Guest: Richard Warnica, business feature writer

When Toronto hosted a packed WNBA exhibition game in May, hopes were high that the city would soon get its own team, but by then, "the game was already over," writer Richard Warnica says. Local sports powerhouse Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) had already considered and rejected the idea, mostly because two particular members of the board were set against it. At a time when women's professional sports seem to be awakening across the continent, Warnica has the exclusive on how Toronto ruled itself out, possibly missing an opportunity for exponential growth in the fan base.

Audio Source: Sportsnet

Guest: Katie Daubs, senior writer

As Ontario's schools struggle with resources and ripple effects of the pandemic, experts say students with diverse needs like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aren't getting the help they require. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, yet there is no official ministry categorization making it difficult to support in classrooms. As part of the Star's "The Kids Aren't All Right" series, senior writer Katie Daubs talked to one high school student about her experience.

This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Jennifer Pagliaro, crime reporter

Many parents across Toronto struggle to balance keeping their kids safe and letting them develop a sense of independence. In a city where crime concerns are rising and rising faster for younger people, some weigh on that balance more than others. In one family, their son was shot before he was two years old. For the Star's "The Kids Aren't All Right" series, reporter Jennifer Pagliaro looked at life after a shooting and what could work to prevent others from suffering the same tragedy.

This episode was produced by Paolo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.

Guest: Kate Allen, climate change reporter

Fresh air, trees, grass on bare feet. The sound of birds while playing on a playground. Leisurely swinging in the shadow of a tree. Many of us have childhood memories outside in parks and forests, and research shows this time is key to our physical, mental and social well-being and development. So what about the children being raised in urban centres like Toronto, where green space has shrunk significantly over the past two decades as the region faces pressure to build housing and city reports warn that the amount of parkland per person risks falling further. As part of the Star's "The Kids Aren't All Right" series, climate change reporter Kate Allen joins "This Matters" to discuss the impacts on children and their development.

This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: jade guthrie, FoodShare Toronto

When kids don't get enough to eat at home or they worry about running out of food, it can affect everything in their lives from their ability to learn and grow, to their ability to be healthy and resilient. Yet food insecurity is the reality of 1.8 million kids in Canada. In this episode from the Star's "The Kids Aren't All Right" series, guest host Alyshah Hasham and jade guthrie of FoodShare Toronto discusses what we can do to turn the crisis around.

This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Alyshah Hasham.

Guest: Victoria Gibson, affordable housing reporter

Housing affordability and accessibility are only getting worse. For many Canadians, they might be just one bill or unexpected expense away from being unable to afford that month's rent. Renovations, rent, or repair expenses are all factors that have led to more than 600,000 kids growing up in precarious housing across the country. As part of the series "The Kids Aren't All Right," we take a look at what that means and how a child might experience these challenges.

This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Brian Bradley and Saba Eitizaz.

Guest: Megan Ogilvie, health reporter

Ever since the COVID pandemic, Canada's health care system is near a breaking point and may take years to fix. Among the issues, experts are worried that many children are not getting needed surgery within the safe medical window. An estimated 17,000 children are on long waiting lists for surgeries that could improve the quality of their lives. Some of them wait for months or years. Some might never recover. The Star's health reporter Megan Ogilvie unpacks the impact it has on children and their families.

This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Saba Eitizaz.

Guest: Amy Dempsey, series editor

In many different aspects of life, kids in Toronto are struggling right now. Housing is unaffordable, educational supports are lacking, surgical wait times are long and the social safety net is frayed. Amy Dempsey is editor of the series "The Kids Aren't All Right," which looks at the varied and interconnected ways we're letting down the next generation and what we might start doing to fix it.

This episode was produced by Sean Pattendon, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.

Guests: David Rider and Ben Spurr

Since her election in June, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has begun the work she was elected to do — building relationships with councillors and the premier, trying to kick start affordable housing and working to fix the city's budget hole. David Rider, city hall bureau chief, and Ben Spurr, reporter, have talked to her allies, opponents and city experts to evaluate how far she's come, how much further she has to go and potential political landmines in the coming mayoral schedule.

This episode was produced by Sean Pattendon, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.

Guest: Deborah Dundas, books editor

The 2023 Scotiabank Giller Prize, Canada's prestigious literary award, will be handed out on Nov. 13. Five books were shortlisted last week from a longlist of twelve, picked out of more than a hundred books that were submitted across the country. Star books editor Deborah Dundas walks us through the most buzzworthy books and gives great recommendations to add to our holiday reading and gift lists.

This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Brian Bradley and Saba Eitizaz.

Audio Sources: Wellington Square Books, Vancouver Public Library, Kobo, Waterstones, Notre Dame Day