Jar Jar Binks became one of the most polarizing figures in cinematic history when he debuted in the 1999 movie Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. He was so hated that it sparked a viral, decades-long internet hate campaign. The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks is a new series that explores what this story can teach us about today. Host Dylan Marron joins us to tell us more about the show. Plus – men open up about body image. We’ll hear from Mark Pagán, the host of Other Men Need Help, about how the standards of masculinity affect all of us. All that and more on this week's show. Featuring: The Redemption Of Jar Jar Binks, Other Men Need Help, Hang Up For links and more info on everything on this episode, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Ear Hustle, co-hosted by Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods, got its start in 2017 by documenting life inside California's San Quentin State Prison. When the show launched, Earlonne was an inmate at San Quentin, serving a sentence of 31 years to life for attempted second-degree robbery. Nigel is a visual artist and university professor who got involved with San Quentin as a volunteer. In November of 2018, Earlonne's sentence was commuted after 21 years, and he now co-hosts the podcast from the outside. Ear Hustle launched their latest season earlier this month, and Nigel and Earlonne joined Leah from their studio in San Francisco to share a few of their favourite podcasts. Plus, they give us a sneak peek at their new season, where they speak to women incarcerated in the California Institution for Women. Featuring: Ear Hustle, Wrongful Conviction, Everything Is Alive For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Media Girlfriends began in 2016 as a podcast hosted by Nana aba Duncan, where in each episode she spoke with other women working in media. Today, it has evolved into a full-fledged podcast production company, which Duncan created along with co-founders Garvia Bailey and Hannah Sung. Today, Nana aba, Garvia and Hannah come on the show to tell us about their journey, and share their favourite podcasts. Featuring: Humans Of The House, Authentic: The Story of Tablo, You Didn't See Nothin, Shameless Acquisition Target. For links and more info on all the podcasts featured in this episode, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

For years, Alana Chen harbored a deep secret. As a teen, she confessed to her priest that she was attracted to women. She was told to never tell her parents, and over the next seven years, Alana received conversion therapy in secret. Her story is told in the new podcast Dear Alana. Host Simon Kent Fung joins us to talk about the series.That and more great new true crime on this week's episode.Featuring: Alphabet Boys, Dear Alana, Crime Story, Someone Knows Something, You're Wrong About For more info on everything on today's episode, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.Get in touch! Email us at [email protected]

It’s a music fan’s dream: Imagine you’re handed hundreds of hours of never-before-heard tapes of Paul McCartney talking about all the lyrics he’s ever written. Those tapes showed up on the doorstep of one lucky team of podcast producers. McCartney: A Life In Lyrics is a new podcast telling the stories behind the lyrics of some of McCartney’s most famous songs, from the early days all the way to the present. Leah sits down with executive producer Justin Richmond to talk about the project. Then, Leah talks to Laurie Santos, host of The Happiness Lab, about collaborating with Elmo, Grover and the rest of the Sesame Street gang to teach kids about the science of happiness. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: McCartney: A Life In Lyrics, Rough Translation, The Happiness Lab, Academy For links and more info on everything in today's episode, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

To make this show, our team listens through hours upon hours of audio. But sometimes, a few excellent shows will slip through the cracks. This week, Leah is joined by the Podcast Playlist crew to share some amazing podcasts that you may have missed. Like Once upon a time...at Bennington College. Our senior producer Kate Evans likes it because listening feels like, "a summer page turner, but for a podcast." The show shares the history of the unique Liberal arts college where authors Brett Easton Ellis, Jonathan Lethem and Donna Tartt all went to school together.  Plus, Producer Julian Uzielli shares a heartfelt podcast about a group of Armenian soliders who survived months of being trapped behind enemy lines. That and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Once Upon a Time...at Bennington College (Kate's pick) -   "Bennington. Autumn, 1982. Donna, Jonathan and Bret arrive on the campus of the school nicknamed "The Little Red Whorehouse on the Hill." One of them comes with a steamer trunk. One of them comes with a Kangol cap. One of them comes with a "suitcase full of drugs." Freeway Phantom (Leah's pick) - "On April 25th, 1971, 13-year-old Carol Spinks mysteriously disappeared from her neighborhood in southeast Washington D.C. Six days later, her body was discovered off a nearby freeway. Investigators assumed this was a one-off murder. Little did they know, Carol was the first victim of D.C.'s first serial killer." The Ballad of Billy Balls (Kelsey's pick) - "It's 1982, and a man bursts into an East Village storefront apartment and shoots punk musician Billy Balls. Author and activist iO Tillett Wright and Crimetown Producer Austin Mitchell unravel a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we tell ourselves just to survive." Country of Dust (Julian's pick) - "This podcast from a multinational team of producers tells the stories of a changing Armenia. A lot has been happening here: revolution, war, immigration, a shifting economy and so much more. We capture what life is like here right now and explore the odd, inspiring and sometimes perplexing ways in which this country keeps going, despite the odds." For more visit: cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

As a foreign correspondent, David Common's reporting has taken him to more than 80 countries, including warzones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. But these days he's staying a bit closer to home. David has recently taken over hosting duties on CBC Radio's morning show in Toronto, Metro Morning. He's also the co-host of the consumer watchdog show, Marketplace, on CBC Television. And Marketplace now has its very own podcast. David will tell us about how his first week at Metro Morning, and what it was like turning a TV show into a podcast. Plus, he'll share some of the podcasts in his rotation. Featuring: CBC Marketplace, The Secret Life of Canada, Wind of Change, Yo Is This Racist?, War On The Rocks For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

It's our annual Halloween Spooktacular episode! We’ll hear a fabulously frightening selection of stories today. We’ve got tales about toys that go bump in the night, a haunted pair of pants, an interview with a legendary horror movie director, and more. Like this story from Tristan Redman: He doesn’t believe in ghosts, but Tristan remembers weird things happening in his teenage bedroom. Later, he learned the people who lived there after him were visited by the ghost. That’s not all. It turns out that Tristan’s childhood home is right next door to the house where his wife’s great grandmother was murdered. Could she be the one who haunted his childhood dreams? That scare and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: I Talk To Ghosts, Spooked, Ghost Story, Weird Distractions, Unspookable, American Hysteria For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week, we’re going straight to the source and asking three podcasters to sell us on their shows. First, Mark Chavez gives us the pitch for Let’s Make A Horror. Can three comedians write — and make — a decent horror movie? Next, Amy Westervelt tells us about the latest season of Drilled. It’s a true crime podcast about the climate crisis, and in their latest season they’re looking at the worldwide crackdown on climate protest. Then, Jo Firestone tells us about Murder on Sex Island, a podcast about an undercover detective who has to solve a murder on the set of a trashy reality TV show. Those interviews, plus excerpts from the podcasts, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Let's Make A Horror, Drilled, Murder On Sex Island For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

In 2011, the Arab Spring was sending shock waves across the world. Amid the many activists demanding change, one Syrian blogger wrote about her life as a lesbian, in a country where homosexuality is illegal. Her blog, Gay Girl in Damascus, drew countless readers inspired by her search for freedom. But, the blog wasn't all that it seemed. The new podcast Gay Girl Gone reveals the startling truth. Host and producer Samira Mohyeddin joins Leah to discuss the series. Plus, we'll share more of our favourite pods released this month. Featuring: Gay Girl Gone - "Journalist Samira Mohyeddin investigates what actually happened to the infamous Gay Girl in Damascus. The result is a twisted yarn that spans the globe and challenges our thinking on love, politics and identity in cyberspace. What happened to Amina and uncovers a dangerous world of secret police, forbidden love, and deception on the world wide web." Serial: The Kids of Rutherford County - "A four-part series about a Tennessee county that was arresting and illegally jailing children for over a decade." The Closer: Deals Change the World - "We take you inside the final days of Toys R Us with Lauren Hirsch, the reporter who first revealed the iconic company's impending bankruptcy, and explain what drove the company out of business." A Race Around the World - "On November 14th, 1889, Nellie Bly left Manhattan to go on a race around the world in under 80 days. In this episode, host Adrien Behn will delve into the background of this extraordinary woman. She will explore Nellie Bly's upbringing and aspirations, the obstacles she somersaulted over to become a female investigative journalist, her groundbreaking reporting, and what drove her to embark on a journey that defied the norms of her time." Bloodlines - "Syria. 2018. ISIS is on the brink of defeat. Two-year-old Salmaan disappears amid the bombardment. In London, his grandfather desperately searches for answers." What new releases are you enjoying? Email our team at [email protected]. Or find us at cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week we're joined by Willa Paskin, the creator and host of Decoder Ring. It's a show that takes the questions on culture you never knew you had, and always finds the answer. Leah and Willa talk about solving cultural mysteries, that time Peter Falk quelled a Romanian uprising, and Willa's favourite podcasts. Featuring: Decoder Ring, The Turning: Room of Mirrors, Appearances, Hi-Phi Nation, Terrestrials For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week our guest is Jane Marie, creator and host of The Dream. Can a life coach really solve your problems, or is it all just a big hustle? That’s the question at the heart of Season 3 of the Dream. Leah and Jane will sit down to talk about the show, plus, we’ll listen to some of her favourite podcasts. Like the story of three friends who took what was supposed to be a 45-minute pleasure cruise, and wound up trapped on a deserted island…all within sight of the Empire State Building. Featuring: The Dream, This American Life, My Year In Mensa, Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we’re celebrating indie creators. We’ll meet one woman who turned to the great outdoors to help cure her depression. We’ll follow her from the desert of Utah to the mountains of Colorado to find peace. Plus, can we fall in love with the sound of someone’s voice? We’ll hear from a podcast matchmaker that only lets couples talk through voice memos. That and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Out There, It's Nice To Hear You, Shannon Cason's Homemade Stories, F---ing Sober: The First 90 Days, This Isn't Therapy, Matriarch Movement For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Our team listened to so many great podcasts this year (a podcasting app told producer Julian Uzielli he listened to 175 different shows and 466 episodes...with a total listening time of 10 days 1 hour. Totally normal, right?). So this week we've rounded up our absolute faves to share with you. From executive producer Cesil Fernandes we have Ghost Story, a podcast that seamlessly integrates family lore with investigative journalism. It's incredibly engaging (and a little spooky, if we're being honest). Then associate producer Kelsey Cueva explains why she loved The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks. It's a deep dive from Dylan Marron on why Jar Jar was so maligned, while also exploring the early days of internet backlash. Listen to the episode to hear our thoughts on why we chose the shows we did, and to listen to some sample clips. Ghost Story: "Their team did a real investigation into the history of the house and the families involved. They sift through documents from the time and really do a thorough — and entertaining — job to recreate the world this murder took place in." – Cesil Fernandes, Executive Producer The Retrievals: "What makes the story compelling is the women who shared their stories. They showed strength and courage to revisit their experiences so that we could hear and learn from their stories." – Kate Evans, Senior Producer Bloodlines: "I learned so much listening to this series and about the thousands of children like Salmaan — [children] with roots in Canada, the U.K., the U.S. and beyond — many of whom are still trapped in camps in the Syrian desert and without a way back home." – Leah Simone Bowen, Host The Redemption of Jar Jar Binks: "The show looks at themes like racism and representation in media, and internet culture. Particularly, dogpiling online and its real life effects on people...I really appreciate the care and nuance [Dylan Marron] brings to his shows." – Kelsey Cueva, Associate Producer If Books Could Kill: "The hosts have great chemistry. It's really funny and intelligent, and it's easy to dip in and out of. Every episode is self-contained." – Julian Uzielli, Producer For more, visit cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week on Podcast Playlist, we're revisiting one of our favourite episodes from this past year. We love to tell our kids to follow their dreams. But what do we say to them when that doesn't work out? The hosts of Dear Old Dads wrestle with how to encourage our kids to shoot for the moon, without making them feel like failures when real life butts in. Then: You know what we don't hear enough about? What pregnancy and childbirth actually do to the human body. We'll meet someone trying to change that on Embodied. Plus: how do you raise confident kids in the age of diet culture? We'll hear a conversation about weight and parenting on What Fresh Hell: Laughing In The Face of Motherhood. All that and more on the show this week. Featuring: Death, Sex & Money | Dear Old Dads | Embodied | Mom and Dad are Fighting | Unlocking Bryson's Brain | What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood

This week we're sharing one of our favourites from the archives: An episode full of stories sure to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside this holiday season. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is a holiday staple for many. But when you think about the legacy of Dickens’ it is a bit surprising that we associate him so closely with the holidays. For much of Charles Dickens' writing career, he wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. On The Allusionist, host Helen Zaltzman asks the question: how did Charles Dickens name become a synonym for “rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty, merry, "God bless us every one" Christmas?” Then: there are a lot of weird jobs out there. Dog food taster. Snake milker. But what about the guy who writes the lyrics to the songs your kids’ toys sing? We hear from the premiere “toy songwriter” on how he comes up with ear worms for kids. Those festive stories and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Every Little Thing, The Allusionist, The Secret Life of Canada, The Moth. For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week we're sharing one of our favourite episodes from May 2023. Gavin Crawford used to talk about his mom a lot. But since she began to lose her memory, he found it harder to tell the old funny stories. But that's changing with his podcast Let's Not Be Kidding. Leah sits down with Gavin to talk about his mom's dementia, and how sometimes, even Alzheimer's can make you laugh.

 Plus, Alaska's Iditarod sled dog race is one of the toughest sporting events in the world. In 2011, for the first time, a pair of New Zealanders crossed the finish line. They made history, but they left behind a trail of broken promises, burned bridges and unpaid debts. We'll hear their story on Outside/In.

 Then we head back to 1968. It was an eventful year, when new ideas were clashing with old traditions. In Toronto, the spirit of the times was brought to life with the opening of an experimental housing project called Rochdale College. Part apartment building, part hippie commune, and part school, Rochdale was a hub for Canada's counterculture movement. The podcast Darts & Letters told the story of the building in an episode called "The Hippie High-Rise."
 Those stories, and more, this week. Featuring: Let's Not Be Kidding, Outside/In, Darts & Letters, PlayMe For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we're joined by James Kim. You may know him as the creator behind MOONFACE – a heartfelt fictional series about a Korean American son who wants to come out to his mom, but can't because they don't speak the same language. The show was named a Best of 2019 podcast by various outlets. His latest series, You Feeling This? is billed as a podcast mixtape about love. It's an anthology that centres stories about life and love in Los Angeles, pulling sonic inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and the independent creators who helped to shape this show. This week, James joins Leah to discuss what goes into making a fictional podcast, and share why indie podcasters inspire him. Plus we'll listen to a few of his favourite shows that explore love, friendship and nostalgia. Featuring: You Feeling This?, Paper Radio, The Truth, UnReality - Projected Reality: The Sound Collector, Threedom. For links and more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week Leah sits down with Bobby Finger and Lindsey Weber, the co-hosts of the popular pop culture podcast Who? Weekly. It’s a show that, as they put it, tells you everything you need to know about the celebrities you don’t. They chat about modern celebrity culture, rank semi-obscure Canadian stars, and listen to some of their favourite podcasts. Featuring: Who? Weekly, Celebrity Book Club With Steven & Lily, The Secret History Of The Estonia, Pop Pantheon, This Had Oscar Buzz For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we're sharing new and notable podcasts for January, along with some interviews from the podcast world. First: In 2016, Soleiman Faqiri was killed by guards at an Ontario jail. An inquest last month determined his death was a homicide, but the podcast Unascertained reached that conclusion more than two years ago. Leah sits down with host Yusuf Zine to talk about the case. Then: Weight For It is a show that unpacks the nuanced thoughts of fat folks, and of anyone who worries about their weight. Host Ronald Young Jr. joins Leah to talk about body image and how we can challenge weight bias. Plus: Boston's "Big Dig" was the most expensive highway project ever built in America. Construction lasted nearly two decades and the project ended up going billions of dollars over budget. But was it worth the outcome? Host Ian Coss of The Big Dig weighs in, and shares what this project can teach us about how to build better cities.

When former ABC News anchor Dan Harris had a panic attack on live TV, he knew he needed a change. He took up meditation, and wrote a book called Ten Percent Happier. Ten years later, that book is an international bestseller, and has morphed into a popular meditation app and a podcast of the same name. This week on Podcast Playlist, Dan Harris joins Leah to talk about meditation and listen to his favourite shows. Rick Rubin is a legendary music producer, but did you know he’s also a lifelong meditator? We’ll hear some of his interview on Dan’s podcast Ten Percent Happier. Plus, for many of us, Netflix is still the default streaming platform. But how does that affect the wider TV industry? That conversation on The Watch. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Ten Percent Happier, Pivot, The Watch For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we’re sharing some of the best new and notable podcasts. Charlie Chaplin is one of the most important people in the history of cinema. But he wasn’t universally admired in his heyday, and he had some powerful enemies, including J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. Hoover became obsessed with Chaplin, and was certain he was a communist. We’ll hear the story of how he drove Chaplin out of the country on a new podcast hosted by Chaplin’s granddaughter, Hollywood Exiles. Plus, if it feels like the country is going a little nuts, it’s not just you. According to a recent poll, as many as one in four Canadians believe in online conspiracy theories. On the new season of Screen Time, we’ll hear how and why that’s happening, and what we can do about it. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Hollywood Exiles, Screen Time, In Her Defence, Canadaland: The Newfoundlander, Murder in Boston, Sports Explains the World For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

*This episode was first broadcast June 2023 This week on Podcast Playlist: Gossip. Whether you’ve been a part of spreading it or have been at the centre of it, we’ve all had experience with gossip in one form or another. Some may argue that dishing the dirt can ruin lives, but it also has a unique ability to bring people together. The podcast Normal Gossip has shot to fame within the past year all thanks to the unifying power of gossip. On the show, host Kelsey McKinney shares listener-submitted gossip from the lives of everyday people. From weird neighbours, to sorority wedding drama, to secret workplace romances, each story is equally trivial, hilarious and unbelievable. Kelsey joins Leah to talk about why we love to gossip and looks at how it can actually keep us safe. Then, she’ll share her favourite podcasts. We dive into scammers, Taylor Swift, Bachelor Nation, and more! Featuring: Normal Gossip, ICYMI, Articles of Interest, Scam Goddess, Who Weekly, Love to See It For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week, Leah sat down with the hosts of three history podcasts to learn about their shows. Martine Powers from The Washington Post's The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop, Tim Harford from Pushkin's Cautionary Tales and Ramtin Arablouei from NPR's Throughline.First, Martine Powers tells us about The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop. In 1979, there was a revolution on the Caribbean island of Grenada. The new prime minister was a young, charismatic, socialist named Maurice Bishop. Bishop introduced a wave of social reforms, like free public healthcare and paid maternity leave. Though he was a popular leader at home, U.S president Ronald Reagan was not a fan. Less than five years after he took power, Bishop was executed in a coup. Days later, the U.S. invaded Grenada. In the chaos that followed, the bodies of Bishop and his supporters disappeared, never to be seen again. The Washington Post set out to solve the mystery. What happened to the bodies of Bishop and his supporters?Then Tim Hartford tells us how voice actors and sound design bring history to life on Cautionary Tales. He also shares a clip from an episode where a competition goes terribly awry.Finally, Ramtin Arablouei tells Leah about how Throughline has evolved over the years. From documentary style episodes about reality TV to an episode about music that was designed to fall asleep to. Throughline is just scratching the surface of what it aims to achieve. Featured podcasts: The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop, Cautionary Tales and Throughline.

This week, we’re listening to one, two, three, four, five, six different podcasts all about numbers.In the 80s, your favourite celebrities were just one dial away. And about $3 per minute, of course. But what’s a couple extra bucks on the phone bill, if it means chatting with your favourite superstars, psychics, or potential spouses? Twenty Thousand Hertz tells us about the booming, controversial business of 1-900 numbers. Plus, long-haul truckers spend hours alone on the road. But how do thousands of miles of isolation change a person? And how is that experience unique for truck-drivers who are women?On NPR’s Rough Translation, we hear the stories of how years on the road changed two truckers’ perspective on life.That and more, this week on Podcast Playlist.Featuring: Twenty Thousand Hertz, Rough Translation, Planet Money, Snap Judgement, The Moth Radio Hour, OlogiesFor links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

When you think of Canadian cultural exports, you probably don’t think of porn. But Montreal is home to a little website you may have heard of: Pornhub. On The Pornhub Empire: Understood, we’ll hear the little-known story of the company’s history. Plus, Leah sits down with host Samantha Cole to learn more. And: Telling personal stories in the form of podcasts can move us, create empathy, and drive positive change...right? Jess Shane isn't so sure. Listen to Leah's conversation with Jess about her new series Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Shocking, Heartbreaking, Transformative | Sounds Gay | The Pornhub Empire: Understood | Ripple For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

One early morning in December 2010, Tony Carleo rolled up to the Bellagio Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Dressed in a full motorcycle jumpsuit, gloves and helmet, he took out a pistol and robbed $1.5 million worth of casino chips. But that wasn’t all. Soon after he returned, and he used the very money he stole to check into the hotel and live like a king – for free.We’ll hear that story, plus other tales about scammers and thieves, this week on Podcast Playlist.Featuring: The High Roller Heist, Hot White Heist, Code Switch, Chameleon: Scam Likely, Life Kit For links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, we’re featuring podcasts about rock and roll. Sister Rosetta Tharpe is often called “The Godmother of Rock and Roll” and inspired artists like Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Aretha Franklin… Yet she’s been largely left out of the history books. The podcast They Did That tells her story.Plus, churches are often the venue for a unique but hugely influential subset of rock music: Christian rock. PRX’s Rock That Doesn’t Roll explores how contemporary Christian music shaped the youths of Church kids everywhere– in sometimes unexpected ways.Featuring: Decoder Ring, The Moth, Rock That Doesn't Roll, They Did That, Switched On Pop, DisgracelandFor links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we're listening to stories about late bloomers. The first time Jean Westcott auditioned for Jeopardy, she had to wait 18 months to see if she made it. She never got the call. But instead of giving up, she auditioned again… and again… and again… for 20 years. We’ll hear her story.Plus, what does it take to swim from Cuba to Key West? We’ll hear from record-breaking swimmer Diana Nyad on completing that swim at 64 years old.All that and more this week. Featuring: Snap Judgement, This Is Love, Death, Sex & Money, 70 Over 70, Grown from The MothFor more info head to our website, cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

You might have heard of a popular conspiracy theory about one of Canada's most famous rock stars. Avril Lavigne died in 2003, and her record label secretly replaced her with a body double who has been living as an impostor ever since. Could it be true? Probably not, but comedian Joanne McNally helps us find out on the new podcast Who Replaced Avril Lavigne. Plus, a lot of people think history is boring. Depending on how you were taught, that's pretty understandable. Simply memorizing a bunch of dates or names can make history feel about as dead as that fourth prime minister (whose name you've already forgotten).To Simone Polanen, the opposite is true– history is all around us, woven into the fabric of everyday life. Simone joins us to talk about her podcasts Past Perfect, a history trivia show, and Not Past It, a story-driven show about the links between the past and the present.All that and more of this month's top picks, this week on Podcast Playlist.FEATURING: Who Replaced Avril Lavigne? // City Space // Past Perfect // The Ultimate Choice // The Recipe with Kenji and Deb For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

To make this show, our team listens through hours upon hours of audio. But sometimes, a few excellent shows will slip through the cracks.This week, Leah is joined by the Podcast Playlist crew to share some amazing podcasts that you may have missed.Like Once upon a time...at Bennington College. Our senior producer Kate Evans likes it because listening feels like, "a summer page turner, but for a podcast." The show shares the history of the unique Liberal arts college where authors Brett Easton Ellis, Jonathan Lethem and Donna Tartt all went to school together. Plus, producer Julian Uzielli shares a heartfelt podcast about a group of Armenian soliders who survived months of being trapped behind enemy lines.That and more, this week on Podcast Playlist.Featuring: Once Upon A Time...At Bennington College, Freeway Phantom, The Ballad of Billy Balls, Country Of DustFor more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, we’re listening to true crime. During the Johnny Depp-Amber Heard trial, there was a huge amount of online hate directed towards Amber. But what if that was all part of an organized campaign? We’ll find out on Who Trolled Amber. Plus, even if you’ve never heard of Peter Ivers, you’ve probably heard some of his music without realizing it. He was murdered in 1983, and the case was never solved. Now, a new podcast called Peter And The Acid King is trying to get to the bottom of it. It’s hosted by Penelope Spheeris, a friend of Peter’s and the director of Wayne’s World. Leah will sit down with Penelope to talk about the show, and Peter’s legacy. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Peter And The Acid King, Stolen, White Lies, Who Trolled Amber, Ghost In The MachineFor links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Whether it's in your high school English class or one of the many Shakespeare-inspired 90s rom-coms (10 Things I Hate About You, anybody?), most of us have encountered Shakespeare in some form or another. Another place you can find the Bard? California's Centinela State Prison. The podcast Where There's a Will: Finding Shakespeare tells us about how performing Shakespeare can be transformative for incarcerated individuals.Also: in 1986, NASA's space shuttle Challenger exploded, killing all of its seven crew members. Among them was Christa McAuliffe, a social studies teacher who would have been the first private citizen in space. Christa was one of 10 finalists from Ronald Reagan's "Teacher in Space" project. Chosen from more than 10,000 teacher applicants, the finalists participated in weeks of rigorous testing and training. NASA called it "space camp," but the process was far from fun and games. In Slate's One Year: 1986, we hear about that intense experience from the former candidates themselves.All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist.Featuring: If Books Could Kill, Where There's A Will: Finding Shakespeare, One Year: 1986, Missing and Murdered: Who Killed Alberta Williams, Future PerfectFor links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, Leah is joined by Josh Gwynn, host of the new CBC podcast Split Screen: Kid Nation. The podcast revisits the 2007 reality TV show Kid Nation, where 40 children were left in the desert to fend for themselves for more than a month. Through interviews with former contestants, producers and parents, Josh tries to piece together how this show actually got made, and what impact it had on those kids now that they’re all grown up. We’ll hear from Josh about that show’s legacy. Plus, we’ll listen to some of his favourite podcasts. Featuring: Split Screen: Kid Nation, Today Explained, The Stoop, Classy, Scam Goddess For links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist. Have a podcast to recommend? Send us an email!

In the early days of the war on terror, the US captured thousands of alleged “enemy combatants” overseas, but they needed somewhere to hold and interrogate them… without worrying about those pesky Geneva Conventions. Guantánamo Bay was the perfect solution. But not long after it opened, the truth of its makeshift justice system started coming to light. The new season of Serial offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the island prison. Today, Leah sits down with co-hosts Sarah Koenig and Dana Chivvis to hear the story behind their reporting. Plus, you know the song "Tainted Love" by Soft Cell? Well, did you know it was actually an obscure soul song written in the 1960s? We'll hear that story from Lost Notes, plus Leah talks to co-hosts Novena Carmel and Michael Barnes about the show. All that and more this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Serial, Lost Notes, Broomgate, White Devil For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week, we’re asking three podcasters to pitch their show to listeners, and we’ll hear a sample of each one.  We’re starting with George The Poet. His show is called Have You Heard George’s Podcast? It’s won tons of awards, including a Peabody—and if you haven’t heard it, we promise you’ve never heard another show like it. Then, Leah sits down with Arshy Mann, host of COMMONS, to talk about why the new season of his show is all about work — the jobs we do, the conditions we work in, and why things feel like they’ve gotten so much harder for working people. Plus, actor and comedian Allan McLeod will tell us about his new show, Walkin’ About. It’s a loving and funny tribute to the simple act of walking, the places it can take us, and the people we do it with. For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist: Yo, Is This Racist has hilariously tackled questions about racism since 2011. Creator and host Andrew Ti tells us about the show’s evolution and shares his podcast picks.Plus, every summer, the best and brightest teen girls in the US compete in the lucrative “Distinguished Young Women” competition. We get a direct look into the competition with podcaster and former competitor, Shima Oliaee. Featuring: The Competition, Forever Is A Long Time, Yo Is This Racist?, Past My BedtimeFor links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

The Moth is one of the oldest shows in podcasting. In fact, it pre-dates the medium by several years, having begun in the founder’s living room in 1997. Today, The Moth is an internationally touring live storytelling production and a popular podcast and radio show. This week Leah sits down with The Moth’s senior director Meg Bowles to talk about The Moth’s new book, "A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go," and about 27 years of helping everyday people bring their stories to life. Plus, we’ll have more storytelling podcasts. Like Mortified, where we’ll hear host David Nadelberg read an extremely cringey love letter he wrote as a teenager in front of a live audience.  All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: The Moth, Grown, Mortified, Normal Gossip Check out our episode with Kelsey McKinney from Normal Gossip For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week, we're sharing new and notable podcasts from June.First, Todd Matthews was one of the first internet sleuths. He made it his life's mission to give unidentified bodies back their names, and helped create two databases as part of that goal.For years, Todd was haunted by a cold case about two missing boys. One day, one of those boys called him. The new podcast Hello, John Doe has that story. We hear from producer Kate Mishkin about working with Todd, making the show, and how an unexpected tragedy changed its meaning. Plus, these days, it feels like online ads know exactly what we want—new shoes, the latest tech, a nine-acre island off the coast of Nicaragua…Or at least, that was the case for Jayne Gaskin. She was surfing the web one day when she saw a shockingly affordable island for sale. The price was just too good to pass up, so Jayne abandoned a quaint life in the English countryside and moved there with her entire family. While Jayne initially thought that her dreams had come true, not everything was as it seemed. The podcast The Price of Paradise explores the violent consequences of Jayne's decision. Featured in this episode: Hello John Doe, The Price Of Paradise, Who Killed The Video Star: The Story of MTV, Go Touch Grass, MortifiedFor links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week we're sharing one of our favourite episodes from this season.Life coaches sell promises of prosperity, health and happiness. But do coaches actually help you achieve your goals? That's the question at the heart of Season 3 of The Dream.Having tackled pyramid schemes and the world of wellness, coaching seemed like an obvious topic to explore next. Host and creator Jane Marie says that in many ways coaching combines tactics used to sell products in both the multi-level-marketing and wellness industries.This week, Leah and Jane sit down to talk about the show and Jane's upcoming book Selling the Dream: The Billion Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans. Plus, we'll listen to some of Jane's favourite podcasts. FEATURING: The Dream, This American Life, My Year In Mensa, Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel For links and more info, head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week on Podcast Playlist, we're celebrating Pride month. In the proverbial starter pack of anti-gay slogans, there's one that has stayed consistent over the years: "It's just not natural!" The only problem with that...is according to science, same-sex relationships are extremely natural, occurring in all kinds of different animal species.We'll learn more about that from A Field Guide To Gay Animals. And we'll meet one very special gay animal: a Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan, who's believed to be the oldest living animal in the world. Plus, on the queer music podcast Sounds Gay, we'll dive into the mosh pit at a trans punk rock show, and hear how music is connecting trans folks across generational lines. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: A Field Guide To Gay Animals, The Secret Life of Canada, Sounds Gay, Blindspot: The Plague in the Shadows, Handsome, Gender Reveal For links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week we're sharing a repeat of one of our favourite episodes from October. As a foreign correspondent, David Common's reporting has taken him to more than 80 countries, including warzones in Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. But these days he's staying a bit closer to home. David has recently taken over hosting duties on CBC Radio's morning show in Toronto, Metro Morning. He's also the co-host of the consumer watchdog show, Marketplace, on CBC Television.Marketplace now has its very own podcast. This week on the show, David will tell us what it was like turning a TV show into a podcast, plus he'll share some of the podcasts in his rotation.Like the show Wind of Change: The song "Wind of Change" by The Scorpions was a massive hit at the end of the Cold War. But was it really written by the CIA? We'll hear about the surprising links between the agency and pop culture.All that and more on this week's episode. Featuring: Marketplace, The Secret Life of Canada, Wind of Change, War on the Rocks, Yo Is This Racist? For links and more info head to cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

After almost 400 episodes, six hosts and many (many) hours of podcast listening, Podcast Playlist's run is coming to an end. For our final episode we wanted to share one final podcast playlist with you. A playlist to answer the question we are most frequently asked: what is your favourite podcast episode of all time?Today our producers join Leah in studio to share memories and clips from our favourite pods. Featured shows: The Truth, Mystery Show, The Moth and The Nod.Have some parting words? Email us at [email protected]. Or find us on Facebook and cbc.ca/podcastplaylist. For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, and subscribe for free in Apple Podcasts.

As a musician himself, Hrishikesh Hirway knows how much thought goes into a song. So, he created Song Exploder, the series where all kinds of musicians – from big names like Madonna to lesser known indie acts – take listeners through the making of their greatest hits, piece by piece. This week, Hrishikesh joins Podcast Playlist host Leah-Simone Bowen as guest curator. He's sharing what he's learned from the performers he's hosted on his show, and what's gained from looking beyond a song's hype or genre. Then, he'll take us through his favourite podcasts: the comedy talk show he listens to when he's hitting the gym, fictional stories that will crack you up and a series where interesting people read poetry. All that, and more, on this week's episode of Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Song Exploder: "Monica Martin is a singer and songwriter based in Los Angeles. Before that, she was based in Madison, Wisconsin, where she was part of the indie rock band Phox. She's been a featured guest vocalist on songs by James Blake and Vulfpeck. In this episode, Monica breaks down her song "Go Easy, Kid," along with the tracks's producer, Khushi. It's a pretty meta story, as she talks about making a song that's in part about how hard it can be to make a song. And more generally, how hard it can be to let go of things we get hung up on." Everything is Alive: "Atsuko is a set of bagpipes, and she's looking for some peace and quiet." Hello from the Magic Tavern: "The premise of the show is that the host, Arnie Niekamp, fell through a dimensional portal behind a Burger King, into the fantastical land of Foon. In this episode, a lovely fox gives Chunt a mysterious box with a voice inside." How Did This Get Made?: "Dom's never before mentioned brother, the return of Han, a car in space, and magnets. The HDTGM/Fast family is reunited as Adam Scott joins Paul, June, and Jason to discuss the ninth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise F9. So you know what that means…" Interesting People Reading Poetry: "In this episode, Grian Chatten reads "The Windhover" by Gerard Manley Hopkins. Chatten is the frontman of the Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C., recently described by NME as "the new heroes of the rock resurrection." The members of the group met while attending music college in Dublin and initially bonded over a shared love for Irish literature. Their second album, A Hero's Death, has been nominated for a 2021 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album."

On Mother's Day in 1985, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighbourhood. Residents of Osage Avenue were instructed to leave their homes and stay away for the next 24 hours. Authorities were there to bring an end to a years-old conflict with a family of Black activists known as MOVE. There were 13 people in the Africa home that morning, including six children. By the end of the day, most of them were dead. CBC's new podcast The Africas VS. America tells the remarkable, and long forgotten, story of a national war waged on one family. Reporter, producer and host, Matt Amha joins Leah-Simone Bowen this week to talk about the making of the seven-part series, and the story's relevance today. We've also rounded up more novel picks to pique your interest this February. From the wellness influencer who became a leading source of COVID-19 misinformation, to an inside look at the gangs that exploit people to sell drugs around the UK. Plus, a conversation with the host of Not Lost Chat, Brendan Francis Newnam about the show's second season, and sitting down with fellow travelers to talk about their experiences abroad. Featuring: The Africas VS. America: "In the early hours of May 13, 1985, police direct residents of Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia to leave their homes, and not return for 24 hours. It's Mother's Day, and authorities have come to resolve a years-long conflict with a family of local revolutionaries — the Africas, collectively known as MOVE. There are 13 people in the Africa home that morning. Six of them are children. By the end of the day, most will be dead, and a neighbourhood will lie in ruins." Plus, an interview with host and producer Matthew Amha. Imperfect Paradise: "Guru Jagat starts the pandemic with an understandable skepticism of official medical advice, but quickly grows to embrace an array of far-right conspiracy theories." Lights Out: "Four people recount their involvement with 'county lines' – gangs that exploit children and vulnerable adults to sell drugs around the UK. Underneath their stories lies a series of unspoken, unanswered questions. Who gets to decide the boundary between criminal and victim? Why do we view 'county lines' through the lens of crime and punishment? And how well does the system support individuals and families devastated by the impact of 'county lines'?" Not Lost Chat: "New York Magazine described "Not Lost" as having the "slight energy of Andrew Sean Greer's Less" so Brendan calls the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the comic, road trip novels "Less" and "Less is Lost" to find out if they should be offended." Plus, an interview with host and OG podcaster Brendan Francis Newnam.

Here's a question you probably don't get asked very often: How would you describe your social class? Working class…middle class…upper class — or maybe something else? If thinking about this question makes you feel kind of uncomfortable, well, that's pretty normal. Especially if you're in a different class now than the one you grew up in. Jonathan Menjivar grew up working class, but now that he's an adult, that label doesn't really apply anymore. He likes eating oysters and wearing cashmere. He owns a house. And he feels kind of guilty about it. Jonathan took his mixed feelings and turned them into a podcast about all the ways class shows up in our daily lives. It's called Classy. Then, the story of the composer Raymond Scott. Raymond journeyed on a lifelong quest to build an automatic songwriting machine. The podcast The Last Archive explores where the songwriting machine fits in our present AI-addled, ChatGPT world. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Classy with Jonathan Menjivar - "Jonathan has some hangups about class. In the first episode of this series, he takes us from a nightclub outside LA to the halls of a fancy Manhattan prep school, and asks sociologist Rachel Sherman 'are rich people bad?'" The Banned Teacher - "He says it was consensual sex. She says it was rape. He was her music teacher. She was a teen. And it wasn't just once, with one girl. He had sex with students in closets, classrooms, and cars. The Banned Teacher begins with one victim's search for justice but turns into a full investigation by host Julie Ireton." The Last Archive - "The story of the composer Raymond Scott's lifelong quest to build an automatic songwriting machine, and what it means for our own AI-addled, ChatGPT world." The Headwaters - "Before our insatiable addiction to the almighty car, getting around B.C.'s Columbia River Basin was a much different affair. We were transported on trains and paddle-wheelers, a mode of travel that was often an adventure in itself." Without - "People love coffee, but climate change is fundamentally altering where and how coffee is grown. Because of the damage being done to the planet, coffee is in trouble. And so are the farmers who grow it."

Shan Boodram describes herself as the "Walmart greeter" of sex and relationships. If you have a question or concern, she can point you in the right direction. Her advice, teachings, and personality have made her a viral internet sensation. She wears so many hats: YouTuber, bestselling author, scholar, consultant, wife, mother. Now she's added "podcaster" to that list with her new Stitcher show Lovers and Friends. Who better to stop by our show just in time for Valentines' Day? Shan tells us about life as an internet personality, new motherhood, and how she makes sex ed fun and approachable for her audience. And we thought we'd take advantage of her sexpertise, if you will, to get some expert sex and dating advice. We asked you, our listeners, to submit your questions — and Shan has some really thoughtful answers. Of course, you'll also hear some of Shan's favourite podcasts. The episodes she chose offer even more good advice: on setting up boundaries, dealing with rejection, and working through resentment in a relationship. Featuring: Lovers and Friends with Shan Boodram: "It's storytime! Shan takes you down memory lane in order to answer the question she is asked most often throughout her career: When and how did you decide that you were going to be a sex expert? In this special edition episode and for the first time ever on the Podcast, Shan brings in the woman who witnessed it all. None other than Olivia Boodram, aka Mom." Enjoy the Podcast: "This podcast is all about the male perspective. Dealing with relationships to vulnerability, here you will hear everything he hasn't told you." Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel: "This time there is no couch, but instead an unexpected phone call from Esther to a woman who is struggling with the differences between her and her partner's upbringing. He grew up in a comfortable suburb, she grew up having less, much less. She loves her boyfriend but wants to get past the resentment she feels towards the opportunities he's had. Esther helps her think through how these differences might also play into new strengths between them." Podcast exclusive: Almost 30: "In this episode, Nedra Tawwab lays the groundwork for implementing and integrating boundaries for yourself and your community."

This week we're revisiting one of our favourite episodes from January. A pop culture podcaster, a poet and a Tony award-winning journalist sit down for a chat. No, this isn’t the lead up to a joke, it’s the premise of the podcast Vibe Check. The weekly news and culture series is hosted by Sam Sanders, Said Jones and Zach Stafford as they make sense of what’s making headlines. Sanders is the former host of NPR's It's Been a Minute and the host of Vulture’s Into It, Jones is the author of the award-winning memoir How We Fight For Our Lives, and Stafford is not only a journalist but he picked up a Tony Award in 2022 for co-producing the play, A Strange Loop. Every episode captures the energy and spirit of a group chat: It’s a lively conversation among friends (who’ve done their research) as they go deep on the issues of the day and figure out in real time how they feel, what they understand and what questions remain. The trio sits down with Leah this week to share how they made sure they got the right vibe with the show. They also share their favourite podcasts – from a documentary storytelling podcast that dives deep into family history to a pop culture show that breaks down method acting. FEATURING: Vibe Check || Decoder Ring || Death, Sex & Money || Family Ghosts For links and more info on all the podcasts on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Daryl Allen had always wanted to be a playwright. But that dream was cut short when he lost his life to AIDS in 1991. Before he died, he left bundles of love letters and scripts with an ex-boyfriend. Twenty-five years later, Daryl's writings found their way to Dane Stewart. This inspired him to make the new podcast Resurrection. Dane has spent the past five years uncovering who Daryl was through the writing he left behind. Part investigation, part historical documentary, and part love story, the podcast is a tribute not only to Daryl but the generation of gay men who were lost to the AIDS epidemic. Then: hockey. It's Canada's favourite winter sport. But right now, it's going through a reckoning. Allegations of racism, corruption, sexual misconduct and so much more are rocking the billion dollar industry behind it. The latest season of COMMONS from Canadaland digs into the dark side of Canada's beloved sport. Plus, what is Parliament Hill like as a workplace? Former MP Lisa Raitt shares the pressures of working in Parliament and how it affected her career, sanity and marriage. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Resurrection, Scamanda, COMMONS: Hockey, Flipping The Bird, Humans of the House, The War on Cars For links and more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we’re listening to stories about personal finance. First up, Leah sits down with Maya Lau to talk about her new podcast Other People’s Pockets. It’s a show where she interviews people from all walks of life about how much money they have in the bank, and all the other financial questions you were taught not to ask. Plus, how much money do you really need to have kids? Carrie and Natalia both want a baby, but they can’t agree on whether they’re financially ready. On the podcast This Is Uncomfortable, we’ll listen in on their conversation with a financial therapist. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: Other People's Pockets, This Is Uncomfortable, Teach Me How To Adult, Planet Money, Half Banked For links and more info on all the podcasts featured on this week's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist we're joined by James Kim. You may know him as the creator behind MOONFACE – a heartfelt fictional series about a Korean American son who wants to come out to his mom, but can't because they don't speak the same language. The show was named a Best of 2019 podcast by various outlets. His latest series You Feeling This? is billed as a podcast mixtape about love. It's an anthology that centres stories about life and love in Los Angeles, pulling sonic inspiration from artists like Kendrick Lamar and the independent creators who helped to shape this show. This week, James joins Leah to discuss what goes into making a fictional podcast, and share why indie podcasters inspire him. Plus we'll listen to a few of his favourite shows that explore love, friendship and nostalgia. Featuring: You Feeling This?, Paper Radio, The Truth, UnReality - Projected Reality: The Sound Collector, Threedom. For links and more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week, we're sharing a live recording from the Hot Docs Podcast Festival. "Hear broadcast legend Anna Maria Tremonti (Welcome to Paradise) and comedian Gavin Crawford (Let's Not Be Kidding) offer vivid accounts of the closely held secrets they struggled for years to share. Hear acclaimed playwright and Buffy host Falen Johnson (The Secret Life of Canada) and journalist Matthew Amha (The Africas vs. America) uncover hidden histories, and discuss what happens when community stories hit close to home. Inspired by some of the country's most lauded and popular podcasts, reinterpreted live for the Hot Docs Cinema stage, this will be a night of surprising and candid stories from Canada's most gifted audio storytellers."

The podcast Normal Gossip has shot to fame within the past year all thanks to the unifying power of gossip. On the pod, host Kelsey McKinney shares listener-submitted gossip from the lives of everyday people. From weird neighbours, to sorority wedding drama, to secret workplace romances, each story is equally trivial, hilarious and unbelievable. Kelsey joins Leah to talk about why we love to gossip and looks at how it can actually keep us safe. Then, she'll share her favourite podcasts. We dive into scammers, Taylor Swift, Bachelor Nation, and more! Featuring: Normal Gossip, ICYMI, Articles of Interest, Scam Goddess For links and more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

When we had Kelsey McKinney on the show, she had so many great podcast picks that we couldn't fit them all in one radio-length episode. But this is a podcast, baby! Here are a couple extra picks from Leah and Kelsey's conversation. Featuring: Who? Weekly, Love to See It For more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, we’re sharing stories about parenting. We love to tell our kids to follow their dreams. But what do we say to them when that doesn’t work out? The hosts of Dear Old Dads wrestle with how to encourage our kids to shoot for the moon, without making them feel like failures when real life butts in. Then: You know what we don’t hear enough about? What pregnancy and childbirth actually do to the human body. We’ll meet someone trying to change that on Embodied. Plus: how do you raise confident kids in the age of diet culture? We’ll hear a conversation about weight and parenting on What Fresh Hell: Laughing In The Face of Motherhood. Featuring: Death, Sex and Money, Dear Old Dads, Embodied, Unlocking Bryson's Brain, and What Fresh Hell: Laughing in the Face of Motherhood.

This week, we're listening to the best new summer releases – starting with a riveting investigative podcast from the UK. The Lazarus Heist podcast charts the cybercrime exploits of an elite team of hackers allegedly connected to North Korea – a charge the secretive state denies. Season one told the story of the group's malware attack on Sony Pictures, among others, and the recently released season two picks up on what the hackers did next. And this time, there's a Canadian connection – a dark web fraudster called Big Boss is one of the North Korean hackers' international accomplices, who helped to carry out so-called jackpotting heists – whereby the hackers took control of ATM machines located across 28 countries, and stole some $14 million dollars in just a couple of hours. Plus, can psychedelics help to heal racial trauma? Truth Be Told is an award-winning podcast that explores Black liberation. The show is back for a fifth season. This time around, host Tonya Mosley looks at "the psychedelic renaissance in Black America." When paired with therapy, it's believed psychedelics can help to heal racial trauma, whether it's diagnosed PTSD or the kind of trauma that comes from being Black in a racist world. But a history of racism in healthcare along with the war on drugs has made it difficult for people of colour to explore psychedelic-led therapies. All that and more on this week's show. Featuring: The Lazarus Heist - Where do you hide 14 million dollars? The Lazarus Heist charts the cybercrime exploits of an elite team of hackers. They're allegedly connected to North Korea, though the country denies it. Truth Be Told - Truth Be Told is an award-winning podcast that explores Black liberation. The show is back for a fifth season. This time around, host Tonya Mosley looks at "the psychedelic renaissance in Black America." Bodies - This series is known for compassionately delving into medical mysteries, with an intersectional focus on the bodies of women and marginalized genders. This episode explores the impact of human touch. Hear a young girl explain what touch meant to her while visiting her incarcerated father. Grown from PRX and The Moth - Grown is all about the challenges and joys of growing up. It features a collection of stories that look at the time between the awkward teenage years to almost-adulthood. WILD - WILD is a podcast about, "how we overcome difficult moments that shape us forever." The latest season tells a true-ish story about the craziest thing one man ever did for love. Expectant - Expectant blends fiction and nonfiction, following a woman trying to decide if she wants to have a child during the climate crisis. It's intimate and confessional, sonically experimental, and features real interviews with a range of climate scientists, parents, happily childfree people and mental health experts.

This week on Podcast Playlist: The best podcasts of 2023, so far. When Kim Barker was in high school, there was a murder in her town that was never solved. Nearly 40 years later, she travels back to her hometown to look for answers in The Coldest Case in Laramie. Then, did you know that in Japan there are companies that can legally help you disappear? They’re called "yonige," or night movers. We’ll hear more about them on The Evaporated: Gone With The Gods. Plus, buying knockoffs isn’t tacky anymore…at least according to Tik Tok. We’ll get a primer on dupe culture on Vibe Check. All that and more, this week on Podcast Playlist. Featuring: The Coldest Case In Laramie, The Evaporated: Gone With The Gods, The Turning: Room of Mirrors, Vibe Check, Let's Not Be Kidding For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week we're sharing one of our favourite episodes from April 2022. The podcast For Colored Nerds is a pop culture conversation that dives a little deeper. It's hosted by best friends and culture critics Brittany Luse and Eric Eddings. Each week they dive into what's going on in the zeitgeist, and peel back the layers of Black culture that are rarely discussed in mixed company. From Janet Jackson's new documentary, to the Sex in the City reboot, to impostor syndrome, to what everyone is talking about on TikTok — These are just a few of the subjects they've unpacked since rebooting their show back in November 2021. Brittany and Eric join us on this episode to talk about rebooting For Colored Nerds and their journey through the podcast industry. Plus, we'll listen to a few of their favourite podcasts. Featuring: For Colored Nerds, Revisionist History, Celebrity Memoir Book Club, Trapital, Food Heaven For links and more info on all the podcasts on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Every weeknight for more than 50 years, CBC Radio's As It Happens has been heard in kitchens, cars and living rooms across Canada. The show takes listeners on a round-the-world tour covering the events of the day, as told by the people who were there. In 1975, host Barbara Frum interviewed Sandra Good, a member of the Manson Family.  In another episode, the show mediated a hostage negotiation live on the air with both the hostage taker and the police on the line. (You can hear those interviews at http://cbc.ca/1.6839858). From the serious to the tragic to the absurd, each show brings something new. This week we're joined by Nil Köksal and Chris Howden, the hosts of As It Happens, to listen to their favourite podcasts. It turns out the podcasts they listen to are just are varied as the program they host.  Featuring: As It Happens, If Books Could Kill, Smartless, The Beef and Dairy Network Podcast, How To Fail With Elizabeth Day For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Every week, we get submissions from listeners around the world, recommending their favourite podcasts. So this week we dove in to your picks, and what we found were some truly incredible stories. Featuring: Out Alive, Criminal, Road X, The Salmon People, Weird Distractions, Dan Snow's History Hit, That Neuroscience Guy. For links and more info on these shows, go to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Gavin Crawford used to talk about his mom a lot. But since she began to lose her memory, he found it harder to tell the old funny stories. But that’s changing with his new podcast Let’s Not Be Kidding. This week, Leah sits down with Gavin to talk about his mom’s dementia, and how sometimes, even Alzheimer’s can make you laugh. Plus, Alaska’s Iditarod sled dog race is one of the toughest sporting events in the world. In 2011, for the first time, a pair of New Zealanders crossed the finish line. They made history, but they left behind a trail of broken promises, burnt bridges and unpaid debts. We’ll hear their story on Outside/In. Featuring: Let's Not Be Kidding, Outside/In, Darts & Letters, PlayMe. For links and more info on everything on today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

With so many platforms it can be hard to keep track of the latest pop culture trends. So this week we're sharing pods to keep you current by rounding up the best in pop culture. First, we'll meet MC Sha-Rock. You may not know her name, but she's an integral part of hip-hop history. Her group the Funky 4 + 1 More was one of the first rap groups to ever perform on national TV. But shortly after, her career hit the glass ceiling. Louder Than A Riot explores how Sha-Rock's legacy got buried in the hip-hop archive. Then we look at the origins of another hip hop icon Drake. But we're not talking about his mixtape. We're talking about his performance on Degrassi: The Next Generation:The podcast Back Issue asks "Do you remember the teen show that made you fall in love with teen shows?" From there we change lanes from hip hop to 90s pop. In a clip from Switched on Pop, we'll hear from Seal himself on how his timeless hit "Kiss from a Rose" became a surprising, but enduring classic. Yes, the Batman Forever soundtrack was an integral part of the song's legacy (thank you, Joel Schumacher). Plus: we look into the rise of TV rewatch podcasts. Why are they so popular and why does every celeb seem to have one? Featuring: Switched On Pop: "Kiss From a Rose" is one of the most unusual number one hits of all time. Seal's song can't decide if it's in minor or major, it uses an old-fashioned waltz rhythm, and its lush orchestration and elaborate vocal harmonies support mysterious lyrics about a "greying tower alone on the sea." Seal himself wasn't sure about the song, and needed some convincing to include the composition on his 1994 album SEAL II." Louder Than a Riot: "In 1981, MC Sha-Rock and her group, the Funky 4 + 1, were invited to perform on Saturday Night Live. It was one of the first nationally televised rap performances ever, expanding the reach of the nascent genre to mainstream audiences who might never have heard or seen it before. It was almost certainly the first time many viewers had seen a woman rapping. But little did SNL's audience know that Sha-Rock was hiding something — for the sake of the group's continued success, and for her own survival." Frontburner: "As a kid in the Winnipeg suburb of Transcona, Tyson Smith was obsessed with hockey and the Winnipeg Jets. He dreamed of being a professional goaltender. Decades later, Smith – now known as "Kenny Omega" – has made his way to the Jets' home arena for a different reason: he's performing as a professional wrestler. Omega joined Front Burner host Jayme Poisson to discuss the culture of wrestling in Winnipeg, his path to fame in Japan, his push to expand inclusivity and storytelling in the sport, and swirling rumours about what he'll do next." Back Issue: Josh Gwynn is joined by Amil Niazi to revisit Degrassi: The Next Generation. Does the show stand up? Or did it age about as well the the cottage cheese you forgot in the back of the fridge? 2 Black Girls, 1 Rose: Time for a reality TV deep dive. If you watched season 3 of Love is Blind, then you may have had a lot of questions for Zanab Jaffrey. Co-hosts and real-life BFFs Justine Kay and Natasha Scott-Reichel did too. Here they dig deep on "the cuties debacle," Zanab's experience as a woman of colour dating a white man on TV, their epic wedding breakup, and more! For more podcast recommendations visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastplaylist To share your fave podcast email us: [email protected]

Building better mental health is something we could all stand to work on. The good news? You're definitely not alone. This week we're unpacking mental health with podcasts that uplift, investigate and validate. We all know the grief that comes from losing someone you love, but have you ever experienced climate grief? It's the feeling of hopelessness as the climate crisis continues to worsen. But for one Canadian musician, out of those feelings of fear, sadness and angst came artistic inspiration. We'll hear the conversation with folk band The Weather Station in a clip from Reseed. Plus, treatment for mental health has experienced a lot of innovation in the last century. That evolution continues as the Toronto facility "Remedy" researches the use of MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We'll share why the early results have researchers and patients so excited. The themes in this episode may be triggering for some listeners. If you or someone you know is in crisis, help is available. In Canada, you can call the Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566. In the US, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741-741. Featuring: Terrible, Thanks for Asking: Grief comes with so much judgment. Everybody is sure that there's a right way to do it, and only for a certain length of time. If our grief doesn't neatly fit into a category, we worry that it's illegitimate. Erin knows this judgment very well. She's a widow … or is she? Reseed: Music can help us make sense of, and deeply feel, our climate grief. Tamara Lindeman's acclaimed album Ignorance about climate grief struck a chord with citizens and critics. Performing as The Weather Station, Lindeman's 2021 poetic, thoughtful, and highly danceable album was named album of the year by The New Yorker and Uncut. Tamara joins Alice Irene Whittaker, the host of Reseed, for a conversation that starts with climate grief before spanning to art, selfhood, rootlessness, connection, and the heartbreaking beauty of birds. WTF Marc Maron: Zazie Beetz and Marc were in three things together - Joker, the Netflix series Easy, and the new animated film The Bad Guys - but they're only now meeting each other for real. That makes for a good opportunity to interrogate their respective anxiety issues and compare their coping strategies. Zazie and Marc also talk about her German heritage, why she's not an LA person, and how she sees her work on Atlanta as being part of an overall reflection of Donald Glover's real life story. Depresh Mode: We're seeing the effects of prolonged work-from-home jobs and from employers who are doing little or nothing to address burnout. We're seeing a blurring of lines between job and life, an old work system we're never going back to, and people who just can't take it anymore. They're quitting their jobs, often with no new job to go to, because they are flat out done. Depresh Mode host John Moe speaks with Jennifer Moss, a burnout expert who fought burnout herself when writing her book, The Burnout Epidemic: The Rise of Chronic Stress and How We Can Fix It. Mental Health Comedy Podcast: Comedian Dave Holmes talks honestly about being diagnosed and learning to deal with ADHD. As a kid growing up in the 70's and 80's, he'd get messages from teachers about not living up to his potential. The overall solution was "don't be like that." And the road from that place to where he is now, has many steps. Now it's prioritizing self care, nutrition, exercise, sleep etc. And that there are days when it is difficult to focus, and on those days there are other creative ways to deal. And not every day is a great day. Sickboy: Dr. Anne Wagner is a clinical psychologist and treatment development researcher in Toronto, Canada. For more, visit: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastplaylist

The podcast Unladylike explores how being a woman impacts every aspect of lived experience – from career, to choosing birth control, to medical care, to which beauty standards to buy into. This week, Unladylike creator and host Cristen Conger opens up. She shares how she accidentally found herself in podcasting, how she approaches intersectionality, and how the frustration of having to continually fight for her idea (and some fan encouragement) drove her to create Unladylike. Cristen also takes us through what she's listening to – from the TikTok lifestyle trends that are setting feminism back, to the internet feud over fibre, to the awful discourse incorrectly linking the violent attack on Salman Rushdie with cancel culture. We've got your soundtrack for staying curious, building empathy, and raising hell. Featuring: Unladylike, Fed Up, Shameless Acquisition Target, ICYMI, Cancel Me Daddy For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week, an episode from the archives (which originally aired in January of 2022). Self-help doesn't need to be self-critical. Need help sticking to your New Year’s resolutions? Or have you ditched them altogether? (We support you either way.) Whatever your strategy, this time of year many of us are thinking about self-improvement. We’ve curated some of our favourite self-help and lifestyle podcasts to help guide you through whatever changes you want to make—without beating yourself up! Featuring: TED Radio Hour, Maintenance Phase, Life Kit, Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, Adult ISH

Snow and Christmas lights, busy malls, gifts to be wrapped, and Mariah Carey on repeat. It's that time again. The last stretch before Christmas can get really busy, but when the work is done, there's nothing better than cosying up at home with some excellent podcasts. We've got an assortment of seasonal selections to make you think, help you bask in nostalgia and learn something delightful. Santa's elves work hard building toys to bring joy to children's hearts … but have you ever thought about the person who writes the lyrics to the songs those toys sing? Every Little Thing introduces us to the number one "toy songwriter" on his tricks for coming up with earworms for kids. Plus, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a holiday staple – it's sparked retellings by the likes of Mickey Mouse, the Muppets, and even The Simpsons. But when you think about Dickens, and the rest of his body of work, focused on the plight of people living in poverty and exploited by the industrial revolution, it's a bit surprising he's come to be so closely associated with Christmas. The Allusionist host Helen Zaltzman unpacks how it happened. Warm up a cup of cocoa, get your slippers on and find a cosy place near some twinkling lights and enjoy these festive listens! Featuring: Every Little Thing: Listener Megan asks guest host Ian Chillag about who writes the weird lyrics for her son's talking toys. Premiere toy song writer Jay Elkinton tells us all about how he writes super short earworms for kids. The Allusionist: "Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty merry 'God bless us every one' Christmas?" Secret Life of Canada: "When candy maker A.J. Russell created a recipe for puffed wheat bars in 1913, it became a popular dessert. But only in one half of the country." The Moth: "Mark Redmond works with a homeless shelter in Vermont."

This week’s guest curators have never met a self-help method they wouldn’t try. In their podcast, By The Book, Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg have made a name for themselves living by the rules of a different self-help book. Now, for their new series, they’re getting even more personal. For Romance Road Test, every week for 15 weeks, Kristen and Jolenta each tried out a new strategy for revitalizing their relationships with their partners — with their tape recorders running. This week, they share what they learned with Leah. We’re also benefiting from their listening experiences as they share some of their favourite podcasts. From an inside look at some of the ethical challenges posed by assisted reproductive technology (ART), to the dynamics at-play behind social media hate for Meghan Markle, to the series that dives deep into all things reality TV … and more! Featuring: Romance Road Test, Biohacked: Family Secrets, Why Won't You Date Me?, Cancelled, and Reality Life with Kate Casey Fore links and more info on these podcasts, go to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist... Dylan Marron is an internet sensation. He's racked up millions of views and social media followers from his progressive-leaning viral videos. Unfortunately, with internet fame also comes internet hate. Over the years, Dylan has received many negative comments online. But instead of shying away, he decided to reach out to these people to chat. After recording phone conversations with his own detractors, one thing led to another and Conversations with People Who Hate Me was born. On his podcast, Dylan will either speak directly with people who have sent him hate mail, or he'll mediate conversations between others who have clashed in the comment section. The ultimate goal is to get to know the other person behind the screen. After a two year hiatus, Conversations with People Who Hate Me is back with a new season. Dylan has also released a new book by the same title, with takeaways on how to have your own difficult conversations. This week, Dylan joins us to share what he’s learned throughout this social experiment. Plus, we’ll listen to some of his favourite podcasts. Featuring: Conversations With People Who Hate Me: "A young trans man and his mother speak about her struggle to accept his gender identity." Song Exploder: "Carly Rae Jepsen released her third album, Emotion, in 2015. The closing track on the record is When I Needed You. In this episode, Carly tells the story of how the song was made. You'll hear the first demo for the song, a version she co-wrote with her longtime collaborator Tavish Crowe. And you'll hear how that led to the album version." Dead Eyes: "Actor/comedian Connor Ratliff embarks upon a quest to solve a very stupid mystery that has haunted him for two decades: why Tom Hanks fired him from a small role in the 2001 HBO mini-series, Band Of Brothers. In this episode, Connor talks to Lead Writer and Supervising Producer Erik Jendresen, and learns the truth about Episode 5 "Crossroads" and Private John S. Zielinski." Love Thy Neighbour: "It's August 2020 in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Crown Heights. Collier Meyerson is at a retirement party for an NYPD officer. Listening to speeches, chatting with guests, watching politicians hobnob with religious leaders, everything seems…all good. But as Meyerson steps back onto the streets of the neighborhood, just weeks after thousands mobilized to protest that Black lives matter, she's reminded of what happened here almost thirty years before. And she can't help but wonder how we got here." Terrible, Thanks for Asking: "Our language surrounding mental illness has evolved a lot over the past couple of decades … to a point. There are still some mental illnesses that exist outside of the bounds of most people's understanding and compassion, that are not so easily accepted and are really scary to people who don't have them. Illnesses that make the person seem "crazy," where people might not want to associate themselves with you. Today's guest -- Brettina -- has one of those." Podcast exclusive – Dylan shares what he loves about Unread: One evening in December of 2019, Chris Stedman opened an email no one ever wants to receive. It contained a suicide note from his good friend Alex. At the bottom of his message, Alex included a link to a private SoundCloud account and wrote "here's Alice recordings." Alex has mentioned Alice before. They met online in a Britney Spears fan forum and have been friends for years. Interestingly, Alice is famous herself among the Britney fan circle because she happens to sound like Britney herself. In Unread, Chris tries to uncover who Alice really is, and get in touch in the hopes that she can answer some of the questions that Alex couldn't. For more recommendations head to: www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastplaylist To send us a podcast you love, email us! [email protected]

If you could hang out with some of the smartest people in the world, what would you ask them? That’s the premise of the podcast Ologies. It’s hosted by science lover, Alie Ward. On her show, she chats with experts of all kinds about their specialties – from flesh-eating plants, to Dark Matter, to the study of raccoons. You may have seen Alie on TV. She's a Daytime Emmy Award-winning science correspondent for her work on The Henry Ford's: Innovation Nation with Mo Rocca on CBS. She also hosts Did I Mention Invention? on the CW and 100 Humans on Netflix. This week she joins us to share what makes her brain light up, and how to keep curiosity alive in your own life. Plus, she shares a few of her favourite educational podcasts. We'll learn about different parts of the brain, how dinosaurs are related to birds, plus, the wonders of the pecan tree. Podcasts featured this week: Ologies, Hidden Brain, Invisibilia, Completely Arbortrary, Talk Nerdy For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week on Podcast Playlist, we’re talking about the latest in true crime podcasting. Hannah Ajala is the host of the new podcast from CBC and the BBC World Service – Love, Janessa. In the podcast, we learn about a person called Janessa Brazil, whose image has been used in countless catfishing schemes across the world. Hannah joins Leah Simone-Bowen to discuss catfishing during the pandemic and how online dating has affected relationships. Plus, new seasons of True Crime Byline, and a new CBC Podcast that looks at the Barry and Honey Sherman murders. Podcasts featured this week: Love, Janessa, True Crime Byline, Bone Valley, The No-Good, Terribly Kind, Wonderful Lives and Tragic Deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman, Scamfluencers. For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

It's tempting to blame misinformation on social media, but it turns out fake news has been around for longer than you'd think. From Slate, the history podcast One Year recaps the moments that transformed politics, culture, science and religion in one year from American history. In the fourth, and latest, season the series covers 1942, a year when inflation threatened to sink America, a worker revolt changed music forever and disinformation was rampant. And, whether or not you enjoy it, working from home does have its benefits. We'll listen in on an episode from advice show Work Appropriate that tackles the great remote work debate. We'll showcase those stories and several more this week and make sure your 2023 begins with the very best podcasting has to offer. Podcasts featured this week: One Year: 1942: "Every season of One Year tells the story of one year in history, and this season is focused on 1942. In this episode, host Josh Levin tells the story of the propaganda war that played out on radio waves during the Second World War." Work Appropriate: "Author Anne Helen Petersen invites guest experts in the world of work to answer listener questions and give advice about navigating modern working life. In this clip, Anne and her guest Jessica Grose unpack the tension around returning to the office post-lockdown, and why it's particularly hard on working parents." The Prince: "In this series from The Economist, host Sue-Lin Wong takes listeners through the life of Chinese president Xi Jinping, from the son of a political outcast to the most powerful man in the world." Pop Chat: "How come horror movies never seem to win any Oscars? Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, only six have even been nominated for best picture." If Books Could Kill: "Each week on If Books Could Kill, hosts Michael Hobbes and Peter Shamshiri break down "the airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds." In their first episode they take aim at the 2005 book Freakonomics." Pale Blue Pod: "Pale Blue Pod is an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend. Astrophysicist Dr. Moiya McTier and comedian/science educator Corinne Caputo demystify space one topic at a time with open eyes, open arms, and open mouths (from so much laughing and jaw-dropping). By the end of each episode, the cosmos will feel a little less "ahhh, too scary!" and a lot more "ohhh, so cool!" New episodes every Monday."

Have you ever wondered what’s behind certain items of clothing? Common styles, like kids clothes, plaid and even Hawaiian shirts are garments we see all the time, but often we don’t even begin to think about where they came from. Well, host of the show Articles of Interest Avery Trufelman is interested in exactly that. In the podcast, Avery dissects the hidden histories of the clothes we take for granted – and in the latest season she explores the rise of “preppy” clothing. She joins Leah-Simone Bowen to share her career in podcasting, her beginnings as part of the hit show 99% Invisible, her views of podcasting as an art form and why “mainstream” culture is actually surprisingly counter-cultural. Plus, we’ll hear some of her favourite podcasts, and she shares her love of late designer Vivianne Westwood. Podcasts featured this week: Articles of Interest, Millennial History, 99% Invisible, Natch Beaut, Imaginary Advice For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

The Podcast Playlist team has done a lot of listening over the past year. So today, the whole team joins Leah to give our picks for the best podcasts of 2022. Featuring: Media Circus with Kim Goldman, The Loudest Girl In The World, Best Laid Plans, Kuper Island, True Crime Byline For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

With summer around the corner, you can’t help but feel a little bit of wanderlust. So whether you’re looking for inspiration for your next vacation, or simply looking for an escape, the stories in this episode will transport you to some exciting places. We’ll head to Cape Town to learn how to freedive, meet a woman who traveled by Vespa from Southeast Asia to Europe, and much more. Featured podcasts: This Is Love, Invisibilia, Nothing Is Foreign, Far Flung, Alpaca My Bags, Not Lost. For links and more info on all the podcasts on today's show, visit us at http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, stories about cons artists and sordid scams. First, we'll meet Dr. Ronald Dante. To clarify, he’s not an actual doctor. He was a talented hypnotist during the 1980s and 1990s. With that power, he hypnotized women out of their money. We'll hear how he swindled a Hollywood starlet out of her fortune. Then, Sam Bankman-Fried was a young billionaire who became the trusted face of crypto. He was one to watch thanks to his trading platform FTX. He won over celebrities, politicians, and Silicon Valley. But in an instant, his empire came crashing down ... The Naked Emperor, a new four-part series from CBC News' Front Burner and CBC Podcasts, tells that story. Plus: When Kitty started using dating apps, she found herself talking to so many scammers. Instead of ignoring them, she decided to scam them back. Podcasts featured this week: Chameleon: Dr. Dante, The Naked Emperor, Deep Cover Season 3: Never Seen Again, Vigilante, How To Be Fine, Twin Flames For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

On the water, international boundaries – and legal jurisdictions – are murky. And, when journalist Ian Urbina was handed video evidence of murder at sea, he learned that pirates are making the most of that lawlessness and wreaking terror. This week we’re highlighting engrossing stories about crime. How an investigation into sexual assault allegations against director Bryan Singer was botched by editors at Esquire magazine, a look at the victims of a WWII serial killer, and a conversation with a former true crime fanatic who says surviving an attack changed her mind about the genre. This episode will make your heart pound and give you something to think about. Featuring: Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper | The Outlaw Ocean | Killed | On The Media For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

A pop culture podcaster, a poet and a Tony award-winning journalist sit down for a chat. No, this isn’t the lead up to a joke, it’s the premise of the podcast Vibe Check. The weekly news and culture series is hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford as they make sense of what’s making headlines. Sanders is the host of Vulture’s Into It and the former host of NPR's It's Been a Minute, Jones is the author of the award-winning memoir How We Fight For Our Lives, and Stafford is not only a journalist but he picked up a Tony Award in 2022 for co-producing the musical, A Strange Loop. Every episode captures the energy and spirit of a group chat: It’s a lively conversation among friends (who’ve done their research) as they go deep on the issues of the day and figure out in real time how they feel, what they understand and what questions remain. The trio sits down with host Leah-Simone Bowen this week to share how they made sure they got the right vibe with the show. They also share their favourite podcasts – from a documentary storytelling podcast that dives deep into family history to a pop culture show that breaks down method acting. Podcasts featured this week: Vibe Check, Decoder Ring, Death, Sex & Money, Family Ghosts For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Jordan Heath-Rawlings has been a stalwart of Canadian Media for years. But, with his daily news podcast The Big Story, Jordan has given Canadians the news that matters to them with striking authenticity. He joins us to tell us some of his favourite podcasts, why not focusing on the biggest daily stories is an advantage and how he likes to ask the questions the audiences want answers to. We’ll hear a wide variety of podcasts – including a story about the rivalry between Sony and Nintendo in the 90s, as well as the controversies that surrounded the 2000 U.S. Presidential election. Plus, Jordan tells us about his thinking behind his hit podcast The Gravy Train – about the rise of Mayor Rob Ford – and he’ll tell us why we need to be truly fearful of Canadian geese. Podcasts featured this week: The Big Story, Fireside Canada, Business Wars, Fiasco For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Have you ever wondered how your favourite song was made? Well, there’s a good chance that it’s been covered on the podcast Song Exploder. From Madonna, to The Roots, to Yo-Yo Ma, musicians take apart their songs piece by piece and tell the story of how they were made. Song Exploder is hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway. In addition to being a musician himself, he's also a celebrated podcaster, having co-hosted award-winning shows like Home Cooking and the rewatch podcast The West Wing Weekly. This week he joins Leah to talk about the unifying power of music, and share a few podcasts that bring him joy. We'll hear profound thoughts from inanimate objects, the adventures of a wizard and a talking badger, an analysis of the Fast & Furious movies, and close with a heartfelt poetry reading. Podcasts featured this week: Song Exploder, Everything is Alive, Hello From the Magic Tavern, How Did This Get Made?, Interesting People Reading Poetry For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Have you missed visiting The Vinyl Cafe? The show felt like home to so many Canadians. Jess Milton, long term producer of that show and one of Stuart McLean’s best friends, opens up about her new podcast Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. She talks about why she wanted to return to that place, her nervousness at being a host and what it is that brings us together all over this disparate country. We also speak to Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley from the hit true crime podcast Morbid about their latest grisly show Frozen Head. They tell us about why true crime skews towards female audiences and why some people choose cryogenics to cheat death. Plus, we’ll hear the latest season of The Heart and about a groundbreaking podcast from Amnesty International. Podcasts featured this week: Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, Rights Back At You, The Heart, Frozen Head For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Splashed on magazine covers, all over Instagram feeds, and getting clicks on TMZ, celebrity gossip is a steady presence. But fame and fortune have their downsides, and from the experiences of stars from Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, it's clear there's a dark side to the gossip mill. So, what if there was an ethical way to satisfy our curiosity about the lifestyles of the rich and famous? Comedians Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker created a podcast to do just that. In Celebrity Memoir Book Club, the co-hosts recount the juicy details as recorded by stars themselves. From Victoria Beckham to Mariah Carey, the duo reads the memoirs, recounts the highlights and recommends which ones are worth a look. This week, Leah chats with Ashley and Claire about their favourite memoirs, getting on TikTok during the pandemic, and finds out what podcasts they can't get enough of. If you're craving a pop culture deep dive, this episode is made for you! Featuring: Celebrity Memoir Book Club, Beyond The Blinds, My Therapist Ghosted Me, Sentimental Garbage, Dunzo! For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

In 1985, police dropped a bomb in a Philadelphia neighbourhood. A family of radicals known as "MOVE" found themselves in the middle of a war on Black Liberation. Though the story is both tragic and remarkable, for many, it is also long forgotten. Matthew Amha is the host of CBC’s new podcast The Africas VS. America, and joins Leah to discuss how this terrifying event happened and the long afterlife it left behind. Plus, veteran radio and podcast host Brendan Francis Newnam joins Leah to discuss the new season of travel show Not Lost, and give listeners a few tips on how to talk to strangers. And, we’ll hear some exciting new podcasts – from conspiracy theorist yoga influencers, to heartbreaking stories of drug smuggling in the UK. Podcasts featured this week: The Africas VS. America, Imperfect Paradise, Lights Out, Not Lost. For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Adam Conover has made his career in comedy. Now, on his podcast Factually, he interviews some of the world’s most brilliant minds. Every week, the show features a different expert – from scientists to authors to philosophers and journalists – and invites them to dive deep on fascinating topics. This week, Adam joins Leah-Simone Bowen to share how the show came about, what it was like to work with Barack Obama, and his tip for conversing with intimidatingly well-read folks and asking them ignorant questions (spoiler alert: you’ve got to embrace the ignorance). He’s also sharing his favourite podcasts. We’ll hear the story of how his friend was once fired from an acting gig by Tom Hanks for having “dead eyes,” and a snippet from the scripted comedy podcast about Edith Wilson, who secretly ran the U.S. after the First World War, while her husband Woodrow was sick. Featuring: Factually! With Adam Conover, Dead Eyes, Edith!, The Cooligans For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, we listen to podcasts about love. Delia Ephron has worked on some of the most famous romantic comedies of all time. Along with her sister Nora Ephron, they've made Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail. In You've Got Mail, two people fall in love over email. In a twist of fate, decades after writing that screenplay, Delia's love life played out in a very similar way. She tells her story on the podcast This is Love. Then, Aziz knows what he’s looking for in a partner. In fact, he’s made a list. But the podcast This Is Dating challenges him to see if looking beyond the list could open up new possibilities. Plus, the team behind CBC Podcasts' Let’s Make A Sci-Fi is out with a new season. Their next project: Let’s Make a Rom-Com. Podcasts featured this week: This is Love, Let's Make a Rom-Com, Radiotopia Presents: Bot Love, This Is Dating, Life Kit, The Mortified Podcast. For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Sweet Bobby host Alexi Mostrous is back with a new podcast about a satanic panic in the UK. This week, he sits down with host Leah-Simone Bowen to talk about the hoax and how its repercussions are still being felt eight years later. Plus, we’ve got more noteworthy series: from a deep dive into the fashion trend that never goes out of style, to why more fire can help save California’s sequoias, to the new CBC podcast that uncovers how a labour dispute at a northern mine turned deadly. Featuring: Hoaxed | Articles of Interest | Giant: Murder Underground | The Big Burn | Run, Hide, Repeat For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Every winter, Chuck and his family rented a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina's Valle Crucis. One year, he and his uncle drove to town – a trip they'd made countless times before – only this time, they were stalked by an unwanted presence. Out of the darkness, all they could discern were the red eyes chasing them down, so they fled for their lives. As the years passed, Chuck is haunted by what he saw that night ... the demon dog. Spooky season is upon us and, this week, we've got frightful (in a good way) podcasts to get you in the mood for All Hallows' Eve. We'll also learn how "Halloween" got its name, beginning with the ancient Celts who recognized the day as a spiritual celebration to placate vengeful fairies. You might want to turn on a light – maybe a jack-o'-lantern – before you listen to this one: things are about to get scary.

This week we're pulling an episode to lift your spirits from the archives. This episode was originally released in June of 2021. Looking for a new podcast that's not dark true crime or troubling news? Back in March of 2021 we brought you a playlist full of uplifting stories — and there were plenty more good vibes where that came from. This episode we're bringing them back! Enjoy a cast of characters who will make you smile: a worm who becomes human, a mischievous AI at summer camp, and a poet learning to turn poems into food. If you listen until the end you will be showered with compliments. Guaranteed! Featuring: Paired: "Guided meditations and musings from your digital assistant." Personal Best: "Fan is a poet and writer of love letters. He basks in fantasy, but he's never been able to muster any passion for cooking." The Story Seeds Podcast: "On this week's episode, 12 year old Brooklynite, Irthan joins forces with the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jason Reynolds, to grow his story seed about an earthworm that turns into a human every 28 days, on the night of a full moon. Join Irthan and Jason as they meet up at the Youth Wing of the central branch of Brooklyn Public Library where they get to know each other and plant the seeds for their collaboration which explores music, social justice, and being seen. Then, sit back and listen to the lyrical and timely short story, 'Hoo and Wut,' that Jason grew out of Irthan's idea." The Science of Happiness: "There are millions of YouTube channels with people crinkling bubble wrap or whispering about folding laundry. Our guest talks about why autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) makes her, and many others, feel more calm and happy." Sit There & Do Nothing: "Take a deep breath while Meg showers you with compliments in this incredibly relaxing episode of Sit There & Do Nothing."

This week on Podcast Playlist, we listen to the latest and greatest in new podcasts. Lauren Ober has worked in podcasting for 20 years, making award-winning shows about other people’s stories. But her latest series is all about a breakthrough moment in her own life: In her 40s, Lauren learned that she is autistic. Her show The Loudest Girl in the World explores what this new revelation has meant to her. She’ll join us to talk about the show. Plus, Frank Dumis was nervous when he signed up for his 4th grade spelling bee, but he won. And after that, he just kept on winning. This is Love has his story. That and much more on the show this week! Featuring: The Loudest Girl In The World, Terrestrials, This Is Love, Pop Chat, Africville Forever For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.