The Rundown

Fear, jealousy, anger. Name an emotion, and you can find an evolutionary reason why it exists. But why depression? What role does it play? Is it an adaptation that helped our survival, or is it a disorder? For insight, we welcome: Randolph Nesse, emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, and author of "Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry; Maryanne Fisher, professor of psychology at Saint Mary's University in Halifax; and Paul Andrews, professor of evolutionary psychology at McMaster University.

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From the rise of Homo Sapiens to the fall of Rome and the birth of capitalism, it was germs that played a leading role in shaping human history, according to Jonathan Kennedy, author of "Pathogenesis: A History of the World in Eight Plagues." He discusses how the humble microbe toppled empires and won wars, and how COVID-19 will transform humans. Jonathan Kennedy teaches politics and global health at Queen Mary University of London.

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Earlier this week, the Bank of Canada raised interest rates, again. That will be unpleasant news to households across the country. It's also a red flag because Canadians collectively carry the most debt of any G7 country. That was not always the case, and actually household debt has been declining elsewhere. Why does this matter to Canadians as a whole? We ask: Jim Stanford, economist and director of the Centre for Future Work; and Mike Moffatt, senior director at the Smart Prosperity Think Tank and an Assistant Professor at Western University's Ivey Business School.

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Our week in review begins with an analysis of how Ontario craft breweries are faring post-COVID. Then, does Ontario protect its zoo animals? How can cities be built with more civic appeal? A look at how various generations get their news and information. And, Jean Twenge discusses her book, "Generations."

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Most of us will never see a lion or leopard or giraffe in their natural habitat. But many of us, have seen them up close in a zoo. Sometimes that's in a big facility, such as the almost 300 hectares that's home to 5,000 animals in Toronto. Or, it's in a roadside location with a smaller or specialty assortment of wildlife. Either way, ensuring that the animals are well cared for is a concern for all. For insight, we welcome Dolf DeJong, president and CEO of the Toronto Zoo; Melissa Matlow, campaign director for World Animal Protection, Canada; and Kendra Coulter, professor in management and organizational studies at Western University and author of "Defending Animals: Finding Hope on the Front Lines of Animal Protection."

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Thousands of sorely needed condo units have gone up over the past decade or more in this province. And given the housing crisis, everyone agrees we need more as fast as possible. But, for all the engineering wonders of some of these buildings - 50 storeys, glass and steel - do we need to think about making it all a bit more charming? For insight on how to grow cities with greater civic appeal, we welcome Mary Rowe, president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute; and longtime architecture critic and urban affairs columnist, Christopher Hume.

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Whether you care or not, the fact of your birth assigns you to a generation. And according to psychologist and author Jean Twenge's latest and most comprehensive book, whichever one it is, it's foundational to understanding how major shifts in our world shape us, in the broadest terms. Twenge discusses the book, "Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents - and What They Mean for America's Future."

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Is the Medium Still the Generational Message?
When Canadian media theorist and futurist Marshall McLuhan wrote his most influential works in the 1960s, it's hard to imagine he really envisioned our world as it is, in all its technological and social media complexity. Still, his notion that, ,the medium is the message, endures, and even invites us to consider how the evolution of the media ecosystem has rippled across, and perhaps even, shaped subsequent generations. For insights on whether the avalanche of media makes us better informed than we were in the past we invite, in order of generational seniority: from the baby boom: Suanne Kelman career journalist and professor of journalism, now retired; from generation X: Paolo Granta, associate professor of Book and Media Studies at the University of St. Michael's College in the University of Toronto; from the millennial generation: Noor Malik, a marketing professional; and from gen Z, TikTok content creator, Hazel Thayer.

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There are more than 26 million people in the world today who are living as refugees; half of whom are children. Oftentimes, they live in exile, without a permanent home. What happens to them? Sarah Dryden-Peterson's book, "Right Where We Belong: How Refugee Teachers and Students Are Changing the Future of Education," takes on this topic. She's an associate professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the founder and director of Refugee REACH, which promotes research, education, and action for refugees.

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After surviving COVID-19 lockdowns, Ontario's craft beer brewers are facing a variety of hurdles that could put them out of business; whether it's debt, a recent jump in taxes, increased material costs on everything from cans to yeast, or continuing to work underneath The Beer Store monopoly. Some are succeeding with their suds. Others have been forced to sell, merge, or accept foreign takeovers in what some have described as an overcrowded beer market. The Agenda looks at the state of Ontario craft breweries.

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