The Big Story

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The Big Story episodes

April 26, 2025 Weekend listen: The shocking pipeline to the "red pill" manosphere
In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, I will be talking to Dr Emily Contois, an Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa specializing in how identities are formed at the vital intersection of food, the body, and ideas about health. She is the author of “Diners, Dudes, and Diets: How Gender and Power Collide in Food Media and Culture” and co-editor of “Food Instagram: Identity, Influence, and Negotiation”. Today we will be riding on the heels of the popular Netflix show Adolescence, we are exploring the very scary effect of the manosphere, incel and “red pill” subcultures on young boys. Today we’re going to chat about how the patriarchy harms not just women, but men as well. We discuss the dangerous teachings of the manosphere and leading influencers like Andrew Tate. We also talk about the pipeline that young men are finding themselves going down starting with innocuous places (ie. self improvement, dating, fitness, dieting) that lures them into incel culture. We talk in detail about the intersection between diet culture and the manosphere and the lack of body positivity movements for men. We talk about the role of bullying, social isolation, AI, p0rn, types of school, and gender roles modelled at home. I finish with a list of potential actionable tips to help you start to build emotional resilience, media literacy and tolerance to different expressions of gender to help set the stage to allow your kids to reject these manosphere ideologies.
https://bite-back-with-abbey-sharp.simplecast.com/episodes/the-shocking-pipeline-to-the-red-pill-manosphere-from-health-nutrition-content-online-with-dr-emily-contois
Be sure to check out my first episode with Emily: “Ladies eat salad, men eat steak & burgers”.
References:
https://www.everyonesinvited.uk/primary/read
https://aibm.org/research/male-suicide-data/?
https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/data.html?
https://www.bbfc.co.uk/about-us/news/children-see-pornography-as-young-as-seven-new-report-finds
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39907845/
https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-continues-to-rise-among-youth-in-the-united-states-2023?
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2536330/netflix-drama-adolescence-prompts-anti-misogyny-curriculum-shift-in-uk-schools
https://unpluggedcanada.com/
Check in with today’s amazing guest: Dr Emily Contois, Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa.
Follow at @emilycontois
Website: www.emilycontois.com
Books: - Diners Dudes and Diets
- Food Instagram
Disclaimer: The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider.
If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com.
🥤 Check out my 2-in-1 Plant Based Probiotic Protein Powder, neue theory at www.neuetheory.com or @neuetheory and use my promo code BITEBACK20 to get 20% off your order!
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We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

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20 min
April 25, 2025 Digging into to Canada's fringe political parties and their hopes for election day Monday
The federal election....from the "fringe".
Most voters are familiar with the major national parties running in this election, such as the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP, & Greens.
But there are actually 16 registered political parties looking for your vote.
Some of them are known as fringe parties, while others are upstarts, hoping to make an impact down the road.
Today on The Big Story, we're shining a light on some of the lesser known parties in this campaign, and letting them have their voice heard as the country goes through the democratic process.
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with the Leaders of the Animal Protection Party, the Canadian Future Party, the Communist Party, and the Marijuana Party.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

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25 min
April 24, 2025 What can advanced voter turnout tell us about election day?
Elections Canada saw a record-breaking 2 million people cast their ballot on the first day of advanced voting for the federal election, resulting in a grand total of more than 7.3 million over the four day period. And as Canada enters the final stretch of campaigning in one of the most critical elections of our time, what can these preliminary numbers tell us about what's to come? Which party could benefit the most from those who vote early? And will we see this sort of momentum on April 28?
Host Maria Kestane talks to John Beebe, Founder and Director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange for Toronto Metropolitan University about whose voice will be heard the most among these numbers and what it means for the future of Canada's civic engagement. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
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for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
17 min
April 23, 2025 Examining the legacy of Pope Francis and who might succeed him
Pope Francis has passed away at the age of 88, leaving behind a legacy of breaking ground in the vatican and his attempts to modernize the Catholic church. Francis also left a lasting impact on Canada, with a 2022 trip to apologize for the church's role in the residential school system.
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Emma Anderson, a professor of religious studies at the University of Ottawa, about the tenure of Francis, what comes next in the process to pick a new pope, and could a Canadian be in the running? We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
25 min
April 22, 2025 What one group is doing to make the case for election reform in Canada
It’s been hotly debated by scholars and advocates for decades: do we need to change the way we elect governments in this country?
On April 28th, there will be 91 candidates on the ballot in the riding of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. It will be the longest ballot in Canadian election history.
Of 91 candidates, 85 are independent protest candidates from the Longest Ballot Committee, a group raising awareness about electoral reform.
Host David Smith speaks with one of those candidates, Blake Hamilton, about what the group hopes to accomplish with this move.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

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26 min
April 21, 2025 One week until Canada votes in one of the most existential elections of our time
One week from today Canadians will cast their ballots to pick their next government, in what has been described as an existential election amid U.S. President Trump's trade and sovereignty threats.
As we enter the final stretch of the campaign, parties are shifting their strategies to ensure they get supporters to the polls and secure every vote they can. What can we expect from the parties in these final days, can we see a major shift in the polls and could leaders lose their jobs?
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney is breaking it down with Lori Williams of Mount Royal University.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
18 min
April 18, 2025 Is Trump bridging the gap between politically polarized Canadians?
It used to be a social no-no, but Canadians now seem to find themselves diving head-first in political engagement, dialogue, and awareness, all in the wake of what's perceived to be one of the most critical federal elections of our lifetime.
Just three months ago, however, Canadians were at odds with each other over who they wanted the face of their country to be, what name they wanted the flag to be associated with, and the type of Canada they wanted moving forward.
How do we navigate this new patriotic momentum while still meeting the moment on deciding what's best for our future according to the morals we hold so close to ourselves? How do we turn to our neighbours, family, loved ones to push for a stronger Canada all while seeking out different qualities in who we want and need out of a leader?
Host Maria Kestane speaks to Justin Ling, journalist and author of the Chaos Campaign newsletter, to discuss what's driving Canadians to the ballot box and how we're engaging in a refined era of political polarization amid threats to our sovereignty and personal safety.
You can check out Justin's newsletter here: https://www.bugeyedandshameless.com/s/chaos-campaign. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
28 min
April 17, 2025 Explaining the controversy around the Notwithstanding Clause
This week, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre re-ignited debate about Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Poilievre is pledging to use the Notwithstanding Clause to bring in justice reforms, including reviving Harper-era consecutive life sentences that were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Host David Smith speaks with constitutional law expert Professor Eric Adams from the University of Alberta about why this section of the Canadian constitution is so controversial. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
23 min
April 16, 2025 What can Canadians expect when travelling to the US?
To burner phone or not to burner phone? The current debate on social media amid heightened searches of personal electronic devices by US immigration officers. Combined with new requirements for Canadians travelling to the US, such as mandatory registration with the American government for a 30+ day stay, as well as frightening headlines of travelers being detained at the border - Canadians are rightfully turned off from the US.
But for those who don't have the choice to opt out of travel, what can they expect, and are they safe?
Host Maria Kestane speaks to Frédéric Dimanche, Director and Professor of the Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism, about what the current climate of Canada-US travel safety looks like, and what Canadians should expect when - or *if* - they head south. We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
19 min
April 15, 2025 The 5 Ws of Voting in Canada
Canada is less than two weeks away from its 45th Federal Election, and whether it's going to be your first time voting, or you've spun the block before, The Big Story is getting down to the basics. Where can you vote? What do you need to bring? Who's eligible? What if you don't have a voter information card?
Host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks to Dianne Benson with Elections Canada to get the answers you need before the ballot box question on April 28.
We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future
episodes. You can find us:
Through email at [email protected]
Or @thebigstory.bsky.social on Bluesky
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com
for information about our collection and use of personal data for
advertising.
30 min