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Ideas

CBC
Canada
Climate Change
Human Rights
Artificial Intelligence
Empathy
Democracy
Massey Lectures
Feminism
Indigenous Rights
Architecture
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Middlemarch
Gaza
Social Justice
Oslo Accord
Syria
Music
Social Media
Indigenous Peoples
Mental Health

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

Mae West shocked audiences and infuriated censors for more than 70 years. She was pop culture’s original blonde bombshell sex-symbol comedienne provocateur. But she was more than just a corseted sex pot with an affinity for word play. She was a trail... more

Rachel Jedinak will never forget the day that changed her life in July 16, 1942. She was eight years old, living in Nazi-occupied France at a time known as les années noires — The Dark Years. Police rounded up Jewish men, women, and children for depo... more

Elon Musk is on the verge of becoming a trillionaire. Right now Musk's wealth is currently around $825 billion US — more than double what it was a year earlier. Only 22 countries currently boast economies larger than Musk’s net worth, but he’s catchi... more

Our homes have been stripped of their essential humanity, says Leilani Farha, this year's CBC Massey Lecturer. Today housing has become a commodity — one fuelling the biggest industry in the world. In her lectures, Housing Inc.: A Global Takeover and... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

David Boris
Military historian hosting Hostile History
Podcast Host
Episode: Weekend Listen: Artificial Intimacy from CBC’s Understood
Sarah Megan Kaye
Subject whose story centers on a romantic relationship with a chatbot
Individual
Episode: Weekend Listen: Artificial Intimacy from CBC’s Understood
Victoria Hetherington
Author who wrote about chatbots falling in love with humans
Author
Episode: Weekend Listen: Artificial Intimacy from CBC’s Understood
Sally Armstrong
Journalist and Massey Lecturer
Episode: How an IDEAS episode on traffic changed a doctor's practice
Gwendolyn Allen
Student and activist who attended a Massey Lecture on feminism
Episode: How an IDEAS episode on traffic changed a doctor's practice
Joanna Oda
Associate Medical Officer of Health in Halton Region, public health physician
Episode: How an IDEAS episode on traffic changed a doctor's practice
Chris Nicolation
Founder/representative of Nitro, Canadian distributor for Green Lightning
Nitro/Green Lightning
Episode: The most important numbers in the universe
Doyle Wiebe
Farmer in Saskatoon using plasma machines
Independent farmer
Episode: The most important numbers in the universe
Jason Webster
Lead tester at PTI Farm in Illinois
PTI Farm
Episode: The most important numbers in the universe

Host

Nahlah Ayed
Host of Ideas

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 3.9k ratings
  • 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
    Canadaa month ago
  • Israel bias

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

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    greengrounds
    Canada2 months ago
  • Amazing program

    This one is for the real heads

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jajagabour
    Canada2 months ago
  • Thank you

    I look forward to every episode. It’s insightful, thought provoking, and intriguing. Canadian content at its best

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Currently84
    Canada3 months ago
  • Garbage

    Government propaganda

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bilkollector
    Canada3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans note the show's ability to translate academic ideas for a broad audience.
Listeners praise depth, rigor, and accessible storytelling.
Some feedback calls for broader representation of viewpoints on contentious topics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#69
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#165
Saudi Arabia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#186
South Korea/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#222
Russia/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#236
India/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Escaped slaves, pirates and 'free love' in ancient history?
Q: What are the main flaws you see in how democracy is practiced today, and how does that contrast with ancient approaches?
The guest argues that modern democracy is often limited by expectations of representative systems and disengagement, whereas ancient models valued direct participation and sortition. He suggests that redistributing power in smaller, more participatory ways could improve engagement, even if comprehensive global adoption isn't feasible in the near term.
What North Korea’s personality cult has to do with Jesus
Q: What's the story behind the North Korean visits you describe?
Cheng explains that the visits were framed to understand Pyongyang firsthand, showing a regime that invites outsiders yet tightly manages access, and how that access revealed the state's religious-like worship of its founders.
How Canada forgot it once had a segregated health system
Q: Could you talk about the process and what kept you motivated as you went through it?
Elaine Dewar describes stubbornness and a relentless curiosity, driven by a moral obligation to uncover the truth about how Indigenous people were treated in medical systems and to push for public education and accountability.
What you should do when accused of being biased
Q: What is the value of tools like the IAT if they cannot predict individual behavior?
They provide a population-level map of biases that can guide organizations to design better decision processes and reduce systemic bias, rather than predicting any one person's actions.
Will AI save us or damn us?
Q: Astra, what aspect of AI keeps you up at night?
She expresses concern about the denigration of humans, the risk of anthropomorphizing machines, and the societal ease with which AI could be weaponized for domination if not properly guarded.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ideas

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

This program consistently explores big ideas across culture, history, politics, and science through in-depth interviews and documentary-style storytelling. Episodes often thread historical context with contemporary relevance, featuring scholars, journalists, policymakers, and voice-of-experience guests who illuminate complex topics—from Pan-Africanism and Indigenous sovereignty to the evolution of celebrity, climate resilience, and social justice. A standout aspect is how the show makes academic concepts accessible to a general audience, while maintaining rigorous analysis and diverse perspectives. Listeners can expect thoughtful debate, fresh historical angles, and uncovering underrepresented viewpoints, all brought to life by meticulous r... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Ideas?

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How many listeners does Ideas get?

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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?

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What guests have appeared on Ideas?

Recent guests on Ideas include:

1. David Boris
2. Sarah Megan Kaye
3. Victoria Hetherington
4. Sally Armstrong
5. Gwendolyn Allen
6. Joanna Oda
7. Chris Nicolation
8. Doyle Wiebe

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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