Just Asking

Since the birth control pill was introduced in 1960, contraceptive options have expanded to include the patch, the ring, injections, and IUDs. And this year, some provinces began offering free prescriptions for contraception. But even with more access, there’s still widespread skepticism and misinformation, much of it spreading quickly online. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about the risks and realities of birth control, how to talk about it with partners and young people, and what new options may be on the horizon. Joining us are Dr. Rahima Alani, a family physician whose clinical work includes Planned Parenthood, and Natalya Mason, a registered social worker and sexual health educator.

Sanctions have become one of the most commonly used diplomatic tools in the world, whether aimed at Russia over Ukraine, Iran’s nuclear program, or individuals linked to extremist violence in the Middle East. But what exactly are sanctions, how effective are they at changing behaviour, and what are the humanitarian costs when they go too far? To take your questions on how sanctions work and what they mean for Canada’s foreign policy, Just Asking was joined by John Packer, an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Ottawa who specializes in international human rights law and conflicts, and Andrea Charron, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at the University of Manitoba.

Back-to-school season can be exciting — but also stressful, especially for families raising neurodivergent kids. Parents may find themselves navigating new routines, advocating for classroom support, and helping their kids manage big emotions. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions on raising and supporting neurodivergent children. Joining us are Adelle Purdham, mom to her daughter Elyse who has Down Syndrome and author of 'I Don’t Do Disability And Other Lies I’ve Told Myself', and Dr. Teresa Bennett, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at McMaster Children’s Hospital and researcher at the Offord Centre for Child Studies.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called on the federal government to scrap the temporary foreign worker program, and create a separate immigration stream for farm workers under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Poilievre claims the TFW program has made it harder for young people to find work, but economists are pushing back on that assessment. So what are the facts about the TFW program and what kinds of reforms should be looked at? Just Asking was joined by Armine Yalnizyan, an economist and the Atkinson Fellow on the Future of Workers, and Amanda Aziz, a staff lawyer at the Migrant Workers Centre in B.C.

Former astronaut Chris Hadfield will be releasing his novel Final Orbit, set against the backdrop of the 1970s Space Race. As NASA prepares for its second year-long Mars simulation mission, Hadfield will explore what it will take for NASA to get humans to Mars by 2030, how astronauts are preparing, and what we can expect from the next phase of space exploration. Chris Hadfield joins Just Asking to answer all your space questions!

What are the economic and political risks at stake when it comes to Canada's trade with China, and how should our leaders approach it? Co-Director of the China Strategic Risks Institute Margaret McCuaig-Johnston and director of StrategyCorp's Geopolitical and International Business Advisory Jeff Mahon answer your questions.

How do you know when your family relationships are fixable or when it's time to set boundaries? Clinical psychologist Heather MacIntosh and writer Gabrielle Moss answer your questions.

The return to school is just around the corner and some older students will be taking classes in post-secondary institutions for the very first time. It can be as scary, anxiety-filled and exciting as the first day of kindergarten. And that's just for the parents and guardians. So, how do you turn that stress into success? How do you make friends? Eat healthy? And stay focused on learning? Dr. Shimi Kang is an author and psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds, a counselling service for teens and families. Amanda Round is a McGill University student studying Marine Science and a social media content creator helping Canadian students figure out life on campus.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government ordered public servants to work from the office four days a week starting this fall, then full-time in January. Now, he's calling on municipalities to send their workers back to the office five days a week. Large private corporations, like Amazon and major banks, are ending remote work for employees as well. Working from home was a success during the pandemic and after. So, why are employers ready to shut it down? What can workers do about it? And what do we lose when we don't have that choice? Why does it matter if employees are in the office? Scott Schieman is a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto who researches life at work and Adam Savaglio is an employment lawyer.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is running in a record-breaking by-election in the Alberta riding of Battle River–Crowfoot, facing more than 200 other candidates. While he’s expected to win, the race raises bigger questions about his leadership and the direction of the party. To take your questions on the future of the Conservatives, Just Asking was joined by Erika Barootes, a Conservative strategist and Department Head of Applied Politics and Public Affairs at MaKami College in Edmonton, and Sabrina Grover, a Liberal strategist and senior advisor at NorthStar Public Affairs in Calgary.

Running is having a big moment. From record-breaking marathons to run clubs filling city streets. But whether you’re training for your first 5K or chasing an ultramarathon, the sport can feel daunting. How do you push yourself without burning out? What should you eat to fuel your body? And what’s really going on in your brain when you catch that so-called runner’s high? To take your questions on how to run smarter, faster, and longer, Just Asking was joined by Krista DuChene, an Olympic marathon runner, running coach and registered dietitian, Dr. Kevin Masters, a clinical psychologist at the University of Colorado, Denver who studies the psychology of physical activity, and Allison Hill, founder of Hill Run Club in Toronto.

A new report from IBM estimates that data breaches in Canada now cost companies nearly $7 million to recover from, and the risks to our personal information are growing. We look at what happens when your data is exposed, why it’s so valuable to cybercriminals, and what steps you can take to protect it, with advice from security experts.Yvette Elliott is an expert in AI and digital marketing and Brent Arnold is a Partner and Litigator with the law firm Gowling WLG. He works on cases dealing with data breaches and cybersecurity.

From ghosting to swipe fatigue, many people are rethinking online dating and looking for ways to meet partners in real life. We take your questions on how to navigate dating without apps, and explore how dating technology has reshaped the way we connect and build relationships. Myisha Battle is a dating coach, writer and host of the KC-RW Podcast, “How’s Your Sex Life?”Diana Parry is a professor in the Faculty of Health at the University of Waterloo.Rachael Brewin-Caddy is the host of Thursday Dating, an in- person event series for singles.

From splitting chores to navigating labour disputes, negotiation is everywhere, and it can be intimidating. Whether you're bargaining over rent, salary, or high-stakes union demands, we take your questions on how to become a more confident and effective negotiator. Helping us out are Nil Ataogul, Advisor for Mobilization and Labour Relations at the Quebec Federation of University Professors, and Fabiola Tassy, a lawyer and sessional lecturer at McGill University where she teaches negotiation. We also hear from Bob Bordone, senior fellow at Harvard Law School and founder of The Cambridge Negotiation Institute and author of 'Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreements Without Giving Up or Giving In.'

More Canadians are exploring polyamory and consensual non-monogamy, but navigating those relationships can be emotionally complex. How do you know if it’s right for you? What does healthy communication look like across multiple partners? And how do you talk to your loved ones about it? Just Asking takes your questions with help from Kaleigh Trace, a registered psychotherapist and couples therapist, and Mel Cassidy, a somatic relationship coach who is solo-polyamorous.

The not-guilty verdict in the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault trial has sparked a national conversation about how we define and understand consent. As the legal system wrestles with questions around fear, coercion, and credibility, Just Asking looks at what consent really means in practice and how we can talk about it more openly. Joining us are Farrah Kahn, a consent educator and the CEO of Possibility Seeds, and Gillian Hnatiw, a Toronto-based lawyer who specializes in gender-based violence.

As famine-like conditions grip Gaza, the flow of humanitarian aid has become a global flashpoint. Over 120 people have reportedly died of starvation since October 2023, most of them children, and international pressure is mounting on Israel to ease restrictions. To answer your questions about the humanitarian crisis, Just Asking spoke with Aya Batrawy, a journalist and Middle East Correspondent for NPR based in Atlanta, and Dr. James Smith, an emergency physician and professor at University College London who has spent over two months in Gaza since the war began.

According to the Supreme Court of Canada, the Crown has a legal obligation to consult Indigenous peoples before decisions are made that could infringe on their rights. What meaningful consultation actually looks like has come into sharp focus this week as Prime Minister Carney met with First nations leaders about Bill C-5, which aims to fast track approvals for major infrastructure projects like pipelines or mines. So what does the "duty to consult" in Canadian law actually mean? To answer your questions, Just Asking spoke to two experts. Sara Mainville is the managing partner of JFK Law. She’s also the former Chief of Couchiching First Nation. And Deliah Bernard is Partner and Co-Founder of Roots Strategies, which is an Indigenous affairs agency. She was also a former senior Indigenous affairs adviser to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Further Reading: What does the duty to consult First Nations, Inuit and Métis mean?

Buy Now Pay Later apps like Klarna and Afterpay have become ubiquitous since the pandemic, allowing users to pay for items in small installments over time instead of footing the bill all at once. But now, some financial experts are sounding the alarm that these easy-to-use apps can lead to financial trouble later on - and that the growing industry needs more regulation. To answer your questions about these apps, Just Asking was joined by two experts. Elizabeth Mulholland is the CEO of Prosper Canada, a national charity dedicated to expanding economic opportunity for Canadians living in poverty. Omar Fares is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the faculty of business at the University of New Brunswick.

Summer is supposed to be a time for rest and relaxation — unless you're among the millions of Canadians who suffer from poor sleep. How do the changing seasons affect our sleep schedule? We spoke with Dr. Michael Mak, a sleep medicine specialist and psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and Lynne Peeples a science writer and author of the book The Inner Clock: living in sync with our circadian rhythms.

This week, the RCMP revealed that four men are being accused of an alleged anti-government plot that involved creating a militia and seizing land. Two of the men arrested were members of the Canadian Armed Forces.Police are calling the plot an act of "ideologically motivated violent extremism." Last December, the RCMP, CSIS and the Five Eyes Alliance published a report warning about the rise in young people attracted to violent ideologies. So what are the driving forces behind these movements? What warning signs can family members look out for, and what more can be done to root out this extremism from institutions like the military? We spoke with Barbara Perry, the director of the Centre on Hate, Bias and Extremism at Ontario Tech University, David O'Brien, the director of Mental Health at Yorktown Family Services, where he works with young people to redirect them from violent extremism and hate groups, and Jeanette Manning, the co-author of Walking Away from Hate: Our Journey Through Extremism, which details her own experience with her daughter after her daughter left a white supremacist group.  

The Diddy trial came to a close this week, with the jury delivering a mixed verdict. Combs was found not guilty on the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, but was found guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. During the trial, the judge ruled the prosecutor's expert witness couldn't use the term "coercive control." To help us understand what this form of abuse looks like, Just Asking spoke to two experts. Pamela Cross is a feminist lawyer and a member of Ontario’s Domestic Violence Death Review Committee. She is also the author of the book, And Sometimes They Kill You: Confronting the Epidemic of Intimate Partner Violence. Carrie McManus is the Director of Innovation and Programs at Sagesse, which is a Domestic Violence Prevention Society in Calgary.

Canada produces more waste per person than any of its peer countries. And in the not-too-distant future - we could run out of space for all that trash. Ontario has just under a decade until its landfills will reach capacity. So what policy choices will Canada have to make in the wake of this garbage crisis? What examples are there of better waste systems? Just Asking spoke to two experts to answer your questions about trash. Myra Hird is a professor in the department of Environmental Studies at Queens University where she studies waste. Emily Alfred is a waste campaigner for the Toronto Environmental Alliance.

It's officially summer - that time of year where we all have to get a little more comfortable feeling sticky, sweaty and maybe a little... stinky? So what are the best ways to stay fresh and clean during the hotter months? Just Asking spoke to two experts about the science behind staying clean and how to address our sweaty, smelly discomfort. Jason Tetro is a microbiologist and the author of the book, “The Germ Files.” Sarah Everts is a science journalist and the author of the book, “The Joy of Sweat: The Strange Science of Perspiration.”

NATO allies, including Canada agreed to significantly increase defense spending, pledging to reach five per cent of GDP over the next decade. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised President Trump for pushing the alliance to boost their funding shares. But what will this funding accomplish? Are these thresholds realistic? To answer all your NATO questions, Just Asking spoke to two experts. Oleksa Drachewych is an Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Western University. And Erika Simpson is an Associate Professor of International Relations at Western University and the President of the Canadian Peace Research Association.

This week, Canada's privacy commissioner found that DNA testing company 23andMe didn't have adequate data protections in place, when hackers gained access to roughly 6.9 millions profiles on the site. The commissioner also revealed that some of the stolen information was later being sold online. So how much information are these tests gathering, and what could users' data be used for? And if you're looking for quick access to genetic information, how accurate are these tests and what can they tell you? To answer your questions, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Brent Arnold is a Partner and litigator at Gowling WLG working with a focus on tech and cybersecurity. Jehannine Austin is a Professor and Head of the Department of Medical Genetics at UBC. They're also a genetic counsellor.

To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, we brought together a special panel for Just Asking. Michelle Good is a Cree writer and poet, award-winning author of the novel "Five Little Indians," and a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation. Marek Tyler is a musician and leader of the band Asko. He is nêhiyaw from Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton. And Riley Yesno is an Anishinaabe scholar and distinguished fellow at the Yellowhead Institute, from Eabametoong First Nation.

Have you ever felt like a fraud at work, plagued by self-doubt? Just Asking spoke to two experts about why so many of us feel "imposter syndrome," what to do about it, and what employers can do to create more supportive work environments. Kim Meninger is a leadership coach who has her own story of imposter syndrome that fuels her work. Kevin Cokley is a professor of psychology at the University of Michigan and the editor of "The Impostor Phenomenon." 

Israel launched attacks targeting Iran's nuclear and military structure on Friday, killing top military commanders and nuclear scientists. In response, Iran launched a series of counter strikes and casualties are being reported in Israel. Just Asking had two experts on the show to share their analysis and answer your questions on the conflict. Dennis Horak was Canada's ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Yemen from 2015 to 2018. Alex Vatanka is the Director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute, a non-partisan think tank providing expert policy analysis on the region.

At Just Asking, we know you want clear answers to help you make sense of the world and all the information out there. That’s why we’re recommending that you listen to The Dose, hosted by Dr. Brian Goldman. Every Thursday, the show dives into health news that matters to you, using plain language to explain the science behind it.In this episode, The Dose explores the big business of Cosmetics —and the many brands promising to beautify and rejuvenate. But for the average customer, it's not always clear whether their makeup and creams actually benefit your skin. Dermatologist Dr. Renee Beach explains how some cosmetics, including anti-aging creams, can make a difference…but you shouldn't believe everything on the label.You can find more episodes of The Dose here.

Last month, Utah became the first state to introduce a law to regulate mental health chatbots, arguing these bots cannot present themselves as regulated health professionals or therapists. At the same time, clinicians are researching ways to integrate AI into mental healthcare to make it more accessible. So what do patients need to understand about talking to a chatbot vs. a therapist? How can privacy be protected, and is there an ethical way to integrate AI into therapy? To answer your questions, Just Asking talked to two guests. Dr. Betsy Stade is a clinical psychologist and research scientist at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. Dr. Janine Hubbard is a child psychologist.

This week, Ontario passed Bill 5 that aims to speed up mining projects, despite opposition from First Nations and environmental groups. Last week, B.C. passed Bill 15 intended to speed up major projects, including critical mineral mines - which is being met with similar pushback in that province. So what do critical minerals mean for the future of the Canadian economy, and what are the environmental impacts of these projects? To answer your questions about critical minerals, Just Asking spoke to two experts. Mark Cameron is a Public Policy Forum fellow and Warren Mabee is the Director of the Queen's Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy.

Both Manitoba and Saskatchewan are in a state of emergency as communities across Canada are witnessing the effects of wildfires - from Newfoundland and Labrador, to northern Ontario to B.C. Early signs point to another active wildfire season in 2025 after Canada just experienced two of its worst wildfire seasons on record. To talk tell us more about wildfire in Canada, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Lori Daniels is a Professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at UBC. Anabela Bonada is the Managing Director of Climate Science at the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. 

There's a growing body of research pointing to the therapeutic applications for psychedelics, including MDMA and psilocybin, along with ketamine which was approved for therapeutic use in 2020. The promise of a new frontier in treatment for depression, anxiety and PTSD is an appealing one for researchers and patients desperately looking for solutions in a mental health crisis. But with all the excitement around psychedelics in therapy, where does the research stand, and what risks should patients be aware of? To answer those questions, Just Asking brought out two guests. Leah Mayo is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Calgary and the Parker Research Chair in Psychedelics. Ron Shore is the Interim Assistant Scientific Director of the Canadian Institute of Military and Veteran Health Research and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, at Queen’s University in Kingston.

As graduation season approaches, young people are entering into a tough job market. In April, the unemployment rate for those aged between 15 to 24 years old was 14.1 per cent - the highest rate seen in over a decade. To answer your questions about what young people and their parents should keep in mind as they enter into the workforce, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Shenelle Payne Cuffy is a career counsellor focusing on young clients and Katherine Scott is a Senior Researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives who's been studying the youth job market.

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has called for a halt on overtime work, while negotiations continue with Canada Post. A report this week described the company as "effectively bankrupt." Workers are pushing for higher wages to cope with inflation and challenging the idea of a part-time workforce to extend their services to seven days a week. To answer your questions about the future of Canada Post, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Marvin Ryder is an Associate Professor, DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University. Barry Eidlin is an associate professor of sociology at McGill University and an expert on labour policy.

Stock markets bounced back this week thanks to the tariff truce between the U.S. and China after plunging to record lows last month. The markets are being closely watched through all the tariff turbulence - but what does it all mean for your finances? Our experts will broke it all down for us. Aravind Sithamparapillai is a financial planner and Preet Banerjee is a personal finance expert.

Celebrity doctors and Silicon Valley billionaires have been promoting the so-called "longevity movement," promoting health trends that claim to extend your life. They claim by following strict diets, taking dozens of supplements per day and regular cold plunges they can extend their life well-past 100. But how much evidence is there behind these claims? And what do we actually know about healthy aging? To answer your questions about longevity, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Timothy is a professor and the research director of the Health Law Institute at the University of Alberta who studies health misinformation. Andy De Santis is a Registered Dietitian.

The man behind the world's most notorious website for non-consensual, AI-generated porn of real people is a hospital pharmacist from just outside of Toronto according to a CBC investigation. His site, MrDeepFakes, was the world's most popular site for "deepfake" porn, hosting tens of thousands of non-consensual and sometimes violent fake videos and images of celebrities, politicians, social media influencers and private citizens, including Canadians. To answer your questions about deepfakes, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Hany Farid is a professor at the University of California and a member of the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Lab. Suzie Dunn is a professor of law at Dalhousie University, specializing in technology.

The new leader of 1.4 billion Roman Catholics is, for the first time, an American. The former Cardinal Robert Prevost is now Pope Leo XIV, the 267th man to hold that office. To answer your questions about the new Pope, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Father Darren Dias is the Executive Director of the Toronto School of Theology at University of St Michael’s College. Mark McGowan is a professor of history at University of Toronto, who specializes in the history of the Catholic Church in Canada.

Have you ever been in a "sort-of" relationship? If you're more than friends but not quite partners, if the definitions are fuzzy and the commitments are loose, you might be in a "situationship". For some people, situationships are liberating because there are no labels and no expectations. For others, a situationship is an anxiety-causing waiting game. To answer all your questions about situationships, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Jessica Maxwell is an assistant professor at McMaster University whose research focuses on interpersonal relationships and sexuality. And Jen Kirsch is a relationship expert and journalist.

The federal NDP was nearly wiped off the electoral map in the recent federal election. Jagmeet Singh stepped down as party leader after the New Democrats dropped to seven seats, and lost official party status. So where does the NDP go from here? Just Asking was joined by two guests to talk about what's next for the party. Jordan Leichnitz is a former NDP senior strategist. David McGrane is a professor of political studies at the University of Saskatchewan.

The federal election is Monday, April 28. But there's still a daily barrage of announcements, attack ads and press conferences. To provide you with more information before you vote, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Chris Cochrane is an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto. And Laura Osmond is the parliamentary correspondent for The Logic.

Apparently just over half of Canadians play video games according to industry numbers. And the games themselves have evolved from two-dimensional, simplistic adventures to three dimensional worlds with complicated moral choices that can suck up hours of your time. To answer your questions about video games and your relationship with video games, Just Asking brought out three guests. Chelsea Rodrigues is a counsellor who focuses on problem technology use at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare centre in Windsor. Samantha Stahlke is a former game developer and instructor at Ontario Tech University. And Jake Uskoski is recovering from a video game disorder and tells us why he quit playing games, but still makes them for fun.

With Canadians heading to the polls in a matter of days, it's time for a bit of an Election 101. How does our system actually work? What is first-past-the-post? And what do MPs actually do once they are elected? To answer all your Canadian election questions, Just Asking was joined by two guests. Andrea Perrella is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University. Tari Ajadi is an assistant professor of political science at McGill University in Montreal.

Making friends can be tough no matter how old you are. But once you get out of school and don't have classmates to fall back on, your pool of potential friends shrinks. So what do you do? Just Asking spoke to two friendship experts. Aaron Karo is the co-host of the podcast, "Man of the Year". Danielle Bayard Jackson is a friendship coach and author.

Just Asking has been on the air for just over a year now! To celebrate, we reached out to some of the people who have called in for advice to see whether we were able to solve their problems. Take a listen!

Alberta has introduced a bill to regulate online private gambling. Ontario has regulated this space since 2022. To answer your questions on gambling, Just Asking spoke to two guests. Steve Rose is an addiction counsellor in Windsor, and Youssef Allami is an assistant professor at the School of Psychology at Université Laval who has completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.

Adolescence is a searing 4-part series on Netflix about boys, violence, cyberbullying and social media. It has ignited a conversation among parents and guardians about how to raise boys who are happy, healthy and kind to others. To answer your questions about raising boys, we spoke to two guests. Jonathan Reed is the director of programs for Next Gen Men, and Michael Kehler is a research professor of Masculinities Studies in Education at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.

Are you suffering from burn out? Alexandra Lily has been there and come through the other side. She has three step-children, and two of her own. One of her sons is living with a disability. Three years ago she was navigating doctors appointments, her son's daily seizures, and her own cancer diagnosis. She says she hit a wall. Now she's on the other side and helps parents who are in a similar situation. She took your questions about how to get through burnout. We also heard from Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell. She's a clinical psychologist and a psychology professor with the faculty of health at York University.