Podcast Episodes
Back to SearchWhy the power of technology relies on an adaptive mindset
Technology is much more than a tool. Physicist Ursula Franklin argued that it’s a system — one so powerful that it can shape our mindset, our society and our politics. Her observations were prescient…
Published on 1 week, 6 days ago
How to think for ourselves — is it even possible?
British novelist and Nobel Prize winner Doris Lessing warned us against groupthink when she delivered her CBC Massey Lectures in 1985. She argues the danger is not about belonging to a group or group…
Published on 2 weeks ago
A better world needs to be built on empathy: human rights scholar
Payam Akhavan has witnessed appalling episodes of human cruelty and suffering. And that’s helped forge his commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of human rights abuses. The human rights lawy…
Published on 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Making space for moments of joy in dark times
For award-winning poet and bestselling author Ross Gay, joy and delight aren’t frivolous or a privilege. He argues they’re absolutely essential to a meaningful life — especially in the face of grief,…
Published on 2 weeks, 4 days ago
Why is it so hard to embrace leisure time?
With a to-do list that requires 30 hours in a day to complete, leisure time often gets erased. IDEAS producer Naheed Mustafa explores a better time, when there was space for ourselves to pursue activ…
Published on 2 weeks, 5 days ago
Why music — even sad music — is 'inherently joyful'
Music is joy, declares Daniel Chua. The renowned musicologist says music and joy have an ancient correlation, from Confucius to Saint Augustine and Beethoven to The Blues. Of course, there is sad mus…
Published on 2 weeks, 6 days ago
Why philosophy needs to ditch class, and go to a pub
We tend to view philosophy as a formal endeavour. Not so, says Lewis Gordon. Yes, he's an academic but he argues that confining thinking to the academy has resulted in people forgetting that philosop…
Published on 3 weeks ago
How to flourish in a broken world
The world is full of problems — our broken healthcare, out-of-reach housing, a democracy in shambles and a dying planet. Is it actually possible to fix this mess? IDEAS hears from people working to f…
Published on 3 weeks, 1 day ago
A lesson in hope and why we need to slow down
Educators are wired for hope, according to English professor Jessica Riddell. She believes in the importance of slowing down in urgent times and urges educators to teach hope, share it, and to imagin…
Published on 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Who owns Outer Space?
More than half of working satellites are now owned by a single company, Elon Musk's Space X company. Astrophysicist Aaron Boley says Space X satellites are built for rapid development and obsolescenc…
Published on 3 weeks, 5 days ago