CBC
Just Asking
You’ve got smart questions, we’ve got solid answers. If googling got you nowhere, you can always call your friend Saroja Coelho. With guest experts, Just Asking turns the week’s news and latest trends into tips that help you make better decisions about your life. Whether it’s tech, money, career or health — we’ll hear you out, and help you out. The show takes live calls on CBC Radio every Saturday afternoon, and drops the podcast after the live show. Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.c...
Where to listen?
Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soonPodcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts
Episodes
Decoding the ceasefire deal with Iran 11.04.2026 1:04:08
Soon after threatening to wipe out Iranian civilization this week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire. We’re taking all of your questions about this shaky ceasefire, and its likelihood of success. Our expert panel is: Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities; Sabine Nolke, former Canadian ambassador and specialist in international law; and Ben Row...
Your Artemis II mission questions answered 04.04.2026 1:02:20
Four astronauts, including Canada’s own Jeremy Hansen, are currently venturing further into deep space than any humans before. As they journey toward the far side of the moon, we dig into your curiosities about this historic mission and the future of humankind in the cosmos. Joining us are Gordon Osinski, professor of Earth Sciences at Western University; Sara Mazrouei, planetary scientist and edu...
Your guide for growing your own food 04.04.2026 49:34
If you’re looking to get your hands dirty in the garden this spring and get something to eat out of it, too, this is the show for you. Whether you’re working with a cramped balcony, a rooftop or a backyard, our guests have tips for the best harvest. Jacob Beaton is an Indigenous food sovereignty activist and the co-owner of Tea Creek, a family farm and Indigenous-led training centre in B.C. And Ra...
Managing your money as a solo earner 28.03.2026 57:22
From rent to hotel stays and home repairs, many things cost more when you’re flying solo. We’ve got money tips and advice for managing your money on a solo earner. Renée Sylvestre-Williams is a finance journalist and the author of the book The Singles Tax: No-Nonsense Financial Advice for Solo-Earners. Stacy Yanchuk Oleksy is a certified financial counsellor and the CEO of Money Me...
The genius and the glitch of the Junos 28.03.2026 53:57
The Junos are back, and there’s plenty to celebrate and some to critique. We’re opening the floor to your questions on what’s working, what’s missing, and why this cultural moment still matters. Host Saroja Coelho is joined by two guests. Emilie Hanskamp a freelance music journalist. Dalton Higgins is a publicist, journalist, and author of the book, Far From Over: The Music and Life of...
The private citizen’s guide to accessing public records 21.03.2026 1:04:53
As someone living anywhere in this country, you have rights to request records directly from your government. Most people have no idea how this works. Our guests got you covered. Robyn Doolittle is a staff reporter at The Globe and Mail, where she investigates freedom of information systems across the country. Cecil Rosner is an investigative journalist and managing editor of the Investigati...
Is AI dulling our minds? 21.03.2026 46:59
Critics warn of AI-induced cognitive decline, a flood of 'slop' and 'dross' dulling the human mind. But is brain rot inevitable? And in a world of instant answers, how do we build the future of education? We are joined by two guests. Surya Ganguli is a professor of applied physics at Stanford University working on both neuroscience and AI. Tracey Burns is chief of global strategy and research at t...
How the Iran war is disrupting the global oil market 14.03.2026 1:13:53
The U.S. and Israel-Iran war has triggered an unprecedented disruption in the global energy market. Our guests break down how we got here, what the near future could look like, and the impact of rising oil prices on Canadian consumers. Joe Calnan is vice-president of Energy and Calgary Operations at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute. Rosemary Kelanic is director of th...
Rethinking road salt 14.03.2026 39:45
Ecologists are worried about how much road salt is ending up in our lakes. Salt is also corrosive to infrastructure, tough on doggy paws and unsightly on our winter boots. Shelley Arnott is a professor in the department of biology at Queen’s University and the director of the Queen’s University Biological Station. Joe Salemi is an executive director with Landscape Ontario. They answere...
Why working women are burning out and what to do about it 07.03.2026 51:11
Studies show that working women globally are burning out at a higher rate than men. On the eve of International Women’s Day, we’re fielding your questions about modern womanhood and the pressure to do it all. Tamu Thomas is a speaker, writer, and author of the book, Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy. Amelia Nagoski is a conductor and co-author of B...
Is the U.S. war on Iran legal? 07.03.2026 1:02:18
Experts take your questions about where U.S. domestic and international law stand on President Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran. Sabine is Canada’s Former Ambassador to the Netherlands and Specialist in International Law. She joins Just Asking alongside Quinta Jurecic, who is a staff writer at The Atlantic covering the courts, democracy and the rule of law.
Living with Tourette Syndrome 28.02.2026 58:16
There’s little awareness about Tourette Syndrome and the many ways it manifests itself. This week on Just Asking , we have two guests to field your questions about Tourette Syndrome and what it’s like living with it. Rena Zito is a professor of sociology at Elon University, where she studies stigmatization and Tourette syndrome. She has Tourette Syndrome. Dr. Daniel Gorman is a staff p...
The US-Israel military strikes on Iran explained 28.02.2026 53:15
Two experts joined Just Asking to take your questions about Saturday’s joint U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran, and what could come next for the region. Kamran Bokhari is a senior director at the New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy in Washington. Negar Mojtahedi is a reporter and host at Iran International English.
Hooked on the scroll: Understanding social media addiction 21.02.2026 57:51
What questions do you have about social media addiction? What do you want to know about holding tech giants accountable for the design of social media platforms? Two experts are on the show to field your questions. Emma Duerden is Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders, and associate professor in the faculty of education at Western University. Josh Tabish is senior...
Decoding PCOS and endometriosis 21.02.2026 54:07
This week on Just Asking , we’re taking your questions about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. What do you want to know about advocating for yourself in the doctor’s office? Dr. Olga Bougie is an associate professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Toronto. She also works in Mount Sinai Health System as an endometriosis and gynecologic surgeon. She’ll be...
How your attachment style shapes your love life 14.02.2026 33:30
Two experts join Just Asking on Valentines Day to answer your questions about attachment styles and how they shape our intimate adult relationships. Julie Menanno is a marriage and family therapist and the author of the bestselling book, Secure Love . And Marisa Cohen is a relationship researcher who is also a marriage and family therapist.
Grief and resilience after a violent event 14.02.2026 1:18:21
In the aftermath of the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., we’re welcoming your questions about what grief and resilience look like within a community. We are joined by two experts. Michael Ungar is founder and director of the Resilience Research Centre at Dalhousie University where he holds the Canada Research Chair in Child, Family and Community Resilience. Darcy Harris is professor...
The separatist movement in Alberta explained 07.02.2026 1:09:11
The Stay Free Alberta movement is pushing for Alberta to leave Canada. Organizers of the movement are currently seeking signatures for a petition that could allow them to seek a referendum on the question of Alberta’s independence. We’ll hear from Jeff Rath, one of the leaders of the Stay Free Alberta movement. Lori Williams, a political scientist and an associate professor of policy studies...
Wisdom from past winter Olympians 07.02.2026 42:53
Olympic gold medalists Meagan Duhamel and Chandra Crawford take your question about being at the winter games, the time they bagged their gold, coaching the next generation and what they’ve learned about life and sports along the way.
The frontlines of protests in Minneapolis 31.01.2026 1:07:59
Minneapolis has been a flashpoint for the immigration crackdown in the United States. We took your questions about what it’s been like to live and organize in Minneapolis in the past few weeks. Our guests are NYT bestselling author and organizer adrienne maree brown along with her sister Autumn Brown, who has been on the frontlines of the protests in Minneapolis. We’re also joined by Shrai Po...
High notes ahead of the Grammys 31.01.2026 44:42
Music’s biggest night is upon us. What questions do you have about the nominees and the music that’s being recognized this year? Which performances are you most excited about? Join the Grammys chat with music journalists Dalton Higgins and Emilie Hanskamp.
Agentic AI could change how you shop 24.01.2026 46:32
Would you let bots buy you stuff? Autonomous AI shopping agents will research products and complete the purchase for you. What questions do you have about agentic AI shoppers? What do you want to know about how AI shapes your daily shopping experience right now? Our two guests are Aleksandra Sagan, an e-commerce reporter with The Logic, and Markus Giesler, a professor of marketing at York Un...
Canada’s position in a new world order 24.01.2026 1:05:58
In his widely celebrated speech at the Davos World Economic Forum this week, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is ready to embrace a new world order. What questions do you have about Canada’s position in this new geo-political system? Sabine Nolke, Canada’s former ambassador to the Netherlands and specialist in international law, will take your questions alongside Justin Ling, journalist and...
Heated Rivalry and the state of romance on TV 17.01.2026 47:42
Heated Rivalry has taken the culture by a storm. What does what we're raptly watching tell us about ourselves and where we are as a culture? This week on Just Asking , we get to the bottom of it. We take the temperature of romance on television in 2026 with our guests Mel Woods, a senior editor at Xtra Magazine , and Cassandra Morann, a romance writer and host of the Rational Rom...
The Iran protests explained 17.01.2026 1:04:50
We answer your questions about the Iran protests, the international response, and what could possibly come next. We’re joined by two guests. Arash Azizi is a lecturer at Yale University and author of the book, What Iranians Want: Women, Life, Freedom. Maral Karimi is faculty lecturer in the department of politics and public administration at Toronto Metropolitan University and author of...
Similar podcasts
Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.