It comes every year - but what's to blame for the severity of this year's influenza season? Several strains are circulating across Canada, with healthcare professionals scrambling to treat one of the leading causes of death in this country. And with the U.S.'s upcoming withdrawal from the World Health Organization later this month, virus and vaccine-related research will soon become scarce for the countries who depend on the data - including Canada. Host Nima Rajan speaks to Dr. Joss Reimer, former President of the Canadian Medical Association and former Chief Medical Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The two discuss how Canada's healthcare system needs to diversify its science research partners, and what Canadians can do in the short-term to help protect themselves and others.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! This week we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special feed drop on The Big Story, Host Alex Seixeiro speaks to Abbey Sharp, registered dietician and host of the Bite Back podcast, to discuss all the diet trends of 2025. They dig into the dos and don'ts of diet culture, and which habits we you should leave behind heading into 2026.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! This week we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special feed drop on The Big Story, 680 NewsRadio City Hall reporter, Momin Qureshi sits down with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow to look back on 2025, and what she hopes for heading into 2026. The two discuss Chow's potential second term, her relationship with Premier Doug Ford, and when exactly Torontonians can expect the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to open.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! This week we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). This week, we are doing a retrospective on the year's best and wildest pop culture stories, dissecting the celebrity stories that continue to live rent-free in our minds (Diddy's trial and Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau's love story), dish on the music we couldn't get enough of (Lily Allen's West End Girl, obviously), the movies that moved us, and the TV series we adored (Yes, Sadaf opines beautifully about The Pitt). Lean in, grab your glass of wine, and let our hot takes keep you warm over your winter break!

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! This week we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). This week we dig into snow. When did snow first fall on earth? The ghost of Smugglers Notch, avalanches, record snow falls, Jamie throws snowballs at children and more. Chris, Jason, Jamie and Lew talk all things snow on this week's Hogwash.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! This week we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In part two of this special feed drop on The Big Story, Parliament Hill Bureau Chief for CityNews and political correspondent Glen McGregor discuss the biggest political headlines of 2025. They recap Mark Carney's first few months as Prime Minister, the future of the NDP, and what lies ahead for Federal Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! Over the next couple weeks, we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special feed drop on The Big Story, Host Kris McCusker speaks to Kelley Keehn, CEO of the Money Wise Institute to discuss the dos and don'ts of Buy Now Pay Later payment options. The two break down how to spend wisely this holiday season and how to not fall into dangerous spending habits you can't ultimately keep up with.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! Over the next couple weeks, we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, Abbey dives into a timely topic as we head into the holiday season — diet willpower. Joined by Jenn Trepeck, host of Salad with a Side of Fries and author of Uncomplicating Wellness, Abbey breaks down the truth about willpower, why it’s not a moral failing, and how holiday stress drains our ability to “stay strong” around food. Together, they unpack the binge–restrict cycle, why deprivation always backfires, and how to approach the holidays without guilt, self-blame, or crash dieting. You’ll learn how to set yourself up for success without relying on willpower — and how to reframe overeating moments as part of a healthy, realistic relationship with food.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! Over the next couple weeks, we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special holiday edition of What Would Emily Do, I’m answering your real career questions. We’re talking about what to do when your boss doesn’t care about your health, how to know when it’s actually time to quit your job, and how to think about taking a pay cut without blowing up your future. If you’ve been rethinking your job going into the new year, this episode will help you get clear on your next move. Send me your questions: https://forms.gle/ktToU5GFXnsFkveA6

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! Over the next couple weeks, we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special feed drop on The Big Story, Host Mike Eppel speaks to Eric Kam, professor at Toronto Metropolitan University to reflect back on some of the biggest business headlines of 2025. They discuss the dramatic end of Hudson's Bay Company, Canada's potential in the oil industry, and how AI may brace for consumer downfall in 2026.

Happy Holidays from Frequency Podcast Network! Over the next couple weeks, we'll be joined by the Friends of Frequency (FOF). In this special feed drop on The Big Story, Parliament Hill Bureau Chief for CityNews and political correspondent Glen McGregor discuss the biggest political headlines of 2025. They recap Justin Trudeau's resignation, the 2025 Federal Election, the future of the NDP and what lies ahead for Prime Minister Mark Carney's uphill battle with US President Donald Trump.

It's been a tumultuous year for the economy to say the least, especially in the interest of real estate and housing. The Bank of Canada cut interest rates nine times, yet buyers are still erring on the side of caution, waiting for some sort of stability before diving head-first into the market. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Shawn Zigelstein, broker and team leader for Royal Lepage to see what Canadians could expect heading into 2026.

Starting in 2029, the Oscars will be making its way to the big screen - YouTube. The change will come after more than 50 years of Disney's ABC having exclusive rights to the live broadcast. It's not the first shift Hollywood has seen from traditional broadcast spaces onto streaming media platforms, as the industry is looking to adapt to younger, online consumers. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Paolo Granata, associate professor at the University of Toronto to discuss the opportunities the Academy Awards has as it prepares to enter a new broadcast space, and how the media ecosystem is more intertwined than we think.

Last week, Ottawa announced a year for shovels to hit the ground for its long-awaited high-speed rail line connecting Toronto to Quebec City. Beginning in 2029, construction will be starting for the line's first rail segment, connecting Montreal to Ottawa via 200km worth of tracks. But both the government and the Crown corporation overseeing the project, Alto, have admitted they haven't quite nailed down an exact (or rough estimate) of a dollar figure attached to helping the rail line come to fruition. Host Alan Carter speaks to Ryan-Katz Rosene, associate professor at the University of Ottawa who studies sustainable transportation, to discuss if this announcement will actually make waves in this high-speed rail coming to life, or if Canadians will be stuck in limbo for more decades to come.

Hollywood is reeling from the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner after they were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Sunday night. The Los Angeles District Attorney has filed murder chargers against one of their sons, Nick Reimer, for the deaths - punishable by either life in prison or the death penalty. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Sadaf Ahsan, culture writer and co-host of The Reheat to discuss what we should be watching for as the investigation unfolds, and the legacy Rob left on Hollywood and society at large.

1 in 5 Canadians are 65 or older, meaning some difficult conversations may be held around the dinner table this holiday season. Memory loss, mood swings, mixing up names and birthdays - where does it cross the line from natural age-related decline and into decrease of cognitive control? And how do we tackle these tough conversations, especially for the 'sandwich generation'? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dr. Howard Chertkow, Leading Canadian Research Scientist at Baycrest Health Science to discuss how to spot the difference between organic, age-related habits versus symptoms of cognitive decline, and how Canada should get ahead of the struggles facing its aging population.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow is floating the idea of an increase in the land transfer tax, an amount that's owed when a house is purchased. Its total is based on the value of the house at the time of purchase, meaning the higher the price, the higher the tax. The tax generates income for the city, which in turn could fund social programs for those in need. But some fiscal think tanks warn the increase in tax on high ticket items could drive out the rich from the city. Host Alan Carter speaks to Mike Moffatt founding director of the University of Ottawa's Missing Middle Initiative to discuss how governments can strike a balance.

They're already the unofficial mascot of one of Canada's largest cities, with tons of Toronto merchandise donning adorable images of so-called "trash pandas" - but a new study out of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock theorizes they aren't just getting smarter - they may be getting cuter. Host Kaitlin Lee speaks to Evolutionary Ecologist Albrecht Schulte-Hostedde from Laurentian University possible signs of "domestication" among urban raccoons, if that means they could one day be pets, and what the critters have to say about us.

In a battle for the rights to Warner Bros. Discovery, Netflix and Paramount Skydance are offering tens of billions of dollars to become the next media powerhouse. Either acquisition pose as problematic for critics who raise concerns of a monopoly over the market, sizeable job losses, and the death of the movie theatre. Host Mike Eppel speaks to Paul Moore, sociology professor at Toronto Metropolitan University to discuss the bids and how the changes could materialize for the film industry at large.

Starting today, Australian youth under the age of 16 will no longer be able to log onto Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other social media sites due to a new law passed through their parliament. The government has banned a number of popular online sites from allowing accounts be made for those under 16 years old, with a fine of up to $33 million CAD if the platforms defy the order. Host Maria Kestane speaks to Jay Olson, post doctorate fellow at the University of Toronto to discuss whether the ban will actually make waves in protecting Australian youth, and how Canada could take note.