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Ideas

CBC
Canada
Artificial Intelligence
Climate Change
Human Rights
Indigenous Rights
Empathy
Feminism
Architecture
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Middlemarch
Oslo Accord
Democracy
Gaza
Social Justice
Brutalism
Middle East Peace Process
Egg Freezing
George Eliot
Humanitarian Crisis
Irish Famine

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

A hundred years ago homework was described as a 'sin against childhood.' But the practice is still a staple of our education system. Some parents like Dawn Quelch took a stand and banned it from their home. IDEAS examines the ideological roots of hom... more

What happens when original artworks become endless copies? German philosopher Walter Benjamin called it the death of "aura," and his concept predicted our digital age. He describes "aura" as the energy that encases an object, and argued standing befo... more

Pope Leo XIV has been deeply influenced by St. Augustine, and so, the fourth-century titan of Western thought has re-entered the global conversation. IDEAS producer Seán Foley speaks to Canadian scholars who have read St. Augustine closely to determi... more

In pre-independence India, activist B.R. Ambedkar said India would never be free unless caste was eradicated. Today, India is rife with an aggressive majoritarianism that sees India as a Hindu nation. Could Ambedkar have saved India from its fate? *T... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Angelica Shirley Carpenter
Author of 'Born Criminal, Matilda Joslyn Gage, Radical Suffragist'
Episode: The suffragist who was too radical for Susan. B. Anthony
Esi Edugyan
Novelist
Author (Washington Black, All That She Carried)
Episode: The overlapping truths of history and fiction
Robert Sterrer
Composer
Composer
Episode: David Bowie took his own death as a creative catalyst
Leah Kados
Musician, writer, academic, author of Black Star Theory
academic, author
Episode: David Bowie took his own death as a creative catalyst
Alain Deneault
French-speaking Canadian philosopher and public intellectual
University of Moncton
Episode: How to brace for a world of unheard-of conditions
Robert Macfarlane
Award-winning author and Cambridge University professor, focus on landscape and human relationship with Earth
University of Cambridge / Author
Episode: How the Anthropocene is changing the elements — and us
Virginia Oeggerli
PhD student in Jennifer Grenz's lab at UBC
University of British Columbia
Episode: What emerges from the ashes after a wildfire? (Pt 3)
Jennifer Grenz
Indigenous ecologist, professor and researcher in the UBC Indigenous Ecology Lab
University of British Columbia
Episode: What emerges from the ashes after a wildfire? (Pt 3)
Nina Andrasic
Projects coordinator focusing on forestry, wildlife and lands for St'át'imc Government Services
St'át'imc Government Services
Episode: What emerges from the ashes after a wildfire? (Pt 3)

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 3.9k ratings
  • 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
    Canada3 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
    Canada3 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Israel bias

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    greengrounds
    Canada5 months ago
  • Amazing program

    This one is for the real heads

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jajagabour
    Canada5 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
#90
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#12
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#187
Mexico/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#207
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#216
Finland/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#225
New Zealand/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

David Bowie took his own death as a creative catalyst
Q: How did Bowie's approach to death influence the way his final works were received?
The guests explain that Bowie's late works, especially Black Star and Lazarus, turn mortality into a conscious, artistic strategy that foregrounds life, transformation, and the ongoing relevance of the artist after death.
Love or hate math, geometry is embedded in daily life
Q: But what is that straw problem really asking, and why does it matter beyond a classroom debate?
It reveals how people understand and frame definitions, showing that a simple term like 'hole' can lead to deeper mathematical thinking and healthy epistemic humility.
The fear of fire is taking control of us
Q: How would you describe your relationship with fire given its evolving role in civilization?
Vaillant explains that the relationship is complicated and shifting; he feels reverence around a home fireplace yet recognizes the vulnerability of cities and ecosystems to fire, acknowledging how climate change intensifies fire behavior.
Suzuki’s Survival Guide | A Warning
Q: What is the fundamental takeaway you hope listeners gain from revisiting these early warnings?
That the warnings have always been there, we ran out of time, and radical, immediate action is required now—investment in efficiency, clean energy, and equitable development to safeguard the future.
Suzuki’s Survival Guide | A Warning
Q: David Suzuki, you're now retired from the nature of things at the age of 87. What are you doing with the rest of your life?
I'm not retired; I've changed focus to spend time with my grandchildren and to continue using science and storytelling to drive action for the future generations, because that's what keeps me motivated.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Ideas

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

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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.

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What guests have appeared on Ideas?

Recent guests on Ideas include:

1. Angelica Shirley Carpenter
2. Esi Edugyan
3. Robert Sterrer
4. Leah Kados
5. Alain Deneault
6. Robert Macfarlane
7. Virginia Oeggerli
8. Jennifer Grenz

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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