PODCAST

The Big Story

Frequency Podcast Network

An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.

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00:26:14

Why are some tenants using the 'last resort' of rent...

The Big Story ·

2024/08/04

We recently released an episode about a woman in Hamilton, Ontario who unwittingly became a landlord after the tenants in a house she intended to move into, refused to leave. Today we're revisiting an episode from 2023 that highlights the other side of that equation: the plight of renters in an increasingly unaffordable housing market. Enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rent in large Canadian cities is at ridiculous highs. It's hard to find a

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00:23:13

Is the AI bubble about to pop?

The Big Story ·

2024/08/02

It's one thing for you or me to be skeptical of generative AI. Sure, we might not have much practical use for it, and it may keep giving us the wrong answers to questions or images of people with too many fingers ... but there are billions and billions of dollars to be made here, right? A report last month from investment firm Goldman Sachs says "Maybe not." The report takes a clear-eyed look at the promise and potential of generative AI, compared to what has actually come to fruition and how much

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00:25:17

How 'weird' became a devastating political insult

The Big Story ·

2024/08/01

American Democrats had long prided themselves on taking the high road in the face of insults and mockery from the right. But over the past week, their tone—and the vibes of the presidential campaign—have shifted. Since Kamala Harris became the presumptive nominee, she and other top democrats have begun calling their Republican opponents just plain "weird" and sometimes "creepy".The response to it from the right has been fascinating. And Harris certainly appears to have wiped out the deficit she

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00:15:20

What exactly is the "Road Rage Terror Tour"?

The Big Story ·

2024/07/31

It's not your favourite metal band's summer itinerary. It's a group of far-right extremists who are travelling the country hosting events in venues that range from auditoriums to city parks. The content is about what you'd expect, and has led to several venues closing their doors, but that only leads to claims of censorship.Why are we telling you about this and possibly raising its profile? Because it can be easy to pretend groups like this don't exist in Canada, or that stuff like Diagolon only

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00:22:02

The fight to save Jasper, Alberta

The Big Story ·

2024/07/30

The call to evacuate came late at night. Thousands had to find somewhere to go. Some of them drove for up to 12 hours. Then all they could do was watched as a massive blaze in Jasper National Park tore through the town at its core.But even as the fire continued to burn outside of the town on Monday, work was being done to save what was left, including critical infrastructure. Both the park and town of Jasper hold a special place in the hearts of so many Canadians, but was there ever a chance to

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00:17:40

Why are there so many great white sharks in Maritime...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/29

For the first time ever this summer—and on the 50th anniversary of Jaws—shark warning signs will go up on some Atlantic beaches in Canada. It's an effort to keep people informed as the shark population in the area seems to be surging, and with it the number of encounters with humans.What's driving the increase in numbers? What have we learned about shark behaviour in our waters? Should kayakers and boarders be worried? And half a century after Peter Benchley's novel turned the world against these

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00:25:46

What does the future of money look like?

The Big Story ·

2024/07/28

Recently there has been renewed talk of Canada launching a 'digital loonie'. We discussed the idea of a national digital currency on this very show almost three years ago, and with the idea gaining renewed traction, we felt now would be a good time to revisit that episode. We hope you enjoy!--------------------------------------------------------------Right now, the Bank of Canada is working on a "digital loonie" that will replace cash at some point in the future. Governments around the world are

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00:25:07

These days, something's always burning: A fire season...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/27

With the recent devastation in Jasper, Alberta, we wanted to revisit this episode we recorded back in April with author, John Vaillant, where he explains why wildfires have become more common, and much harder to fight. We hope you find it informative, and our hearts go out to all those affected by the current fires. ----------------------------------------------------------ORIGINAL SHOW NOTESToday, evacuation alerts for several communities in BC and Alberta are in effect. You may not have noticed,

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00:20:19

Welcome to Paris! Here's a Canadian Olympic cheating...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/26

The Paris games kicks off with the Opening Ceremonies today, but the Canadian women's soccer team has already given the thousands of media covering the event something to talk about. Earlier this week, a team analyst was caught using a drone to spy on the New Zealand team's practice, sparking immediate consequences that have included removal from the team, multiple investigations and even police charges.Why would anyone associated with the team try to do this, or think they'd get away with it? Is

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00:15:48

How the script flipped in the US presidential election

The Big Story ·

2024/07/25

A month ago President Joe Biden was about to debate former President Donald Trump. Everything since then has been a series of shocks that dramatically upset a race that had been static for years. Now Vice President Kamala Harris assumes the Democratic candidacy and will take on a Republican machine that had been preparing to run against the oldest candidate in history.How does Harris' ascention impact the race? How will republicans try to define her and will it work? How has she managed to

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00:26:37

What happens when 8.5 million computers crash at once?

The Big Story ·

2024/07/24

Last Friday, a bad update from a cybersecurity company managed to give an estimated 1 percent of the world's computers the blue screen of death. Not only that, but the initial fix was a manual procedure, meaning someone had to physically get ahold of each computer that needed a reboot.The global impact was profound, grounding airlines, halting businesses and generally providing a wake-up call to everyone who takes the digital infrastructure most of our lives are built on for granted. Why weren't we

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00:23:37

Inside the rapidly shifting Canadian dental plan

The Big Story ·

2024/07/23

Canada's dental plan, the first national model in the country's history, opened earlier this year. And it's already quite different than it was at launch. For starters, it's expanding eligibility—most recently to children under 18. But the government is also tweaking it on the fly, in the hopes of getting more dentists and dental associations on board.Why has it been so hard to convince dental practitioners to sign up? Are their concerns valid and what's the government doing about them? Who does the

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00:21:31

Tick talk: What to keep in mind before venturing...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/22

If you get outside to enjoy Canadian nature, you've probably been warned about ticks and their potential to spread Lyme disease. But you may not have been warned about the other illnesses ticks can spread, like Anaplasmosis, which is currently on the rise in Canada.The tick problem this year, is worse than last year, and much much worse than even a decade ago. Is there anything we can do to curb their spread? And what can you do to keep yourself safe? GUEST: Dr. Laura Ferguson: Biologist and

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00:18:44

Crypto. AI. Sex dolls. Robotics. And a Canadian...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/19

No we haven't been hacked—today's story has all of these things and more. It's a tale about what happens when a Canadian crypto company wants to add to its portfolio, an American sex doll manufacturer wants to be taken more seriously and artificial intelligence progress convinces everyone involved that this is possible.Welcome to Canada's strangest business tech story of the year. Burt it's not fiction, it has investors and prototypes and big plans for everything from hospitals to research to ..

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00:19:31

Rats! How Ontario failed where Alberta succeeded

The Big Story ·

2024/07/18

Five years ago, the City of Toronto sounded a warning about an explosive growth in its rat population. The city planned to ... study it. Now, both Toronto and Ottawa are desperate for a plan to tackle highly visible rodent problems. But nothing's worked yet.Meanwhile, Alberta has been "rat-free" for decades, and the woman in charge of keeping the province that way has some thoughts about more experimental methods that might be considered. So how does Alberta do it? Why can't Ontario cities emulate

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00:19:04

When a home purchase leaves the owner homeless...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/17

If you own a property, you're not allowed to kick tenants out just to raise the rent. You are, however, allowed to evict them if you've purchased the property and plan to live in the home yourself. But what happens if they...just don't leave?A woman who recently purchased a home in Hamilton, is now living in her car and on friends' couches after she bought a home and made plans to move in—only to find herself homeless. It's been more than six weeks, and she's planning for months to come. How do

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00:20:31

Inside WestJet's summer strike meltdown

The Big Story ·

2024/07/16

Its mechanics were officially off the job only 29 hours. But more than a week after they returned to work, WestJet was still struggling with cancelled flights and stranded passengers. Travelers impacted by the strike reported almost no customer service, including no efforts by WestJet to rebook them on other airlines, as the company is required to do. On the busiest travel weekend of the summer, and for a week afterwards, Canadians were left up in the air. Now they're trying to figure out what

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00:22:41

The rise, fall and (maybe) rise again of the...

The Big Story ·

2024/07/15

For 32 years a moratorium on cod fishing was in place in Newfoundland. When it hit, it cost tens of thousands of jobs, decimated the economy and changed the identity of the province. But now the ban has been lifted. Sort of. At least a little. And everyone is wondering what happens next...Should the ban have been lifted? How far back have the cod come in 32 years? What will this mean to Newfoundland's economy? And why are so many experts worried about how and why this decision was made?GUEST: Jenn

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00:27:55

What do we lose when our malls disappear?

The Big Story ·

2024/07/14

It's summer, and parents across Canada are desperately looking for things to occupy their children. So why not take a trip to your local mall? That is, while you still can. In this episode from 2022, we examine what our society loses, as more and more malls across the country decide to close their doors. We hope you enjoy! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------All across North America, malls are vanishing. Some are simply being demolished, others are turning

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00:18:56

Will Justin Trudeau take his own 'walk in the snow'?

The Big Story ·

2024/07/12

A winter hike was the way his father, then prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, decided he was through with politics and would not run again. Inflation was high, Canadians were struggling and he was deeply unpopular and likely to lose the next election. Sound familiar?After a devatstating loss in a byelection that was thought to be a safe win last month, the calls for Trudeau to follow his father's footsteps are getting louder, including from some in his own party. Will he heed them? Wy does he want to

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The Big Story

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