Best World According To Sound Podcasts (2025)

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Can democracies survive the attacks on the rule of law? 54:08

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11m ago54:08

54:08

Even 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 54:08

9h ago54:08

54:08

War 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…

1
How Indigenous Americans discovered Europe 54:09

1d ago54:09

54:09

Indigenous 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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The Mountain Goats' new record weaves a tale fit for Broadway 37:39

1d ago37:39

37:39

The indie folk band enlisted Lin-Manuel Miranda to tell the story of a shipwrecked crew on Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
33 years of the campus free speech controversy 54:07

2d ago54:07

54:07

In 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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Mae Martin talks about their debut album, 'I'm A TV' 27:37

3d ago27:37

27:37

The Canadian comic and actor joins World Cafe to talk about their debut album, I'm A TV. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1251
Can you have compassion for someone you never agree with? 54:08

6d ago54:08

54:08

Ask 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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For Brandi Carlile, solitude is overrated 41:34

6d ago41:34

41:34

The singer-songwriter decamped to Aaron Dessner's Long Pond Studio in upstate New York to record her new album, Returning to Myself. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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Do We Need AI Browsers? What Are Claude Skills? - EP99.22 1:26:34

6d ago1:26:34

1:26:34

Join Simtheory: https://simtheory.ai ----- 00:00 - AI Browser Wars: ChatGPT Atlas, Copilot Updates & Edge Copilot AI 23:15 - Why Not Focus on Real Use Cases for AI? 34:49 - Claude Skills: What Are Claude Skills? What is the Difference Between MCP and Skills? 1:04:05 - Vibe Code Fashion: Oakley Meta Vanguards + Use Cases of AI Glasses 1:15:05 - Top …

1551
George Eliot's invaluable life lessons on confronting reality 54:08

6d ago54:08

54:08

Virginia 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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Blues phenom Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram on his latest album, 'Hard Road' 33:08

7d ago33:08

33:08

The blues musician from Clarksdale, Miss., also talks about his new record label and searching for the next generation of blues talent. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

101
The real reasons why more young women freeze their eggs 54:08

8d ago54:08

54:08

Egg 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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Celebrating 45 years of Talking Heads' 'Remain in Light' 10:46

8d ago10:46

10:46

On their fourth album, the American rock band refined their innovative sound, which had long been inspired by Black music traditions. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

101
New details on Canada's first documented 'demon possession' 54:08

8d ago54:08

54:08

A 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.…

1
Acadiana Music Showcase: Jeffery Broussard & The Nighttime Syndicate 16:39

9d ago16:39

16:39

Zydeco veteran Jeffery Broussard teamed up with members of the New Orleans TBC Brass Band and a swing band's rhythm section for Bayou Moonlight, a blend of zydeco, R&B and blues. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

151
Can abolishing all political parties topple fascism? 54:08

9d ago54:08

54:08

In 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…

151
This Italian painter was a feminist before the word existed 54:08

12d ago54:08

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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'It was never taped': There's a missing piece to Montreal's jazz history 14:29

13d ago14:29

14:29

Historian Dorothy Williams explains why Montreal became a center for jazz music. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

201
Why practicing empathy is far from simple 54:09

13d ago54:09

54:09

In 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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How Elisapie turned 10 classic rock hits into ‘true Inuit songs’ 19:06

14d ago19:06

19:06

The Juno Award-winning Inuit musician, based in Montreal, imbued her favorite childhood songs with new meaning on her covers project, Inuktitut. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

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Is Haiku 4.5 really THIS good? OpenAI's Erotic Mode & Are MCP Apps the Right Approach? EP99.21 1:13:31

15d ago1:13:31

1:13:31

Join Simtheory: https://simtheory.ai Use "SIMLINK" to get 30% off Pro & Max annual plans until Oct 31st 2025 ---- CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Gemini 3.0 HYPE with "make an OS" 03:50 - Anthropic Releases Claude Haiku 4.5: Initial Thoughts 11:57 - Veo 3.1 and new modes (first frame/last frame & reference to image) 25:20 - OpenAI's Erotica Mode & age verificati…

201
Why 'follow your heart' spirituality is actually religion 54:08

14d ago54:08

54:08

Traditional 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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Take a tour of Leonard Cohen's Montreal 13:19

15d ago13:19

13:19

Expert guide Ruby Roy has given countless tours of the city for Cohen's fans. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

251
How 60s Scoop 'warriors' reclaimed their Indigenous roots 54:09

15d ago54:09

54:09

Leticia 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…

251
An homage to chickens, a dinosaur, dinner and backyard pet 54:08

17d ago54:08

54:08

Chickens 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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Montreal is home, but Pierre Kwenders' heart is in Kinshasa 16:40

17d ago16:40

16:40

Kwenders is the co-founder of Moonshine, a Montreal-based collective that spotlights the culture and music of the African diaspora. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
The Gate Chronicles | S1E91 | THIS is Temporal Dissonance 52:50

18d ago52:50

52:50

The journey back to Lamb's Respite is underway. And with the chance to speed up their travel, the party attempted to fix the mechanism of canal gate. Of course, the GM decided this needed to be a challenge! And so the puzzle began, ending quickly with great frustration as Charles Smoot decided it would be better to leap off the 80-foot cliff, liter…

301
Imprisoned Syrian wrote poetry imagining the fall of the regime. Now it's come true 54:09

20d ago54:09

54:09

For 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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Meet the producer behind some of Montreal's finest records 25:52

20d ago25:52

25:52

Howard Bilerman went from taping punk shows as a teen to co-founding Hotel2Tango, one of Montreal's most iconic recording studios. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

1
What did OpenAI Announce at DevDay? Apps SDK, MCP UI & Impact to SaaS - EP99.20-APPS 1:05:31

21d ago1:05:31

1:05:31

Join Simtheory: https://simtheory.ai ---- Check out our albums on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28PU4ypB18QZTotml8tMDq?si=XfaAbBKAQAaaG_Cg2AkD9A ---- 00:00 - OpenAI DevDay 2025 Recap 03:24 - ChatGPT Apps SDK & MCP UI & Agents SDK 42:11 - AgentKit & AgentBuilder: Who is it for? 50:41 - GPT-5-pro in API 53:15 - gpt-realtime-mini 56:53 - So…

301
How absurdist theatre is an act of resistance 54:09

20d ago54:09

54:09

Theatre 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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'DIY will never die': No Joy remembers the heyday of Montreal's Mile End 13:26

21d ago13:26

13:26

Jasamine White-Gluz takes us back to the early aughts, when the city was experiencing a boom of DIY music. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

351
How a translation movement made Western philosophers famous 54:08

22d ago54:08

54:08

From 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 …

351
Can we have new pipelines and curb climate change, too? 54:09

22d ago54:09

54:09

For 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…

1M ago54:08

54:08

Air 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…