The Big Story

Plus: Could the ill-fated ship be ground-zero for the next pandemic, how close is a potential peace deal in Iran, the U-S secretary of state is at the Vatican, most Canadians support bans on social media and AI for kids, and the Prime Minister will host Dutch royalty ahead of the annual Tulip Festival. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:...

In early April, the luxury cruise liner MV Hondius set sail from Argentina across the Atlantic ocean, but things did not go as planned. Since then, three people have died and three others had to be evacuated for emergency medical treatment-- including the ship's doctor-- as they deal with an outbreak of Hantavirus. Now, passengers are still quarantined on the ship, as the World Health Organization...

Plus: Trump is threatening to bomb Iran if the country doesn't reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a big win for Canada's aviation industry, Ontario will lower the early screening age for colorectal cancer, one researcher says the study of a massive tsunami in Alaska is a warning that we need better monitoring, and can Canada unclog it's housing market? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as sugge...

A lot of the housing conversation goes towards first-time home buyers...but what about second-time? Or those looking to downsize? A clogged-up housing market is a problem that affects Canadians in all life stages. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Dr. Mike Moffat, Founding Director of the Missing Middle Initiative at the University of Ottawa. They discuss how what's impacting Canadians from moving throu...

Plus: Hantavirus "cluster" on cruise ship, Iran war update, gunfire near the Washington Monument, the 2026 Census begins, and it's time for Canada's architecture to better reflect our values. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Canada is known for its vibrant culture and diversity, but you wouldn't know that from our architecture. It's no surprise that the bottom line plays a role into materials and design decisions of commercial, residential and cultural buildings, but is there a way Canada can balance creativity, budget and authenticity to have the best looking country? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Alex Josephson, foun...

Plus: Carney visits Armenia, suspected Hantavirus outbreak, tariff relief announcement, Habs win, and who pays the price for privatization? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Mark Carney's government has floated the idea of privatizing Canadian airports, suggesting it will make them better. But with Canadians already fed up with air travel, as costs seem to go up while service goes down-- would that really be the result? And what would the move mean for airport workers across the country? Host Caryn Ceolin speaks with Siobhán Vipond, Vice President at the Canadian Labo...

Plus: The Bank of Canada governor says he's encouraged by the federal government's efforts to insulate the economy against future shocks, a new poll shows most Canadians are not comfortable with the direction of the national economy, Alberta marks a somber anniversary, Habs fans are preparing for Game 6, and one year later and two Nova Scotian kids are still missing. We love feedback at The Big St...

Almost exactly a year ago, six-year-old Lilly Sullivan and her four-year-old brother, Jack allegedly wandered into the woods near their family's home north of Halifax and never returned, leaving few clues as to what happened to them. The RCMP has since kept the details of the investigation tight-lipped, leaving the community, media and the country at large with more questions as time goes on. Host...

Plus: The families of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting victims are set to seek nearly 1-billion dollars in lawsuits against Open A-I, the Canadian economy sees growth in the first quarter, Canada will host a new NATO bank, the Prime Minister has named the new E-U ambassador, and how the boom in romance novels can help other media meet consumer needs. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as su...

If you've felt compelled to pick up a steamy, smutty book throughout the last few months, you wouldn't have been the first - and you probably won't be the last. It's no doubt romance novels are having their moment, and besides the books themselves, readers and consumers alike are going beyond the pages and diving into their respective worlds. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Deborah Aarts, a freelance...

Plus: Reaction to the federal spring economic statement, Trump threatens Iran, King Charles in the U.S., and Health Canada approves the first generic version of brand-name Ozempic We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Within minutes of news that shots rang out at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, online spaces were filled with the 'what ifs'. Conspiracy theories and fringe narratives continue to dominate the noise surrounding the latest attempt at assassinating US President Donald Trump, spreading disinformation while simultaneously tainting the opportunity for meaningful and critical dialogue. Host Caryn...

Plus: One year of Mark Carney, the UAE says it will leave OPEC, King Charles in the U.S., the Royal Canadian Mint launches a review, and who is being inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

The Davos speech, the tariff profile, and now the Canada Strong Fund. It's been a busy year for Mark Carney since being elected as Canada's 24th Prime Minister this day last year, and as Canadians face tough economic and geopolitical uncertainty, we're taking a look back at how Carney has managed to bring the country together through some of the year's - and Canada's - rockiest moments. Host Caryn...

Plus: Tehran is reaching out to Russia for support, a preview of tomorrow's interest rate announcement, Carney unveils the country's first national sovereign wealth fund, Canadians appear to want the government to focus more on affordability, and the real cost of foreign sloapaganga on Canadian democracy. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find u...

It started with mispronunciations-- saying "Regina" wrong, or saying "Atlanta" instead of "Alberta"-- but it spiraled into so much more. With their interest piqued, the Media Ecosystem Observatory began looking into a network of dozens of YouTube channels claiming to be covering Canadian politics from an Albertan perspective, and they found faceless, Dutch content creators to be behind the videos...

Plus: U.S. alcohol will likely stay off Canadian shelves until the tariffs are dropped, U.S. officials provide an update this morning on the war in Iran, Canadians, once again, not making as many trips to the states, the Michael Jackson biopic hits the big screen today, and should Canada consider a smoke-free generation? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes...

The British government is set to ban the sale of cigarettes to anyone born after 2008 - raising both hopes that it could create the first smoke-free generation, but also doubts about whether it could actually be enforced. The legislation also puts limits on the sale and consumption of vape products. Host Maria Kestane speaks with Michael Chaiton, a Senior Scientist at the Centre for Addiction and...

FINTRAC is warning young people from India are being used for extortion schemes in Canada, a rare late-night sitting at Queen's Park to debate Ontario Premier Doug Ford's controversial budget bill, two trains in Denmark crash in what police are calling a major incident, and how the jet fuel crisis will impact your travel plans. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future e...

It's the time of year where Canadians would usually start putting their summer travel plans on paper, but this year looks different. Fuel shortages, however, have forced a number of airlines - including Air Canada - to cancel several routes for months, upending where and how Canadians spend their summer. Host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Lorn Sheehan, professor of strategy and tourism at Dalhousie Unive...

Plus: Mark Carney's Liberal government are planning to update House of Commons rules, Canada-U.S. trade talks, tensions in the Strait of Hormuz are ramping up a day after Trump extended a ceasefire with Iran, an update on the mass shooting in Mexico, and Avi Lewis wants to shrink your grocery bill. Can he? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find...

NDP Leader Avi Lewis is pushing Carney's newly-elected majority government to enact legislation that would ban surveillance pricing. This would mean businesses would not be allowed to use your personal data like search history to change their pricing. It comes less than a month after he was elected as the leader of the Federal NDP, and alongside another idea to help food affordability: public groc...

Plus: Poilievre accuses Carney of "pushing fear" in his recent address to Canadians, can the U.S.-Iran ceasefire be extended, a Canadian was killed in a mass shooting in Mexico, the murder charges against Kenneth Law are expected to be withdrawn, and the Neffy could pave the way for Canada's future in allergy care. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You...