Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Writing a letter used to mean something. It still does — if we let it. In this reflective and timely conversation, Sarba Sohail and Shane Hewitt explore how the loss of pen-and-paper communication has impacted emotional health, memory, and even basic human connection. From unreadable cursive to the rise of digital signatures, Sarba unpacks the ripple effects of a world that types instead of...

Espionage isn’t in the shadows anymore — it’s everywhere, and we’re often part of it without even knowing. Shane Hewitt is joined by former CSIS Asia Pacific chief Michel Juneau-Katsuya to unpack a world where spies operate in plain sight, AI manipulates thought, and “cognitive warfare” becomes a recognized tool of state control. From Jimmy Lai’s convictio...

Ever wondered why money tips never seem to stick? Jessica Moorhouse has the answer — and it starts with your childhood. In this episode, the bestselling author of Everything About Money explains how financial patterns get wired deep, long before your first credit card. Learn why smart people still overspend, how emotional triggers sabotage good habits, and why most money books totally miss t...

Christmas mode has officially flipped — but not without a strange twist in the headlines. Shane Hewitt and Ryan O'Donnell share a moment of festive reflection, from holiday mall runs to movie nights, before diving into the shocking and tragic death of Rob Reiner. With misinformation swirling and Trump’s inflammatory post stealing attention, the episode cuts through the noise to honour...

Handy Holiday Tech Ideas Is it sock-sock-shoe-shoe or sock-shoe-sock-shoe? That lighthearted debate sets the tone as Shane reconnects with Handy Andy for a playful but packed episode full of nostalgia and tech. The conversation weaves through childhood memories, Mr. Dressup, stolen parenting moments — and lands in a high-tech wishlist built for today’s smart homes and gaming families....

In one of his final interviews, Rob Reiner spoke with Richard Crouse about love, laughter, and a life spent telling unforgettable stories. That conversation now holds new weight. Richard recounts the warmth, wit, and brilliance Rob brought to every project — from Stand By Me to Misery — and the playfulness that defined his off-camera presence. The episode touches on Reiner’s impr...

Is it still a gift if it’s 3,600 plastic pieces and costs more than rent? In this millennial Christmas breakdown, Shane walks through Ryan O’Donnell’s guide to what younger adults actually want — and it’s not minimalism. Think travel vouchers, Uber Eats gift cards, and crowdfunding your way to a down payment. There’s real insight buried under the sarcasm: the ri...

Ferraris and Porsche 911s top the search lists — but that’s not what people are driving off the lot. Baris Akyurek from AutoTrader breaks down the gap between car dreams and real-world purchases in a high-cost, low-supply market. Find out why used car prices are still climbing, how Canadians are stretching payments to afford vehicles, and what rising costs mean for everything from mont...

Hazards on. Creeping at 40. Terrified behind the wheel. Lorraine Sommerfeld calls it like it is: being afraid on the road doesn’t make it safer — it makes it worse. In this episode, Lorraine joins Shane to talk winter driving realities, including Canada’s move-over laws, what to do (and not do) during a breakdown, and why “I’m scared” lights are a problem &mdash...

Most people think Special Olympics is just about one big event — but they’re missing the real story. CEO Gail Hamamoto and athlete-advocate Callum Denault reveal what actually happens behind the scenes: 40,000 athletes, 20,000 volunteers, year-round training, and life-changing health programs that go far beyond sport. Discover how Special Olympics Canada is helping people with intellec...

Would You Trust Your Neighbor to Kill a Monster? A child’s imagination or a deadly truth? In Dust Bunny , grief and horror collide when a young girl enlists her shady neighbor to destroy what she believes ate her family. Steve Stebbing joins Shane Hewitt to dissect this unsettling premise — and why it just might work. The episode also unpacks Ella McCay , a political-family comedy grou...

When did giving one perfect gift become harder than wrapping a dozen? This episode unpacks the shift from childhood Christmas wonder to adult gift anxiety — and why some of us secretly miss the mess. Shane Hewitt reflects on simpler holidays, the pressure to make one meaningful gift count, and what it says about how our needs and memories evolve. Co-host Ryan O'Donnell shares a vivid story a...

Time travel stories aren’t really about machines — they’re about regret, possibility, and what we’d risk to rewrite our lives. In this episode, Robert J. Sawyer joins Shane Hewitt to unpack the deeper psychology behind time travel fiction and why it resonates so deeply. From The Time Machine to FlashForward , Sawyer explores how time stories let us speak uncomfortable truth...

You don’t have to lie to protect your child’s feelings — but you also don’t have to crush their imagination. In this practical and compassionate episode, Victoria Talwar explains how to navigate hard conversations with kids while respecting their age, emotions, and fantasy worlds. Explore the psychology behind childhood storytelling, grief, and emotional regulation. From &l...

If Canada Got a Do-Over, What Should It Fix First? If you had a time machine and could send Canada back — what mistake would you correct? Andrew Caddell joins Shane Hewitt to answer that question with clarity and conviction, offering one moment in Canadian history he believes must be rethought to better shape the present. Then, Jimmy Zoubris flips the script with a trip to the future: what s...

What happens to the digital life you forgot about? Mohit Rajhans joins Shane Hewitt to unpack the rising risks of neglected social profiles — from outdated photos to AI-curated content you never approved. With platforms shifting, charging for storage, and repurposing your history, the digital past may come back to haunt. Hear why a shrinking social media user base signals a cultural shift, h...

Trivial Pursuit wasn’t designed in a corporate boardroom — it was dreamed up by two Canadian journalists over beers and a Scrabble game. Journalist and historian Taylor C. Noakes joins Shane Hewitt to reveal the wild, unlikely backstory of one of the world’s best-selling board games. Discover how a simple idea turned into a cultural juggernaut, why the game's design was a game-ch...

Food delivery exploded — and now so has the cost. In this episode, Ryan O’Donnell walks through a side-by-side cost breakdown of groceries, meal kits, and pre-made meals, showing how easy it is to spend over $800 a month on food without even realizing it. Shane Hewitt adds real-world insight on time, travel, and what people don’t factor in when they “opt out” of groce...

Some childhood memories age well. Others would get you arrested. In this nostalgic trip back to 1979, Shane Hewitt shares his first-ever memory — a cross-country road trip riding in the bed of a pickup truck… on his fourth birthday. This Throwback Thursday turns into a hilarious and reflective look at the wild, weird, and definitely-not-okay-by-today’s-standards stuff our famili...

Smoking in taxis. Kids tethered in the back window of a Barracuda. A Ford Pinto packed like a clown car. This episode asks one big question: what did your family do in the past that would never fly today? Shane Hewitt shares wild listener throwbacks from 1979, adding his own stories of smoky rides and sketchy road trips. From pipelines and grocery prices to the launch of the Walkman and Gretzky jo...

Dollarama sells food — but where do we draw the line? Sylvain Charlebois dives into the economics of dollar store groceries, brand deals, and why chilled foods still pose a challenge. He explains how shelf-stable items, vendor loyalty, and private label packaging give Dollarama a major edge — even if marinated pork tongue never becomes a top seller. Shane and Sylvain also debate food d...

Sent to the store alone. Smoked around indoors. Hitchhiked without question. Rob Breakenridge and Shane Hewitt dig into the cultural whiplash of growing up in the 70s and how today’s parents — often the same kids from back then — became so risk-averse. From Sesame Street memories to real-world parenting shifts, the conversation blends humor with insight. Then it turns serious, to...

Online fraud isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a global criminal industry stealing billions from Canadians each year. Detective Dave Coffey explains how AI has supercharged scams and why the most dangerous ones now look completely legit. From tax “loophole” cons to phishing emails that know your name, address, and banking info, this episode uncovers the new frontier of fra...

Care Bears, Dungeons & Dragons, and Strawberry Shortcake all trace back to 1979 — not the ’80s. Ed Conroy reveals how one overlooked year shaped a decade of imagination, play, and cultural identity. In this nostalgic-yet-insightful Throwback Thursday, Ed breaks down why 1979 was a turning point: board games got deeper, toys started speaking to personality, and the rise of the hobby...

What Do You Get a Wookiee for Christmas? Yes, that’s a real song. Richard Crouse takes us deep into pop culture oddities, including the legendary (and legendarily awful) Star Wars Holiday Special . They also talk about viral teen slang forcing fast food chains to adapt, a digital-only “reality” show run entirely by AI, and a chaotic streak of celebrity ambushes that’s earne...