Beyond the Headlines

Beyond the Headlines

By beyondtheheadlinesNewsPolitics
Download on the App Store

Beyond the Headlines episodes

  • The Future of Europe
    In the past few years, Europe has appeared unsettled. From the 2014 Crimean Crisis, to Brexit, to a rise in far right politics across the continent, it is never short of news. Today, we’ll discuss a few of the stories that are affecting Europe now, and defining its future. Starting in Western Europe, we’ll speak with Mr Robert Hage about the past, present, and future of the relationship between France and Germany. Also, with Angela Merkel stepping down later this year, we’ll look ahead and discuss what the future holds for Germany in the face of an upcoming election, and external threats. Later in the episode, Connor Fraser is joined by Keir Giles from Chatham House for a conversation about Russia. They discuss how the Russian state and society are portrayed by mainstream Western sources, and how this representation often differs from reality. Russia’s support for the Belorussian government in the wake of last year’s mass protests, and the recent poisoning and arrest of Alexi Navalny are also unpacked. 

    Today's guests are Robert Hage and Keir Giles

    Produced by Elliot Simpson, Connor Fraser & Thea Koper 

    59 min
  • The 2022 French Election : A recap

    This year France ran its first election since the start of the pandemic. The 2022 French election has taken a turn as both the pandemic and the war in Ukraine take a front seat in debates. This episode seeks to understand how this election is different from that of 2017, where like this year Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen were both headed for a face-off into the second round with the first ultimately winning. We are speaking to three guests, Dr Laird Boswell who will enlighten us on the French electoral process, second Thomas Papernot, joining us to discuss public opinion and sentiment, finally journalist Lauren Chadwick who will give us an overview of this election’s highlights and challenges.

    Guests:

    Dr Laird Boswell is a historian of Modern Europe, especially France, in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. His research interests focus on society and politics – ranging from the history of European socialism and communism, the history of nationalism, voter behaviour and, more recently, to the contemporary extreme right. In addition, he has directed the University of Wisconsin Center for European Studies. @lairdboswell

    Thomas Papernot is currently an MSc in International Relations (Research) student at the LSE. He holds a Joint Honours Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Development Studies from McGill University. His past work assignments include traineeships at the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva and the US Mission to the OECD.

    Lauren Chadwick is a multimedia journalist currently based in Lyon, France, where she covers French and European politics at Euronews. She previously produced content for special events at MSNBC and was the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship in Washington, D.C., which placed her as a U.S. national security reporter at the journalism organisation, The Center for Public Integrity. She graduated from Columbia University in 2015. @laubchad

    Produced by:

    Anna Lazaris - Executive Producer @lazaris_anna

    54 min
  • Ontario Provincial Election Special
    Ontario’s Provincial Election is fast approaching, and to that end this episode of Beyond the Headlines is dedicated to understanding some of the critical issues facing the province. We are grateful to be joined by the authors of two transition briefings from the Ontario 360 initiative within the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Ontario 360 is a purpose-built initiative to scan Ontario’s economic challenges and opportunities and develop evidence-based public policy ideas to inform and shape the Ontario government’s policy planning and priorities. In conjunction with leading policy thinkers from across the province, Ontario 360 has commissioned a series of bi-weekly policy briefings in advance of the provincial election. These are short, digestible, non-partisan and fact-based pieces designed to appeal to policy leaders, in addition to a broader audience. The briefings cover a wide range of policy issues from fiscal policy to homelessness, from innovation policy to urban Indigenous concerns, from tax policy to the future of work, and many more. You can follow Ontario 360’s work on twitter @ontario360 or by visiting their website www.on360.ca. 

    For today’s discussion, we first sit down with Tomas Hachard from the Institute on Municipal Finance and Governance. Tomas co-authored the briefing entitled “Meeting in the Middle: How to get Provincial-Municipal Cooperation Right.” After a short break, we are joined by David McGown of the Canadian Business Coalition for Climate Policy. David authored the two-part briefing entitled “The Politics of Emissions Reductions in Ontario.” We’re so glad you tuned in for our show, and hope you enjoy the discussion!

    Guests:

    Tomas Hachard, University of Toronto/IMFG @thachard @imfgtoronto 

    David McGown, Canadian Business Coalition for Climate Policy @davidkmcgown  

    Senior Producer

    Connor Fraser @RealCJFraser 

    59 min
  • Young Diplomats of Canada: UN Commission on the Status of Women 2022

    What does it mean to be gender transformative? How can municipal governments contribute to climate action? What’s the difference between passion and power?

    In the latest special edition episode from Beyond the Headlines, the Young Diplomats of Canada delegation to the 66th UN Commission on the Status of Women explore topics in climate resiliency, gender equality, and youth engagement in multilateralism alongside experienced YDC alumni. This episode features Carla Guillaume, Julie Segal, Senator Marilou McPhedran, and Anjum Sultana, as well as YDC delegates Sydney Whiting, Paige Percy, Lucie Belzile, and Maitland Shaheen.

    Guests:

    Carla Guillaume - Commercial Desk Officer, GAC

    Julie Segal - Senior Manager of Climate Finance, Environmental Defence

    Senator Marilou McPhedran - Senator, Senate of Canada

    Anjum Sultana - Director of Youth Leadership and Policy Advocacy, Plan International Canada; Fellow, Public Policy Forum

    YDC Delegates:

    Sydney Whiting - Communications Coordinator

    Paige Percy - Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator

    Lucie Belzile - Engagement Coordinator

    Maitland Shaheen - Head Delegate

    Producers:

    Faria Amin - Executive Producer, Beyond the Headlines

    Anna Lazaris - Junior Producer, Beyond the Headlines

    1 hr
  • Evaluating the Risk to Democracy in Canada and the US
    The US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021 materialized years of warnings that America’s democracy is approaching a critical juncture that could spiral into violent insurgency and even Civil War. Canadian’s like to portray our national fabric as immune to the same fate. However, the recent Freedom Convoy protests and the emergence of Western Canada’s Maverick Party demonstrate that our union of provinces faces similar threats. In this episode, we explore the strength of democracy and the rise of the radical right in Canada - alongside Hilary Lawson, and the risk of Civil War in the USA, with Professor Thad Kousser. We identify the origins of frustration with governance systems that have proven resilient for centuries. How might these risks be alleviated while building a society that is just and equitable for all? 

    Guests: 

    Professor Thad Kousser - UC San Diego

    Hilary Lawson - Master of Global Affairs Candidate

    Produced By:

    Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer

    Connor Fraser - Senior Producer

    Mycala Gill - Executive Producer 

    59 min
  • Discussions on Philanthropy and Charities

    In the last few years, the validity and reliability of charities and other philanthropic work has been called into question. Topics of whether charity helps resolve greater institutional and systemic issues have arisen. How altruistic is charity? Is there a different lens through which we can view this topic. What is the end goal of philanthropy? This episode features two guests very familiar with charities and not-for-profit work to get their perspectives.

    Guests:

    Ryo Nakane - CIRA

    Serena Purdy - Friends of Kensington Market

    Producers:

    Sky Shi - Junior Producer

    Abdullah Naqvi - Junior Producer

    Connor Fraser - Senior Producer

    Faria Amin - Executive Producer

    39 min
  • The Politics of Basketball

    As the native country of its creator, James Naismith, and the location of the very first NBA game in 1946, Canada has deep roots in basketball. And since the first game of the Toronto Raptors in 1995, and their triumphant, game 7 buzzer-beating,  2019 Championship run, Canadian basketball fandom is at an all time high. From driveway basketball nets to Jurassic Park, the Raptors have helped to shape the identity of Toronto and attracted a global fan base.

    “We The North” has become a multicultural rallying cry. The sheer diversity of Toronto shines through with fans from all walks of life across every race, religion, and culture. Today's episode explores this idea in more depth and take a closer look at the multicultural identity of the Toronto Raptors fan base and the growing popularity of basketball across Canada, and goes further to talk about the global reach of basketball, influenced and part by the Raptors’ success, and discuss where and how the game is expanding, building new bridges, and becoming more equitable. This episode features two journalists covering the Raptors and basketball at large to talk about this unique intersection between sport, culture, diversity, globalisation, and equality.

    Guests:

    Oren Weisfeld - Freelance Journalist

    Alex Wong - Freelance Journalist

    Producers:

    Thomas Chan - Junior Producer

    Michael Kalaparambath - Junior Producer

    Abdullah Naqvi - Junior Producer

    Mycala Gill - Executive Producer

    55 min
  • The End of COVID?: Analyzing Ontario’s Removal of Mask Mandates

    Ontario eliminates its mask mandate for a variety of settings including schools, restaurants, gyms, and stores today. While other jurisdictions within Canada and across the world have done away with equivalent or greater public health restrictions, residents of the province are expressing mixed feelings on this policy decision. This episode features two experts who discuss the factors that went into the decision to eliminate the mask mandate, and what implications this may have for Ontario.

    Guests:

    Dr. Arjumand Siddiqi - Professor and Division Head of Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada Research Chair in Population Health Equity

    Dr. Peter Jüni - Scientific Director at Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Toronto, Director of the Applied Research Centre of St. Michael's Hospital 

    Producers:

    Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer

    Faria Amin - Executive Producer

    46 min
  • State of British Politics

    It has been a busy few months in British politics, with scandals ranging from illegal lobbying, to misused finances, to the now-infamous series of parties held at the Prime Minister’s residence of 10 Downing Street during COVID lockdown. While police investigations into these parties are ongoing, the Prime Minister and his supporters are attempting to distance themselves from this most recent round of scandals. While the Conservatives are divided, Labour, invigorated by new leadership and a more centrist agenda, seems primed to capitalize on this latest round of missteps by the Prime Minister. Amidst all this, 3 out of 4 Britons polled have a negative view of the state of British politics. Today’s episode features two experts who share their views on how things stand across the British political spectrum and where they’re likely to go.

    Guests:

    Sir Graham Watson - Former Member of European Parliament and leader of European Union Liberals, current Visiting Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs

    Dr. Pat Thane - Professor of Contemporary British History, King’s College London

    Producers:

    Elliott Coburn - Senior Producer

    Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer

    Faria Amin - Executive Producer

    58 min
  • Violence in Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Russia

    After months of tensions and failure of diplomacy to resolve the crisis, Russia has launched a multi-pronged attack on Ukraine. Today’s episode explores the issue from a defence perspective on the situation - why Ukraine, why now, and what are the stakes for Russia and NATO - and the role played by media and propaganda - how is Russia portraying the situation at home, what have been the impacts of this, and can media be of any help? 

    Some of the information recorded for this episode may be outdated as this is a rapidly evolving situation. Listeners are encouraged to stay up-to-date with recent developments.

    Guests:

    Dr. Maxim Alyukov - King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London

    Dr. Tracey German - King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London

    Producers:

    Marie Ascencio - Junior Producer

    Michael Kalaparambath - Junior Producer

    Mycala Gill - Executive Producer

    52 min

About Beyond the Headlines

From the publisher's feed

Beyond the Headlines is a weekly current affairs show that aims to make public policy discussions more accessible to you. We take you beyond the headlines of our daily news, bringing you access to…