- Take a vacation?! In This Economy?!
Saturday, May 25th 2024
Summer is around the corner, and a lot of us are dreaming of a holiday. But post pandemic it feels like everything has skyrocketed. So how can you still have a fun and meaningful family vacation in this economy?
Natalie Preddie is a writer and a TV personality who specializes in travel. As a seasoned traveler herself, whether that's solo or with a family, on a plane or in a train, she is full of tips for how to make that dream of vacation a reality.
Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod. Don't forget to leave a call-back number, so we can get in touch.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
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- How Facebook became a wasteland of AI spam
Friday, May 24th 2024
Have you met Shrimp Jesus yet? He's Jesus, only a shrimp. Or maybe a half-man, half-shrimp. Anyway...he's the most recognizable example of thousands upon thousands of bizarre AI-created images that are flooding Facebook's algorithm and its users feeds.
These images go viral because the algorithm boosts them, because other Facebook accounts are engaging with them. But who, exactly, is engaging with these random fake images? And why? The answer tells a story that will give you a whole new perspective on just how many people on the world's largest social media platform are, well, actually humans.
GUEST: Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media, cohost of the 404 Media podcast
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- Would a Poilievre government really threaten abortion rights?
Thursday, May 23rd 2024
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to use the notwithstanding clause to enact criminal justice reform if elected. Liberals have pointed to this as an indication that Conservatives would use it for other things, including restricting abortion.
How much of this is political posturing from either side? How huge a precedent would using the notwithstanding clause this way represent? If a Conservative government went down this path, would access to abortion really be at risk? And what could the Liberals do now if they believed that to be the case?
GUEST: Daphne Gilbert, professor of criminal and constitutional law at the University of Ottawa
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
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- How Canada ended up with private health care
Wednesday, May 22nd 2024
It's known as the third rail of Canadian politics, and maybe that's why we've never properly addressed it—but as long as Canada has had universal health care, people have been paying out of pocket for faster service. It's only in the past few years, though, as the public system has crumbled, that the trickle has turned into a flood.
What exactly qualifies as private health care in Canada, and who gets it? Where are the loopholes in the system that allow it to proliferate? And why does nobody in Ottawa want to talk about how to tackle a system that's not working for anyone?
GUEST: Christina Frangou, writing in Maclean's
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
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- Are companies pulling back on progressive promises?
Tuesday, May 21st 2024
For a number of years, some of the world's biggest brands painted themselves as shining lights of progressive values. There was more to it than altruism, of course—at the time it was seen as good for business. But now retail experts are wondering if the winds are shifting.
While "go woke, go broke" has always been a farcical maxim, it's worth asking why some companies have begun pulling back on showing off their dedication to social issues like diversity or sustainability, and what message that sends to their customers but also those watching where things might be headed...
GUEST: Emily Stewart, senior correspondent at Business Insider
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
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