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The Decibel
The Decibel
The Globe and Mail

Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story... more

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Episodes

Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season

A lot of Canada is on fire right now – fires are burning in nearly every province and territory and... more

07 Jun 2023 · 19 minutes
What on Earth is going on with consumer spending?

Canadians have been dealing with high inflation for two years now. But, as consumers, we keep spending. However, the picture... more

06 Jun 2023 · 18 minutes
Violence is rising in schools. How do we stop it?

The Toronto District School Board – the largest school board in the country – recently reported that more than 300... more

05 Jun 2023 · 16 minutes
A warning sign from the Big Banks of a possible recession

The six biggest banks in Canada – RBC, Scotiabank, BMO, CIBC, TD, and National Bank recently reported their second-quarter earnings.... more

02 Jun 2023 · 19 minutes
Inside Kyiv under fire ahead of the Ukrainian counteroffensive

After months of relative quiet in Kyiv, the city has been under attack this week by Russian drones and missiles.... more

01 Jun 2023 · 22 minutes
A divided Alberta: What comes next?

Alberta is a province with a long history of conservative rule. And on Monday, Danielle Smith and the UCP added... more

31 May 2023 · 19 minutes
Emergency rooms in Canada head into another tough summer

Throughout the pandemic, Canadians were warned about the potential collapse of emergency rooms. ERs were stretched to the limit, as... more

30 May 2023 · 19 minutes
The pandemic potential of avian flu

Avian influenza is getting more serious each year, as an unprecedented number of birds either succumb to the virus or... more

29 May 2023 · 18 minutes
What Turkey’s election means for the rest of the world

With a cost-of-living crisis and rampant inflation, there’s a lot on the line for Turkey in the runoff election on... more

26 May 2023 · 19 minutes
You’re not wrong, allergies are getting worse

Seasonal allergies are getting worse all across North America, in large part due to changes in pollen driven by climate... more

25 May 2023 · 18 minutes
Why there won’t be a public inquiry into Chinese interference

Former governor general David Johnston has ruled out a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canada’s elections, despite ongoing calls... more

24 May 2023 · 20 minutes
The race to regulate artificial intelligence

Whether you like it or not, AI is everywhere. It unlocks your phone through facial recognition, it manages spam emails... more

23 May 2023 · 18 minutes
Your upcoming flights might be cancelled, here’s why

Experts are anticipating another chaotic season of air travel in the coming months. Along with ongoing labour disputes, Canadian airlines... more

19 May 2023 · 17 minutes
Inside the greenhouse above the Arctic Circle

Two hundred and fifty kilometres above the Arctic Circle is a greenhouse that provides fresh local produce to its community.... more

18 May 2023 · 20 minutes
As Alberta burns, an election looms

Wildfires are raging across Alberta with early-season fires forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. Firefighters from across the country and... more

17 May 2023 · 19 minutes
Canada looks to India as ties with China fray

China is Canada’s second-largest trading partner, but tensions continue to rise between the two countries over allegations of foreign interference... more

16 May 2023 · 18 minutes
Is COVID over?

On May 5th the World Health Organization declared the end of the COVID-19 emergency. But what does that mean for... more

15 May 2023 · 19 minutes
Why BlackBerry’s rise and fall still matters

BlackBerry changed our lives when it created the world’s first commercially successful smartphone. But its dominance was disrupted and the... more

12 May 2023 · 21 minutes
The view from China on foreign interference in Canada

On Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Canada’s expulsion of Chinese diplomat, Zhao Wei for allegations of foreign interference.... more

11 May 2023 · 19 minutes
Canada’s extraordinary expulsion of a Chinese diplomat

On May 8, Canada expelled Chinese diplomat Zhao Wei in response to China’s interference in Canadian politics. The extraordinary move... more

10 May 2023 · 18 minutes
The problems with the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

In 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to help millennials hoping to buy a first home with a new program,... more

09 May 2023 · 20 minutes
How ‘black swan’ events are ruining economic predictions

Economic predictions can be incredibly important for companies and governments trying to plan for the months and year ahead –... more

08 May 2023 · 20 minutes
Why Charles III won’t be the last King of Canada

On Saturday, King Charles III will be crowned in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London. This is the first... more

05 May 2023 · 18 minutes
Ford and the never-ending Ontario Place saga

When Ontario Place first opened in 1971, it was a jewel on Toronto’s waterfront showcasing modern architecture and Ontario culture.... more

04 May 2023 · 23 minutes
The missing 2 billion trees Trudeau promised

In 2021, the federal government began a project to plant two billion trees by 2031. The goal of this project... more

03 May 2023 · 23 minutes
How a new Canadian law will change what’s on your Netflix

The Online Streaming Act is officially law. Now, online streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify have to promote and... more

02 May 2023 · 20 minutes
Take Back Alberta and its mission to reshape politics

The Alberta election starts today – and one group in particular is ready for it. It’s called Take Back Alberta... more

01 May 2023 · 21 minutes
The bureaucratic mess that’s left Afghans stranded

Back in September, we told you about some Afghans trying to flee the Taliban in 2021 who had been given... more

28 Apr 2023 · 20 minutes
How grocery prices are affecting kids at school

School food programs in Canada are struggling to make ends meet right now. With the high price of food, it’s... more

27 Apr 2023 · 20 minutes
What we’re getting wrong about climate refugees

Vietnam is in the midst of a dramatic shift caused by climate change. Some of the country’s most fertile land... more

26 Apr 2023 · 18 minutes
The bloody struggle for power in Sudan

Sudan is on the brink of civil war, after fighting broke out between the country’s military and a paramilitary group,... more

25 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
Why fewer people have confidence in childhood vaccines

Since the pandemic, confidence in childhood vaccines has decreased around the world, according to a new report by UNICEF. Before... more

24 Apr 2023 · 19 minutes
After a year of scandal, Hockey Canada gets its funding back

The federal government has restored its funding to Hockey Canada after removing it following the revelation that it settled a... more

21 Apr 2023 · 18 minutes
The start of one of the largest strikes in Canadian history

The largest public sector union in Canada went on strike on Wednesday after talks broke down with the government over... more

20 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
Why drag performers are the new focus of U.S. culture wars

Last month, Tennessee became the first state to pass-anti drag law and thirteen other U.S. states also have bills looking... more

19 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
Behind the Trudeau Foundation controversy

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation has been coming under fire in the past few weeks over a controversial donation it... more

18 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
The federally funded watchdog that hasn’t completed a single review

What happens when a Canadian company is accused of wrongdoing abroad? Well, in 2018, Ottawa announced the creation of a... more

17 Apr 2023 · 22 minutes
The Prime Minister’s rat-infested residence

Since 1951, 24 Sussex Drive has been the Prime Minister’s official residence. Recently, It’s been making international headlines, but for... more

14 Apr 2023 · 20 minutes
Russian hackers are targeting Canada for supporting Ukraine

Canadian officials have been warning since the war in Ukraine began of potential cyber attacks from Russia as retribution for... more

13 Apr 2023 · 18 minutes
How strong is Canada’s job market, really?

For months now, Canada’s unemployment rate has been hovering around 5 per cent – a near historic low. It’s a... more

12 Apr 2023 · 19 minutes
The search for First Nations women in Winnipeg landfills

On April 4, the body of Linda Mary Beardy, a woman from Lake St. Martin First Nation, was discovered at... more

11 Apr 2023 · 18 minutes
The story of the world’s most premature twins to survive

Adrial and Adiah Nadarajah are the youngest twins ever born to survive to their first birthday – they were born... more

10 Apr 2023 · 25 minutes
City Space: Are smart cities really such a smart idea?

The smart city movement — driven by the idea that we can leverage data and technology to optimize life in... more

09 Apr 2023 · 26 minutes
Medical mystery in New Brunswick leads to life-changing symptoms

Insomnia, dizziness, hallucinations – these are just a few of the life-changing symptoms that dozens of people have reported having... more

06 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
What we’re missing about the Trump indictment

On Tuesday, Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be indicted on criminal charges. He faces 34 felony... more

05 Apr 2023 · 22 minutes
Unscrambling Canada’s wireless industry post Rogers-Shaw merger

About two years after the merger was proposed, Rogers and Shaw are becoming one company. To ensure that this deal... more

04 Apr 2023 · 21 minutes
How the RCMP failed Nova Scotians during the mass shooting

The inquiry into Canada’s worst mass shooting has ended with the release of its final report. The 3,000 page document... more

03 Apr 2023 · 20 minutes
What asylum seekers face now at Roxham Road

The change came swiftly. A few hours after being announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. President Joe Biden,... more

31 Mar 2023 · 18 minutes
The little-known document reshaping climate finance in Canada

As Canada races to compete in the clean tech sector as countries work toward their net zero climate goals, investors... more

30 Mar 2023 · 17 minutes
The 2023 federal budget, in 23 minutes

The Canadian federal government unveiled its 2023 budget on Tuesday, which sets the economic strategy and tone for the next... more

29 Mar 2023 · 23 minutes
Swifties and Drake fans’ beef with Ticketmaster

The price of concert tickets has risen dramatically – with some tickets costing thousands of dollars. Ticketmaster, which controls a... more

28 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
The dark side of collagen

Collagen supplements are marketed as a holy grail anti-aging product. Bovine collagen is made from cattle hides, and a new... more

27 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
Stress Test: Why millennials and Gen Z are Alberta-bound for a more affordable life

In 2022, the number of people moving to Alberta hit its highest level in almost a decade. At the same... more

26 Mar 2023 · 26 minutes
Former governor-general Michaëlle Jean on Canada’s role in Haiti

Haiti is in crisis, after months of cholera outbreaks, a fuel and energy crisis, and violence. The UN estimates that... more

24 Mar 2023 · 21 minutes
Canada races the U.S. on a ‘green economy’

Canada has committed to going net-zero by 2050 and a big part of making that goal a reality is by... more

23 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
What’s behind a surge of cheating in universities

Allegations of academic misconduct at Canadian universities have risen sharply in the 2020 to 2021 school year as more and... more

22 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
The whistleblower on Chinese interference in Canada, in their words

The Globe and Mail has been reporting extensively on China’s interference in Canadian elections. This information came to light, in... more

21 Mar 2023 · 17 minutes
Former ambassador on why Canada needs a foreign agent registry

As revelations about China’s interference continue, so do calls for a foreign agent registry. The U.S. and Australia have registries... more

20 Mar 2023 · 20 minutes
The sounds of blind hockey

Oversized pucks clanging as they’re shot across the ice, the constant tapping of hockey sticks as players weave through oversized... more

17 Mar 2023 · 16 minutes
What Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse means for Canada

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank came swiftly after a panicked run on deposits. Despite the U.S. government enacting safeguards,... more

16 Mar 2023 · 21 minutes
When paying your mortgage doesn’t reduce your loan

Since the Bank of Canada started hiking its benchmark interest rate just over a year ago, there’s a growing number... more

15 Mar 2023 · 16 minutes
Why we need to think of health as an ‘us,’ not just a ‘me’

We often think of health as an individual action – drink more water, exercise, eat well. During the pandemic, we... more

14 Mar 2023 · 20 minutes
Are Canada’s big grocers to blame for your food bill?

Could the rising price of groceries be chalked up to corporate greed? That was the question at a House of... more

13 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
Netflix’s big gamble on its future

Netflix is facing a backlash after announcing it’s cracking down on password sharing in Canada, among other countries. The company... more

10 Mar 2023 · 18 minutes
B.C.’s groundbreaking plan to fund birth control

British Columbia revealed its 2023 budget on Feb. 28. It introduced a host of new spending measures including a first... more

09 Mar 2023 · 17 minutes
Trudeau orders probes into Chinese interference of elections

After weeks of resisting pressure from all sides, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has ordered two probes into Chinese election interference.... more

08 Mar 2023 · 17 minutes
What we know about the Alberta oil sands leak

The ground and water near Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in northern Alberta has become a toxic mess. A nearby oil... more

07 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
The news Google is hiding from your searches

Right now, one in 25 Canadians who use Google can’t find some news sites through its search bar. That’s because... more

06 Mar 2023 · 18 minutes
The drug giving new life to cystic fibrosis patients

For years, a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis has often meant an early death for patients. This week, Cystic Fibrosis Canada... more

03 Mar 2023 · 19 minutes
Why police are rarely charged after killing or injuring someone

Canada has a high rate of police killings compared to similar countries like England, Germany and Japan. Officers are rarely... more

02 Mar 2023 · 22 minutes
The Decibel
Why we need to think of health as an ‘us,’ not just a ‘me’
The Decibel
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Description

We often think of health as an individual action – drink more water, exercise, eat well. During the pandemic, we thought more... more