The Decibel

Emily Donahue, helpline lead at the National Eating Disorder Information Centre, notes rising calls tied to GLP-1 talk. Tigress Osborne, NAFA executive director, critiques systemic anti-fat discrimination. Zoë Bisbing, psychotherapist and Body Positive Home founder, explores how body-positivity meets GLP-1 culture. Maiyhet Burton, designer and GLP-1 user, shares personal health and body-image changes. They discuss stigma, activism, marketing and mental-health impacts.

Joseph De Koninck, psychology professor and sleep researcher at the University of Ottawa, studies circadian rhythms and daylight saving harms. He talks about how clock shifts desynchronize our biology and why spring’s one-hour loss is especially disruptive. He explains who is most vulnerable, the role of morning light in timing sleep, and practical tips to cope with the time change.

Tim Kiladze, Financial reporter and columnist for The Globe, recounts his on-the-ground reporting from Alabama. He unpacks why Alabama’s GDP per capita overtook Canada. He highlights Huntsville’s tech boom, tax and permitting strategies that sped projects, and limits of GDP as a measure when health, education and inequality are at play.

Steven Chase, senior parliamentary reporter at The Globe and Mail, joins Mark Carney in India and files on-the-ground analysis. He outlines why India matters economically. He describes the $2.6B Cameco uranium deal and new university and commercial partnerships. He walks through the tensions over alleged interference and explains Carney's pragmatic justification for resetting ties.

Eric Reguly, European bureau chief at The Globe and Mail and energy commentator, breaks down how the Strait of Hormuz and rising insurance costs are constricting oil and LNG flows. He walks through why LNG is far more vulnerable than oil, who might fill supply gaps, naval responses to blocked shipping, and the wider geopolitical ripple effects of restricted Gulf exports.

Thomas Juneau, a University of Ottawa professor and Iran expert, breaks down the crisis. He explains why this is existential for Iran. He maps the military campaign and leadership decapitation strategy. He outlines succession mechanics, likely Iranian retaliation targets, and the regional ripple effects. Short, clear, and focused analysis on what comes next.

Kelly Grant, a Globe health reporter who covers drug coverage and clinical access, and Chris Hannay, a Globe business-of-health reporter who explains pharma economics and patents. They discuss why semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) exploded in use. They cover generics arriving in Canada, expected price drops, how coverage differs across public and private plans, and how virtual pharmacies screen for prescriptions.

Taylor Owen, McGill associate professor and director of the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, discusses AI safety and regulation. He explores company responsibilities for flagging violent or concerning chatbot interactions. He unpacks legal gaps, privacy trade-offs, cross-border enforcement challenges, and outlines models for a Canadian digital safety regulator.

Jason Kirby, a Globe and Mail economics reporter who tracks tariffs and trade policy, joins to unpack recent U.S. tariff rulings. He discusses the Supreme Court decision, which Canadian exports were hit hardest, and which sectors gained or lost over the past year. The conversation covers legal limits on tariffs and what types of new trade actions might be coming next.

David Agren, a freelance journalist who has covered Mexico since 2005, provides context on cartels and security. He discusses the nationwide violence after El Mencho's death. He explains why tourist areas often remain intact. He traces cartel origins, the effects of killing bosses, and how U.S. demand and pressure shape Mexican policy.