Ideas Folgen

This podcast features an all-star, and bestselling, lineup of CBC Massey Lecturers from the past decade:Payam Akhavan (2017) and the police officer who pulled over to the side of the road to keep listening; Sally Armstrong (2019) and the women’s rights groups listening to her talks in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and China; Ron Deibert (2020) and his conviction that ‘philosophical’ radio is more crucial than ever; Esi Edugyan (2021), Tomson Highway (2022) feeling astonished when a stranger recognizes his voice after hearing him on the radio; Margaret MacMillan (2015); Tanya Talaga (2018) and her surprise when an older white man in the audience declares Indigenous activists should “go forth and conquer”; Astra Taylor (2023) and how her secret desire is to work at IDEAS; Jennifer Welsh (2016) comforting an audience member who’d served in Afghanistan; and Ian Williams (2024) on how his lectures have more meanings than he realized — so much so, that he’d like a “second date” with IDEAS.*This is the third episode in our special programming marking our 60th anniversary. It originally aired on Dec. 3, 2025.Listen to other episodes in this series:The time when a guest said, "I love you!"How an IDEAS episode on traffic changed a doctor's practice  How IDEAS saved a listener from sending a regrettable emailThe best — and worst — ideas of the last six decades

That's not something you expect to hear in an interview. But the Harvard historian and author of All That She Carried, Tiya Miles did not hesitate to say these words to IDEAS host, Nahlah Ayed. What prompted the bold statement comes down to a question — seemingly for Miles the perfect one to ask.Their conversation resonated with many listeners, including a potter in Australia who shares how this story sustains him after the loss of his wife. Also in this podcast, we find out how IDEAS inspires everything from sonnets, to art, and to recreating historic feasts. *This is the second episode in our 60th anniversary series. It originally aired on Dec. 2, 2025.There's more to listen to here:How an IDEAS episode on traffic changed a doctor's practiceCBC Massey Lecturers reveal how the talks changed them How IDEAS saved a listener from sending a regrettable emailThe best — and worst — ideas of the last six decades

Not many people like to think about traffic but Joanna Oda says this very topic on IDEAS in 2005 permanently changed the way she views medical care as a doctor. "It helped me understand how things that make sense for you as an individual contribute to a collective problem." She adds, the episode introduced her to the idea that one car has a big impact.This episode is the first episode in our special week-long series to mark our 60th anniversary. It originally aired on Dec. 1, 2025. Listen to other episodes in this series:The time when a guest said, "I love you!"CBC Massey Lecturers reveal how the talks changed themHow IDEAS saved a listener from sending a regrettable emailThe best — and worst — ideas of the last six decades