Just Asking

As Canadians celebrate the Blue Jays epic world series run, every player statistic is being dissected by an analytics team behind the plate. So what is it about the Blue Jays that helped them get this far? The 4-billion dollar sports analytics industry has become a major part of how teams scout talent, and how the game is played. On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your burning baseball questions. Jane Leavy is a sportswriter, biographer, and author of the new book, "Make Me Commissioner: I Know What's Wrong with Baseball and How to Fix It." And Joe Baker is the Tanenbaum Research Chair in Sport Science, Data Modelling and Sport Analytics at the University of Toronto, where he specializes in talent development. Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

Four young Canadians are suing the Canadian Pension Plan who claim that CPP Investments is failing to manage climate-related financial risk. With the fund's investment in fossil fuels, the lawsuit alleges that CPP is being grossly underestimating the market impact of a warming climate. So if you want to be a climate-conscious investor, where do you start?On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about climate change and your finances. Tim Nash is the Founder of Good Investing, a certified financial planner, and an expert in socially responsible investing and sustainability. Anshula Chowdhury is an entrepreneur and expert in social impact measurement and how organizations report on their environmental and sustainability goals.Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

Divorce can turn your life upside down. From money, to housing, to how your kids are going to cope. Prenups are getting more popular, as Gen Z and millennials try to plan ahead, according to recent polling. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to make social media safer for kids, and what parents and policymakers need to prioritize. Vikki Stark is a psychotherapist and divorce counsellor. She's also the author of several books including, "The Divorce Talk: How to Tell the Kids." Justin Lee is a family lawyer based in Toronto who specializes in divorce. You can also find him answering divorce questions on TikTok and Instagram @jleejd.We’ll also hear from Melissa Bourgeois, the founder of One Family Law, which has developed a first-of-its kind approach in Canada for more amicable divorces. Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

This week, the Liberals unveiled part of their plan to crack down on violent crime in Canada with Bill-C14. But will it make people safer? The Canadian Police Association and politicians, including Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, have long been calling for bail reform. The new legislation makes dozens of changes to the criminal code – targeted at Canada’s bail and sentencing frameworks. But critics wonder how much these changes will actually help. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to tackle violent crime in Canadian communities. Danardo Jones is an Associate Professor of Law at the University of Windsor. He’s also a former criminal lawyer and former Director of Legal Services at the African Canadian Legal Clinic. Nicole Myers is a Criminologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Queen's University.We’ll also hear from Jeff Fawcett, the mayor of Brandon, Manitoba who has been pushing for bail reform to address crime in his own city.Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

The cost of living spills over into every aspect of our lives - including our romantic relationships. Do you and your partner have the same attitude towards money and how much you spend? What red flags should you look for before you tie your finances to someone? And what if one person makes more money than the other? On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about dealing with the messy money talk that comes up in relationships - from dating, to joint accounts, to who makes more money. Jessica Moorehouse is a Certified Financial Counsellor, host of the More Money Podcast, and author of "Everything but Money." Lambers Fisher is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist 

This week, Meta announced its new "PG-13 guidelines" for teen account settings on Instagram. The push to make the app safer for kids comes as countries like Australia have moved to ban social media for children under 16, with jurisdictions like Nova Scotia, Quebec, France and Denmark considering similar legislation. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to make social media safer for kids, and what parents and policymakers need to prioritize. Suzie Dunn is an Assistant Professor of Law and director of the Law and Technology Institute at Dalhousie University. Dr. Shimi Kang is a psychiatrist with Future Ready Minds, a counselling service for teens and families. She's also the author of "The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World." 

Are you filled with excitement or dread about cooking a big meal for family and friends? Maybe you aren't a fan of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and are looking for more creative ideas to impress your guests. Or maybe you're just shifting into soup mode as leaves change, and want to take advantage of all the seasonal vegetables in your fridge. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about Thanksgiving cooking and put it to the pros. Jennifer Crawford is a food enthusiast, cook and the 2019 winner of MasterChef Canada. And Joshna Maharaj is a chef, author and activist. 

On Friday, Israel’s cabinet approved Donald Trump's plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, paving the way for the release of all hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees. But beyond those initial steps, the future for Israelis and Palestinians is anything but clear. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about the ceasefire plan and what happens next. Ian Lustick is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Omar Dajani is a law professor at the University of Pacific who served as an advisor during the Camp David and Taba talks from 1999 to 2001. We'll also hear from freelance Israeli journalist Rachel Fink who's been reporting from Hostage square in Tel Aviv.

It's been two years since the war between Israel and Hamas began. But as time goes, talking about the conflict hasn't gotten any easier. Whether it's with family and friends, at school or at work, these conversations are fraught with emotional baggage, and decades of historical trauma. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to engage in these conversations meaningfully. Our guests are Raja Khouri and Jeffrey Wilikinson, friends and co-authors of the book, "The Wall Between: What Jews and Palestinians Don't Want to Know about Each Other". As the war continues, these two friends have been trying to foster dialogue between the two communities and will share their advice on how to talk to each other. 

The AI-generated actress Tilly Norwood has prompted massive backlash from Hollywood stars and labour unions, decrying the move as an attempt to steal jobs from film industry workers. Particle 6, the AI production company responsible for this computerized character, claims there are multiple talent agents interested in signing the machine-generated ingénue. On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about the use of AI in TV and film, and what it means for the industry. Our guests are Rad Simonpillai, a film and pop culture columnist and Steven Zeitchik, the Senior Tech Editor for The Hollywood Reporter. They'll answer your questions!