Monday, May 27th 2024

The internet changed nearly everything about real estate. Now buyers can see all the listings, everywhere; they can learn the price histories and estimated values of houses they look at, and can see the minute details of those houses before ever visiting them or retaining an agent. But one thing never did change: they still can't easily see an agent's commission.

But a settled lawsuit in the United States and two more in the courts in Canada are preparing to change that and then we'll learn just how much of the market this simple but incredibly opaque part of the industry influences the whole thing.

GUEST: Murtaza Haider, professor of real estate management at Toronto Metropolitan University

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Sunday, May 26th 2024

We've gained some new subscribers recently, and over the next few Sundays we want to help welcome them to the show by re-releasing some of our favourite episodes from the last few years. If you're new here, welcome! And if you've been with us for a while, we hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane. 

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It's here. It's become a part of summer in most areas of Canada. It's bad for you. 

What exactly makes wildfire smoke harmful to breathe? And what about the mental health impact of hazy skies and a darkened future?

If we're going to live with this we need less speculation, and more science and solutions. Here they are.

GUEST: Dr. Courtney Howard, emergency physician; Vice-Chair of the Global Climate and Health Alliance
 

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at [email protected] 

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Saturday, May 25th 2024

Summer is around the corner, and a lot of us are dreaming of a holiday. But post pandemic it feels like everything has skyrocketed.  So how can you still have a fun and meaningful family vacation in this economy?

Natalie Preddie is a writer and a TV personality who specializes in travel. As a seasoned traveler herself, whether that's solo or with a family, on a plane or in a train, she is full of tips for how to make that dream of vacation a reality. 

Do you have a money problem? Call us and leave a message at 416-935-5935. Or email us at [email protected]. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok @InThisEconomyPod. Don't forget to leave a call-back number, so we can get in touch.

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at [email protected] 

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Friday, May 24th 2024

Have you met Shrimp Jesus yet? He's Jesus, only a shrimp. Or maybe a half-man, half-shrimp. Anyway...he's the most recognizable example of thousands upon thousands of bizarre AI-created images that are flooding Facebook's algorithm and its users feeds.

These images go viral because the algorithm boosts them, because other Facebook accounts are engaging with them. But who, exactly, is engaging with these random fake images? And why? The answer tells a story that will give you a whole new perspective on just how many people on the world's largest social media platform are, well, actually humans.

GUEST: Jason Koebler, cofounder of 404 Media, cohost of the 404 Media podcast

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at [email protected] 

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter

Thursday, May 23rd 2024

Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has promised to use the notwithstanding clause to enact criminal justice reform if elected.  Liberals have pointed to this as an indication that Conservatives would use it for other things, including restricting abortion. 

How much of this is political posturing from either side? How huge a precedent would using the notwithstanding clause this way represent? If a Conservative government went down this path, would access to abortion really be at risk? And what could the Liberals do now if they believed that to be the case?

GUEST: Daphne Gilbert, professor of criminal and constitutional law at the University of Ottawa

We love feedback at The Big Story, as well as suggestions for future episodes. You can find us:

Through email at [email protected] 

Or @thebigstoryfpn on Twitter