The Sunday Magazine

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Atlantic's Toluse "Tolu" Olorunnipa and Politico's Hailey Fuchs about the revelations in Friday's partial release of the Epstein files – and how they intersect with U.S. politics, baker and writer Ruby Tandoh explains how virality shapes our appetites, Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee discusses breakthroughs in cancer research, and novelist Gary Shteyngart explores the parallels between his dystopian new novel and life in the U.S. today.

This past week, Time magazine named "The Architects of AI" its 2025 Person of the Year, even as the stock market wobbled with fears of an artificial intelligence-fuelled bubble. One way to help make sense of this moment is a tech industry concept known as the "hype cycle." As The Sunday Magazine’s Pete Mitton explains, the time-tested idea suggests that, as with other new technologies before it, a crash of expectations – and markets – will likely arrive long before we truly understand how to live with AI. Until then, it’s important to understand how the cycle works – and some of the unique dangers AI hype presents.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with journalists Shannon Proudfoot and Rob Russo about the year in Canadian politics, The Sunday Magazine’s Pete Mitton explains how the "hype cycle" concept can help us understand where we stand with artificial intelligence, Russian-American journalist Julia Ioffe explores the feminist history that shaped modern Russia, and journalist Stefan Fatsis shares what the words of the year reveal about how dictionaries are evolving.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

In our monthly challenge That's Puzzling!, Piya Chattopadhyay competes against familiar voices and clever listeners in a battle of brain games devised by puzzle master Peter Brown. In this special edition, recorded live in Toronto as part of CBC's national holiday campaign Make the Season Kind, Bookends host Mattea Roach, actress and comedian Jennifer Whalen and a whip smart audience member enter the puzzledome to duke it out for glory.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with journalist Ana Vanessa Herrero and Latin America expert Rebecca Hanson about U.S. President Donald Trump's growing threats to Venezuela and his administration's strikes in the broader region, Ali Kharsa shares his experience fleeing Syria's civil war for Canada a decade ago and University of Ottawa professor Christina Clark-Kazak discusses the current state of Canada's refugee programs, and our monthly challenge That's Puzzling! returns for a special edition recorded live in Toronto with Bookends host Mattea Roach and actress and comedian Jennifer Whalen.Discover more at cbc.ca/sunday.

When she became prime minister of Finland at age 34, Sanna Marin was the youngest government leader in the world. During the day, she steered her country through crises including the pandemic and neighbouring Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But her life off-the-job, having fun with friends, tended to catch the attention of the global press and led to scandals at home. Marin joins Piya Chattopadhyay to reflect on that experience, and the changes she wants to see, to ensure women aren't discouraged from stepping up and getting involved.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with The Hub's Alberta bureau chief Falice Chin, Calgary-based CBC News journalist Jason Markusoff and The Logic's Ottawa correspondent Laura Osman about Ottawa's energy deal with Alberta, psychologist Robert Coplan explores the virtues of being alone, former Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin reflects on the challenges she faced in office, and forester Peter Kuitenbrouwer traces how maple syrup became a cornerstone of Canadian identity, independence and pride.

Join renowned nonfiction author Bill Bryson as he shares insights from his updated classic, exploring the wonders of science. He discusses the accidental discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation and highlights surprising developments like new moon finds and ancient human relatives. Bryson emphasizes the importance of curiosity and humility in understanding science, especially amid skepticism. He warns against superficiality in the age of the internet and urges listeners to embrace the marvels of life, even in challenging times.

In this lively discussion, Tony Keller, a Globe and Mail columnist, dives into Canada's shifting immigration debates sparked by a post-pandemic surge. Best-selling author Bill Bryson shares his insights on making science accessible, especially during a time of skepticism. Dennis Molinaro, a former national security analyst, sheds light on the complex history of Canada-China relations and the implications of foreign interference. Comedian Charles Demers humorously explores unique Canadianisms, from butter chicken to the melancholic call of loons, celebrating our quirky national identity.

Do you ever peer into your pet's face and wonder... what's going on in there? Jay Ingram has been wondering, too. The science writer and broadcaster joins David Common to discuss his new book, The Science of Pets, and delve into what scientific research says about the bond between humans and non-human animals, the ways we try to understand our fellow creatures, and how pets and their ilk have reshaped humanity in ways great and small.