Mornings with Simi

The Pope is in critical condition Guest: Dr. Cristina Traina, Professor of Religious Studies and Catholic Ethics at Fordham University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Canada actually send troops to Ukraine? Guest: Dr. Robert Huish, Associate Professor in International Development Studies at Dalhousie University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View From Victoria: Conservative tweet under scrutiny & Fighting Trump Tariffs in BC Guest: Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens to your body when you're under anesthesia? Guest: Dr. Alopi Patel, Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at Rutgers’ Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we know about Friday’s earthquake, and could more be on the way? Guest: Dr. John Cassidy, Senior Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada and Adjunct Professor of Earthquake Seismology at the University of Victoria What is BC doing with its wine industry waste? Guest: Kirk Moir, CEO of Crush Dynamics Why are Western Canada’s glaciers melting so quickly? Guest: Dr. Brian Menounos, Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Northern BC and Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada How should you prepare for an earthquake? Guest: Naomi Yamamoto, Board Chair of the BC Earthquake Alliance How does BC want to change its interprovincial trade barriers? Guest: Diana Gibson, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do we know about Friday’s earthquake, and could more be on the way? Guest: Dr. John Cassidy, Senior Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada and Adjunct Professor of Earthquake Seismology at the University of Victoria Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does BC want to change its interprovincial trade barriers? Guest: Diana Gibson, BC’s Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How should you prepare for an earthquake? Guest: Naomi Yamamoto, Board Chair of the BC Earthquake Alliance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is BC doing with its wine industry waste? Guest: Kirk Moir, CEO of Crush Dynamics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are Western Canada’s glaciers melting so quickly? Guest: Dr. Brian Menounos, Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Northern BC and Research Scientist with Natural Resources Canada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

View From Victoria: ER Closures and Government silence Guest: Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Canada has designated seven transnational criminal organizations, including multiple drug cartels, as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. Will this have any impact? Seg 2: How are the odds of an asteroid hitting Earth actually being determined? Seg 3: A massive new community garden, the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre, is set to open in Saanich by March 1. Seg 4: Checking in on US politics with Washington correspondent Reggie Checchini! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada has designated seven transnational criminal organizations, including multiple drug cartels, as terrorist entities under the Criminal Code. This move, part of an agreement with the US to delay tariffs, gives law enforcement expanded powers to track and disrupt cartel finances. Guest: Dr. Michael Kenney - Posvar Chair in International Security Studies and Professor of Public & International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A massive new community garden, the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre, is set to open in Saanich by March 1. Spanning nearly 14 acres, it will offer up to 1,000 small garden plots and larger farming spaces. Leasing a plot will cost just $10 per month—“less than a streaming fee,” according to co-founder John Espley. Guest: John Espley - Founding Partner of the Blenkinsop Community Agricultural Centre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did last night's hockey game register much in the States? What's the latest on the Trump/Ukraine situation? The ongoing downsizing of the US government is causing a lot of problems. Trump called himself a king... why aren't Democrats doing more?! (Spoiler alert: there's not much they can do) Guest: Reggie Cecchini - Washington Correspondent for Global News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what turned out to be one hell of a hockey game, Connor McDavid scored last night's OT winner, securing the 4 Nations Championship for Team Canada! It was a dramatic day at the Victoria legislature yesterday! Conservative MLA Clare Rattee (Skeena) told house that a dozen years ago, she was a homeless drug addict, living on the DTES. What's going on in Fraser Health? The region's CEO unexpectedly resigned from her role. Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Asteroid 2024 YR4 has been identified as the most concerning near-Earth object currently being tracked. NASA initially estimated a 3.1% chance of 2024 YR4 impacting Earth in December 2032, while the ESA put it at 2.8%, surpassing Apophis’ 2.7% risk in 2004. However, further observations have lowered NASA’s estimate to 1.5%, highlighting the refinement of risk assessments over time. But how are these risks assessed? Why do the odds keep fluctuating? Let’s find out! Guest: Richard Binzel - Professor of Planetary Sciences at MIT and Inventor of the Torino Scale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Why did BC change its safer supply model? Seg 2: What happens when you put a human language gene into mice? Seg 3: Could new asteroid samples contain the building blocks of life? Seg 4: Canada has a unique opportunity to counteract Donald Trump and his enablers by leveraging its domestic powers and global influence to target corruption. Seg 5: How will $10 million in funding help BC tree fruit growers? Seg 6: How to ACTUALLY win Roll Up The Rim!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Hortons is bringing back its Roll Up the Rim to Win contest on February 24, 2025, and for the first time in several years, customers will once again have the chance to win by physically rolling up the rim of their coffee cups! Guest: Michael Wallace - Associate Professor of Statistics and Actuarial Science at Waterloo University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BC’s government has reversed its policy on safer supply opioids, requiring people to take prescription opioids like hydromorphone under pharmacist supervision to prevent drug diversion. Health Minister Josie Osborne cited concerns that these drugs were ending up in the wrong hands, a problem long criticized by B.C. Conservative MLA Elenore Sturko. Guest: Josie Osborne - BC’s Minister of Health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After four years of crop losses and market instability, B.C.’s tree fruit farmers are facing significant challenges—even before the added threat of new U.S. tariffs. In response, the province is providing $10 million in funding, allocated based on acreage, to help farmers recover from labour shortages, production losses, and increased competition. Guest: Deep Brar - Vice-President of BC Fruit Growers Association Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1965, a meteorite fell near Revelstoke, B.C., and was discovered by beaver trappers. Scientists studied its fragments, which provided clues about the early solar system. Decades later, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission brought back samples from the asteroid Bennu, a space rock similar to the Revelstoke meteorite, to learn more about the origins of life on Earth. Guest: Sara Russell - Professor of Planetary Sciences at the Natural History Museum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada has a unique opportunity to counteract Donald Trump and his enablers by leveraging its domestic powers and global influence to target corruption. With its global influence, diplomatic power, and economic strength, Canada is well-positioned to use anti-corruption measures as a tool to apply pressure on Trump and his allies, ultimately pushing back against their harmful policies and practices. Guest: Kristopher Harrison - Co-founder and President of the Dekleptocracy Project (a U.S. anti-corruption NGO) and Former Senior Official at the Department of State under President George W. Bush Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another major backdown by the New Democrats on their drug policy. George Abbott finally makes it to the treaty commission. New Democrats appointed the former BC Liberal cabinet minister Wednesday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Researchers have identified NOVA1 as a potential human “language gene” that may have played a crucial role in the evolution of spoken language. Unlike other mammals, humans have a unique variant of this gene, which even Neanderthals and Denisovans lacked. This suggests it emerged relatively recently in our evolutionary history. When scientists inserted the human NOVA1 variant into mice, the rodents’ vocalization patterns changed—pups produced higher-frequency squeaks, while adult males developed more complex courtship calls. Guest: Dr. Robert Darnell - Professor and Investigator at The Rockefeller University’s Howard Hughes Medical Institute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: The evolution of sunglasses! Seg 2: Does Vancouver need supportive housing? (Feat. Mayor Ken Sim) Seg 3: Trump continues to refer to Canada as a ‘very large faucet.’ Why does he want our water so badly? Seg 4: Should Vancouver extend its liquor hours? Seg 5: Why ‘leaky’ plants could be accelerating climate change! Seg 6: Making Cent$ of the market with Marko Ferenc! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“We’re making cents of the Markets with Lori Pinkowski, A Senior Portfolio Manager at Canaccord Genuity. - you can contact her team at 604-695-LORI or visit their website at PINKOWSKI.CA” Call Lori and her team today at 604-695-L-O-R-I with any questions you have about investing or retirement! Or visit their website at PINKOWSKI.CA Guest: Marko Ferenc - Analyst for Pinkowski Wealth Management and an Associate Portfolio Manager Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vancouver is considering extending liquor-serving hours at bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. The proposal would allow downtown bars, pubs, and nightclubs to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. daily, and restaurants to apply for service until 2 a.m. Guest: Charlie Grahn - Treasurer of MADD Metro Vancouver Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Canada and the U.S. have long managed water resources through treaties like the Columbia River Treaty and the Boundary Waters Treaty, Trump’s return to power introduces uncertainty. Some fear he may push for access to Canadian water, making it a political issue. Guest: Dr. Tricia Stadnyk - Canada Research Chair in Hydrologic Modelling with the University of Calgary's Schulich School of Engineering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rising temperatures may disrupt Earth’s climate balance as plants lose more water than previously believed. UBC researcher Dr. Sean Michaletz found that plants leak significant water through their cuticles—a waxy layer on leaves that cannot close—rather than just through their pores. Guest: Dr. Sean Michaletz - Sloan Research Fellow in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayor Sim toured Naomi Place - a well-run supportive housing unit in Vancouver. This is ahead of the Mayor’s no-net-new supportive housing motion that is coming to council on February 26th. Guest: Ken Sim - Mayor of Vancouver Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vaughn begins the segment reacting to the recent high-speed rail announcement. Why can't we seem to get it right? But the big topic of the day: Breaking down yesterday's throne speech! Plus a quick discussion on the cultural impact of sunglasses. Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sunglasses, an everyday accessory often taken for granted, have a fascinating history that spans centuries. From their earliest forms—Inuit snow goggles designed to prevent snow blindness—to medieval Chinese quartz lenses used to conceal facial expressions, sunglasses have evolved significantly over time. Guest: Vanessa Brown - Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and author of “Cool Shades: The History and Meaning of Sunglasses” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Is the US positioned for another 9/11? Seg 2: What’s behind the surge in plane crashes this month? Seg 3: What did ancient mummies smell like? Seg 4: How interprovincial barriers are impacting the wine industry. Seg 5: Why are more Canadians travelling to Newfoundland? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As tensions rise between Canada and the U.S. over a potential trade war, Newfoundland and Labrador sees an opportunity to attract travelers who would typically head south. With U.S. President Trump threatening tariffs and annexation, some Canadians are reconsidering vacations to the U.S. Destination St. John’s CEO Paul Buggé highlights the province’s welcoming culture, safety, and unique attractions, which make it an appealing destination for both Canadian and American tourists. Guest: Paul Buggé - CEO of Destination St. John’s Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between January 29 and February 17, 2025, North America has experienced six major aviation disasters, resulting in a total of 85 fatalities. These incidents mark the deadliest period in US aviation in over a decade, as there had been no fatal commercial airline crashes in the country since 2009. Guest: Dr. David Woods - Professor of Cognitive Systems Engineering and Human Systems Integration at Ohio State University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

B.C.’s Singletree Winery, near Abbotsford airport, attracts Ontario visitors but cannot ship wine directly to them due to interprovincial trade barriers. While a new agreement allows B.C. wineries to sell directly to Alberta consumers, other provinces, including Ontario, still require purchases through government-controlled liquor boards, leading to high markups. Guest: Debbie Etsell - Owner of Singletree Winery in Abbotsford Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Canadian intelligence official Dan Stanton warns that recent cuts to U.S. intelligence agencies under the Trump administration could make the country vulnerable to another 9/11-style attack, with implications for Canada as well. Guest: Dan Stanton - Director of the National Security Program at the University of Ottawa and Former Executive Director of CSIS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BC legislature are finally meeting after a 9-month hiatus. What can we expect to be discussed in this long-awaited session? Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The field of sensory heritage focuses on how we engage with heritage objects through senses beyond vision, such as smell, which is often overlooked in museum conservation. Researchers are developing methods to preserve culturally significant smells, with projects like recreating the scent of St. Paul’s Cathedral’s library and the “Odeuropa” project, which explored the smells of 17th-century Europe. A recent project involved studying mummified bodies from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and Slovenia’s national museum. Guest: Dr. Cecilia Bembibre - Lecturer in Sustainable Heritage at University College London Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Does the US actually subsidize Canada? If not, what is Trump referring to? Seg 2: How cartels are using BC ports to fuel the fentanyl crisis. Seg 3: Why do American hockey players sound so Canadian? Seg 4: How a major discovery could crack physics’ biggest mystery: Turbulence! Seg 5: Why BC should ramp up its citrus production! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bob Duncan, a Vancouver Island grower, cultivates dozens of citrus varieties, including oranges, lemons, and figs, using minimal energy. His heating method involves basic incandescent Christmas lights and thermal cloth, costing just two to three dollars for the entire winter. He believes more Canadians should grow their own food, especially with potential U.S. tariffs, and is pushing for government incentives to support home growers. Guest: Bob Duncan - Owner of Fruit Trees and More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) memo reveals that Chinese organized crime networks and Mexican cartels are using Canadian ports to trade endangered totoaba fish bladders for fentanyl precursor chemicals. Guest: Luis Horacio Nájera - Journalist and Crime Analyst from Mexico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump’s claim that the U.S. “subsidizes” Canada by hundreds of billions annually is central to his argument for annexation, but experts say it’s misleading. His figures fluctuate—ranging from $100 billion to $250 billion—but the U.S.’s actual trade deficit with Canada was $63 billion in 2024, far lower than his claims. Guest: Moshe Lander - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at Concordia University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding turbulence—the chaotic movement seen in fluids like water, air, and even stars. For centuries, turbulence has been one of physics’ biggest mysteries, and even today, supercomputers struggle to fully simulate it. A new study introduces a fresh approach inspired by quantum computing. Instead of using traditional methods that always produce the same results, researchers took a more flexible, probability-based approach. Guest: Dr. Nik Gourianov - Researcher in the Department of Physics at the University of Oxford Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night was SNL's 50th anniversary special, and ALL the stars came out for the celebration. What to expect from the long-awaited reopening of the legislature! Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linguist and former hockey player Andrew Bray investigated how hockey-specific slang and Canadian English features influence American players’ speech. Initially studying sports jargon, Bray shifted focus after being asked why American players sound like “fake Canadians.” Guest: Dr. Andrew Bray - Visiting Assistant Professor in the Linguistics Department at Carleton College Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Why Canada will NOT be feeling the sting of rising egg prices. Seg 2: Why Ken Sim believes a task force will prevent crime in the DTES! Seg 3: The love and lawlessness of Bonnie and Clyde! Seg 4: It's been another crazy week in US politics, so we have our check-in with Global Washington correspondent Reggie Cecchini! Seg 5: Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is increasingly at risk, particularly concerning the Northwest Passage (NWP), which the country claims as internal waters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim and Police Chief Adam Palmer announced Task Force Barrage, a long-term initiative to combat organized crime and violence, particularly in the Downtown Eastside. The plan includes increased police presence, crackdowns on chronic offenders, gang activity, and drug traffickers, following the recent reversal of decriminalization policies. Guest: Ken Sim - Mayor of Vancouver Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canada’s Arctic sovereignty is increasingly at risk, particularly concerning the Northwest Passage (NWP), which the country claims as internal waters. However, this position is often challenged internationally, with figures like U.S. President Donald Trump showing significant interest in the region. Guest: Dr. Jessica Shadian - President and CEO of Arctic360 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices