The Sunday Magazine

Justin Gregg studies and teaches about animal behaviour and cognition at St. Francis Xavier University. His new book, Humanish, breaks down the science behind the uniquely human habit of anthropomorphization, and brings a new lens to our evolving relationships with animals rights, tech, and even war.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with journalists Rob Russo and Tonda MacCharles to discuss the tricky politics facing the Carney government amid the Canada Post strike, adjunct professor at St. Francis Xavier University Justin Gregg breaks down the science behind the uniquely human habit of anthropomorphization, senior fellow with the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Elizabeth Buchanan explains why Greenland’s future remains an open question, and Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa warns about the threats posed to democracy -- and ways to combat -- disinformation. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

True crime stories dominate our screens and feeds. But John J. Lennon wants us to question how much truth they're telling – and whose. He reflects on those ideas in his book The Tragedy of True Crime: Four Guilty Men and the Stories That Define Us. And one of the guilty men he writes about is himself. Lennon is serving a 28-years-to-life sentence in New York state for murder, drug sales and gun possession, and has become a professional writer while in prison. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about his approach to telling crime stories, and the search for meaning, growth and identity inside the system.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with McGill University's Max Bell School of Public Policy director Jennifer Welsh about the stakes of this week's United Nations General Assembly talks, "Traveling Nanas" Eleanor Hamby and Sandra Hazelip share the life lessons they've learned from their world adventures, University of Toronto scholar Jason Stanley reflects on the state of speech and democratic institutions in the United States, and incarcerated journalist John J. Lennon explores the value of telling crime stories from the inside. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Twenty years ago, Jennifer Jones made what's widely considered one of the greatest shots in curling history – a hail-mary four-pointer that won her the 2005 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and cemented her legacy as an icon in the sport. Now, as she steps away from four-player curling, the six-time Canadian champion and Olympic gold medalist sits down with Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about her memoir, Rock Star, which leaves no stone unturned in looking back on her journey both on and off the ice.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Queen's University energy policy expert Warren Mabee and CBC News journalist Jason Markusoff about the potential and politics of Prime Minister Mark Carney's "nation-building" energy project priorities, Canadian curling legend Jennifer Jones looks back on her journey both on and off the ice, Haaretz editor-in-chief Aluf Benn describes the challenges of covering the war in Gaza, and Julia Pagel explores how people living in Canada's North are thinking about renewed interest in Arctic security. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday.

At 91-years-old, Jane Goodall hasn't just seen a lot of change in the world – she's made a lot of change. The legendary naturalist’s field work with chimpanzees transformed how both science and the general public view our fellow primates. In later years, as an activist and conservationist, she’s inspired countless young people to follow her lead and change the world. Today, when political leaders seem to be prioritizing the economy over the environment, Goodall speaks with Piya Chattopadhyay about how to stay hopeful, and to keep on sparking positive change.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Economist’s Rob Russo and The Globe and Mail’s Shannon Proudfoot about Prime Minister Mark Carney's priorities heading into fall, mathematician and educator Eugenia Cheng explains how math can help us better understand the world, legendary activist and conservationist Jane Goodall shares how to stay hopeful amid climate and political instability, and Canadian hip hop icon Shad and Toronto listener Clare Hodge kick off an all-new season of our monthly challenge That's Puzzling! Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

In many ways, personal devices like smartphones, tablets and smartwatches feel less like tools… and more like constant companions. Stephen Monteiro says that’s by design. The assistant professor of communications studies at Concordia University joins David Common to discuss his book Needy Media, in which he breaks down how our devices evolved – from the way they feel in our hands, to how they light up when we look at them – to make us more dependent on them.

Guest host David Common speaks with The Atlantic staff writer Toluse "Tolu" Olorunnipa and New York Times White House correspondent Luke Broadwater about the enduring effects of Donald Trump's whirlwind summer, assistant professor of communications studies at Concordia University Stephen Monteiro breaks down how our devices evolved to make us more dependent on them, science journalist Peter Brannen enriches our understanding of carbon dioxide, and activist Loretta Ross reflects on her social justice journey. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Four months since Mark Carney was elected prime minister, journalist Justin Ling is examining the forces that drove – and divided – Canadians during the federal election campaign in his new book, The 51st State Votes. David Common speaks with Ling about the existential crisis Canadians faced at the ballot box in the form of Donald Trump, how it fundamentally shifted the fortunes of Conservative leader Pierre Poilieve, and how all federal parties need to adapt to meet this moment as Parliament gets ready to return.

Guest host David Common speaks with global affairs experts Janice Stein and Roland Paris about how much merit there may be behind the momentum of Russia-Ukraine peace prospects, famine expert Alex de Waal discusses the confirmation of famine in Gaza City, journalist Justin Ling explores how the forces behind the federal election are shaping Canadian politics now, Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa shares her journey to becoming a doctor and finding her voice, and music historian Steve Waksman walks through how stadium shows evolved and changed live music. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

As record temperatures scorch Canada, you may find yourself walking on the shady side of the street, or ducking under a tree. But in many cities, keeping public spaces sunny has long been a key priority. The Globe and Mail's architecture critic Alex Bozikovic explains how sun and shade wars have broader implications on critical city infrastructure. Then, Saroja Coelho speaks with environmental journalist Sam Bloch about how prizing sun over shade has cast a long shadow on urban design and public health in our warming world.

Guest host Saroja Coelho speaks with New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers and McGill University political science associate professor Maria Popova about Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting in Alaska, The Globe and Mail's architecture critic Alex Bozikovic and environmental journalist Sam Bloch make the case for city shade, aviation expert John Gradek discusses the the Air Canada flight attendant labour dispute, Canadian history professor Alan MacEachern reflects on the evolution of Canada's parks, and Canadian author Vinh Nguyen retraces his family’s journey 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

If you've ever been told to stop saying "like" so much, or caught yourself cringing when someone else does it... you might want to reconsider. Journalist Megan Reynolds says the much-maligned word is actually a linguistic powerhouse. In the latest edition of Word Processing, our ongoing look at language, Reynolds speaks with Saroja Coelho about the history, gender politics and surprising functionality of "like", as she explores in her book Like: A History of the World’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word.

Guest Host Saroja Coelho speaks with The Globe and Mail's Shannon Proudfoot, Angus Reid Institute's Shachi Kurl and Joël-Denis Bellavance from La Presse about Prime Minister Mark Carney's first 100 days since being elected, journalist Megan Reynolds unpacks our love-hate relationship with the word "like," CBC News senior correspondent Susan Ormiston brings us the latest on Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, Foreign Policy's Ravi Agrawal and Eurasia Group's Graeme Thompson discuss how U.S. tariffs will affect developing countries, and writer Roland Allen shares why physical notebooks still endure in our digital age. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

August marks 80 years since the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing an estimated 210,000 people. Setsuko Thurlow, who survived that day, shares her experience and her message for us all amid today's nuclear tensions. Then, Megan Williams speaks with historian and journalist Garrett Graff and national security analyst Joe Cirincione about how this event paved the path to our current nuclear world, and where things may go next.

Guest host Megan Williams speaks with senior economics lecturer Moshe Lander and Canadian Global Affairs Institute vice president Colin Robertson about Canada's options without a Trump trade deal in place, we reflect on the legacy of the atomic bombings of Japan with survivor and nuclear disarmament advocate Setsuko Thurlow, historian Garrett Graff and national security analyst Joe Cirincione, Canada's former ambassador to Israel Jon Allen and former adviser to the Palestine Liberation Organization Diana Buttu discuss Canada's plan to recognize Palestinian statehood, and automotive journalist Mark Richardson uncovers the stories that paved the Trans-Canada Highway. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Questions surrounding the line between private and public lives were among the many raised earlier this month when a video of a tech CEO and his company's HR manager embracing at a Coldplay concert went viral. In her book Strangers and Intimates, cultural historian Tiffany Jenkins explores the relatively short history of the notion of a private life. She joins David Common to explain how the phenomenon came to be, the value she thinks it holds, and why she fears it may be disappearing as technology continues to erase the line between private and public.

Guest host David Common speaks with CBC Sports senior contributor Shireen Ahmed and The Athletic senior writer Dan Robson about the broader implications of the world junior sexual assault case for hockey culture, cultural historian Tiffany Jenkins explores the rise and potential fall of private life, The Economist’s Rob Russo and The Toronto Star’s Rob Benzie look at the state of Canada-U.S. trade negotiations and federal-provincial relations, and Nathan Law reflects on his unlikely journey to activism and what he makes of the prospects for democracy in Hong Kong. Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday