Java jolt: the real reasons coffee prices have skyrocketed this year

In Provincial Ombudsman, Paul Dubé's, latest report, he calls on the Ford government to take a closer look at Ontario jails, sounding the alarm on what he calls a growing crisis. According to his findings, overcrowding, unlawful treatment, and the high volume of inmates awaiting trial all shine a bright light on the current realties inside some of the most secretive places in the province. But how did we get here? And who will bear the cost of changing the system? Host Maria Kestane speaks to Jessica Evans, Associate Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University's criminology department, about what exactly is going on in correctional facilities across Ontario, and what the province can do to ensure the safety and rights of everyone involved.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

There are few things more precious in this world than your morning coffee - and add that to the list of things that have become more expensive this year.So what's the cause? Are the reasons legitimate? Is it tariffs or is it greed?Host Richard Southern talks to Robert Carter, President of the Canadian Coffee Association. 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

Perhaps you’ve used it to help spruce up a resume, write a report or find a recipe — but have you ever turned to artificial intelligence for your mental health?A.I. therapy is a growing trend, but could turning to a bot for deeply personal life advice be a problem in itself?Host Melanie Ng speaks with psychotherapist Roxanne Francis about the benefits and potential dangers around using algorithms to process emotions.Read more about Roxanne Francis here: https://www.francispsychotherapy.com/about 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

The civil service in Ottawa is bracing for layoffs. It comes after Finance Minister Francois-Phillippe Champagne was tasked with finding $25-billion dollars in savings to offset the biggest increase in defense spending in a generation. So how does that play in to our federal government's massive deficit? And how does that trickle down to you? Host Mike Eppel speaks with Dr. Wayne Petrozzi, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University. 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

School is out for the summer, and for most teens, that means unlimited access to doom scrolling and binge watching! And while a little celebratory, post-exam screen time is warranted, the slippery slope of a constant screen in your teen's face presents real threats to their emotional and behavioural development. But how do we get ahead of the algorithms that are designed to keep its users engaged for hours? And how do we set a better example for our teens as we navigate how to mitigate our own over-use? Host Pooja Handa speaks to Dr. Alexandra Gold, Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Mass General Brigham and Faculty at Harvard Medical School, about tangible steps towards a more healthy relationship between your teenager and their devices.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

Shocking news this week out of Quebec where charges have been laid in an alleged plot involving a militia to take over a portion of Quebec City. Dozens of combat-like weapons were seized and it's alleged the group was running a recruitment strategy through Instagram.Investigators allege among the four men charged are two, active Canadian Armed Forces members but fall short of naming who, or how long they've been a part of the force. The charges range from terrorism-related offences to possession of explosives and prohibited devices.Host Richard Southern speaks to post-doctoral fellow at the University of Guelph, Dr. Dax D'Orazio, to break down the charges, and dissect the intersection of politics, misinformation and radicalism. You can listen to Dr. D'Orazio's podcast at https://www.daxdorazio.com/. 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

It's a story about a city that constantly surprises. A random bunny spotting turned into a near-obsession for a Toronto journalist. He was trying to track down the answer to a seemingly simple question, "Are there more bunnies in Toronto?" Turns out, it's a pretty tricky question to answer. Host Kris McCusker speaks to Nicholas Hune-Brown, executive editor at The Local, about his trip down a literal rabbit hole to find out what’s going on and why you may (or may not) be seeing more bunnies in your backyard. 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

The Calgary Stampede is known as the greatest outdoor show on earth. It's a must attend event for most Calgarians, but more importantly for Canadian politicians.It's an event that can make or break someone - from what they're wearing to how they flip pancakes. Host Mark Day speaks to CityNews reporter Sean Amato in Alberta about why the Stampede is so important and a look at everything's that's happened this year so far. 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

It’s been dramatized in countless movies and TV shows, like Law and Order or 12 Angry Men, but you may have wondered if the Hollywood portrayals match up with the reality of jury duty. This year, CityNews Reporter, Nick Westoll, got to find out first hand when he was picked to serve on a jury in a criminal case. From the jury selection process, to the restrictions and being sequestered, to the emotional toll of deciding the fate of an accused, host Cormac Mac Sweeney speaks with Nick about the challenging journey of being a juror in Canada.You can read Nick's first hand account here: https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/07/03/what-is-ontario-jury-duty-like/ 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

A data breach used to be big news. It was disconcerting to those impacted and was normally followed filed a class action lawsuit. But as they become more ubiquitous, are we caring less? And if you're a victim of a data breach, what is the financial impact to you? Host Mike Eppel speaks with Mike Hortobagyi, Senior Manager, Solutions Engineering at Otka Canada. 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