Afternoons with Rob Breakenridge

Andy Hathaway is an associate professor in sociology and crime and criminal justice at the University of Guelph.  On the topic of legalization, he writes, "the goals of legalizing cannabis in Canada are two-fold: reducing criminal involvement in the sale of cannabis and reducing its availability to youth. But I have some doubt about these objectives of the government"  He explains why to guest hos...

Guest host Zack Hewitt calls out the negativity from the text line and challenges the listeners to talk about the real impacts and potential solutions for the state Alberta is in today.  And they respond by picking up the phone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Service animals are becoming a bigger and bigger part of living in our modern society. Exactly what kind of growth has there been, and how is it helping? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are some of the broader implications of limiting oil? What might it do to consumer confidence? ATB Financial vice president and chief economist Todd Hirsch joins guest host Zack Hewitt to provide some perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After her successful TV career producing shows that aired internationally, Debbie Travis felt that she was missing out on the things and people that made her happy. Along came her plan to renovate a Tuscany farmhouse into a hotel retreat. Her new book, Design Your Next Chapter: How to realize your dreams and reinvent your life, is her own experience of how she made this happen.  Debbie joins guest...

Ever wonder what makes some words funny?  Guest host Zack Hewitt speaks with Chris Westbury from the Department of Psychology at the University of Alberta. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OHS is putting in rules so employers cannot make high heels mandatory in the workplace.  Labour minister Christina Gray joins guest host Zack Hewitt to discuss the changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How clean are those touch screens we all use at fast food restaurants and supermarkets? New lab test results might leave you a bit queasy. Jason Tetro - "The Germ Guy" - joins guest host Zack Hewitt to discuss, plus, we talk about Jason's brand new podcast joining our Curiouscast family – the Super Awesome Science Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disruption is credited with often being the driver for innovation, but is stability more favourable?  Guest host Zack Hewitt talks with Dr. Terry Soleas, PhD Candidate in Education at Queens University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are your boys playing video games too much? It might not be a bad thing for them as it might help them land a better career in the STEM sector.  But the results of new research say for teenaged girls, the outcomes may not be as positive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Canadian TV icon joins Rob to talk in advance of his show next week in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re learning the cost of irregular immigration into Canada after a new parliamentary budget report came out today. Calgary-Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel weighs in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the same day the Premier announces Alberta is buying rail cars on its own to ship oil, the UCP is having its own conversation on the price differential. Official opposition leader Jason Kenney joins Rob to talk more about what he's proposing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A tweet from the National Post's Tristin Hopper about discarded needles in his neighbourhood has set off a firestorm on Twitter about safe consumption sites and living alongside those with addictions. He joins Rob to share his story and we hear from listeners about their experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As one restaurant is on the market for a steal of a deal, two others are trying hard to find new and innovative ways to be in business.  Global business reporter Tomasia DaSilva joins Rob to talk about some of the stories she's uncovered in the restaurant industry in Calgary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are concerns about juror privacy after two high-profile court cases in Atlantic Canada took a strange turn last week.  Juror advocate Mark Farrant joins Rob to talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chinese telecom manufacturer Huawei is well-poised to help much of the world transition to 5G data networks. But should there be caution in pressing forward? Rob speaks with Michael Shoebridge, Director of the Defence and Strategy program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Chinese scientist is said to have created the world’s first gene-edited baby. Dr. Arthur L. Caplan from NYU Langone joins Rob to share his perspective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The body of a dead missionary shouldn’t be recovered from a remote village – that according to a group which deals with rights for tribal people around the world. Sophie Grig is a senior researcher with Survival International, and joins Rob to discuss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Members of the public are making presentations to city council to provide commentary on the city budget. The CTF is also showing up to tell council how it thinks the books can be trimmed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The provincial government is launching a trade challenge against Ontario over unfair liquor policies that prevent Alberta manufacturers from accessing the Ontario market – and changing some of its own practices in the process. Minister of Economic Development and Trade Deron Bilous joins Rob to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

General Motors is closing its plant in Oshawa, Ontario, among others in North America.  We get perspective on the announcement from Joseph McCabe, president and CEO of Auto Forecast Solutions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the CFL gathers in Edmonton this week for Grey Cup 2018, Postmedia's Scott Stinson joins Rob to talk a little about the state of the game. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jack Mintz from the UCalgary School of Public Policy joins Rob for some reflection on this week's fall economic update. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Griffith is a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute and the Environics Institute and joins Rob to discuss birth tourism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices