The food aisle at Winners is like the land of misfit toys, with egg white spaghetti noodles next to matcha-flavoured protein powder. But is the randomness simply an accident? And, from donuts to chia seeds, we explore why so many products have their own national day on the calendar. Plus, could Anthropic's Mythos give cyber-criminals the tool they need to hack the world's computer systems? We talk to Jaxson Khan, director of the AI Competitiveness Project at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy.

Yep, if you compare our economies based on GDP per capita, but Paul Haavardsrud looks at how that measure for our standard of living has its limits. Plus, why you shouldn't be too secretive about your inheritance plans, and a chat with transportation expert Matti Siemiatycki about the pros and cons of a proposed high-speed train between Toronto and Quebec City that comes with a whopping price tag.

More Canadians are finding job security by charting their own path. They're buying so-called "boring businesses," like vending machines, dry cleaners and sign shops. But is it the road to the easy life? Also, we look at the chances of stagflation happening in Canada and explain why we're becoming a nation of candy lovers.

More Canadians, worried about the job market, are making their own work by snapping up HVAC companies, car washes and vending machines. Producer Danielle Nerman explains the growing popularity of so-called "boring businesses" and asks: Is it the path to job security?

Staying out 'til the wee hours of the morning? That's not happening as much anymore, and restaurants and bars are feeling it. Also, how to find Lego for 2 cents at Walmart and author Danny Funt talks about his book: Everybody Loses: the Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling. (Originally aired November 23, 2025)

As CUSMA negotiations approach, U.S. President Donald Trump is downplaying Canada's importance. Not to brag, but America still depends heavily on Canadian aluminum. Plus, feeling buried by your to-do list? Maybe it’s time to throw an “admin party.” And, we ask housing economist Mike Moffatt if falling home prices are a blip or a sign of larger change.

Artificial intelligence is making scams harder to spot and Canadians are losing millions every year to fraud. So is it worth it to pay for personal cyber risk insurance? Also, we explain why older job hunters are botoxing their resumes and ask: Could the global oil shock change the conversation around Canada's future as an energy superpower?

The war in Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have interrupted critical oil supply chains. Now gas prices are rising. Energy analyst Rory Johnston, who writes the Substack Commodity Context, explains what an oil shock could mean for the Canadian economy, and what might happen next.

Some services, like barbering and childcare, cost way more than they did in the past and keep going up in price. On the other hand, a lot of manufactured goods, like TV's, have become less expensive. And the "Baumol effect" could explain why. Plus, we look at the rise of extra spicy foods on restaurant menus and what's at stake as cargo ships sit idle near the Strait of Hormuz.

As Iran counter attacks by targeting energy infrastructure in neighbouring countries and threatening to shut off access to the Strait of Hormuz, we explore how Canada moves forward in a global economy dealing with even more chaos and uncertainty. Paul Haavardsrud talks to Stephanie Carvin, a professor of International Affairs at Carleton University.