The Big Story

Federal Conservative Party Leader, Pierre Poilievre, was positioned for a landslide win over the federal liberals, but incomes a new rival leader, and voters seem to have no problem moving the pendulum - and fast! Recent leaks from inside the campaign paint a chaotic picture for the federal tories just one month out from when Canadians head to the polls, and with the unpredictability of a diminishing Canada-US relationship, the concerns that shape the big ballot question come April 28 no longer mirror what they used to be just a few weeks ago. Host David Smith speaks to CEO of Abacus Data, David Coletto, about what's driving the pre-polling tank for a party once destined for victory, as well as what's grabbing the attention of Canadian voters in a time of economic despair, a pending North American trade war, and a sudden burst of Canadian patriotism. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

What were once positioned as the four stripes that were recognizable by Canadians worldwide now sparingly lace abandoned shelves across the country dressed with 'clearance' tags. The Hudson's Bay Company has begun the process of liquidating all but six stores Canada-wide, with those remaining - three in Ontario and three in Quebec - still very much up for grabs if the company doesn't present a comprehensive restructuring plan moving forward. But the question on many people's minds still remains: how did Canada's oldest company fall into the hands of creditor protection? A name once emblematic of Canadian retail, history and culture, now grasping onto whatever capital (and hope) it can to sustain a presence in an online-dominated retail landscape. Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks with retail expert, Gary Newbury, about what lead to the slow burn of the Hudson's Bay Company, and if the writing was on the wall-post pandemic for the fate of the country's first company. The two discuss what the next months could look like for HBC, and what notes other retailers should be taking if they aren't interested in falling next in line. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

At one point in time, Canada was ranked as the 5th happiest country out of 147 countries across the globe. 10 years since that ranking, and Canada has dropped to 18th place...a ranking that's continued on a steady decline since 2020. But why? How do Canadians express happiness? How much of their well-being is shaped by the economy, their friends, their perception of the world around them, or all three? And what can we do if we want to climb back to the top 5 area? Host Pooja Handa speaks with Felix Cheung, Canada Research Chair in Population and Wellbeing, and assistant professor at U of T’s department of psychology, about this year's World Happiness Report to discuss why Canadians seem to have a declining outlook on the overall perception of happiness, and what the future generations can focus on if they're interested in making their way closer to the top of the list. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Foreign election interference is back in the news after week one of the federal election campaign. Questions about foreign interference followed both Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney on the campaign trail this week. Poilievre again defended his refusal to obtain security clearance, while Carney was pressed to explain why the Liberals dropped a candidate with ties to the Indian government. Host David Smith speaks with University Ottawa criminology professor Michael Kempa about the latest developments and how foreign interference may play a role in this election race.We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

The federal election is several days in and it’s already been a wild ride. This vote has been framed as an existential election for our country, amid the trade war and sovereignty threats from the US. While President Trump’s tariffs are having a massive impact on the campaign there are also many policy promises, questions around security clearance and business dealings, and gaffes from some of the leaders. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is checking the pulse of the race to form the next federal government , by speaking with Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It’s been a busy first week on the campaign trail for federal leaders. One storyline that's stood out is the early election poll tracking. All the major polling firms are showing a huge surge in support for the Liberal Party under new leader Mark Carney. But how full a picture do the polls show? Host David Smith speaks with Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, about what goes into a modern election poll. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

We’ve all heard how social media can have a negative impact, but unfortunately putting your phone down can be a tricky task. New research out of the University of British Columbia shows there’s a way to manage your mental health while staying up to date on your favourite apps. Host Melanie Ng speaks with lead study author and psychology professor at UBC, Amori Mikami, about their findings. More info: pearl.psych.ubc.ca We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Tesla is in a tailspin. Sales are dropping and the stock has been cut in half since December, blamed on Elon Musk's involvement with DOGE in the U.S. There have been incidents of vandalism against Tesla dealerships and on top of that, the automaker is facing ramped up competition from a Chinese company that's dramatically decreased charging time. Host Mike Eppel talks to Seth Goldstein, Equity Strategist at Morningstar Research Services, who covers Tesla and many other brands in the auto sector. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Getting concert tickets is harder than it used to be – and it means many Canadians have been shut out or forced to pay much higher prices with a reseller. Is this ever going to change? What needs to happen? Host Kris McCusker took those questions to Dan Wall of Live Nation Inc., which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. It is Wall’s first an in-depth feature interview on the subject since he joined the company in 2023. He describes a complicated landscape – but says there are some options – while a court case in the U.S is scheduled to proceed. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Live TV is often unpredictable, but at least the team behind the scenes is ready. However, this week, the ultimate surprise was pulled off — morning show legend, Dina Pugliese, shocked everyone by announcing her return to Breakfast Television, two years after stepping away from the spotlight. Host Melanie Ng speaks with her long-time colleague and friend, Dina, tackling topics she’s never talked about before. From burnout to family health, social media criticism to what makes her tick, nothing is off the table. This episode is a rollercoaster of emotions - with laughter and tears within the first few minutes. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Prime Minister Mark Carney is almost through his first week of Prime Minister. So, how's it going? He's already completed an international trip, had some interesting dealings with the media and is expected to call an election as soon as this weekend. Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is rating the first week with Barry McLoughlin, President, TLC Transformational Leadership Consultants Inc. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Is Doug Ford Canada's most unlikely diplomat? Doug Ford travelled to Washington last week to talk tariffs, after threatening to impose tariffs on energy or even turn off power to 3 U.S. states. Although the temperature has been dialed down, Queen's Park reporter Richard Southern talks to pollster John Wright about Ford's actions last week and how this all ties in to the upcoming federal election. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Imagine being so famous that there are university courses studying your every move! Taylor Swift will be the subject of course being taught at Brock University this spring – by Associate Professor of history Elizabeth Vlossak. Host Kris McCusker examines how the course was created – what it’s all about – and why it’s more relevant than you might think. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Spring is usually the hottest time of year for car sales. But with Trump’s tariffs affecting aluminum, steel and auto parts, this year could be different. If tariffs on cars come into force on April 2nd as scheduled, there are fears it could upend the automotive supply chain. Host David Smith speaks with automotive specialist Tim Dimopoulos, publisher of Automotive News Canada, about what it all means for Canadian consumers. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Trying to run a business in this economy is anything but easy. Uncertainty, unease and pressure from so many different factors are creating a very difficult situation for Canadian operators. Host Mike Eppel speaks with Mike Tzimas, president of the Napoleon Group of Companies about the current situation, the impact on tariffs, and how difficult it is to be a Canadian business operator in this climate. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

For a longer weekend listen, we're going back in the archives from November to talk about an issue that's back in the headlines - NATO, and the U.S. concerns that Canada is not paying its fair share. Host David Smith talks to Richard Shimooka, a defence policy expert and a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Punctuality – its definition and importance really depend on who you speak to. A recent study out of the UK shows a generational divide when it comes to tardiness and how it could be perceived by those around us. Host Melanie Ng speaks with peak performance coach and best-selling author, Hina Khan @coachwithhina, about a number of scenarios and why there is a sweet spot when it comes to how you show up both professionally and socially. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

U.S. President Donald Trump has taken the next step in its tariff battle with the world, placing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum products from Canada and all other countries. There was even a brief scare that the U.S. would double the tariff on Canada, before cooler heads prevailed But what impact will these tariffs have on the industry? Are the federal government counter measures enough, and what more do the feds need to do to support businesses and workers who will be hit hard by this move? Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association to get her thoughts. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

We're going to have a new Prime Minister this week, with no shortage of issues for Mark Carney to face. After Carney won a decisive victory in the Liberal Party leadership race on the weekend, it's expected he will be calling a federal election shortly. What will be the keys to success for the renewed Liberal Party as it faces off against Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives? Host David Smith speaks with liberal strategist Nick McRoberts from Hill & Knowlton about the path ahead in this new era of Canadian politics. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

It was 5 years ago today the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic because of the novel coronavirus. It marked the start of a very different way of life, disrupting almost every part of our society, including our concept of time. What have we learned from that fateful day 5 years ago, and what has been the impact on society and on public health? Host Gurdeep Ahluwalia speaks with Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Isaac Bogoch, @BogochIsaac, about his recollections and thoughts on how we changed as a society because of Covid-19. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us: Through email at hello@thebigstorypodcast.ca Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter