian connection to Ozempic
Dr. Daniel Drucker’s research helped pave the way for Ozempic, the blockbuster GLP-1 class drug. The endocrinologist has been researching the effects on…
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Margaret Atwood and Michael Crummey on ‘The Art of the Story’
A conversation between two acclaimed Canadian authors – Margaret Atwood and Michael Crummey on ‘The Art of the Story’. A live discussion about writing…
The DecibelWhat would a stronger trade relationship with Mexico look like?
This week, Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc, led a trade delegation to Mexico. He was joined by government and industry officials, as well as…
The DecibelCarney’s plan to expand Canada’s defence industry
As part of its plan to remake the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal government earmarked $6.6-billion over five years in the fall budget for its Defence…
The DecibelWhat social media for AI bots can tell us about consciousness
Much has been made about a new social media platform called Moltbook, where AI agents are posting and appear to be interacting with each other. Some see their…
The DecibelWhy Carney and Ford are talking about a federal election
The Globe exclusively reported that Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford discussed the possibility of a snap federal election this spring…
The DecibelDefying time and biology: the Olympic skater making history
Canadian figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek will make history this weekend at the age of 42, as the oldest female figure skater to compete in the Olympics in…
The DecibelOn the ground in Tumbler Ridge, after the mass shooting
Tuesday’s deadly mass shooting in the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, marks the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. Nine people…
The DecibelHow police corruption allegations erode trust in justice system
This week, Ontario’s Inspector-General announced it is launching a provincewide review of corruption among police services in the wake of the arrests of seven…
The DecibelCarney shifts gears on EV and climate policies
The federal government recently announced that it is scrapping the zero emissions vehicle mandate – brought in by the Trudeau government in 2022. Zero…
The DecibelOntario pushes to allow retail access to risky investments
Ontario’s securities watchdog is facing pressure from the Ontario government to open up access to high-risk investments, called private asset funds, to…
The DecibelWhat’s at stake for Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Games
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games begin on Friday. The Olympics are always a time to rally behind your country, but this year cheering on Team Canada takes…
The DecibelVoices from inside Alberta’s separatist movement
Canvassers are currently collecting signatures for a petition in Alberta that could trigger a referendum on whether Albertans want to remain a part of Canada…
The DecibelWhat happened to $10-a-day child care?
The federal government’s Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program was meant to bring child care fees down to $10 per day and create 284,000 new…
The DecibelU.S. and Iran weigh diplomacy as warships head for the Gulf
Over the last few weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention in Iran – first over the Islamic Republic’s treatment of…
The DecibelWhy road salt causes Canada billions in damage each year
Snow and ice is a fact of life in a long, Canadian winter. So are the millions of tonnes of salt that is used to combat it on roads across the country. But…
The DecibelWhy your grocery bill is still so high
Inflation in Canada has stabilized, but food inflation is continuing to rise. Food prices rose 5 per cent in 2025, and some items saw much larger increases –…
The DecibelDrug decriminalization is over in B.C. What’s next?
British Columbia’s drug decriminalization pilot program will end on January 31st. The controversial program was introduced in 2023, but was criticized by…
The DecibelHow Minnesota is fighting ICE on the ground — and in the courts
Some of the 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota are set to leave following the killings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Macklin Good and Alex Pretti. ICE and U.S…
The DecibelAlleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding arrested
Ryan Wedding, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord, is pleading not guilty to U.S. federal charges of leading an international drug…
The DecibelWhat you need to know as Parliament resumes
It’s been a busy month abroad for Prime Minister Mark Carney, but now, he’ll have to turn his focus back to domestic issues as Parliament returns on Monday…
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Happy Enough: Can psychedelics improve your mental health?
Psychedelics, substances like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms that cause altered states of consciousness, often remind people of hippies in the 1960s. But more…
The DecibelHow the world changed this week at Davos
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump made waves in Davos, Switzerland as both offered competing visions of a new world order…
The DecibelWhat Carney’s China trade deal means for EVs in Canada
As part of Canada’s new trade deal with China, 49,000 Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles will be allowed to be sold in the Canadian market this year. It’s…
The DecibelMilitary models invasion of Canada as Trump threatens Greenland
As U.S. President Donald Trump has continued to ratchet up threats against Greenland, Canada has weighed plans to send soldiers there as part of a NATO…
The DecibelWhat Legault’s resignation means for Quebec
Last week, Quebec Premier François Legault announced his resignation amidst plummeting poll numbers, while acknowledging Quebeckers are calling for change. The…
The DecibelWhy the flu is so bad this year
The flu season hit Canada hard and fast this year, seemingly reaching its peak in late December. But it’s not over yet: one public health official says we’re…
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Happy Enough: Why awe makes us happier
What happens when we stop rushing around and pause to take in the vastness of the world around us? In this episode of Happy Enough, we explore awe — the…
The DecibelInternational law in the Trump era
In less than a year, U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term has re-shaped the international order. From levying tariffs against much of the world, turning…
The DecibelWhat Greenland thinks about Trump’s threats of annexation
For weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to annex Greenland, an autonomous region of Denmark. That led to a meeting on Wednesday between a…
The DecibelDeath toll climbs as Iranians protest against regime
Protests in Iran ramped up over the weekend after the Islamic Republic regime – ruled by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – instituted an internet and phone blackout…
The DecibelCarney’s high-stakes trip to China
This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney will head to China, marking the first time a Canadian prime minister has gone to China since 2017. Recent interactions…
The DecibelWhy gyms have become so fancy and expensive
The new year is upon us and for some of us, that means New Year’s resolutions. These goals often involve improving our fitness, or going to the gym more often…
The DecibelChrystia Freeland resigns, takes new role with Ukraine
Today is Chrystia Freeland’s last day in Canadian politics, but she still plans to work in government – just not this one. On Monday, Ukrainian President…
The DecibelThe people pursuing impossible goals
The new year is a time of goal setting. Culturally, there’s pressure to set resolutions that you are meant to achieve in due course. Think: weight loss…
The DecibelUnpacking the U.S. strategy to control the Western hemisphere
Following the U.S. attack on Venezuela, President Donald Trump referenced the Monroe Doctrine – a centuries-old ideology that posits American control and…
The DecibelWhat the Venezuelan attack means for Canadian oil
U.S. President Donald Trump was clear on Saturday when he announced his administration’s plans for the future of Venezuela: “We’re going to have our very large…
The DecibelU.S. attacks Venezuela, captures President Maduro
On Saturday, Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. military forces in an early morning raid that included attacks on the capital city of…
The DecibelA 2026 forecast for Canadian politics
After a year that was truly one for the books in Canadian politics — from Trudeau’s resignation to Trump’s trade war, an “elbows up” election, Pierre Poilievre…
The DecibelIs AI making us dumb?
Most schools are now off for winter break — but this year, some educators are wondering how much their students are learning. A KPMG survey found that over 70…
The DecibelTo save this baby, doctors had to kill part of her brain
Maryam Fatima was born with a condition called hemimegalencephaly, a rare birth defect where one side of the brain is abnormally large. She suffered from…
The DecibelA mixtape of you: the summer of the Great Canadian Playlist
Canadians have been spending a lot of time thinking about identity and their relationship to Canada. As U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war drags on…
The DecibelBark! The Herald Angels Sing: how people met their pets
The winter holidays are a time to cozy up with family – even if those family members are furry and of a different species. For many, dogs and cats aren’t just…
The DecibelWhy time feels like it’s speeding up – and how to slow it down
Many factors of modern life can make time feel like it’s moving faster than it actually is: hustle culture at work, a productivity compulsion at home…
The DecibelWhy Heated Rivalry has everyone hot and bothered
The Canadian television show Heated Rivalry has found major success not just in Canada, but with American audiences, too. The show, a love story between two…
The DecibelCanadian military officer charged with leaking government secrets
Canadian counter-intelligence military officer Matthew Robar, is facing charges of espionage. The veteran military officer is accused of sharing information…
The DecibelThe rise of medical tourism
This travel season, Canadians might be headed away for something other than a vacation. More Canadians are participating in medical tourism, travelling to…
The DecibelBondi Beach shooting echoes past antisemitic attacks
The attack on Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach in Sydney has sent shockwaves around the world. To many in Jewish communities, it mirrors previous antisemitic…
The DecibelWhy your loyalty points don’t go as far as they used to
Loyalty reward programs are everywhere we shop. They’re at coffee shops, retailers, airports and grocery stores. Many of us are connected to our points, but…
The DecibelThe multibillion-dollar fight over the McCain Foods fortune
The heirs to Canada’s multi-billion dollar frozen food empire are fighting. New Brunswick’s McCain Foods is the world’s largest French fry maker, and is…
The DecibelNew crime bill addresses violence against women and court delays
Mark Carney’s federal government has introduced its second tough-on-crime bill this fall. The new bill, Bill C-16, focuses on violence against women and…
The DecibelRise in late-stage prostate cancer raises concerns over testing
Late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses are on the rise in Canada. According to a recent study, between 2010 and 2021, rates of prostate cancer discovered at…
The DecibelThe traveller’s guide to Canadian airline disruptions
Hours before a strike deadline, Air Transat and the union representing airline pilots reached a tentative agreement. For customers, it comes as relief in the…
The DecibelHow three Canadian businesses have coped with Trump’s tariffs
The Canadian manufacturing sector has been having a hard time, which has been made worse by U.S. tariffs. The impact of these tariffs varies company to…
The DecibelThe construction industry’s opioid problem
For families, the tragedy of opioids is beyond measure. The opioid epidemic has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Canada and has been recognized as a…
The DecibelThe future of Canada’s military and joining Europe’s defence fund
Canada is in the midst of reframing its approach to military spending. The reasons for this are twofold; a commitment to fulfilling NATO spending as part of…
The DecibelThe businessman at the heart of Alberta’s health care controversy
It’s not unusual for business owners to forge ties with governments, but there are rules around conflicts of interest when it comes to procurement. In…
The DecibelThe case against cleaning before hosting
With the holidays right around the corner, households are getting ready for company and deep cleans are underway. Even the idea of letting family and friends…
The DecibelWhy do so many Canadian roads not have cell service?
Across Canada, highways and rural roads are studded with cellular ‘dead zones’. In some provinces, coverage gaps span over 30 per cent of major roads. In some…
The DecibelWhy a new Ontario law has renters worried about more evictions
Ontario just passed Bill 60, officially named the “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act.” It’s a big omnibus bill, but it’s garnered the most attention for…