Shows
What on Earth is Going on?...with the new novel, Seven by Farzana DoctorFarzana Doctor's new novel, Seven, juggles family, history, culture, and the incredible weight of those forces on women today. It's a detective story and travel novel, and a powerful insight into a woman struggling with sex, identity, her past, and her vast network of relatives. But the overarching issue throughout the book is female genital mutilation (FGM), a practice still common around the world. Farzana joins Ben to talk about the book, FGM, her writing process, and much more. About the Guest Farzana Doctor is a writer, activist, and psychotherapist. Her...2020-09-1854 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...after 99 EpisodesIt's been over two years since host Ben Charland kicked off this podcast in a basement in Kingston, Ontario. After nearly 100 fascinating conversations about everything from the mafia to the water supply, from science to philosophy, we're revisiting some of the best moments. Author, science broadcaster and previous guest Ziya Tong (Episode 85) interviews Ben with questions from listeners about what on earth is going on behind the scenes. Enjoy this very special centennial episode! About the Guest Host Award-winning host Ziya Tong has been sharing her passion for science, nature and...2020-09-0458 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Changing CitiesThe one thing that doesn't change about cities is the fact that they are constantly changing. Most people now live in cities, transforming them with their consumer behaviour, their culture, their ideas and their advocacy. City planners have to balance the natural development of these vast social organisms with complex, long-term plans. How do they do it? Ben chats with veteran urban planner Teresa Goldstein. . Follow Teresa on Twitter (@teresagoldstein). Mentioned in this Episode The People's Republic of Walmart: How the World's Biggest Corporations are Laying the Foundation for Socialism...2020-08-2159 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Creativity, Music and Politics during COVID-19The coronavirus pandemic is altering our lives in ways we cannot yet comprehend, and in decades we will marvel at this transformative time. COVID-19 is not just accelerating trends that were in place beforehand, but it is creating new realities. How are artists coping? How about our politics and ideologies? Alex Green's podcast, Stereo Embers, addresses the current creative moment of the artist. He joins Ben remotely from San Francisco for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation. About the Guest A native of California, Alex Green is the author of four books...2020-08-071h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with Kingston WritersFest (Ep. 97)What makes a book interesting? Beautiful? Provocative? Necessary? Is reading still the best way to get a message across and tell a good story, and how is it changing in our world today? The Kingston WritersFest is one of Canada's premiere literary events, drawing headline international authors as well as big crowds from the bookish Ontario city. Ben chats with the festival's artistic director and alumnus of the podcast, Barbara Bell, about writing, reading, and what goes on in between. About the Guest Barbara Bell is the Artistic Director of Kingston...2020-07-241h 10What on Earth is Going on?...with DisabilityWe will all encounter disability in our lives, either ourselves or someone we know and love. What is our responsibility when that happens? What role should the greater community play to provide care and support? What about government, public policy, and spending? What's changing when it comes to disability and how we care for those who truly need it, and why is this important? Ben has an enlightening conversation with Helen Ries, an Ottawa-based advocate with a powerful story of her and her brother Paul. About the Guest Helen is a strategic thinker...2020-07-1050 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Rebuilding DemocracyWhat if being a Member of Parliament or Congress had nothing to do with an election, but rather worked like jury duty? What if our officials were seated randomly in a legislature? What if we innovated the very idea of government itself? Dave Meslin says our politics is broken, but instead of repeating this from the sidelines, he's got 100 common-sense fixes. They are all detailed in his fascinating and provocative book, Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up. Ben chats with Dave in Toronto. About the Guest Multi-partisan and fiercely optimistic...2020-06-261h 13What on Earth is Going on?...with Writing BiographyRosemary Sullivan is an acclaimed Canadian poet and biographer. She has written definitive biographies about Elizabeth Smart and Gwendolyn MacEwen as well as a book about the early life of Margaret Atwood. In 2015, Rosemary published Stalin's Daughter: The Extraordinary and Tumultuous Life of Svetlana Alliluyeva to widespread praise. Ben sits down with Rosemary in Toronto to talk about what goes into making a biography (such as calling the CIA first), how she wrote Stalin's Daughter, and much more. About the Guest Biographer and poet Rosemary Sullivan is a professor emeritus at...2020-06-121h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with Politics and its FutureKent Hehr is a former federal Liberal cabinet minister and member of parliament for Calgary Centre. As a so-called "recovering politician" with careers on both the federal and provincial levels, Kent has a lot to say about what on earth is going on -- but he’s also got an incredible story. In October 1991 he was with some friends in Calgary when someone in another car opened fire. The bullet went into Kent’s spine, and just like that, he was paralyzed from the chest down as a C5 quadriplegic. About the Guest As a...2020-05-291h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with Acting, Gaming and CreativityAurora Browne is one of Canada's national treasures. Best known as one of the cast members of the Baroness von Sketch Show and as co-host of the Great Canadian Baking Show, Aurora has been creating daring, funny and original work for theatre, television and film for many years. Ben catches up with Aurora in Toronto to discuss her career as an actor and comedian, as well as her fascinating with the oceans, video games, clowning, and Dungeons & Dragons. Don't miss this wide-ranging conversation! About the Guest Aurora Browne is proud to...2020-05-151h 11What on Earth is Going on?...with the Writing Process, Genre, and the Rise of StupidWhat does it take to write a novel? What about genre? How does marketing define the books we read before we even open the first page? What does it mean to find a space that isn't programmed? And is the old right-left divide being replaced by a new one: the axis of smart-stupid? Ben is in Toronto to chat with award-winning novelist Andrew Pyper about his work, his writing process, and his take on what on earth is going on today. About the Guest Andrew Pyper was born in Stratford, Ontario...2020-05-011h 12What on Earth is Going on?...with Writing NovelsElizabeth Hay is a Giller Prize-winning author of novels such as Late Nights on Air, His Whole Life, and Alone in the Classroom. Most recently, she published a memoir about her parents' final years in Ottawa: All Things Consoled. She has been writing since she was fifteen, and also spent ten years working as a radio broadcaster, living in Yellowknife, Winnipeg, Toronto and Latin America. Ben sits down with Elizabeth in her Ottawa home to talk about her books, her writing process, and much more. About the Guest I was born...2020-04-1758 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Generations and the Ethical Choice to Have ChildrenIs dividing people up by their generation (Baby Boomer, Gen X, Millennial, etc.) unhelpful and even harmful? Is it a form of ageism, along the same lines as racism or sexism? What is the coming crisis of our time, and have we already arrived? And is it ethically justified to have children in this world in flux? Ben is in Kingston for a fascinating conversation about all this and more with philosopher Christine Overall of Queen's University. About the Guest Christine Overall's teaching, supervision, research, and publications are in the areas...2020-04-031h 14What on Earth is Going on?...with Polling in PoliticsOne of the key features of the democratic process is opinion polling, whether it is leader likability or attitudes on various issues. But do these snapshots of the horserace have an impact on the race itself? How has scientific polling and statistical analysis changed? How will it change in the years to come? And, what happens when the data shows us that the story we think is happening is not the one actually playing out? Ben joins writer and political analyst Eric Grenier at his CBC office in Ottawa. About the Guest 2020-03-201h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with the Power of NamesDo our names shape our destiny? What does it mean to live life as Don as opposed to Donald or Donnie? What prejudices do we carry with our names and the names of others, and what about those who change theirs? When we name our children, are we projecting our own battles and biases onto them before they even know the value of a name? Ben is in Toronto to sit down with Mavis Himes, a psychoanalyst and clinical psychologist who wrote The Power of Names: Uncovering the Mystery of What We Are Called. About...2020-03-061h 07What on Earth is Going on?...with Political PhilosophyHumans are living longer, delaying disease and decay later and later. It's conceivable that we could eradicate the big killers and attain a certain kind of infinite postponement of death. But what would this mean for our humanity? What does philosophy have to say about this, and about the state of our ongoing social experiment with democracy? Ben sits down to chat about all this and much more with Queen's University political philosopher and National Scholar, Colin Farrelly. About the Guest Colin received his PhD from the University of Bristol in...2020-02-211h 12What on Earth is Going on?...with The Reality BubbleZiya Tong is "one of the world's most engaging science journalists" and after co-hosting Discovery Canada's Daily Planet television program for ten years, she wrote her first book, The Reality Bubble. It's a veil-removing tour-de-force, filled with wonder, rigour and a powerful thesis about our role in the world and how we are often blinded, sometimes by our own choice, from what on earth is really going on. Ben is in Toronto to chat with Ziya about The Reality Bubble and so much more. About the Guest Award-winning host Ziya Tong...2020-02-0754 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Guy Gavriel KayGuy Gavriel Kay is a bestselling, world-renowned author whose works have been translated into over 30 languages. Originally from western Canada, Guy practiced law, developed a radio series with the CBC, and even assisted Christopher Tolkien with the editing of his father JRR Tolkien's The Silmarillion, before becoming established as a fantasy writer. Ben is in Toronto to chat with Guy about writing, creativity, the intersection of art and power, and even the vagaries of pricing single malt whiskey. More About the Guest Guy Gavriel Kay is the international bestselling author of many novels...2020-01-241h 14What on Earth is Going on?...according to the novel, Ducks, NewburyportLucy Ellmann's groundbreaking and award-winning novel, "Ducks, Newburyport", consists of a single sentence broken up only by the small bits of a parallel story of a mountain lioness protecting her cubs. It's a powerful, engrossing and genuinely readable piece of literature that challenges how fiction is read as well as our base assumptions of history, women, motherhood and the incredible flux of the 21st century. Ben discusses the book with Barbara Bell, Artistic Director of Kingston WritersFest. About the Book Baking a multitude of tartes tatins for local restaurants, an Ohio housewife contemplates...2020-01-1052 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Rebalancing SocietyDo the problems we face today -- political gridlock, climate change, social upheaval, accelerating economic inequality -- stem from fundamental imbalances in our society and thinking? What role might the plural (or civil) sector play in rejigging our systems? And why should we be ditching 30-year plans to focus on ones just a few weeks out? Ben sits down with world-renowned scholar of management, Henry Mintzberg, about these questions and many others. About the Guest Henry is a writer and educator, mostly about managing originations, developing managers, and rebalancing societies (where...2019-12-2744 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with PoetryDo music and poetry share the same roots? How do you write poetry that embraces complexity, history, beauty and atrocity? How can literature confront the self with the past, and the events that seem out of our control with the urgent need for a new language to understand them? What is creativity, and is there some kind of salvation there? Ben joins poet and teacher Canisia Lubrin for a fascinating conversation at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where she currently works as writer-in-residence. About the Guest Canisia Lubrin is a writer...2019-12-131h 08What on Earth is Going on?...with Polygraphs, Technology and the Music of Plants (Ep. 80)What is the future of technology, and what does it take to be a real lifelong innovator at the ground level? Ben's guest is James Brown, a serial entrepreneur, technologist, and head of Limestone Technologies in Kingston. They have been at the forefront of polygraph and other security technology in Canada for years, and their most recent endeavour might sound unorthodox until you hear the backstory: PLANTChoir, a device that lets you hear the music of plants. About the Guest James Brown is the President of Limestone Technologies in Kingston, Ontario, where he...2019-11-2951 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with TheatreLive theatre is one of the oldest art forms, but rather than fade away in the face of easy social media and instant entertainment, it is experiencing a resurgence. What is it about live drama that keeps filling theatres around the world? How are theatre directors keeping the form relevant, accessible and engaging? What are the cultural touchstones of the stage, and what makes it so much fun? Ben is in Edmonton to chat with Daryl Cloran, Artistic Director of the renowned Citadel Theatre. About the Guest Daryl began his tenure...2019-11-1559 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Politics in the US and CanadaRampant and increasing polarization of our politics? The turn to populism as a result of economic inequality? The growing, scarcely regulated political power of social media and Big Data? These are some of the forces that are reshaping our politics in North America, with a minority government in Canada and an impending election (and ongoing impeachment inquiry) in the United States. Ben chats with Queen's University political scientist Jonathan Rose about all this and more. About the Guest Jonathan studied at University of Toronto and Queen's where he received his Ph...2019-11-011h 06What on Earth is Going on?...with GamblingWe can't seem to talk about gambling without reference to its very real, very serious social problems -- whether it's the association with organized crime, the addictiveness, or the ruination of many people's lives. But what if we look at gambling through the lens of everyday life? Where does it come from, what does it say about us, and how should we manage it in our society? Ben is in Edmonton to chat with University of Alberta gambling expert Fiona Nicoll. About the Guest My greatest strength as a researcher is...2019-10-251h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with ElectionsWhat makes an election work? Is it the technology aggregates our preferences? Is it trust that our choices will be fairly counted, that they have an impact? Is it the institutions that manage the voting process? Or is it, ultimately, the people we elect and whether or not they choose to respect the process? What happens to our democracy when these components are stretched and strained? Ben chats with Holly Ann Garnett, political scientist and elections expert at the Royal Military College of Canada. About the Guest Holly Ann Garnett is...2019-10-111h 06What on Earth is Going on?...with Being and Becoming IndigenousSome argue that all of humanity today faces an identity crisis, as we struggle with rapid change and a deteriorating habitat -- and that the solutions may lie in indigenous social technologies, especially the power of the story. This is a wide-ranging discussion covering a lot of ground (reconciliation, diversity, Back to the Future), but one that should be relevant to all. Ben is in Edmonton for an inspiring conversation with Jacquelyn Cardinal, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Naheyawin. About the Guest Jacquelyn Cardinal is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Naheyawin...2019-10-041h 05What on Earth is Going on?...with GamificationWe often see video games as a form of consumer entertainment—an escape from reality, not that different from watching TV or reading a book. But the structure of games are perhaps fundamental to what it means to be human. By playing them, we can learn to be and rehearse as doctors, pilots, engineers, lawyers, and more. We might also overcome real conditions, such as depression and addiction. Ben has a powerful and provocative conversation with gaming, gamification and learning expert David Chandross. About the Guest David Chandross holds masters degrees in both co...2019-09-271h 08What on Earth is Going on?...with PhilosophyWhat is consciousness? Where does the mind reside? Can we create artificial intelligence that can fake intelligence, or maybe just have it? What happened in 17th century Europe that led to such a fascinating time for deep thinkers? And are we going through a similar period of churn today? Ben has a fascinating and wide-ranging chat about these big questions with University of Alberta professor of philosophy Amy Schmitter. About the Guest Besides her position as Professor of Philosophy, Amy is an Executive Editor and Board Secretary for the Canadian Journal of...2019-09-201h 17What on Earth is Going on?...with Luck and ProbabilityIt's Friday 13th! What does that mean? Is it an unlucky day? According to science—no, it means absolutely nothing. But there is one exception: the date has meaning if we think it does. As meaning-machines, we impart significance everywhere we look. We don't want to live in a world where randomness reigns. So what traps have we set? Ben has a fascinating chat with University of Toronto Professor Jeffrey Rosenthal, statistician and author of "Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything". About the Guest Jeffrey Rosenthal is a p...2019-09-1357 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Democracy, Conversation and the WalrusWhat does it mean to have a good conversation about politics, democracy, our place in the world, Donald Trump and sports? How do we bring disparate and distinct voices into that dialogue, and keep it fresh? The Walrus, a weekly Canadian magazine, has been trying to figure it out. Ben is in Toronto to chat with Jessica Johnson, executive editor and creative director of The Walrus, about democracy, conversation, and the magazine's unique and ever-evolving response to "what on earth is going on?" About the Guest Jessica is the executive editor...2019-09-061h 11What on Earth is Going on?...with Power, Colonialism and the San PeopleIs colonialism ongoing in the Kalahari Desert? What do the struggles of the San peoples tell us about democracy, tradition, adaptation to the environment, and the exercise and imbalances of power in today's world? What role does tourism take in all this, and is education still the silver bullet? And, can a people be truly free and fulfilled without meaningful sovereignty? Ben chats with higher education consultant, scholar and Program Director at the Kalahari Peoples Fund Fleming Puckett. About the Guest Dr. R. Fleming Puckett is Program Director for Land Rights...2019-08-301h 06What on Earth is Going on?...with the Inside of PoliticsWhat is social media doing to our politics from the inside? Are politicians themselves getting along, or are the deep partisan divisions in our culture also fraying the relationships of the people who we have elected to get things done? What does it take to run and win a political campaign these days? And how can democracy evolve. Or, should it? Ben chats with Stephanie Rea, longtime conservative political staffer and current communications director for the Ontario Minister of Education. About the Guest Stephanie Rea is a long-time political staffer who...2019-08-231h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with Higher EducationWhat is the future of the university and higher education? Will the local, broad-scope, brick-and-mortar campuses that form a critical part of our society give way to a fragmented system of hyper-focused online learning nodes? What is learning, anyways? And what's the purpose of an educational institution in the first place? Ben has a fascinating chat with a key thinker in this space: writer, strategist and higher education engagement specialist Mark Sollis, whom you might remember from Episode 60. About the Guest Mark Sollis is a strategist and creative with D3 Advancement...2019-08-161h 01What on Earth is Going on?...with GenderHow do we understand and engage in today's conversation about gender? What on earth is going on with gender and identity politics, and what is the personal dimension? Ben is at Queen's University in Kingston to chat with Dr. Lee Airton, author of Gender: Your Guide — A Gender-Friendly Primer on What to Know, What to Say, and What to Do in the New Gender Culture. It's a fascinating, important and unexpectedly fun conversation about the unique historical moment in which we live today. About the Guest Dr. Lee Airton is an As...2019-08-091h 06What on Earth is Going on?...with Acting and StorytellingWhat does it mean to be a storyteller? What happens when we look into the mirror after a long day, let the masks drop, and come face to face with who we really are? What does ownership mean in the arts, and what can theatre be when it isn't a commodity? Why do we act in the first place, and are our stories and audiences changing? And what's going on with Samuel Beckett? Ben is in Calgary for a funny, fascinating and quite unique conversation with local actor and theatre artist, Andy Curtis. About the G...2019-08-011h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with Travel, Story and VulnerabilityHow important is culture to the long-term success of an organization? What role does being vulnerable play in leadership? How does story help weave and even make up our everyday experience? And what can putting ourselves out there with travel teach us about our own inner storyteller and context in the world? Ben is in Ottawa to chat with Jana Dybinski, consummate traveler, thinker, innovator and VP for Marketing and Culture at Rebel.com. About the Guest Jana's bio on her website is just too good, so instead of any tinkering...2019-07-261h 03What on Earth is Going on?...according to the novel, 1984George Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (1984) is a touchstone of 20th-century English literature and a key piece of modern political thought and speculative fiction that continues to provoke conversation, and comparison, today. Orwell's novel from 1949 describes a bleak future where the state (Big Brother) has weaponized technology, language, propaganda and memory to exert near-total control over every person. Jaret Hargreaves joins Ben in Calgary to discuss this classic and frighteningly prescient book. About the Book "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controlsthe past." Hidden away in...2019-07-191h 01What on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, QuietWhat does it mean to be an introvert, and is it harder in our society to keep to oneself? Is there a pressure to conform to an Extrovert Ideal? How do introverts assert themselves in education, the workplace and daily life without giving up what makes them unique, thoughtful -- and just them? Ben brings back Jody MacPherson (Episode 11) to talk about "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. About the Book The book that started the Quiet Revolution At least...2019-07-121h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with Creativity and ActingWhat does it mean to be creative? Where does creative expression lie: in the individual, in the shared experience, or in the coming together of public and private? How can an actor be more than just an interpreter, but a creative artist in their own right? Ben is in Toronto to chat with Brian Smith, acting teacher, coach and Professor Emeritus from the University of Calgary, about his own journey, and the meaning and importance of finding one's creative voice in our difficult and accelerated age. About the Guest Brian researches...2019-07-051h 01What on Earth is Going on?...with Making Art in a Noisy WorldDenise Clarke is one of Canada's most respected performing artists, perhaps best known for her work with One Yellow Rabbit. Since 1997 she has opened up the company's process with the Summer Lab Intensive. She recently published The Big Secret Book: An Intense Guide for Creating Performance Theatre. Ben talks with Denise about her book, the recent Calgary production of Waiting for Godot (which she directed for Black Radish Theatre), the life of an artist, the meaning of art in an age of noise, and much more. This episode contains some swearing. About the G...2019-06-281h 05What on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, Thank You For Being LateThomas Friedman has been explaining the modern predicament as an author and New York Times columnist for decades. With Thank You For Being Late, he turns his sights to the unprecedented rate of change today. His main focus here is on the three M's: Markets, Moore's Law and Mother Nature, and the book's scale is grand as it tries to answer our eternal question, what on earth is going on? Joining Ben to tackle the book is Mark Sollis, strategist, writer and engagement specialist in higher education. About the Book A...2019-06-211h 13What on Earth is Going on?...with City Planning in TorontoWhat are the challenges and pressures that face growing cities like Toronto? How do we make housing affordable in such places? And what does the future of the city look like? Ben is in Toronto to chat with a panel of experts on the past, present and future of the city: Adam Brind, managing partner and broker of record with Core Assets Real Estate; Pamela Robinson, Associate Professor at the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Ryerson University; and podcast alumnus Blair Scorgie, Senior Planner and Urban Designer at SvN Architects and Planners. About...2019-06-141h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with FilmmakingMaking films is often about balance: between the singular vision of the script and director and the ideas and impulses of the team; between getting the perfect shot and keeping the project on time and under budget. And yet the end result can be like a magic trick. How do they do it? Ben is in Toronto to chat with filmmaker Christopher MacBride, who has written and directed films such as "The Conspiracy" (2012). He is currently in the editing suite for "The Education of Fredrick Fitzell. The Quote of the Week "...2019-06-071h 07What on Earth is Going on?...with ProtestingPeople take to the streets to change the world. Sometimes regimes fall and power shifts, yet too often nothing much happens -- it's business-as-usual the next day. But are we missing the spirit of activism? Are mass protests actually about changing the conversation and altering our perspectives? Or is disobedience the goal in itself? Ben is in Toronto to chat with Lesley Wood, activist and York University Professor of Sociology, about her work on how ideas travel and the true purpose of protest. About the Guest Lesley Wood is Associate Professor...2019-05-311h 07What on Earth is Going on?...with Men and Gender EqualityMichael Kaufman's newest book, The Time Has Come: Why Men Must Join the Gender Equality Revolution, is a stirring call for men to step up for women's rights, as well as a poignant analysis of what on earth is going on with gender equality today. Michael has been a prominent figure in promoting social justice and women’s rights for decades. He sits with Ben in Toronto for a timely and insightful conversation about why men should do more, what they have to gain, and how to get it done. About the Guest 2019-05-241h 05What on Earth is Going on?...with Alberta PoliticsIn April 2019, Jason Kenney returned the Conservatives to power in Alberta. Is this a return to normal in Alberta politics, where one party usually rules? What's happening underneath the platforms and rhetoric? And what do these events tell us about politics, populism and power elsewhere? Ben is in Calgary to address these questions with renowned pollster and political analyst Janet Brown, lawyer and former politico Denise Brunsdon, and University of Calgary political scientist Anthony Sayers. About the Guests Janet Brown Based in Calgary, Janet Brown is one of Alberta’s...2019-05-171h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with the RenaissanceWhat does it mean to be human? Is the world a mirror or a window? Should our experience of reality be mediated, and if so, who should be the mediators? We ask these questions earnestly today, but they were tackled in revolutionary ways during the European Renaissance, an extraordinary period of progress and creativity. Ben's has a powerful and spirited conversation with a world-renowned historian of culture and the Renaissance, Professor Kenneth Bartlett of the University of Toronto. About the Guest Kenneth Bartlett is a Professor of History and of Renaissance...2019-05-101h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with WomenSally Armstrong has been to some of the most dangerous places to speak with, learn about and report on women and girls in conflict zones. Countries like Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia have been her beat for decades, and yet she has always found her way to the heart of the human story. An award-winning journalist, author and human rights activist, Sally joins Ben for a timely conversation about the ascent of women everywhere, and why we need to do more to make the world a better, more equal place. Read the blog post about this...2019-05-0355 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with ScienceBob McDonald is one of Canada's most recognizable voices. An author, science journalist and chief science correspondent for the CBC, Bob has been hosting Quirks & Quarks (a weekly radio show about science) since 1992. He's interviewed thousands of scientists over the years, and this week he joins Ben for a conversation about science and technology, the power of curiosity and storytelling in communicating science, and the urgent need for us to see the long game in order to face today's big challenges. About the Guest Bob McDonald is one of Canada’s best known sc...2019-04-261h 03What on Earth is Going on?...according to The New Yorker's Profile of Yan LiankeYan Lianke is one of China's most influential living writers. His often-satirical works have earned him an international readership. He has been touted for the Nobel Prize in Literature. And yet, most of Yan's books are effectively (if not formally) banned in China. Ben brings together three previous guests (Tricia Baldwin, Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant and Daniel Woolf) to discuss the rise of China, the absurdity of modern life, and what government power will look like in the future. Their point of departure is a 2018 profile of Yan Lianke in The New Yorker magazine. Note: you don't...2019-04-191h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with the Promise of Artificial IntelligenceWhat is the optimal emotional state of eSports players to increase their win rate? Can the range of emotions displayed in movies determine which are most likely to win an Oscar? And when should Bradley Cooper cry in such a movie to produce the greatest effect? These are just some of the questions that artificial intelligence (AI) is solving. Ben's guest Jeff Lui is at the forefront of the field. Formerly a Global People and AI Designer at Google, Jeff is now the Director of AI for Deloitte in Toronto. Read the blog post for...2019-04-121h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with the NewsIf there is one industry that exemplifies the extraordinary disruption and change we have undergone over the past couple decades, it might just be the news. The way we produce, deliver and receive the news is changing fast, and social media is just one of many forces that upends this cornerstone of democracy. How can journalists and newsmakers compete? Joining Ben is Jessica Vomiero, National Online Journalist for Global News, who is also studying "media disruption" at Ryerson University in Toronto. Read the blog post for this episode. Sources and Links ...2019-04-051h 03What on Earth is Going on?LIVE EPISODE: ...with Our Possession of the Classical PastShould the artifacts of history be owned by any country, or should they be shared as common human heritage? If ancient Greek and Roman civilizations remain in many ways the backbone of our culture, society and laws, who gets to interpret them? And what about those with an entirely different lineage, especially indigenous peoples? Who are Classics for and to whom do they belong? Featuring: Fabio Colivicchi, Professor Raphaelle Walsh-Beauchamp, Student Desmond Wong, Alumnus Ben Charland, Moderator This panel discussion and Q&A was recorded with a live audience at...2019-03-291h 12What on Earth is Going on?...with the Drama of PoliticsTerry Fallis is a celebrated Canadian author of novels such as Up and Down (2012) and One Brother Shy (2017). Before writing the hit 2008 novel, The Best Laid Plans—about a man who must run a seemingly hopeless political campaign in order to get out of politics—Terry worked as a political staffer for several MPs and ministers, and in public relations with Thornley Fallis. Terry joins Ben to discuss the SNC-Lavalin scandal, the liabilities of Justin Trudeau's style, the power of perspective in politics, and much more. About the Guest “Terry Fallis writes...2019-03-221h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with Prisons and Justice in CanadaBefore she was appointed as an independent Senator in 2016, Kim Pate was already a powerful and outspoken voice for marginalized people in Canada, especially women and girls caught up in the criminal justice and prison system. For over 35 years Kim has advocated for policies and practices that lead to fairer, more positive outcomes, and has recently fought against segregation and solitary confinement. She is also the host of a new podcast: Appointed. Senator Pate joins Ben to discuss the deeper and often personal journey of reform and justice in Canada. About the Guest 2019-03-151h 06What on Earth is Going on?...with Marketing and Human NatureTerry O'Reilly is the host of CBC's Under the Influence (formerly The Age of Persuasion), and he joins Ben this week on the podcast. They discuss Terry's advertising career, his book This I Know: Marketing Lessons from Under the Influence, his ceaseless curiosity, the counterintuitive insight of chickens painted purple, and the unrelenting power of an idea. Terry also gives Ben the scoop on an exciting new project! The full archive of Terry's Under the Influence is now available for free, wherever you get your podcasts. About the Guest Terry O'Reilly...2019-03-081h 09What on Earth is Going on?...with the Economics of Going GreenClimate change could be the greatest crisis we have ever faced. Is it possible to deal with it under the economic frameworks that gird our society -- the very frameworks that allowed carbon emissions to spiral so far out of control in the first place? And can we solve these existential problems at the same time as address economic inequality and the global democratic deficit? Joining Ben is Kyla Tienhaara, academic, activist and author of Green Keynesianism and the Global Financial Crisis. About the Guest Kyla is a Canada Research Chair...2019-03-011h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with Music, Learning and PodcastingThere are countless resources about personal development, and they all express a similar theme: summon the will and make things happen. Whether intrinsically or because of years of practice, Logan Brown lives what he preaches. Logan is a musician and music teacher who also hosts the Brown Sound Podcast, which gives its listeners the tools to lead more meaningful lives. He joins Ben to discuss the creative and business sides of music, learning to play music, and the backstory of his own weekly podcast. About the Guest Logan Brown is a...2019-02-221h 00What on Earth is Going on?LIVE EPISODE: ...with Live Performance in the Digital AgeWatch the video of this episode. What does it mean to be live? Can a hologram be considered performance? Is going to the theatre a private or communal act? And should performing artists embrace and incorporate technological change—or should they resist, and build an oasis from social media and screen time? What on earth is going on with live performance in the digital age? Listen to the first-ever recording of the podcast with a live audience! The panel, moderated by Ben, features Colleen Renihan, Craig Walker and Michael Wheeler of the Dan School of Dr...2019-02-151h 26What on Earth is Going on?...with ChemistryChemistry is often considered the 'central science', because it serves as a bridge between so many disciplines: physics, biology, engineering, computers and the environment. And chemists are also on the forefront of some exciting research that could change our world. Joining Ben is Professor Cathy Crudden, award-winning chemist and head of the Crudden Research Group. They discuss the cutting edge of chemistry research as well as Cathy's mentoring philosophy, traveling and working in Japan, and more. About the Guest Cathleen Crudden was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland to Patrick and Linda...2019-02-081h 02What on Earth is Going on?...with The BeavertonAlex Huntley is a writer and editor for The Beaverton, Canada's foremost source of satirical news, as well as co-author of The Beaverton Presents Glorious and/or Free: The True History of Canada. Alex joins Ben for a fascinating, wide-ranging and provocative conversation about how he got his start in comedy writing, the purpose of satire, the danger as well as opportunity of fake news, and why William Lyon Mackenzie King is the one person he'd like to chat with (maybe through a séance). About the Guest Alex Huntley is a...2019-02-011h 16What on Earth is Going on?...with Truth, Uncertainty and TheatreUncertainty and doubt are central to the human experience. Yet in the 'post-truth' era, when you can curate your own experience of the world, our democracy seems under threat from such relativism. And making things black-and-white could be just as bad. Theatre and, ironically, the "theatre of the real" (stage performances based on actual events) could be a way for us to grapple with the unknown. Joining Ben is Jenn Stephenson, theatre writer and Professor at the Dan School of Drama & Music. About the Guest Jenn Stephenson is a Professor at...2019-01-251h 04What on Earth is Going on?...with the MafiaThe Mafia is one of the most successful threads of pop culture—so successful that many real mobsters take their cues from it. The Godfather, The Sopranos and even Narcos have built a mythology we all recognize. But when it comes what's really going on, these touchstones are dwarfed by actual organized crime. Joining Ben is Antonio Nicaso, whose life is dedicated to demystifying a Mafia that prefers to remain romanticized. He is a bestselling author of books such as Made Men: Mafia Culture and the Power of Symbols, Rituals, and Myth, and executive producer of the Net...2019-01-181h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with US Politics: Women, Polarization and the MediaThe 2018 US midterm elections were historic: increase in voter turnout (50%), victory for the Democrats (40 seats), and the 'Pink Wave' (a record 127 women elected to Congress). Other firsts, such as the youngest woman in the House and the first-ever Native American congresswomen, mark an election that was seen as a rebuke to President Trump. But the US political landscape remains angry, divided and precarious. Ben chats with political scientist Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant to get underneath the headlines. About the Guest Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant (Ph.D. McGill) is an Associate Professor in the Department of...2019-01-1158 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the novel, The Three-Body ProblemCixin Liu's novel, The Three-Body Problem, is a hallmark of modern Chinese writing. When it was first published in 2006, it took readers, critics and even scientists by storm. And when it was finally translated into English in 2014, it became the first Asian book to win the Hugo Award for science fiction. A piece of scientific imagination (folding protons, communicating with aliens, VR suits, and more), Liu's book continues to stir big questions today. Ben gets to the bottom of it with Andrew Miller. About the Book "Wildly imaginative, really interesting." — President Ba...2019-01-0459 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Public Policy in CanadaDespite the constant flux and disruption of politics, the wheels of government continue to turn. And the professionals who keep those wheels greased (squeaky or otherwise) are often the backbone of civil society. But there are thousands of voluntary organizations who contribute to the public life as well -- the so-called Third Sector. How do they interact? Ben chats about all of this and more with Queen's University Associate Professor Rachel Laforest, Director of the school's MPA program. About the Guest Rachel Laforest is Associate Professor and head of the Public...2018-12-2858 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, The People vs. DemocracyThe subtitle of Yascha Mounk's powerful and chilling book is, "Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It". Mounk describes populism and the current disruptions in our politics with a sweeping look at polarization, economics, social media and more. But he also exposes something deeper: the rot in our democratic institutions. Individual rights and the world rules-based order are not the same thing as democracy. Now, they may be in opposition. Joining Ben to discuss the book is Alex Slusar. About the Book “We can no longer assume th...2018-12-2158 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Creativity and Digital EntrepreneurshipPeople don't just get their news, entertainment and friend fixes from social media. In the digital age, there are whole universes in which to learn, shop, explore, broadcast, develop tastes and be creative -- to influence and be influenced. There is enormous space not just for individuals and enterprises to grow, but for whole new forms of business. What's happening in this brave new world? Ben has a fun, unplifting chat with Kingston-based influencer and serial entrepreneur, Claire Bouvier. About the Guest Claire Bouvier's work is dedicated to the hashtag, #SpreadYourAwesome. S...2018-12-1459 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Oil and World PoliticsWhether it's energy for electricity, gas for cars or ships or militaries, fuel for heating, or plastics pretty much everywhere -- petroleum is the key ingredient for modern society. The politics of oil and gas influence any government or business, yet the headlines only tell part of the story. What's really going on? Joining Ben is John Foster, an energy economist who spent 40 years with organizations like the World Bank. His new book, Oil and World Politics, attempts to unmask the real forces at play. About the Guest John Foster is...2018-12-071h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with Fairness for First NationsIn Canada, a sophisticated and prosperous first world country, there are whole communities living in third world conditions. Many First Nations people don't have adequate access to good health care, proper education, clean drinking water, and other government services. Thanks to strident advocacy, laws are in place to stop such unfairness. But the reality is still a slap in the face. What needs to be done? Ben is in Ottawa to chat with Andrea Auger of the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. Read the blog post about this episode. About the Guest2018-11-3058 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Economic InequalityYou've heard the statistics. Income inequality in the west is at its highest level in half a century. The three richest people are worth more than the poorest 48 countries in the world, combined. The top 1% of the world's population own 47% of the world's wealth. It goes on, and it is getting worse. But what are the forces underneath these changes? What was done the last time inequality was so bad? What can be done today? Ben chats with the highly-regarded economist, Miles Corak, about all this and more. About the Guest ...2018-11-231h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with Public ArtPublic art can make cities beautiful, inviting, inspiring and thought-provoking. It can bind communities together not just in what the art communicates, but in how it is made. Public art can even be controversial because of its content and the fact that government commonly foots the bill. However, what is art if it isn't subversive, even dangerous? Ben is in Toronto to chat with Calgary actor, writer and public artist Dawn van de Schoot about the meaning, purpose and future of art in the public realm. About the Guest Dawn van...2018-11-1656 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with the Erosion of EmpathyIn his acclaimed thriller, Butcher, Canadian playwright Nicolas Billon asks, how do we punish the unpunishable? How can there be true justice when everyone has their own take on what justice is and how it should be served? How can live theatre as an art form successfully pose such questions in our accelerating digital age? And above all, how does empathy fit into all of this? Ben sits down with Nic to discuss his play, the power of theatre, and the crucial role of empathy in our lives and society. About the Guest 2018-11-0958 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Wheelchair Fencing & the 'Appeal'Disability can change everything, and many of us have a hard time understanding what it means for a curb to be too high, or an electrical socket too low. For Rossana Pasquino, who has spent most of her life in a wheelchair, disability has presented some steep challenges, but it has also opened up some unexpected opportunities. She is not only a respected chemical engineer from Naples in Italy, but a Paralympic wheelchair fencer -- a sport that requires intense focus, intelligence, physical prowess and mastery of the 'appeal'. Ben sits down with Dr. Pasquino for a...2018-11-0255 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with RacismComplete show notes are below the description. Racism has been a sad part of the human story for a long time. After slavery was finally abolished in the United States in 1865, it took a hundred years for governments to make formal legal equality real -- and still, social segregation, ethnic discrimination and systemic prejudice continue today. It might even be getting worse. What is racism all about in our age of rising white nationalism and the re-emergence of identity politics, and what can we do about it? Ben is in St. John's, Newfoundland, to get...2018-10-261h 01What on Earth is Going on?...with WaterWater is foundational to human life. Many of us live in places where it is clean, cheap and flows freely from the tap, and where it can be taken for granted. But a billion people go without adequate access to clean drinking water, and due to the enormous increase in the demand for water from agriculture and industry, by 2040 most countries will not be able to meet their basic water needs. And water is a finite resource that exists in an ever-moving ecosystem. What we pour down the sink or flush down the toilet must come back. Are we...2018-10-1957 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, The Knowledge Illusion“How is it possible that people can simultaneously bowl us over with their ingenuity and disappoint us with their ignorance? How have we mastered so much despite how limited our understanding often is? These are the questions we will try to answer in this book.” The Knowledge Illusion: Why We Never Think Alone was written in 2017 by cognitive scientists Steven Sloman and Philip Fernbach. Ben chats with Sean Fenlon to find out what on earth is going on according to their provocative and insightful perspective. About the Book We all think we k...2018-10-1258 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with the Decline of American Soft Power (Ep. 23)We all know hard power: tanks, planes, guns, even cyberwarfare units. But since the end of the Second World War, the normal method for a country to achieve its goals has been through openness, dialogue and mutual agreement. War, and the threat of war, has taken a backseat to what Joseph Nye defined as "soft power": the ability to get the other side to want to do what you want. Is this starting to shift? Are we being forced to embrace Donald Trump's harder, zero-sum approach to global affairs? Ben chats with Sara Greco, PhD Candidate in...2018-10-0558 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with City Planning and DesignCities are the principal engines of growth and innovation, not just in the west but all over the world. Crowded and sprawling, manic and beautiful, these gravity wells for the human experience constitute our future. But what is the future of the city? Whether it's rising inequality, affordable housing, or the intensifying mashup of language and culture, how do cities adapt and renew? Ben is in Toronto, a city that faces intense pressures and where such conversations are at the forefront, to chat with urban designer Blair Scorgie of SvN. About the Guest 2018-09-2859 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with the MoviesThe #MeToo movement struck hard and fast in the film industry, capturing international attention for much more than a few news cycles. It exposed some of the men who abuse their power, and highlighted what women have dealt with for decades. But is it enough to truly change an image-based industry? What are the deeper forces at play? Are we changing the way we watch movies in the face of technological as well as social disruption? What on earth is going on with the movies? Ben chats with Mike Sheppard, host of a new show on CFRC...2018-09-2158 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Social ChangeInstitutions and norms, both written and unwritten, underpin our rule-of-law, human rights-respecting democracies. Some of these have evolved to serve a dynamic and diverse society. Others have withstanded centuries of disruption and change. But it seems that many of them are now under threat in an era of flux and populism. What are the deeper forces at play, and what's beneath the constant churn of consumer partisanship and identity politics? Ben is in Toronto to speak with Dr. Miriam Smith, Professor of Social Science at York University. About the Guest Miriam i...2018-09-1457 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, Mindset by Carol Dweck“Why waste time proving over and over how great you are, when you could be getting better? Why hide deficiencies instead of overcoming them? Why look for friends or partners who will just shore up your self-esteem instead of ones who will also challenge you to grow? And why seek out the tried and true, instead of experiences that will stretch you? The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even (or especially) when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset. This is the mindset that allows people to thrive during some of the...2018-09-0759 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Women in LeadershipGlass ceilings are being shattered everywhere. Women now shape the world in every field and discipline. The archetype of leadership is less and less the old white male. But big problems remain, whether it's big picture pay equity or the guy you know who mansplains in budget meetings. What are the next steps? Ben has a powerful, insightful and surprising chat with Laurie VandeSchoot, a senior public servant at the City of Calgary. About the Guest As Deputy Chief of Department Review, Laurie VandeSchoot oversees the Community Services and Protective Services...2018-08-3157 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Classical MusicGustav Mahler once said that a symphony must be like the world, in that it must contain everything. But when it comes to classical music, is that 'container' (think of the pageantry, the dressing up, the protocols of when to clap or cough) getting in the way? Ben sits down with the young, ambitious and innovative Music Director of the Kingston Symphony, Evan Mitchell, for a conversation about the meaning and power of music, the responsibility of those who make it, and the onus on us in the audience to meet half-way. About the Guest...2018-08-2459 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with EducationIs education the closest thing we have to a silver bullet for the ills and ailments of our society, even if it takes generations to have a real impact? What's the history of education and where might we be headed? What are the forces that compete to shape our schools, our students and our minds? Ben chats with Ted Christou, a teacher, historian and educator of educators at Queen's University. About the Guest Dr. Christou is an Associate Professor in the Curriculum Studies and Educational Studies fields, with a cross-appointment to t...2018-08-1759 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, The Retreat of Western Liberalism"Since the turn of the millennium, and particularly over the last decade, no fewer than twenty-five democracies have failed around the world, three of them in Europe (Russia, Turkey and Hungary)... Can the West regain its optimism? If the answer is no – and most of the portents are skewing the wrong way – liberal democracy will follow. If the next few years resemble the last, it is questionable whether Western democracy can take the strain. People have lost faith that their systems can deliver. More and more are looking backwards to a golden age that can never be regained. When a cu...2018-08-1000 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with TerrorismOn July 22 a lone gunman opened fire on pedestrians and crowded restaurants on Danforth Avenue in the Greektown District of Toronto. He killed two and wounded ten others before turning the gun on himself. Three months earlier, just a subway ride away, a man drove a rental van onto busy sidewalks, killing ten and injuring 16. What is driving people, particularly young men, to throw away their lives and those of others? Were these incidents of terrorism or just mad acts of violence? What's the difference? Ben heads to Toronto to speak with Joseph McQuade, a terrorism expert...2018-08-031h 00What on Earth is Going on?...with the Division of Political PowerWhat is the nature of political power and how is it distributed? What are the pros and cons of a federal system like Canada's, where power is shared between governments? Is it possible that Justin Trudeau and Donald Trump are singing from the same "make our country great again" song-sheets, just on opposite sides of the populist choir? And how likely is it that the American president will be impeached? Ben addresses these questions and more with Dr. Anthony Sayers, Professor of Political Science at the University of Calgary. About the Guest 2018-07-2759 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with the Role the Arts PlayWhat is the role of art and music in our society? Is art supposed to effect change or simply represent it after the fact? Is all good art subversive, and is all subversive art good? What does it mean for an arts organization to be responsible to its audience: give them what they want, or help them develop newer, deeper, unexpected tastes? How do you nurture art and artists who work on a cutting edge that is not always popular or immediately accessible, yet still keep it commercially viable? Ben chats with the award winning arts administrator...2018-07-2054 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...according to the book, Selfie by Will Storr"We live in the age of the individual. Every day, we're bombarded with depictions of the beautiful, successful, slim, socially conscious, and extroverted individual that our culture has decided is the perfect self, and we berate ourselves when we don't measure up." So begins the publisher's description of Will Storr's new book, Selfie: How We Became So Self-Obsessed and What It's Doing to Us. It's a fascinating and timely read about the whole notion and history of the self, and how our cherished individualism seems to be getting way out of control. Ben goes to Calgary to...2018-07-1358 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with History, and a little JazzWhat can we learn from the trials, tribulations and shipwrecks of our collective human past? How does that past shape the human story today? How can we liberate history from its eurocentric roots? And, most importantly, what's the link between history and jazz? Ben chats with the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, and renowned historian/historiographer, Daniel Woolf. Read the blog post for this episode. About the Guest Dr. Daniel Woolf has been the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Queen’s University since 2009. He continues to teach part-time, and is...2018-07-0658 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Artificial Intelligence in BusinessArtificial Intelligence, or AI, is going to change everything. From self-driving cars to deliveries to your online retailers that can predict and deliver your order before you make it, businesses are already cashing in on the AI revolution, which will soon be worth trillions. Where are we headed, what are the risks and opportunities, and what is it all going to look like? Ben chats with Dr. Stephen Thomas, Director of the new one-of-a-kind and first-of-its-kind Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence program at the Smith School of Business, Queen's University. About the Guest 2018-06-2959 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Renewable EnergyThere is a pressing need to rethink how we produce, consume and transmit energy, to diversify our energy sources, and to reorder our daily lives as well as the larger structures of our economies. These shifts, whether in the form of self-driving cars or backyard geothermal plants, are coming regardless of climate change – they’re happening naturally. But such changes are not just about convenience and leisure. They may transform the way we conceive of our ecology, our society, and our place within it. Ben chats with forester, geographer and public policy professor Warren Mabee. Read...2018-06-2259 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Free Trade & NAFTAAre we on the verge of a trade war, or already in the midst of one? Is NAFTA doomed to the same fate as the Iran Nuclear Deal? What is behind the US president's unprecedented attacks on free trade and the rules-based order that his own country once helped create and champion? Are the motivations purely instinctive, or political, or is there a deeper world-shaping agenda at play? Joining Ben is Robert Wolfe, expert in international relations and trade and Professor Emeritus of Policy Studies at Queen's University. About the Guest ...2018-06-1556 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Climate Change & Science LiteracyClimate change is real, and we are causing it. At least, that’s the consensus among scientists around the world. A tiny handful of academics disagree, and that is a critical feature of science, but does this mean we should debate it as if it were an open question? Part of the reason we seem to so freely and so brazenly challenge those who have done their homework is because we lack the tools to distinguish between fact and fiction. We, as citizens, need to be literate in science in order for the real debates to be had. ...2018-06-0852 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with TaxesThere's an election coming up in Ontario, and as always, one of the big dividers is taxes. Cut them, raise them, change them, fix them. A lot of the arguments are weary (Doug Ford's PCs want to make gas and beer cheaper; the surging NDP want the wealthy to cough up more cash) -- but some want to change the fundamentals. There is lots of talk about a universal basic income, in a province with the largest real-life study of such a program in the world. Joining Ben for an analysis of this subject, as well as...2018-06-0153 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Karl Marx, Part IIPart 2 of 2. For his bicentennial in May 2018, it's a good a time as any to re-evaluate the life, work and ideas of one of the most influential philosophers and economists of the modern era, Karl Marx. Following from last week, we delve deeper into not just Marx's ideas, but how they have evolved and been interpreted over the last century and a half. How has Marxism, let alone communism and socialism, taken off in ways that Marx himself could not have foreseen and, perhaps, would not have wanted. And we ask, what on earth is going on...2018-05-2557 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with Karl Marx, Part IPart 1 of 2. May 5 was the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth. Over the past few years there has been a surge of interest in the 19th century philosopher and economist, who challenged capitalism and predicted that it would eventually destroy itself. But his diagnosis has turned out to be more accurate, insightful and helpful than his prescriptions. Make no mistake: Marxism may be dead, but Marx is very much alive and kicking. His insight into the way the world works has profoundly influenced academia, economics, government, social programs, the way we study and view history, and yes...2018-05-1856 minWhat on Earth is Going on?...with the Digital AgeIn the Digital Age, the Internet and social media have utterly transformed the way we live and perceive the world, and there is certainly more to come. But when we started upending norms in the media less than a generation ago, we couldn't perceive the consequences which are now becoming apparent. What on earth is going on with fake news, post-truth, and a new relativism in media and the public discourse? How on earth did we get so polarized in our societies and in our politics? What happens when extremism shares space with mainstream thought? Is it getting worse...2018-05-1152 min