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The Decibel

The Decibel

Written by: The Globe and Mail
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Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story shaping our world, in conversation with reporters, experts, and the people at the centre of the news.2025 The Globe and Mail Daily Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • What we know about the deadly fire at CFB Wainwright
    Oct 22 2026

    Four people were killed and dozens injured in a fire at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in Alberta on Saturday. Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the worst tragedies for the Armed Forces on Canadian soil in peacetime.

    Today, Globe feature writer Jana G. Pruden is on the show. She was in Wainwright this week and she’ll tell us what we know, and what’s still unknown, about the tragedy.

    Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com


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    19 mins
  • Alberta rejects separation. What comes next?
    Oct 21 2026

    Albertans firmly rejected the option to separate from Canada in Monday night’s referendum vote, with 75 per cent of voters opting to keep the province in the country. But will that mark the end of the separatist movement in Alberta? And what does it mean for Premier Danielle Smith and her future?

    Tyler Dawson is a Globe columnist and Opinion editor based in Edmonton. He is also the author of the book The Republic of Alberta: An Idea That Won’t Go Away. He explains the political consequences of the results of the separation question as well as the other nine questions that Albertans voted on.

    Questions? Comments? Ideas? E-mail us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com


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    25 mins
  • The people filming their chores to train humanoid robots
    Oct 20 2026

    Household chores can be seen as a drain on your time. But to some AI companies, how you do those chores is valuable data. Apps like Atlas Capture are using videos of people sweeping or cleaning a toilet to train humanoid robots. Who are the people doing this work for AI companies? And is the pay (usually around US$3 per hour) worth their time?

    Joe Castaldo is The Globe’s AI and tech reporter and he tried out the technology firsthand. He’s on the show to tell us what this work looks like, what the people doing this labour think about it and what it means for humanity when we teach robots to do chores.

    Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at thedecibel@globeandmail.com


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    25 mins
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