Mornings with Simi

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

Egg prices in the U.S. have skyrocketed due to an avian influenza outbreak that has led to the culling of over 150 million birds, causing a significant shortage and price hikes, with some stores charging up to US$10 for a dozen eggs. In contrast, Canada is less affected by these circumstances. Guest: Dr. Bruce Muirhead - Professor of History and Public Policy at the University of Waterloo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BC NDP are going back on their grocery rebate promise. Their excuse? Trump. Brenda Bailey also announces a “bold” expansion of government’s housing freeze. Richmond blocks an NDP double cross on social housing. Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow, infamous for their bank robberies, murders, and kidnappings during the Great Depression (1932-1934), became iconic figures, inspiring films and songs. Bonnie, born in 1910, married Roy Thornton in 1926 but remained separated due to his imprisonment. Clyde, born in 1909, grew up in poverty and turned to crime, meeting Bonnie in January 1930 before his arrest. Their connection was immediate, and Bonnie frequently visited Clyde during his imprisonment, even helping him escape in 1930. Guest: Perry Carver - Owner of The Bonnie & Clyde Ambush Museum Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Can the Fentanyl Czar really curb fentanyl trafficking in Canada? Seg 2: How London Drugs is helping people buy Canadian! Seg 3: Do baboons have self-awareness? Seg 4: What goes into making a Canadian flag? Seg 5: How a lack of funding could fuel crime rates in Surrey. Seg 6: What on earth is Galentine’s Day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Galentine’s Day, celebrated on February 13th, originated from the TV show Parks and Recreation in 2010, when the character Leslie Knope gathered her female friends for brunch to celebrate their friendships. Since then, it has become a widely embraced holiday dedicated to appreciating and empowering female friendships. Guest: Jennifer Armstrong - New York Times Best Selling Author and Pop Culture Historian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The federal government has appointed Kevin Brosseau, former RCMP deputy commissioner, as Canada’s new fentanyl czar. This position is part of Ottawa’s efforts to address the fentanyl crisis and reassure the U.S. that Canada is actively working to disrupt the illegal production and distribution of the drug. Guest: Neil Boyd - Chair of the Board of Directors at the International Centre for Criminal Law Reform and Criminal Justice Policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surrey Urban Mission is facing severe funding challenges, with BC Housing providing 97% of their funding, which hasn’t increased since 2022. As a result, they must close their community meal program by the end of March due to a $1.7 million shortfall. Guest: Jack O’Halloran - CEO of the Surrey Urban Mission Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What goes into making a Canadian Flag? Guest: Julia Izadi - Lead Sales Representative at Flying Colors International Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadian Premiers recently met with Republican officials over Trump's ongoing threats to make Canada a 51st state. Opinion polls are shifting! The Federal Liberals are closing in on Pierre Poilievre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

London Drugs’ role in transitioning towards more Canadian goods Guest: Clint Mahlman - President and Chief Operating Officer of London Drugs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new study suggests that self-awareness in wild primates may be more limited than previously thought. In laboratory settings, great apes such as chimpanzees and orangutans have demonstrated self-recognition by passing the “mark test,” where they notice and respond to a dot placed on their faces while looking in a mirror. Guest: Dr. Alecia Carter - Associate Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology At University College London Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is the Minister of Internal Trade going to do about Trump’s tariffs? Why is Vancouver using city-owned land for market rentals? How to kill a fireworm Scott's thoughts: Just For Laughs comedy festival coming to Vancouver How AutismBC is responding to the police shooting of an autistic teen. We’re making cents of the Markets with Lori Pinkowski, A Senior Portfolio Manager at Canaccord Genuity! 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: Lori Pinkowski - A Senior Portfolio Manager at Canaccord Genuity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AutismBC expresses deep condolences to the family of 15-year-old Chase, acknowledging the grief and concerns within the community following his tragic passing. They highlight the urgent need for trauma-informed care and improved training for emergency responders to safely interact with autistic individuals, particularly those with delayed executive functioning and auditory processing challenges. Guest: Suzanne Perreault - Executive Director of AutismBC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayor Ken Sim announced a pilot project featuring two high-rise towers (54 and 40 storeys) at Pacific and Hornby, part of a broader plan to develop city-owned land for market rental housing. The $600-million project is one of five identified sites, with units aimed at middle-income earners ($90,000–$120,000). Profits will go to the city’s revenue stream. Guest: Armin Amrolia - Deputy City Manager for the City of Vancouver Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BC is still sending patients to Bellingham for cancer treatment. Calls are growing for the BC NDP to cancel their promised grocery rebate. Guest: Vaughn Palmer - Vancouver Sun Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott's thoughts: Just for Laughs Vancouver! Guest: Maz Jobrani - stand up comedian and opening night headliner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BC cranberry farmers may soon have a new weapon against the destructive blackheaded fireworm: a baculovirus rediscovered after 30 years in cold storage. The fireworm, which overwinters in cranberry leaves before hatching in spring, can devastate crops. Traditional pesticide use is costly and limited for organic farmers, prompting researchers to explore alternative solutions. If successful, this organic biopesticide could provide an environmentally friendly, effective alternative to chemical pesticides, offering sustainable pest management for cranberry farmers in Canada. Guest: Michelle Franklin - Research Scientist of Entomology at the Agassiz Research and Development Centre Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: A new study found that heavy cannabis use is linked to reduced brain activity during tasks requiring working memory. This suggests cannabis may impact cognitive function. Seg 2: A team of Italian researchers have developed a method for cooking the perfect hard-boiled egg, a task that has long frustrated home cooks. Seg 3: What books should you buy for your Valentine? Seg 4: Should Canada impose carbon tax tariffs on the US? Seg 5: Can BC prevent safer supply diversion? Seg 6: Have you ever experienced a midlife crisis? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever experienced a midlife crisis? This seems like something that used to happen to people a generation ago, right? You know, people would hit middle age, get divorced and move to Florida, or randomly take up some extreme sport like skydiving? Guest: Scott Shantz - CKNW contributer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Caulkins Report extensively discusses diversion, highlighting multiple mechanisms, risks, and potential consequences of diversion. Guest: Dr. Jonathan Caulkins - Professor of Operations Research and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College and Author of The Caulkins Report on Diversion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A team of Italian researchers have developed a method for cooking the perfect hard-boiled egg, a task that has long frustrated home cooks. Their research revealed that cooking an egg to perfection requires separate temperatures for its two main components: the egg white (albumen) and the yolk. The egg white cooks best at approximately 185°F, while the yolk requires a lower temperature of about 149°F. The technique involves two pots: one with boiling water and another with water kept at around 86°F (30°C). The eggs are first immersed in the boiling water for two minutes, then transferred to the cooler water for two minutes. This back-and-forth is repeated for eight full cycles, taking a total of 32 minutes. The result is eggs with a perfectly cooked white and yolk, offering a rich taste, improved texture, and higher nutritional value than eggs cooked by conventional methods. The researchers were not aiming to patent this cooking method; rather, their goal was to show that the science behind everyday problems, even something as simple as cooking an egg, can make a noticeable difference. Guest: Dr. Ernesto Di Maio - Professor of Science and Material Technology at the University of Naples Federico II and Director of FoamLab and Emilia Di Lorenzo, PhD Student in the Foam Lab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What we should do is strike where it hurts the most: Mr. Trump’s electoral base. If they feel the pain, he will listen. But we should also consider measures that hurt us the least and benefit us the most, that would do the most good for the world, and that which would strike a raw nerve with Mr. Trump himself. Guest: Hugo Cordeau - Doctoral Candidate in Economics at the University of Toronto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new study found that heavy cannabis use is linked to reduced brain activity during tasks requiring working memory. This suggests cannabis may impact cognitive function. The study, the largest of its kind, examined over 1,000 adults aged 22–37 and classified heavy users as those who had used cannabis over 1,000 times. Guest: Dr. Joshua Gowin - Assistant Professor of Radiology at the University of Colorado and Lead Author of the Study Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott's Thoughts: How often do you wash your clothes? Guest: Scott Shantz - Contributor for Mornings with Simi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BC Premier David Eby is currently in Washington in light of Trump's recently implemented tariffs on steel and aluminum. Eby's also making headlines for his speech at the Invictus Games opening ceremony. Keith Baldrey has been elected(unopposed) to succeed Richard Zussman as the president of the press gallery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Give the Gift of Poetry A Poem to Read Aloud Every Day of the Year - Liz Ison French Love Poems - New Directions Give the Gift of Escape Days at the Morisaki Bookshop: A Novel - Satoshi Yagisawa The Women: A Novel - Kristin Hannah Give the Gift of a Smile Little Blue Truck's Valentine - Alice Schertle Happy Valentine's Day, Curious George! - H. A. Rey Guest: Amanda Gauthier - Director of Books at Indigo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seg 1: Why do earthquakes keep shaking Santorini? Seg 2: How is Canada going to respond to Trump’s steel/aluminum tariffs? Seg 3: Should Canada offer refuge to US trans and non-binary people? Seg 4: Is advertising causing childhood obesity? Seg 5: Should Vancouver be developing city land for high-income rentals? Seg 6: Just how widespread is the diversion of BC’s safer supply? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Canada and Mexico, which has sparked criticism from Canadian provincial leaders. Trump also mentioned upcoming “reciprocal tariffs” against countries that impose duties on U.S. goods. Guest: Guio Jacinto - Staff Representative in the Research, Public Policy and Bargaining Support Department at the United Steelworkers Union National Office in Canada Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A leaked audit has revealed that opioids prescribed through B.C.’s safer supply program are being diverted, raising concerns among addiction experts. The leaked briefing, distributed by the opposition B.C. Conservatives, indicates that the B.C. Ministry of Health has been investigating a scheme in which over 60 pharmacies allegedly offered incentives to doctors, patients, and housing providers to maximize dispensing fees. Guest: Dr. Brian Conway - Medical Director of the Vancouver Infectious Diseases Centre and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Simon Fraser University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what could be a Canadian first, the City of Vancouver looks to become the landlord and developer of market rental units. Council is planning to build towers on five city-owned sites to help middle-income earners. Guest: Dr. Tsur Somerville - Professor of Real Estate Finance at UBC’s Sauder School of Business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is advertising causing childhood obesity? Guest: Lana Vanderlee - Canada Research Chair in Healthy Food Policy at Laval University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Canadian transgender advocates are urging Ottawa to offer a safe haven for gender-diverse individuals from the U.S. after President Donald Trump signed an executive order recognizing only two sexes—male and female—effectively rolling back gender identity protections from the Biden era. The order impacts areas such as the military, public facilities, prisons, schools, and official documents, including passports. Guest: Gemma Hickey - Author and Canadian LGBTQ Rights Activist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices