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Channel • 13 Shows

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Updated 11/07/2024
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Updated 17/11/2023

SEASON 1, EPISODE 2

A Tale of Two Algorithms

Algorithms are the invisible engines that drive every scroll, swipe or click. And, in the last few years, it's become clear that they can devastate young lives. But Ava discovers they might also be capable of saving them. She speaks with two teens with radically different stories. When 12-year-old CeCe Neltner went online to find workout tips, her social media feeds devolved into a torrent of eating disorder content. Today, she says she's lucky to be alive. Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, Keira MacDuff was battling a mysterious chronic illness that doctors dismissed as teenage drama – until TikTok's algorithm led her to a life-changing diagnosis. Did TikTok save Keira's life?

S1, E2

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32 min
SEASON 1 TRAILER

Introducing Left to Their Own Devices

We handed kids the most powerful technology in history. Then we walked away. This is what happened next. When she was 12 years old, Ava Smithing spiraled down a social media rabbit hole that nearly cost her life. A decade later, she discovered she wasn't alone: Big Tech had rewritten childhood and adolescence for her entire generation. Armed with questions and a year to find answers, Ava embarked on a cross-continent investigation into a hidden digital world. She met teens in 12-step programs for social media addiction, young girls wrestling with compulsive porn use, and boys who had been blackmailed by international cybercriminals. This isn't a self-help guide to digital wellness. It's a survival story from the front lines of 21st century childhood: where young people are re-writing the playbook for what it means to be human in a hyperconnected world. Subscribers to the Toronto Star will be able to access episodes early.

S1 Trailer

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4 min
SEASON 1, EPISODE 4

Brain Rot

Are screens rewiring kids' brains and creating a generation of depressed teens? After Jonathan Haidt published his mega-bestseller The Anxious Generation, a lot of parents became convinced that they were. But the science tells a more complicated story. Ava interviews several scientists studying technology's impact on our brains, then takes matters into her own hands. She meets up with Dr. Emma Duerden, Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders, to conduct her own experiment: monitoring a teenager's brain activity in real-time while she scrolls through her phone. What they discover might surprise you.

S1, E4

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31 min
21/10/2022

The end of ESG?

GUEST: Alex Edmans, professor of finance at the London Business School Welcome to Season Two of "Responsible Investing for a Sustainable Economy!" The guest to kick off our sophomore season is Dr. Alex Edmans, professor of finance at the London Business School, noted TED speaker and author of "Grow the Pie: How Great Companies Deliver Both Purpose and Profit." In this wide-ranging interview, Edmans expands on the book's opening sentence, "Capitalism is in crisis," where he explains that the system may work well for corporations, but doesn't always trickle down to individuals — or the planet. Instead, Edmans believes that "growing the pie" does not necessarily exclusively mean increasing the profits, but enhancing social value as well. And if that's the case, does that change the commonly-accepted definition of environmental, social and governance, or ESG?

21/10/2022

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29 min
25/07/2025

Reflecting on the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial

Guest: Toronto Star court reporter Jacques Gallant All five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior hockey team accused of sexual assault have been found not guilty, ending one of the most closely watched trials in Canadian sports. The case centred on a woman known publicly only as "E.M." due to a publication ban. Her allegations against the players shook the sport, triggered years of scrutiny, reopened a police investigation, and fueled a national reckoning over Hockey Canada's handling of sexual misconduct. After eight weeks of testimony, Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia ruled the Crown failed to meet the burden of proof, raising doubts about the reliability of key evidence. But while the players were acquitted, key questions remain. How do we define consent? Can the justice system support those who come forward while also meeting such a high legal threshold? And what does this outcome say about how society grapples with power and accountability? Star reporter Jacques Gallant covered this trial from the beginning, and he joins This Matters to explain what we learned inside the courtroom and what might happen next. Produced by Saba Eitizaz and Paulo Marques

25/07/2025

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23 min
05/04/2024

Does the Online Harms Act go too far?

The federal government's latest effort to regulate speech on the internet was met with relief from parents who've long advocated for a safer space online for their children, but with alarm from free speech advocates who believe the government's bill goes too far. This week on "It's Political," we dig into the Online Harms Act with a number of experts, discussing what it contains and what the controversies are about. Then we sit down with Justice Minister Arif Virani. In this episode: Federal Justice Minister Arif Virani, as well as the Center for Media, Technology and Democracy founding director and McGill University associate professor Taylor Owen, the Canadian Constitution Foundation litigation director Christine Van Geyn, University of Calgary associate professor and Canada research chair in cybersecurity law Emily Laidlaw, the Canadian Center for Child Protection's executive director Lianna McDonald, University of Ottawa professor and Canada research chair in internet and e-commerce law Michael Geist, former Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission vice chair and Macdonald-Laurier Institute senior fellow Peter Menzies, University of Windsor law professor Richard Moon, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation's CEO Mohammed Hashim, B.C. Civil Liberties Association staff counsel Safiyya Ahmad, and NDP House leader Peter Julian. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CTV, Global, The Canadian Press Gallery, CBC, City, The Rebel's YouTube and Privacy Lawyer David Fraser's YouTube. This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Michal Stein and Althia Raj, and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

05/04/2024

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1h 8m
23/04/2025

Unpacking the parties' promises on growing the economy

Canada's political parties have now released their election platforms and put a price tag on their plans. Some of their costing is a little suspect, some uses creative accounting, it all fails to go far enough to address the problem economists say political leaders should be grappling with: increasing the country's productivity. This week, on "It's Political," we look at productivity. What is it, and what should Canada be doing to increase it. Then, we'll sit down and dissect the party's platforms: their math and what they are really doing to increase economic growth in the country. Does any party go far enough? In this episode: Don Drummond, fellow-in-residence at the CD Howe Institute and former TD chief economist, and Tim Sargent, a senior fellow and director of the domestic policy program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. Hosted by Althia Raj. This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Kevin Sexton. Kevin also mixed this program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. Some of the audio clips this week were sourced from CPAC and CBC.

23/04/2025

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32 min
23/02/2024

Is Canada ready for Trump 2.0?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau managed one chaotic term under U.S. President Donald Trump, and he's made it clear he'd prefer to continue working with current President Joe Biden. But with the Republican primaries favouring Trump, a divided electorate and a U.S. election this fall, Trudeau faces the possibility of another Trump White House. One that's likely much more unpredictable and isolationist than the first Trump administration. Earlier this month, at a campaign rally, Trump suggested NATO countries that don't spend enough on defence would be left to defend themselves if Russia were to attack. His comments sent shock waves throughout Europe and North America, with experts and politicians warning that undermining NATO undermines the security of all member countries. On today's show, we talk to experts with first-hand knowledge on what a second Trump presidency could mean for Canada and what we should do to prepare. In this episode: Canada's former ambassador to the United States David MacNaughton, Canada's former ambassador to NATO Kerry Buck, Queen's University professor emeritus of political science and author of "Canada Alone" Kim Richard Nossal, and retired Lieutenant-General and former Liberal MP and parliamentary secretary for Canada-U.S. relations Andrew Leslie. Hosted by Althia Raj. Some of the clips this week were sourced from: CTV, CBC, Global, CPAC, CNBC, PBS, Fox, CP24, and the Associated Press. This episode of "It's Political" was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein and mixed by Kevin Sexton. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel. Suggested Readings: What a Donald Trump victory would mean for Canada's economy Donald Trump's dangerous agenda: Editorial NATO chief hails record defence spending while warning that Donald Trump's remarks undermine security Joe Biden says Donald Trump sowing doubts about U.S. commitment to NATO is 'un-American' Donald Trump stands by remarks about not defending NATO members after backlash

23/02/2024

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49 min
03/06/2022

What's in Canada's new gun control bill and is it enough?

Guest: Stephanie Levitz, politics reporter for The Star In the shadow of mass shootings in the U.S., and another grim look at America's lack of gun laws, Canada made a move to tighten its own. Earlier this week Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Bill C-21, which would place a national freeze on handgun sales as part of the latest move to tighten gun laws. We take a look at the content and context surrounding the new law.

03/06/2022

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24 min
15/06/2021

Everything you need to know about the second dose

With the rise of the worrisome Delta variant, Ontario is accelerating second doses of COVID vaccines in hot spots across the province, as well as shortening the length between doses from 12 to eight weeks for people who got AstraZeneca as their first shot. In addition, some have a choice on their hands as vaccine mixing is also now allowed, including for those who have had AstraZeneca. Yet with mixing and matching, there is also mixed messaging. Today we talk with a professional science communicator about how to handle the infodemic, and everything you need to know about getting a second dose. If you would like to support the journalism of the Toronto Star, you can subscribe at thestar.com/subscribingmatters.

15/06/2021

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18 min

The Star Podcasts are part of the Toronto Star, a multi-platform news organization that informs, connects, investigates, reports and effects change. The purpose of the Toronto Star is to keep our audience informed about what matters most to them, to help make their life, community, country and world better.