• 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
  • The history of Alberta separatism
    Oct 19 2026

    Today is the referendum in Alberta, where Albertans will cast their vote either to remain part of Canada or start the process to hold another referendum to leave (among other ballot questions). But this issue stretches far beyond the past few years – it goes back to before Alberta was a province of Canada.

    Today, we’re going through the history of the Alberta separatist movement with Tyler Dawson. He’s an opinion editor for The Globe based in Edmonton, and the author of The Republic of Alberta: An idea that won’t go away.

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


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    28 mins
  • Accused accomplice in Tumbler Ridge shooting appears in court
    Oct 16 2026

    This past week, a judge in Washington state heard arguments around whether a woman accused of conspiring with the Tumbler Ridge shooter should be released before her trial. James Cody Bryant – who identifies as a woman and uses she/her pronouns – was arrested by U.S. authorities at the beginning of the month.

    Jesse Winter is a reporter and photographer with The Globe. He went to report on Ms. Bryant’s pretrial hearing in person. He explains the specific allegations against her, what the judge ruled regarding whether to keep her in custody and gives an update on the other legal proceedings surrounding the fallout from one of Canada’s worst mass shootings.

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


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    22 mins
  • How your AI search results are being manipulated
    Oct 15 2026

    For many, AI is no longer a curiosity but increasingly built into our daily lives. Whether through intentional use of chatbots or its inclusion in online searches, it’s radically changing the way we receive information. Products, brands, services are all being tailor-made for you, through the use of AI.

    But what if these recommendations are being manipulated behind the scenes?

    Today, we have Nick Koudas joining us on the show. Dr. Koudas is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Toronto.

    He’ll tell us how the way you are marketed products is changing, whether you’re aware of it or not and what that means for both consumers and businesses alike.

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


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    24 mins
  • The shrinking neighbourhoods in Canada’s biggest cities
    Oct 14 2026

    The populations of Vancouver and Toronto have doubled in the past 50 years, but in certain neighbourhoods of those cities, populations have declined by as much as 40 per cent.

    The Globe’s architecture critic Alex Bozikovic explains why neighbourhoods have lost so many residents, what that means for the areas, and how it might present a solution to the housing crises.

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


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    25 mins
  • The volunteers filling the gaps in Canada’s health care
    Oct 13 2026

    Amidst the news about Canada’s strained and struggling healthcare system, there is a bright spot. The Globe and Mail published a series recently about volunteers filling in the gaps, called Care Between the Lines – about the volunteers who take a patient-first approach in a system that can often be isolating.

    Today, we’re bringing you a few of those stories of the volunteers getting rural Canadians to medical appointments, helping families in a pediatric hospital and getting seniors out for a bike ride.

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


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    30 mins