CBC Radio’s The Sunday Magazine is a lively, wide-ranging mix of topical long-form conversations, engaging ideas and more. Each week, host Piya Chattopadhyay takes time for deep exploration, but also makes space for surprise, delight and fun.
CBC Radio’s The Sunday Magazine is a lively, wide-ranging mix of topical long-form conversations, engaging ideas and more. Each week, host Piya Chattopadhyay takes time for deep exploration, but also makes space for surprise, delight and fun.
To kick off a new year of Word Processing, our ongoing look at language, Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with lexicographer Susie Dent about the old words you didn't know you needed to sum up our modern times, and her pitch to get "recombobulation" – the opposite of discombobulation – properly in the dictionary.
So, nevermind the "snollygosters," just gather round your "copemates" and head on a "coddiwomple" with us as we ring in 2026.
In October, the legendary naturalist Jane Goodall died at age 91. During her life, Goodall not only saw a lot of change in the world, but made a lot of it too.
Her field work with chimpanzees transformed how both science and the general public view our fellow primates. In later years, as an activist and conservationist, she inspired countless young people to follow her lead and change the world. And despite political leaders recently seeming to prioritize the economy over the environment, Goodall always found reasons to remain hopeful.
In September, Piya Chattopadhyay spoke with Goodall about her journey and her desire to keep sparking positive change.
Did you replace your chocolate orange with Dubai chocolate this year? Spike your eggnog with matcha? According to Ruby Tandoh, algorithms and search engine optimization are the hidden ingredients in the food we crave. The baker and writer joins Piya Chattopadhyay to explain how frothy adjectives came to dominate recipes, why we can't get enough of the colour green, and what today's top trends say about our global appetite.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Atlantic's Toluse "Tolu" Olorunnipa and Politico's Hailey Fuchs about the revelations in Friday's partial release of the Epstein files – and how they intersect with U.S. politics, baker and writer Ruby Tandoh explains how virality shapes our appetites, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee discusses breakthroughs in cancer research, and novelist Gary Shteyngart explores the parallels between his dystopian new novel and life in the U.S. today.
This past week, Time magazine named "The Architects of AI" its 2025 Person of the Year, even as the stock market wobbled with fears of an artificial intelligence-fuelled bubble. One way to help make sense of this moment is a tech industry concept known as the "hype cycle." As The Sunday Magazine’s Pete Mitton explains, the time-tested idea suggests that, as with other new technologies before it, a crash of expectations – and markets – will likely arrive long before we truly understand how to live with AI. Until then, it’s important to understand how the cycle works – and some of the unique dangers AI hype presents.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with journalists Shannon Proudfoot and Rob Russo about the year in Canadian politics, The Sunday Magazine’s Pete Mitton explains how the "hype cycle" concept can help us understand where we stand with artificial intelligence, Russian-American journalist Julia Ioffe explores the feminist history that shaped modern Russia, and journalist Stefan Fatsis shares what the words of the year reveal about how dictionaries are evolving.
Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
In our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against familiar voices and clever listeners in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. In this special edition, recorded live in Toronto as part of CBC's national holiday campaign Make the Season Kind, Bookends host Mattea Roach, actress and comedian Jennifer Whalen and a whip smart audience member enter the puzzledome to duke it out for glory.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with journalist Ana Vanessa Herrero and Latin America expert Rebecca Hanson about U.S. President Donald Trump's growing threats to Venezuela and his administration's strikes in the broader region, Ali Kharsa shares his experience fleeing Syria's civil war for Canada a decade ago and University of Ottawa professor Christina Clark-Kazak discusses the current state of Canada's refugee programs, and our monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns for a special edition recorded live in Toronto with Bookends host Mattea Roach and actress and comedian Jennifer Whalen.
Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday.
When she became prime minister of Finland at age 34, Sanna Marin was the youngest government leader in the world. During the day, she steered her country through crises including the pandemic and neighbouring Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But her life off-the-job, having fun with friends, tended to catch the attention of the global press and led to scandals at home. Marin joins Piya Chattopadhyay to reflect on that experience, and the changes she wants to see, to ensure women aren't discouraged from stepping up and getting involved.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Hub's Alberta bureau chief Falice Chin, Calgary-based CBC News journalist Jason Markusoff and The Logic's Ottawa correspondent Laura Osman about Ottawa's energy deal with Alberta, psychologist Robert Coplan explores the virtues of being alone, former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin reflects on the challenges she faced in office, and forester Peter Kuitenbrouwer traces how maple syrup became a cornerstone of Canadian identity, independence and pride.
In his hit 2003 pop science book, A Short History of Nearly Everything, writer Bill Bryson took readers on a journey from the birth of the universe to the inner workings of a cell, and had them laughing along the way. Over 20 years on, Bryson joins Piya Chattopadhyay to explain why he's now updating his seminal work to explore what’s changed, what hasn’t, and what still amazes him, even in times of existential dread.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Globe and Mail's Tony Keller about how Canada's desire for immigrants gave way to debate, writer Bill Bryson brings wonder to science in a refresh of his seminal work A Short History of Nearly Everything, former national security analyst and policy advisor Dennis Molinaro explores the complicated history of Canada-China relations, and comedian Charles Demers finds the funny in Canadianisms that define us – from goose poop to butter chicken.
Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
Do you ever peer into your pet's face and wonder... what's going on in there? Jay Ingram has been wondering, too. The science writer and broadcaster joins David Common to discuss his new book, The Science of Pets, and delve into what scientific research says about the bond between humans and non-human animals, the ways we try to understand our fellow creatures, and how pets and their ilk have reshaped humanity in ways great and small.
Guest Host David Common speaks to The Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt and Rob Russo from The Economist about the week in politics, science writer and broadcaster Jay Ingram delves into the bond between humans and non-human animals, the CBC's John Chipman considers whether double-crested cormorants should be purged or preserved in our Sunday Documentary, The Cormorant Conundrum, and essayist and travel writer Pico Iyer explains what solitude can teach us about how to live, love and lose.
Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
In summer of 2022, Salman Rushdie came face to face with death. The Booker Prize-winning author was stabbed multiple times, while on stage, about to give a lecture. He survived, but suffered life-altering injuries. Rushdie has since returned to writing, including his new story collection The Eleventh Hour, which reflects on mortality. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about confronting his own fragility, finding humour in survival, and why ideas often outlive the people who imagine them.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with scientist Katharine Hayhoe about signs of climate progress and concerns about global commitments ahead of COP30, Slate justice reporter Mark Joseph Stern unpacks this past week's tariff hearing at the U.S. Supreme Court, historian Allan Levine shares a lesser-known Second World War story about Canadian business leaders, Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie reflects on mortality and his new story collection The Eleventh Hour, and TSN senior correspondent Rick Westhead sheds light on problems facing hockey culture – and potential solutions.
Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday
In our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against one familiar voice and one clever listener in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. Playing this week are comedian and actor Andrew Phung, and Toronto listener Simon Eisner.
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with fans following the Toronto Blue Jays' World Series run and unpacks its significance with The Athletic's Dan Robson, The Toronto Star's Susan Delacourt and Rob Russo from The Economist break down Prime Minister Mark Carney's balancing act on the budget and trade talks, The New York Times' White House and national security correspondent David Sanger reflects on Donald Trump's impact one year since winning re-election, and our monthly challenge That’s Puzzling! returns with special guest Andrew Phung.
Discover more at https://cbc.ca/Sunday