The Sunday Magazine
- Episodes
- 104
- Released
- several times a week
- Latest episode
- Nov 11, 2026
About the podcast
Smart takes. Surprising finds. Piya Chattopadhyay helps you understand the important stories with people who know them best, and goes deep with newsmakers and game changers.
On Sundays, you'll get the context and forces behind the headlines.
On Wednesdays, you'll learn more about the people shaping our culture, and discover something new.
So whether you want to understand the world, or escape it for a while, we've got you covered.
Catch live and on-demand broadcasts at https://link.mgln.ai/iUSF6q.
Episodes 104
Canada used to be considered humourless. Now who's laughing?
Our population may be modest. But when it comes to producing comedians, Canada punches above its weight. Comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff connects the dots from Wayne and Shuster to CODCO to SCTV to Seth Rogen …
Show notes
Our population may be modest. But when it comes to producing comedians, Canada punches above its weight. Comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff connects the dots from Wayne and Shuster to CODCO to SCTV to Seth Rogen and Nathan Fielder, showing how Canada overcame its conservative reputation to become a comedy powerhouse.
Plus: Meet Lucy Foley, the woman picking up the mantle of one of Agatha Christie's most famous characters, Miss Marple.
What big spending at home and a big switcheroo down south mean for Canada
Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his government's second federal budget, with a focus on major investments in infrastructure, boosting economic growth and reducing Canada's dependence on the United …
Show notes
Prime Minister Mark Carney has unveiled his government's second federal budget, with a focus on major investments in infrastructure, boosting economic growth and reducing Canada's dependence on the United States. The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles and The Economist’s Rob Russo unpack the politics of Carney's spending plan, and what the results of the U.S. midterm elections could mean for Canada amid the ongoing trade war.
Plus: Two strategists – Republican Chet Love and Democrat Eric Adelstein – talk about the factions, issues and decisions each party needs to contend with to define their future following the U.S. midterm elections.
Inside the global race toward an AI that might kill us all
Researchers are warning that artificial intelligence could cause human extinction, swarms of AI agents are hacking illegally, and people are falling in love with their chatbots. And it's all happening while the …
Show notes
Researchers are warning that artificial intelligence could cause human extinction, swarms of AI agents are hacking illegally, and people are falling in love with their chatbots. And it's all happening while the tech world races toward artificial general intelligence – an even smarter form of AI – with few guardrails in the way. Tech journalist Kevin Roose traces how we got here, how to know when AGI has been achieved, and whether we should worry about or welcome the prospect.
Plus: Piya faces off against musician Steven Page and Walford, Ont. listener Sue de la Riva in an all-new round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!.
How U.S. voters delivered a 'MAGA murder'
CBC's Piya Chattopadhyay, Catherine Cullen and Salimah Shivji walk through the key moments of Tuesday's U.S. midterm results in this live CBC Radio special, bringing you immediate analysis on how the Democrats …
Show notes
CBC's Piya Chattopadhyay, Catherine Cullen and Salimah Shivji walk through the key moments of Tuesday's U.S. midterm results in this live CBC Radio special, bringing you immediate analysis on how the Democrats built their projected control of the House and Senate. Interviews with former diplomats, voters and stakeholders break down a new political reality in the U.S., with Republican strategist Chet Love going beyond calling the results a 'blue wave,' and labelling them a 'MAGA murder.'
Trump, AI, affordability shape voter concerns ahead of U.S. midterms
Voters in the United States head to the polls Tuesday for midterm elections that could reshape the balance of power in Washington. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey and The Wall Street Journal's Cameron McWhirter …
Show notes
Voters in the United States head to the polls Tuesday for midterm elections that could reshape the balance of power in Washington. The Atlantic's Elaine Godfrey and The Wall Street Journal's Cameron McWhirter have spent months traveling around battleground states in the run-up. They discuss what issues are driving voters' decisions, the key races to watch, and what the results could mean for the rest of Donald Trump's presidency.
Plus: Amid democratic backsliding, growing authoritarianism and the rise of AI, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa shares her tips for how everyday people can fight back.
From Caesar to the midterms, Dana Bash reflects on elections that matter
CNN's chief political correspondent says it can sometimes take decades to understand how elections shape us. She walks through some of the historical races that she says have changed the world, and looks ahead …
Show notes
CNN's chief political correspondent says it can sometimes take decades to understand how elections shape us. She walks through some of the historical races that she says have changed the world, and looks ahead to next month's consequential midterms in the United States.
The winners, losers and bigger stakes of B.C.'s snap election
CBC British Columbia's Katie DeRosa, Rob Shaw from CHEK News, and The Economist's Rob Russo break down why BC voters elected a Conservative majority government for the first time in nearly a century and where …
Show notes
CBC British Columbia's Katie DeRosa, Rob Shaw from CHEK News, and The Economist's Rob Russo break down why BC voters elected a Conservative majority government for the first time in nearly a century and where the NDP goes from here. They also discuss how the week's big political stories in Western Canada reverberate across the rest of the country.
Chrystia Freeland talks Trump, Canada-U.S. trade war and political tenure with Trudeau
As a former cabinet minister, Chrystia Freeland was a central figure in Canada's negotiations with United States President Donald Trump. Now, while Prime Minister Mark Carney sees a rupture in the U.S.-led …
Show notes
As a former cabinet minister, Chrystia Freeland was a central figure in Canada's negotiations with United States President Donald Trump. Now, while Prime Minister Mark Carney sees a rupture in the U.S.-led world order, Freeland isn't giving up on the possibility of a unified Western alliance to keep adversaries at bay. She makes her case for rebuilding it – with America included, and Canada playing a different role – in her new book Unreliable Boyfriend. Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Freeland about her vision, her time in government with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and her take on Carney's tack during the current trade war.
Olympian Clara Hughes was used to pushing her body. But when menopause hit, her body pushed back
The celebrated Olympic athlete was rocked by menopause alongside a major knee injury. It set her on a path she didn't expect, including taking psychedelics and other drugs. Clara Hughes discusses how this …
Show notes
The celebrated Olympic athlete was rocked by menopause alongside a major knee injury. It set her on a path she didn't expect, including taking psychedelics and other drugs. Clara Hughes discusses how this experience led her to finally connect with and love her body and herself.
Plus: Veteran journalist Carol Off explores how Canadians can embrace a renewed sense of national pride without slipping into the dangers of nationalism that have torn other countries apart.
This year's Thanksgiving dinner will cost a little more. So will everything else.
A new study suggests the holiday will be 10 per cent more expensive this year. Retail analyst Bruce Winder and economist Jim Stanford break down how everything from war in the Middle East to tariffs are driving …
Show notes
A new study suggests the holiday will be 10 per cent more expensive this year. Retail analyst Bruce Winder and economist Jim Stanford break down how everything from war in the Middle East to tariffs are driving the high cost of living, and what – if anything – Ottawa can do to ease the pain.
Plus: It's been 10 years since Medical Assistance in Dying became legal in Canada. As the federal government plans upcoming changes to its framework, Dr. Ramona Coelho and Dr. Stefanie Green reflect on MAID's legacy a decade on, and what they think its future should hold.
First-time voters share what's on their minds ahead of Alberta's referendum
A student in Calgary, an electrician in Okotoks, and a new Canadian in Red Deer with a range of perspectives on the ballot questions talk about what's informing their decisions ahead of the big vote, and how …
Show notes
A student in Calgary, an electrician in Okotoks, and a new Canadian in Red Deer with a range of perspectives on the ballot questions talk about what's informing their decisions ahead of the big vote, and how they feel about building a future in Alberta – regardless of the referendum's results.
Plus: Piya faces off against sports broadcaster Donnovan Bennett and Pemberton, B.C. listener Nina Morley in an all-new round of our monthly challenge, That's Puzzling!
Sovereignty, cost-of-living and trade war shape Quebec election campaign
Quebecers will choose their next provincial government on Monday. Polls have consistently shown the Parti Québécois leading, with a potential majority government in sight. A victory could bring their separation …
Show notes
Quebecers will choose their next provincial government on Monday. Polls have consistently shown the Parti Québécois leading, with a potential majority government in sight. A victory could bring their separation referendum promise to life – but is it what Quebecers want? La Presse Ottawa bureau chief Joël-Denis Bellavance and Le Devoir columnist Emilie Nicolas break down the stakes of the race ahead of voting day.
Plus: The Atlantic Council's Victoria Taylor and The Economist's Gregg Carlstrom unpack what this past week's U.S. withdrawal from Iraq could mean for the country and the region at large.
A very prairie That's Puzzling!
Laugh, cry, and play along as Piya squares off against Alberta country music star Brett Kissel and Redcliff, Alta. listener Gail Thompson in our monthly battle of brain games devised by Edmonton-based puzzle …
Show notes
Laugh, cry, and play along as Piya squares off against Alberta country music star Brett Kissel and Redcliff, Alta. listener Gail Thompson in our monthly battle of brain games devised by Edmonton-based puzzle master, Peter Brown.
Division, questions and concern line the road to Alberta's referendum
Piya heads to the prairies in the run-up to October's referendum to hear how neighbors on either side of the separation question are bridging their divide, discover how Banff National Park serves as an example …
Show notes
Piya heads to the prairies in the run-up to October's referendum to hear how neighbors on either side of the separation question are bridging their divide, discover how Banff National Park serves as an example of just how messy a potential provincial breakup would be, and unpacks the potential stakes of immigration questions with affected communities and Alberta's minister in charge of that file
'Carpe diem': Less seize, more savour (and other phrases you likely get wrong)
Our understanding of common phrases doesn’t always line up with what they originally meant. Writer and humourist Eli Burnstein helps us discover the true origins behind "carpe diem," "you are what you eat," and …
Show notes
Our understanding of common phrases doesn’t always line up with what they originally meant. Writer and humourist Eli Burnstein helps us discover the true origins behind "carpe diem," "you are what you eat," and "ignorance is bliss"... and reflects on what we can learn by putting their historical, literary and philosophical contexts back in place.
Plus: David Suzuki says he has done everything he could to protect the Earth, but fears he has fallen short. The environmental activist and broadcaster reflects on his nine decades on the planet he loves, and what he envisions for its future.
Parliament returns as Canada moves closer to the EU, further from the U.S.
MPs head back to the House of Commons on Monday, with Canada embroiled in a trade war with the U.S. and a curious bond forming between our country and Europe. The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles, Politico's …
Show notes
MPs head back to the House of Commons on Monday, with Canada embroiled in a trade war with the U.S. and a curious bond forming between our country and Europe. The Toronto Star's Tonda MacCharles, Politico's Nick Taylor-Vaisey and journalist and author Paul Wells break down the politics at play, both at home and abroad.
Plus: After 30 years, the WNBA is making headlines. Is it for the right reasons? Veteran WNBA journalist Tamryn Spruill reflects on how far the league has come, and what conversations surrounding players Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham say about its place in culture today.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor sound alarm over 'end times fascism'
The 20th century fascism you know is over – and a decidedly modern version is taking its place. So say Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor. The writers and activists discuss how they see today's far right defined by …
Show notes
The 20th century fascism you know is over – and a decidedly modern version is taking its place. So say Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor. The writers and activists discuss how they see today's far right defined by tech billionaires, religious fundamentalists, and ethnonationalists, and their prescription for fighting the threat this movement poses to democracies.
Plus: University of Toronto English professor Randy Boyagoda considers the future of civil discourse in higher education amid fraught campus politics.
In the fight for Canadian sovereignty, Bob Rae says don't forget Canadian values
It's been a big week in the trenches of the Canada-U.S. trade war. And Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations wants us to take a step back to reflect on what Canadians are fighting for. Bob Rae talks …
Show notes
It's been a big week in the trenches of the Canada-U.S. trade war. And Canada's former ambassador to the United Nations wants us to take a step back to reflect on what Canadians are fighting for. Bob Rae talks about how he thinks our country can best defend itself in this moment, and why Canada's values – including humanitarian assistance and Indigenous rights – should be central to that effort.
Plus: As Prime Minister Mark Carney courts the world in an effort to expand beyond the American market, The Economist's Rob Russo, The Toronto Star's Adam Radwanski and Bloomberg's Nojoud Al Mallees discuss whether the bet will pay off.
Why Quebec fans and actors fought to save their own version of The Simpsons
For more than 30 years, the show has been an unlikely cultural institution in the province. Its unique dubbed version, featuring local dialect and cultural references, was set to be axed last year. The Sunday …
Show notes
For more than 30 years, the show has been an unlikely cultural institution in the province. Its unique dubbed version, featuring local dialect and cultural references, was set to be axed last year. The Sunday Magazine's Pete Mitton meets the players who brought it back, and explores the bigger story that its rise, fall and rebirth tells.
Plus: In their eighties, Sandra Hazelip and Eleanor Hamby set out on a world tour... and went viral along the journey. The "Traveling Nanas" reflect on their adventures, and offer insights into longevity, lasting friendships and staying curious.
How big of a deal is the U.S.-Venezuela oil deal for Canada?
Harvard Kennedy School political economy professor Ricardo Hausmann discusses the potential and pitfalls of Venezuela's oil reserves, and the politics that could play into the deal's viability. Then …
Show notes
Harvard Kennedy School political economy professor Ricardo Hausmann discusses the potential and pitfalls of Venezuela's oil reserves, and the politics that could play into the deal's viability. Then, Macdonald-Laurier Institute energy expert Heather Exner-Pirot and Grant Sprague, a consultant and former Alberta deputy energy minister, explore how much it could really threaten Canada's oil industry, and how it factors into our push to diversify trading partners.
Plus: Afghan-Canadian writer Jamaluddin Aram reflects on the personal and collective legacy of war for Afghanistan, and why he believes his country can overcome the upheaval that conflict has wrought.
Victim. Survivor. Icon. Gisèle Pelicot heard it all. But in her words? ‘An optimist'
This week marks two years since Gisèle Pelicot became known as the victim in one of the most notorious rape trials in France's history. Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was found guilty of drugging and raping …
Show notes
This week marks two years since Gisèle Pelicot became known as the victim in one of the most notorious rape trials in France's history. Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was found guilty of drugging and raping his then-wife – and recruiting scores of men online to abuse her while she was unconscious, over the course of a decade. Fifty other men were also found guilty, most on rape charges.
What made the trial all the more remarkable is that Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity, inviting the world into the courtroom. In a rare interview, she tells Piya about the shocking crimes, the ripple effects within her family, and how going public made her a feminist hero.
How the world is seeing the Canada-U.S. trade war
Prime Minister Mark Carney has received praise globally for walking away from trade talks with the United States. Will the world follow his show of defiance? Political economist John Rapley and Politico finance …
Show notes
Prime Minister Mark Carney has received praise globally for walking away from trade talks with the United States. Will the world follow his show of defiance? Political economist John Rapley and Politico finance reporter Kathryn Carlson discuss how different countries are responding, and whether this saga could breathe new life into Carney's middle powers pitch to the world.
Plus: CBC's Briar Stewart shares the latest on the aftermath of catastrophic flooding in Nepal and Tibet. And literary scholar Florence Hazrat explores the surprising power of punctuation.
He says 70 is the beginning of the end – but writer Ian Brown isn't lying down
His hobby list is long. His social calendar’s full. And while his mind and body aren’t immune to the effects of aging, the veteran journalist sees fragility as a kind of “enhanced humanity”. Ian Brown reflects …
Show notes
His hobby list is long. His social calendar’s full. And while his mind and body aren’t immune to the effects of aging, the veteran journalist sees fragility as a kind of “enhanced humanity”. Ian Brown reflects on joining the ranks of Canada's "super-aged" society while that society changes rapidly around us.
Plus: Sanna Marin steered Finland through the pandemic and neighbouring Russia's invasion of Ukraine as the country's prime minister. But her life outside work, having fun with friends, tended to catch the press's attention. She reflects on the double standard she sees for women in politics, and how to ensure they're not discouraged from getting involved.
The fallout from failed Canada-U.S. trade talks
Canada-U.S. trade negotiations fell apart on Friday night, leading to new American tariffs being imposed on tens of billions of dollars worth of Canadian goods. Piya Chattopadhyay explores the implications for …
Show notes
Canada-U.S. trade negotiations fell apart on Friday night, leading to new American tariffs being imposed on tens of billions of dollars worth of Canadian goods. Piya Chattopadhyay explores the implications for Canadian industry. Then, The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo and Inu Manak, a global trade law expert at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, discuss the political reverberations on both sides of the border.
Can liberal democracy be saved?
Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu argues liberalism has lost touch with the working people it once championed. He makes the case for what it will take to rebuild a politics of shared prosperity and …
Show notes
Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu argues liberalism has lost touch with the working people it once championed. He makes the case for what it will take to rebuild a politics of shared prosperity and defeat anti-democratic forces.
Plus: Sportscaster Hazel Mae on her journey from convincing her immigrant parents her career choice would work out to being inducted into Canada's baseball hall of fame -- and how she really feels about all those Gatorade showers from the Blue Jays.
Inside the fight for the future of the Democratic Party
The narrow defeat of democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the primary for Wisconsin governor is the latest flashpoint in a divisive election season, pitting the Democrats' left flank against its centre. NPR's …
Show notes
The narrow defeat of democratic socialist Francesca Hong in the primary for Wisconsin governor is the latest flashpoint in a divisive election season, pitting the Democrats' left flank against its centre. NPR's Tamara Keith and The Nation's John Nichols discuss the factions seeking to define the party's future.
Plus: The clock is ticking on a trade deal with the U.S. The Globe and Mail's Marieke Walsh and the New York Times' Ian Austen discuss the latest from the negotiating table and what the relationship could look like after the Wednesday deadline for more tariffs.
Dispatches from Nigeria's romance scammers
Carlos Barragán's mother fell victim to a fraudster she met on a dating app. So he set off to find the truth behind the fake persona. The Spanish journalist shares his journey to Lagos, Nigeria, and what he …
Show notes
Carlos Barragán's mother fell victim to a fraudster she met on a dating app. So he set off to find the truth behind the fake persona. The Spanish journalist shares his journey to Lagos, Nigeria, and what he learned from the men perpetrating these scams about loneliness and lack on both sides of the equation.
Plus: She's been studying ancient history for more than half a century... and it still gives her "tingles". Renowned classicist Mary Beard reflects on how worlds both familiar and alien still have the power to shock today.
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You've seen The Odyssey. Now meet the woman whose translation inspired it
Burning British Columbia declares state of emergency
British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as more than 21,000 residents flee ferocious wildfires. Forest ecologist Lori Daniels explains how the government declaration could unlock additional tools in …
Show notes
British Columbia has declared a state of emergency as more than 21,000 residents flee ferocious wildfires. Forest ecologist Lori Daniels explains how the government declaration could unlock additional tools in the battle against the flames. She also describes the enormous and dangerous task firefighters are facing in battling these expanding infernos and gives advice on how to prepare for the possibility of being ordered to evacuate your home.
Plus: The RCMP's institutional problems are becoming as well known as its iconography. University of Toronto law professor Kent Roach considers the future of Canada's national police service, as provinces and territories ramp up calls to re-examine its role in our communities.
Data has always dictated power. Who has yours?
Roopika Risam says human history has been a story of data. And in today’s world, where states partner with tech giants, she says it’s less clear – and more important than ever – to understand what’s happening …
Show notes
Roopika Risam says human history has been a story of data. And in today’s world, where states partner with tech giants, she says it’s less clear – and more important than ever – to understand what’s happening to our information. The author of Data Empire traces how we got here.
Plus: Need some inspiration for your summer road trip? Longtime travel writer Will Ferguson shares the Canadian hidden gems you need to check out, and explores why now is the perfect time to meet your neighbours.
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Why Europe's wildfires have been so devastating
The Guardian's Europe environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan explains how a wet winter and extremely hot summer have turned much of the region into a tinderbox, leading to fires that have displaced hundreds of …
Show notes
The Guardian's Europe environment correspondent Ajit Niranjan explains how a wet winter and extremely hot summer have turned much of the region into a tinderbox, leading to fires that have displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Then, University of Alberta wildland fire expert Jen Beverly shares the latest on the state of Canada's wildfire season.
Plus: Our producer Andrea Hoang explores how huge waitlists and a rival court sport are putting tennis in a pickle.
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Bianca Andreescu on rising to the top of the tennis world, and how she stays grounded
These are the latest 40 of 104 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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