Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

What made Christmas in the 80s feel so magical — and why does it feel like that magic is missing today? Shane Hewitt and Ed Conroy of Retrontario unpack nostalgic memories of Cabbage Patch chaos, the myth of Teddy Ruxpin singing Iron Maiden, and the wild promise of robot butlers like Omnibot. This episode blends heartwarming memories with sharp reflections on how tech, convenience, and abund...

Why do some toys disappear and others become timeless? Shane Rhinewald from The Strong National Museum of Play joins Shane Hewitt to unpack what turns a simple object into a multigenerational icon — and why play is as vital for adults as it is for kids. From the 2025 Toy Hall of Fame inductees (slime, Battleship, and Trivial Pursuit) to how kids learn life skills through make-believe, this e...

There's a reason Christmas at 10 years old feels like the peak of magic. This episode throws back not to a single moment in history, but to that nostalgic feeling of wonder, joy, and the unforgettable gifts that shaped our holidays. From Mariah Carey to Tonka Trucks, Polar Express to PlayStation 2 — what made your Christmas morning feel epic? Shane Hewitt breaks down the hidden formula behin...

Some toys entertain — others unlock entire futures. In this holiday edition, Shane Hewitt and Kris Abel explore the magic behind the most unforgettable gifts and how certain toys tap into imagination, ambition, and identity. Kris shares the story of a toy that blurred the line between play and technology, while Shane recalls the cargo plane that launched his love of flying. The episode also...

Food inflation in 2025 wasn’t driven by war or weather — it was self-inflicted. That’s the hard truth Dr. Sylvain Charlebois brings as he dissects the hidden forces driving up prices and feeding public frustration. Shane and Sylvain get into the uncomfortable details: interprovincial trade barriers, stacked taxes, quota protection, and political deflection. From “Captain Ca...

Donald Trump promised billions, misread numbers, and claimed victory — but what was really going on? Veteran broadcaster Rob Breakenridge joins Shane Hewitt to dissect a national address that felt less like policy and more like panic. They explore the deeper implications: the emotional tone of a leader under pressure, what polling data reveals about voter sentiment, and how economic messagin...

DESCRIPTION: Toys aren’t just for kids anymore — and the people fueling today’s toy industry are old enough to remember the originals. Andrew Wagar shares how nostalgia, screen fatigue, and pop culture are driving a massive shift in what people buy, collect, and display. From LEGO to Fallout, from Rubik’s Cubes to Barbie, the intersection of games, TV, and toys has created...

Too much wine, too much sugar, too many regrets — the holidays can hit hard. But holistic nutritionist Alyssa B says there’s a better way to enjoy it all and feel amazing the next morning. From pre-party “tailgating” with salad to gut-friendly swaps like sourdough and fermented dips, Alyssa shares realistic tips for navigating parties, family dinners, and indulgent treats w...

Why We Keep Watching the Same Christmas Movies Cheesy, formulaic, predictable — and somehow perfect. Richard Crouse joins to explain the strange magic behind holiday movies that repeat every year but never seem to get old. From Hallmark plots to forgotten cult classics like Mixed Nuts , this episode unpacks what keeps Christmas cinema alive — and what earns a spot on the “watch e...

When Ryan O'Donnell asked for Rainbow Six Siege as a Christmas gift at 19, he had no idea he’d still be talking about it 10 years later—this time from inside Ubisoft’s Montreal studio. This episode unpacks the staying power of a game that refuses to fade. Through interviews with the game's creative and game directors, learn how Ubisoft supports a digital world that evolves with i...

Everyone knows the legend — a UFO crashes in Roswell, the military covers it up, and the rest is conspiracy canon. But what actually happened in the desert in 1947? Dr. Lee Kuhnle of The Uncover Up joins to pull the facts out from under decades of fiction. From crash test dummies to Cold War tech, this episode rewrites the alien origin story with real history, real programs, and real governm...

A reverse alien abduction theory hits the air. And somewhere between Simpsons lore and SNL sketches, things get weird — fast. Shane, Ryan, and David unpack the absurd, the nostalgic, and the almost-plausible as they spiral from travel warnings into alien conspiracies, pop culture’s obsession with space visitors, and the magic of James Earl Jones voicing a cartoon. It’s part blizz...

Why Nostalgia Is Today’s Best Holiday Gift Forget gadgets and gizmos — some gifts don’t need batteries to bring joy. Lindsay Broadhead and Jamie Ellerton join to talk about the timeless treasures that keep families connected: from classic toys to moments that turn into memories. They dig into how holiday traditions have shifted, why board games and simple play still bring people...

What makes a brand win or lose trust in today’s chaotic, AI-driven world? Tony Chapman unpacks the marketing hits and flops of 2025 — and what they reveal about human connection, cultural timing, and consumer confidence. From American Apparel’s cheeky Sydney Sweeney campaign to Canadian Tire’s quiet brand power move, Chapman breaks down what resonated, what backfired, and w...

Falcon Lake. Shag Harbour. Skinwalker Ranch. These names keep surfacing—for strange signals, sightings, and things we can’t quite explain. Shane Hewitt explores the stories behind Earth’s most puzzling locations and asks the big question: is it all myth, or is something truly happening? This episode explores a global map of mystery, from the precision of the pyramids to unexplain...

Forget robot overlords—AI’s real impact might be much deeper. Greg Fish returns with a bold look at how generative tech is flattening hustle culture, shaking investor logic, and dragging the gig economy’s empty promises into the spotlight. In this episode, hear why AI-fueled startups are imploding faster than ever, why shareholder obsession is driving systemic fragility, and how...

Ethereum, meme coins, XRP — the crypto space is crowded. But Adam O’Brien says Bitcoin is playing a different game . In this eye-opening episode, he explains why Bitcoin stands apart from the rest of the crypto world — and what most people get wrong about it. Adam shares why Bitcoin Well only supports self-custody, how their platform avoids the common risks tied to traditional cr...

An egg covered in diamonds, sapphires—and one of the weirdest endings to a theft ever. On this Good News Tuesday, Shane and Ryan highlight a bizarre international caper involving a Fabergé egg, a jewel-encrusted octopus, and an unfortunate digestive route. Also in the mix: a viral basketball shot from an Edmonton teen that’s part physics, part miracle, and part legend in the mak...

It started with good news — a new home, a killer video game win, and a 16-year-old landing a premium seat to Mexico. But the real talk kicks in when the team questions whether side hustles are empowering or just exhausting. Shane asks if this “grind mindset” has gone too far, and Ryan wonders what he might’ve built if 13 years of gaming had been a business. The crew gets ho...

Woody was broken. With Christmas approaching, it looked like the most bizarre holiday mascot in Canada might miss the season — until Dalhousie tech experts rebuilt his face and voice just in time. The Mic Mac Mall tree is back, and yes, he still talks. Also in this Good News Tuesday episode: Point Pelee birders gear up for the 73rd annual winter bird count, a massive grassroots effort that b...

The job market is shifting — again. With layoffs, unstable wages, and endless side hustles, it’s harder than ever to build a future on a single paycheck. But what if Gen Z isn’t lost — what if they’re leading? Nancy D'Onofrio from Randstad Canada joins Shane to unpack how Gen Z is reshaping work: chasing growth, demanding purpose, and refusing to wait for permission....

It used to be social — now it’s just sales. In this Good News Tuesday episode, Shane and Ryan go off on the flood of fake self-help, algorithm bait, and sponsored nonsense taking over Instagram. From “five hacks to change your life” to “this is your sign to break up,” the feed has become a nonstop parade of unverified advice pretending to be truth. They talk sun...

Red flags, “this is your sign” advice, and hot takes on love are everywhere — but are they helping? Dr. Max Butterfield thinks not. From his viral content correcting bad advice to his deeper mission of fighting cognitive illusions, Max is on a mission to protect the internet from itself. In this powerful episode, Shane Hewitt gets personal with Max about the illusion of control,...

Roomba’s maker iRobot just went bankrupt — and a Chinese robotics giant is taking over. In this episode, Kris Abel explains why that signals a major shift in global tech power, and what it means for the future of smart home devices. We also get into Google Translate’s surprisingly emotional AI upgrade and why it changes how we understand languages online. And yes, that AI-generat...

Yes, that’s a real tip — and no, this episode isn’t what you think. In this hilarious and weirdly useful conversation, Bob Addison joins Shane to share the tech fumbles, family complaints, and self-improvement rabbit holes that come with holiday season chaos. He battles a login system that won’t send password resets, debates when to finally spend loyalty points, and explain...