The Decibel

The Globe and Mail

Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story shaping our world, in conversation with reporters, experts, and the people at the centre of the news.

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1,334 episodes
Updated Friday

Episodes1334

Newest first

February 20 · 24 min
What would a stronger trade relationship with Mexico look like?
This week, Minister for Canada-U.S. Trade Dominic LeBlanc, led a trade delegation to Mexico. He was joined by government and industry officials, as well as leaders of around 250 Canadian businesses. It’s the largest Canadian trade delegation to Mexico in recent memory, and it’s set against the backdrop of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s goal of diversifying Canadian trading partners. Mark Rendell, the Globe’s economics reporter, joins the show to talk about the opportunities for growth in Mexico,
February 19 · 20 min
Carney’s plan to expand Canada’s defence industry
As part of its plan to remake the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal government earmarked $6.6-billion over five years in the fall budget for its Defence Industrial Strategy. The document was finally released this week, and it details the blueprint for bolstering Canada’s defence industry. Pippa Norman is The Globe’s innovation reporter, and she covers the business side of defence. She’ll explain why this document is important, the key takeaways, and what the plan means for broader conversation
February 18 · 26 min
What social media for AI bots can tell us about consciousness
Much has been made about a new social media platform called Moltbook, where AI agents are posting and appear to be interacting with each other. Some see their posts – especially those about humans – as worrisome. Others are wondering if this is evidence that we’re inching closer to a world where an artificial intelligence system attains consciousness. Dr. Karina Vold is an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Toronto. She studies the philosophy of cognitive science, and also r
February 17 · 23 min
Why Carney and Ford are talking about a federal election
The Globe exclusively reported that Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford discussed the possibility of a snap federal election this spring. The next federal election is scheduled for no later than 2029, though historically, minority governments usually last around two years. But just how realistic is this speculation of another election? Laura Stone, who broke the story, and Shannon Proudfoot, a feature writer and columnist based in Ottawa, join host Sherrill Sutherland for a
February 13 · 19 min
Defying time and biology: the Olympic skater making history
Canadian figure skater Deanna Stellato-Dudek will make history this weekend at the age of 42, as the oldest female figure skater to compete in the Olympics in nearly 100 years. She’s had a remarkable journey to get to the Milan Cortina Winter Games, including 16 years away from the ice. Today, Globe reporter (and passionate figure skater) Robyn Doolittle tells us the story of how Stellato-Dudek got to these Olympic Games, what it takes to become an elite athlete in your 40s, and how athletes ar
February 12 · 20 min
On the ground in Tumbler Ridge, after the mass shooting
Tuesday’s deadly mass shooting in the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, marks the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. Nine people are dead, including the shooter, and at least 25 others are injured. Many details are still unknown, but today, we’re talking about the aftermath of the tragedy. Globe reporters Matthew Scace and Alanna Smith give us the view from Tumbler Ridge, and you’ll hear from community members about how they’re making sense of what has happened in
February 11 · 25 min
How police corruption allegations erode trust in justice system
This week, Ontario’s Inspector-General announced it is launching a provincewide review of corruption among police services in the wake of the arrests of seven Toronto police officers and a retired constable. The allegations – including corruption, leaking of information to organized crime members, accepting bribes and drug trafficking – have rocked civic institutions and are proving to be a threat to public trust in policing. Mike Hager, reporter for The Globe, details the allegations against t
February 10 · 21 min
Carney shifts gears on EV and climate policies
The federal government recently announced that it is scrapping the zero emissions vehicle mandate – brought in by the Trudeau government in 2022. Zero emissions vehicles such as EVs were supposed to make up 20 per cent of all new car sales this year, increasing to 100 per cent by 2035. This is the latest Trudeau-era climate policy that Prime Minister Mark Carney has rolled back or outright abandoned. Today, we speak with Adam Radwanski, The Globe’s policy columnist and feature writer. He’ll exp
February 9 · 27 min
Ontario pushes to allow retail access to risky investments
Ontario’s securities watchdog is facing pressure from the Ontario government to open up access to high-risk investments, called private asset funds, to regular, retail investors, according to exclusive reporting by The Globe and Mail. Industry experts warn that this unusual move could lead to investors’ money being locked up for years in long-term real estate or infrastructure projects that have extremely complex fee structures. Report on Business reporters Clare O’Hara and Jameson Berkow expla
February 6 · 24 min
What’s at stake for Canada at the Milan Cortina Winter Games
The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games begin on Friday. The Olympics are always a time to rally behind your country, but this year cheering on Team Canada takes on a different meaning. At a time when Canada is asserting itself as a “middle power,” how will that translate on the podium? Cathal Kelly is a Globe and Mail columnist who writes about sports. Today, he joins the show to prime Olympics superfans and casual watchers alike for what you need to know about the Milan Cortina Winter Games, wher
February 5 · 25 min
Voices from inside Alberta’s separatist movement
Canvassers are currently collecting signatures for a petition in Alberta that could trigger a referendum on whether Albertans want to remain a part of Canada. The volunteers are with a group called Stay Free Alberta, whose leaders are Mitch Sylvestre and Jeffrey Rath. Matthew Scace is a staff reporter for The Globe and Mail based in Calgary. He has been reporting on the separatist movement in Alberta and shares interviews he conducted with the leaders, and some supporters, on how they feel abou
February 4 · 21 min
What happened to $10-a-day child care?
The federal government’s Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program was meant to bring child care fees down to $10 per day and create 284,000 new daycare spaces by the end of March this year. A recent report found the program is expected to miss that goal by 90,000 spaces – and many places haven’t reached the initial $10 a day goal. But this program has made a huge difference for families. Today, we’re doing a daycare check in with the Globe’s education reporter Dave McGinn. He’ll walk u
February 3 · 24 min
U.S. and Iran weigh diplomacy as warships head for the Gulf
Over the last few weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened military intervention in Iran – first over the Islamic Republic’s treatment of protesters, and now, over the country’s nuclear ambitions. U.S. military warships have moved toward striking distance of Iran; meanwhile, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that a strike on Iran would spark a regional war. Thomas Juneau is a professor at the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public and Internationa
February 2 · 23 min
Why road salt causes Canada billions in damage each year
Snow and ice is a fact of life in a long, Canadian winter. So are the millions of tonnes of salt that is used to combat it on roads across the country. But there is a cost to all that salt: damage to property, waterways and other parts of the environment and infrastructure – totalling billions of dollars annually. Patrick White, reporter for The Globe, explains the science behind why Canada is the biggest consumer of road salt in the world and why the same chemical that is necessary for a winte
January 30 · 23 min
Why your grocery bill is still so high
Inflation in Canada has stabilized, but food inflation is continuing to rise. Food prices rose 5 per cent in 2025, and some items saw much larger increases – such as beef and coffee. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced some affordability measures this week – like an increase to the GST credit – aimed at lowering grocery bills. Today, food economist Mike von Massow explains why food prices remain so high, what’s driving the increase of specific items and what can be done about it.
January 29 · 26 min
Drug decriminalization is over in B.C. What’s next?
British Columbia’s drug decriminalization pilot program will end on January 31st. The controversial program was introduced in 2023, but was criticized by advocates and political opponents alike. Parts of the policy had already been rolled back as public pressure mounted. The pilot’s cancellation was met with disappointment, especially from First Nations leaders, over the lack of consultation. What does the ending of this policy signal about the B.C. government’s approach to the toxic drug crisis
January 28 · 25 min
How Minnesota is fighting ICE on the ground — and in the courts
Some of the 3,000 federal agents in Minnesota are set to leave following the killings of U.S. citizens Renee Nicole Macklin Good and Alex Pretti. ICE and U.S. Border Patrol officers have been in the state enforcing U.S. President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda since December amid growing unrest. Now, Minnesota is suing the federal government, arguing that the Trump administration is breaching people’s rights and acting beyond its powers. And what happens next on the ground and in the courts c
January 27 · 24 min
Alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding arrested
Ryan Wedding, former Canadian Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug lord, is pleading not guilty to U.S. federal charges of leading an international drug trafficking ring and orchestrating the murders of multiple people. Wedding had been on the run for more than a decade and was on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted list. But the sprawling criminal investigation crosses borders and legal experts are now questioning what lawful norms and treaties may be overridden in the race to prosecute Wedding an
January 26 · 22 min
What you need to know as Parliament resumes
It’s been a busy month abroad for Prime Minister Mark Carney, but now, he’ll have to turn his focus back to domestic issues as Parliament returns on Monday. There’s a lot to catch up on — later this week, the Conservatives will have their leadership review of Pierre Poilievre during their convention in Calgary, and the NDP are in the midst of their leadership race. The issue of national unity remains top of mind as both Alberta and Quebec look towards possible referendums in the coming months.
January 24 · 27 min
Happy Enough: Can psychedelics improve your mental health?
Psychedelics, substances like LSD and psilocybin mushrooms that cause altered states of consciousness, often remind people of hippies in the 1960s. But more researchers are looking into their potential benefits for our well-being. Scientists say psychedelics – which are illegal for recreational use in Canada – could have massive implications on how we treat and heal from major mental health disorders like PTSD, depression and anxiety. Garvia speaks with Dr. Monnica Williams, clinical psychologis