To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we brought together a special panel for Just Asking. Michelle Good is a Cree writer and poet, award-winning author of the novel "Five Little Indians," and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation. Marek Tyler is a musician and leader of the band Asko. He is nêhiyaw from Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton. And Riley Yesno is an Anishinaabe scholar and distinguished fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, from Eabametoong First Nation.
Jun 21, 2025•1 hr 9 min
This week, Canada's privacy commissioner found that DNA testing company 23andMe didn't have adequate data protections in place, when hackers gained access to roughly 6.9 millions profiles on the site. The commissioner also revealed that some of the stolen information was later being sold online. So how much information are these tests gathering, and what could users' data be used for? And if you're looking for quick access to genetic information, how accurate are these tests and what can they te...
Jun 21, 2025•43 min
Have you ever felt like a fraud at work, plagued by self-doubt? Just Asking spoke to two experts about why so many of us feel "imposter syndrome," what to do about it, and what employers can do to create more supportive work environments. Kim Meninger is a leadership coach who has her own story of imposter syndrome that fuels her work. Kevin Cokley is a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and the editor of "The Impostor Phenomenon."
Jun 14, 2025•45 min
Israel launched attacks targeting Iran's nuclear and military structure on Friday, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran launched a series of counter strikes and casualties are being reported in Israel. Just Asking had two experts on the show to share their analysis and answer your questions on the conflict. Dennis Horak was Canada's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Yemen from 2015 to 2018. Alex Vatanka is the Director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Inst...
Jun 14, 2025•1 hr 6 min
At Just Asking, we know you want clear answers to help you make sense of the world and all the information out there. That’s why we’re recommending that you listen to The Dose, hosted by Dr. Brian Goldman. Every Thursday, the show dives into health news that matters to you, using plain language to explain the science behind it. In this episode, The Dose explores the big business of Cosmetics —and the many brands promising to beautify and rejuvenate. But for the average customer, it's not always ...
Jun 10, 2025•27 min
This week, Ontario passed Bill 5 that aims to speed up mining projects, despite opposition from First Nations and environmental groups. Last week, B.C. passed Bill 15 intended to speed up major projects, including critical mineral mines - which is being met with similar pushback in that province. So what do critical minerals mean for the future of the Canadian economy, and what are the environmental impacts of these projects? To answer your questions about critical minerals, Just Asking spoke to...
Jun 07, 2025•55 min
Last month, Utah became the first state to introduce a law to regulate mental health chatbots, arguing these bots cannot present themselves as regulated health professionals or therapists. At the same time, clinicians are researching ways to integrate AI into mental healthcare to make it more accessible. So what do patients need to understand about talking to a chatbot vs. a therapist? How can privacy be protected, and is there an ethical way to integrate AI into therapy? To answer your question...
Jun 07, 2025•58 min
There's a growing body of research pointing to the therapeutic applications for psychedelics, including MDMA and psilocybin, along with ketamine which was approved for therapeutic use in 2020. The promise of a new frontier in treatment for depression, anxiety and PTSD is an appealing one for researchers and patients desperately looking for solutions in a mental health crisis. But with all the excitement around psychedelics in therapy, where does the research stand, and what risks should patients...
May 31, 2025•50 min
Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are in a state of emergency as communities across Canada are witnessing the effects of wildfires - from Newfoundland and Labrador, to northern Ontario to B.C. Early signs point to another active wildfire season in 2025 after Canada just experienced two of its worst wildfire seasons on record. To talk tell us more about wildfire in Canada, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Lori Daniels is a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC. Anabe...
May 31, 2025•1 hr 3 min
As graduation season approaches, young people are entering into a tough job market. In April, the unemployment rate for those aged between 15 to 24 years old was 14.1 per cent - the highest rate seen in over a decade. To answer your questions about what young people and their parents should keep in mind as they enter into the workforce, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Shenelle Payne Cuffy is a career counsellor focusing on young clients and Katherine Scott is a Senior Researcher at the Canadian...
May 24, 2025•55 min
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has called for a halt on overtime work, while negotiations continue with Canada Post. A report this week described the company as "effectively bankrupt." Workers are pushing for higher wages to cope with inflation and challenging the idea of a part-time workforce to extend their services to seven days a week. To answer your questions about the future of Canada Post, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Marvin Ryder is an Associate Professor, DeGroote School ...
May 24, 2025•58 min
Celebrity doctors and Silicon Valley billionaires have been promoting the so-called "longevity movement," promoting health trends that claim to extend your life. They claim by following strict diets, taking dozens of supplements per day and regular cold plunges they can extend their life well-past 100. But how much evidence is there behind these claims? And what do we actually know about healthy aging? To answer your questions about longevity, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Timothy is a profes...
May 17, 2025•58 min
Stock markets bounced back this week thanks to the tariff truce between the U.S. and China after plunging to record lows last month. The markets are being closely watched through all the tariff turbulence - but what does it all mean for your finances? Our experts will broke it all down for us. Aravind Sithamparapillai is a financial planner and Preet Banerjee is a personal finance expert.
May 17, 2025•56 min
The new leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics is, for the first time, an American. The former Cardinal Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, the 267th man to hold that office. To answer your questions about the new Pope, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Father Darren Dias is the Executive Director of the Toronto School of Theology at University of St Michael’s College. Mark McGowan is a professor of history at University of Toronto, who specializes in the history of the Catholic Church in Can...
May 10, 2025•59 min
The man behind the world's most notorious website for non-consensual, AI-generated porn of real people is a hospital pharmacist from just outside of Toronto according to a CBC investigation. His site, MrDeepFakes, was the world's most popular site for "deepfake" porn, hosting tens of thousands of non-consensual and sometimes violent fake videos and images of celebrities, politicians, social media influencers and private citizens, including Canadians. To answer your questions about deepfakes, Jus...
May 10, 2025•47 min
The federal NDP was nearly wiped off the electoral map in the recent federal election. Jagmeet Singh stepped down as party leader after the New Democrats dropped to seven seats, and lost official party status. So where does the NDP go from here? Just Asking was joined by two guests to talk about what's next for the party. Jordan Leichnitz is a former NDP senior strategist. David McGrane is a professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.
May 03, 2025•1 hr
Have you ever been in a "sort-of" relationship? If you're more than friends but not quite partners, if the definitions are fuzzy and the commitments are loose, you might be in a "situationship". For some people, situationships are liberating because there are no labels and no expectations. For others, a situationship is an anxiety-causing waiting game. To answer all your questions about situationships, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Jessica Maxwell is an assistant professor at McMaster Univers...
May 03, 2025•54 min
Apparently just over half of Canadians play video games according to industry numbers. And the games themselves have evolved from two-dimensional, simplistic adventures to three dimensional worlds with complicated moral choices that can suck up hours of your time. To answer your questions about video games and your relationship with video games, Just Asking brought out three guests. Chelsea Rodrigues is a counsellor who focuses on problem technology use at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare centre in W...
Apr 26, 2025•54 min
The federal election is Monday, April 28. But there's still a daily barrage of announcements, attack ads and press conferences. To provide you with more information before you vote, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Chris Cochrane is an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto. And Laura Osmond is the parliamentary correspondent for The Logic.
Apr 26, 2025•59 min
Making friends can be tough no matter how old you are. But once you get out of school and don't have classmates to fall back on, your pool of potential friends shrinks. So what do you do? Just Asking spoke to two friendship experts. Aaron Karo is the co-host of the podcast, "Man of the Year". Danielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship coach and author.
Apr 19, 2025•56 min
With Canadians heading to the polls in a matter of days, it's time for a bit of an Election 101. How does our system actually work? What is first-past-the-post? And what do MPs actually do once they are elected? To answer all your Canadian election questions, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Andrea Perrella is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University. Tari Ajadi is an assistant professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal...
Apr 19, 2025•58 min
Just Asking has been on the air for just over a year now! To celebrate, we reached out to some of the people who have called in for advice to see whether we were able to solve their problems. Take a listen!
Apr 12, 2025•8 min
Alberta has introduced a bill to regulate online private gambling. Ontario has regulated this space since 2022. To answer your questions on gambling, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Steve Rose is an addiction counsellor in Windsor, and Youssef Allami is an assistant professor at the School of Psychology at Université Laval who has completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.
Apr 12, 2025•40 min
Adolescence is a searing 4-part series on Netflix about boys, violence, cyberbullying and social media. It has ignited a conversation among parents and guardians about how to raise boys who are happy, healthy and kind to others. To answer your questions about raising boys, we spoke to two guests. Jonathan Reed is the director of programs for Next Gen Men, and Michael Kehler is a research professor of Masculinities Studies in Education at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calg...
Apr 12, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Stories of strict enforcement at the Canada-U.S. border have left many wondering if it's safe to travel. As we hear reports of more scrutiny, devices being searched, even arrests and detention, it can be scary to approach a border that, until now, has been celebrated for its peaceful nature and lack of significant military presence. What do you need to know when approaching the U.S. border? Will you need a burner phone, or to delete your social media accounts? Two guests took your questions. Mel...
Apr 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Are you suffering from burn out? Alexandra Lily has been there and come through the other side. She has three step-children, and two of her own. One of her sons is living with a disability. Three years ago she was navigating doctors appointments, her son's daily seizures, and her own cancer diagnosis. She says she hit a wall. Now she's on the other side and helps parents who are in a similar situation. She took your questions about how to get through burnout. We also heard from Dr. Rebecca Pilla...
Apr 05, 2025•49 min
You might not need a study to tell you that Canadians aren't particularly happy right now, but in case you do, the Global Happiness Report has Canada ranked as the 18th happiest country in the world. That's down from last year's ranking, and much lower than fifth place which was Canada's highest rank ever (back in 2015). To answer your questions about how to be happy, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Gillian Mandich is a happiness researcher, and Dr. Saunia Ahmad is a clinical psychologist. We a...
Mar 29, 2025•54 min
Canadian military spending hasn't traditionally been a top election issue. But thanks to Canada's shifting relationship with the United States, it certainly is right now. To answer your questions about Canada's military readiness, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Richard Shimooka is a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute who studies defence policy. And Whitney Lackenbauer is the Canada Research Chair in the Study of the Canadian North, and an expert on Arctic security. We'll als...
Mar 29, 2025•1 hr
Tariff uncertainty has slowed Canada's housing market, and reports show that the national average asking price for rent has gone down for five months in a row. So is this finally good news for renters and buyers? Whether you are renting, buying, leasing, or selling - Just Asking was joined by two experts with advice for you. Tom Storey is a realtor in Toronto, and Sydney Blum is a community legal worker at Dalhousie Legal Aid.
Mar 22, 2025•59 min
Another federal election campaign means we are about to be bombarded by opinion polls. Weekly polls, local polls, aggregate polls, there is a ton to keep track of. To answer your questions about political polls and how they work, Just Asking brought on two guests. Mario Canseco is a pollster and the President of Research Co., and Feodor Snagovsky is a professor of political science at the University of Alberta who specializes in the comparative analysis of elections and political behaviour....
Mar 22, 2025•55 min
