x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

This Matters

The world is changing every day. Now, more than ever, these questions matter. What"s happening? And why should you care? This Matters, a daily news podcast from the Toronto Star, aims to answer those questions, on important stories and ideas, every day, Monday to Friday. Hosts Saba Eitizaz and Ed Keenan talk to their fellow journalists, experts and newsmakers about the social, cultural, political and economic stories that shape your life.

news documentary

All Episodes

17:07

How some Canadians are getting ivermectin

This Matters ·

2022/01/28

Guest: Lex Harvey, reporter at The Star Ivermectin has become a much more well known drug during the COVID-19 pandemic as it has made news as the treatment choice for many high profile anti-vaccine people. While the drug has some known medical uses for humans, it has not been proven to help prevent or cure the virus. That hasn't stopped people from trying to get it, and in fact, there are networks to help those interested in procuring it. An undercover Star investigation recently looked into

en

22:48

Why we need N95 respirators more than cloth masks

This Matters ·

2022/01/27

Guest: Lisa Brosseau, a bioaerosol scientist & industrial hygienist at the University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy With most of us interested in having the best level of protection against the highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19, a growing number of doctors around North America say a cloth mask doesn’t cut it and medical masks or respirators (like an N95) should be worn for maximum protection. Which mask is the safest bet? Can we still get away with a

en

19:17

Tips from an expert on how to save as inflation soars

This Matters ·

2022/01/26

Guest: Bruce Sellery, CEO of Credit Canada Debt Solutions, personal finance author and host of “Moolala” radio show and podcast Canadians have been experiencing sticker shock with the rising price of all sorts of goods, including groceries and gas. Inflation has hit a 30-year high and while it’s been caused by the pandemic, it’s only going to make it harder for everybody to recover and maintain their quality of life. As people prepare for interest rates to rise, it often feels like there is nothing

en

17:58

Canada’s blood donation ban may open up. Here’s how

This Matters ·

2022/01/25

Guest: Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, an associate professor from the University of Victoria The ban that restricts gay, bisexual and some trans men from donating blood might soon officially end in Canada. Last December, Canadian Blood Services applied to Health Canada to scrap the current screening method — called outdated and discriminatory, by many — in favour of new screening criteria based on sexual history and behaviour. Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, an associate professor from the School of Public Health &

en

17:45

Restaurant worker makeover: Why so many are leaving...

This Matters ·

2022/01/24

Guests: Jacob Lorinc, business reporter at the Star, and Peter Ramsay, a long-time restaurant worker who changed careers As restaurants prepare to reopen after another pause on indoor dining, many will also have to contend with hiring and training new staff after more than 200,000 workers have left the service industry during this pandemic. With several sudden lockdowns and pandemic financial hardships, many workers explored new skills and moved to other industries. This could make recovery even

en

16:35

What role do horses have in a modern police force?

This Matters ·

2022/01/21

Guest: Wendy Gillis, crime and policing reporter at the Star It's not uncommon to see horses and uniformed officers patrolling Toronto's downtown streets. The mounted unit is a long-standing tradition in this and other North American cities. Once again in 2022, city services are feeling squeezed as city hall debates another pandemic budget and critics are left wondering what purpose horses have in a modern police force? Wendy Gillis, The Star's expert in crime and policing, joins guest host Jennifer

en

18:45

Taxed for being unvaxxed: The ethics of government...

This Matters ·

2022/01/20

Guest: Julian Savulescu, professor and director of the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics at Oxford University The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has overwhelmed hospitals around the world. Some are making bold moves when it comes to the unvaccinated, such as in Quebec where Premier François Legault announced taxes may be imposed on the unvaccinated. France and Italy already have vaccine mandates. Austria is set to enact a policy of heavy fines on any adults that haven't gotten their jabs. All of these

en

15:42

Why is Peel Region falling behind in vaccinating kids?

This Matters ·

2022/01/19

Guest: Olivia Bowden, staff reporter for the Star Peel Region is behind the provincial average in vaccinating children age five to 11 and community health professionals say it will take a strong outreach effort to address and increase trust. As of last week, close to 40 per cent of Peel children have received at least one dose. One part of the region has a vaccination rate as low as 21.6 per cent. This is compared to about 47 per cent of the Ontario population in the same age range. The figures are

en

19:41

Novak Djokovic’s no-vax gambit and pandemic sports now

This Matters ·

2022/01/18

Guest: Howard Bryant, senior writer at ESPN and Meadowlark Media While the vast majority of athletes in most sports are vaccinated, there are high profile stars that choose not to and seem to be pressuring for accommodation. Tennis player Novak Djokovic’s recent fight to play at the Australian Open pitted him against politicians and public pressure as well as border agents. NFL star Aaron Rodgers and the NBA’s Kyrie Irving are also elite athletes who have been in the spotlight for their stances. In

en

17:22

Celebrating Canada’s health care workers had its...

This Matters ·

2022/01/17

Guest: Steve McKinley, reporter in the Star's Halifax Bureau In a world where people are celebrated for what they do on screens, it makes sense that medical personnel were celebrated early on in the pandemic. With daily press conferences, some people like Dr. Bonnie Henry in British Columbia, Dr. Deena Hinshaw in Alberta or Dr. Horacio Arruda in Quebec got a lot of screen time and were recognized for their calm demeanours and knowledge about how best to deal with the pandemic. But as time has gone

en

21:55

How Canada and the U.S. differ in Omicron response

This Matters ·

2022/01/14

Guest: Edward Keenan, The Star’s Washington Bureau Chief As the Omicron variant of COVID-19 spreads rapidly and infects people, stark contrasts in approach by Canada and the U.S have become evident. Most Canadians have cancelled plans, huddled into lockdowns and braced for public health restrictions. Meanwhile across the border, America is open for business even as the country shattered a global record with more than 1.35 million COVID-19 cases in a single day.

en

22:23

It’s OK to not be OK in a pandemic

This Matters ·

2022/01/13

Guest: Saunia Ahmad, clinical psychologist and director of the Toronto Psychology Clinic The surge in depression and other mental health issues in the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic has been well-documented by health care professionals. It is OK to not be OK. Mental health experts say it is normal to be feeling increased levels of anxiety and stress as government restrictions, public health measures and the cost of COVID linger far longer than any of us expected. So, in the midst of the

en

23:12

Afghans facing retribution for helping Canadians are...

This Matters ·

2022/01/12

Guest: Wendy Long, founder of Afghan-Canadian Interpreters When Canadian forces were deployed in Afghanistan, they relied on local Afghans to help them navigate a dangerous conflict zone, the unfamiliarity of geography, language and culture. But since last year, after the U.S.-led NATO withdrawal and Taliban occupation of Afghanistan, those who risked their lives to help the coalition forces — including Canadians — are at risk of facing violent retribution. So far, less than a 10th of the 40,000

en

18:52

Today’s lesson: Why Ontario decided to reopen schools

This Matters ·

2022/01/11

Guest: Kris Rushowy, Queen's Park Reporter at the Star With the Omicron variant raging throughout the province, the government has decided to hold firm and reopen schools on Jan. 17. The decision has split many parents. Some are happy schools are going to reopen quickly, while others are concerned they may not be safe. The government says it is taking measures to ensure safety for kids, but outbreaks and staff shortages are likely with the Omicron variant's increased transmissibility. Are open

en

21:38

Code Orange: What Ontario's nursing shortage looks...

This Matters ·

2022/01/10

Guest: Birgit Umaigba, an ICU/ER nurse based in Toronto The ongoing wave of the Omicron variant is straining Ontario’s hospitals to a breaking point. At least two hospitals in the GTA do not enough nurses to take care of sick patients and recently declared a Code Orange, a rare move that means hard choices for health care workers about who gets care and who does not. The nursing shortage has been inching its way into hospitals across Canada for years, and now COVID-19-related burnout and nurses

en

20:49

Mental health support tailored to Indigenous culture...

This Matters ·

2022/01/07

Guest: Robert Cribb, investigative reporter for the Star A joint investigation by the Toronto Star and the Investigative Journalism Bureau has done an analysis of key mental health indicators for First Nations youth, including antidepressant prescriptions, suicide attempts, self-reported disorders and access to support, revealing a strained system of care failing to meet the needs of desperate young people. As Indigenous youth in Canada suffer from some of the highest rates of suicide in the world,

en

21:54

Voter rights and fights: How Jan. 6 changed American...

This Matters ·

2022/01/06

Guest: Ed Keenan, The Star's Washington Bureau Chief It has been one year since the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol building by rioters who felt the 2020 election was stolen from former president Donald Trump. Despite the attack failing, the event cast a long shadow over the American political system, as many Republicans continue to push what some call "The Big Lie." As U.S. President Joe Biden gets ready to tackle his voting rights agenda, many experts feel the spirit of U.S. democracy could be at

en

19:24

The Omicron wave: What numbers to watch

This Matters ·

2022/01/05

Guest: Ed Tubb, assignment editor focused on COVID-19 data The recent surge of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has broken the province's testing regime, rendered contact tracing useless and made an already high case count almost impossible to calculate. With warnings about our health care system in danger of being overwhelmed, there is still a lot we can learn by paying attention to the data. The focus needs to be on things like hospitalizations or people in the ICUs to get an accurate picture of

en

17:05

A spirited take on Dry January

This Matters ·

2022/01/04

Guest: Christine Sismondo, author of “America Walks Into a Bar” and the upcoming “Cocktails: A Still Life” Happy New Year! By now, hopefully your hangover from new year celebrations are long gone and you are focusing on the year ahead. One thing that many people do after holiday season is decide to cut alcohol intake for the month of January as a way to reset and refresh. While some people do Sober October, more mark Dry January to abstain from alcohol. How did it get that way? Is a zero-tolerance

en

18:05

Boko Haram survivors, Mellissa Fung and the...

This Matters ·

2021/12/30

We are taking a short break over the holidays and are rebroadcasting some memorable discussions. This episode was originally published February 19, 2021. In 2008, Canadian journalist Mellissa Fung was abducted while on assignment in Afghanistan. She survived 28 days of torture and captivity inside a hole in the ground. In her new documentary “Captive,” she makes the rare and difficult move to use the lens of her trauma to revisit the story of the Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped and

en

1,105 results

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci