The Globe and Mail

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Channel • 17 Shows

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Society & Culture

Updated weekly
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Entrepreneurship

Updated 01/11/2016
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Politics

Updated 21/09/2020
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated weekly
Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship

Updated weekly
Business

Business

Updated weekly

24/09/2021

Could ketamine help treat depression?

What do you do when your depression doesn’t respond to traditional treatments? Especially when that depression is severe and causes suicidal thoughts? For author Anna Mehler Paperny, that meant turning to ketamine. Often thought of as just a party drug, evidence for the use of ketamine as a treatment for depression is growing. Anna details her journey navigating the new treatment as a patient, examining how the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs has changed the way we understand the brain and depression. If you are having thoughts of suicide, call Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or Crisis Service Canada at 1-833-456-4566, or visit crisisservicescanada.ca.

24/09/2021

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23 min
1 DAY AGO

The multimillion-dollar fight over a piece of Canadian history

As the Hudson’s Bay Company continues to sell off what it owns to pay back creditors, a historic document has come up for sale. The Bay’s charter is its founding document, dating back to 1670, in which King Charles II gave the company exclusive trading rights over much of what would become Canada. Now the court is grappling with finding a process to sell this one-of-a-kind piece of Canadian history after an offer from Galen Weston and his family derailed plans for an auction. Susan Krashinsky Robertson explains how the sale of this document has raised a lot of questions about who gets to own history, who gets to decide and how some of Canada’s wealthiest families have expressed interest in buying it. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

1 day ago

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24 min
21 AUG

Why tariffs haven’t hit consumer prices hard – yet

When the U.S. first imposed sweeping tariffs on Canada, setting off a trade war, businesses and consumers braced for high inflation. But nearly half a year later, prices for consumer goods have not risen as much as expected. So what happened? Consumer affairs reporter Mariya Postelnyak talks about why prices haven’t gone up as much as predicted and why that could soon change. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

21 Aug

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16 min
3 SEPT

The first wave of AI layoffs

Artificial intelligence in the workplace is here to stay. But what does that mean for the job market? While many Canadian companies are embracing the technology, in a few notable cases, this has led to mass layoffs. In other workplaces, it has meant a revolution in workflow, company culture and hiring practices. The Globe’s Joe Castaldo, who covers AI, and business reporter Sean Silcoff, spoke to executives who are welcoming AI in workplaces. They join us to talk about what this all means for businesses, jobs, and the future of work. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

3 Sept

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23 min
2 SEPT

Is it legal to defend yourself if someone breaks into your home?

In August, a man allegedly broke into someone’s home in a small Ontario town. After an altercation, the intruder was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Now, both men face charges. The case has sparked a country-wide conversation about the limits of self-defence, with politicians across Canada weighing in. Today, the Globe’s opinion columnist Andrew Coyne joins The Decibel. He’ll tell us how the public discourse is playing out and what Canadian law actually says about self-defense. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

2 Sept

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23 min
28 AUG

The black market for getting hacked Meta accounts back

Having social media accounts hacked is stressful. Usually, companies have formal channels for users to regain access. But for Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram, some users say the social media giant isn’t responding. Now, a new kind of broker has sprung up, helping people locked out of their accounts connect with a Meta employee or contractor who can expedite their request … for the right price. In 2022, Meta fired or disciplined employees or contractors who had allegedly abused the internal account recovery system for bribes. Kathryn Blaze Baum, an investigative reporter at The Globe and Mail, and Alexandra Posadzki, The Globe’s cybercrimes reporter, found that three years later, this is still happening. Today, Kathryn is on the show to talk about how this back-door process works, how Meta is cracking down on it, and where this leaves users who have had their accounts compromised. This episode originally aired June 13, 2025. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

28 Aug

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22 min
20 AUG

How the Air Canada strike tested Canada’s labour laws

A national strike by Air Canada flight attendants ended on Tuesday morning, three days after it began. One of the key issues that Air Canada and the Canadian Union of Public Employees were fighting over was "ground pay," the amount flight attendants are paid for their work before takeoff and after landing. Jason Kirby is a business reporter for The Globe and Mail. He’s on the show to talk about what we know about the deal so far, and what impact this strike could have on future labour disputes. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

20 Aug

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20 min
7 AUG

Why the absence of a U.S. trade deal might be a good thing

Canada failed to secure a trade deal with the U.S. by the Aug. 1 deadline. In response, U.S. President Donald Trump raised tariffs on certain Canadian goods to 35 per cent. And while other trading partners announced agreements with Trump, Ottawa enters its sixth month of negotiations. But recently, both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump have doubted whether a deal can be made without some tariffs in place – or if a deal’s coming at all. Today, Globe columnist Tony Keller joins the show. He’ll share what we know about the negotiations, what Trump wants, where Carney’s “elbows up” mentality has gone, and as more countries accept deals with blanket tariff rates, whether avoiding a deal could be Canada’s best strategy. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

7 Aug

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26 min
19 AUG

Why Wikipedia might be the last good place on the internet

Since Wikipedia was founded nearly 25 years ago as a free, online encyclopedia, it has consistently ranked as one of the top 10 most visited websites globally. In an era when so much of the internet is full of misinformation, polarization, and social media platforms designed to keep you doomscrolling for hours, you could argue that Wikipedia – free of ads, and maintained by volunteer editors – is one of the last good places online. Samantha Edwards is the Globe’s online culture reporter. She’s on the show to talk about what motivates these editors to volunteer, how AI is threatening the site’s future, and why going down a Wikipedia rabbit hole might actually be good for you. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

19 Aug

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22 min
12 AUG

Popeyes Chicken, covert surveillance and alleged rotting meat

Popeyes Chicken is one of the most well-known fast food franchises in North America. But its reputation could be tested by a lawsuit alleging that some of the chain’s franchise owners purchased meat from an unauthorized seller. The accusations from a former chicken supplier – which Popeyes’ parent company refutes – include “unsafe” and “rotten” meat, according to the statement of claim. Susan Krashinsky Robertson, The Globe’s retail business reporter, breaks down the allegations, recounts the corporate surveillance and explains what it could mean for the chicken you’re eating. Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com

12 Aug

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22 min

In-depth audio journalism from Canada's national media organization, from daily analysis of the most important stories of the day, to in-depth commentary and investigative series.

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