Explore every episode of the podcast Cross Country Checkup

You’re making that big holiday dinner; juggling vegetables, a turkey, stuffing and sides. But with all the distractions, food safety can easily slip. Dinner rolls sitting where the raw turkey thawed? Was that knife used for meat or vegetables? And does it really matter?

This holiday season also comes with active food recalls, including salmonella concerns linked to pistachio products and listeria risks in prepared salads and snack trays often served at gatherings.

Our question: E. coli, listeria and salmonella; what questions do you have about meal prep and food safety over the holidays?

The holidays are here; and that usually means cookies, egg nog, cheeses, deli meats and plenty of indulgence. But new research is renewing concerns about ultra-processed foods and their links to higher risks of disease.What exactly counts as an ultra-processed food? Why are they so hard to stop eating? And does eating better over the holidays mean cutting out all your favourites, or are there realistic alternatives?

Our question: From egg nog to deli meats — what questions do you have about ultra-processed foods and eating better over the holidays?

From walk-ins to ER lines, millions of Canadians are navigating life without primary care. PEI is feeling it most — with more than one in four residents still waiting for a doctor, the lowest access rate in the country. A new medical school may help, but burnout is rising and Canada needs 23,000 more family doctors to close the gap. 

Our question: How are you coping without a family doctor, and what impact has it had on your health?

President Donald Trump says the U.S. has a “tremendous” relationship with Canada — but for many Canadians, the bond with American friends and family might feel strained. Political divisions have led to awkward gatherings, muted conversations, and in some cases, skipping holiday visits altogether. 

Our question: Are you gathering with American friends or family over the holidays? How are the Canada–U.S. relationships going in your life?

From whiteout conditions to multi-car pileups, winter driving across Canada can turn dangerous fast. Nearly 400 crashes were reported in southwestern Ontario during a recent storm, and a youth hockey team bus crash in northern Alberta has raised fresh concerns about road safety. 

Our question: From black ice to blizzards, what’s your winter accident story? Do you feel safe driving on Canada’s roads and highways?

A new CBC Marketplace investigation has named the worst commute in Canada, the stretch west of Toronto from the 905 into the downtown core. But we're not just talking about one city. 

Our question: What’s your nomination for Canada’s worst commute? What impact is it having on you, and your family?

It's the most expensive time of the year, and it's hitting just as many people are falling behind.

Many Canadians have changed their spending habits and have even given up buying gifts for family members.

Our question: How is personal debt affecting your holiday season? What’s your workaround? What are you giving up?

According to research, as prices climb and first-time buyers rethink their expectations, many Canadians say owning a home feels further away than ever — with some giving up entirely. 

Our question: What’s stopping you from owning a home? What needs to change to make homes more affordable?

New CBC data shows violent incidents on buses, streetcars and subways have jumped sharply in major cities — raising concerns about safety, vulnerability and the crises converging on public transit. 

Our question: Do you feel safe on public transit? How can cities make riders safer?

ER wait times are reaching breaking-point levels across Canada — with patients waiting hours or even days, and half a million Canadians leaving without being seen last year. Doctors warn the backlog is a symptom of a system struggling to meet basic needs, while callers describe long nights, ambulance delays and returning sicker after giving up. 

Our question: What’s your ER wait time story? And how is it affecting your health?

From Florida flights to Black Friday deals, Canadians are rethinking winter traditions. After months of “Elbows Up” backlash toward the U.S., travel forecasts show Canadians staying home — contributing to a projected $5.7-billion drop in U.S. tourism. But while cross-border trips slow, the Retail Council of Canada says the momentum behind “Buy Canadian” is fading.

Our question: How is 'Elbows Up' changing your holiday plans?

A lot of theories, and a lot of speculation, until January 23,2026, when Ryan Wedding was taken into U.S. custody after a decade on the run. How does a Canadian Olympian end up in handcuffs, with U.S. authorities comparing him to “El Chapo” and Pablo Escobar? And what’s the real story behind the seized art, luxury cars, and motorcycles?

Prime Minister Mark Carney pushed back without ever saying President Donald Trump’s name, and it didn’t go unnoticed. After Carney’s remarks in Davos declared the rules-based international order a "fiction" ruptured by superpowers, Trump fired back with taunts and tariff threats. Carney responded to Trump’s tariff threat by confirming that Canada never had any intention of securing a free-trade deal with China. Is it better to stand up or cozy up? What are your thoughts on Mark Carney and his handling of Donald Trump?

We've got a special episode today courtesy of our friends at As It Happens. The show airs weeknights at 6:30 pm ET and covers everything from complex stories, to the weird and wacky. It's a unique and intimate take on the news. We've got three shows chosen from this past week's episodes of As It Happens. You'll hear the Globe and Mail's Robert Fife on how the Canadian Armed forces have modelled a response to the unthinkable -- a hypothetical U.S. military invasion of Canada. A man names Ted Smith tells the show about his journey to exonerate his father, Tommy Lee Walker, 70 years after Walker was found guilty of raping and murdering a white woman name Venice Lorraine Parker. And Canadian hip-hop artist Michie Mee is going to celebrated with a stamp for Black History Month.

Just nine months ago, Mark Carney said China is Canada’s top security threat. On January 16th, Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled his first major trade deal—one that could reshape what’s in your driveway. The agreement opens Canada’s doors to a wave of Chinese electric vehicles, while Beijing slashes tariffs on key Canadian exports through 2026. So what changed—and what does it mean for Canadian jobs, consumers, and the road ahead?

For many people, retirement isn’t the finish line; it’s a turning point. Whether it’s learning something new, giving back, or redefining daily life, finding purpose after work can be deeply personal, and sometimes unexpectedly hard. Where did you find purpose after retirement or are you still searching?

It’s been just over a year since Donald Trump began suggesting that Canada should become part of the United States. Now, with US intervention in Venezuela and renewed threats to take over Greenland, Canadians are starting to wonder, and worry.

From Venezuela to Greenland, what questions do you have about US foreign policy, and what Canada should do about it?

Since the first Monday of January 2026, Ontario’s public service workers have returned to the office five days a week, with Alberta set to follow on February 1. A new report from Statistics Canada shows hybrid workers are spending more time in the office and less time working from home. It’s a shift that has left many people frustrated.

Our question: Should workers be forced back into the office? Has returning to the office changed your work for better or worse?

The World Health Organization conditionally recommended glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapies for obesity treatment in December 2025. Canada could soon become the first country in the world to offer a cheaper version of Ozempic and Wegovy to people with prescriptions.

Our question: Would you take a drug to lose weight...or have you already?

American forces stormed Caracas and captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday. U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States is “going to run” Venezuela for the time being.

Our question: What’s your reaction to the U.S. strike on Venezuela? What questions do you have?

2025 gave Canada no shortage of news — political shocks, global conflict, cultural moments, and a year that pulled emotions in every direction.

In Cross Country Checkup’s annual Year in News Special, guest host David Common sits down with a panel of CBC journalists: Paul Hunter, Susan Ormiston, and Aaron Wherry, reflecting on the biggest stories, the missed ones, and the conversations Canadians carried through it all.

Our question: What was the most important news story of 2025? Which one didn’t get enough attention?

Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney has been critical of efforts by separatists in his own province, calling the push for a referendum on leaving Canada "deeply divisive." Last week, after separatist leaders claimed they had backing from members of the UCP. Kenney warned that MLA's from his former party should not be signing a petition that promotes separation. As the separatism debate heats up,Jason Kenney joined us for a special Ask Me Anything. 

Alberta separatists are now gathering signatures for a referendum they hope will force a province-wide vote on leaving Canada. Just last week, the Alberta Prosperity Project revealed they met with Trump officials, an act BC Premier David Eby called “treason”. What does it actually mean for a province to “separate from the country”? Are you worried about the Alberta separatist threat? What's one thing Ottawa should do to make Canada more unified?

From connecting with customer service online, or asking for health advice, chances are you've already been interacting with an AI chat bot. AI is everywhere, helping us save time, learn new things, and juggle daily tasks, while also raising serious concerns about jobs, education, and trust. As companies like Amazon invest billions in generative AI, and cutting thousands of jobs. How are you using AI? Is AI making our lives better or worse?

Canada has lost a comedy legend. Tributes continue to pour in for Canadian comedy icon Catherine O’Hara, whose career spanned five decades. From her early sketch comedy days on SCTV to unforgettable roles in Beetlejuice, Home Alone, The Studio, and Schitt’s Creek, she was beloved by Canadian fans and admired around the world. Her extraordinary body of work left a comedic influence that stretched far beyond our borders. What was your favourite Catherine O’Hara moment? What does she mean to you?

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in about why boys are struggling in school. This episode looks at a recent report that shows boys are more likely to drop out of high school, and hears why it's happening and what can be done.

A new report out of Quebec shows that boys are more likely to drop out of high school, and generally perform more poorly than female students. And this has apparently been going on for some time. So why is it happening? And why isn't something being done? We hear your stories, and the answers to those questions.

A new Ipsos survey found that 1 in 3 women will have to wait for more than 2 years to find effective treatment for menopause. To fill that need, private menopause clinics are popping up across the country. We hear from patients and practitioners about the rise of these private options in a country known for public healthcare.

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in where we ask whether a career in the trades, or a university degree is the way to go in 2026. The federal government wants to hire 100-thousand trades workers. Want some advice for the young person in your life? Our experts weigh-in on where the job market of tomorrow is headed.

The federal government says it will hire 100-thousand tradespeople to help build it's promised infrastructure projects. Canadians are twice as likely to advise young people to go into the trades -- but is the right call? We'll hear the arguments for both, as well as the advice of a career councillor.

The deadline to collect signatures has passed for the Stay Free Alberta petition. The leaders of the separatist movement say they have the support to force a referendum, but a court injunction may stop the process. Should Alberta hold a vote on separating from Canada? From separatists to federalists -- we hear the answer to that question from every possible perspective.

It was ten years ago this week that a wildfire started raging southwest of Fort McMurray, Alberta. It would lead the largest wildfire evacuation in Canadian history. On ICYMI, from Checkup's show on May 8th, 2016, we hear from two evacuees shortly after they left the their homes behind.

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in on sports betting ads. Former Canadian Olympian Bruce Kidd wants sports betting ads banned…but the Canadian Gaming Association says this will make things worse. Should they be completely banned? We'll hear from both sides of the debate.

Hockey and basketball playoff season is in full swing...and so are the sports betting ads. One-third of Canadians aged 18 to 29 gamble online. Former Canadian Olympian Bruce Kidd wants sports betting ads banned…but the Canadian Gaming Association says this will make things worse. Should they be completely banned? We'll hear from both sides of the debate.

The Trump administration rekindled the cross-border crosstalk with Canada this week, as this summer's trade deadline looms. An economist and US trade expert decipher what's at stake for both countries as Canadians share the impact all this is having on their daily life.

Just as trade talks resume between Canada and the US, ICYMI features highlights from Checkup's 2018 show from Madison, Wisconsin. Canadians and Americans weigh-in on the trade war in the lead up to the final negotiations which lead to CUSMA/USMCA.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford tabled legislation requiring high school teachers to factor attendance into final grades. Should students lose marks for missing class? This week academics, teachers and students weigh in from all sides of this debate.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is giving people a choice this fall -- stay in Canada or begin the legal path toward a binding referendum on separation. Checkup has every angle covered including: reactions from Alberta, the rest of Canada, as well get expert analysis on the potential legal, and political ramifications to the premier's announcement this week.

As Canadians debate how to deal with students missing school today, back in 2005 Checkup was taking the country's temperature on whether secondary education is truly serving students. 

Global EV sales are also rebounding with rising oil prices. Our AMA expert answers caller questions about EVs, hybrids and everything in between. 

This isn't the first time that future of Canada's passenger rail system has been the centre of public debate. On August 17, 1980, Cross Country Checkup asked callers: "Should we abandon our passenger trains?" Here are some highlights from that show.

Canada elected a minority parliament - but five floor crossers have brought Prime Minister Mark Carney just 1 seat away from a majority government. Our question: Is floor crossing a fair path to a majority government? 

A high speed rail project between Toronto and Quebec City is on the table, promising jobs and billions in economic impact — but also raising concerns from communities and politicians. In this episode, we dig into what Canadians want to know about high‑speed rail and whether the country is ready for it. Our question: What questions do you have about high speed rail in Canada? Is it a good or bad idea?

The federal NDP is pitching public, non-profit grocery stores. They say it's to bring prices down. City governments in New York and Toronto are studying the idea while Mexico has had a government-run chain since the 1950s. Supporters say it could lower bills. Critics say it won't.

Our question: Are government-run grocery stores the fix for high prices? How's the cost of food affecting you?

Stephen Lewis passed away early on March 31st, 2026. He appeared on Cross Country Checkup multiple times throughout his career as a politician, ambassador, and activist. Here's a selection from an interview he did back in October of 1977 when he was the leader of the Ontario NDP. The question for callers on that program was, "What do you think is the critical issue facing the next session of parliament?”

We're approaching a big moment for the Artemis II mission, as the crew prepares for their flyby around the moon. It’s not a landing, but it’s the first time in more than 50 years that humans will swing around the moon and head back home. It’s thrilling. It’s historic. And it’s expensive. Artemis has blown past budgets and timelines. And here in Canada, taxpayers will contribute more than $800 million to the Canadian Space Agency this year. So, is it worth it?

Our question: Why does space exploration matter to you? Is it worth the investment?

Cross Country Spotlight - highlights from Checkup on Sunday. For the first time in more than 50 years, humans will swing around the moon and head back home. It’s thrilling. It’s historic. And it’s expensive. We heard from callers —Why does space exploration matter to you? Is it worth the money? Here are some highlights from the show. 

Cross Country Spotlight - highlights from Checkup on Sunday. A month into the US–Israel war in Iran, civilian deaths rise, tensions spread across the region, and allies like Canada face tough choices. Here's a digest of Checkup's Q&A with experts on what’s happening now...and what could come next.

This is the abbreviated version of Checkup's call-in about the boxes, bins and forgotten belongings adult kids have left behind. This episode looks at how families negotiate inter-generational storage wars and how to decide what stays, what goes and who's responsible for it all.

Avi Lewis was elected as the new leader of the federal NDP party, earlier on March 29, 2026. We are revisiting another memorable moment for many in that party, August 2011. Former NDP leader Jack Layton died of cancer, just months after leading the NDP to its best ever election result.