Shows
Books In 5EP 36 - Industrial Policy for the United States with Ian FletcherOver the past 5 decades, the neoliberal consensus has hollowed America's economic capabilities and it is dangerously close to being overtaken in key sectors by allies and adversariesIn this episode of Books in 5, the co-author of "Industrial Policy for the United States: Winning the Competition for Good Jobs and High-Value Industries" joins us to highlight the harsh reality that the United States finds itself in and what policymakers should do to ensure that nation and it's people remain prosperous in an increasingly volatile world.By using the lens of...
2025-12-0233 min
Books In 5EP 35 - Shamanism: The Timeless Religion with Manvir SinghShamans have held a deep appeal to humans for millennia as they fulfill a critical psychological need by taming & guiding the aspects of human life that are uncontrollable.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Shamanism: The Timeless Religion" joins us to highlight the development of Shamans throughout human history, their impact on modern society and the reality & fictions of their practices.Through the use of rituals and simulation, Shamans have played an important role throughout humanity's evolution and this ancient practice still continues into the present...
2025-11-1228 min
Books In 5EP 34 - Like: The Button That Changed the World with Martin ReevesHumanity has always been interested in ranking the world around them and the invention of the like button is most recent & powerful way that people are displaying their preferences, for good and for ill.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Like: The Button That Changed the World" joins us to showcase just how this unassuming icon has come to dominate social media metrics, the messy process of innovation and what the future potentially holds as the giant technology platform companies are motivated to hold the attention of the masses in order...
2025-11-0731 min
Books In 5EP 33 - Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks with Andrew SpenceCanadians might believe they have choices with regard to which financial institution they choose to bank with but all members of the Big 6 operate in ways that harm consumers.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Fleeced: Canadians Versus Their Banks" joins us to highlight how RBC, TD, Scotia, CIBC, BMO and NBC are able to charge high fees to their depositors, mutual fund holders and credit card users while also keeping out new startups who are using financial technology to provide better services at lower cost....
2025-11-0531 min
Books In 5EP 32 - The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink with Greg MercerThe lobster industry has undergone tremendous change in the 21st century with fortunes made as demand has skyrocketed but there has been equally concerning challenges as the population of this luxury food is on the brink.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink" joins us to detail the development of this crucial ocean product that provides so much to so many producers and consumers, the impact of the Chinese market's voracious appetite and how climate change, overfishing & the fight for...
2025-10-2427 min
Books In 5EP 31 - Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term with Nicholas ChesterleyIndividuals and governments are necessarily biased towards their interests in the short-term but they must also balance the need to make decisions that will provide benefits into the futureIn this episode of Books in 5, the author of Future-Generation Government: How to Legislate for the Long Term joins us to reveal the importance of understanding what makes people & institutions tick, measuring the right data to provide accurate information, locking-in policy with commitments and a whole host of recommendations so that humanity can truly flourish in the coming decades.The...
2025-10-1930 min
Books In 5EP 30 - Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity through the 21st Century with Dany AssafCanada has fallen off in so many important economic metrics compared to it's wealthy peers but it has the opportunity to right the ship if executives, policymakers and people all pull in the same direction.In this episode of Books in 5, one of the author's of "Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity in the 21st Century" joins us to highlight how Canada's population can flourish in the coming decades by taking advantage of it's educated labour force, new technologies and natural endowments in combination with a dedicated desire to grow the economic pie...
2025-10-1129 min
Books In 5EP 29 - God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America with Bruce Hoffman and Jacob WareExtremist attacks in the United States have a long history but there are concerns that the threat level is rising in the 21st century. In this episode of Books in 5, the authors of "God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America" join us to detail how social media is changing the landscape, why the military & police are dependable recruiting grounds, the dangers of lone wolves and what policymakers can do the discourage political polarization & truly prevent people from killing their fellow citizens.The threat to America from domestic extremism...
2025-10-0931 min
Books In 5EP 28 - Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History with Vali NasrThe popular narrative surrounding the mindset of Iran's leaders as motivated by faith or exporting the revolution is dangerously misplaced as it does not take into account what has primarily driven events in the country and the region.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Iran's Grand Strategy: A Political History" joins us to reveal his work in breaking the myths that American policymakers have towards Iran, how the war with Iraq in the 1980's is the foundation of Iran's outlook, the importance of the IRGC as a formidable actor and what...
2025-09-2530 min
Books In 5EP 27- Outside In, Inside Out: Unleashing the Power of Business Strategy in Times of Market Uncertainty with Dr. Lance MortlockIn times of market uncertainty, executives and decision-makers must have a clear understanding of their priorities, their tools and their risks in order take advantage of the opportunities ahead.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Outside In, Inside Out: Unleashing the Power of Business Strategy in Times of Market Uncertainty" joins us to reveal his framework that can help businesses create & execute strategic plans that brings together a thorough understanding of both the internal & external factors that leads to future success.Combining impressive research with clear...
2025-09-1526 min
Books In 5EP 26- You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything with Walt HickeyPop culture have a such a large effect on the world but can their impact be quantified?In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything" joins us to reveal how television and film changes our physical bodies, the changing dynamics of people's taste & preferences in society as reflected on the screen, the billion-dollar decisions made by executives as they try to court consumers and the ways that entertainment is utilized by nations as soft power.Combining impressive...
2025-09-0931 min
Books In 5EP 25 - Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America with Erik BakerThe entrepreneurial spirit in America has become more prominent since the 19th century as people are increasingly believing that the way to make it is not as a worker but as a business ownerIn this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Make Your Own Job: How the Entrepreneurial Work Ethic Exhausted America" joins us to detail how positive values of work ethic and loyalty were overtaken in the early 20th century by the desire to show initiative and try to succeed on one's own, the success of self-help authors who pushed a...
2025-09-0729 min
Books In 5EP 24 - Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers with Nicolò FraccaroliInflation as both a concept and a real-world phenomenon is talked about and debated by experts and everyday people but the true causes and effects are shrouded in myths & misinformation.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Inflation: A Guide for Users and Losers" joins us to highlight the four genres of how prices and wages rise, the importance of understanding the 1970's experience and why episodes of hyper-inflation are rare.The stories that are told about inflation matter is it causes policymakers, executives and consumers to...
2025-09-0430 min
Books In 5EP 23: Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America with Andrew MckevittThere has been a mythology surrounding guns in the United States that allegedly involves the Founding Fathers and the 2nd Amendment but the reality of Americans increasingly arming themselves can be traced to the middle decades of the 20th century.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture, and Control in Cold War America" joins us to detail the first half of the Cold War as the genesis of modern gun culture as it combined the supply of surplus guns in Europe, enterprising young marketers and policymakers not...
2025-08-1930 min
Books In 5Ep 22 - How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain with Peter GoodmanThe development of the global economy to become increasingly interconnected has benefited and harmed people in different ways with supply chains stretch now stretching across nations.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain" joins us to detail the rise of Chinese manufacturing prowess to become the dominant producer of so many goods, how American consultants & executives have enriched themselves at the expense of everyone else and why the seemingly disorganized nature of the economy, as evidenced by the pandemic disruptions...
2025-08-0729 min
Books In 5Ep 21- The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century with Benn SteilHenry Wallace was one of the most consequential American figures of the 20th century as the world looks entirely different if he was Vice President when FDR died in 1945.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century" joins us to highlight Henry's early career before he entered politics, how he was guided by a progressive worldview that was out of step with the majority of the establishment in Washington DC and the events of his life as he navigated the...
2025-08-0432 min
Books In 5Ep 20- Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry with Jonathan SteaThe mental health and wellness industry has grown tremendously over the past few decades but is it truly helping people improve their lives?In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Mind the Science: Saving Your Mental Health from the Wellness Industry" joins us to showcase why so many are falling prey to pseudoscience, who is peddling these bullshit cures, the warning signs that should caution those in need from proceeding with a treatment and the critical importance of improving science literacy.So many people are being hurt...
2025-07-3028 min
Books In 5At The Trough: The Rise of Canada's Corporate Welfare Bums with Laurent Carbonneau (Episode 19)Government's in Ottawa & in provincial capitals have been very generous to the private sector going back to Confederation but has this largesse benefited the average Canadian?In this episode of Books in 5, the author of At The Trough: The Rise and Rise of Canada's Corporate Welfare Bums joins us to to detail the long history of corporate welfare in the nation, why politicians cannot resist the pull of subsidizing the private sector, how this practice has going into overdrive in the past decade and what policymakers should be focusing their efforts on instead of...
2025-07-2830 min
Books In 5Vote With Your Phone: Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot to Save Democracy with Brad TuskWhile technology has allowed American society to experience tremendous prosperity and progress, the electoral system is still stuck in the past and it is causing democratic institutions to become tilted towards a small minority of special interests.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Vote With Your Phone: Why Mobile Voting Is Our Final Shot At Saving Democracy" joins us to highlight the benefits of mobile voting, the coalition of partners who see the potential to increase voter participation as a result of implementing this reform and the importance of including younger...
2025-07-2025 min
Books In 5What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis with Malcolm Harris (Episode 17)The only way for humanity to contend with the climate crisis is with changing the entire system but what does that really look like?In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "What's Left: Three Paths Through the Planetary Crisis" joins us to showcase how the status quo is unsustainable, the different strategies that must be considered for political transformation and why the right way forward is to include a wide variety of viewpoints rather than bickering over ideology.Coordinated political action is required for individuals and society as a whole to survive and...
2025-07-1628 min
Books In 5The Crisis of Canadian Democracy with Andrew Coyne (Episode 16)Canada's parliamentary system of government is supposed to represent the people but it is being dominated by the party elites and the Prime Minister.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Crisis of Canadian Democracy" joins us to highlight why the First Past The Post structure stifles democracy, how the PM has concentrated power in his office to overpower his own caucus & cabinet, and the ways that connected insiders are propped up at the expense of everyone else.Canadians are losing confidence in government institutions & democracy as a whole but the book...
2025-07-0230 min
Books In 5Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare with Eddie Fishman (Episode 15)The United States hold the prime position in the global economy and it can utilize this power to wage economic war against it's adversariesIn this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Chokepoints: American Power in the Age of Economic Warfare" joins us to reveal the critical history of the 1990's and 2000's as America consolidated it's grip on world finance, how sanctions & export controls came to be weapon of choice for policymakers and what the future portends as Iran, Russia & China attempt to combat the influence of Washington D.C.Geopolitical competition in...
2025-06-3028 min
Books In 5The Last American Road Trip: A Memoir with Sarah Kendzior (Episode 14)Driving across the country with one's family is as American as one can be but the transformation the country has experienced over the past decade means that the younger generation will see places and witness events that their parents never did.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "The Last American Road Trip" joins us to describe the adventures her family went on while on the road and at the destinations they visited as national politics, climate change and the Covid pandemic reshaped the nation. Whether it is highlighting the centrality of Missouri...
2025-06-2526 min
Books In 5I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story of Coffees, Code Names, and Covert Operations in the Age of Terrorism with Andrew Kirsch (Episode 13)While people have the image of a spy as someone who conducts operations in a clandestine manner under the cover of secrecy, the reality is much more nuanced.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "I Was Never Here: My True Canadian Spy Story in the Age of Terrorism" joins us to detail his experience as a CSIS operative, the importance of connecting with the community and the challenges of maintaining a balanced personal life with being a professional employed to lead special operations.With an attention to detail of the finer points...
2025-06-2033 min
Books In 5Catch a Fire: The Blaze and Bust of the Canadian Cannabis Industry with Ben KaplanThe industry, culture and use of marijuana in Canada has transformed over the past decade as the substance was legalized in 2018 and billions of dollars were on the line. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of "Catch a Fire: The Blaze and Bust of the Canadian Cannabis Industry" joins us to detail the build-up to this major moment, the policy dynamics in the nation's capital regarding health & safety and the entrepreneurs & influencers who hoped to cash in on the moment. With unparalleled access to the major protagonists and keen understanding of the critical...
2025-06-1230 min
Books In 5The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley with Marietje SchaakeTechnology companies have grown to such size and influence that they now rival states in command of the world.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley joins us to reveal how Silicon Valley executives frame the conversation surrounding innovation & economic growth to favour their interests, the ways that technology powers so much of the modern experience in ways that is harmful to civic life and the threats to national sovereignty when the government outsources so much to private firms.Bringing an insider's view...
2025-06-0931 min
Books In 5Justice Abandoned: How the Supreme Court Enabled Mass Incarceration with Rachel Elise BarkowMass incarceration is a uniquely American phenomenon but it is not simply the result of electoral politics. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Justice Abandoned:How the Supreme Court Ignored the Constitution and Enabled Mass Incarceration joins us to highlight the role of the Supreme Court in enabling the trend of ever-more prisoners as the Justices made a number of key rulings over the past few decades that led to changes in the criminal justice system.Through an in-depth historical investigation increase of pre-trial detention, plea bargaining, stop-and-frisk policies and...
2025-06-0126 min
Books In 5World On The Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First CenturyThe rise of China over the past few decades has put it on a collision course with America for world primacy with the CCP utilizing it's industrial might & financial leverage over the rest of the world to get it's way.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of World On The Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the Twenty-First Century joins us to highlight the history of this new Cold War, why Taiwan matters so much and what American leaders can do to ensure it maintains it's edge with regard to innovation...
2025-05-2831 min
Books In 5Bucking The Buck: US Financial Sanctions & the Backlash against the Dollar with Daniel McDowellThe American government has immense power over it's allies and it's rivals because of the primacy of the US Dollar and the US Treasury has utilized this capability through financial sanctions.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Bucking The Buck: US Financial Sanctions and the International Backlash against the Dollar joins us to showcase how the targeted nations attempt to mitigate the harms of American sanctions.Through in-depth research on the effectiveness of these sanctions in bringing Russia, China and other countries to heel and the response by leaders in Moscow, Beijing...
2025-05-2628 min
Books In 5Power Metal: The Race For The Resources That Will Shape The Future with Vince BeiserThe transition currently taking place across the world to a clean economy is being powered by a handful of critical metals. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Power Metal: The Race For The Resources That Will Shape The Future joins us to detail the opportunities & challenges ahead as individuals, companies & nations attempt to unlock future prosperity by ramping up the mines & factories necessary to develop these new green products.Through in-depth reporting on the environmental damage that is taking place as well as the shifting geopolitical order, Power Metal showcases how a...
2025-05-2028 min
Books In 5Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk with Faiz SiddiquiElon Musk has been a consequential figure in so many different avenues of modern life in the 21st century but he operates outside the mould of an executive & public leader.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of Hubris Maximus: The Shattering of Elon Musk joins us to highlight how his fans & supporters, the media, investors big & small and the government have been delighted & challenged by his personality & his business decisions.Through in-depth reporting of Musk's life & his effect on the world around him, Hubris Maximus is a must-read as it showcases how the...
2025-05-1221 min
Books In 5The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks The World with Atossa Araxia AbrahamianIf you are someone with the means and the network, you have the ability the hide, move, shield invest and otherwise utilize your money around the globe in a variety of ways that largely go against international treaties and conventional norms.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks The World joins us to reveal how the wealthy are creating a parallel system of special economic zones, charter cities, global detention centers and a number of other schemes to further their interests.Through in-depth reporting and a comprehensive...
2025-05-0429 min
Books In 5Canada First, Not Canada Alone with Adam ChapnickSince it's inception as a country, Canada has operated in a world of opportunities and challenges with allies and adversaries both near and far. In this episode of Books in 5, the author of the book Canada First, Not Canada Alone: A History of Canadian Foreign Policy joins us to examine the decisions made by Prime Ministers over the past century as they've navigated an ever-changing globe. Through the use of intriguing case studies, Canada First, Not Canada Alone showcases how leaders in Ottawa pursued national interests when engaging in foreign policy.Adam Chapnick...
2025-05-0128 min
Books In 5Money in the Twenty-First Century with Richard HoldenMoney has been a dynamic force that humanity has utilized for millennia but the societal transformations taking place in the present day with regard to finance, technology and business is truly breathtakingIn this episode of Books in 5, the author of book Money in the Twenty-First Century: Cheap, Mobile, and Digital joins us to explore the three modern forces that have redefined what "money" means, who controls it, and what the future of finance might look like.The way that money will change in the decades to come will...
2025-04-0728 min
Books In 5The Prince with Stephen MaherJustin Trudeau was the Prime Minister of Canada for almost a decade with many consequential events and changes occurring in the country during his time in power.In this episode of Books in 5, the author of book The Prince: The Turbulent Reign of Justin Trudeau join us to explore his family background and upbringing, his decision enter politics and become the leader of the Liberal Party, his 3 successful election campaigns, the challenges he faced as PM and what his legacy will be.Justin Trudeau is a enormously consequential leader...
2025-04-0728 min
Books In 5The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm CanadiansMore and more of the Canadian economy is dominated by a handful of huge companies that control what we buy, how we work, and which other businesses can or can’t thrive. In this episode of Books in 5, the authors of the book The Big Fix: How Companies Capture Markets and Harm Canadians join us to examine and reflect on the harmful consequences of monopoly power in Canada and what can be done to achieve better outcomes for consumers, the market and society at large.The future of Canada’s ec...
2025-04-0332 min
Books In 5Books In 5 - Official TrailerGet ready for Books In 5, the podcast where knowledge meets storytelling. In each 30-minute episode, we dive into the world of recently published books with some of the most fascinating and credible authors. Hosted by a Pavan Sodhan, the show brings you insightful conversations designed to help you become more informed about the issues shaping our world.
2025-03-1501 min
Commotion with Elamin AbdelmahmoudWhy don't men read fiction, and are the Gwyneth Paltrow ski trial plays actually good?It's not just a stereotype, there's hard data out there that shows men don't read a lot of fiction. Elamin chats with Nathan Maharaj, director of content marketing at Rakuten Kobo and Pavan Sodhan, who reviews every non-fiction book he reads, about why men aren’t picking up novels. Plus, New York Times theatre critic Houman Barekat talks about two plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival based on Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski trial last year, and how the courtroom drama comes to life on stage.
2024-08-2625 min