Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Emma Stone stars in a surreal sci-fi fantasy from visionary director Yorgos Lanthimos — and it’s just the beginning. This solo episode tracks the season’s boldest new film releases, weaving together gothic monsters, tech-haunted mysteries, and a dose of Halloween nostalgia. Explore Guillermo del Toro’s reimagined Frankenstein , dive into the unsettling world of Dream Eater...

AI is changing how people search, think, and decide — but can it be trusted? Mohit Rajhans breaks down the shift from Google to tools like ChatGPT, where speed often wins over accuracy. He shares why businesses must treat automation as a complement, not a replacement, for human understanding. This conversation examines the risks of misplaced trust, the limits of machine context, and what hap...

Movember didn’t start as a global campaign — it started with facial hair and a question: what if we could use mustaches to change how men think about health? Since then, it’s raised more than $1.5 billion and sparked life-saving conversations worldwide. Todd Minerson of Movember joins to talk about how the campaign transformed the way we address prostate cancer, mental health, an...

What if time was more than just hours and years — what if it was something to celebrate? Bob Addison shares how he used a time calculator to mark his son’s 5,000th day on Earth, transforming a quirky number into a meaningful family milestone. This episode explores how playful engagement with time can spark lasting traditions. From using Wolfram Alpha to track life events to creating ne...

Some songs don’t age — they echo. Smashing Pumpkins' "1979" captures the raw ache of adolescence with a sound that blends grit and dream. In this episode, Shane and Ryan unpack why this track still resonates, tracing its themes of freedom, regret, and identity. The conversation journeys through lyrical interpretations, Gen X nostalgia, and cultural shifts like the end of disco and base...

1979 was a year of seismic shifts — in sports, politics, and pop culture. In this solo “Throwback Thursday” edition, Shane revisits the events that shaped a generation, from the WHA-NHL merger that launched Wayne Gretzky into superstardom to the political upheaval that defined Canada and the world. Dive into the moment Joe Clark became (and quickly ceased to be) Prime Minister, t...

Coffee may fuel the world, but in Colombia, its cultivation comes at a dangerous price. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois brings an emotional account of the violence faced by farmers resisting cartel control — where oppression, kidnapping, and fear are daily threats. This episode explores the crisis at the heart of Colombian agriculture, where innovation and resilience are needed to push back against c...

Alberta’s government is making waves with its use of the notwithstanding clause — and the implications are profound. In this episode, Shane Hewitt and Rob Breakenridge unpack what it means for collective bargaining rights, democratic norms, and the future of Alberta’s education system. From the forced end to a teacher strike to the broader challenge of attracting and retaining ed...

Fear isn’t just a feeling — it’s a survival system hardwired into the brain. Neuroscientist Dr. Samantha Yammine explains how the amygdala triggers the fight or flight response and what that cascade of cortisol and adrenaline actually means for how we react, cope, and sometimes spiral. In this episode, explore how fear functions as both a protective tool and a challenge to mental...

In 1979, a baseball promotion turned into a cultural reckoning. The Chicago White Sox’s “Disco Demolition Night” invited fans to bring disco records to be blown up on the field — all for a $1 ticket. But when 50,000 people showed up, chaos followed. Ed Conroy of http://retrontario.com breaks down the bizarre, unforgettable events at Comiskey Park. From the radio shock jock...

Richard Crouse joins Shane Hewitt for a genre-hopping double feature — starting with a walk through the “ABCs of Horror” and ending with a wild ride through pop culture’s strangest corners. In the first half, they dig into iconic horror films from A Quiet Place to Candyman, exploring what makes fear fun, cinematic, and unforgettable — plus spooky cocktails to match. T...

From the Clearwater Monster to conspiracy theories that never die, Nathan Radke explores how the human mind turns stories into “truth.” In conversation with Shane Hewitt, he breaks down the psychology of belief — why pseudoscience spreads, how hoaxes evolve into cultural touchstones, and what it takes to challenge them. Using the Clearwater case as a lens, the two reflect on the...

What is the scariest sound in a horror movie, anyway? Ever notice how the quietest moments in a movie feel the most intense? Shane Hewitt and James Deaville dive into the psychology of sound — how directors and composers use audio cues to create fear and anticipation. As a film sound scholar, James reveals why subtle noises like dripping water or footsteps can feel more unsettling than jump...

DESCRIPTION: Why does a curve ball actually curve? Athi Selvadurai breaks down the Magnus effect — the science behind how spin, air pressure, and motion create lift on a ball in flight. Through simple analogies and sports examples, he explains how faster airflow reduces pressure and redirects the ball’s path. The discussion connects physics to performance, revealing how understanding l...

PART 1 What keeps Canadians glued to the screen — or in the stands — during late-night Blue Jays games? Jamie Ellerton and Lindsay Broadhead join Shane Hewitt to capture the energy, emotion, and sense of community that baseball brings. They share stories of exhaustion and exhilaration, ticket scrambles, and game-day rituals, revealing how sports unite people across the country. This ep...

Scary movies are dumb (Shane’s words.. No worry). Not everyone loves a good scare — and that’s okay. Ryan O’Donnell joins Shane Hewitt for a playful guide to surviving horror movies without losing sleep. From choosing the right genre to avoiding themes that hit too close to home, Ryan explains how to make fear fun and even find laughs in the process. He shares his personal...

Space looks glamorous — until you have to live there. Greg Fish joins Shane Hewitt to peel back the shiny promises of space colonization, exposing the gritty realities of confinement, sanitation, and survival. Together they question the grand visions sold by Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, asking whether humanity is ready for the social and psychological toll of life off-world. The discussion blen...

Why do we pay to be scared? Natasha Bailey unpacks why fear fascinates us — from haunted houses to horror films — and what it teaches about control, anxiety, and resilience. She explains how simulated fear offers a safe space to test boundaries, manage uncertainty, and even build confidence. The conversation reveals how people who struggle with anxiety experience fear differently and w...

What happens when a country built for one era wakes up in another? Journalist Matt Gurney lays out a candid diagnosis of Canada’s post-war hangover — a mix of nostalgia, denial, and misplaced optimism that’s slowing adaptation to new economic and political realities. This episode unpacks why the old playbook no longer works, what needs to change in Canada’s collective minds...

Meteorologist Jim Abraham joins Shane Hewitt to explore how weather forecasting is evolving — from storm physics to the psychology of how we talk about risk. He explains why accountability and communication are just as critical as technology, and how artificial intelligence could reshape forecasting accuracy. The conversation moves beyond definitions like “hurricane” or “po...

It’s not all bad news in Canadian politics — awareness is growing, and complacency is finally being challenged. This Good News Tuesday episode looks at why recognizing our political comfort zone is actually a sign of progress. The conversation reframes “the Trump effect” as a mirror, not a cause, showing how Canada’s stability can become strength when matched with hon...

This Good News Tuesday is packed with stories that prove optimism still thrives — from the energy of a Blue Jays crowd to the resilience of fans and athletes alike. A highlight comes from Michelle Beer, who found purpose and healing through baseball after a difficult health journey. The episode also celebrates Denise Bacon, who played clarinet during brain surgery, and Cameron Rogers, whose...

On this Good News Tuesday, Shane Hewitt and Ryan O'Donnell share an inspiring story from the world of film — one that proves passion can turn into reality. “Shelby Oaks,” directed by longtime YouTuber and critic Chris Stuckman, follows a sister’s haunting search for her missing sibling. But behind the camera, it’s also a story of perseverance: a $1.3 million Kickstart...

Few people see nature’s raw power up close — but George Kourounis has made it his life’s work. In this conversation, the explorer and storm chaser breaks down Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 system pounding Jamaica with winds near 295 km/h. He explains what it’s like to witness the “stadium effect” from inside the eye of a storm and why predicting hurricane stre...