The Big Story

Frequency Podcast Network

An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.

  • 7 minutes 19 seconds
    Big Headlines - The Bank of Canada is leaving its interest rate unchanged

    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 [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    29 April 2026, 3:28 pm
  • 27 minutes 26 seconds
    Trump vs. conspiracy: who will win?

    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 Ceolin speaks to Geoff Dancy, a political science professor at the University of Toronto to break down how these conspiracies take advantage of a politically polarized America, and how we can make sense of what's real versus speculation.

    We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    29 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 6 minutes 24 seconds
    Big Headlines: The spring economic statement will be tabled today and Trump welcomes King Charles to Washington
    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 [email protected]  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
    28 April 2026, 3:05 pm
  • 26 minutes 48 seconds
    Carney's Canada one year later

    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 Ceolin speaks to journalist and host of The Paikin Podcast, Steve Paikin, to discuss how Carney's tenure so far has changed Canada's global profile, how much of a difference he's made in strengthening the domestic economy, and how his work will be perceived in a post-Trump world.

    We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    28 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 6 minutes 58 seconds
    Big Headlines: The latest on the White House correspondents' dinner shooting
    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 us: Through email at [email protected]  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
    27 April 2026, 3:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 52 seconds
    The real cost of foreign slopaganda on Canadian democracy

    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 instead.

    Today, host Caryn Ceolin speaks to Chris Ross, Senior Analyst at the Media Ecosystem Observatory, who led the team looking into these channels, about what exactly they found. After the break, Caryn speaks with Chris Tenove, Assistant Director of the Centre for the study of Democratic Institutions at the University of British Columbia about the reliability of online platforms, and how lack of regulation could threaten Canadian democracy.

    We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    27 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 7 minutes 4 seconds
    Big Headlines: Ticketmaster delists Ontario resales and Carney considers US alcohol return
    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. You can find us: Through email at [email protected]  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
    24 April 2026, 3:02 pm
  • 26 minutes 13 seconds
    Should Canada consider a smoke-free generation?

    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 Mental Health and an Associate Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, about whether or not the idea is feasible, and if it might be worth considering in Canada.

    We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    24 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 6 minutes 35 seconds
    Big Headlines: Negotiations to end the war in Iran stall again and Conservatives are pushing back against the Liberals' plan to change rules in the House of Commons
    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 episodes. You can find us: Through email at [email protected]  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
    23 April 2026, 3:00 pm
  • 21 minutes 17 seconds
    How the jet fuel crisis will impact your travel plans

    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 University to discuss how travelers could brace for a turbulent next few months, and how fast we could feel relief should Iran and the US sustain a lasting ceasefire.

    We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

    Through email at [email protected] 

    Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

    23 April 2026, 8:00 am
  • 6 minutes 33 seconds
    Big Headlines: Another airport scare in New York involving an Air Canada plane and tensions remain in the Strait of Hormuz despite the extended ceasefire
    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 us: Through email at [email protected]  Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
    22 April 2026, 3:00 pm
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