What's up with the internet?

What does the future of the internet look like for Canadian creators? In our season finale, host Takara Small speaks with Dulcedo CEO Kareem Leduc, social strategist Carmen Vicente and CIRA's Spencer Callaghan about how AI, changing platforms and the rise of bots are reshaping the creator economy and trust online.

They explore the importance of protecting content ownership, building communities beyond social media platforms and creating a sustainable future for Canadian creators in an increasingly AI-driven digital world.

What does it take to build a sustainable career in content creation without burning out? Host Takara Small sits down with travel creator Aly Smalls, CEO of Dulcedo Mangement Karim Leduc and Professor Wendy Cukier to explore the challenges of the creator economy, from unpredictable income and online harassment to protecting your privacy and mental health.

They also share practical advice on diversifying income, navigating brand contracts, protecting content ownership and developing the business skills creators need to succeed in an ever-changing digital landscape.

What does it really take to turn content creation into a career? Host Takara Small sits down with content creator and entrepreneur Mallory Rowan (@malloryrowan) to explore the business behind the creator economy, from brand partnerships and monetization to building sustainable revenue streams and navigating the unique challenges of being a Canadian creator.

Storyteller Marsha Chandur of yesmarsha.com also joins us to share practical tips for creating content that captures attention, keeps audiences engaged and leaves a lasting impression.

We pull back the curtain on the creator economy with two Canadians who turn travel tips and comedy into full-time work.  Edmonton travel YouTuber Aly Smalls (youtube.com/@alysmalls) and comedian-musician Anesti Danellis (https://www.anestidanelis.com/) join us to share firsthand insight into the admin, the risk and the freedom that comes with being a Canadian content creator.

We get into collaboration versus competition, the mental load of never fully clocking out and the uncomfortable truth that Canadian creators often face more limited monetization options than US creators.

As more Canadians turn to creators for news and real-time updates, the way we decide who to trust is changing. In episode two, Toronto-based sisters Rebecca & Natalie Davey of Ceres Productions join us to explore how creators are reshaping the media landscape, why authenticity often matters more than polish and what this shift means for the future of Canadian journalism. 

The creator economy is blurring the lines between independent creators and traditional media and reshaping how we find things and who to trust. We’re unpacking how algorithms changed who gets seen, why creators can feel more authentic than established outlets and what these shifts mean for Canadian culture, journalism and regulation. 

Season four kicks off in conversation with returning guest journalist, consultant and commentator Sue Gardner, who has previously held executive roles at CBC and the Wikimedia Foundation. 

Feeling overwhelmed by the flood of misinformation and disinformation online? You're not alone—and more importantly, you're not powerless. In our season three finale, we discuss best practices for fighting back to correct misinformation online and the best approaches to navigating our complex information environment.

Joining the conversation are returning guests Canadian author and legal professor Timothy Caulfield and Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts. We close the season with insights from CIRA President and CEO, Byron Holland, who suggests practical tips that anyone can take when browsing the internet.

From fake news outlets to AI-trained propaganda, hostile actors are sowing division and distrust. In this episode, we explore how foreign interference and AI-driven disinformation are threatening trust in institutions including schools, our health services and media. We unpack insights from Canada’s recent public inquiry, examine why our country is a prime target and look at global strategies for digital resilience. 

We're joined by journalist and tech commentator Sue Gardner, foreign disinformation manipulation expert and fellow at Centre for International Governance Innovation, Halyna Padalko and Helen Hayes, a senior fellow at the Center for Media Technology and Democracy at McGill University. 

Can you still spot what's real online? An alarming 43% of Canadians report it's becoming harder to distinguish between true and false information, while 38% admit falling for false news multiple times monthly. How can we protect ourselves against fake news? To share practical tips you can use, we're joined by Matthew Johnson, Director of Education at MediaSmarts, who shares a four-step verification process for vetting online information.

Resources:

•  www.mediasmarts.ca/fact-checker
• https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/news/2025/03/detecting-and-reporting-disinformation.html
• https://www.cyber.gc.ca/en/guidance/how-identify-misinformation-disinformation-and-malinformation-itsap00300

Have you ever wondered why smart, rational people believe things that aren't true? This episode explores why humans are vulnerable to misinformation and looks into the psychological factors that make us believe misinformation. Canadian author and legal professor Timothy Caulfield is back to discuss why so many of us vulnerable to believing fake news and the power of the pause, when it comes to your scrolling habits. 

We later welcome guest Michael Kropveld, Founder and Executive Director of Info-Secte / Info-Cult, who has decades of experience in researching and assisting cults. Michael shares in-depth insights on human vulnerabilities and how to respond.

Visit https://www.infosecte.org/ for more resources to safeguard yourself against misinformation.