Ideas

Mike McTavish, a conservation scientist who studies woodland soils, and Joshua Steckley, a political ecologist and author of The Nightcrawlers, dig into surprising worm stories. They trace worm introductions with colonization, explain how worms help some farming practices but harm northern forests, and unpack when worms signal healthy soil or signal deeper change.

In this thought-provoking discussion, Alex Neve, a seasoned human rights lawyer and advocate, challenges Canada's self-image as a human rights leader. He explores the urgent human costs of conflicts like Gaza and the systemic failures that undermine universal rights. Neve emphasizes the necessity to confront colonial legacies and Indigenous injustices, while advocating for a renewed agenda focused on universality and justice. He highlights the impact of global policy shifts on Canada and calls for proactive measures to champion rights and protect defenders for a more equitable future.

Azmat Khan, investigative journalist and Columbia journalism professor, and Yuki Tanaka, historian at the Hiroshima Peace Institute, unpack a century of aerial violence. They trace colonial and strategic bombing, wartime doctrines, modern surveillance and AI-assisted targeting. Short scenes explore investigations, misidentified strikes, and why mass bombing remains a persistent military tactic.

Karen Howe, investigative journalist and author of Empire of AI, exposes how Big AI concentrates power and harms labor, data, environment and democracy. She traces OpenAI's outsized influence, uncovers hidden moderation labor, and maps parallels between AI firms and empires. The conversation highlights alternatives: smaller task-focused models and community-driven AI projects.

Tiya Miles, a historian who recovers marginalized lives from archives, and Esi Edugyan, a novelist known for richly researched historical fiction, explore how research and imagination meet. They discuss filling archival gaps with novelistic techniques, choosing narrative voice, reading poignant passages, and when storytelling can matter politically.

Greg Kelly, executive producer who reads Seamus Heaney and loves late-night poetry. Donna Dingwall, documentary maker who turned to Dorothy Parker after childbirth and loss. Tom Howell, longtime documentary maker with deep ties to poetry. Annie Bender, producer who finds mindfulness in Ada Limón. Chris Watzkow, veteran producer moved by Mary Oliver. They each read a favorite poem and describe why it keeps calling them back.

Alex Neve, a seasoned human rights lawyer and former leader at Amnesty International Canada, captivates audiences with compelling stories of resilience and activism. He reflects on the heartbreaking beauty of communities like Jorlo, where names symbolize rights and memory. Neve highlights the power of belief in driving grassroots movements, from Anti-Apartheid to contemporary Indigenous resistance. With poignant anecdotes of art transforming personal pain into advocacy, he showcases how local actions ripple globally, igniting collective hope and solidarity.

Benjamin Berger, a law professor at Osgoode Hall specializing in constitutional and criminal law, explores Quebec’s laïcité law and its Supreme Court challenge. He teases how secularism can mean neutrality, exclusion or pluralism. He explains laïcité’s French roots, how secularism hides state ties to religion, and how focusing on secularism can distract from deeper justice questions.

Vince Beiser, journalist and author of Power Metal, explores how the metals behind batteries and devices shape the energy transition. He discusses which critical metals matter, mining’s environmental and social toll, global supply chains and geopolitics, and ideas like urban mining and cutting metal demand through transit and reuse.

Pooja Nansi, poet and teacher in Singapore, reflects on identity and creative life. Imran bin Tajuddin, NUS academic, maps Kampong Glam’s architecture and trade ties. Kenny Ting, museum professional, contextualizes maritime artifacts like the Tang wreck. Kamal Al-Solaylee, journalist and professor, traces Singapore’s port roots and modern evolution. They discuss architecture, trade networks, culinary fusion, migration, and the city’s shift from containers to data ports.