Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is first joined by Neil Seeman, entrepreneur, researcher, columnist, and one of Canada’s clearest thinkers on innovation and the economy. Neil argues that Canada doesn’t have a creativity problem, but a commercialization problem. Together they explore why Canadian ideas struggle to scale, why young talent is leaving, how global capital is shifting, and what Canada must do to compete in an AI- and clean-tech-driven world. Neil breaks down the psychology of innovation, the power of honest collaboration, and what it will take to turn Canadian invention into Canadian prosperity.

Brian is then joined by STEEP Daniels (Jesus Guggenheim) painter, filmmaker, cultural catalyst, and 2025 Resident Artist for the Ekran Polish Film Festival. STEEP shares how a spontaneous artistic tribute to Prince launched his connection to the festival, leading to a decade-spanning exhibition and the creation of this year’s festival trailer. They explore how his paintings become cultural movements, how Polish storytelling shapes his work, and why giving back, particularly to SickKids, is woven into everything he creates. The result is a rich, heartfelt conversation about art, identity, and using creativity as a force for community and change.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian welcomes Greg Vezina, President of Hydrofuel Inc. and one of Canada’s boldest clean-tech innovators. They explore breakthrough technologies that could transform the global energy landscape from micro-ammonia production to photochemical reactors that convert methane into clean hydrogen and valuable carbon products… all powered by light. Greg breaks down why ammonia may be the missing link in hydrogen adoption, why pipelines often outperform power lines, and why Canada needs a return to basic math and science thinking if it hopes to lead the next energy revolution.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Meredith Preston McGhie, one of the world’s leading practitioners in conflict resolution and the Secretary General of the Global Centre for Pluralism. For nearly 30 years, Meredith has worked at the front lines of peacebuilding across Africa and Asia — from the Naga in Northeast India, to ethnic dialogues in Nigeria and Kenya, to UN efforts in Kosovo, Iraq, South Sudan, Somalia and Sudan. Few people understand conflict, diversity, and democratic resilience the way she does.

Meredith brings realism, experience, and a rare optimism grounded in decades of hard-won lessons from conflict zones. She believes and demonstrates that pluralism isn’t idealistic. It’s necessary. And that in times of division, ordinary people have extraordinary power to create peace.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by three Mississauga residents demanding real transparency in our city’s budget: community advocate, George Tavares, local business owner, Kim Pines, and resident leader for financial accountability, Athina Tagidou.




Together, they break down the big questions City Hall isn’t answering. These include why 


taxes are rising faster than inflation every year, how “blended rates” hide the true tax increase, why Mississauga pays 62% of Peel Police costs but gets less than half the say, and why claims of “no room to cut” don’t match the data. Other questions they discuss include why public engagement is collapsing, how quality of life is slipping while the budget keeps growing, and the looming MPAC reassessment that could mean thousands more in taxes. This episode emphasizes that residents deserve honest budgeting, clearer communication, real oversight, and leadership that treats public dollars with the same discipline families bring to their own budgets.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Peter Dickinson, Ukraine Editor at the Atlantic Council, for a candid breakdown of the leaked U.S. peace proposal for Ukraine, a document that looks far more Moscow-made than Washington-led. Together, they unpack a “U.S. plan” written in Russian-style diplomatic language, negotiations happening largely between the U.S. and Russia without Ukraine, and proposed territorial concessions in Donetsk. Other topics of conversation include weak security guarantees Ukraine cannot trust, the real situation on the battlefield, why Russia is pushing for a deal, and what this means for Europe, NATO, and global security.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Danielle Papillon-Richardson and Phillip Richardson of Black Opal Advisors — co-authors of the upcoming book "Funny, Not Funny: Humanity’s Risk Register". Together they dig into AI’s rapid evolution, why fewer than 10% of businesses use it effectively, and the growing challenge of AI deception and hallucinations. They also explore the urgent need for global AI governance, the major risks facing humanity — from AI to climate to geopolitics — and how psychology shapes our response to them. Danielle offers practical advice for leaders on how to implement AI responsibly, while Phil breaks down the existential risk landscape with clarity and humour. A fascinating, provocative, and hopeful conversation about the future of AI — and the future of us.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Amy Jiang, Principal at BA Group and one of the leading transportation planning engineers shaping the future of development across the Greater Toronto Area. Amy brings 20 years of experience working on the GTA’s biggest and most transformational projects — including the 30-year redevelopment of the Downsview Airport lands that will eventually welcome 165,000 residents and 50,000 jobs.
In this conversation, they discuss what transportation planning really is, the future of Downsview, what makes a community feel alive, secrets of successful large-scale developments, and Amy's personal journey in engineering.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian sits down with friend and advisor Pierre-Jean Esmieu-Fournel, a Paris-based financier whose life story and sharp analysis cut through the noise on Europe’s economic crisis. PJ shares his experience inside France’s welfare state including fully covered metastatic cancer treatment worth €320,000/year, and why the system is now at a breaking point, France's fiscal reality, and a political system in turmoil. He also discusses retirement ages, pension models, health-care tradeoffs, and demographic pressures hitting all three nations.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Sam Savrajan behavioral scientist and former financial executive for an urgently needed, honest conversation about Canada's debt, deficits, and economic future. They tackle the critical, often-avoided questions which include the debt cycle, why governments obscure where money is really going, voter power and the raising GST and retirement age. This is a must-listen for anyone demanding honest, transparent, and sustainable governance.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by Sergio Marchi, former Toronto alderman, long-time Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister, and Canada’s Ambassador to the World Trade Organization. Sergio has lived almost every chapter of public service. Now, from his home in Tremblant, he’s written a remarkable new book, "Pursuing a Public Life", aimed at inspiring the next generation of Canadians to step into politics, leadership, and national service.

In this conversation, they explore why young Canadians are drifting away from politics and what we must do to reconnect them with the country’s democratic life as well as the 78 lessons from a career in public service drawn from Sergio’s decades navigating city hall, Parliament Hill, cabinet, and international diplomacy. Other topics of conversation include the allure of international NGOs versus domestic politics, why Canada urgently needs young people to recommit to the home front, and so much more!