Shows / The Big Story
The Big Story
An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.
Episodes
- The Big Story
Why it's a good idea to put down the phone while answering nature's call
A little screen time while on the toilet doesn't hurt anybody... ...the key word here is 'little'. A recent study published in the medical journal, PLOS, shows…
- The Big Story
U.S. Senate vs. RFK Jr.: How Canadians are feeling the impacts
There are still calls for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down as the U-S Secretary of Health and Human Services after an intense and – at times – combative…
- The Big Story
What is the world entitled to know about the president’s health?
Woodrow Wilson’s hidden stroke. Franklin Roosevelt’s hidden wheelchair. John F. Kennedy’s chronic back pain. There is a historical tendency to obscure the…
- The Big Story
Why is it so hard for young people to find a job right now?
Finding a job is difficult for anyone right now, but especially for a certain sector. Young people are having difficulty finding work. In fact, the youth…
- The Big Story
What's next for the Carney government - an inside look inside the cabinet retreat
Prime Minister Mark Carney and his inner circle gathered in Toronto this week for a two day cabinet ‘planning forum’ to set priorities ahead of the Fall…
- The Big Story
What's putting Canadian youth at risk and how much longer do we have until there's no turning back?
Your social media feeds are probably littered with back to school pictures, kids smiling ear to ear. Unfortunately, while we all hope for a positive experience…
- The Big Story
Alberta hits pause on its book ban...for who and for how long?
The Alberta government has reversed its July order for schools to remove books and other materials that contain explicit sexual content. The pause came after…
- The Big Story
What does the future hold for Canada Post?
Canada Post is the country's crown mail courier, but year after year, Canadians seem to be seeing less and less of their prominent blue, red and white logo…
- The Big Story
Can an enduring peace in Ukraine be brokered?
Despite weeks of whirlwind American diplomacy, Russia sent wave after wave of drones and missiles across Kyiv and other cities on Thursday. It was the fiercest…
- The Big Story
What's different about the Canada/U.S. trade talks this time around?
Here we go again. Trade talks between Canada and the US are back on following a lengthy pause between the two sides. Our Canada-US Trade Minister flew down to…
- The Big Story
Cybercriminals are using AI to scam you, now what?
Dozens of online influencers are using their platform to spread financial literacy, which continues to have a growing impact on younger generations looking to…
- The Big Story
Canadian boots on the ground in Ukraine?
On an unannounced trip to Ukraine over the weekend, Prime Minister Mark Carney hinted at the possibility that Canada could have a military presence in Ukraine…
- The Big Story
How to shake your summer sleep schedule and get back to routine
Basking in the sun, late patio nights and the sweetest of sleep-ins. The relaxed and unstructured schedule of summer vacation is glorious…but unfortunately…
- The Big Story
Labour disruptions and defiant unions: breaking down the impacts of the Air Canada strike
Flight attendants at Air Canada are set to vote on a tentative contract starting next Wednesday after a 3 day strike left tens of thousands of travellers…
- The Big Story
The tests ahead that will determine Pierre Poilievre’s future
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is heading back to Parliament Hill after his by-election win in Alberta this week. The federal Conservative Leader won the…
- The Big Story
Why does it seem like young Canadians are committing more crime?
Canada is slowly starting to become desensitized to crime involving youth - not because it's no longer worrisome, but because it happens more often than not…
- The Big Story
What is restorative justice and how could it transform our judicial system?
Amanda Carrasco lived through a childhood full of deep, complex trauma. She endured sexual abuse by her brother, her family was violently murdered and she was…
- The Big Story
What kind of damage is artificial intelligence doing to the environment?
Data centres are being used to power tech companies all around the world. In the U-S alone, there are more than 5-thousand facilities. And the facilities use…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: Are Canadian farmers going to be okay after the latest tariff threat?
Being a farmer in Canada isn't easy at the best of times, and there's a new big challenge ahead. This week, China announced a hefty tariff on our canola…
- The Big Story
What’s at stake as Trump and Putin meet in Alaska?
The West has long sought to make Vladimir Putin a pariah over the bloodshed in Ukraine. But the Russian leader will break out of international isolation and…
- The Big Story
How will the Aeroplan overhaul impact your travel?
Air Canada is overhauling how travelers earn points and qualify for frequent flyer status in its Aeroplan loyalty program. The changes? Points will be based on…
- The Big Story
Home office vs head office: why Canadians aren’t so eager to return to their previous work set-up
The numbers say it all — Canadians want flexibility when it comes to where they do their jobs. The COVID-19 pandemic opened the door to new possibilities and…
- The Big Story
Is the outrage justified over Nova Scotia's so-called "forest ban"?
https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/08/05/stay-out-of-the-woods-n-s-bans-activities-in-woods-amid-dry-spell/ We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as…
- The Big Story
Are the Epstein files MAGA's breaking point?
Despite a long list of critical policy issues facing Washington today, the Jeffrey Epstein saga has dominated the national conversation for weeks, grinding the…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: Rating the overall health of the Canadian economy
As we approach the end of the summer, how is the economy actually doing and what can we expect for the rest of 2025? What does the data tell us about the…
- The Big Story
Keep calm and swim on: how a Canadian man conquered the English Channel
It started as an activity to release frustrations in the wake of the pandemic, and ended with an accomplishment that only three dozen Canadians can lay claim…
- The Big Story
What's a digital nomad and are you cut out to be one?
If you've ever wondered what it's like to make money while travelling the world, you're not the only one. Digital nomadism is the kind of lifestyle that many…
- The Big Story
A look back at Mark Carney's first 100 days as Prime Minister
Today marks 100 days since Mark Carney was voted in as the 24th Prime Minister of Canada. It was an election that marked a turning point for a handful of the…
- The Big Story
Are Poilievre's democratic concerns of the long ballot valid?
In less than 2 weeks, it's do or die for Pierre Poilievre. Not only is he in for a political battle to get into the House of Commons, he's got other forces…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: Gentle parenting - is it too rough for parents?
It's the latest among the vast plethora of parenting styles: gentle parenting...but just how gentle is it? And for whom? The U.S. General Surgeon has issued…
- The Big Story
A look at the Nicole Morin case, 40 years after the little girl's disappearance
It's been 40 years since Nicole Morin disappeared. The little girl was 8 at the time when she went down to her apartment building's lobby to meet a friend for…
- The Big Story
Trump slaps Canada with more tariffs. Now what?
To retaliate or not to retaliate? That's the question after President Donald Trump's trade deadline hit, and he once again slapped tariffs on Canada. Without…
- The Big Story
Are we getting closer to the truth about UFOs?
The truth is out there...but are we any closer to knowing what it is? On the heels of World UFO Day, on today's show, we talk to journalist Daniel Otis about a…
- The Big Story
How is climate change exacerbating skin diseases?
In a time where a multi-step skin care routine seems to be the epitome of self care and wellness, where does it stand in the fight against climate change's…
- The Big Story
What is watermarking and why is it falling short of protecting us against A.I. deepfakes?
Sometimes it's easy to tell whether a video is fake, other times, it's not. Watermarking is used to digitally stamp fake videos, whether that stamp is visible…
- The Big Story
Legacy media under pressure: a conversation with Peter Mansbridge
Legacy media is under pressure. Whether it's the constant cries of "fake news" to huge lawsuits filed, trust remains a huge issue. The audience is splintered…
- The Big Story
The aftermath of the Hockey Canada verdict
A warning to our listeners: this episode includes description and discussion of sexual assault. Please take care. It is a trial that has gripped the nation -…
- The Big Story
How the Toronto Blue Jays have become the hottest team in baseball
Light's up, let's go! Canadian baseball fans are in a pretty good mood lately, as the Toronto Blue Jays are on their hottest run since their memorable 2015…
- The Big Story
Should 16 year olds be allowed to vote?
The worries of a 16-year-old can include what to wear, cramming for exams, keeping up on social gossip, and taking a driving test. But what about voting in the…
- The Big Story
What's happening with Canada's tourism industry, and how is it impacting our economy?
We are in the height of summer travel season, but given the ongoing trade tensions with the United States, are plans being detoured? If you read the headlines…
- The Big Story
Obesity rates spiked, but what else happened to our bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Abbey Sharp is a world-renowned Registered Dietitian (RD), content creator, award-winning author, TV personality, host of the podcast Bite Back, CEO of Abbey’s…
- The Big Story
Can X return to social media respectability?
It's been 3 years since Elon Musk bought Twitter. The revamped "X" remains extremely polarizing with many leaving the platform for a number including concerns…
- The Big Story
Can the federal NDP fight its way back to relevance?
The federal NDP remains in a political limbo as members continue to lick their wounds from the spring election that left the party with its worst election…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: How to make sense of strong economic signals when all the pundits say the sky is falling?
Despite all the noise about tariffs and their potential impact, it appears the Canadian economy is actually weathering the storm. An interest rate cut looked…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: Why aren't Canadians as happy as they used to be?
At one point in time, Canada was ranked as the 5th happiest country out of 147 countries across the globe. 10 years since that ranking, and Canada has dropped…
- The Big Story
TikTok’s last ditch effort to keep operating in Canada
It's one of the most popular social networks in the world and it's fighting for survival in both Canada and the U.S. But it appears TikTok Canada will not go…
- The Big Story
Overcrowding & reduced sentences: what's going on in Ontario's jails?
In Provincial Ombudsman, Paul Dubé's, latest report, he calls on the Ford government to take a closer look at Ontario jails, sounding the alarm on what he…
- The Big Story
Java jolt: the real reasons coffee prices have skyrocketed this year
There are few things more precious in this world than your morning coffee - and add that to the list of things that have become more expensive this year. So…
- The Big Story
It's all the rage, but how dangerous is it to use an A.I. therapist?
Perhaps you’ve used it to help spruce up a resume, write a report or find a recipe — but have you ever turned to artificial intelligence for your mental…
- The Big Story
How will the massive spending cuts being proposed by Ottawa impact you?
The civil service in Ottawa is bracing for layoffs. It comes after Finance Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne was tasked with finding $25-billion dollars in…
- The Big Story
How to know if your teenager is addicted to their phone, and what to do to combat the algorithms
School is out for the summer, and for most teens, that means unlimited access to doom scrolling and binge watching! And while a little celebratory, post-exam…
- The Big Story
Examining political extremism in Canada in the wake of the alleged anti-government militia plot in Quebec
Shocking news this week out of Quebec where charges have been laid in an alleged plot involving a militia to take over a portion of Quebec City. Dozens of…
- The Big Story
The simple question about rabbits that nearly drove a Toronto journalist mad
It's a story about a city that constantly surprises. A random bunny spotting turned into a near-obsession for a Toronto journalist. He was trying to track down…
- The Big Story
From pancakes to cowboy hats - why the Calgary Stampede is one of the most important political events in Canada
The Calgary Stampede is known as the greatest outdoor show on earth. It's a must attend event for most Calgarians, but more importantly for Canadian…
- The Big Story
An inside look at what it's like to be a sequestered juror in a criminal case in Canada
It’s been dramatized in countless movies and TV shows, like Law and Order or 12 Angry Men, but you may have wondered if the Hollywood portrayals match up with…
- The Big Story
Weekend listen: Are we becoming less concerned with data breaches?
A data breach used to be big news. It was disconcerting to those impacted and was normally followed filed a class action lawsuit. But as they become more…
- The Big Story
A mixed verdict in the Diddy case - what comes next and what we've learned
Sean “Diddy” Combs remains behind bars – awaiting sentencing – after the music mogul was found guilty on two charges and not guilty on 3 others. He had pleaded…
- The Big Story
Masai Ujiri's legacy: the championship, Kawhi and what's next for the Raptors
Masai Ujiri's time in Toronto is over. He'll be remembered for many things, most notably for the very first NBA Championship a Canadian team has ever won. We…
- The Big Story
Did Carney capitulate? Are we still "Canada Strong"?
The whiplash news cycle around the Trump trade war continues and if you can't keep up, you're not alone. Last Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump said all…
- The Big Story
What does it mean to be Canadian nowadays?
On this Canada Day, we’re reflecting on our national identity – but dependent on who you ask, you’ll get a different answer. Being Canadian comes with a…