Civically Speaking Podcast with Host, Lenore Swystun and Co-Host, Christina Cherneskey

Lenore Swystun, Host, Civically Speaking on Saskatoon's Community Radio Station, CFCR.ca 90.5 FM with co-host, Christina Cherneskey
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Civically speaking is a podcast that focuses on all things civic - focusing in on Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and wider political, geopolitical, and related issues facing us in a 21st-century word. Host, Lenore Swystun, a Registered Professional Planner, Sociologist, and Facilitator together with Communications Specialist and former Journalist, Christina Cherneskey, invites guests and guest panels to discuss all things current and topical. Civically Speaking episodes are self-produced and aired weekly on Saskatoon's community radio station cfcr.ca along with providing podcast versions and special videocast and podcast direct specials. Tune in, try it, and we promise you'll find yourself coming back for more. We talk planning, politics, people - civically speaking!

  1. MAR 31

    2026.03.31 Civically Speaking - A Glocal Conversation with Dr. T Wolf and G Androsoff

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Listeners, Thanks for tuning in to podcasts like this and community radio stations like CFCR where shows like this first air in CFCR lands. With returning panel members, Dr. Tom Wolf and Gordon Androsoff, we begin today’s conversation in the fields… with fertilizer costs and the very real impacts of global conflict on supply chains, pricing, and decision-making on the ground. What’s happening internationally is not abstract… it’s shaping choices being made right now across the Prairies. From there, we weave our way back home. Through conversation with voices in Saskatoon and Nelson, BC, we explore how these global pressures are landing locally… in our communities, our cities, and our everyday lives. We talk about downtowns in transition, questions of safety and belonging, and how infrastructure and public systems are being stretched in new ways. We dig into what feels out of alignment…  From overpass strikes and infrastructure stress, to the ongoing recalibration of major city-building projects like Saskatoon's recent switch up re its downtown arean project. This episode, threads global conflict… to fertilizer costs… to farms… to cities… to the way we live together. Have a listen. Support community radio wherever you are… and here in Saskatoon, that’s CFCR 90.5 FM. Civically Speaking,  Lenore Swystun with regrets from Christina Cherneskey Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    55 min

  2. MAR 24

    2026.03.24 Civically Speaking - Transportation and Transit

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Listeners, It is a day of news around all things transportation and transit. We begin with a sad story involving an Air Canada plane that made contact with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport. We then come closer to home with stories involving, yet again, an overpass and collision with a semi-truck… then round over to a story about the bus rapid transit system in the making, known as LINK… and wrap up with a few other speedy items. Have a listen. And support community radio stations in your community… in Saskatoon, that means CFCR 90.5 FM. Civically Speaking,  Lenore Swystun with Christina Cherneskey Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    56 min

  3. MAR 18

    2026.03.17 Civically Speaking Sask Provincial Pre-Budget and more

    Send a text Dear Listeners,  Thanks for tuning in. This week, we spent time looking ahead to what we might expect in the upcoming provincial budget. Budgets are ultimately about priorities, and we talked about the pressures shaping this year’s decisions and what communities across Saskatchewan may be watching for. We also explored the role of media in interpreting and presenting budgets to the public, and the important role of the opposition in scrutinizing government spending and holding decision-makers accountable. From there, we turned to a few current civic news stories, including discussion around the repeated oops of overhead ramps being damaged on highways around the province and what this means.  Thanks again for listening and for staying engaged in the civic conversations shaping our communities. Be sure to support community radio stations like CFCR and shows like this. Civically Speaking, Lenore Swystun with Christina Cherneskey Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    54 min

  4. MAR 10

    2026.03.10 Civically Speaking - A smattering of international and local items

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Listeners, Thank you for tuning in. Much appreciation. In today's episode, Christina and I begin with a check in on classic prairie March weather and then head into a chat about the current status of the USA, Israel, Iran, Middle East Cluster something - as it is difficult to unpack what is what - as the messages coming change it seems minute by minute - one minute a war - the next - we are almost done - to something else. We then come right back in closer to home, bike lanes, libraries, fire again under a bridge, National Park options in our City. And then we wind around to election seasons upcoming - Leadership NDP, By-elections- Federal. Have a listen. Be good to yourself and treat yourself to daily doses of CFCR.ca and community radio stations throughout the world. Civically speaking, Lenore Swystun with Christina Cherneskey Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    55 min

  5. MAR 4

    2026.03.03 Civically Speaking Near and Far

    Send us Fan Mail Hello Listeners, It has been a tough couple of weeks. Losing a brother is never easy. Losing an extra special brother like Gordon is unbearable. He made my partner and I better people.  Truly. Gone way too soon.  In his spirit, trying to move on. He loved this show, and being in the background as I recorded, most often in recent years, from the dining room of the farm house. His home. In this episode. Christina and I chat about the most recent news stories near and far. Have a listen. And in the spirit of Gordon. To good good good.  Civicically speaking, Lenore with Christina Gordon Perry Swystun | Obituary | Sharing Memories https://share.google/u6Fee5EeIA0NMZEtK Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    55 min

  6. FEB 12

    2026.02.10 Civically Speaking - Federal Discussion re Conservatives, NDP, Liberals, Elections and More with James Yachyshen

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Friends and Colleagues, This week I sit down with James Yachyshen to unpack a pivotal moment in Canadian federal politics.  We discuss the Conservative Leadership Review and Convention, the upcoming NDP leadership race, and what these parallel transitions could mean for the Federal Liberals... including the possibility of an election later this year. Leadership contests are never just internal party matters… they signal direction, discipline, and readiness for what comes next. We explore how conventions shape party identity, how leadership races redefine policy positioning, and whether this moment creates strategic opportunity or heightened risk for those currently governing. With so much in motion at once, the national landscape feels fluid — and Saskatchewan’s perspective remains an important part of that conversation. Check it out… and as always, support community radio.   Civically speaking, Lenore Swystun with regrets from Christina Cherneskey Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    56 min

  7. FEB 4

    2026.02.03 Civically Speaking Food, Agriculture, Trade and Research Cuts with Dr. Tom Wolf and Gordon Androsoff

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Listeners, Thanks for tuning in. In this episode of Civically Speaking, we spend time unpacking food security… not as a single issue, but as a system shaped by trade, climate pressures, land, science, and governance. I’m joined by Gordon Androsoff, Executive Director of the Nelson Community Food Centre, joining us from Nelson, British Columbia, and Dr. Tom Wolf, widely known as the Nozzle Guy, a scientist specializing in precision agricultural application and applied research. Together, we dig into what’s happening right now across Canada’s ag and food landscape. We talk trade… including market volatility, trade, and how shifts in global relationships ripple all the way down to farm-level decisions and household food costs. We explore climate implications… particularly drought and water stress and why these issues quickly become governance issues, not just an environmental one. We spend time on research cuts… and the quiet erosion of public agricultural science capacity. We talk about why research stations, breeding programs, and applied science are not luxuries, but essential infrastructure for managing risk in a changing climate. Along the way, we also touch on land… rising farmland prices, consolidation, enterprise-scale ownership, and what these trends mean for who gets to farm, how land is stewarded, and how resilient are local food systems? This is a conversation about food, yes… but also about trust, long-term thinking, and the systems that quietly shape everyday life. As always, thanks for listening and for staying engaged with the civic questions that matter. Make community radio stations like CFCR 90.5 FM your choice when tuning in. And local podcast versions of shows like this, your go-to! With regrets from Christina Cherneskey, who couldn’t be with us this week. Civically Speaking,  Lenore Swystun Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    55 min

  8. JAN 28

    2026.01.27 Civically Speaking PT 1. Local. Separate or Apart?

    Send us Fan Mail Dear Listeners, Part 1 and Part 2 are broken up this week.  In this first part, Christina and I touch on local newsworthy items. SREDA, Discovery Saskatoon, and more touched on.  PT 2 we go global.  Be sure to support shows like this and tune in, for real, by your FM dial to 90.5 FM when in Saskatoon or via the digital platforms via cfcr.ca Civically speaking,  Lenore with Christina Civically Speaking- Saskatoon Saskatchewan's #1 show about civic issues.

    28 min
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About

Civically speaking is a podcast that focuses on all things civic - focusing in on Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and wider political, geopolitical, and related issues facing us in a 21st-century word. Host, Lenore Swystun, a Registered Professional Planner, Sociologist, and Facilitator together with Communications Specialist and former Journalist, Christina Cherneskey, invites guests and guest panels to discuss all things current and topical. Civically Speaking episodes are self-produced and aired weekly on Saskatoon's community radio station cfcr.ca along with providing podcast versions and special videocast and podcast direct specials. Tune in, try it, and we promise you'll find yourself coming back for more. We talk planning, politics, people - civically speaking!

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