Best of Because News: Best Word Stories

Someone got fined for Zombie Christmas decorations but our comedians have no problem with it. We re-play a round from Covid holidays when every country had crazy socializing rules. Belgium said you can have people over but they can’t use the bathroom. And the hottest toys of 2017 were Fingerlings and LOL Surprise. Anyone still playing with them?

The Debaters is the hit show where comedians go toe-to-toe in a battle of laughs and logic. It’s part stand-up, part quiz show and part comedy competition, with the live audience picking the winners.In this episode, do candles deserve more appreciation? And is Tom Cruise the greatest movie star? Featuring: Jon Steinberg, Jan Caruana, Adam Cawley, and David Pryde.More episodes of The Debaters can be found here: https://link.mgln.ai/TDxBN

The world is bleak so here’s a quiz about happy news. Gavin quizzes his comedians on what Martha Stewert says is acceptable for your holiday party, but the panel has no love for Martha. ChatGPT’s ‘adult-mode’ is coming in 2026 and it's definitely not a “more responsible” mode of AI, like some people think. Mark Carney is using British spelling in the Canadian government memos and some linguists have written a stern letter asking him to stop. Comedians Steph Tolev, Miguel Rivas and Andrew Phung join Gavin for the last quiz of 2025. If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey

At the World Cup draw, Trump was given a medal, a trophy and danced to YMCA. Oh yeah, and Canada drew a decent group of competitors. Face-off, pants off - there’s a new steamy hockey show that our panellists love. So far this month pistachios have been recalled, McCain Tasti Taters, and also there’s a petition to recall Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.The hottest toy of the holiday season is not Bible Guess Who, but after Gavin and Migeul imagine it, we sort of wish it was. If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey

Franklin The Turtle was co-opted by Team Trump and now our childhoods are ruined. We’ve all reached our breaking point with Ticketmaster but Olivia Dean did something about it. Whales are being given breathalysers and don’t even want to talk to a lawyer first. Ozempic is about to go generic in Canada - so are all the GLP-1 drugs, aka “gotta lose pounds” shots. Gavin Crawford quizzes comedians Martha Chaves, Alice Moran and Craig Lauzon about what happened in the news this week. If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey

A truck full of “Nutcracker” ballet sets is stolen, disappointing both cast and crooks. The US Ambassador to Canada is making headlines for being kind of undiplomatic. One American booze company is moving here because 98% of its business is Canadian drinkers.New research says one of our bodily organs goes through five significant changes in our lifetime; it’s above the waist, but that’s your only clue. Gavin Crawford quizzes Kris Siddiqi, Carley Thorne and Mattea Roach about this week’s headlines.If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey

Wicked is impossible to avoid, even on this podcast. “Quiet, Piggy” did not rank in the most-used words of the year, but parasocial did. Why was it chosen as the word of 2025? A Hamilton man stole a bus and no one was hurt, so we rejoice about a victimless crime that does not include any mention of files or famine. Gavin Crawford quizzes Andrew Phung, Eric Peterson and Jan Caruana about this week’s headlines.If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey 

HBO is getting out of children’s programming? We didn’t know it was into it. Beers are getting smaller in the UK. The most popular names of 2025 all sound like the Golden Girls. And our panels talks about the time Katy Perry shot across the sky thanks to Jeff Bezos. It’s a collection of our silliest stories as we recap the headlines that gave us a break from the dismal news. Gavin Crawford quizzes Ashley Botting, Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Eric Peterson and Mattea Roach.If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey

Our panellists beg: please, Santa, do not bring us a Christmas election. Red, yellow and green traffic lights are outdated because a fourth colour might be added to intersections. There’s a big innovation in menstrual products and thank god, it’s not AI! Peanut allergies have fallen fast, yet the PB sandwich remains a schoolyard crime. Why no one’s allowed to celebrateThe Great Peanut Comeback just yet. If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey 

The Art of the Meal: Trump tries to avoid Carney but ends up dining with him. The sauna business is luring new clients - all part of its plan to gross 1.77 billion dollars worldwide. What particular group are saunas trying to attract? Alberta is doubling-down on its “Strong and Free” slogan with a new contest that no one asked for. Tom Hearn, Courtney Gilmour and Martha Chaves take the news quiz with Gavin Crawford.If you’re too afraid to share your opinions on social media, that’s okay! Fill out this listener questionnaire instead: www.cbc.ca/BecauseSurvey