
Ideas
CBC
IDEAS is a place for people who like to think. If you value deep conversation and unexpected reveals, this show is for you. From the roots and rise of authoritarianism to near-death experiences to the history of toilets, no topic is off-limits. Hosted by Nahlah Ayed, we’re home to immersive documentaries and fascinating interviews with some of the most consequential thinkers of our time.
With an award-winning team, our podcast has proud roots in its 60-year history with CBC Radio, exploring the IDEAS that make us who we are.
New episodes drop Monday through Friday at 3pm ET.
Radio: CBLA-FM CBC Radio One Toronto
Categories: Society & Culture
Listen to the last episode:
There are three components that could end constitutional democracy as we know it, says scholar Peter L. Biro — fear and its weaponization, habituation which involves the consequence of not noticing, and the 'stupidification' of our minds and of our discourse. He argues that we, as law-abiding average citizens, have the power to save our democracy and defend against backsliding forces. Biro recently delivered a keynote address at the ominously titled conference, Liberal Democracy in the Rearview Mirror? at Massey College in Toronto.
Previous episodes
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1758 - The three ingredients in an autocrat's recipe for power Fri, 16 May 2025
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1756 - Russia’s constant craving for U.S. recognition Tue, 13 May 2025
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1755 - Her job is to find buried children at residential schools Mon, 12 May 2025
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1754 - The power of white evangelical Christians in MAGA politics Fri, 09 May 2025
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1753 - There's no potential danger of AI discrimination — 'it's here' Thu, 08 May 2025
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1752 - The one exception that makes killing civilians legal in war Wed, 07 May 2025
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1751 - The 2,000-year-old travel list to complete before you die Tue, 06 May 2025
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1750 - Canadian troops who freed the Netherlands from Nazis Mon, 05 May 2025
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1749 - What it means to call your loved one a ‘corpse’ Fri, 02 May 2025
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1748 - The limitless mind and body of an 83-year-old super-athlete Thu, 01 May 2025
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1747 - How the American cowboy ignited the Republican movement Wed, 30 Apr 2025
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1746 - Elections results are in. IDEAS recommends World Report Tue, 29 Apr 2025
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1745 - Libraries are fighting for their freedom — and our democracy Mon, 21 Apr 2025
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1744 - Attacking our biggest fear — political polarization Mon, 21 Apr 2025
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1743 - Has the housing crisis shaken your trust in democracy? Mon, 21 Apr 2025
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1742 - Why PEI cares more than any other province about voting Mon, 21 Apr 2025
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1741 - New to IDEAS? Start here Thu, 17 Apr 2025
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1740 - How Hitler's 'favourite' reptile became a geopolitical symbol Thu, 17 Apr 2025
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1739 - Love or hate Elon Musk, 'we empowered him' Wed, 16 Apr 2025
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1738 - Spyware abusers can easily hack your phone and surveil you Tue, 15 Apr 2025
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1737 - Do you truly live in a ‘free’ society? It’s complicated Mon, 14 Apr 2025
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1736 - Why world maps illustrate an artificial reality Fri, 11 Apr 2025
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1735 - Need some Stompin' Tom right now to celebrate being Canadian? We thought so. Thu, 10 Apr 2025
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1734 - Democracies 'stay true to your values' tackling borders, says U.S. expert Wed, 09 Apr 2025
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1733 - How a network of journalists uncovered billions and toppled world leaders Tue, 08 Apr 2025
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1732 - Can you return home? This author says revision offers radical possibilities Mon, 07 Apr 2025
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1731 - How a conspiracy theory becomes 'real' Fri, 04 Apr 2025
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1730 - Loving Your Country in the 21st Century (Step Three) Thu, 03 Apr 2025
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1729 - How Galileo revolutionized science to make way for modernity Tue, 01 Apr 2025
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1728 - Joyce Wieland's art of nationhood embodied Canadian pride Mon, 31 Mar 2025
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1727 - Protecting childhood innocence is a disservice to kids, argues expert Thu, 27 Mar 2025
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1726 - Why a small town newspaper is thriving in a declining industry Wed, 26 Mar 2025
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1725 - A School that Feels like Home: Revitalizing Mi’kmaq Language in Cape Breton Tue, 25 Mar 2025
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1724 - How Iqaluit's learning institute gave a generation of Inuit adults a path back to Inuktut Mon, 24 Mar 2025
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1723 - We believe in artificial intelligence the same way we believe in ghosts Wed, 12 Mar 2025
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1722 - A rallying cry to extend human rights to our data-generating digital selves Tue, 11 Mar 2025
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1721 - How To Build An Empire: The Aeneid Guide to Understanding U.S. Politics Mon, 10 Mar 2025
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1720 - Believe in ghosts? Why people see spirits and sense visitations Fri, 07 Mar 2025
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1719 - How Inuit Storytelling and Modern Horror Fiction Come Together Wed, 05 Mar 2025
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1718 - How Christian ethics can inform a peaceful resolution to Russia’s war in Ukraine Mon, 03 Mar 2025
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1717 - The UN at 80: Successes, Hopes, Failures, and Challenges Wed, 26 Feb 2025
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1716 - Remember the Last Time Canada Feared the U.S. Would Swallow It Up? Tue, 25 Feb 2025
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1715 - Why learn improv? Your unscripted mind can surprise even you Mon, 24 Feb 2025
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1714 - Naming Life: The Race to Classify Millions of Unidentified Species Wed, 19 Feb 2025
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1713 - Writer Adam Gopnik on the Evolution of Antisemitism Into Anti-urbanism Tue, 18 Feb 2025
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1712 - Swinging and Singing: The Violin Mon, 17 Feb 2025
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1711 - IDEAS Introduces On Drugs | A Troubled Relationship With Alcohol Thu, 13 Feb 2025
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1710 - Rights vs Deservingness: How We Decide Who Belongs Wed, 12 Feb 2025
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1709 - Dreaming of Better: Living With Bipolar Disorder Tue, 11 Feb 2025
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1708 - North on North: Stories from the Only Independent Publisher in the Canadian Arctic Mon, 10 Feb 2025