Just Asking

We’re fielding your questions about foreign influence on Canadian political discourse in the age of AI, paid actors and ‘slopaganda’.  Brian McQuinn is an associate professor in the department of politics and international studies at the University of Regina. Mika Desblancs-Patel is a research engineer at the Media Ecosystem Observatory. 

This week, Health Canada approved two generic versions of Ozempic. This will mean reduced cost, and therefore broader access, to a medication that’s been prohibitively expensive for many.  What questions do you have about accessing and using GLP1 drugs? What do you want to know about both the risks and benefits of broader access to these drugs? Here to field your questions are Jennifer Lake,...

The Canadian government wants to invest $6 billion over five years to boost Canada’s skilled trades sectors. As more young people struggle to find entry-level work in 9-to-5 professions, are the skilled trades a viable option? What do you want to know about the demands and the opportunities of life in the trades?  Abigail Fulton is the executive director of the Construction Foundation of B.C....

From higher ticket prices to thousands of cancellations, airlines around the world are reacting to fuel supply issues and it’s having a major impact on how and where we travel. What should you know before you book your next flight? Our expert panel is John Gradek, a faculty lecturer in supply chain networks and aviation management, and Max Johnson, a travel and tourism consultant based in Winnipeg...

“Ascend your looks to be a better version of yourself” is Looksmaxxing in a nutshell, but young men in the movement are using increasingly radical measures to improve their appearances, including extreme dieting and “bone-smashing” to achieve a very specific look. What is this trend that is attracting young men and making its way into mainstream conversation? And why should we watch for its influe...

Canada's food supply chains could use a shot of resilience -- the rise in oil prices is only the latest in a long list of factors that keep driving up food costs. We take questions on what makes our food supply chains so vulnerable to climate and poltical crises and what can be done to curb the costs. Our guests are Tyler McCann, managing director at the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institu...

"Unity does not require uniformity" sounds good as a slogan, but what does it say about a party's politics and point of view? Mark Carney's Liberals now form a majority government, but it took opening its doors to MPs that hold disparate views and competing political records. What does that do to a party's core values? Our guests are Justin Ling, staff columnist at the Toronto Star, and Vandana Ka...

Whether you know all your obscure sparrows and warblers or your bird ID skills are limited to the Blue Jay, dive in for a fascinating conversation on birding and its benefits. Our guests are David Bird, Emeritus Professor of Wildlife Biology at McGill University, and writer and bird watcher Julia Zarankin. They are briefly joined by Erik Wing, a cognitive neuroscience research associate at York Un...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. 

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...

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.

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...

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...

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. 

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...