Episodi

  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1661 - The Performer vs. The Problem Solver: Leadership, Populism, and the Fragile Future of Democracy

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1661 - The Performer vs. The Problem Solver: Leadership, Populism, and the Fragile Future of Democracy
    Jun 26 2026
    On The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian is joined by author Dennis M. Dodo for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, populism, and the future of democracy, drawing on insights from his forthcoming book The Tale of Two Men.Dodo, who grew up during Zimbabwe’s political transformation in Zimbabwe, brings a lived perspective on how democracies can shift from hope to authoritarianism—and why many people believe “it can’t happen here” until it already has.Together, Brian and Dodo explore two contrasting models of leadership: the performer and the problem solver. The performer leads through personality, visibility, and emotional impact, while the problem solver focuses on institutions, analysis, and long-term solutions. Using contemporary examples including Donald Trump and Mark Carney, they examine how modern political systems increasingly reward attention over substance—and what that shift means for governance.The conversation turns to the fragility of democratic systems and how countries like Canada, the United States, and Britain may be more vulnerable than they appear. Dodo reflects on Zimbabwe’s experience to illustrate how democracies rarely collapse suddenly, but instead erode gradually through economic frustration, institutional weakening, and rising populism.They also discuss the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence in shaping political narratives, the power of emotion over fact in public discourse, and the importance of active citizenship in sustaining free societies.In his closing commentary, Brian connects this discussion to broader themes from recent episodes—Ukraine, Canadian unity, artificial intelligence, youth challenges, and addiction recovery—arguing that strong societies depend on strong institutions, but institutions only survive when citizens choose to stay engaged.Democracy, he concludes, is not a permanent condition. It is a daily practice—protected not only by constitutions, but by citizens willing to think critically, participate meaningfully, and resist indifference.Because the greatest threat to democracy is not disagreement.It is disengagement.
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    54 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1660 - Connection Before Correction: Addiction, Recovery, and the Hope We Give Each Other with Susan Raphael

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1660 - Connection Before Correction: Addiction, Recovery, and the Hope We Give Each Other with Susan Raphael
    Jun 25 2026
    On The Brian Crombie Radio Hour, the conversation explores one of the most difficult—and hopeful—questions any family can face: how do we help someone we love when they feel beyond our reach, and what allows people and even nations to endure and rebuild through hardship?In Part 1, Brian is joined by clinical psychologist Susan Raphael, author of What’s Wrong with My Teen? Finding Answers to Teenage Addiction and Family Crisis. Raphael speaks not only as a clinician, but from lived experience. After losing her mother at thirteen, she struggled with addiction, eating disorders, homelessness, and despair before finding recovery. Today, more than two decades sober, she supports teenagers and families navigating crisis and healing.Together, they discuss why teens often turn to substances as a way of coping with pain rather than seeking pleasure, how grief, trauma, bullying, and isolation fuel addiction, and the delicate line between helping and enabling. Raphael offers practical strategies for parents in crisis and emphasizes a guiding principle that shapes recovery: connection before correction.In the closing commentary, Brian reflects on a week of wide-ranging conversations spanning Ukraine, Canadian unity, youth mental health, and addiction recovery. Drawing on insights from Christian Thwaites in Ukraine, Professor Daniel Béland, economist Claude Lavoie, psychologist Susan Raphael, and author Susan Pinker, he explores a unifying idea: hope is not only something we feel—it is something we give each other.Referencing Pinker’s insight that “we need to see the whites of each other’s eyes to know that we belong somewhere,” Brian examines why human connection may be the most essential infrastructure any society has. Whether rebuilding a life, supporting a teenager, or holding a nation together, resilience is never built alone—it is built through one another.A deeply human conversation about addiction, recovery, and the quiet power of connection that sustains us all.
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    53 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1658 - Is Canada Coming Apart? Alberta, Quebec & the Future of National Unity withDaniel Beland

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1658 - Is Canada Coming Apart? Alberta, Quebec & the Future of National Unity withDaniel Beland
    Jun 23 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, host Brian Crombie is joined by McGill University professor Daniel Béland, one of Canada’s leading experts on federalism and public policy, for a timely discussion on the state of Canadian unity. The conversation examines growing political tension in Alberta and Quebec, including renewed talk of sovereignty and separatism, and asks whether these movements reflect a genuine rise in independence sentiment or are largely amplified by political discourse and media attention. Crombie and Béland explore how Canada’s highly decentralized federal system shapes provincial–federal relationships, and whether current debates signal structural strain or normal political friction within Confederation. The discussion also considers how provincial strategies compare with other global autonomy movements, and what lessons can be drawn from international examples. Beyond politics, the episode reflects on how Canada can strengthen national unity through greater understanding between regions, increased mobility, and breaking down long-standing stereotypes. Béland emphasizes the importance of Canadians seeing themselves as partners in a shared national project rather than as divided regional blocs. The episode closes with a broader question: in an era of global instability and economic uncertainty, can Canada maintain cohesion and build toward shared national goals—or will regional divisions limit its future potential?
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    56 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1657 - Ukraine Front Lines & Father’s Day Reflections: Who Shapes Us? with Christian Thwaites

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1657 - Ukraine Front Lines & Father’s Day Reflections: Who Shapes Us? with Christian Thwaites
    Jun 22 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, host Brian Crombie presents two deeply personal and contrasting conversations—one focused on the realities of war in Ukraine, and the other on the people and relationships that shape a life. In the first segment, Crombie speaks with Christian Thwaites, a retired investment executive who is now volunteering in Dnipro, Ukraine with ARTESANS ResQ. Operating near the front lines, Thwaites transports critically ill and wounded patients to specialized hospitals while navigating the ongoing dangers of missile and drone attacks. He shares firsthand insights into daily life in a war zone, Ukraine’s evolving military capabilities, the resilience of civilians, and the increasing strain on Russian forces. The conversation provides a rare ground-level perspective on the conflict and why Ukraine may be gaining momentum militarily, even as the path to peace remains complex and uncertain. In his Father’s Day closing commentary, Crombie reflects on the question: “Who shapes us?” Drawing on personal memories and family moments, he explores the lasting influence of mentors, teachers, coaches, and figures such as Jim Pattison, whose lessons continue to resonate decades later. The reflection highlights the often-unseen impact of relationships that form identity and character, and considers how legacy is less about individual achievement and more about the people we help shape along the way.
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    58 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1656 - The Day of Epiphany: The Duplessis Orphans, Quebec’s Quiet Revolution, and the Echoes of History

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1656 - The Day of Epiphany: The Duplessis Orphans, Quebec’s Quiet Revolution, and the Echoes of History
    Jun 19 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian speaks with award-winning French-Canadian author, actor, and educator Jerome Bourgault about his powerful historical novel, The Day of Epiphany. Set in 1950s Quebec during the era of Maurice Duplessis, the novel explores the tragic true story of the Duplessis Orphans—children who were reclassified from orphanages into psychiatric institutions through political and bureaucratic manipulation, leading to decades of abuse, neglect, and lifelong trauma. Brian and Jerome discuss the social and political realities of pre–Quiet Revolution Quebec, the dangerous concentration of power between church and state institutions, and the role of historical fiction in bringing difficult chapters of history to life. The conversation also examines how authoritarian tendencies can emerge gradually through conformity, bureaucracy, fear, and the erosion of accountability. In his closing commentary, Brian reflects on the lessons of the Quiet Revolution, the importance of critical thinking and empathy, and why democratic societies depend on citizens who remain willing to question power rather than surrender their judgment to institutions or political movements. A compelling discussion about history, literature, democracy, and the enduring warnings that the past may still be offering us today.
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    50 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1655 - Ukraine’s Turning Point? Aurel Braun on Putin, NATO & Canada’s Security

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1655 - Ukraine’s Turning Point? Aurel Braun on Putin, NATO & Canada’s Security
    Jun 18 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, host Brian Crombie is joined by Aurel Braun, Professor of International Relations and Political Science at the University of Toronto and Associate at Harvard University's Davis Center, for a wide-ranging discussion on the war in Ukraine and its global implications. More than three years after Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to defy expectations through military innovation, a rapidly expanding domestic defense industry, and the strategic use of drone warfare. Braun examines whether Ukraine may be approaching a genuine turning point in the conflict and what that could mean for the future of Europe. The conversation also explores the growing pressures facing Vladimir Putin, including economic strain, labour shortages, military recruitment challenges, and the historical vulnerabilities of authoritarian regimes. Braun discusses whether Russia may be entering a period of increasing instability and what that could mean for the Kremlin's future. The discussion then turns to the role of Donald Trump, the future of NATO, Europe's expanding security responsibilities, and the broader contest between democratic and authoritarian systems. Finally, Braun offers a candid assessment of Canada's military readiness, Arctic security, defense procurement challenges, and the country's obligations to allies in an increasingly unstable world. This timely conversation examines leadership, strategy, international security, and why the outcome of the war in Ukraine could shape global politics for decades to come.
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    49 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1654 - Stories, Ebola in Congo & AI: What It Means to Be Human

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1654 - Stories, Ebola in Congo & AI: What It Means to Be Human
    Jun 17 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, host Brian Crombie opens with a reflection on storytelling and why, in a world saturated with information, the most meaningful truths often come from simply listening to others. Drawing inspiration from author Michael Lewis, he explores the idea that everyone carries a story worth hearing — beyond resumes, headlines, or public achievements. In the second segment, Crombie is joined by Jim Bright to discuss a developing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Bright provides a firsthand account from a small hospital operating in the region, highlighting the challenges facing medical workers, including limited resources, high risk, and growing humanitarian needs. The episode closes with a commentary on artificial intelligence and its broader implications for humanity. Crombie reflects on how AI is evolving into not just a technological force, but an economic, geopolitical, psychological, and human one. He raises concerns about whether increasing reliance on AI systems could reshape how people think, connect, and understand themselves. At the centre of the discussion is a larger question: as AI becomes more powerful and embedded in daily life, will humanity remain at its core — or gradually drift away from it?
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    53 min
  • Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1653 - AI, Power & Sovereignty: Rafal Rohozinski on Canada’s Digital Future

    Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1653 - AI, Power & Sovereignty: Rafal Rohozinski on Canada’s Digital Future
    Jun 16 2026
    On this episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, host Brian Crombie is joined by global cyber risk and digital security expert Rafal Rohozinski for a deep dive into artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, and the shifting global balance of power. The conversation explores how AI is rapidly evolving into a geopolitical force, reshaping international competition and national security. Rohozinski outlines how the United States and China are developing competing AI ecosystems, and why control of digital infrastructure is becoming as strategically important as energy once was. The discussion turns to Canada’s vulnerability, highlighting its dependence on foreign-controlled digital infrastructure and limited share of global AI investment despite a strong research talent base. Crombie and Rohozinski examine what digital sovereignty could look like for Canada and whether national AI champions or targeted innovation strategies are needed to remain competitive. The episode also addresses the growing role of AI in warfare, including autonomous systems, drone technology, and the ethical challenges of removing humans from lethal decision-making. Despite these risks, Rohozinski argues Canada still has opportunities to build strength in specialized AI sectors such as healthcare, defense, and industrial applications. The conversation concludes with a central question: whether Canada will become a leading participant in the AI era — or remain a dependent user of foreign systems.
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    51 min