Best Jonathan McPherson Podcasts (2025)

1
Putin, Trump, Zelenskyy: What 3 personalities mean for peace in Ukraine 19:49

12h ago19:49

19:49

Hopes for peace in Ukraine rest with three men: the country’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Russia’s Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump. Journalists Simon Shuster and Luke Harding have covered this conflict and its characters in depth. They join Matt Galloway to share their insights into each leader’s personalities and motivations.…

1
The new pope is an American. Here’s why that’s surprising 13:56

16h ago13:56

13:56

Cardinal Robert Prevost is the first American pontiff, choosing the name Pope Leo XIV. Jesuit priest and journalist Father Sam Sawyer explains why that surprised some people, as did the new pope’s social media rebuke, earlier this year, of JD Vance and the Trump administration’s treatment of migrants and asylum seekers.…

1
The surprisingly moving tale of Alberta’s gopher museum 12:40

16h ago12:40

12:40

There’s something undeniably special about Alberta’s World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, with its taxidermied rodents kitted out as firefighters, hair stylists, or even enjoying a game of curling. The CBC’s Allison Dempster went to Torrington, Alta., to find out how the town came up with such an unusual tourist attraction — and why it ended up drawing…

1
Drilling into Arctic ice to spy 20,000 years into the past 11:16

16h ago11:16

11:16

A small group of Canadian and Danish scientists have been drilling deep into the ice on Axel Heiberg Island, on the western edge of the Arctic Ocean. Ice core scientist Alison Criscitiello explains why drilling into the ice cap can give us a glimpse into the Earth’s past.

1
Fears of empty shelves as U.S. tariffs disrupt supply lines 10:33

12h ago10:33

10:33

Trump’s economic fight with China has already led to a drop in cargo coming into U.S. ports. Supply chain experts are warning that tariffs could soon mean half-empty shelves and higher prices south of the border, which could have a knock-on effect for Canada.

1
The Current Introduces | Understood: Who Broke the Internet 38:01

22h ago38:01

38:01

It's not you — the internet really does suck. Novelist, blogger and noted internet commentator Cory Doctorow explains what happened to the internet and why you're tormented by ads, bots, algorithms, AI slop and so many pop-ups. Spoiler alert: it wasn't an accident. In Understood: Who Broke the Internet, Doctorow gets into the decisions made by powe…

1
How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng 21:40

2d ago21:40

21:40

1080. Linguist Andrew Cheng explains why people’s accents shift over time, especially when they move—and how YouTubers make perfect data subjects. If you've ever cringed at your old voice recordings, this one’s for you. Andrew Cheng is a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii. You can find him on Bluesky at LinguistAndrew. NEW: Sign u…

1
Is Israel flouting international law by blocking Gaza aid? 19:20

11h ago19:20

19:20

Israel has blocked any humanitarian aid from entering Gaza for two months, with aid agencies now warning that thousands of children are experiencing severe malnutrition. Matt Galloway talks to lawyer Michael Byers about what Israel’s obligations are under international law, and Moumen al-Natour, a lawyer who has organized public demonstrations agai…

1
Air traffic controllers lose sight of planes for 90 seconds 20:41

1d ago20:41

20:41

Air traffic controllers reportedly lost track of planes for 90 seconds at Newark airport recently in a chaotic radar outage that prompted some staff to take stress leave. We look at what led to this nightmare scenario, and what needs to be done to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

1
The fight to save the axolotl, an ever-smiling salamander 9:55

2d ago9:55

9:55

The axolotl is a salamander that always appears to be smiling, making them popular as aquarium pets or as characters in video games like Minecraft. But the species is endangered in their natural habitat in Mexico, where researchers are working hard to preserve them.

1
Remember when the internet was… good? What happened? 15:49

11h ago15:49

15:49

The internet was once a user-friendly place built to connect people, but now it’s rife with bots picking fights, AI fakery and algorithms hellbent on selling you something. In the new CBC podcast Understood: Who Broke the Internet?, tech journalist Cory Doctorow breaks down what he calls the "enshittification" of the internet — and who’s responsibl…

1
Talking about seniors and sex in long-term care homes 26:39

1d ago26:39

26:39

Most people don’t like to think about their parents having sex, but their grandparents? Educator Mary Connell helps long-term care workers get comfortable with talking about the sexual needs of seniors, especially when it comes to issues around sexual health, dementia and consent.

1
What Trump’s 100% tariffs would mean for Canadian film and TV 19:47

1d ago19:47

19:47

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised 100 per cent tariffs on movies produced outside the United States — but no one is quite sure what that means. We look at what’s driving film and television productions out of the U.S., and what tariffs would mean for workers here in Canada.

1
Electing a pope is like The Traitors, says Conclave author Robert Harris 12:14

3d ago12:14

12:14

Robert Harris got rare access to the Vatican as he was writing Conclave, the novel that inspired the 2024 film starring Ralph Fiennes. He joins Matt Galloway to dig into what will happen behind closed doors as cardinals convene today to elect the next pope — and explains why the group dynamics aren't that different from a reality TV show.…

1
Why India-Pakistan conflict is ‘last thing the world needs’ 12:17

1d ago12:17

12:17

Dozens of people were killed when India fired missiles into Pakistan on Wednesday. India says it was targeting alleged militants linked to a terrorist attack in Kashmir last month, but Pakistan has repeatedly denied any involvement in that massacre — and described the missile strikes as an act of war. The CBC’s Salimah Shivji joins us from Mumbai t…

1
Ep 156: Suck My Balls with Stu Murphy & Liam Withnail 1:10:01

4d ago1:10:01

1:10:01

Marc is currently on his stand-up tour of the UK and Ireland! Tickets are on sale here now:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.marcjenningscomedy.com/tour⁠⁠⁠ This week Marc and Liam Withnail are joined by comedian and improviser Stuart Murphy. Stu gets reminded he hosted Marc’s second ever gig (and some of the core comedy memories it formed in his brain), before …

1
What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO. 17:00

4d ago17:00

17:00

1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere. The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan He…

1
Will Alberta vote on leaving Canada in 2026? 10:09

4d ago10:09

10:09

Premier Danielle Smith says there could be a referendum on Alberta separating from Canada as early as next year, if citizens who want one gather enough signatures. Mike Solberg, a former staffer in Stephen Harper’s Conservative government, digs into the separatist sentiment in the province — and Smith’s list of demands for Prime Minister Mark Carne…

1
Carney meets Trump today. Will it be a repeat of Zelenskyy’s visit? 20:06

4d ago20:06

20:06

What kind of reception awaits Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House? The Liberal leader meets U.S. President Donald Trump this afternoon, but some observers are mindful of the public disparaging that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy endured in the Oval Office earlier this year. Matt Galloway talks to experts who’ve been at these type…

1
A rare look inside Iran, where women are pushing back 16:37

4d ago16:37

16:37

The CBC’s Margaret Evans recently travelled to Iran on a rare reporting trip, where she saw a striking number of women choosing not to wear headscarves. Evans discusses what's fuelling this act of defiance against the Islamic regime, whether a crackdown is coming, and what the young Iranians she met want for themselves and their nation.…

1
It’s time to pick a new pope. How does the conclave work? 23:33

4d ago23:33

23:33

The conclave to select a new pope starts Wednesday in Rome. Matt Galloway talks to journalist JD Flynn and writer Randy Boyagoda about who the frontrunners are, how long the conclave might be, and how the next pontiff might shape the future of the Catholic Church.

1
More people are running marathons. What does it really take? 13:51

3d ago13:51

13:51

Record numbers of people are running marathons around the world, with tens of thousands completing the Toronto and Vancouver marathons this weekend. We dig into the appeal with Professor Fran Garrad-Cole, who oversees a university course on what it takes, both physically and psychologically.

1
So many foods have added protein. How much do you actually need? 21:53

3d ago21:53

21:53

Food with added protein is big business these days, with companies putting it in everything from candy to water to dog food. We break down how the food industry has capitalized on the protein rush, and ask a dietitian how much of the supplement we actually need — and what’s the best way to get it.

1
Voters most worried about tariffs didn’t vote Liberal, analysis suggests 10:33

5d ago10:33

10:33

The Canadians most vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs voted for the Conservatives in last week’s federal election, according to analysis from Jennifer Robson, a professor of political management at Carleton University. She explains how she crunched the numbers, and what it might mean for how Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney engag…

1
Companies bending knee to Trump will face consequences: union leader 19:35

5d ago19:35

19:35

It is “reckless” and “premature” for General Motors to cut roughly 750 jobs at its Oshawa plant in response to U.S. tariffs, says Jeff Gray, Unifor’s local 222 president. He tells Matt Galloway that companies that “bend a knee to Donald Trump” will face consequences as a result.

1
Work that Matters: How Work Hurts 45:45

6d ago45:45

45:45

Join Ryan as he continues our Work That Matters series, exploring when work gets frustrating and looking at Genesis 3.By Ryan Plantz

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Jonathan McPherson Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
Arbor Church

Arbor Church

1
Some Laugh

Some Laugh Podcast

1
The Current

CBC

1
Church Tips – Growth Strategies for Pastors & Ministry Leaders

Leaders.Church

1
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

1
Putin, Trump, Zelenskyy: What 3 personalities mean for peace in Ukraine 19:49

1
The new pope is an American. Here’s why that’s surprising 13:56

1
The surprisingly moving tale of Alberta’s gopher museum 12:40

1
Drilling into Arctic ice to spy 20,000 years into the past 11:16

1
Fears of empty shelves as U.S. tariffs disrupt supply lines 10:33

1
The Current Introduces | Understood: Who Broke the Internet 38:01

1
How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng 21:40

1
Is Israel flouting international law by blocking Gaza aid? 19:20

1
Air traffic controllers lose sight of planes for 90 seconds 20:41

1
The fight to save the axolotl, an ever-smiling salamander 9:55

1
Remember when the internet was… good? What happened? 15:49

1
Talking about seniors and sex in long-term care homes 26:39

1
What Trump’s 100% tariffs would mean for Canadian film and TV 19:47

1
Electing a pope is like The Traitors, says Conclave author Robert Harris 12:14

1
Why India-Pakistan conflict is ‘last thing the world needs’ 12:17

1
Ep 156: Suck My Balls with Stu Murphy & Liam Withnail 1:10:01

1
What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO. 17:00

1
Will Alberta vote on leaving Canada in 2026? 10:09

1
Carney meets Trump today. Will it be a repeat of Zelenskyy’s visit? 20:06

1
A rare look inside Iran, where women are pushing back 16:37

1
It’s time to pick a new pope. How does the conclave work? 23:33

1
More people are running marathons. What does it really take? 13:51

1
So many foods have added protein. How much do you actually need? 21:53

1
Voters most worried about tariffs didn’t vote Liberal, analysis suggests 10:33

1
Companies bending knee to Trump will face consequences: union leader 19:35

1
Work that Matters: How Work Hurts 45:45

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