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Ideas

CBC
Canada
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Human Rights
Indigenous Rights
Oslo Accord
Empathy
Gaza
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Grief
Brutalism
Middle East Peace Process
Egg Freezing
Humanitarian Crisis
Irish Famine
Democracy
Indigenous Peoples
Canadian Identity
Fertility
Christmas

IDEAS is a place for people who like to think. If you value deep conversation and unexpected reveals, this show is for you. From the roots and rise of authoritarianism to near-death experiences to the history of toilets, no topic is off-limits. Hosted by Nahlah Ayed, we’re home to immersive documentaries and fascinating interviews with some of the most consequential thinkers of our time.

With an a... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes248Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Ideas

Latest Episodes

It depends on who you ask. Until recently empathy was generally considered a positive thing. But a growing number of mostly conservative voices believe empathy can be extremely dangerous — even toxic. Their argument is that empathy can drive irration... more

Imagine seeing an atrocity with eyes wide open and then returning to a life that doesn't ask much about it. This is the experience of five Canadian doctors who have been offering urgent medical aid in Gaza for almost three years. But in Gaza, the abs... more

In the mid-20th century, convenience was presented as 'the wave of the future,' where revolutionary home appliances would reduce work and save time. Today, convenience drives the success of tech and retail giants, our phones have become 'convenience ... more

Theatre of the Absurd was born in the wake of the Second World War as a recoil against the violent fetish that totalitarian regimes had for “order.” For 75 years, absurdist playwright Eugène Ionesco's plays have been running continuously in Paris. ID... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Matt Richins
Psychologist and neuroscientist studying empathy
University of Exeter
Episode: Can empathy be dangerous?
Michael Slote
Moral philosopher and professor of ethics
University of Miami
Episode: Can empathy be dangerous?
Susan Lanzoni
Psychologist and historian with a focus on empathy in the context of healthcare
Episode: Can empathy be dangerous?
Ali Beth Stuckey
American Christian conservative commentator and podcast host
Episode: Can empathy be dangerous?
Gad Saad
Canadian academic and best-selling author known for his critique of empathy
Concordia University, visiting professor at Northwood University
Episode: Can empathy be dangerous?
Siva Vaidhyanathan
Professor of media studies, University of Virginia; author on media and democracy
University of Virginia
Episode: The inconvenient truth about convenience culture
Rebecca Beausaert
History professor, University of Guelph; curator of Kitchens of the Future exhibit
University of Guelph
Episode: The inconvenient truth about convenience culture
Joshua Neves
Professor of film and moving image studies, Concordia University
Concordia University
Episode: The inconvenient truth about convenience culture
Tim Wu
Professor and author known for The Tyranny of Convenience
Columbia University
Episode: The inconvenient truth about convenience culture

Host

Nahlah Ayed
Host associated with immersive documentaries and long-form interviews; lead host of the series.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 4k ratings
  • Your latest episode on art and fascism

    The best analysis of the current socio-political zeitgeist. Thank you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ha! Politics
    Canadaa month ago
  • Absent ideas

    Ideas was once a challenging hour of exploration. Now it’s an hour of constructing straw men to knock over. Critical engagement is absent. I say this as someone who generally agrees with many of the positions - but people want genuine engagement not Sunday school indoctrination. I want to wrestle with ideas not be spoon fed a perspective.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Blaine oh
    Canada4 months ago
  • Work in progress

    I never missed Ideas back when Paul Kennedy was host. He left and the series changed considerably: from riveting and informative to ridiculous topics and presenter’s growing pains. I stopped listening for a while but have returned hoping quality has returned. Not horrible but it’s such fluff. Wish CBC would make entire Ideas (and “Q” for that matter) archive accessible; I’d re-listen to the old episodes in a heartbeat.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Mag 101
    Canada4 months ago
  • Frustrating waiting for part 2

    I find it frustrating waiting for a month now for part 2 of the doc on billionaires to be posted. We should be told when to expect part 2 or 3 of whatever documentary and not be left in limbo checking all the time and not knowing. This is turning me off the podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    mathgirlmarie
    Canada5 months ago
  • Israel bias

    Had an Israeli on to discuss Palestine…no pushback no alternative views allowed. Just Hasbara

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    greengrounds
    Canada6 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise depth, intelligence, and thoughtful examination of ideas.
Some critics note a perceived lack of pushback or challenging viewpoints in certain episodes.
Fans value accessibility of in-depth journalism and documentary storytelling.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#64
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#7
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#234
Argentina/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Lamarck was wrong about evolution. Was he right about life?
Q: If Darwin itself incorporated Lamarckian ideas, when did the scientific establishment push back, and why?
Riskin notes that Darwin did entertain Lamarckian ideas, but the neo-Darwinist movement in the early 20th century emphasized a passive organism model, in part to align with a mechanistic, materialist science and to resist teleology.
Lamarck was wrong about evolution. Was he right about life?
Q: What does epigenetics add to the Lamarckian idea of agency, and does it redeem or redefine his legacy?
Riskin argues that epigenetics, along with niche construction and animal cultures, expands the concept of inheritance beyond DNA and shows how organisms influence evolution, which she regards as a vindication of Lamarck's core insight about agency.
What it's like to travel as a blind person
Q: Did you always feel that technology could be revolutionary for accessibility design, or were there limits you worried about?
Technology is a double-edged sword: it can unlock independence but also risk locking people out if designed without inclusive practice, so the emphasis is on appropriate, simple, accessible solutions rather than flashy AI alone.
What it's like to travel as a blind person
Q: How did you balance being adventurous, exploring, getting out there, and staying safe?
Adventurousness is highly individual and situational; the key is quick risk assessment, willingness to ask for help when needed, and accepting that there is no single right way to travel.
How new fascism operates
Q: Do you see signs that suggest perhaps there's a turn happening in the US as we approach midterms?
There is a troubling quiet among many who do not support the leadership but who have become passive or cautious due to donor influence and fear of repercussions; the challenge is sustaining brave, organized action without succumbing to collective hostage dynamics.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ideas

What is Ideas about and what kind of topics does it cover?

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Where can I find podcast stats for Ideas?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ideas. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ideas and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ideas get?

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What are the audience demographics for Ideas?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Ideas, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Ideas have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ideas has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ideas?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ideas:

1. The Sunday Magazine
2. The Current
3. Front Burner
4. Quirks and Quarks
5. White Coat, Black Art

How many episodes of Ideas are there?

Ideas launched 20 years ago and published 248 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Ideas?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ideas?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ideas from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Ideas?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Ideas. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Ideas?

Recent guests on Ideas include:

1. Matt Richins
2. Michael Slote
3. Susan Lanzoni
4. Ali Beth Stuckey
5. Gad Saad
6. Siva Vaidhyanathan
7. Rebecca Beausaert
8. Joshua Neves

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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