Canadaland

Most of us find joy in melodies and rhythms. Catchy tunes we hear at the coffee shop, in the mall, or even muzak in the elevator can get stuck in our heads. That's what happened to Anya. Except, music did not bring her joy; it felt like torture. When songs got stuck in Anya's head, they would not stop; the music was loud, pounding incessantly, and it left her bewildered, exhausted, and desperate for a cure. Her condition stumped doctors for years. Then, hope. Via a new kind of brain surgery, pioneered, in part, here in Canada.Content warning: Today’s episode talks about suicide ideation. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please take care as you listen. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Avis Favaro (Reporter), Kevin O'Keefe (Reporter), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Additional music by Audio Networ

Google is found in a U.S. ruling to have an illegal monopoly on search. Michael Geist joins to compare the American antitrust approach to Big Tech to Canadian taxation efforts.An alleged ISIS terrorist attack is narrowly avoided in Toronto, but who was it targeting? Why communities need access to information at times of heightened risk, and how antisemitism keeps getting downplayed in Canada. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Michael GeistEditor’s Notes: The image and title for this episode was chosen solely by the publisher, not the editorial team.This piece states that hate crimes against Jews rose 100% last year. The year referred to 2023. Further reading on our Website Sponsors: Squarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.&nbs

Justin Ling has kind of had it. While the veteran political journalist has endless patience for people in power trying to do the right thing, he can’t stand when a government refuses to see reality. So when Canada’s Heritage Minister reacted with surprise to the suggestion that, despite everything her government’s done for it, the country’s news media is still worse off than ever – well, that’s enough to radicalize a fella.On this week’s show, Karyn and Jonathan talk to Justin about his dispiriting interview with Pascale St-Onge, why he believes the Trudeau government’s efforts to save the media have been across-the-board failures, and what it would take to actually turn things around for this industry before it finally collapses and takes Canada’s democracy down with it.Correction: in an earlier version of this podcast it was stated 88 per cent of Canadians did not know Meta had wiped news from its platforms, this has been corrected. The number is 78 per cent.Host: Karyn PuglieseGuest: Justin LingCredit

Pour la première fois, les Jeux Olympiques comptent autant d’athlètes hommes que d’athlètes femmes. Pourtant, parité ne signifie pas égalité. Que ce soit sur les terrains de sport ou dans les salles de nouvelles qui leur sont dédiées, femmes et hommes ne reçoivent ni les mêmes moyens ni un traitement égal. Pour cette émission, Emilie Nicolas reçoit Emna Achour, ex-journaliste sportive reconvertie en humoriste. Emna lève le voile sur les coulisses de ces rédactions et analyse les différences de traitement entre athlètes femmes et athlètes hommes. En deuxième partie, Emilie et Emna s’intéressent au rôle de l’humour et des humoristes dans l’analyse des nouvelles, un rôle que notre invitée perçoit comme étant éminemment politique.For the first time, the Olympic Games showcase as many male athletes as female athletes. But parity does not mean equality. Whether on sports fields or in newsrooms dedicated to sports, women and men don’t benefit from the same resources, nor do they receive equal treatment. On today’s s

Drones make headlines at the Paris Olympics, and it’s all Canadian soccer’s fault. Mattea Roach joins Jonathan Goldsbie to consider the narratives around cheating in sports, and why it’s less personal than it was with Ben Johnson. Plus, why exactly does Postmedia want to acquire Atlantic Canada newspaper chain SaltWire? Breaking down the economics of vulture capitalism in Canadian media and what it would take to actually save local news.Host: Jonathan GoldsbieCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Production Manager),  Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Mattea Roach Further reading on our website Sponsors: Squarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. Douglas:  Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FR

@DieWorkWear, also known as the Menswear Guy, on Twitter (or X), is a sensation — a critic, a teacher, and a gentleman. One million people follow him for his masterclasses on the outfits of the most famous and powerful men in the world. On this episode he sits down with Jesse Brown to reveal what our politicians’ clothes say about them. And what they’re trying to say to us through those clothes.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Additional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading:In elections, clothes matter. Kamala Harris needs to ditch the forgettable fashion and seize the spotlight — The Toronto Star10 Reasons Why Justin Trudeau Is the Most Stylish Politician Alive Right Now — GQA Chat with Jagmeet Singh, the Incredibly Well-Dressed Rising Star in Canadian Politics — GQPierre Poilievre drops the glasses as part of an image revamp — CBCSponsors: AG1

All this talk of major leaders stepping aside, but it’s the Mayor of Kamloops BC, Reid Hamer-Jackson, who has our attention. In a raucous ‘resignation related” press conference, Hamer-Jackson singles out one Kamloops media member, radio host Brett Mineer, in particular. Plus, Kamala Harris replaces Joe Biden, and the Canadian media revives her tenuous connections to Canada. Shouldn’t we be pressuring Trudeau to step aside? Jen Gerson explains why messianic ego and the Liberal’s lack of grit will keep Trudeau in place until the next election. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Jen Gerson Further reading on our website Sponsors: Douglas:  Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit dougla

Gabor Lukacs has won over 25 regulatory complaints against airlines - and even taken airlines to court to uphold the rights of passengers. But he doesn’t want to keep his methods a secret - he’s here to tell you how to get a refund, get compensation for a cancelled flight, and even what to do if you’re sitting on the tarmac for hours. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Cherise Seucharan (Reporter) max collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Featured guest: Gabor LukacsAdditional music by Audio Network Further reading:Supreme Court of Canada to hear appeal from airlines on air passenger rights compensation - Globe and MailHalf of all Canadian airline passenger complaints so far have been dismissed — with no explanation - Toronto StarBacklog of air passenger complaints tops 57,000, hitting new peak - CBC NewsAir Passenger Rights - Facebook Group Air Passenger Rights WebsiteAir Passenger Protection Legislation Highlights

D’après le Digital News Report 2024, 40% des Canadiens évitent souvent ou parfois de s’informer. Derrière cette fatigue informationnelle se trouvent différentes raisons comme l’accumulation de mauvaises nouvelles, leur quantité, leur piètre qualité et les émotions qu’elles nous font ressentir. Emilie Nicolas en parle avec la psychologue clinicienne, autrice et chroniqueuse Nathalie Plaat. Ensemble, elles analysent ce phénomène et s’interrogent sur la manière d’y faire face. En deuxième partie d’émission, on s’intéresse à la démocratisation de la psychologie et le rôle, parfois ambivalent, qu’elle joue dans l’espace public et l’espace médiatique. Université Laval’s “Centre d’études sur les médias” 2024 Digital News Report shows 40 per cent of Canadians often or sometimes stay away from the news. They’re doing it to avoid all the “bad” news: the sheer quantity of it, the poor quality of it, how it makes us feel, and how it piles up day after day. How do we deal with the seemingly never-ending bad-news cycl

Do we need to “dial down” our political rhetoric in Canada, following the attempted assassination of Trump? Canadian journalism icon Jan Wong joins us to consider Canadian responses to American political violence. Plus, following the death of Canadian author Alice Munro, the truth has finally emerged about her husband’s sexual assault of her daughter Andrea Robin Skinner. CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this episode, we incorrected referred to Alberta Premier Danielle Smith as “Allison Smith”. An updated version of this episode has fixed the error.Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Jan Wong Further reading:  Alberta premier calls on 'progressive' politicians to 'dial down' rhetoric after attack on Trump | CBC News UBC, Guelph look into posts made by profs after Trump shooting | CBC News Pierre Poilievre worries about threats against his family — but

Today we are bringing you a sneak preview of an incredibly urgent, deeply compelling piece of audio journalism from Radio France. It was originally broadcast in French and was heaped with critical acclaim including the most prestigious prize in radio, The Prix Italia. It has now been translated into English and we have the privilege of bringing it to you. It's called Inside Kabul.In the summer of 2021, the Taliban returns to power in Afghanistan and the destinies of two young women, Raha and Marwa, are forever changed. As they contemplate their futures, Raha and Marwa exchange and record hundreds of voice notes with noted French journalist Caroline Gillet.What emerges is a raw and incredibly intimate chronicle of two young women coming of age amidst the collapse of the world they had known. Inside Kabul tells a universal story of friendship, bravery and the meaning of home. Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free.You can listen ad-free on A

For forty years, Hal Newman worked in Emergency Medical Services. After retiring, he decided to start an online platform, The Last Ambulance, where he investigates the problems he saw in the EMS system. Messages started pouring in from EMS workers from across the country. Now his platform has become a voice for many health care and emergency service workers who are demoralized, exhausted, hanging on by a thread – and who are afraid to speak publicly about what is happening inside the system. Despite having worked in the system for so long, he didn’t realize just how broken it was until he started publishing The Last Ambulance.Host: Karyn PuglieseCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Additional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading:Chaque second compte — The Last AmbulanceYet Another Preventable Tragedy in Montreal — The Last AmbulanceA Child Dies as Ambulances Stall o

Over the past two weeks, the media has suddenly become experts in diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders following Biden’s stumbles at the debate. Canadian Youtuber J.J. McCullough joins Justin Ling to dissect this presidential testing of our patience. Then, the Liberals are serious about stemming disinformation, and that’s why they’re paying social media influencers to spread government messages. Why this approach to disinformation won’t work and some ideas on what might.Host: Justin LingCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: J.J. McCullough Further reading: The media has been breathlessly attacking Biden. What about Trump? | Margaret Sullivan | The Guardian Parkinson’s Expert Visited the White House Eight Times in Eight Months - The New York Times Will the online harms bill add enforcement, or just bureaucracy? PBO says Canadians will decide | CBC News Michael Taube: Google par

In the spring of 2023, The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Reporting was awarded to then CTV W5 correspondent, Molly Thomas, for her special project on education in Afghanistan.Then, as part of a series of nation-wide cuts from Bell Media, Molly was laid off and the story was shelved.That’s where Canadaland stepped in.We’ve teamed up with Molly and the Michener-Deacon Fellowship to produce Dear Taliban, a new three-part investigation. Today we share episode two.Dear Taliban spans three continents, taking listeners from the vice-regal pomp and ceremony of Rideau Hall, to one of the toughest hostile-training programs in the world — all to prepare her for a complex and volatile area of South Asia.Host: Karyn PuglieseCredits: Molly Thomas (Reporter), Riley Nimens (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor) Max Collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Additional music by Audio Netwo

In the spring of 2023, The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Reporting was awarded to then CTV W5 correspondent, Molly Thomas, for her special project on education in Afghanistan.Then, as part of a series of nation-wide cuts from Bell Media, Molly was laid off and the story was shelved.That’s where Canadaland stepped in.We’ve teamed up with Molly and the Michener-Deacon Fellowship to produce Dear Taliban, a new three-part investigation. Today we share episode two.Dear Taliban spans three continents, taking listeners from the vice-regal pomp and ceremony of Rideau Hall, to one of the toughest hostile-training programs in the world — all to prepare her for a complex and volatile area of South Asia.Host: Karyn PuglieseCredits: Molly Thomas (Reporter), Riley Nimens (Associate Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Additional music by Audio NetworkSponsors: Douglas: Cana

En février 2022, les grands médias occidentaux envoyaient des journalistes en Ukraine couvrir les premiers temps de l’invasion russe. Émissions spéciales, directs avec l’Ukraine et dossiers consacrés à la guerre fleurissaient dans les journaux, à la radio et au téléjournal. Qu’en est-il aujourd’hui, alors que le conflit israelo-palestinien occupe les esprits? Emilie reçoit Pierre Alonso, journaliste indépendant installé à Kyiv, pour faire le point sur deux années de journalisme de guerre et sur la vie quotidienne dans un pays encore sous les bombes. Dans la deuxième partie de l’émission, Emilie et Pierre s’intéressent aux journalistes ukrainiens et à leur travail. Limités par la loi martiale imposant des contraintes éditoriales, les journalistes locaux réinventent leur rôle tout en menant une lutte acharnée contre la corruption.In February 2022, major Western media outlets sent journalists to Ukraine to cover the early stages of the Russian invasion. Special shows, direct broadcasts with Ukraine and long piec

It’s been a tough week for leadership in North America, with calls for resignation dominating the headlines on both sides of the border. Paul Wells joins Emilie Nicolas to discuss the larger global context around Trudeau’s recent struggles, and how the international rise of the far right is an important and underreported factor in Canadian politics. Then, Biden loses the debate and the New York Times. Unpacking the editorial board’s call for the president to step aside. Host: Emilie NicolasCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), max collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Paul Wells Further reading: I know the inside story of the Liberal revolt against Justin Trudeau. How? I overheard it in a train station - Toronto StarThe West Misunderstands Its Own Far Right - Foreign PolicyPush it to the limit: What might be too extreme for Europe's far-right parties? | Euronews DiEM25 | @yanis.varoufakis on the political situation in F

“All I will say is that my scientific opinion is that there is something real going on in New Brunswick that absolutely cannot be explained by the bias or personal agenda of an individual neurologist.” Those are the words of Dr. Michael Coulthart, a microbiologist employed by our federal government, specifically by Public Health Canada. He’s talking about the mysterious neurological disease that is striking down people in New Brunswick. We were not supposed to read his words. They are from a leaked email obtained by Canadaland, first published by the newspaper The Guardian.Then there was another leaked email. Doctor Samuel Weiss, a neuroscientist and the scientific director of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. In his leaked email, he states, “I felt incredibly optimistic that an all out government effort to unravel the mystery was in the cards. However, in short order, the scientific effort was shut down at the request of the governments.”It’s nine years since the first case was documented. The numb

What’s going on in Han Dong’s defamation case against Global News? Last week, Ontario Superior Court Justice Paul Perell made a decision in that case. And, rightly or wrongly, it was scorching.With The Epoch Times at the centre of a fraudulent money-laundering crypto scam, what does that mean for the Canadian columnists who write for them? Jonathan dives into the strange world of Shen Yun, Falun Gong, and propaganda rags.Host: Jonathan GoldsbieCredits: Aviva Lessard (Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)Guest: Lisa Taylor Further reading: Judge finds no documentation to support Global News' reporting on Han Dong allegations - The Canadian PressDong v. Global News Reasons for Decision - Ontario Superior Court of Justice (via Polley Faith)Han Dong was warned by Liberal Party member that CSIS was watching him, national security source says - The Globe and MailGlobal News defends reporting in face of Han Dong lawsuit (2023) - The Canadian Pres

This was a time when Assange and other punks like him were running circles around governments. It seemed like the ability for the powers that be to keep secrets was over. It was just done. Thanks to Assange et al we were going to know if a cell phone company was surveying everyone. We were going to know if a government assassinated a bunch of people who turned out to be journalists. We were going to know. And between Anonymous and Wikileaks and Edward Snowden, it was happening in a way that felt like it was a force of nature, and there was no containing it. The authorities, what could they do? Information wanted to be free.Then, it all ended. Julian Assange has been rotting away in Belmarsh prison in the UK. Edward Snowden tweets from Russia. Wikileaks. When's the last time they released anything? The Empire struck back. There were arrests, there were accusations, and the machine was surprisingly effective and merciless in containing the free flow of information and government secrets. That's what happened to