Guest: Alex Boyd, staff reporter

If you're a parent, you might believe your child can teach you a thing or two about the internet. You wouldn't be wrong but did you know teens are more susceptible to online conspiracy theories and disinformation than you? Research shows that young people are increasingly exposed to disinformation and misinformation, and struggling to separate facts from fake news. It seems like the "online generation" is also the most vulnerable to the pitfalls of the online world and experts say that has dangerous consequences.

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

Picture this: A swarm of bees, millions of them, unleashed and spilling out onto a highway. Sound like the plot of a horror movie? This happened recently in Burlington, Ont. when a truck carrying five million bees spilled its cargo. The incident caused quite a buzz, but experts are saying we're buzzing about the wrong disaster. The real one is the rapidly declining populations of these bees and how our future might be depending on their fate.

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

Audio sources: Global News

Guest: Clarrie Feinstein, real estate reporter

Real estate is becoming mission impossible in Canada. With interest rates holding high, there is less demand for properties on the market and an increasing number of mortgages are going into default. Property investors aren't making money and struggling to sell as homebuilders are cancelling projects. Something has to give. As the Star's real estate reporter Clarrie Feinstein shares, all eyes are on the Bank of Canada to cut rates in 2024.

This episode was produced by Brian Bradley and Sean Pattendon.

Guest: Jeremy Nuttall, reporter at the Toronto Star

In May 2014 the New York Times published an opinion piece that generated much buzz, claiming that Canada might have stolen the famous "American Dream" when it came to median, after-tax income, quality of education and economic equality. Less than ten years and a pandemic later, the "Canadian Dream" might be turning into a nightmare with a spiraling housing, healthcare and economic crisis and the U.S. is once again pulling ahead of Canada when it comes to middle-class prosperity and social mobility. We explore why the tables have turned.

Audio sources: TikTok

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

Guest: Wendy Gillis, reporter at the Toronto Star

Imagine someone going through a serious mental health crisis — and calls for help to prevent hurting themselves — and is then seriously hurt by those who responded to the distress call. It happened to a man called Brent Langille in an example of police on the frontlines of mental health calls. But shrinking budgets for mental health programs has led to the police becoming de-facto front-line mental health workers. We take a look at how this recent case highlighted cracks in the system.

If you are thinking of suicide or know someone who is, there is help. Resources are available online at http://crisisservicescanada.ca or you can connect to the national suicide prevention helpline at 1-833-456-4566, or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.

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

Guest: Edward Keenan and Emma Teitel, columnists

Mayor Olivia Chow's executive committee met this week for the first time to tackle new tax and revenue options and get something started on affordable housing. The only question is whether the provincial and federal governments will join them. Plus: the Ontario Place spa redesign, the final closure of the Scarborough RT and the thrilling siren song of the Polar Express (and the images painted on it).

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

Audio Sources: @kissingbanditt/YouTube

Guest: Kate McCullough, reporter at The Hamilton Spectator

It is a story out of East Hamilton that has made headlines, but could happen to anyone. A couple who own a home as an investment property have sold, told their tenants to leave because the buyers intend to live there, but the tenants say they can't leave because they find a home in their price range in the costly rental market. The situation has now gone to the backlogged Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), effectively putting a stop on closing of the house sale. Fed up, the buyers temporarily backed their 28-foot trailer into the driveway of their would-be home a few weeks ago, adding to the tensions between parties. Stay tuned for an outrageous, but increasingly common, real estate tale.

This episode was produced by Brian Bradley and Paolo Marques.

Audio Sources: CHCH News

Guest: Megan Ogilvie, health reporter

Health professionals are warning of an earlier than expected fourth wave of COVID-19 and the emergence of yet more fast-transmitting variants. While nothing has changed in terms of how we live with COVID, experts are saying this fourth pandemic autumn will be different from previous waves. This time around Canadians have tools to tackle the virus with high levels of immunity from a combination of vaccination and previous infection, and there are new, reformulated booster shots coming soon to specifically target the new subvariants. In today's episode, we include all you need to know about the new booster shots and what to do to ride the expected pandemic waves of fall and winter.

This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Sean Pattendon and Brian Bradley.

Audio Sources: CBC, Timiskaming Health Unit, Global News

Guest: Matti Siemiatycki, director on University of Toronto's Infrastructure Institute

Earlier this month, a scathing report from Ontario's auditor general revealed that Premier Doug Ford's decision to open up land for development in the protected Greenbelt area might have been influenced by well-connected developers who stand to make billions of dollars. In the aftermath of growing calls for resignation and political pressure, the Ford government seems undeterred in its plans for development on Greenbelt land. Ford says it's the only way to tackle the massive housing crisis, but is that really accurate and do we really need to build on the Greenbelt to fix the housing crisis? We explore this question with an expert.

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

Guest: Melissa Haussman, professor of political science at Carleton University

Former U.S. President Donald Trump's legal web is more tangled than ever after his fourth indictment was handed down in Georgia as he ramps up another run for the White House. Trump has 91 criminal charges against him between Georgia, Florida, New York and the District of Columbia and the stakes could not be higher for him and for American democracy. On "This Matters," we take a look at the political impact of Trump's indictments.

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

Audio sources: SkyNews/TikTok, NowThisNews/TikTok