Just Asking

Canada and the world are scrambling to figure out a new approach for engaging with the U.S. in light of the U.S. military strikes in Venezuela and the White House's refusal to rule out the use of force to control Greenland. We answer your questions about diplomacy in the age of U.S. President Donald Trump with our guest Bob Rae, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations. 

Medical advice is clear on the long-term benefits of building muscle mass. But between buzz words like “progressive overload,” the fear of injury, and all the varying advice on protein intake, the whole thing can be intimidating. In this episode, you asked and we did the heavy lifting. Host Saroja Coelho is joined by two guests. Dr. Jordan Metzl is a sports medicine physician and author. Tina...

We often set ambitious goals for the new year. But how can we make sure we don’t stretch ourselves too thin in the process? The constant chorus of “New Year, New Me” in January amplifies our desire to be productive and optimize our lives. But how much pressure is too much? On this episode of Just Asking, we answer your questions about the value of doing less not more and how to achieve balance in...

President Donald Trump has said the United States will "run" Venezuela after carrying out attacks on the country on Saturday. The U.S. has captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Today on  Just Asking , we take your questions about the situation in Venezuela and what happens next.

It’s that time of year when we reflect on what’s happened the last 12 months, and dream up changes for the new year. Whether you’re looking for guidance in your career, relationships, or setting personal goals, we could all use a little bit of extra help dealing with the curveballs life brings us. On this episode of Just Asking, we have two advice columnists ready to share their wisdom and help yo...

From Sinners to Severance, and all the memes in between, 2025 was a huge year in pop culture. And as critics argue over which “Best of 2025” is truly canon, the way we consume content is rapidly changing with Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition and the ongoing debate of whether artists should avoid or embrace AI.  On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about the movies, mus...

When OCD is depicted in pop culture, it often becomes the butt of the joke like on TV shows like Friends or The Big Bang Theory. But According to the International OCD Foundation, over two-thirds of the public cannot accurately identify OCD symptoms and it takes over 7 years on average before a person suffering with OCD starts to get treatment.  On this episode of Just Asking, our guests take...

2025 has been quite the year on Parliament Hill. The Liberals kicked off the year with Justin Trudeau stepping down, and now Prime Minister Carney is ending the year hoping for another floor-crosser for Christmas. It's also been a year of soul-searching for the opposition parties as Pierre Polileve looks forward toward a leadership review in the new year, and the NDP are in the middle of their own...

Justice Minister Sean Fraser wants to eradicate violence against women, and he says the Liberals’ new legislation will help. In the wake of the Diddy trial, Just Asking explored the push to recognize "coercive control" in the law. Ottawa’s new bill seeks to do that, along with changes to how the courts deal with femicide, and delays in the justice system. On this episode of Just Asking, we take yo...

Canada has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. Humans develop deep connections with the animals in their lives. But how much do we really understand about them? And why have some animals evolved to become domesticated social media stars on Instagram while others run wild?  On this episode of Just Asking, longtime science broadcaster and former Quirks and Quarks host Jay In...

After a renewed push from Trump, the future of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine remains unclear. US special envoy Steve Witkoff held separate meetings this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the head of Ukraine's national security council, Rustem Umerov. Putin continues to ramp up his rhetoric, threatening that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region or it w...

A new report found influencers reached more people during Canada’s federal election than news outlets or politicians. So what role do influencers play in how we navigate the media landscape, and how can you tell the difference between reliable sources and misinformation? On this week’s episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about getting news through social media. Ashley Fraser is a senior...

MP Steven Guilbeault resigned from cabinet, claiming the Ottawa-Alberta energy deal signals a major step backwards on climate commitments. The agreement lays the political groundwork for a potential pipeline to the B.C. coast. By designating this possible pipeline as a project of "national interest," it could be exempt from environmental protection laws. The deal will also see Ottawa suspend the p...

The holidays are around the corner. What does that look like if your partner has a different cultural background? How do you navigate those differences and bring your two identities together? How do you navigate potential conflicts with both sides of the family, or questions from your kids? On this week’s episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about dating and relationships for couples...

Like it or not....Winter is coming. Are you ready to bust out the Mariah Carey, or are you bracing yourself for darker, colder days ahead? For a country that spends a significant portion of the year in winter weather, our cities are not always well-equipped to be livable spaces through all seasons.  On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions on how to prepare ourselves, and ou...

Marjorie Taylor Greene says Trump “ripped MAGA apart” with the Epstein case. The uproar may have pushed the President to reverse his previous stance, signing a bill late Wednesday to order the release of the Epstein files. But beyond this week's political drama, how will these fractures within the Republican party affect the MAGA movement moving forward? On this episode of Just Asking, we tak...

How many texts, memes and video calls does it take to make a relationship last? We all have partners, friends and family in different cities to keep up with. How often do you get to have face to face time with those loved ones? As our lives get busier, traveling gets expensive, and technology makes communication both easier and more fleeting, what does it take to make a relationship last from afar...

With the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil this week, Canada wants to be seen as a leader in climate action. But are we on the right track? Reports are warning that fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high. The world is still on track for a catastrophic 2.6C increase in temperature. That is surpassing the thresholds set out in the Paris agreement. At COP30 this week, Canada highlighted $39...

Coffee prices are skyrocketing. Statistics Canada says the price of your morning cup of coffee is officially 41% higher than it was in Fall 2024. So what’s behind those numbers? On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about coffee production and where those costs are coming from - from supply chains to climate change. We get the facts straight from the roastmasters themselves. N...

It's been just over six months since Prime Minister Mark Carney got elected. So how is the Carney era treating Canadians so far? And with his first federal budget tabled this week, how will he deliver on what was promised during the campaign? On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about Prime Minister Carney, his policies, and how much he’s accomplished so far. To dig into all...

Four young Canadians are suing the Canadian Pension Plan who claim that CPP Investments is failing to manage climate-related financial risk. With the fund's investment in fossil fuels, the lawsuit alleges that CPP is being grossly underestimating the market impact of a warming climate. So if you want to be a climate-conscious investor, where do you start? On this episode of Just Asking, we take al...

As Canadians celebrate the Blue Jays epic world series run, every player statistic is being dissected by an analytics team behind the plate. So what is it about the Blue Jays that helped them get this far? The 4-billion dollar sports analytics industry has become a major part of how teams scout talent, and how the game is played.  On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your burning...

Divorce can turn your life upside down. From money, to housing, to how your kids are going to cope. Prenups are getting more popular, as Gen Z and millennials try to plan ahead, according to recent polling.  On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to make social media safer for kids, and what parents and policymakers need to prioritize. Vikki Stark is a psychotherapis...

This week, the Liberals unveiled part of their plan to crack down on violent crime in Canada with Bill-C14. But will it make people safer?  The Canadian Police Association and politicians, including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, have long been calling for bail reform. The new legislation makes dozens of changes to the criminal code – targeted at Canada’s bail and sentencing frameworks...

This week, Meta announced its new "PG-13 guidelines" for teen account settings on Instagram. The push to make the app safer for kids comes as countries like Australia have moved to ban social media for children under 16, with jurisdictions like Nova Scotia, Quebec, France and Denmark considering similar legislation.  On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to make soc...