IDEAS is a place for people who like to think. If you value deep conversation and unexpected reveals, this show is for you. From the roots and rise of authoritarianism to near-death experiences to the history of toilets, no topic is off-limits. Hosted by Nahlah Ayed, we’re home to immersive documentaries and fascinating interviews with some of the most consequential thinkers of our time. With an award-winning team, our podcast has proud roots in its 60-year history with CBC Radio, exploring ...
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How To Survive The Death Of Someone You Love Podcasts
Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend. If you want to be on What We Spend, we’d love to hear from you. Write us at: [email protected]
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Growing the Leader Within Podcast is about real life, loss and love issues for people who are dealing with grief. There is hope in Jesus Christ and we offer MANY helpful and practical lessons as a guide to those learning how to recover and find a new chapter in life.
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Eslana Lower is an author, speaker, resilience mindset coach, nurse, midwife and mother of 4 who is also navigating life following the tragic loss of her teenage daughter Rylee to suicide because of bullying. Why Mindset Matters is the podcast that explores how resilience, gratitude, and intentional thinking can transform even the most challenging seasons of life. Each episode offers raw conversations, empowering tools, and real-life stories to help you shift your perspective and reclaim you ...
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As someone who cares for sick and dying patients, hospice and palliative care physician Dr. Luyi Kathy Zhang has learned a thing or two about living. The good news is you don’t have to wait until the end or to lose someone you love to get a second chance at the life you truly want. With episodes covering topics like health, relationships, mindset, productivity, business, fulfillment and happiness, you’ll learn how to apply the lessons of the dying before it’s too late so you can create a lif ...
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What it takes to become a ruthless tyrant
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54:08Look back about 3,000 years and you will find the playbook on authoritarianism remains pretty much the same as it is today. Back in the 5th century BCE, when Herodotus travelled the ancient world gathering stories, he became an expert in would-be tyrants. His tome, The History, shared vivid descriptions of autocratic and tyrannical rulers. Herodotu…
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Unfiltered Grief: Why We Need to Stop Censoring the Conversation
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37:08Send us a text Season 2: Episode 8 - Unfiltered Grief: Why We Need to Stop Censoring the Conversation This episode comes straight from the heart. I’m diving into a topic that’s been weighing on me for a little while — the way we’ve started to censor how we talk about grief, loss, and especially suicide. If we are not careful it will become less abo…
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Pastor Alan Latta from Generations Church in Granbury Texas teaches a class for singles in his home church. This live lesson is all about what the Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 7 for singles. It's eye opening and very informative. You are sure to enjoy hearing this... no matter how being solo in life has been your experience. Our lessons for …
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First historian Herodotus knew the power of story
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54:09For someone who died more than 2,400 years ago, Herodotus's voice is still very much alive. "He knows the way [a good story] can elevate but also corrupt and destroy our thinking," says professor Lindsay Mahon Rathnam in this IDEAS episode. The ancient Greek writer observed different cultures first-hand, while capturing the stories they share in an…
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Hope lies in knowing that "we've changed the world before”
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54:39Political analyst Rachel Maddow and author/activist Rebecca Solnit are sharp observers of Trump 2.0. They both share a common ground: opposition to anti-democratic actions taken by the second administration of U.S. President Trump, and where those actions are taking America, if not the world. The two American writers spoke with Nahlah Ayed about th…
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How mind-bending theories could solve mysteries in physics
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54:39Physics has been full of astonishing discoveries over the past century. But they open up even bigger mysteries that scientists are working feverishly to explain. What is dark energy? And why is the expansion of the universe accelerating? In public talks at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Ontario, two prominent physicist…
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To fix America's caste system, acknowledge it exists: author
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54:08The true story of America is that it was built on a caste system comparable to India’s, says Pulitzer-prize-winning American journalist Isabel Wilkerson. The author argues that it's key to recognize the roots of the U.S. caste "structure" as she calls it, to understand why conflicts relating to race and class persist. Wilkerson delivered the 2025 B…
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Send us a text Season 2 : Episode 7 - Go ALL IN on every day! In this very special episode — my first ever guest interview — I sit down with Darcy from DRC Fit. Darcy’s story is one of resilience, strength, and the power of mindset. We talk about the tools and beliefs that have carried him through recovery from drug addiction and helped him keep mo…
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Mexican fiction turns drug kingpins into vicious vampires
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54:08There’s a burgeoning genre of fiction coming from Mexico — stories that merge socio-political history and the impact of drug-related violence with fantastical stories of eerie ghosts, zombies, and monstrous cannibals. IDEAS explores dozens of gothic, horror and crime fiction novels. *This episode is part of our ongoing series, IDEAS from the Trench…
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Can democracies survive the attacks on the rule of law?
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54:08Even in some of the world’s sturdiest democracies, leaders are deliberately undermining courts to weaken checks on their power. In many cases, the justice system is being sidelined. How much damage has already been done? And how worried should we be about the future of democracies around the world? We'd love to hear from you. Fill in our listener s…
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This lawyer turns real legal cases into page-turners
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54:08War criminals, Nazi fugitives, and a viable threat to American democracy — sounds like a classic page-turner but author and lawyer Philippe Sands isn't making this up. His book, 38 Londres Street is a retelling of legal history that probes the connections between former Nazi leaders and Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. The payoff isn’t just an in…
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How Indigenous Americans discovered Europe
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54:09Indigenous Americans on European soil can be found throughout historical records, but historian Caroline Dodds Pennock says they have largely been ignored. In her book, On Savage Shores, she traces the history of Indigenous lives in Europe during the 1500s. The author told IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed about her research collecting evidence of the widespr…
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33 years of the campus free speech controversy
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54:07In the early 1990s, “woke” was "politically correct," "DEI" was known as "affirmative action,” and the term “cancel culture” had yet to be coined. The language was different, but the controversies of today were just beginning. In a 1992 episode of IDEAS, journalist Linda Frum took on the issue of free speech on campus. With notable guests like Dine…
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This is a LIVE interview at KHOC - recorded at the iconic Houston Texas radio station on the Foxy Affect Show. Dr Gayla shares details about how GGM changes the pain of grief into healing and brings a new tomorrow. Looking at grief God's way, can bring a fresh perspective and inspiration to all of God's children in progressive grief. Jesus came to …
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Can you have compassion for someone you never agree with?
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54:08Ask yourself: can you? It is a question that George Eliot asks over and over through her characters in Middlemarch, a 19th-century novel that speaks to our own fractious age. Eliot highlights how important it is to see the world from the point of view of others — even characters we don’t like. *This is second episode in our two-part series. It orig…
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George Eliot's invaluable life lessons on confronting reality
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54:08Virginia Woolf called George Eliot's novel, Middlemarch “one of the few English books written for grownups.” It’s a book full of characters asking: is it a good thing to live a life of duty, or is it ridiculous? Even after over 150 years since the book was published, it provides up-to-date lessons in how to live a modern life. *This is part one or …
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251
The real reasons why more young women freeze their eggs
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54:08Egg freezing is one of today’s fastest-growing reproductive technologies. It's seen as a kind of 'fertility insurance' for the future, but that doesn’t address today’s deeper feelings of uncertainty around parenthood, heterosexual relationships, and the reproductive path forward. In this documentary, freelance producer Alison Motluk explores the hi…
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251
New details on Canada's first documented 'demon possession'
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54:08A demonic possession, a do-it-yourself exorcism, and the execution of an accused witch — welcome to daily life in Quebec City, circa 1660. IDEAS digs into the story of Canada’s earliest reported ‘demon possession caused by witchcraft’ case. *This episode originally aired on June 9, 2023. We appreciate your input. Fill out our listener survey here.…
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Can abolishing all political parties topple fascism?
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54:08In the aftermath of the First World War, French philosopher Simone Weil had a solution to address the fascism that surged across Europe: abolish political parties. She argued political parties were not democratic, they were dangerous. With the help of former politician Michael Ignatieff and other guests, IDEAS producer Nicola Luksic explores the ra…
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This is a LIVE interview with successful single women, who opened their hearts and lives and shared what it means to be happy alone in life. Their wisdom covers all sorts of subjects and it's sure to be an encouragement to every single woman from going through widowhood, to being divorced to 'never have been married' too! Their laughter and honestl…
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This Italian painter was a feminist before the word existed
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54:08*Please note that this episode features descriptions of a sexual assault that some listeners may find disturbing.* Seventeen century artist Artemisia Gentileschi upended traditional depictions of women in her paintings by creating gutsy, strong female figures. With her paintbrush as in her life, she fought gender inequality and helped to reimagine …
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Send us a text Season 2 Episode 6: When You Just Don’t Have It In You In this episode, I open up about the days when you just don’t have it in you — when the weight of it all feels like too much and even the smallest steps forward feel impossible. I talk about my own experiences with emotional overwhelm, grief, and the pressure to keep showing up w…
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Why practicing empathy is far from simple
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54:09In today's fractured world, the many threats facing humanity seems to be an empathy deficit. Writer and journalist Leslie Jamison discusses the complicated nature of empathy and the dearth of it at a time when it’s needed more than ever. She says maintaining humility when it comes to understanding people is integral. We'd love to hear from you! Com…
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Why 'follow your heart' spirituality is actually religion
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54:08Traditional religious institutions have been in decline since the '60s. As congregations dwindle, more Canadians are identifying as 'spiritual.' Sociologist Galen Watts traces the history of the modern spiritual movement and asks what we have gained — and lost — as it has become the dominant religious tradition of our time. We'd love to hear from y…
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351
How 60s Scoop 'warriors' reclaimed their Indigenous roots
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54:09Leticia Racine calls herself a “Returning Warrior” of the Sixties Scoop. As a child, she was at the centre of a landmark Supreme Court case that paved the way for Indigenous children to be adopted into non-Indigenous homes. Judges ruled that Leticia’s foster parents could adopt her, and suggested her connections to her Indigenous mother and their h…
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This interview with Rev. and Chaplain, Don Bettis, captures his experience of when he died and went to Heaven for just a brief taste of what is there! Hearing what happened to him is sure to be inspiring and bring comfort over missing loved ones. It's very special and I'm so glad he was able to share his experience with us! www.griefguideministries…
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An homage to chickens, a dinosaur, dinner and backyard pet
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54:08Chickens are the stars of this podcast today. Our relationship with this living creature, allegedly the closest living relative to the Tyrannosaurus Rex, is long and intertwined. And as it turns out, chickens have a lot to tell us, as IDEAS producer Tom Howell finds out. If you've ever wanted to hear two chickens attempt to video-conference togethe…
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Imprisoned Syrian wrote poetry imagining the fall of the regime. Now it's come true
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54:09For 14 years, Syrian poet Faraj Bayrakdar was imprisoned and tortured in a series of prisons. He found refuge in writing poetry. Now, the poems he wrote imagining the collapse of the regime are a reality. In December, 2024, the rule of Syria’s longtime president Bashar al Assad did collapse. Bayrakdar tells host Nahlah Ayed how the freedom within i…
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How absurdist theatre is an act of resistance
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54:09Theatre of the Absurd was born postwar as a recoil against the violent fetish that totalitarian regimes had for “order.” For 75 years, absurdist playwright Eugène Ionesco's plays have been running continuously in Paris. IDEAS contributor Danny Braun went to Paris to delve into Ionesco's world where a professor can conclude confidently that a dog is…
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When Mindset Meets Physiology: The Real Work of Healing
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34:20Send us a text Season 2 Episode 5 - When Mindset Meets Physiology: The Real Work of Healing In this episode, I talk about the truth that while mindset really does matter — it isn’t everything. There are times in life, especially through grief and trauma, when we can be doing all the “right” things and still feel stuck, heavy, or disconnected. And t…
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How a translation movement made Western philosophers famous
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54:08From Greek to Arabic and then to Latin, translators in 8th-century Baghdad eventually brought to Europe the works of Plato, Aristotle, Galen, and others who became central pillars of Western thought. IDEAS explores what is known as the Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement. *This episode originally aired on June 19, 2025. Fill out our listener survey …
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Can we have new pipelines and curb climate change, too?
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54:09For the past decade, Canadians have been split 50/50 on new pipelines — that has changed. Two recent opinion polls found roughly three quarters of eligible voters in Canada want at least one new pipeline built to export more fossil fuels. Yet, 70 per cent of people consider climate change a serious threat. IDEAS producer Tom Howell explores the inc…
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Why progressives may not be as 'woke' as they think
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Why a proposed 'new capitalism' is contested
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54:08It’s loathed and celebrated, by both the left and right. It's called The Great Reset. To conspiracy theorists, it's a plot by global elites at the World Economic Forum to control our lives. To its supporters, it represents a gentler, more humane form of capitalism. IDEAS contributor Ira Basen lays out the origins, its aims and its potential, for bo…
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How a German philosopher predicted our digital age
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54:08What happens when original artworks become endless copies? German philosopher Walter Benjamin called it the death of "aura," and his concept predicted our digital age. He describes "aura" as the energy that encases an object, and argued standing before the presence of a great artwork was transcendent. His ideas continue to flourish in university se…
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What life was like for Luke Galati in a psychiatric ward
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54:08Writer and filmmaker Luke Galati shares what it is like living with bipolar I disorder and staying in a psychiatric ward — an experience he says feels like being in a fish bowl. While being hospitalized meant he lost his sense of freedom and control, he never lost hope. Luke's documentary is both a personal essay and a series of conversations with …
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Breaking the Silence: Why Talking About Our Pain Saves Lives
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43:05Send us a text Season 2 Episode 4: Breaking the Silence - Why Talking About Our Pain Saves Lives In this episode of the Why Mindset Matters podcast, I dive into the darkness so many people find themselves in before taking their own life — that silent, heavy space where it feels like no one else could possibly understand. I know that place, and I kn…
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How Inuk activist Aaju Peter learned to 'decolonize' her mind
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54:08Aaju Peter was 11 years old when she was taken from her Inuk community in Greenland and sent away to learn the ways of the West. She lost her language and culture. The activist, lawyer, designer, musician, filmmaker, and prolific teacher takes IDEAS host Nahlah Ayed on a tour of Iqaluit and into a journey to decolonization that continues still. *Th…
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Can the fierce wars of today end in peace?
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54:09If intractable conflicts in the 90s could end in peace agreements, is there hope for the ongoing wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond? What can we learn from the successes and failures of the past about how to create a more peaceful world? And what solutions are obstructed by lack of will? Nahlah Ayed and guests explore what peacemaking and rebu…
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This is a sensitive and transparent interview with Pastor Susan Young from California, who shares the personal story of losing her husband due to suicide. Her inspirational experience will encourage every family member who is dealing with the grief of losing someone they love to suicide. Also... Happy the Dog attended this interview and his support…
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How rhythm helps us walk, talk — and even love
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54:01Rhythm is more than a fundamental feature of music. It's what makes us human. Rhythm begins in the womb and the heartbeat. And neuroscience research reveals that for the rest of our lives, rhythm will continue to have a core impact on our innermost selves: how we learn to walk, read and even bond with others. Rhythm — as one researcher puts it — is…
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The natural — and unnatural — history of air on Earth
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54:08Air is one of the most essential elements for human life. Yet even though we depend on air, we humans are dramatically changing the atmosphere — making the air unbearably hot in some parts of the world, unbreathable in the most polluted parts of the world, and pushing the climate toward tipping points. As humans who caused this, we have to adapt to…
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For thousands of years, Shipwrecks have been a mainstay trope of literature and storytelling. IDEAS dives into the history of shipwreck tales to discover the allure of maritime disaster, why they resonate today, and why life so often feels like it’s heading for the rocks.
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Can a conference change our troubled world?
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54:08As the United Nations turns 80, calls for reform are louder than ever. Against the backdrop of multiple global crises, strongman diplomacy and rising threats from climate change to AI, a growing campaign is calling on the UN to revisit the outdated charter established in 1945 and work on reinventing the organization. "We need to start rethinking wh…
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Perfectly Imperfect: Finding the Beauty in the Mess
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23:05Send us a text Season 2 Episode 3 : Perfectly Imperfect: Finding the Beauty in the Mess In this episode, I dive into the messy, beautiful truth about imperfection and why waiting for everything to be “just right” can actually hold us back. I share honestly about my own journey with podcasting, the pressure I’ve felt to make things perfect, and the …
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Was justice served by South Africa's peace accord?
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54:08The apartheid era in South Africa ended in 1991 with the National Peace Accords. The peace agreement also paved the way for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Yet TRC head Desmond Tutu considered the process “scandalously unfinished.” Lawyer Prakash Diar agrees: "You don’t undo centuries of colonization just like that.” Diar and writer Kagiso L…
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There are different beliefs and interpretations of what happens to believers after they die. But this amazing testimony is from Dr Gayla and she shares an amazing conversation she had with God when she was a young pastor's wife! When a Christian falls 'asleep' the body goes back into the ground. But the spirit and soul goes back to God. It's a clea…
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Can a trucker's life entice young people to take the wheel?
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54:08An Ontario trucking union predicts a shortage of 30,000 truckers in Canada as old hands retire faster than new ones take on the job. IDEAS producer Tom Howell visits a trucking school in northern Ontario, where recruits consider their options, and the road ahead. *This episode originally aired on March 4, 2024.…
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Listen to the sound of metal in musical form by 8 composers
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54:07Eight composers, five instruments, and a world of metal. IDEAS explores a project by the University of British Columbia called The Heavy Metal Suite that conveys the challenges and opportunities of the mining industry, through music. Each composer draws inspiration from their country’s mineral resources in their original pieces. *This episode origi…
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Without justice, can unbearable grief subside?
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54:07In June 1985, Air India Flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland. It's considered the worst terror attack in Canadian history. Sujata Berry's 16-year-old brother, Sharad was on that flight. The shock of his horrific death morphed into an unshakeable grief. The family's sorrow was augmented with the lack of justice for victims' families — a flaw…
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