Just Asking

Like many people, Canadian actors Luke Hutchie and Matthew Finlan are dead sure they’ve seen ghosts. It’s the whole premise of their CBC web series, Ghosting. On Halloween, they join us to talk about amateur ghost-busting. We are also joined by Chris French, a prominent British psychologist who studies paranormal experiences, to answer your questions about how science explains people’s supposed en...

Americans will head to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the U.S. midterm elections. We’re answering your questions about the races to watch, what this vote could mean for Canada’s relationship with the U.S., and why many are calling this election a referendum on President Donald Trump.  Our guests are Luke Broadwater, White House correspondent for the New York Times, and Justin Ling, columnist...

Autonomous vehicle operator Waymo plans to launch driverless ride-hailing services in Canada in 2028, with vehicle testing already underway in Toronto. What do you want to know about self-driving cars? Would you ride in one?  Liam Paull is an associate professor at the Université de Montréal. He’s also a member of Mila, the Quebec AI Institute for learning algorithms. Matthew Raifman is the r...

Youth-led movements are popping up in many parts of Europe, including France, Belgium, Italy and Greece. We’re taking your questions about what’s driving young people to the streets, what makes Gen Z’s struggles different, and the impact of youth-led movements in the world right now. Cristina Flesher Fominaya is professor of global studies at Aarhus University in Denmark. Julius Fintelmann is the...

On the eve of the Alberta referendum, political scientists Lori Williams and Julie Simmons field your questions about what led the province to this moment and how the independence question will shape the future of politics in Alberta and the rest of the country.

Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney joins Just Asking to take your questions about the Alberta referendum, the future of the United Conservative Party and his case for a united Canada. He’s joined on the show by Alberta separatist organizer Angela Tabak.

The World Health Organization has issued its first-ever guidance on addressing a sharp increase in childhood obesity globally. Experts say the problem is driven by multiple factors, including ubiquitous ultra-processed foods, rising screen time, and a lack of safe physical activity spaces.  We’re taking your questions about childhood obesity and how to address it without compounding weight st...

Thanksgiving weekend is the unofficial kickoff to a season of gatherings. You may be planning get-togethers for Diwali, Hanukkah, or the winter solstice in the coming weeks. And while there’s lots of merriment when you share space and food with friends and family, there’s also friction. Our guest experts offer tips on how to gather well despite our political, generational, and cultural differences...

A viral internet debate about the appropriateness of walking into a job interview carrying an iced coffee has sparked a discussion about what professionalism means today. At a time when four generations share the workplace, how do we reach a consensus on what constitutes professional behaviour? Our guests are: Jermaine Murray, career coach and founder of Jupiter HR; Aakanksha Tangri, founder of Re...

Environmentalists say Prime Minister Mark Carney’s plan to quickly build infrastructure comes at the cost of species and environmental protection. We explore what fast-tracking major projects, including a pipeline, would mean for the natural world — and whether climate protection has to be at odds with growing the economy. Amy Janzwood is an assistant professor in the department of political scien...

The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that by 2030, nearly one million Canadians will live with some form of dementia. We answer your questions about the evolving landscape of research, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.  Dr. Samir Sinha is a geriatrician and clinician scientist at Sinai Health System and University Health Network, and director of health policy research at th...

The United Nations is considered the global stage of diplomacy, with a mandate to be the guardian of security around the world. But as the 81st UN General Assembly gets underway, there are questions about the effectiveness of the UN and its role in a changing world. Richard Gowan is the director of global issues and institutions at the International Crisis Group. Marie-Joëlle Zahar is a political...

As e-bikes and e-scooters grow in popularity, municipalities across the country are grappling with how to regulate and enforce rules around them while emergency room doctors warn of rising injuries. Our guest experts take your questions about where these mobility devices belong, who should ride them and how to regulate them. Our guests are: Jeff Casello, professor of transportation, engineering an...

Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to forge what he calls “an alliance for the future” with the European Union. We answer your questions about what exactly that alliance could look like — and what a stronger Canada-EU partnership would achieve on the global stage.  Stéphane Dion is a former Liberal leader who has served as Canadian ambassador to France and Germany. He was also a special envoy t...

If you’re tired of seeing the same items on your to-do list every day because you keep putting them off, this episode is for you. Learn about the psychology of procrastination, and what actually helps us get things done.  Tim Pychyl is the author of the book, Solving the Procrastination Puzzle: A Concise Guide to Strategies for Change. And Fuschia Sirois is a professor of social and health ps...

The Canadian marketplace is shifting in response to U.S. tariffs, counter-tariffs and export bans. Let’s help you figure out what it means for your pocketbook.  Our guests are: Eric Miller, President of Rideau Potomac Strategy Group and a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute; Joanna Smith, trade reporter in the Ottawa bureau for The Logic; and Mike von Massow, food economist at the...

As kids head back to school this fall, there’s a growing national debate around the value of banning cellphones in schools and outlawing social media use for young people. Our experts take your questions about best practices when it comes to helping kids develop healthy relationships with their devices. Dr. Victoria Talwar is a professor in the department of educational and counselling psychology...

Canada’s overreliance on American tech infrastructure erodes its ability to control what happens to our data. We break down what it means to protect Canada’s digital sovereignty and what’s at risk if Google, Microsoft and other tech giants choose not to comply with Canadian law.  Shion Guha is an assistant professor in the faculty of information and the department of computer science at the U...

From screentime monitoring to tracking employees’ tone on calls, what do you want to know about why employers are turning to surveillance and how workers are pushing back? Our guests are: Krystle Shore, an adjunct professor and post-doctoral fellow in the department of sociology and legal studies at the University of Waterloo; Jennifer Moss, an expert in workplace culture and wellbeing; and Puneet...

The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of killing her three children, has prompted questions and speculation about postpartum mental health. In this hour of Just Asking, we answer your questions around mental health in the early months and years of parenting.  Our guests are: Dr. Crystal Clark, reproductive psychiatrist and head of the psychiatry department at Wo...

Trade talks between Canada and the U.S. fell apart late Friday night, triggering President Donald Trump’s 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Canadian goods.  We are bringing together analysts, journalists, and industry workers to break down the impact on Canadian businesses, workers, and the broader economy — and to answer your questions.

Our guests took your questions about prediction markets, how they work, who stands to cash in, and the implications for Canadians.  Ernest Biktimirov is a professor of finance at the Goodman School of Finance at Brock University. Caitlin Ostroff is a reporter with the Wall Street Journal. And Wesley Wark is a senior fellow at the Centre for International Governance Innovation and an expert on...

We answer your questions about what means for communities to learn to live with fire, what a national emergency response organization could do and whether Canada should create publicly funded climate insurance. Jason Thistlethwaite is an associate professor in the faculty of environment at the University of Waterloo. Sonja Leverkus is an ecosystem scientist, wildland firefighter and prescribe...

Canada is withdrawing its peacekeeping troops from longstanding UN-led missions in Cyprus, Kosovo, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Critics say this latest move spells the end of this country’s legacy as a peacekeeping nation.  We’re joined by Bob Rae, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations, to take your questions about Canada’s role in peacekeeping overseas, whethe...

Where do you go when you’re not at home or at work? Is there a third public place you frequent, where you connect with neighbours and strangers? Placemaker Jay Pitter says, “Third spaces are the original sites of democracy.” Pitter, author of the book Black Public Joy: No Permit or Permission Required, joins Just Asking alongside urban planner Houssam Elokda, who works on designing inclusive and h...