Weekends with Joanne Vrakas

There have been 6 femicides in Quebec since the start of the year. The rise in violence and decreases in access to shelters has liberal MNA for Robert-Baldwin and official opposition critic for the status of women, Brigitte B. Garceau saying the Quebec government is not doing enough to help. 

Worried about catching a bug at the hospital? Dr. Christopher Labos explains how nosocomial infections are becoming problematic. Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800. You can hear him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20 a.m.  

Despite Canada’s current unity problem, a new Pew Research Center survey finds Canadians trust each other. Political analyst Sandy White on why that matters.

Do kids really know best? Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles on why it’s ok for parents to take the reins. Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles can be heard every Saturday at 8:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas to discuss issues affecting children's mental health.

Most Canadians are choosing to skip pricey restaurants on Valentine’s Day. Chef Vanessa Gianfrancesco shares her tips on how to share the love in the kitchen. Chef and TV host Vanessa Gianfrancesco can heard every Saturday at 8:20 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing her favourite recipes and kitchen tips.

Dining out or staying in on Valentine’s day – how much are Canadians spending on the holiday? Food Professor Sylvain Charlebois on how Canadians are cutting costs. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, better known as ‘The Food Professor’, is Senior Director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor of Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University. He joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to discuss everything from fluctuations in grocery prices to food trends.

Just how bad are processed foods and should we be treating them the way we do cigarettes? Nutritionist Kim Arrey on how these foods become addictive. Registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Arrey joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 6:40 a.m. with tips to keep healthy.

Mid-life in men, is it always a crisis? Dr. Jennifer Russell explores the reasons behind the shift in behavior. Jennifer joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 8:40 a.m. to discuss the importance of mental health.

Beer, wings, pizza, nachos and…. wine? Can the Super Bowl be a wine event? Wine expert Jon Cercone says he has a wine for that. Jon Cercone is a sommelier at Taverne Sur Le Square in Westmount. He can be heard regularly on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing his wine recommendations.

Journalist Hugo Meunier spent several days experiencing some of the city’s homeless encampments and warming centers. What he saw was shocking.

Looking for the best place to catch the game and fill your belly? FoodguyMtl Dustin Gilman on the city’s best spots to catch all the action. Dustin Gilman, better known online as Food Guy Montreal, joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 7:50 a.m. He shares his insight for some of the best eats in and around Montreal.

Quebec’s dwindling demographics may affect the PQ’s plans for a referendum. Why are Quebecers having fewer children and what does that mean for our political future? Political analyst Sandy White weighs in.  

A new restaurant entirely run by robots who scan your tongue and cater menus to your body. And robots taken over the nail and eyelash industry. Tech expert Kris Abel has the latest.

Is organic food worth the hype and the price? Cardiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos on why higher prices don’t necessarily mean better food. Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800. You can hear him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20 a.m.

How early, is too early to test our kids? Child psychologist D. Tamara Soles on the pressures of entrance exams and testing on young minds.  

To sleep together in the bed- or not? And what does that mean for your couple? Therapist Kanica on why sharing the same bed doesn’t mean as much as we think.

Vegetable scraps and left over bitts and bobs in the fridge turned into something delicious. Chef Vanessa Gianfrancesco on why “upcycling” cooking is the latest trend in this economy. Chef and TV host Vanessa Gianfrancesco can heard every Saturday at 8:20 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing her favourite recipes and kitchen tips.

Montreal is killing it at… potholes. The city is looking more like the cratered surface of the moon. But how did we get here? Montreal expert Thom Seivewright dives right in. Thom Seivewright is a tour guide turned social media star. He can be heard every Saturday at 7:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing hidden gems and facts you may not know about Montreal.

It’s the Super Bowl of Snacking! Canadians will be taking part in a major way. The Food Professor Sylvain Charlebois on how we’re expected to consume 82 million wings in one night. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, better known as ‘The Food Professor’, is Senior Director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor of Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University. He joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to discuss everything from fluctuations in grocery prices to food trends.

What is mental burnout without a burnout. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Russell explains.

Notes of tobacco, strawberry or leather but none of that is actually in the wine? Wine expert Jon Cercone explains why your wine smells like that. Jon Cercone is a sommelier at Taverne Sur Le Square in Westmount. He can be heard regularly on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing his wine recommendations.

Eight years in the making, the documentary Sons explores the complex relationships between fathers and sons. Directors Justin Simms explores the changing roles of parenting, the patriarchy and the pleasure and pain of guiding boys into adulthood.

From close-ups on bird poop to a closer look a face mites, microbiologist Chloé Savard is zooming in on at the things that surround us. Making the invisible visible, she now has 1 million Instagram followers.

Size does matter- when taking your blood pressure. Dr. Christopher Labos explains why we may be doing it all wrong. Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800. You can hear him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20 a.m.

Tesla is ending their Model S and X electric cars and focusing on production of Optimus humanoid robots instead. Tech journalist Kris Abel explains the shift.

What’s “empty weekend parenting” and how does it help you reclaim your weekend from over scheduling? Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles explains. Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles can be heard every Saturday at 8:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas to discuss issues affecting children's mental health.

Want more protein but red meat isn’t your thing? Fear not, Chef Vanessa Gianfrancesco shares her foolproof fish recipe for the win! Chef and TV host Vanessa Gianfrancesco can heard every Saturday at 8:20 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing her favourite recipes and kitchen tips.

Heart disease and stroke is still the number cause of premature death for women. Wendy Wray, director of the MUHC’s Women’s Health Heart Initiative goes through the symptoms ahead Wear Red Canada Day.

Montreal tour guide Thom Seivewright continues his series on the cites 19 boroughs with a look back at the history of Cotes des Neiges/ NDG. Thom Seivewright is a tour guide turned social media star. He can be heard every Saturday at 7:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing hidden gems and facts you may not know about Montreal.

What’s gene edited pork and why is the government not labelling the packages? The Food Professor Sylvain Charlebois weighs in. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, better known as ‘The Food Professor’, is Senior Director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor of Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University. He joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to discuss everything from fluctuations in grocery prices to food trends.

Are adults spending too much time on their phones? Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Russel on why it's not just a problem for kids and teens anymore.  Dr. Russell is an adult psychologist. She joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 8:40 a.m. to discuss the importance of mental health.

Love Italian wines? Turns out you may be drinking a hybrid wine, very different from the real deal. Wine expert Jon Cercone on what traditional Italian wines actually taste like. Jon Cercone is a sommelier at Taverne Sur Le Square in Westmount. He can be heard regularly on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing his wine recommendations.

Will Mark Carney back down as the U.S. threatens Canada with 100% tariffs over China deal? John Parisella on what Canada can do next. John Parisella is a special advisor for National Public Relations and a fellow in International Relations at the University of Montreal.

Extreme cold and power outages have left many homes vulnerable in Quebec. President of Renovco Walter Assi on how to keep the pipes from bursting and your home in good shape.  Every Saturday at 9 a.m., Joanne Vrakas is joined by Walter Assi, president of Renovco to answer home improvement questions and provide tips on how to properly do renovations around your house.

Shampoos, pills, or surgery. All possible cures to male pattern baldness but which one works best? Dr Christopher Labos weighs in.  Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800. You can hear him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20 a.m.

After a historic speech in Davos, Mark Carney’s next challenge is keeping the country together. Political analyst Sandy White on how the Prime Minister deals with Alberta and Quebec’s push for separation. Political commentator Sandy White was an advisor to the Conservative Party during the Stephen Harper administration. He can be heard every Sunday at 8:10 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas with his take on the latest from the world of politics.

Our we doing too much with our kids? Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles asks if we’re over parenting our children. Child psychologist Dr. Tamara Soles can be heard every Saturday at 8:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas to discuss issues affecting children's mental health.

How much protein should we be eating in a day? Chef Vanessa Gianfrancesco shares tips on how to get some into breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Chef and TV host Vanessa Gianfrancesco can heard every Saturday at 8:20 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing her favourite recipes and kitchen tips.

How did Canada become the food inflation capital of the G7? The Food Professor Dr. Sylvain Charlebois explains. Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, better known as ‘The Food Professor’, is Senior Director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor of Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University. He joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to discuss everything from fluctuations in grocery prices to food trends.

Blue Monday is supposed to be the saddest day of the year. Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Russell on why this happens and what we can do to beat those blues. Dr. Russell is an adult psychologist. She joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 8:40 a.m. to discuss the importance of mental health.

Virgin Radio producer and host Mike Chaar looks at how the league and the players are reacting to the LGBTQ+ love story taking over the world.

Why do so many people hate Chardonnay? Wine expert Jon Cercone on how the wine got the bad press and what we should actually be looking for in a Chardonnay. Jon Cercone is a sommelier at Taverne Sur Le Square in Westmount. He can be heard regularly on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing his wine recommendations.

Want to go out for a bite but not break the bank? Foodguy Mtl Dustin Gilman shares his list of go-to spots for yummy cheap eats. Dustin Gilman, better known online as Food Guy Montreal, joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 7:50 a.m. He shares his insight for some of the best eats in and around Montreal.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has revealed his new food pyramid and beef is at the top. Cardiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos takes a closer look. Dr. Chris Labos, cardiologist with a degree in epidemiology and a regular contributor on CJAD 800. You can hear him every Sunday on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas at 7:20 a.m.

François Legault has stepped down and the C.A.Q. is looking for its next leader. Political analyst Sandy White looks back at Legault’s legacy and where the party goes next. Political commentator Sandy White was an advisor to the Conservative Party during the Stephen Harper administration. He can be heard every Sunday at 8:10 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas with his take on the latest from the world of politics.  

Montreal tour guide Thom Sievewright starts a new series exploring all 19 of Montreal's boroughs. First up, how Montreal's once industrial "Sud-Ouest" became the place to see and be seen.  Thom Seivewright is a tour guide turned social media star. He can be heard every Saturday at 7:40 a.m. on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing hidden gems and facts you may not know about Montreal.

McDonald’s is freezing prices on certain items all year. What are competitors planning and will it be enough to get you back in there? Food Professor Sylvain Charlebois on who will likely lead the pack.  Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, better known as ‘The Food Professor’, is Senior Director at Agri-Food Analytics Lab and Professor of Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University. He joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to discuss everything from fluctuations in grocery prices to food trends.

Are people who take weight loss medication at risk of a caloric deficit? Nutritionist Kim Arrey on the risks of cutting back too fast.  Registered dietitian nutritionist Kim Arrey joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Saturday at 6:40 a.m. with tips to keep healthy.

Mineral, dry or full bodied wines- what does any of it mean? Wine expert Jon Cercone explains them all ahead of your next dinner party. Jon Cercone is a sommelier at Taverne Sur Le Square in Westmount. He can be heard regularly on Weekends with Joanne Vrakas sharing his wine recommendations.

What makes some men violent towards women and what does society do with them next? Clinical psychologist Dr. Jennifer Russell explores some of the root causes and early signs of domestic violence. Dr. Russell is an adult psychologist. She joins Weekends with Joanne Vrakas every Sunday at 8:40 a.m. to discuss the importance of mental health.