A whirlwind trip for King Charles, in his first visit to Canada as a sitting monarch, is being viewed by some as a success. It was a show of support amid annexation talk by the U.S. president but it also served as a benefit to the King. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Carolyn Harris - Historian, Author and Royal Commentator - about how it compares with other royal visits - and why the timing is so relevant. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find ...
May 30, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1462
For years, we’ve been programmed to view hustle culture as the norm, and one’s ability to navigate it as the definition of success. Throw parenthood into the equation and you’ve got the recipe for a juggling act that is always being judged. So what happens when people, specifically mothers, take a purposeful pause from their traditional career path to focus on other priorities like family or personal growth? In this episode of The Big Story, host Melanie Ng speaks with the founder and CEO of Mot...
May 29, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1458
For just the third time in our country’s history, a sitting monarch delivered the speech from the throne. On a brief royal visit, King Charles addressed Canadians to lay out the priorities of the new Carney government. The theme was clear, asserting Canada’s independence and charting a path to end our reliance on the U.S. But did it hit the mark? Will the Prime Minister hit roadblocks with his ambitious plan? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal...
May 28, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1459
If you suffer from seasonal allergies, and you’ve noticed things are getting worse – you’re not imagining it. Scientists say things have gotten worse around the world for a variety of reasons – and unless something is done – it could become dangerous for some. And those without allergies could even face challenges. Host Kris McCusker speaks to BBC Science and Features journalist, Amanda Ruggeri, about the in-depth piece she wrote on the issue, discussing how allergy sufferers can improve their c...
May 27, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1452
A new study out of the Stanford University School of Medicine showed that older adults who received the shingles vaccine were 20% less likely to develop dementia over the next seven years than those who didn't receive the vaccine. But what does this mean in terms of finding a tried and true cure to dementia, and who's more at risk than others? Host Pooja Handa speaks to Sabina Vohra-Miller, founder of Unambiguous Science, about the study's findings and what it for the future of the disease. You ...
May 26, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1456
The pandemic was a boom time in the cottage industry. As people decamped out of the city, the prices for cottages skyrocketed. However, in this softened real estate market, it's not easy to hold on to two homes, and that's becoming more obvious with the amount of cottages currently on the market. Host Mike Eppel digs into cottage life with Kingsley Ma, area VP of Re/Max Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@...
May 25, 2025•16 min•Ep. 1457
A deep run into the second round of the playoffs once again ended in game 7 heartbreak for Toronto Maple Leafs fans. Big Story hosts Cormac Mac Sweeney, Gurdeep Ahluwalia, Alex Bloomfield and Kris McCusker got together in a bit of a therapy session this week to chat about their favourite team and where they go from here. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter...
May 24, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1455
It used to be a place to find what you need and when you want it...but now, the internet has transcended into a playground of ads, cookies and algorithms. But why? Who made it that way? And when did things take such a sharp turn in the wrong direction? Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks to Cory Doctorow, author and host of the CBC podcast 'Understood: Who Broke the Internet' on who's pockets are being lined at the expense of our experience on the internet, and what how users can fight back against wh...
May 23, 2025•26 min•Ep. 1454
Without skipping a beat, Sean 'Diddy' Combs pleaded not guilty to the five federal charges he was hit with in September of 2024. However, the evidence that pours out into the courtroom day after day during his criminal New York trial, continues to work towards an unrepairable, dramatic shift in identity for the now-disgraced rap mogul. With several testimonies still to be heard and evidence to be presented, the racketeering and sex trafficking charges Diddy is facing have the real possibility of...
May 22, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1453
The union representing Canada’s postal workers has served strike notice to Canada Post, meaning 55-thousand employees at the crown corporation could walk off the job on Friday. Unless a last minute deal is reached, it will be the second time in roughly 6 months that Canadians will lose access to our national postal service. Small and medium sized businesses are bracing for impact, with the last job action costing them a lot of cash in lost business and more expensive shipping alternatives. Host ...
May 21, 2025•21 min•Ep. 1451
A warning to our listeners: this episode includes description and discussion of sexual assault. Please take care. Another stunning development in the sexual assault trial of five former world junior hockey players - a second jury is dismissed and the trial now moving forward with a judge alone. Before that, graphic details shared in the courtroom by the complainant, referred to as E.M, recounting a night at a hotel room in 2018. Host Melanie Ng speaks with CityNews journalist Michelle Mackey, wh...
May 20, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1449
After Honda announced it is hitting pause on a $15 billion investment in electric vehicle production in Canada, questions are swirling about three other major EV projects in line for billions of dollars in public subsidies. With Trump’s tariffs and overall economic uncertainty, how realistic is it the Canadian auto sector will transition to nearly all-electric production by 2035? Host David Smith speaks with Tim Dimopoulos, publisher of Automotive News Canada, about the outlook for the dream of ...
May 19, 2025•19 min•Ep. 1450
A big week on the budget front, for multiple reasons. Not only did Ontario release a budget that aims to get the province through the trade war, we learned that the new Liberal government will NOT be releasing a spring document. Host of "In This Economy" Mike Eppel digs into the consequences of all the budget news this week and has a sneak peek on what the Bank of Canada might do next. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email a...
May 18, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1448
Today on The Big Story - we're debriefing, big time. Hosts David Smith, Kris McCusker and Cormac Mac Sweeney get together to chat about Prime Minister Carney's choice of cabinet and the fallout from a mixed week on the job. Join us for "The Big Debrief", a weekly examination of the news events of the week, as seen through the eyes of the people reporting on them. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodc...
May 17, 2025•31 min•Ep. 1447
It’s been a rough few weeks at the airport in New Jersey after two radar and radio outages - but there’s a lot more to the story. The acting administrator with the U-S Federal Aviation Administration says travel into Newark is safe. But it’s not the only issue with air travel in the U-S this year, which might have some travelers concerned ahead of the summer travel season. Host Kris McCusker speaks to George Ferguson - Senior Aerospace, Defense & Airline analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence – a...
May 16, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1446
Has the White House gone completely "pay for play"? While experts debate the ethics of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest actions including accepting a plane from Qatar, others are watching his foray into cryptocurrency closely. While many in the space have called for more regulation of crypto, "Trump coin" is causing issues for those trying to build cryptocurrencies as a legitimate financial instrument. Host Mike Eppel discusses this with Erica Pimental, Assistant Professor at the Smith Schoo...
May 15, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1445
Canada's unemployment rate remained relatively stable for the month of April, sitting at 6.9%. But the rate for youth unemployment jumped to its highest figure in the past two decades excluding pandemic figures, now sitting at a little more than 15%. And as companies continue to strategize how to stay afloat among tariffs, more specifically, who they can get rid of and who they have to keep around, the term 'last hired, first hired' enters the chat. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Emily Durham, car...
May 14, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1444
You can’t always see it but plastic is everywhere. So much so – that it’s now in our rain and it’s there because of humans. It’s almost as worrisome as acid rain was in the 1970s – an issue that is no longer a major concern. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Benji Jones, Environmental Correspondent at Vox in New York, about how pervasive plastic has become – and what you can do to mitigate your exposure. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: T...
May 13, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1443
Tomorrow Prime Minister Mark Carney will be unveiling his first cabinet since receiving a minority mandate from voters 2 weeks ago. The decisions will not be easy, as Carney has to navigate regional representation, a leaner inner circle, and a trade war with the U.S. that hangs over every federal decision. So who stays and who may get promoted? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is speaking about the delicate art of cabinet making with Marci Surkes, Chief Strategy Officer at The Compass Rose Group, and a f...
May 12, 2025•24 min•Ep. 1441
Punctuality – its definition and importance really depend on who you speak to. A recent study out of the UK shows a generational divide when it comes to tardiness and how it could be perceived by those around us. Host Melanie Ng speaks with peak performance coach and best-selling author, Hina Khan @coachwithhina, about a number of scenarios and why there is a sweet spot when it comes to how you show up both professionally and socially. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions fo...
May 11, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1442
“Peace be with you”. Those were the first words spoken from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica to the massive crowd below by the newly chosen pontiff, now known as Pope Leo XIV. 133 cardinals from around the world voted in a handful of rounds before the final decision was made and the white smoke billowed from the Sistene Chapel chimney. Formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo is the first pope from the United States – a choice that shocked some and has many wondering what this may signal. Host M...
May 09, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1440
Prime Minister Mark Carney has made his first trip to the White House to meet President Donald Trump, with Trump heaping praise on Carney. But the meeting wasn't all sunshine, as the two leaders clashed over trade positions and Trump's ongoing musings of making Canada the 51st state. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney breaks down the first face-to-face in the oval office with Colin Robertson, a former Canadian diplomat who also helped negotiate the first two trade deals between Canada and the U.S. They als...
May 08, 2025•20 min•Ep. 1439
Is Hollywood North in jeopardy, based on a social media post by U.S. President Donald Trump? After musing about hitting foreign film production with a 100% tariff, there are concerns this could shut down the film industry in Canada. Host Mike Eppel is gauging reaction from Andrew Barnsley, President of the Toronto Film School. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter...
May 07, 2025•11 min•Ep. 1438
Today, Prime Minister Mark Carney will make his first trip to the White House to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Tariffs, the economy, and military defense will be the key focus for Carney as he looks to set Canada on a path to negotiations to end the trade war between our countries. This first face to face meeting between the leaders will be crucial to set the tone of the relationship for the next four years. Will they get along? How should Carney address Trump's "51st state" comments? C...
May 06, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1437
After a stunning election loss in which Pierre Poilievre couldn’t hold on to his own seat in Parliament, what comes next for the federal Conservatives? Will there be a push to oust Poilievre? What will the Party look for in its campaign post-mortem? Why are Conservative premiers calling out their federal counterparts? Host David Smith speaks with two veteran conservative strategists, Jordan Paquet and Neil Brodie, to get answers on what happens next for the team in blue. We love feedback at The ...
May 05, 2025•28 min•Ep. 1436
We're dropping a timely episode of In This Economy into the weekend feed. We now have clarity now on Canada's new government, but predictions about the state of economy going forward are murkier. There are signs the economy is contracting, so what does that mean for you? Host Mike Eppel speaks with Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected] Or @th...
May 04, 2025•15 min•Ep. 1434
Canadians could be in for a break at the grocery store for the next couple of months. After food inflation ticked higher in March, a food economist is expecting more stability through the summer months with the next update from Statistics Canada coming on May 20th. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Stuart Smyth, professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Saskatchewan about what is influencing prices - and why it's subject to change. We love feedback at The...
May 02, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1435
Warning: this episode may be triggering for some listeners. Friday has been declared a day of mourning in British Columbia for the victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival attack. What was meant to be a celebration quickly turned to tragedy on Saturday, as nearly a dozen people were killed and dozens more injured when a suspect drove their vehicle into a crowd at a Filipino festival in Vancouver. The man charged in the alleged attack was overseen by a mental health team and was on extended leave at...
May 01, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1433
The Liberal minority government is now officially set. What's also now official is the deep dive into what went wrong into the campaigns of Pierre Poilievre and Jagmeet Singh, two party leaders who lost their seats on Monday night. Between the Doug Ford fight with Poilievre and the NDP losing official party status, there are many storylines to emerge from the election. Here to break it down with host Mark Day is Rob Snow, NewsRadio's national talk show host. We love feedback at The Big Story, as...
Apr 30, 2025•18 min•Ep. 1432
In what's been a very upside down election campaign - the results were just as wild. At time of writing at 2:30am, it's a Liberal minority government. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is in danger of losing his seat and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stepped down as leader after losing his seat of Burnaby Central. In this stripped down version of The Big Story, host David Smith stayed up really late to put together the full results for you this morning. Much more to come on all the election storyl...
Apr 29, 2025•17 min•Ep. 1431
