
The Sunday Magazine
CBC Radio’s The Sunday Magazine is a lively, wide-ranging mix of topical long-form conversations, engaging ideas and more. Each week, host Piya Chattopadhyay takes time for deep exploration, but also makes space for surprise, delight and fun.
Latest episodes

Jul 20, 2025 • 1h 40min
Indigenous consultation, Social media and language, Jasper wildfire legacy, Animals and death
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation Chief Craig Nootchtai and columnist and professor Niigaan Sinclair about the bigger meaning of consultation with Indigenous communities, linguist and influencer Adam Aleksic breaks down the way online culture is shaping language, journalist Matthew Scace looks at the legacy of the Jasper, Alta. wildfire, and philosopher Susana Monsó offers death lessons from the animal kingdom.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Jul 16, 2025 • 24min
How disability prepared one woman for parenthood
When disability upended Jessica Slice's world, her life grew richer in unexpected ways. The writer found herself with newfound perspective and skills that made her feel uniquely equipped to become a mother. She shares her reflections on disability culture and parenthood in her new book.

Jul 13, 2025 • 1h 30min
NDP leadership, disability and parenthood, Canadian housing, Vince Carter documentary
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with former federal NDP candidate Joel Harden and political strategist Jordan Leichnitz about the future of the NDP, we look at parenting with a disability through the eyes of author Jessica Slice, researcher Carolyn Whitzman and real estate expert Romana King explain why intervention is needed in the Canadian housing market, and Adrian Ma brings us a documentary exploring how Vince Carter helped put Canadian basketball on the map.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Jul 9, 2025 • 37min
Stephen Fry says Odysseus is a hero for our times
As a child, Stephen Fry says he was obsessed with the gods and heroes of ancient Greek myth the way other boys were obsessed with comic books or football players. Today, the actor, author and director's enthusiasm for those stories is undiminished. Fry joins Piya Chattopadhyay to talk about his epic project of reimagining and retelling these timeless tales for a modern audience – including his fourth and final book in the series, Odyssey – and why he believes its hero, Odysseus, remains a hero for our times.

Jul 6, 2025 • 1h 32min
Canada's trade relationships, Wither the signature?, Stephen Fry, Canadian symbols
Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Globe and Mail's Paul Waldie and Kelly Malone from The Canadian Press about tensions facing Canada's trade relationships, The Sunday Magazine's Pete Mitton looks at what's lost when physical signatures are replaced by digital analogues, actor and raconteur Stephen Fry explores why ancient Greek myths still have great resonance in our modern world, and as the beaver marks 50 years as an official symbol of Canada, we consider what our national markers say about us.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Jul 2, 2025 • 24min
Rolling the dice on human nature: How tabletop games reveal ancient secrets
Whether whiling away a rainy afternoon at the cottage, or winding down after a day on the lake… for many, games are key parts of long summer days. But moving pieces around a board can mean a lot more than just entertainment. Author and board game journalist Tim Clare's book Across the Board examines the history and culture of games. He tells Nora Young how they hold big lessons on politics and civilizations, and can make radical statements on productivity, autonomy and freedom.

Jun 29, 2025 • 1h 34min
Canada-U.S. trade, Iran's future, Board games, Barbra Streisand
Guest host Nora Young speaks with CBC News senior business reporter Peter Armstrong and The Economist's Canada correspondent Rob Russo about Donald Trump calling off trade talks with Canada, The Economist's Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom and Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari consider Iran's future, writer Tim Clare explores how board games are a portal to the past, and we revisit Piya Chattopadhyay's conversation with entertainment legend Barbra Streisand about her memoir My Name is Barbra.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Jun 25, 2025 • 23min
Actor Ed Helms finds laughs and lessons in history's greatest 'screw-ups'
You may know Ed Helms from The Daily Show, The Office and The Hangover movies. But the actor and comedian is also a history buff. And he thinks there's a lot we can learn – and laugh about – by delving into history's greatest, zaniest and funniest screw-ups. Helms explores those stories in his podcast and book SNAFU. He joins Piya Chattopadhyay to share some of his favourites – from a CIA plot to make Fidel Castro's beard fall out, to a nuclear scare in Canada where a 20-something future-president named Jimmy Carter saved the day.

Jun 22, 2025 • 1h 39min
U.S. strikes on Iran, Tech leaders' future visions, Sunday Politics Panel, Ed Helms
Arash Azizi, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and Barbara Slavin from the Stimson Center discuss the implications of recent U.S. strikes on Iran, emphasizing the need for diplomatic solutions amid rising tensions. Astrophysicist Adam Becker takes a critical look at tech moguls' visions for the future, questioning their societal influence and the risks of unchecked AI development. Meanwhile, Ed Helms offers comedic insights into historical blunders, blending humor with lessons from the past, showcasing the importance of learning from our mistakes.

Jun 18, 2025 • 31min
Jake Tapper defends his case that Joe Biden's decline was covered up
One year ago this month, Joe Biden’s performance at the first U.S. presidential debate against Donald Trump sparked global headlines – and rang alarms – about his mental and physical acuity, culminating in Biden's eventual withdrawal from the race. After the Democrats went on to lose the election, CNN anchor Jake Tapper and Axios political reporter Alex Thompson began investigating the roots of Biden's decline. In their new book Original Sin, they argue that his inner circle went to great lengths to cover it up. Tapper joins Piya Chattopadhyay to make his case, and respond to the criticism his reporting has received from across the political spectrum.