The Sunday Magazine

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with global affairs experts Arif Lalani and Jennifer Welsh about how heightened tensions between Israel and Iran are looming over the G7 leaders' summit, historian Augustine Sedgewick looks at how fatherhood has evolved through the ages, CNN anchor Jake Tapper defends his case that Joe Biden's cognitive decline was covered up, and literary food historian Nathalie Cooke muses on what menus can reveal about art, culture and class.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday

Erica Jong became a literary sensation and feminist icon in the 1970s and 80s for her depictions of female agency, sexuality and relationships. And her work often drew from her real life, with friends and family members inspiring her characters... including her daughter, Molly Jong-Fast. Jong-Fast joins Piya Chattopadhyay to discuss her new memoir How to Lose Your Mother, which lays bare her perspective on her upbringing, relationship with her mom – and the conundrum of competing narratives in families.

Host Piya Chattopadhyay speaks with defence and security experts David Perry and Stephen Saideman about how Canada should prepare for less U.S. involvement on the world stage, Julia Pagel explores how tariffs are causing chaos for customs brokers, The Atlantic's David A. Graham outlines how Project 2025 is reshaping U.S. policy, and Molly Jong-Fast discusses her new memoir about her relationship with her famous feminist novelist mother, Erica Jong.Discover more at https://www.cbc.ca/sunday