COMMONS

It's true. Jesse Brown has fired himself as a host of Canadaland podcasts. So who will Canadaland's new hosts be? Stay tuned and support the next chapter of Canadaland here: canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some say Canada is currently in the throes of a horrible surge of anti-Jew hatred. Others say that anti-zionism is being conflated with antisemitism. So which is it? And who is to blame for it — activists, or Israel? What is Happening Here is a co-production of Canadaland and The Canadian Jewish News. Listen to the first two episodes wherever you get your podcasts. Become a Canadaland supporter now and listen to the whole series plus bonus episodes, ad-free. https://canadaland.com/join/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadaland covers Canada, period. If there was ever a time to support Canadian news, it’s now. Go to canadaland.com/join and become a supporter today. Host: Jesse Brown Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Copernic Affair is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. The life of an unassuming sociology professor in Canada gets turned upside down when he is accused of carrying out a 1980 bomb attack on a synagogue in Paris. Hassan Diab says heʼs innocent, but French investigators are determined to prove otherwise. Journalists Dana Ballout and Alex Atack take listeners through the twists and turns of this extraordinary story, all the while asking… Is Hassan Diab guilty, or is he a scapegoat? And what if one person’s justice means committing an injustice to another? You can become a Canadaland supporter to listen to the whole series early and ad-free. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

COMMONS is coming to an end after six years, with a final investigation available on the CANADALAND feed. Publisher Jesse Brown sits down with COMMONS host Arshy Mann to discuss the new episode, and to help introduce Arshy’s new venture, The Hatchet. Host: Arshy Mann Credits: Jordan Cornish (Producer, Mixing & Mastering), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (production support), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Publisher) Further Reading: The Hatchet, Arshy Mann’s and Jordan Cornish’s new publication Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canadaland has launched its first ever celebrity interview podcast and it’s not great. It’s The Worst Podcast. Celebrities are always talking about their bests. Now hear them at their worst. Join award-winning filmmaker and noted curmudgeon Alan Zweig for refreshingly honest conversations with “notable people” about the worst things in life. Alan has no interest in best-selling books or Hollywood triumphs, and doesn’t know (or care) much about his guests. He’s looking for real conversations that dig deep and get to the worst things: nagging fears, embarrassing secrets and haunting regrets. And he’ll no doubt share a few of his own along the way. Listen to The Worst Podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of trading voice memos and messages, Caroline meets Marwa in person in Germany. They talk about the choices they have made, the lessons they have learned, and long for a reunion with Raha. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas…

It has been ten months since the arrival of the Taliban. Marwa takes the steps to settle in Germany and takes a step back from her country, its traditions and its history. It is the first time she has been in Europe, and everything in Germany surprises her. In Afghanistan, the Taliban impose full veils on women. Raha is more and more desperate, and plots her escape. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors:…

Marwa arrives in Germany and everything surprises her. Raha sends the terrifying sounds of the end of Ramadan. She is increasingly cooped up and angry in Kabul, but she manages to send gifts from there. It always gets harder to talk to Raha. Caroline Gillet doesn't know if it's because of the power cuts, or if Raha can no longer find how to say what she's going through. The end of Ramadan is determined by the stars and in Afghanistan, we observe the decision of the Emirates to announce the start of Eid - El - Fitr. The three-day festival marks the end of the fast. Raha tells Caroline that she slowly starts cleaning the house as tradition dictates at the end of Ramadan and then, one evening, she sends chilling voice messages. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s…

We arrive in April, and it has been eight months since Marwa and Raha began talking about their daily lives with reporter Caroline Gillet. Raha is in Kabul, Marwa in a refugee camp in Abu Dhabi. They say that documenting what they are experiencing and sharing helps to compensate for the immobility. The economic situation in Afghanistan is dramatic following the freezing of international aid which financed nearly 80% of the Afghan budget. Half of the country is threatened by hunger. Aid is conditional on measures promised by the Taliban in favor of human rights and women's rights in particular, such as the return of adolescent girls to school. Marwa and Raha celebrate Ramadan in very new conditions. These religious events are perhaps the last things that connect them. In this episode, their two trajectories will separate radically. While Marwa is far from her family, Raha is surrounded, but explosions make her fear for her mother's life, and push her employers to fire her. Marwa finally has her tickets to go…

Revolt in all its forms – hidden or revealed – is unfolding in Kabul and in the Abu Dhabi camp. From the start, Caroline Gillet asks Marwa and Raha questions, and they answer. Or they send her sounds, or photos, when they want to share something. The reporter never knows what she will discover when she opens a voice note. Sometimes there are long minutes of ambience, or short messages for practical things, or 20 minutes of monologues to tell a story. The reporter learns to recognize false cheerful tones when things are not going well. An episode with a guitar, slogans, French high school students, and feelings of when you are 20 years old. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and…

With the media’s attention turned away from Afghanistan and snow beginning to fall, Raha and Marwa continue to endure the daily realities of their new lives – finding simple pleasures that help them get through the day. While Raha finally finds a new job opportunity and a glimmer of hope, Marwa begins to go out at night in the camp and creates a new family to help her quench her desire for home. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music…

It has been three months since the Taliban returned to power. Raha and Marwa regularly receive reminders from Instagram of what their lives used to be – at a birthday, at a party, surrounded by friends. They send screenshots with their voice notes to Caroline Gillet. For Caroline, she sees evidence of daily lives that had been so much closer to her own than she would have imagined. The images make Caroline more aware of the scale and speed of the upheavals over recent weeks. While Raha endures the economic crisis and the multiplication of power cuts in Kabul, Marwa becomes familiar with the refugee camp, but the uncertainty and waiting weigh down. Marwa dreams of the future. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought…

Marwa and Raha are relearning daily life. Raha seeks comfort in anything that has not changed since the arrival of the Taliban, in the few dwindling spaces of freedom that remain. While Marwa discovers new things in the Abu Dhabi refugee camp. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Chief) Shows like this cannot get made without you. Become a supporter and binge the entire season now, ad-free. Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and…

INSIDE KABUL is a multi-award winning series by journalist Caroline Gillet that follows the daily life of two young Afghan women, Marwa and Raha. Both have been recording their daily lives since the arrival of the Taliban in August 2021. Should they stay? Leave? And when they leave, what does exile look like? Raha and Marwa record voice notes on their phones each day which they send to Caroline in Paris. They record to feel less isolated, to share the horror, to share the sounds of their new reality. They refuse to give up. Raha and Marwa record for themselves to remember, and also for us – so that we know and don't forget them. By Caroline Gillet with Marwa and Raha. The original podcast broadcast on France INTER / RADIO FRANCE © RADIO FRANCE. Canadaland is proud to premiere the English-language adaptation of this urgent and intimate podcast, building on Commons' crucial season that told the story of Canada’s role in the War in Afghanistan. COMMONS is brought to you by: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer),…

The video game industry, like much of the tech, has been resistant to unionization for a very long time. But like so many other white-collar businesses, video game studios are built on the backs of thousands of exploited, low-paid workers. This is the story of Canada’s first-ever video game union. And the lengths that the industry went to try to stop it in its tracks. Featured in this episode: James Russwurm, Johanna Weststar, Pablo Godoy To learn more Not All Fun and Games: Videogame Labour, Project-based Workplaces, and the New Citizenship at Work by Marie-Josée Legault and Johanna Weststar “Members of Canada’s first video game industry union vote in favour of strike action” by Curtis Ng in Global News. “The video game industry is booming. Why are there so many layoffs?” by Kenzie Gordon, Jennifer R. Whitson, Johanna Weststar, and Sean Gouglas in The Conversation. “2024 has already had more video game industry layoffs than all of 2023 — and it's only June” by Nicole Carpenter in Polygon.…

The huge rise in international students in Canada — most of them from Punjab, India — has become one of the biggest stories in the country. But most media outlets and political parties have framed it entirely as a housing issue. They’re missing the point. This is a story about the creation of a new, racialized underclass to do all of the work we don’t want to do. And it’s about the human wreckage that’s left in the wake after we’re done squeezing those people of every penny and every drop of sweat that we can. Featured in this episode: Jaspreet Singh, Rupa Banerjee To learn more: “The International Student Boom Might Be Over” by Kuwarjeet Singh Arora in Baaz News “How recruiters in India use false promises to lure students to Canada” by CBC’s Fifth Estate “Canada’s open secret: International students are here to be exploited” by Kunal Chaudry in The Breach Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Sponsors: Douglas, Article…

Earla Phillips has almost 16,000 Uber rides under her belt. But over the last few years, she’s been trying to hold Uber, one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, to account. Earla is a leader in a growing movement of gig workers who are trying to reclaim the basic labour rights that have been stripped from them. She expected to face opposition from tech companies and governments that are hostile to workers. But what she didn’t anticipate was that one of the biggest obstacles in her path would be a labour union. Featured in this episode: Earla Phillips, Anthony Milton (Ricochet) To learn more: “Rideshare drivers are fighting to unionize. One of Canada’s biggest unions is standing in their way” by Anthony Milton in Ricochet “How Uber got almost everything it wanted in Ontario’s Working For Workers Act” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and Mail “Union worked with Uber to ensure Ontario government would not classify gig workers as employees, documents show” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and…

Today we’re sharing an episode of the newest show on the network, A Field Guide to Gay Animals. A Field Guide to Gay Animals explores sexuality, gender, and joy in the animal world. Animal enthusiasts Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson take us on a quest to see beyond the natural world as we know it and into the natural world as it is: queer as f*ck. Cheeky and contemplative, curious and raunchy, Field Guide shows us that the natural world is more exuberant, more joyful, and more gay than we could possibly imagine. Follow A Field Guide to Gay Animals wherever you listen to podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry. But it’s not just airlines. So many workers, especially in female-dominated professions like nursing, education or food service, have to endure similar demeaning and violent treatment. And when they go to their employers, not only are they often ignored. They’re actively silenced. Featured in this episode: Mandalena Lewis, Julie Macfarlane To learn more: “Former WestJet flight attendant hails ‘history making’ decision to allow class action lawsuit” by Jenny Peng in The Toronto Star “B.C. Court of Appeal certifies former flight attendant's class-action lawsuit against WestJet” by Joel Ballard in CBC News Notice of Civil Claim in Mandalena Lewis vs WestJet Airlines Ltd. (2016) “How NDAs silence victims and let perpetrators off the hook” by Julie Macfarlane in Broadview Credits: Arshy Mann (Host…

In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. But this won’t be an episode about the Toronto 18 terror plot. This is about what happened to one of the ringleaders after that plot was foiled. About his many years of incarceration. About the possibility of rehabilitation. And what role, if any, imprisonment and prison labour played in that. Featured in this episode: Zakaria Amara CORRECTION: We stated in this episode that this was Zakaria Amara’s first interview with a member of the press. But it was in fact his first broadcast interview since his release. We regret the error. To learn more: The Boy and His Sandcastle: A Journey of Redemption by Zakaria Amara “The Toronto 18 case still skews our views on ‘radicalization’ and terrorism” by Adnan Khan in The Globe and Mail “Bomb plot ringleader: ‘I will…

♩♪ A long, long time ago, I can still remember How the music used to pay my bills I knew that if I got my break That I could be as big as Drake And then I could stop shopping at No Frills ♩♪ ♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust The companies got too large Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪ ♩♪ And the record labels I fear the most Have all just merged and so now we’re toast Don’t you think it’s just so gross? The way, the music, died ♩♪ Featured in this episode: Simon Outhit, Cory Doctorow To learn more Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin & Cory Doctorow “'A public relations nightmare': Ticketmaster recruits pros for secret scalper program” in CBC News by Dave Seglins, Rachel Houlihan & Laura Clementson “We went undercover as ticket scalpers — and Ticketmaster offered to help us do business” in Toronto Star by Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved “Is Live Music Broken? It’s Not Just…

Prison labour is largely invisible in Canada. Most prisoners who work do institutional upkeep, the kind of cleaning, cooking and maintenance that’s required to keep a prison running. But then there are prison industries. Not only do Canadian prisoners work for for-profit businesses, but they’re sometimes doing dangerous and nauseating work around. Featured in this episode: Calvin Neufeld To learn more: Bloody Bad Business: Report on the Joyceville Institution Abattoir “Prison farm supporter worries new Kingston farms may exploit prison labour” by Jonna Semple in Global News Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, Pod Save The World For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All labour exists on a spectrum, ranging from enslavement at one pole, to fully, freely given on the other. And, in Canada, at the most extreme end of that spectrum are prison labourers. Incarcerated people have few rights and fewer options when it comes to their working lives. If we want to truly understand our criminal justice system and Canadian labour, we need to examine how prisoners work. Featured in this episode: Jordan House, Asaf Rashid To learn more: Solidarity Beyond Bars: Unionizing Prison Labour by Jordan House & Asaf Rashid “Prison breaking-point: Canada’s jail system is in crisis, and that affects all of us” by Justin Ling in The Globe and Mail “The case for a prisoners’ union” in Briarpatch by Jordan House & Asaf Rashid Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to…

Today we’re sharing with you a preview of the first episode of Canadaland’s newest show Pretendians. What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders and thinkers have in common? They aren’t Indigenous. From major universities, to the halls of power, to Hollywood, there are people claiming to be Indigenous in the interest of power, money, and status. There are dozens of outrageous cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands that we do not. So why do these so-called “Pretendians” do it? How do they pull it off? And what happens when they are exposed? To hear more follow Pretendians in your podcast app or click here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, fishing is more than just an industry or a job. It truly is a way of life. It’s at the core of what has made this place what it is. Today, as fishers leave the industry in droves, all of that is at risk of dying. But is it even worth it to try to keep all of that alive? After all, there’s plenty of ways to make a living. And what kind of future is in store for the people who refuse to let go? Featured in this episode: Kimberly Orren, Leo Hearn, Jenn Thornhill Verma, Ryan Cleary To learn more: “Could smaller, more sustainable cod fishing make a comeback? Newfoundlanders look cautiously for ways to rebuild” by Jenn Thornhill Verma in The Globe and Mail “Fishing school takes students out of the classroom and out on the water” by Amanda Gear in CBC News “The Fishing Revolution and the Origins of Capitalism” by Ian Angus in Monthly Review Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese…

The cod collapse is a harbinger of the many environmental disasters we’re about to face. But what happens to workers in the aftermath of that kind of catastrophe? In Newfoundland and Labrador, monopolistic corporations took advantage. The history of the Atlantic fishery can be understood as a power struggle between fishermen and merchants. And the merchants are winning. Featured in this episode: Glen Winslow, Ryan Cleary, Jenn Thornhill-Verma To learn more: “Who Controls Fish Processing in Newfoundland & Labrador?” by Jenn Thornhill-Verma & Jack Daly in The Independent “Why are fish harvesters protesting in Newfoundland?” in CTV News “Danish company Royal Greenland buying 4 more N.L. fish plants” in CBC News Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, AGI If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows…

The closure of the cod fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador was the most devastating mass layoff in Canadian history. And its impacts are still being felt to this day. The collapse of Newfoundland cod is a story of man-made environmental calamity that turned into economic devastation. It’s a story of a government ignoring the knowledge of working people, in favour of the so-called expertise of industry, to disastrous effect. But this isn’t just history. It’s prophecy. It’s a vision of what may come if we continue to ignore the ecological limits of this planet in the pursuit of profit. Featured in this episode: Bernard Martin, Jenn Thornhill-Verma, Ryan Cleary, Glen Winslow To learn more: Cod Collapse: The Rise and Fall of Newfoundland’s Saltwater Cowboys by Jenn Thornhill-Verma Lament for an Ocean: The Collapse of the Atlantic Cod Fishery by Michael Harris Managed Annihilation: An Unnatural History of the Newfoundland Cod Collapse by Dean Bavington Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark…

This episode was originally published on November 24, 2021. Twenty-six men were working underground when an explosion tore through the Westray Mine in Nova Scotia. Their friends and colleagues went into the wreckage to try to save them. The story of Westray is one of managerial malice and the heroism of everyday people. But why is it that governments let this happen over and over again, at the expense of so many lives? Featured in this episode: Vernon Theriault, Tom Sandborn To learn more: Westray: My Journey From Darkness to Light by Vernon Theriault and Marjorie Coady “Hell’s History” by Tom Sandborn in The Tyee The Last Shift by CBC’s The Fifth Estate Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Damilola Onime (Producer), Kieran Oudshoorn (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, AG1 If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive…

Migrant farm workers are the backbone of Canada’s agricultural economy. But because they can be fired and deported at will, their voices are rarely ever heard in this country. But Gabriel Allahdua is one of the few who can now speak up. And the story he has to tell is startling. It’s a story of racism and labour exploitation that goes back decades, even centuries. And it’s a prophecy of what is to come — that the hardships inflicted on migrant farm workers are only a trial run for the rest of us. This is the second episode in a two-part series on farm labour. Featured in this episode: Gabriel Allahdua, Chris Ramsaroop To learn more: Harvesting Freedom: The Life of a Migrant Worker in Canada by Gabriel Allahdua with Edward Dunsworth “‘Overtly racist’: Lawsuit challenges Canada’s migrant farmworker system” by Jillian Kestler-D'Amours in Al-Jazeera “Former Ontario seasonal farmworker speaks out about exploitation, files class action lawsuit” by Jon Woodward in CTV News “The Canadian state and the racialization…

The creation of the Canadian Farmworkers Union, as it would come to be called, was the first step in a struggle that continues to this day. Because even now, farmworkers have far fewer rights than almost any other class of worker. And even today, the men and women who grow our food are subject to horrific working conditions and racial discrimination. But to understand why the situation remains so bad, we need to go back in time to a moment when there was progress and hope. A moment when it looked like things might truly change for the better. This is the first episode in a two-part series on farm labour. Featured in this episode: Raj Chouhan To learn more: A Time To Rise by Anand Patwardhan & Jim Munro Union Zindabad!: South Asian Canadian Labour History in British Columbia by Donna Sacuta, Bailey Garden & Anushay Malik “Charan Gill: An ‘Epic’ Life of Advocacy” by David P. Ball in The Tyee “1983: The Year BC Citizens and Workers Fought Back” by Rod Mickleburgh in The Tyee Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and…

Across Canada, emergency rooms have been shutting down, leaving desperate people in the lurch. And at the heart of this health care crisis, is a labour crisis. Nurses are leaving their jobs in droves, leaving hospitals understaffed and sometimes unable to carry out their most basic obligations. In this episode, we'll tell you how nursing went from a profession hailed as heroic to one in an utter state of crisis, all through the eyes of a woman who lived through it all. Featured in this episode: Nadira Ross To learn more: “How Canadian hospitals became dependent on expensive, out-of-town nurses” by Tu Thanh Ha, Kelly Grant and Stephanie Chambers in The Globe and Mail “How nursing staffing agencies are costing Ontario hospitals untold millions” by Mike Crawley in CBC News Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, AG1 If you value this…

Labour has undergone a seismic shift over the past decade. The rise of gig work and temp agencies have made employment more precarious than ever. In the interest of profits, companies are turning more and more towards temporary foreign workers and international students for minimum wage jobs. And even for those with seemingly secure employment, wages and benefits continue to be squeezed. One thing seems clear: workers are getting screwed. This season of COMMONS will dig into the fascinating history and ever-changing present of what it means to be a worker in Canada. Featured in this episode: Jim Stanford Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Rotman, Douglas, AG1 If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter,…

Labour has undergone a seismic shift over the past decade. The rise of gig work and temp agencies have made employment more precarious than ever. In the interest of profits, companies are turning more and more towards temporary foreign workers and international students for minimum wage jobs. And even for those with seemingly secure employment, wages and benefits continue to be squeezed. One thing seems clear: workers are getting screwed. This season of COMMONS will dig into the fascinating history and ever-changing present of what it means to be a worker in Canada. COMMONS: Work launches on March 20th. Canadaland Supporters can listen to all episodes one week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Noor Azrieh sits down with Peter Smith to discuss his reporting on right-wing conspiracy groups like Qanon and Romana Didulo. Featured in this episode: Peter Smith To learn more: “Lead in the head”: Self-Declared Canadian Prime Minister and QAnon Adherent Calls for Executions of Officials Who Refuse Her Cease and Desists” by Peter Smith in The Canadian Anti-Hate Network “Self Declared Queen Of Canada Calling For US Supporters To Invade Canada And Prepare To Execute “Traitors” by Peter Smith in The Canadian Anti-Hate Network Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Cheif) Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than…

This episode was originally published on August 28th, 2023. Listen to Monopoly 1 - Lost in the Supermarket and Monopoly 17 - Food Fight In the past several years, Loblaws, Metro and Empire have spent billions on their own stock – And at a time of food price inflation and grocery workers on strike. Why are they doing it? And why do some economists say stock buybacks should be abolished? Featured in this episode: William Lazonick, professor emeritus of economics at University of Massachusetts Jim Stanford, director of the Centre for Future Work Further reading: Profits Without Prosperity, William Lazonick, Harvard Business Review “The American disease’: Canadian companies pouring cash into stock buybacks as backlash grows abroad, Geoff Zochodne, Financial Post Striking Metro workers say they face challenges affording the very food they sell, Canadian Press Host: Jesse Brown Credits: Cherise Seucharan (Reporter), Jonathan Goldsbie (News Editor), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Bruce…

We live in a world of obsessive fandoms. The Stans, Swifties, Potterheads, Beliebers, Trekkies, Bronies, Barbs and their ilk are everywhere to be found. But at what point does it go from being harmless entertainment and turn into something more sinister? Featured in this episode: Zoe Alderton, Robert Lawson To learn more: “‘Snapewives’ and ‘Snapeism’: A Fiction-Based Religion within the Harry Potter Fandom” by Zoe Alderton in Religions “Andrew Tate: how the ‘manosphere’ influencer is selling extreme masculinity to young men” by Robert Lawson in The Conversation Everything I Need I Get from You: How Fangirls Created the Internet as We Know It by Kaitlyn Tiffany Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: oxio, Douglas If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content.…

Romana Didulo, the self-proclaimed Queen of Canada, is unlike almost any other cult leader Canada has ever seen. In an incredibly short amount of time, she’s been able to gain a mass following, despite her absurd claims and alarming rhetoric. At various points, she’s claimed to be a political leader, a monarch, an interdimensional being communing with aliens, and so much more. She’s urged her followers to take up arms and execute migrants on sight. And now, she’s taken up residence in a small Saskatchewan town that doesn’t know what to do. Featured in this episode: Mack Lamoureux (VICE News), Peter Smith (Canadian Anti-Hate Network), Hugh Everding To learn more: “A QAnon Cult Set Up a Compound in a Small Town. The Locals Are Fighting Back” by Mack Lamoureux in VICE News “Self Declared Queen Of Canada Calling For US Supporters To Invade Canada And Prepare To Execute “Traitors”” by Peter Smith in Canadian Anti-Hate Network The Storm is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of…

Multi-level marketing isn’t based on rational business logic. It’s not even built on irrational business logic. It’s ideology. It’s faith. MLMs have become such a ubiquitous part of North American life that their tenets are rarely ever questioned. The sector holds enormous political sway. Millions of people join, leave and rejoin every year, almost all of them ending up poorer for the experience. And to call it a cult is not just a cute turn of phrase. The cultishness of MLMs is essential to their success. Featured in this episode: Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Julie Anderson To learn more: Ponzinomics: The Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing by Robert L. Fitzpatrick “How lobbying dollars prop up pyramid schemes” by Matt Stroud in The Verge YouTube: @JulieAndersonvideos Amway: The Cult of Free Enterprise by Stephen Butterfield Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Aviva Lessard (Additional Production) Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese…

Nearly 1.4 million Canadians and almost 50 million Americans are involved in multi-level marketing. And that sheer volume of people makes it a near certainty that you’ve encountered MLMs in your life somehow. The promise of financial freedom can be an intoxicating lure. But MLMs, like so many other cultish enterprises, are about more than just money. They’re about transcendence. And in their wake, they often leave behind ruined livelihoods and broken lives. Featured in this episode: Julie Anderson, Amanda Montell, Robert L. Fitzpatrick, Marco Moukhaiber To learn more: Ponzinomics: The Untold Story of Multi-Level Marketing by Robert L. Fitzpatrick “'They have you in a cultish grip': the women losing thousands to online beauty schemes” by Amelia Tate in The Guardian YouTube: @JulieAndersonvideos YouTube: @AlwaysMarco Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Aviva Lessard (Additional Production) Annette…

Mary-Jayne Blackmore is one of the oldest children of Winston Blackmore, the most famous polygamist in Canada. For decades, her family has been the subject of intense media and legal scrutiny because of her father’s 27 wives and 150 children. Their lives have been dissected in documentaries and in court testimony. The name Blackmore has become synonymous with either faith-based persecution by the state or with cult-like religious fundamentalism that victimizes girls and women. But for Mary-Jayne, these kinds of black-and-white portrayals miss so much about what it’s been like being a Blackmore. To learn more: Balancing Bountiful: What I Learned About Feminism From My Polygamist Grandmothers by Mary Jayne Blackmore The Bishop of Bountiful B.C. by the CBC’s Fifth Estate Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional…

In 1973, a French motorsports journalist claimed to have been visited by a UFO that revealed to him the secret origins of humanity. For the next half-century, the man known as Raël would go on to create a new faith with tens of thousands of adherents all around the world. The media have portrayed the Raelians as not just a cult, but a strange phantasmagoria of extraterrestrials, orgies and clones. But its followers insist it is the only true path forward for humanity. Featured in this episode: Nicole Bertrand, Susan J. Palmer, Harold Henning To learn more: Aliens Adored: Raël’s UFO Religion by Susan J. Palmer The Prophet and the Space Aliens by Yoav Shamir The UFO sect campaigning against female genital mutilation by Monica Mark in The Guardian Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support…

An explosion of new spiritual movements in the 1970s led to the creation of an entirely novel academic field. But right from the beginning, the discipline was riven asunder. The Cult Wars have been raging for decades. They’re fought not only in academic journals and conference seminars, but in the press, the courts and in legislative assemblies. And their battles continue to have enormous consequences. Featured in this episode: Michael Kropveld, Stephen A. Kent, Susan J. Palmer To learn more: “Caught Up in the Cult Wars: Confessions of a New Religious Movement Researcher” by Susan J. Palmer in University of Toronto Press “Life after Doomsday: Tracking cult activity from a Montreal storage locker” by Simon Lewson in The Walrus Misunderstanding Cults: Searching for Objectivity in a Controversial Field edited by Benjamin Zablocki & Thomas Robbins Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)…

In the 1960s and 70s, there was a fear that cult leaders were brainwashing young people into joining their new, strange movements. But is it even possible to “brainwash” anyone? At a psychiatric hospital in Montreal, one mad scientist, with the help of the CIA, tried to find out. Featured in this episode: Alison Steel, Lisa Ellenwood To learn more: Brainwashed by Michelle Shephard, Lisa Ellenwood & Chris Oke on CBC Podcasts The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control by John Marks Father, Son and CIA by Harvey Weinstein MK Ultra: CIA mind control program in Canada by CBC’s The Fifth Estate “Federal government quietly compensates daughter of brainwashing experiments victim” by Elizabeth Thompson in CBC News Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Douglas, Oxio If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access…

The story of Brother XII still fascinates and even frightens some people in and around Nanaimo. He’s often called the Devil of De Courcy Island for good reason. Brother XII prophesied about the coming apocalypse. But instead, his story would presage something different. He was a forerunner of the strange, new religions that would sweep over the western world. Featured in this episode: Bill Miner, Justine Brown To learn more: Brother XII: The Strange Odyssey of a 20th Century Prophet by John Oliphant All Possible Worlds: Utopian Experiments in British Columbia by Justine Brown Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Canva, Douglas If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live…

As organized religion declines in countries like Canada, we’ve experienced an explosion of what some call religious movements and what others call cults. The idea of cults has become an omnipresent part of our discourse. But what even is a cult? And why have we become so intrigued by these groups? And the language of cults has moved beyond just religion into so many different spheres — everything from fitness, to politics, to work. Featured in this episode: Harold Henning, Amanda Montell To learn more: Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell Sounds Like A Cult Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Cheif) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Rotman, Douglas If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and…

The word cult gets tossed around a lot. The label gets applied to everything from doomsday religions, to wellness fads, to online conspiracies. Uncovering the stories of both devotees and dissenters, this season of COMMONS will go beyond the true crime cliches and will make you question everything you thought you knew about cults. Our new season launches on October 18th. Canadaland Supporters can listen to the first episode a week early! Become a supporter at canadaland.com/join. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with Jashvina Shah to talk about her book, Game Misconduct: Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It. Featured in this episode: Jashvina Shah To learn more: Game Misconduct Hockey's Toxic Culture and How to Fix It by Evan F. Moore and Jashvina Shah “No, this is not a watershed moment for hockey” by Jashvina Shah in The Globe and Mail Sex offences against minors: Investigation reveals more than 200 Canadian coaches convicted in last 20 years by Lori Ward and Jamie Strashin in the CBC Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Annette Ejiofor (Managing Editor) Additional music from Audio Network Sponsors: Athletic Greens If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of…

In this bonus episode, COMMONS producer Jordan Cornish sits down with host Arshy Mann to discuss our recent season on hockey. If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derek Boogaard made his living pummeling people on the ice. But outside the arena, he was soft-spoken and kind. Fighting was just his job. But it would end up taking everything from him. Hockey fights, and the numerous blows to the head that players have to endure, have become a moral crisis at the very heart of the sport. And the NHL is doing everything they can to deny the science and allow this gladiatorial combat to continue. And it’s enforcers like Derek Boogaard who end up paying the price. Featured in this episode: John Branch (The New York Times), Jeremy Allingham To learn more: Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard by John Branch Major Misconduct: The Human Cost of Fighting in Hockey by Jeremy Allingham “Years after his son's death, Len Boogaard on quest to end fighting in hockey” by Roy MacGregor in The Globe and Mail “Brain Trust: Big questions surround the most influential concussion research on the planet” by Jeremy Allingham in CBC News “NHL commissioner disputes link between hockey…