This Is Why

By Global News / CuriouscastNews News Commentary Politics

This Is Why episodes

August 07, 2020 Canada's internet use during the COVID-19 pandemic
Canadians, like many around the world, have been spending much more time online during the novel coronavirus pandemic. So when CIRA, Canada's internet registrars, did their annual survey on internet use, they found how that internet use changed with COVID-19.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at how the pandemic changed the use and perception of the internet and social media platforms in Canada.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Spencer Callahan, communications manager for the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)
Episode Resources:
CIRA release "Facebook named most toxic social media platform by 40 per cent of Canadians"
21 min
July 16, 2020 Anti-Asian Racism and COVID-19
The novel coronavirus was first detected in the city of Wuhan in China in late 2019. For some, that's reason enough to discriminate against and vilify people who aren't from that region of China or haven't even visited the country.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at the role racism against people of Asian heritage during the coronavirus pandemic and how it's the latest chapter of anti-Asian racism.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Dr. Kim Noels, professor of psychology at the University of Alberta
Barbara Lee, founder & president of the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, who partnered with Project 1907 to create Elimin8hate
28 min
July 06, 2020 Reopening pro sports during the COVID-19 pandemic
As pro sports leagues across North America prepare to resume play, states south of the border are seeing increased outbreaks and rapidly mounting numbers of positive COVID-19 cases.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at the various leagues' plans to return to play and what the future of sports could look like after the pandemic.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Aileen McManaman, founder and managing partner, 5T Sports Group
Dan Mason, professor of sport management, University of Alberta
24 min
June 29, 2020 Addressing Racism in Canada
June 2020 has been an unprecedented month. Millions of people around the world marched in support of Black Lives Matter and protesting anti-Black racism.
They were joined by Indigenous peoples during National Indigenous History Month, the same month that saw two Indigenous people shot by police in New Brunswick and video surfacing of an Alberta chief brutally arrested.
And June is Pride month for the LGBTQ community, with jurisdictions around the country announcing bans of conversion therapy leading up to a month born from protest but with celebrations transformed by the coronavirus pandemic.
On this episode of This Is Why, we hear about what can be done, individually and systemically, to address racism and prejudice against BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) and LGBTQ groups, and how they're connected.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Cheryl Foggo, a multiple award-winning author, playwright and filmmaker, whose work focuses on the lives of western Canadians of African descent.
Anthony Morgan, a racial justice lawyer and manager of the City of Toronto’s confronting anti-black racism unit.
Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada research chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at McEwan University.
Ry Moran, director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation.
23 min
June 25, 2020 Conversion Therapy and Pride during coronavirus
Worldwide, the coronavirus pandemic is changing the way celebrations and gatherings of all kinds are happening. That includes Pride for the LGBTQ community.
On this episode of This Is Why, we hear about a landmark ruling for Western Canadian LGBTQ communities.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Dr. Kristopher Wells, Canada research chair for the Public Understanding of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at McEwan University
28 min
June 25, 2020 Anti-Indigenous racism in Canada
Alongside the rallies for the Black Lives Matter movement, support for Indigenous lives in Canada have come to the forefront. Two police shootings of Indigenous people in New Brunswick and the emergence of a video of an arrest with force of an Alberta chief have underscored the plight faced by Indigenous peoples.
On this episode of This Is Why, we hear about past and present systemic racism forced upon Indigenous peoples from the chief of a First Nation in Alberta and the current director of the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Siksika Nation Chief Ouray Crowfoot
Ry Moran, director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation
More resources:
"The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America" by Thomas King
31 min
June 06, 2020 Being Black in Canada
Hundreds of cities in the U.S. and Canada have erupted in protests and rallies supporting Black Lives Matter and opposing police brutality following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. At the heart of the argument is the injustice of systemic racism.
On this episode of This Is Why, we hear from two perspectives on being Black in Canada, including the problematic history of Black cowboy John Ware and the challenges facing the largest Black community in the country.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Cheryl Foggo, a multiple award-winning author, playwright and filmmaker, whose work focuses on the lives of western Canadians of African descent.
Anthony Morgan, a racial justice lawyer and manager of the City of Toronto’s confronting anti-black racism unit.
More resources:
Foggo recommends reading "Policing Black Lives" by Robyn Maynard and "The Skin We're In" by Desmond Cole. She also suggests listening to the podcast "The Secret Life of Canada."
Morgan has penned a couple of articles, including "Black People in Canada are not Settlers" and "What’s wrong with a cheque? A call for slavery reparations in Canada."
35 min
June 02, 2020 Vaccinating an entire population
As researchers race to find a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, governments and citizens are being asked whether such a vaccine could or would be made mandatory.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at why vaccinating a population against disease is necessary for public health and the challenges of making a hypothetical vaccine against COVID-19 mandatory.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Dr. Shannon MacDonald, assistant professor, University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing
26 min
May 18, 2020 COVID-19: the second wave
Provinces are beginning a gradual reopening of their economies, lifting public health restrictions, just months after the novel coronavirus arrived.
But scientists like virologists and epidemiologists are warning that the loosening of restrictions will lead to more cases of COVID-19.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at the likelihood of a second wave of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Cynthia Carr, epidemiologist and founder, EPI Research
Allison Bench, online journalist, Global News
29 min
May 04, 2020 Canada's tech industry during the coronavirus
Life during the novel coronavirus pandemic would look drastically different.
Video calls allow us to see friends and family up close while keeping physical distance, and streaming services have seen signups skyrocket.
On this episode of This Is Why, we look at how Canadian tech companies are doing during this public health crisis.
Contact:
Adam Toy - @Adam_Toy on Twitter
Dave McIvor - @d_mac1519 on Twitter
This is Why - @ThisIsWhy on Twitter
Email us - [email protected]
Guests:
Lucas McCarthy, Showpass CEO
Ryan Gill, Communo CEO
Jeremy Shaki, Lighthouse Labs CEO
28 min

About This Is Why

From the publisher's feed

We live in a confusing world… so if you’ve ever stopped and asked yourself WHY something matters, we’re here to help. Every week Adam Toy and Dave McIvor will ask one big question and uncover the answer to help you truly understand what’s going on around you.