Zoomer Week in Review

March 14 2026-Who is Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran's New Supreme Leader & Canada's Technology Waste Problem In his first statement since becoming Iran’s Supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei said the leverage of closing the Strait of Hormuz should be used and that Iran’s attacks on Gulf Arab neighbors will continue. Before this, the 56-year-old son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has kept a low profile, and never held government office, nor given public speeches or interviews. For some insight on what to expect, I talked with Kaveh Shahrooz, a lawyer, human rights activist and Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. And How often do you get rid of older phones, laptops, tablets and other appliances? A new study finds that nearly two-thirds of the electronic devices that Canadians replace are still in working condition, and that creates a vast amount of electronic waste. Cell phones had the shortest average lifespan at around 4½ years, and part of the problem may be the surging number of scams that come through them. I talked with Carmi Levy, Technology analyst and journalist based in London, Ontario.

March 7 2026-An Israeli's Perspective on the War Against Iran & The Importance of Sleep for your Health It’s been more than a week since the start of the American-Israeli attack on Iran. Since then, the conflict has intensified and engulfed other countries in the Middle east, and there has been criticism charging a lack of clear objectives and an exit strategy from the US. For the Israeli perspective, I talked with Professor Gabriel Ben Dor, who teaches National Security and Political science at the University of Haifa. And We’ve just shifted our clocks forward to DST, and as a result we’ve lost an hour of sleep. There are consequences to losing just this one hour, which most experts agree is bad for us - it’s usually followed by an uptick in crashes and medical events. And It comes on top of what some experts call a sleep debt. The numbers show that more than 40% of Canadians are sleep deprived, while there’s more and more evidence that sleep is a key to maintaining health. I talked to Dr. Christine Palmay about why sleep is so essential and how to get as much as you need.

February 14 2026-The State of Zoomer Love & Improving Canadian Healthcare With most people focused on coupling up, this Valentine’s weekend, we thought it is a good time to look in on Zoomer singles. In 2016, approximately 1.4 million Canadians aged 65 and over lived alone, accounting for more than one-quarter (26%) of that demo. The figure that rises sharply with age. By 2021, 42% of people aged 85 and older lived alone. The vast majority are women and a lot of them like it this way. I talked with Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, about whether older Canadians are looking for love. And Dr. Danielle Martin has been chosen to run for the Liberals in the bi-election that will be held in former deputy PM Chrystia Freeland’s old riding. University Rosedale is considered a safe Liberal seat and it is a safe bet Dr. Martin will play a big role in the government healthcare strategy. So here we revisit my 2017 interview on her book "Better Now: Six Big Ideas to Improve Health Care for All Canadians".

February 7 2026-A Fascinating New Study on Longevity & Have You Heard About Men's Sheds? The latest, fascinating research on longevity is offering some answers in the nature vs nurture debate and--while we have made huge advances in longevity as a society--the prospects for each of us individually is mostly mandated by our genes according to this work and there’s a limit to how much our lifestyles and habits can change it. I spoke with Dr. Stuart Jay Olshansky, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois in Chicago. And We know how important it is to maintain strong social connections as we age. And men often find themselves more isolated after relying on the women in their lives to make that happen. Men’s Sheds is an organization dedicated to providing a place for older men to build friendships and community. I talked with Brian Sawyer, Outreach and Member Services Manager for Men’s Sheds Canada

January 17 2026-Donald Trump's Bid to Control Greenland & The Wealthy Barber Is Back US President Donald Trump came to power promising to pull back from foreign adventures. But as the new year dawned, he has focused increasingly on expanding American global power. And his latest bid to control Greenland has thrown the Western alliance into crisis and prompted European nations to send additional troops there. I talked with John Bolton, a former US Ambassador to the UN who served as Trump’s National Security Advisor during his first term in office. And Zoomers will know our next guest - David Chilton - He is the author of the most successful book in Canadian history - the Wealthy Barber which ultimately sold 2 million copies. He was just 27 when the original edition was first published back in 1989. He simplified financial concepts through his fictional barber and dispensed common sense advice like pay yourself first! Now, he’s back with a revised edition dedicated to a new generation of investors.

January 10: The Digital Mess We’re In and the Reality of Long-Term Care in Ontario Pop ups on websites, clickbait stories in your newsfeed, ads in your Instagram feed and AI slop galore! The phenomenon has an eyebrow-raising name, coined by technology critic and author Cory Doctorow. Fight Back guest host Tasha Kheiriddin caught up with Cory to unpack this troubling trend. And The COVID-19 pandemic forced many Canadians to confront a difficult reality: for thousands of older adults, long-term care homes were not always the safe, supportive places we assumed they were. In Ontario alone, the pandemic exposed deep challenges from outdated buildings and staffing shortages to questions about how we care for people as they age. In response the province launched an ambitious plan to modernize long-term care. However, Ontario is falling well short of its goal to add tens of thousands (58,000) of new or upgraded long-term care beds by 2028. Jeremy Logan speaks with Dr. Samir Sinha, a geriatrician with Sinai Health and the University Health Network, Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto, and Director of Health Policy Research at Toronto Metropolitan University’s National Institute on Ageing, to explore the state of long-term care in the province and what can be done about it.

December 20: What to Watch for When Visiting Aging Loved Ones and How New DNA Technology Is Solving Decades-Old Murders As Canadians prepare for the holiday season, many will be spending longer, in-person time with their parents and grandparents, in some cases, for the only time during the year. These moments are crucial in noticing changes that can signal decline, changes that would not be as readily as apparent over phone calls or quick check-ins. Libby talked with Dr. Howard Chertkow, a practicing cognitive neurologist at Toronto's Baycrest Health Sciences Centre, about what to look for. And After more than 40 years, police ID'd Kenneth Smith as the murderer in 3 cold cases of homicide perpetrated between 1982 and 1997. The DNA technique forensic genetic genealogy was used to identify him as the killer of Christine Prince, Gracelyn Greenidge and Claire Samson. Libby asked Detective Sergeant Steve Smith to explain this fascinating technique that can help give families closure after decades.

December 13 2025-How the Jews Wrote Christmas & Is Primary Care Getting Better for Ontarians? From Rudolph to Snowmen, Winter Wonderlands to Sleigh Bells – Christmas songs and their imagery have become a significant part of pop culture. But did you know that most of the most popular ones are the work of people who didn’t celebrate Christmas at all? Pianist and music lecturer Jordan Klapman tells us how the Jews Wrote Christmas! And Finally, some good news on what is likely the biggest crisis in our healthcare system - the shortage of family doctors. A new study finds - it’s getting better - more Canadians have a family doctor or nurse practitioner now than 3 years ago. The bad news is that nearly 6 million people around the country still don’t have a primary care point person. Dr. Tara Kiran is a family doctor and researcher and she led the study as part of a project called OurCare.

November 15: "The Sequel I Never Expected" & How Canadian Business Titans Turned Canada Into a Military Might During WW2 “The sequel I never expected” was Libby Znaimer's diagnosis and treatment for stomach cancer in 2023. It was her third primary cancer. We followed the ups and downs in real time in a documentary that launches on Monday and she chatted with frequent guest host Christine Ross. And It’s a fascinating new take on an important story from our recent past that most of us know nothing about! The “Dollar-a-Year Men” in Canada during the Second World War were business and professional leaders who volunteered their services to the federal government—and turned us into a military powerhouse instrumental in winning the war. Libby talked with author Allan levine.

November 22 2025-Which Charities Deserve Your Money & Is Canada Experiencing its Breaking Point? It is shaping up as a tough season for charities between the Canada Post strike and slowdowns and the affordability crisis, which means it’s more important than ever to make sure our hard earned donations are wisely used. Charity intelligence is out with its annual lists and ratings of the best and most impactful nonprofits. I talked with Kate Bahen, Managing Director at Charity Intelligence Canada. And Is Canada at the breaking point? Donald Trump may be the biggest threat, but according to a new book by Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson, other big shifts are putting our country at risk and they worry that our decision makers are not up to the challenge. I sat down with Darrell to talk about "Breaking Point: The New Big Shifts Putting Canada at Risk.”

October 25 2025- Canada's Tough Choices in the Face of Trump's Tariff War & Can the Royal Family Overcome the Prince Andrew Scandal? The New Normal is a term that’s usually used to describe life after a cancer diagnosis - Economist Jeff Rubin used it to describe the impact of the changed world economy - even before Donald Trump took power. He gave me an update on his take on our troubled tariff times. And The publication of Epstein victim Virginia Giuffrre’s posthumous memoir added details to her accusations against Prince Andrew. Last week, he announced he would no longer use his royal titles. But what does that actually mean for the royal family? I asked Royal historian Justin Vovk.

October 18 2025- Hamas' Reign of Terror in the Gaza Strip & How Does The "Creative Destruction" Theory Work? The week began with the hope that the release of hostages and the cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war would lead to lasting peace. But by mid-week, huge tensions surfaced as the terror group tried to reassert itself, failed to deliver the remains of most murdered hostages, and began publicly executing its rivals. I spoke with Professor Gabriel Ben Dor who teaches National Security and Political science at the University of Haifa. And This week, Canadian academic Peter Howitt learned that he is sharing a Nobel Prize in economics for his work on “creative destruction” that fuels economic growth. What does that mean and how does it work? I turned to Moshe Lander, Senior Lecturer of Economics at Concordia University in Montreal for answers.

September 27 2025 - How Time Changes Impact Our Health & Rethinking the Way Cats Connect With Humans Just ahead of November 2nd, when we turn back the clocks an hour, there are new health warnings about seasonal time changes. Researchers have found that staying in standard time or daylight saving time is definitely better than switching twice a year. It’s all due to the disruption of our circadian rhythms, our internal clock that regulates things like digestion, hormone release and more. We reached the study’s author Dr. Jamie Zeitzer, a behavioral science professor at Stanford University. And Dogs are man's best friend, but it turns out the stereotype of the domesticated cat is wrong. Despite their reputation as aloof and loners, cats form very strong attachments to their human caregivers in a way that’s similar to human infants and dogs, though they show it in more subtle ways. Just as pet owners depend on their feline friends for comfort, cats see their humans as a source of safety and security. We reached Neuroscientist and Physiotherapist Laura Elin Pigott in the UK who says the new research is rooted in the feel good hormone oxytocin.

September 20 2025-How The Michelin Guide Remains Relevant & The Impact of ER Cancer Diagnoses on Patients and Doctors That was just one of the awards announced with great fanfare at the Michelin Guide ceremony earlier this week. It was the fourth time the event was held in Toronto, but the Michelin Guide published its first list of recommended restaurants back in 1900. It is still arguably the most important culinary authority in the world. I asked Food guru Lucy Waverman about the secret of its staying power. And The shortage of family doctors means more and more Canadians are hearing the dreaded words “you have cancer” in Emergency Rooms. Recent research shows that in addition to leading to poorer outcomes for patients - there are consequences for the doctors too. I talked with lead study author Dr. Keerat Grewal

This weekend is a time of transition for tens of thousands of families with young adult children. Seeing them off to college and university is a milestone that raises mixed emotions like anxiety, sadness and excitement - for both parent and child. I talked to psychologist Sara Dimerman about how to navigate the upheaval. And It’s a trend that can be attributed to the broader economy. But when adult children move back with their parents it can feel like a big step backwards and a big burden for both sides. Psychologist DR. Oren Amitay told me a big part of his practice is dealing with that family strife.

August 23 2025-Unlocking the Secrets to Lasting Brain Health, and One Man’s Fight Against Antisemitism in Canada It’s no surprise that lifestyle improvements like better diet and exercise can improve cognition but what’s the secret sauce to make it stick and get the most out of it? A two year clinical trial called the U.S. Pointer study was designed to find out. I talked to Rebecca Edelmayer, vice president, Scientific Engagement, at the Alzheimer's Association. And He is a hero to Canada’s Jewish community, Warren Kinsella is a Canadian Lawyer, author, and political consultant who has taken up the cause of fighting anti-Semitism with a passion. He told me his outrage began after an encounter with skinheads at a concert back in the day. He says while Skinheads may be a thing of the past, their successors are everywhere.

August 2 2025-Israel's Reaction to PM Mark Carney's Plans of Recognizing Palestinian State & This Entrepreneur launched a giant Canadian Brand while grappling with a Crack Addiction The government of Israel says that the Carney government’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state is a betrayal that rewards Hamas terror and relies on the wrong negotiating partner. I talked with Professor Gabriel Ben Dor, who teaches National Security and Political science at the University of Haifa. And Entrepreneur and author Gordon Lownds describes it as an “unlikely addict’s memoir”. He tells the story of how he launched one of the most successful Canadian brands ever - Sleep Country Canada- while he was descending into a crack cocaine addiction. I talked to him about “Cracking Up.”

JULY 26 2025-HOW A FOOD APP IS AIDING DIABETIC PATIENTS & A CLOSER LOOK AT THE GROCERY CODE OF CONDUCT Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions and one of the hardest parts of managing it is counting carbs in order to reduce blood sugar. Now an app from a Canadian startup can quickly estimate the carb, calorie, protein and fat levels in your food from just a picture of your plate. I spoke with Dr. Jeff Alfonsi, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of RxFood. And It was set up amid charges of price gouging and unfair practices during the pandemic. Now The Canadian Grocery Code of Conduct is mostly up and running with a set of voluntary guidelines and an office designed to enforce them. I asked the President, Karen Proud, what’s in it for consumers.

July 5 2025-A New Sepsis-Testing Tool & Nate Leipciger Appointed to Order of Canada The World Health Organization has declared Sepsis a global health crisis and a trio of Canadian researchers has developed a new blood test that can detect the infection in hours instead of days. Dr. Claudia do Santos, a physician and scientist at Toronto’s St Mike’s hospital, says her research was spurred on by the case of a 22-year old man with pneumonia. She spoke with guest host Kathy Hyde. And Nate Leipcigar has led an extraordinary life: a survivor of Auschwitz, he emigrated to Canada after the war, became an engineer and has spent decades educating young people about the Holocaust and the dangers of bigotry and intolerance. Libby spoke with him earlier this year, during the 80th anniversary of the LIberation of Auschwitz.

June 28 2025 - When the Heat Hits Home and Trailblazing Surgeon Sees Stars This week’s punishing heat dome hospitalized scores of people and highlighted the realities of heat illness, which McGill University cardiologist Dr. Christopher Labos says can creep up on you, and needs to be taken seriously. And Libby Znaimer had a conversation with legendary cardiac surgeon Dr. Tirone David, who was just inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.

June 14 2025-Vacationing Caregivers and Tourism Travel Crackdowns There are 4 million family caregivers in Ontario providing support to ill or aging loved ones and while it’s meaningful work, they experience high levels of burn out, so getting away on a summer vacation is an important time to recharge. If you’re caring for a vulnerable loved one, planning your own summer vacation can feel overwhelming, with so many responsibilities at home. We reached Amy Coupal, the CEO of the non profit Ontario Caregiver Organization for tips on how to plan a fun, low-stress summer getaway. And Before you leave on that dream European vacation, do your research as you may be surprised to find new rules to crack down on overtourism. In some countries, you’ll face a fine if you wear your swimsuit anywhere but on the beach, or stroll shirtless down a boardwalk, or light a cigarette on the beach. As part of a growing movement to combat over tourism this weekend, activist groups are staging massive protests across several cities with marches, pickets at airports and tour bus blockage and more. We reached tourism expert, Dr. Guillem Colom-Montero, a professor at the University of Glasgow.

June 8 2025-Remembering Marc Garneau & What's Trending in Home and Kitchen Design Tributes are pouring in for Marc Garneau who died this week at 76. He was the first Canadian to fly in space and then went on to enjoy a career in federal politics. Our Libby Znaimer spoke with Marc Garneu last October, on the 40th anniversary of his first space flight, to chat about his life as an astronaut and a politician. And Guest host Christine Ross speaks with Deborah Wang, a Toronto-based architect, to find out what’s trending in home and kitchen design lately.

June 1 2025-Canadians' Attitudes Towards the Monarchy & A Major Expansion at Shaw Festival In a historic move, King Charles delivered the first throne speech in Canada by a monarch since 1977, amid tensions with the US. Without mentioning Donald Trump by name, he told Canada’s 45 th opening of Parliament, that this country is indeed strong and free. What does the latest polling show about Canadians' attitudes towards the Monarchy? Guest host Christine Ross spoke with Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer of IPSOS Public Affairs, a global market research company. And Shaw festival artistic director and joint-CEO Tim Carroll will oversee a major expansion at Shaw over the next five years. The campaign, All.Together.Now, will also prioritize Seniors by making it easier to provide programming for them to help cut down on the growing epidemic of isolation.

May 25 2025-A Closer Look at Prostate Cancer & Travel Trends this Summer The late-stage cancer diagnosis of former U.S. president Joe Biden has some medical professionals wondering how the disease was able to go undetected. The 82-year-old has been diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, considered the most advanced, that’s now spread to his bones. In Canada, 30 thousand men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year and 5 thousand will die from it. Many can live full lives with low grade prostate cancer. But news of Biden’s cancer this week has sounded the alarm on screening, that’s recommended to end at 70. We reached Dr. Malcolm Moore, medical oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. And This summer, Canadians are shifting travel preferences with many planning to stay within Canada amid a notable drop in US travel. But interest in Africa and Central America is soaring. Kayak, an online travel search engine that helps travelers find best deals, is out with emerging travel trends this season. We reached Kayla Inserra DeLoache, consumer travel trends expert at KAYAK.

May 18 2025 - How Our Siblings Impact Us & The Cost of For-Profit Nursing Agencies for Ontario Hospitals New research suggests siblings have a profound impact on each other's lives. In her book, The Family Dynamic: a Journey into the mystery of sibling success, author Susan Dominus explores some high-achieving kids and how their brothers and sisters helped them get there. And A new report, authored by Simon Fraser University political economist Andrew Longhurst and commissioned by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, examined the increased use of nursing agencies in Ontario hospitals. It found that over the last decade, the costs have skyrocketed to 9.2-billion dollars. Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario, calls it the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the myriad of problems associated with the use of agencies.

May 11 2025 – Sue Hincenbergs' Debut Novel "The Retirement Plan" & Alberta's Separatism Movement Many Zoomers dream of writing a novel, but making that dream a reality is no simple task. And if you’re not famous, selling the book and finding an audience is even harder. But ZoomerMedia alumnus Sue Hincenbergs is celebrating the perfect debut with her new book “The Retirement Plan.” And It’s been a factor for a long time but many of us Central Canadians are hearing about it for the first time. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she will undertake a referendum on separating from Canada if enough Albertans say they want it. How serious is the threat and what’s behind it? I reached author Michael Wagner in Edmonton.

May 4 2025-The Link Between CT Scans and Cancer & A History of Attempts to Reform English Spelling CT scans are a popular diagnostic tool but a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found a link between the scans and cancer. Dr. Derek Tsang, Radiation Oncologist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, explains the benefits and possible risks. And The English language is said to be one of the hardest to grasp with its quirky letters and “exceptions to the rule”. The new book “Enough is Enuf” takes a humorous look at the history of the spelling reform movement. Guest host Kathy Hyde reached author Gabe Henry at his home in New York City.

April 27 2025-How a Papal Conclave Works & What's Hot in Ontario Cottage Real Estate? More than 200 Cardinals from around the world--including five from Canada--have gathered in Rome preparing for the Conclave to elect the successor to Pope Francis. We’ll take a look at what may happen behind closed doors. Guest host Kathy Hyde speaks with Father Robert O’Brien of St. Paul’s Minor Basilica in Toronto. And With warmer temperatures, cottage country may be calling. Phil Soper, President and CEO of Royal Lepage, takes a look at what’s hot when it comes to buying/selling waterfront property and whether US President Donald Trump’s tariffs may affect those summer plans.

Cancer Research in Jeopardy and the Rising Tide of Book Bans Canadian cancer researchers received over 40 million in US funding last year for their life-saving work. Now, amid Donald Trump’s tariff war, seven-in-ten Canadian cancer researchers are concerned about the impact on both this year’s funding, and the future of collaborative projects with US colleagues. So this year’s April daffodil month to raise funds and support for Canadians living with the disease carries more urgency for the one-in-two Canadians will face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. We reached Dr. Stuart Edmonds, Head of Research with the Canadian Cancer Society. And Author Ira Wells, an associate professor at the University of Toronto, makes the strong argument against book banning and censorship in his latest called ON BOOK BANNING. Censorship dates back through the ages, but Wells claims there are now more efforts to ban books from libraries than ever before.

April 13 2025-Discovery of Hormone Used in Obesity Medications & The Revival of Vinyl Records It may not be a household name yet but a Toronto-based doctor has just won this year’s prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences, considered the Oscars of the scientific community. Dr. Daniel Drucker, along with his colleagues, have been recognized for discovering the hormone used in diabetes and obesity medications — including Ozempic — that have changed the lives of millions around the world. He shares the $3 million US prize with four colleagues from the United States and Denmark. We reached Dr. Daniel Drucker, an endocrinologist and a clinician-scientist at the University of Toronto and the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute at Sinai Health And What’s old is new again. There’s been a revival of vinyl records. Christine Ross spoke with Carleton University Communication and Media Studies Professor Josh Greenberg who’s been researching this comeback story.

April 6 2025-Navigating The Threat of President Trump's Tariffs & Spring Cleaning Tips for Zoomers For many people, Spring is the perfect time to do a purge of all that “stuff” you’ve acquired over the last year. Kristen Wall, Owner and Lead Organizer of Miss Kris & Co gives tips for Zoomers navigating the process. And Tariffs and counter-tariffs continue to dominate the news. Guest host Kathy Hyde recently spoke with Dennis Darby, President of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters for his take about the most recent moves by President Trump and what they mean for Canada.

March 30 2025-How, Where and When to Vote this Federal Election & Michael Kovrig on Execution of Canadians by China It will cost $570 million and create 200,000 short-term jobs. We will head to the polls on April 28 after the shortest federal campaign allowed under Canadian law. And there are more options on when, where and how to vote this time. I talked with Natalie de Montigny of Elections Canada. And China’s recent execution of four Canadian citizens put the focus back on the trouble between our two nations. And with about another 100 Canadians in Chinese jails, it is raising alarms. I talked with former diplomat Michael Kovrig who spent 1019 days imprisoned in China on trumped up charges.

March 23 2025-Amb. John Bolton on US President Trump's Tariffs & Fighting Noise Pollution in Toronto Libby speaks with John Bolton, former US Ambassador to the UN and National Security Adviser during President Donald Trump’s first term. Bolton offers some words of advice to Prime Minister Carney on dealing with President Trump. He also reacts to the US trade war with Canada and the state of national security. He spoke with Libby Znaimer earlier this week. And We’ve been told for years that noise is just a part of “city life” but a grassroots organization in Toronto wants noise pollution recognized as a health hazard and for the City to take action to address the problem. Guest host Kathy Hyde speaks with Ingrid Buday of No More Noise Toronto. Ingrid tells us about the meeting taking place on April 1st where Toronto Public Health will be reporting to the Toronto Board of Health about the Noise Action Plan that came out in 2019.

March 16 2025-The History Of America Wanting To Annex Canada & Be Aware of These Scams Most Canadians are shocked about US President Donald Trump’s designs on annexing Canada. But there is a long history of those expansionist ideas and a record of both political and military failures in that effort. I reached Dr. Patrick O’brien, an expert in early US-Canada relations at the University of Tampa. And Are you feeling fraud fatigue? As the scams get more sophisticated and personalized, most Canadians are feeling increasingly vulnerable. I spoke with Detective David Coffey of the Toronto Police Service's Financial Crimes Unit about the latest schemes to separate you from your hard-earned money.

March 9 2025-How US Tariffs Made The Great Depression Worse & Defining and Diagnosing Obesity Is the Trump trade war deja vu all over again? Economists and experts agree that tariffs made the Great Depression of the 1930’s a lot worse and a lot longer. Libby is joined by Dr. Patrice Dutil, Professor in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University for an explainer. And According to the numbers, the disease of Obesity will affect 1.9 billion people around the world within 10 years - Statistics Canada says it already affects about 30% of Canadians. It takes a huge toll on health and on finances - costing the economy nearly $28B a year. So how is obesity defined and diagnosed? Libby speaks with Dr. Sean Wharton, Medical Director of the Wharton Medical Clinic.

March 2 2025-Does Ontario Need A Seniors’ Advocate & Have You Had Your Shingles Shot? What is the role of a Seniors’ Advocate and does Ontario need one? Those questions were at the heart of CARP’s AGM this past weekend and I chatted with BC Seniors’ Advocate Dan Levitt after he delivered a keynote speech. Have you had your shingles shots? Over 90,000 Canadians aged 50 and older develop this painful condition every year, even though the vaccine is readily available. Less than 40% of eligible Canadians have received even one dose, despite the fact that Shingles can lead to lasting complications, including chronic nerve pain and vision loss. I talked with Dr. Vivien Brown about why you should get yours.

February 23 2025-Former Israeli PM Ehud Olmert on the Return of Hostages & Retro Cooking with Chef Cori Doern Will the latest horrific revelations around the release of the bodies of four Israeli hostages affect the ceasefire? Or is the release of all the remaining hostages held by Hamas terrorists imminent and would it mark the end of the war in gaza? I asked Ehud Olmert, Israel's 12th Prime minister who served in that role between 2006 and 2009 and as a cabinet minister before that. He began his career with the ruling right wing Likud party but broke to the centrist kadimah Party under then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who he succeeded. On the one year anniversary of the October 7 massacre, just a few months ago, he presented a joint proposal to end the war with former Palestinian Authority foreign minister Nasser al-Kidwa. When we spoke earlier this week, he predicted that the Hamas terror group would offer to release those remaining hostages if the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire goes ahead. And What’s old is new again at least in the kitchen! Vintage recipes handed down from Grandma are making a comeback! Casseroles, baked pastas, creamy chicken dishes. But these retro dishes are being reimagined for today’s tastes. And the really good news is that they are usually affordable. I got some tasty tips about retro cooking from Chef Cori Durn.

February 16 2025-60th Anniversary of Canada’s Flag & Rethinking Cancer Drug Trials Were you flying our flag this weekend? February 15th marked the 60th anniversary of the red and white Maple Leaf and with Donald Trump’s continuing threats against our sovereignty and economy, Flag Day took on a special meaning. I talked with Historica Canada’s Anthony Wilson-Smith about the history of the flag that was first raised on Parliament Hill in 1965. And It seems obvious that new cancer drugs and the clinical trials that test them should put the needs of cancer patients first but according to a group of oncologists, in the last decade, many new treatments have had very small benefits. They have laid out the principles for improving cancer trial design in the influential online journal The Lancet Oncology. I reached Dr. Bishal Gyawali in Kingston.

February 9 2025-Buying Canadian Amid Tariff Tensions With US & The Pivotal Role Zoomers Play In the Music Industry Canadians are united in their response to the threat of tariffs from Donald Trump and the “buy Canadian” movement is growing. Retail analyst Bruce Winder joined us to explain what “buy Canadian” actually means and what you should look for on labels. And Rock and roll may seem like a young person’s game but many of the most respected and consistently employed roadies and technicians are well into their 60’s and beyond. Bob Czaykowski, known affectionately as “Nitebob”joined us from New York City to talk about his more than 50 years in the business.

February 2 2025-How, Where, When to Vote in the Ontario Election & Troubling New Statistics About Poverty Among Older Adults February 27 is election day in Ontario. With more than 10.8 million eligible voters, the team at Elections Ontario is busy behind the scenes, with just weeks to organize this rare winter campaign. Voting is already underway, and there are a number of ways to cast your ballot. And it’s also a good opportunity for Zoomers to earn some extra cash working the election. In fact, Elections Ontario is hiring 55 thousand workers for various polling station positions. Laura Sylvis with Elections Ontario joins us with all the election details. And New research warns there are nearly double the number of older adults living in poverty than Canada’s official number of 6 percent. The National Institute on Ageing is out with a new report on the social well-being and financial security of Canadians over 50 that highlights the connection between poverty and health. We reached Doctor Samir Sinha, the NIA Director of Health Policy to find out more about the survey “Ageing in Canada”.

January 26 2025- Cataract Procedures in Ontario & Bonny Reichert's "How to Share an Egg" Having cataract surgery is stressful but even before it happens you can be faced with a number of options and fees. Dr. Tamara Daly, Professor of Health Policy and Equity at York University, spoke with Libby Znaimer about how to navigate your way through. And, First time author Bonny Reichert says she always knew she would tell her Father’s story but it took her quite a while before she felt comfortable enough and strong enough to do so. We reached Bonny at her home in Toronto about her book “How to Share an Egg” released on January 21st.

January 19 2025-A New Book About Chrystia Freeland & Tim Caulfield's "The Certainty Illusion" When Catherine Tsalikis started writing her biography of Chrystia Freeland four years ago, she worried that her subject could fade from public view before the book came out. Instead, publishers had to rush it onto the shelves ahead of schedule after Freeland’s dramatic resignation and break with Justin Trudeau. Here’s my interview with biographer Catherine Tsalikis. And How can you separate what’s real from the fake? How can you spot conspiracy theories cloaked in the language of science? Tim Caulfield hopes to help us resist misinformation in his latest work: "The Certainty Illusion".

January 12 2025-Selina Robinson's "Truth Be Told" & The Case for a "Damp January" It was officially launched as a campaign in the UK in 2013. Since then, the challenge of going alcohol-free has become popular around the world. Now, a new alternative of a "Damp January" is gaining traction. I spoke with Public Health physician Dr. Barry Pakes who is with the Dalla Lana School of Public health at the University of Toronto. And It was an unfortunate choice of words that led to an outsize consequence. Former BC Cabinet minister Selina Robinson was ousted from her job painfully and publicly after referring to the land Israel was founded on as “a crappy piece of land.” She says she was targetted because she is Jewish and her experience highlights the explosion of anti-Semitism around the world and inside the NDP in particular.

January 5 2025-The Alarming Impact of Smoking on Life Expectancy & New Year's Resolutions If your New Year’s Resolution is to quit smoking, researchers say it will extend your life expectancy. A new study in the UK quantifies the harm of cigarette smoking and finds it shortens life expectancy at nearly double previous estimates. British researchers have found that just one cigarette takes about 20 minutes off your life. 48,000 Canadians die of tobacco related diseases each year and smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in this country. We reached Lion Shahab, considered a top researcher in the world when it comes to smoking. He’s professor of Health Psychology at University College London in the UK where the study was done by his colleagues. And Many of us are ringing in 2025 with New Year’s resolutions despite a new movement called ‘Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day’ on January 17th. New research finds the older we get, the less we’re interested in setting resolutions. We reached author and time management coach Elizabeth Saunders for some tips on creating successful goals heading into 2025.

December 22 2024-Lawrence Hill Opens Up About "Book of Negroes" Ban by a London School Board & Lucy Waverman's Cookbook Recommendations Renowned novelist Lawrence Hill is speaking out after a local high school teacher was ordered to stop teaching one of his award-winning novels because of its use of the N-word. The London District Catholic School Board ruled that the award-winning novel “The Book of Negroes” could no longer be mandatory reading. The teacher who was told to stop teaching it, and told Hill about the order, has been placed on leave. I talked to Lawrence Hill about the teaching ban. And It’s the time of year for lists and this one will help please the foodie or home chef in your life or you yourself. I asked food guru Lucy Waverman about her picks for the best cookbooks of 2024.

December 15 2024-Missing Pensions in Canada & Stress-Free Grandparenting Tips for the Holidays A new report reveals a shocking number of missing pension plan members in Canada. In Ontario alone, nearly 200,000 pension plan members are considered missing, leaving behind $3.6 billion in unclaimed entitlements. And the National Institute on Aging report highlights the challenges to individuals entitled to unclaimed pension benefits. We reached Doug Chandler, an associate fellow with the National Institute on Aging to discuss the findings of the report called ‘Missing Pension Plan Members in Canada.’ And Some tips now on how to achieve no stress-grandparenting during the Christmas holidays. Sometimes, generational dynamics can create problems, but if grandparents take on a role of support rather than control, it can lead to a more enriching holiday according to the experts. Toronto psychologist Dr. Cranla Warren who’s been a social worker and family therapist for many years, is currently writing an article on this issue.