Just Asking

Drinking water sounds simple, so why does staying hydrated feel so complicated? How much water is actually the right amount? Should you enhance your drinks with collagen or electrolytes? And what’s hydration got to do with focus? Answering your hydration questions are: Toby Mundel, a kinesiology professor and Canada Research Chair in Extreme Human Environments at Brock University; Lawrence Spriet,...

A study published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal reveals that one in 10 emergency room physicians is leaving the specialty, citing burnout and a "broken" system. ER doctors join us to answer your questions about what’s driving their colleagues away and how to fix the issues plaguing Canada’s emergency rooms. Dr. Rodrick Lim is an ER physician and the co-author of the burnout...

Trump's latest tariffs hit different, and this time our provincial leaders may be in a position to hit back. A 50 per cent tariff on hundreds of new product categories reveals new vulnerabilities among the provinces -- disproportionately impacting Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia. But among these new vulnerabilities emerges new positions of power. Our experts unpack the power many of our regio...

Canadians have less time and attention for books these days, and experts say that trend is only getting worse. With the advent of smartphones, social media, and AI, our attention spans are shrinking and our ability to grapple with complex text is dwindling. Our expert panel explorew what is causing us to read less in a digital age and how that is impacting the way we think and feel about the world...

Extreme climate events keep on hitting – from heat to tornados to record-setting rain. For many regions across Canada, the impact is unprecedented and this includes experiences with out-of-control wildfires, half of which are caused by lightning strikes. What’s the potential impact of extreme weather on our communities and how can we prepare?  Sharon Bak is a disaster response consultant and...

Canadians tend to get less sleep in the summer months and, as temperatures spike across the country, the quality of our sleep is also being affected. Our experts explain the impact of heat on our bodies during sleep and what we can do if we’re struggling to get that shut eye.  Charles Samuels is medical director of Centre for Sleep and Human Performance in Calgary. Michael Mak is a sleep medi...

Should you be fibre-maaxing? Get busy making kimchi? Could better gut health improve your mood? And how might gut-directed hypnotherapy help you? Tune in for answers about gut health and its sometimes surprising link to our overall wellness.  Dr. Maitreyi Raman is a gastroenterologist and professor of medicine at the University of Calgary. Dr. Mary Sco is a family physician and an expert in n...

Canada went to this week’s NATO summit in Turkey with a promise to spend 5 percent of its GDP in defence by 2035. But what does NATO, and Canada’s military strategy, really mean for everyday Canadian life?  Lieutenant General the Honorable Andrew Leslie is a retired commander of the Canadian Army and former MP. Alexander Lanoszka is an associate professor in the department of political scienc...

Scorching heat, a sudden storm, bugs, bears and ticks. Our panel of experts tackles everything that could go wrong when you’re out in the wilderness so you can make the most of your time outdoors. PJ Richards is an outdoor educator with Outward Bound Canada. Patricia Wilson is founder of Diverse Nature Collective. Dr. Aaron Orkin is an emergency and public health physician who works as a medical d...

Can we be good friends with AI? Can grief bots help us cope? What are the gaps in our lives that AI companions are filling? We’re taking all of your questions about intimate relationships between humans and artificial intelligence.  Dr. Ashleigh Golden is a clinical psychologist researching AI and mental health. Anabel Quan-Hasse is a professor of sociology in the faculty of information...

A group of scientists is raising alarm bells over recent changes to pesticide regulation in Canada. Our guest experts explain those changes, and field your questions on pesticide use, impact and safety standards.   Risa Sargent is a professor in the faculty of land and food systems at the University of British Columbia. Christy Morrissey is a professor of biology at the University of Sas...

North America's free trade deal is up for review on July 1. We’re breaking down the stakes for Canada. Carlo Dade is a director of the New North America Initiative and International Policy at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy. Zi-Ann Lum is federal politics and trade reporter for Politico.

As betting sites report record-breaking activity in the first week of the World Cup, gambling addiction experts are warning that first-time sports bettors are being primed to keep wagering long after the tournament ends. Two guests join us to field your questions about sports betting. Danny Funt is a journalist and the author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Betting. Spen...

This episode is a stacked playlist of unmissable First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists from across Turtle Island.  Here to curate your playlist are three artists: Aysanabee, a Juno Award-winning Oji-Cree singer-songwriter; Wolf Castle, a Mi’kmaq rapper and producer; and Sara Kae, an Ojibwe and Cree singer-songwriter and journalist.

As the number of AI data centres grows across the country, so does the pushback against them. We delve into your questions about these centres and their impact on you and your community.  Anne Pasek is an associate professor at Trent University, where she is the Canada Research Chair in Media, Culture, and the Environment.  Darius Snieckus is a business correspondent with Canada’s Nation...

We're diving into your questions about the World Cup, Canada’s team, FIFA and what hosting the games means for Canada.  Joshua Kloke is staff writer at The Athletic. Carrie Serwetnyc is a former Canada national team player and first woman in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame. Alan McDougall is professor of history at the University of Guelph and co-author of the new book, Cold War Football: A...

The first shipments of Chinese-made EVs arrived in Canada over the past month. As more EVs enter the market, our guests break down everything you need to know about buying and driving electric vehicles. Charlotte Yates is founder and president of the Automotive Research Policy Centre, a non-profit aimed at researching Canadian automotive policy. Max Fawcett is lead columnist for Canada’s National...

Are people happier in the summer months? Does being on- or offline impact how happy we are? And is it really true that money can’t buy happiness? Two researchers field your questions about what it takes to attain and retain happiness.  Ulrich Schimmack is professor of psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Gillian Mandich is an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry...

We’re tackling your questions about Ebola, hantavirus, and Canada’s readiness for a public health emergency.  Jason Kindrachuk is an associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases at the University of Manitoba and the Canada Research Chair on Emerging Viruses.  Dr. Andrew Pinto is a family physician, public health specialist, and the founder and director of the Upstr...

Three experts in environmental policy join Just Asking to take your questions about PM Mark Carney’s record on climate action.  James Meadowcroft is a professor in the School of Public Policy at Carleton University. Jessica Green is a professor of political science at the University of Toronto. And Kathryn Harrison is professor of political Science at the University of British Columbia. 

Premier Danielle Smith says Albertans will vote in the fall on whether they want their provincial government to hold a binding referendum on separating from Canada. You’ve got plenty of questions about the referendum, and our guest experts tackled each one.  Lori Williams is a political scientist and an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University. And Matt Solberg is a par...

Why are pollen levels growing over time? And what does climate change and “botanical sexism” have to do with it? We took all your questions about seasonal allergies. Dr. Mariam Hanna is a pediatric allergist and immunologist. She hosts The Allergist podcast. Daniel Coates is a director at Aerobiology Research Laboratories.

Dive in for a conversation about finding good care, using new tools and building support while navigating chronic pain.  Norman Buckley is an anesthesiologist and chronic pain clinician based at McMaster University. And Desmond Williams has lived with chronic pain for 30 years. He is a member of Pain Canada's National Advisory Committee. Resources: Living Proof: Experience as Evidence Podcast...

New data released this week shows too much debt is pushing more and more Canadians to file for insolvency. What do you want to know about managing your debt, and how to get good support when it becomes too difficult to deal with alone?  Personal finance expert Bruce Sellery is CEO of Credit Canada and the money columnist for CBC Radio. And Wesley Cowan a licensed insolvency trustee at MNP Lim...

If you’re looking for work, how do you try and beat the odds of a tough job market? Should you consider switching careers? How do you start to think about your skills differently?  Jermaine L. Murray is a career coach and founder of JupiterHR. Brendon Bernard is Indeed Canada's senior economist.