Best Mainstreet Politics Podcasts (2024)

1
Mainstreet Spinbusters: Federal interference in provincial politics 31:11

21h ago31:11

31:11

The Mainstreet Spinbusters give their take on why premiers seem fed up with Ottawa. The big message from the premiers' meeting in Halifax last week was that they're tired of Justin Trudeau's government intruding on provincial jurisdiction. So why do the feds do that? Chris Lydon, Barbara Emodi and Michelle Coffin break it down. Plus, a look at what…

1
Why Maritime indie band In-Flight Safety is reuniting 19:40

21h ago19:40

19:40

After a long and self-imposed pause, Canadian indie-rock band In-Flight Safety is heading back to a familiar stage. Member John Mullane joins guest host Preston Mulligan to talk about why the band is reuniting to play at The Marquee Club in Halifax with Tokyo Police Club next week.

1
Halifax Pride ambassador touched by love, support during parade 13:58

19h ago13:58

13:58

April Hubbard was this year's Pride ambassador in Halifax. She says riding at the head of the parade, holding her crutches in a triumphant fashion over her head, was a moving experience. But it's also destined to be her last Pride. She joins guest host Preston Mulligan to explain why.

1
Interview – Sean McBride - Ex Ripple, Ex Google, Ex Amazon, and MAGA 1:09:22

19h ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Interview – Sean McBride - Ex-Ripple, Ex-Google, Ex-Amazon, and MAGA Follow Sean McBride on X: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-m-a6118021 -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermo…

1
Is botanical sexism making your allergies worse? 12:09

18h ago12:09

12:09

Each spring, as the flowers start to pop up and the birds return, a certain theory tends to crop up on social media. It says you can blame your seasonal allergies on botanical sexism. First, you'll hear this theory from Tiktok user @graceH2323 and then, guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Peter Duinker, the founder of the Halifax Tree Project,…

1
Province, Mi'kmaq pause moose hunting on Cape Breton amid population decline 5:46

18h ago5:46

5:46

Nova Scotia and Mi'kmaq on Cape Breton have temporarily suspended any moose hunting on the island due to a sharp decline in the moose population. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke to Chief Leory Denny of the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs to give his perspective.

1
Yarmouth's Seafest continues to promote living by the sea after 46 years 6:44

20h ago6:44

6:44

Since 1979, locals and visitors have come together every summer to celebrate Yarmouth's food, culture and traditions by the sea. It started on Thursday and runs until July 27. Guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Darryl LeBlanc, president of Seafest, to talk about what attendees can expect this year.…

1
Gary Kinsman on the third edition of his book, The Regulation Of Desire 15:04

20h ago15:04

15:04

Sociologist Gary Kinsman talks about what's new in the third edition of his book, The Regulation Of Desire: Queer Histories, Queer Struggles ahead of its official release at Venus Envy in Halifax this weekend. He spoke with Mainstreet's Alex Mason about "the social organization of forgetting," a concept he explores in the new edition.…

1
Afrifest kicks off in Halifax with food, music and craftwork 7:29

20h ago7:29

7:29

The 14th annual Afrifest kicked off in Halifax Thursday afternoon. It runs until Sunday and brings communities together to share and experience different African cultures. There will be food, music and dancing, including some that will invite the audience to participate. One of the festival's key organizers, George Mbamalu, spoke with Mainstreet's …

1
How would an energy rebate program for low-income earners work in Nova Scotia? 8:33

20h ago8:33

8:33

It's been almost two months since the Nova Scotia Energy Poverty Task Force recommended some generous discounts for low-income earners. It's urging the province to give qualifying lower income earners a 50 per cent cut in home heating costs and electricity. Guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Brian Gifford, the chair of the task force.…

1
How 'voting with your butt' can help keep the environment clean in Halifax 7:45

18h ago7:45

7:45

Last August, the Halifax Regional Municipality installed four new receptacles for cigarette butts. The twist? They like ballot boxes with the intention of encouraging people to dispose of their cigarette butts properly, rather than throwing them on the ground. Guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Ally Chant, the waste resource education officer…

1
Why psychologists are sounding the alarm on climate trauma 9:18

18h ago9:18

9:18

As climate change leads to more intense fires, storms and other severe weather events, psychologists are reporting more stress, anxiety and cases of post-traumatic stress disorder. Guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Janine Hubbard, a registered psychologist in St. John's, Newfoundland, to talk about why that is and what can be done about it.…

1
Halifax Pride kicks set to kick off with wide array of events 11:28

17h ago11:28

11:28

The Halifax Pride Festival starts on Thursday and there will be dozens, maybe even hundreds, of events happening at the community level for the next 11 days. Dan MacKay, the publisher of the Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia, joins guest host Preston Mulligan to talk about the history of Pride in Halifax and what's coming up.…

1
Her spouse came out as transgender. But this is her story 30:55

18h ago30:55

30:55

The wife of a transgender man in metro Halifax talks about the journey she has been on alongside her husband, Alex Ripley, during his transition. Chaya Nadi says the role spouses play is often invisible, but she wants to change that. She and her husband spoke with Mainstreet's Alex Mason.

1
This Kentville refillery shop is challenging its customers to reduce plastic waste 7:30

18h ago7:30

7:30

The Plastic Free Foundation promotes Plastic Free July as a movement to get people around the world to refuse single-use plastics in the name of a cleaner environment. Rachael Butcher and Krista McDonald co-own Wholesum Refillery Shoppe in Kentville, N.S. They're participating, but it's also their mission to minimize single-use plastics year-round.…

1
Group urges Canadian premiers to make mental health a top priority 9:06

18h ago9:06

9:06

Canada's premiers are meeting in Halifax this week and on Tuesday morning, outside the Westin Nova Scotian hotel, a group of people tried to get their attention in the hopes that mental health can rise to the top of the political agenda. They shared some of their thoughts with the CBC's Olivia Stefanovich.…

1
Renowned poet Cornelius Eady's special connection to Cape Breton 12:35

20h ago12:35

12:35

Pulitzer Prize-nominated poet and playwright Cornelius Eady is in Cape Breton this week. He's doing a reading at the Inverness County Centre for the Arts on Wednesday afternoon. Guest host Jane Sponagle spoke with Eady about his work and what inspired him to hitchhike from New York to Cape Breton in the 1970s.…

1
'There's something for everyone': Nova Multifest kicks off in Dartmouth on Friday 10:23

17h ago10:23

10:23

The annual Nova Multifest will kick off at Alderney Landing in Dartmouth on Friday. Guest host Jane Sponagle is joined by three of its organizers, Hannah Matharu, Maddison Day and Vishal Bhardwaj, to talk about the annual celebration of food, culture and music.

1
Why these women want Lucky Campbell added to the Cape Breton Sport Hall of Fame 21:38

1d ago21:38

21:38

Cape Breton's Lucky Campbell played fastball and softball in the 1940s and '50s and he is remembered in part for the many roles he played on a four-man team called the Glace Bay Rockets. His daughter, Evelyn Sims, and Guysborough County councillor Mary Desmond join guest host Jane Sponagle to talk about why they want him inducted into the Cape Bret…

1
It's hot as heck. Here's how to stay cool 6:41

1d ago6:41

6:41

Nova Scotia is under a heat warning. Some people say they don’t mind, but others do. We talked to transit users about how they’re feeling about the weather, and then spoke with Janel Swain with Emergency Health Services to get tips on how to stay safe and cool this summer.

1
What’s in store for Halifax Pride this weekend? 8:19

19h ago8:19

8:19

It’s that time of year again. Halifax Pride kicks off this Friday and operations manager Fiona Kerr joined Mainstreet to discuss what to expect from this year’s festival.

1
Battle for 2024: Trump, Political Fallout, and the Future of Digital Assets 1:04:23

15h ago1:04:23

1:04:23

Battle for 2024: Trump, Political Fallout, and the Future of Digital Assets -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermojo GET BADASS YETIS COFFEE https://otc.one/BadassYetisBrew ----…

1
First anniversary of XRP’s non-security ruling – Deaton's Challenger Called Out 1:57:34

3h ago1:57:34

1:57:34

First anniversary of XRP’s non-security ruling – Deaton's Challenger Called Out -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermojo GET BADASS YETIS COFFEE https://otc.one/BadassYetisBrew …

1
'Hearts are heavy' after fatal flooding in Kings County, MLA says 6:49

4d ago6:49

6:49

Remnants of post-tropical storm Beryl swept through the western part of Nova Scotia Thursday evening, and Nova Scotia RCMP has reported that a youth has died in Wolfville after being swept away in the floods. MLA for Kings South Keith Irving joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how his constituents are feeling after the tragedy.…

1
Torrential rain causes significant damage in Kings County 21:35

4d ago21:35

21:35

Nova Scotians in Kings County have spent much of Friday assessing the damage from the previous evening's torrential rains. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with officials in the area, including Kings County Councillor Dick Killam, Bernard Miles with the Hall's Harbour Community Development Association and Dan Stovel, the regional emergency management co-ord…

1
Award-winning tap dancer Travis Knights coming to FODAR 18:19

4d ago18:19

18:19

The 10th annual Festival of Dance Annapolis Royal begins next week. There's a wide array of artists and productions set to perform, including Travis Knights. He's an award-winning tap dance artist from Montreal and he spoke with host Jeff Douglas about love for the dance.

1
'This is our new normal': Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois on extreme weather events 11:27

4d ago11:27

11:27

Halls Harbour was one of the communities in Kings County that was hit hard by Thursday's torrential rains, with a section of bridge being washed away. The CBC's Amy Smith spoke with engineering consultant Daniel Houghton about the damage caused. Then, host Jeff Douglas is joined by Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois to talk about what can be done to address…

1
How Emancipation Day will be celebrated in Guysborough 5:50

5d ago5:50

5:50

As Emancipation Day approaches, host Jeff Douglas is joined by Nathan Sparks, the chair of the Guysborough Emancipation Committee. They talk about how the community is celebrating freedom, including a church service, gala dinner and fashion show, and why it's important to keep the conversation going.…

1
Workshop featuring Wu-Tang Clan members to explore how art can help heal trauma 19:30

5d ago19:30

19:30

Saturday night at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax, an affiliate of Wu-Tang Clan called Wu-Tang Killa Beez will perform. But before that on Friday, there will be a community workshop about trauma and art, in which members of Wu Tang "will breakdown and analyze their songs, explaining how trauma and artistic expression intersect for communal h…

1
New outreach team to help people experiencing homelessness in Truro area 9:00

5d ago9:00

9:00

A new street outreach team started its work in Truro, N.S., this week. The provincial government announced Thursday that it's providing about $500,000 for the new five-person team run by the Truro Housing Outreach Society. Mainstreet's Alex Guye spoke with Davy Rose, the Truro outreach co-ordinator, to talk about how the team will support people ex…

1
Discovery Channel's Shark Week comes to Nova Scotia 17:56

6d ago17:56

17:56

As part of its annual Shark Week extravaganza, the Discovery Channel will air its first-ever Canadian-made shark week program on Wednesday evening. It's called Great White North and comes from executive producer Edward Peill, director P.J. Naworynski and legendary Shark Week underwater cinematographer Andy Casagrande. Shark expert and enthusiast Ch…

1
Matt Andersen to hit main stage at Halifax Jazz Fest 17:45

6d ago17:45

17:45

Canadian bluesman Matt Andersen is in Halifax for Jazz Fest this week. He's playing the main stage on Friday night, but before that he joins host Jeff Douglas for a chat about his musical career.

1
How climate change is expected to diminish fish biomass 6:37

6d ago6:37

6:37

A report released Wednesday by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization finds that fisheries around the world are likely to take a much bigger hit from climate change if global warming gets up into the 3- to 4-degree range, compared to 1-and-a-half, or 2 degrees Celsius. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Dalhousie University biologist Der…

1
How a pair of beaded earrings has shed light on stolen Indigenous designs 6:14

6d ago6:14

6:14

An Algonquin beader says a design she created was stolen, mass produced and sold through an online retailer called Temu. CBC Indigenous reporter Samantha Schwientek joins host Jeff Douglas to tell that story and to talk about the broader implications.

1
Halifax man runs across Canada in 99 days to raise money for heart and stroke research 12:53

7d ago12:53

12:53

Ryan Keeping of Halifax ran 75 kilometers a day to get from St. John's, Nfld., to Victoria, B.C., to complete his cross-country journey in just 99 days. He joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about why it was important to him to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

1
Scouts Canada opens toll-free hotline for all your camping questions 8:06

7d ago8:06

8:06

If you need help starting a campfire or staying safe in bear country, and you don't want to just trust whatever you see on social media, you can now get expert advice through Scouts Canada's toll-free hotline. It opened on Monday, 24/7, for the entire summer. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Matthew Coe, a volunteer and long-time scouter.…

1
What you need to know about the Portuguese man-of-war 9:10

7d ago9:10

9:10

Mainstreet Halifax's Oceans Guy Boris Worm joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the Portuguese man-of-war — a species similar to a jellyfish but worse — which is becoming more common along Nova Scotia's coasts.

1
Sloan's Chris Murphy reflects on 30th anniversary of Twice Removed 16:03

7d ago16:03

16:03

Chris Murphy of Sloan joins host Jeff Douglas ahead of two performances at the Shore Club in Hubbards, N.S., this week. They walk down memory lane just in time for the 30th anniversary of Sloan's album, Twice Removed.

1
Nova Scotia looking at switching to at-home testing for HPV 19:03

7d ago19:03

19:03

The state of Nova Scotia's breast cancer screening program was hotly debated at Tuesday's session of the standing committee on health at the Legislature. Another topic that came up was testing for HPV, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Dr. Robert Grimshaw with Nova Scotia Health's Cervical Cancer Preventi…

1
Marking 40 years of Mainstreet: James McQuaid aka MCJ 20:31

7d ago20:31

20:31

As we mark Mainstreet Halifax's 40th year on the air, we've been talking to folks about how music has evolved during that time. MCJ and Cool G are credited as being the first Canadian rap group to be signed to a major label. They grew up in Halifax and moved to Montreal in 1988. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by James McQuaid, also known as MCJ, to lo…

1
Upcoming musical sheds new light on legacy of Rita MacNeil 15:39

11d ago15:39

15:39

Many may think of Rita MacNeil as the first lady of song with her ballads about Cape Breton. But there is more to her story. Lindsay Kyte, the co-creator and a performer of the play Dear Rita, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about MacNeil's history as a fierce feminist activist in the 1970s and how that informed the play.…

1
Marking 40 years of Mainstreet: Delvina Bernard 12:41

11d ago12:41

12:41

Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Delvina Bernard to get her pick for the Mainstreet Top 40 — celebrating 40 years of amazing music that's been the soundtrack to our lives on this program and in Nova Scotia. Bernard is an 8th-generational African Nova Scotian who works in education, community development and institutional change.…

1
How systemic racism affects Black communities — and what can be done to address it 27:19

12d ago27:19

27:19

El Jones and DeRico Symonds join host Jeff Douglas to talk about how a more just justice system could work, based on new recommendations from the development of Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. They make connections between injustices of today and our history going all the way back to emancipation in 1834, and before that.…

1
SEC's Coinbase Clash, Trump's Badass Move, and Warren's Supreme Court Shake-Up! 1:04:08

10d ago1:04:08

1:04:08

SEC's Coinbase Clash, Trump's Badass Move, and Warren's Supreme Court Shake-Up! -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermojo GET BADASS YETIS COFFEE https://otc.one/BadassYetisBrew …

1
Why this advocate wants a national day to raise awareness about conversion therapy 18:39

13d ago18:39

18:39

Conversation therapy, a discredited practice that aims to change or repress a person's sexual orientation or gender identity, has been banned in Canada since 2022. So what is the case for creating a national day to raise awareness about it? Veronica Merryfield, the founder of the Cape Breton Transgender Network, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk abou…

1
Marking 40 years of Mainstreet: Canadian musician Joel Plaskett 11:32

17d ago11:32

11:32

As Mainstreet Halifax celebrates four decades on the air, host Jeff Douglas is joined by Canadian musician Joel Plaskett to talk about his favourite music from the last 40 years — and what year really stood out to him.

1
How Halifax's boil-water advisory is affecting people 15:54

17d ago15:54

15:54

Some daycares and businesses in the Halifax area closed on Tuesday due to a boil-water advisory affecting a large swath of the municipality. We hear how the advisory is affecting people and businesses, plus learn more about the water treatment process.

1
Why Emancipation Day should evoke reflection and action 14:28

17d ago14:28

14:28

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about Emancipation Day and the opportunity it offers for reflection and action on anti-Black racism. Senator Bernard will be holding a workshop for staff with the Halifax Regional Municipality later this month.

1
Exposing the Truth: Biden's Mental State, Lies, Media Cover-Ups & a National Threat 1:08:49

13d ago1:08:49

1:08:49

Exposing the Truth: Biden's Mental State, Lies, Media Cover-Ups & a National Threat | Vote John Deaton for Senate -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermojo GET BADASS YETIS COFFE…

1
Coinbase Challenges SEC: Is Bitrue Next? SCOTUS Ruling and NFT Ownership Rights 1:15:57

14d ago1:15:57

1:15:57

Coinbase Challenges SEC: Is Bitrue Next? SCOTUS Ruling and NFT Ownership Rights -------------------------------- *SUPPORT ON THE CHAIN* -------------------------------- *GET A BADASS YETIS NFT* At XRP.cafe with XRP https://otc.one/mint At Supermojo with a credit card https://otc.one/supermojo GET BADASS YETIS COFFEE https://otc.one/BadassYetisBrew …

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