Thinking Out Loud with Sheldon MacLeod - podcast cover

Thinking Out Loud with Sheldon MacLeod

SaltWirewww.saltwire.com
It's not always easy to get the story behind the story.

Journalism is about the Five W's that report the facts but to Sheldon, context is key.

It's not just how, but how come. In this show, he talks to the people behind the headlines to find out why we should care.

And in the digital age, nothing tells a story better than the voice of the person involved, or the people who can look at it critically and speak about it.

We hope to tell the stories that can help us understand not just why something happened, but why it matters.
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Episodes

Dr. Judy Bray Daffodils and cancer research

April is national Cancer Awareness Month. And while the pandemic has caused them to pivot, the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is investing in potentially disruptive research to radically change cancer care. Dr. Judy Bray is the Vice President of Research with the CCS in Ottawa. She discusses what they are working on and how the pandemic and vaccination program might help, and how daffodils are still helping make that possible.

Apr 01, 202111 min

Lori Barker New Ronald McDonald House

With only one regional children's hospital, it's not unusual for families to have to travel long distances to bring their kids to the IWK. And the Ronald McDonald House Charities are looking to double the number of rooms available to Maritime families. We speak with CEO Lori Barker about the campaign and the plan to start building their new house in Halifax.

Mar 31, 20218 min

Ron MacDonald on Glen Assoun Investigation

The Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) was asked to investigate whether there was criminal misconduct by police during the period before the appeal of Glen Assoun's conviction. He's the Nova Scotia man who spent 17 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. Former SIRT director Ronald J. MacDonald is heading up this investigation with his current team of The Independent Investigations Office of British Columbia (IIOBC). And of note, unlike SIRT in Nova Scotia, the IIOBC team is made up en...

Mar 30, 202113 min

Lindell Smith on policing and racial reckoning

An incident caught on video has lead to an officer being placed on administrative duties while an investigation is held into his actions. Police Chief Dan Kinsella says the comments were unacceptable and incidents like this can be deeply damaging to police community relations. Lindell Smith weighs in as an HRM councillor and the chair of the board of police commissioners.

Mar 29, 202115 min

Jacob Fillmore's Hunger Strike Day 19

Letters and phone calls weren't working, so a young Nova Scotian activist has been on a hunger strike to try and get government to stop clear cutting in the province. He started it on March 8th and 19 days in, we speak about the cause he's fighting for and the effect it's had on him.

Mar 26, 202111 min

Long-term care and long term plans

Health care advocates are calling for national standards for Long Term Care facilities in Canada. Chris Parsons from the Nova Scotia Health Coalition lays out what they are looking for. Michele Lowe is the Executive Director of the Nursing Homes of Nova Scotia Association and she weighs in with her thoughts.

Mar 25, 202117 min

Lisa Mitchell: Biodiversity and politics

After a campaign by industry and others, Premier Iain Rankin has made significant changes to his first big piece of legislation connected to the environment. What role do politics play in the protection and the destruction of biodiversity in Nova Scotia? I speak with Lisa Mitchell, Executive Director & senior lawyer at East Coast Environmental Law.

Mar 24, 202112 min

Jamie Simpson: Northern Pulp sludge cleanup

Nova Scotia's government says it can't wait on Northern Pulp to live up to its obligation to clean up sludge from the former Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility aeration stabilization basins. What does Environmental Lawyer Jamie Simpson think about this?

Mar 23, 20218 min

Norm Collins Crosswalk Safety

The family of retired, esteemed physician David Gass is remembering his life, work and accomplishments. But they are also shining the light on pedestrian safety concerns in HRM. And that's a issue Norm Collins has been pushing council on as President of the Crosswalk Safety Society of Nova Scotia because one pedestrian death is too many.

Mar 22, 202116 min

Doctors Nova Scotia and the prescription for intolerance

People of colour have to come up with coping strategies when it comes to racism and intolerant behaviour in health care. Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie is president of Doctors Nova Scotia and she says we need to do a better job of calling out those kinds of actions and words.

Mar 19, 202111 min

Making gas price predictions his business

We're not at a record high, but experts are telling us to brace for another increase at the pumps. George Murphy with Consumer Group for Fair Gas Prices explains where his price prognostication began and what you can do to affect how much you pay.

Mar 18, 202118 min

Jay Aaron Roy discussing Elliot Page

Jay Aaron Roy doesn't believe everyone who is trans should be expected to be an advocate. But the Sackville business owner does believe Elliot Page's decision to come out as a trans man is helping us all have the conversation about gender and sexuality.

Mar 17, 202111 min

Janet Hazelton: Lessons from Nurses

One year into the pandemic and Nova Scotia nurses are exhausted and concerned. Nova Scotia Nurses Union President Janet Hazelton tells us what lessons should we take from them.

Mar 16, 202113 min

Community Journalism with Steve Bartlett

A new terminology is being used to describe the loss of journalism in some communities in the digital age. Senior Managing Editor Steve Bartlett discusses news deserts and the value of having people dedicated to telling stories on the SaltWire Network.

Mar 15, 20219 min

Ron James is Spring Loaded

A global pandemic may have scuttled live performances in the wide world over but that can't stop Canada's #1 touring comedian from doing what he does best. Ron James assumes people aren't sure if these days are the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning.

Mar 12, 202120 min

Dr. Lisa Barrett - Pandemic Anniversary

COVID-19 was declared a world-wide pandemic one year ago today, March 11th. Infectious disease expert Dr. Lisa Barrett has become a familiar face in the media since then providing us with guidance, direction and reassurance. The public health expert describes the past, present and future dealings with COVID-19.

Mar 11, 202111 min

Paramedics and the Fitch Report

Nova Scotia's Government is implementing 64 recommendations made to improve the Emergency Medical Services in the province. What does the union representing 1,100 paramedics say now that the Fitch Report has been released after 15 months?

Mar 09, 202110 min

Dr. Lori Turnbull: Women in Politics Post-Pandemic

The pandemic has disproportionately affected women in the workforce. Would fixed date elections make any difference in achieving gender parity and community representation in government?

Mar 08, 202113 min

Melissa Marie Keeping Children's Author

Some of us spent the pandemic baking or spending too much time in front of our screens. But for this mother of four, it was a time to use that time to write her first children's book. Here's my conversation with Melissa Marie Keeping.

Mar 05, 202110 min

Rescue Dogs and Mental Health

Good intentions don't always bring good outcomes. The story of a rescue dog with a history of aggression brings up the need for better assessments for mental health in Nova Scotia. Certified dog trainer Tristan Flynn weighs in with his thoughts.

Mar 05, 202113 min

Defending yourself against the internet

The parents of missing 3-year old Dylan Ehler of Truro were in court recently trying to shut down social media posts making horrendous accusations against them. Privacy Lawyer David Fraser of McInnes Cooper discusses the intersection of speculation and defamation on the internet.

Mar 04, 202112 min

Aaron Beswick on Moderate Livelihood Fishery

South Shore St. Margaret's MP Bernadette Jordan is offering more clarity on what will happen with the Moderate Livelihood Fishery this spring. But there are still challenges ahead for the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Liberal government and indigenous and commercial fishers.

Mar 03, 202111 min

Mining Social Media for Pandemic Impacts

Researchers at Dalhousie University are using Artificial Intelligence to analyze millions of tweets to identify trends that could help inform public health policy. Dr. Rita Orji describes how they can predict where people are emotionally based on what they say on their social media platforms.

Mar 02, 202111 min

Robert Huish and Pandemic Shaming

Associate Professor Robert Huish says public shaming has been a part of the pandemics throughout human history. But he says the people who are being targeted by the stigma has changed over the last year, especially in the Maritimes.

Mar 01, 202112 min

Peace By Chocolate Opening in Halifax Delayed

Tareq Hadhad and his Antigonish-based Company Peace By Chocolate are a Canadian success story. But even the new COVID-19 restrictions, he's still grateful in spite of a delay in the official opening of their Queen's Marque location on Lower Water Street in Halifax.

Feb 26, 202111 min

Cars, Pedestrians and the Intersection of Safety.

The Integrated Mobility Plan puts pedestrians first in HRM. Halifax West Armdale Councillor Shawn Cleary discusses pedestrian crossings and photo radar and how these policies can make the streets safer.

Feb 25, 202112 min

Michael de Adder and a New Cast of Caricatures

After using his pen to take aim at politicians over the years, Michael de Adder now has to decide how to approach drawing a new Premier and his cabinet. Does he give him a bit of a break before he comes out swinging?

Feb 24, 20218 min

Bruce MacKinnon Speaking Truth to the New Power

He's been drawing editorial cartoons for more than a quarter century and it's a new challenge with a new premier. So what direction will Bruce MacKinnon take when he takes on Premier Iain Rankin?

Feb 23, 20218 min
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