The Nova Scotia branch of the Canadian Federation of Students is planning an event and inviting student organizers and activists from across Halifax to come "together in the hopes of building a radical student community together." Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Aideen Reynolds, the Nova Scotia chair, about why now is the right time to rebuild a strong student movement.

Mi'kmaw is officially recognized as Nova Scotia's first language. Linguist Bernie Francis tells Jeff Douglas it's important that the Mi'kmaw language continues to be passed down to future generations.

Ottawa's Speaking Vibrations are bringing a unique and genre-defying performance in American Sign Language to the Halifax Fringe Festival this weekend. It will feature song, poetry, music and dance. To learn more, host Jeff Douglas was joined by one of the show's co-producers and performers, Jordan Samonas.

The provincial government announced yesterday it will offer doctors a $10,000 incentive to accept at least 50 new "higher needs" patients. Michelle Thompson, Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness, dropped by Studio A to speak to Jeff about what it will mean to the provincial registry of people looking for a primary health-care provider.

A new comedy cabaret in Antigonish offers a lighter side to life as an immigrant through music, skits, improv and laughter. It's called New In Town. Director Laura Teasdale and writer Afshan Khaleghi told host Jeff Douglas about the production.

Nova Scotians could see a 14 cent increase at fuel pumps on Saturday, as the federal government implements its carbon tax. And this is just the beginning as Ottawa will start implementing its new Clean Fuel Regulations the same day. To get into the politics behind these upcoming changes, Mainstreet's Spinbusters join guest host Preston Mulligan.

Have you ever wondered what Halifax would be like if monsters from another dimension roamed the city? Rob Hansen did and he wrote and illustrated a comic book about it. He spoke with host Jeff Douglas about his project and the upcoming Dartmouth Comic Arts Festival.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Swissair flight 111 crash where all souls on board were lost. Gina Leola Woolsey's new book, called Fifteen Thousand Pieces, details the experience of Nova Scotia's former medical examiner, Dr. John Butt, during the tragedy. Mainstreet Halifax host Jeff Douglas started their conversation by asking her to talk about why families easily connected with Dr. Butt.

The executive director of The North Grove, a non-profit group in Dartmouth that helps people on a lower income access food, says the number of people accessing its subsidized produce market was up 135 per cent in May compared to a year earlier. Wendy Fraser joins host Jeff Douglas.

With the deadly floods hitting Nova Scotia in July, and more frequent heavy rainfall warnings, many of us are wondering: how can we mitigate flood risk to our homes? And are there easy and inexpensive ways to do it? Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Blair Feltmate, the head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, to get some answers.

A new wilderness area in Nova Scotia's Guysborough County will protect 300 hectares of old-growth forest as well as a lake that has been identified by a mining company as a water source for a proposed gold mine. Conservationist Deirdre Green joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the announcement and her concerns about the proposed gold mine.

Retired history teacher Teresa Kewachuk helps run The Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash. It's a think-tank of sorts formed in the 1950s connected to Joseph Rotblat, The Manhattan Project, and the international movement to ban nuclear weapons.

Irish singer-songwriter and activist Sinead O'Connor has died at age 56. Jacqueline Warwick a Professor of Musicology and Gender at Dalhousie University tells Jeff that O'Connor was one of the greatest voices of our generation.

Halifax-born Yanni Karmas, a masters student at the University of Ottawa, has written his thesis on the role of Greek dance in maintaining ethnic identity and a sense of belonging in a a multicultural society like Canada. Karmas spoke to Jeff shortly after defending his thesis.

Lighthouses continue to draw tourists to the the East Coast. CBC reporter Mariam Mesbah recently visited the Cape Jourimain lighthouse and tells Jeff about what she learned. .

Few marine creatures have perplexed and surprised scientists as much as the octopus, and recently the iconic eight-armed creatures were in the news after a bustling octopus nursery was discovered in the deep sea. To tell us more, Mainstreet's Oceans Guy Boris Worm joined host Jeff Douglas in Studio A.

Tory Rushton is the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. He spoke with Jeff Douglas about the provincial government's stance on the Atlantic Loop project, the province's net-zero goals, and working with the federal government.

On August 8, Nova Scotia stopped locking people in its provincial jails who were being detained for administrative reasons by the Canadian Border Services Agency, becoming the first province to do so. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with El Jones, who is on the board of the East Coast Prison Justice Society, to learn more.

A Mi'kmaw youth archaeology camp is starting in Kejimkujik National Park next week. Kids will be learning to dig like an archaeologist while being immersed in Mi'kmaw culture. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Robert Labradore of Kluskap First Nation, who is the camp's co-ordinator.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives wants to see improvements to the federal-provincial rent supplement program to address Nova Scotia's lack of affordable housing. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Catherine Leviten-Reid, a research associate at the centre, about what her group is proposing.

June is Pride month and that means there are many events happening around the Halifax Regional Municipality. Dan MacKay, the publisher of the Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia, joins host Jeff Douglas to give a rundown of pride events happening in the city this month.

Rainbow Railroad, an organization that helps 2SLGBTQIA+ refugees settle in Canada, has entered into a referral partnership with the federal government. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, spoke to Jeff about what that partnership means.

Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Lisa Ross, a two-time Olympian sailor, who just became the first female skipper to win at Chester Race Week in the regatta's 156-year history — and she did it all while 38-weeks pregnant.

Greta Gerwig's Barbie is opening in theatres next week and one Halifax business is ready to celebrate. Upshaw's Rollerdome in Spryfield is hosting a Barbie-themed roller disco Saturday night. CBC's Rose Murphy spoke with owner Shane Upshaw to learn more about the party.

The Halifax group, 100 Women Who Care, is creating a diversity marketplace on their website and hoping to identify 100 more vendors in the next 100 days. Mainstreet's Alex Guye spoke with the group's founder, Colette Robicheau, to learn more.

The James Webb Space Telescope is celebrating its first year in operation this week. NASA and the European and Canadian space agencies marked its birthday with the release of a stunning and unprecedented new image. Astrophysicist Jesse Rogerson joined host Jeff Douglas to tell us more.

Imagine a long blueberry that tastes a bit more tangy — that's a haskap berry. They're in season right now, and they're grown right here in Nova Scotia! Guest host David Burke spoke with Chris and Melissa Berry, the owners of LaHave River Berry Farm, about their unusual crop.

Members of the Khyber Centre for the Arts in Halifax can check out a new exhibition at its Hollis Street gallery. It's called "What's Love Got To Do With It" and is inspired by singer-songwriter Tina Turner, who died earlier this year. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Ivan Flores, one of the exhibit's co-curators.

The price of gas and diesel in Nova Scotia is going up again this coming weekend. Manager of Climate Solutions for the Conservation Council of New Brunswick, Moe Qureshi, tells Jeff energy producers were supposed to feel the pinch and not consumers.

The Senate Committee on Human Rights is investigating anti-Black racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission, a place people turn to if they've experienced discrimination. Its final report on the matter is expected in the fall. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard, a member of the committee, to get an update.

The Canadian mountain bike national championships are being held in Kentville, N.S., this weekend. Mackenzie Myatt of Musquodoboit spoke with Mainstreet's Alex Guye about how exciting it is for nationals to be happening so close to home — and about her book of poetry that was inspired by her relationship with the sport.

A report put together by several Nova Scotia organizations looks at how stigma makes already-vulnerable people even more vulnerable to sexual exploitation, because it creates barriers when they try to get help. Mainstreet's Alex Mason spoke with Dametre Samuels, Stephanie Atwood and Kimm Kent to learn more about "Hearing Them: Stigma as a Barrier to Accessing Services and Supports." The report is available here: tessns.ca/research

People have interacted with wildlife for millennia whether as a source of food, medicine, garments or as companion animals. New research shows how much our use of wild species has grown over time, and what the consequences are for biodiversity and the planet’s ecosystems. Our Oceans Guy Boris Worm joins guest host David Burke to explain.

June is Filipino Heritage Month across Canada and this weekend is the biggest celebration for the Nova Scotian Filipino community. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Micah Lacson, the president of the Filipino Cultural Society of Nova Scotia, to learn more.

September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month. The theme this year is Uniting our Strengths: Finding Solutions Together. Allan Mountford is the founder of Fetal Alcohol Nova Scotia, an organization that aims to spread awareness about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the province.

Tori Poynton, the jewelry designer behind the brand TORI.XO, had her work featured at Paris Haute Couture Week this week. The Australian-born Nova Scotian joined host Jeff Douglas to describe what it was like.

A new partnership has been made between the government of Canada and Rainbow Railroad. Executive Director Kimahli Powell spoke to Mainstreet's Alex Guye about what it means.

With the growing influence of AI generated images and speeches, our ability to determine when something is real or not is constantly being tested. This is what you need to know to avoid scams, and how to detect fake images, text and speech.

Marc Deveault is a retired Canadian Armed Forces combat medic in Middleton, N.S., who started creating special effects for movies and television to help manage his post-traumatic stress disorder. Host Jeff Douglas visited Marc at his home in June.

Clearwater co-founder John Risley has come a long way from the days when he and Colin MacDonald sold lobster out of the back of a pickup truck on the side of the Bedford Highway — except that's entirely not true. In his new book, Quentin Casey busts some myths and also sheds a lot of light on the enormously successful Nova Scotian businessman. It's called "Net Worth: John Risley, Clearwater, and the Building of a Billion-Dollar Empire."

About 13,000 people in Nova Scotia responded to a survey that was administered by the Canadian Index of Wellbeing and Engage Nova Scotia in 2019. Taylor Hill, a PhD student in Dalhousie University's department of psychology and neuroscience has examined the survey and spoke to Jeff about what it reveals.

A unique multi-university research project is looking for ways to end technology-facilitated sexual violence for teens in Canada. Suzie Dunn, a law professor and researcher at Dalhousie University, joins guest host Preston Mulligan to talk about what can be done to increase digital safety.

On Wednesday, Dalhousie University in Halifax announced its new chancellor will be Rustum Southwell. He's best known as the founding CEO of the Black Business Initiative and his involvement with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. He joined guest host Preston Mulligan. 

The federal government's carbon tax was implemented in Nova Scotia last week, raising fuel prices. But it's also introducing a rebate program to help offset costs. To explain how that will work, and what the carbon tax is meant to do, host Jeff Douglas is joined by Sean Fraser, MP for Central Nova and a member of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet.

During the past three months, there have been revelations about rising water temperatures on both the surface and at the bottom of the ocean. The North Atlantic, for instance, has seen the warmest surface temperatures ever recorded at this time of year. Susanna Fuller, vice president of operations and projects with Oceans North, joined us to discuss what this all means.

The SeaLight SkyLight Festival is coming up at the end of the week at the Deanery Project in Lower Ship Harbour, N.S. It's a family friendly event that combines stargazing with art and music. Kim Thompson gave host Jeff Douglas the details.

New Canadian research reveals a need for increased support for autistic individuals when they show up in emergency departments. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Yona Lunsky, the director of the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, who co-authored the study.

The Living Laboratories Initiative is a nationwide effort to bring together farmers and scientists to address environmental issues in agriculture. Carolyn Marshal, the environment and climate change manager with the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, joined host Jeff Douglas to tell us about the initiative's second summer in the province.

A story of queer homecoming won this year's Thomas Raddall Atlantic Fiction Award. Its author, KR Byggdin, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about their debut novel Wonder World in advance of a reading and conversation at the Glitter Bean Cafe in Halifax.

Kenley Matheson was a student at Acadia University when he disappeared from Wolfville, N.S., more than 30 years ago. But his sister, Kayrene Matheson, has been given a new sense of hope after police announced they would be conducting a new search for remains near the university town. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Kayrene about what the search means to her family.

A lot of people will be searching for the right words to honour Dad this weekend. Meanwhile, Mainstreet's producer Alex Mason gave parents a chance to talk about their kids. This audio features Cassie Williams, Lori Harold, Lana McLean, Chris Lydon, Carol Anne Johnson, Tom Johnson, Kimberly Charron, Wanda Thomas Bernard, Jeff Overmars, and Jennifer Wessel.

It's back to school week in Nova Scotia and as enrollment spikes, we'll find out why the supply of substitute teachers isn't keeping pace. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Ryan Lutes, the president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, to find out why the province is having a hard time finding an adequate supply of subs.

Dan MacKay, the publisher of the Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia, is back to tell us more about what community-organized Pride events are happening around Halifax this month.

Some members of the trans and queer communities here in Nova Scotia will be holding a march for justice in Halifax on Thursday. Mainstreet's Rose Murphy spoke to Ashlee Hinchey, one of the organizers , and a co-organizer referred to as S. The CBC has decided not to reveal their identity because of their concerns about the potential for hate, discrimination and violence.

George Dixon was honoured Monday when Parks Canada and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada unveiled a plaque in his honour in Africville. Craig Smith is a sergeant with the RCMP, an historian, and the author of "You Had Better be White By Six A.M." He joined us to talk about Dixon's legacy.

Occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty deaths in the fire service, according to the International Association of Fire Fighters. Toxicologist Crystal Sweeney is developing a patch that can detect carcinogens and prevent cancer risk to firefighters.

An event happening in downtown Dartmouth later this month aims to record the stories of community elders in their own voices — before they're lost forever. Dan MacKay, the publisher of the Halifax Rainbow Encyclopedia, told host Jeff Douglas about the Elders Storytelling Salon and why it's important to save these stories.

Local legendary rock band, April Wine, are finally being inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame, but earlier this year, lead singer and songwriter Myles Goodwyn stepped away from the band. Although he's not performing, he's still helping write songs for a new album and managing the band. He joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about the walk of fame and do an album deep dive.

For the month of August, folks in Antigonish County can hitch a ride for free to recreational centres, beaches and other locations. It's all part of a pilot project to reduce barriers to physical activity.

Facebook and Instagram are already starting to block access to Canadian news on its websites. The CEO of Village Media is saying this will "devastate" the journalism industry. So how did we get here? Guest host David Burke spoke with Sue Gardener, a digital media expert, about Canada's Online News Act and what it means for Canadians.

The Pavillion Youth Association is hosting a series of battle of the bands events at the Lighthouse Arts Centre in Halifax. The first session is on Aug. 31. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with CJ Hill, president of the Pavillion Youth Association, to learn more.

The Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative and the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs is calling on the federal government to reinstate a ministerial order that would allow safe fish passage by opening the aboiteau gates in the Windsor causeway. That order was first issued in 2021 but expired earlier this month, without being renewed. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Twila Gaudet, the initiative's director of consultation, to learn more.

Bill C-18, otherwise known as the Online News Act, is set to come into effect within the next six months. Terra Tailleur, the associate director of the journalism program at the University of King's College in Halifax, joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about how it could affect news organizations and the general public.

Nour Issa is part of Nova Scotia's largest ever class of medical residents. She began her family practice residency on July 1 — one of 16 international medical graduates to do so after the province added more seats. She told host Jeff Douglas about her 14-year journey to become a family doctor in this province.

Jonathan Wilkinson's is now the federal minister of energy and natural resources. He is in Nova Scotia to speak with first responders and meet with Premier Houston and other energy stakeholders.

The Journal of the American Heart Association has published a scientific statement linking cardiovascular diseases to chronic exposure to low and "low‐moderate" levels of lead, cadmium, and arsenic. Doug Mulhall, who wrote about these heavy metals and the risk they pose in his new book, Discovering the Nature of Longevity, tells guest host Preston Mulligan how people can protect themselves.

The 22nd annual Canadian Surf Life Saving Championships is getting underway at Martinique Beach this weekend. About 160 competitors from across Canada will compete in the lifesaving sport. Mainstreet's Alex Guye spoke with Paul D'eon, the competition manager for the 2023 championships, about what competitors will be doing.

The threat of climate change is making young people uncertain about the future, but the feeling shouldn’t be called climate or eco-anxiety. Stan Kutcher, with Dalhousie University's Department of Psychiatry, joins host Jeff Douglas to explain why we should reframe the way we talk about climate change concerns.

WARNING: This interview contains details some may find disturbing. Listen with care. Charmaine Nelson, the director of the Slavery North Initiative at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is back to talk about how women's sexuality, fertility and maternity were treated under slavery, and the legacy of that.

The wildfires in Nova Scotia this spring turned the lives of residents completely upside down. Maxine Brewer is a registered nurse with the Victorian Order of Nurses who was forced to leave her home in Hammonds Plains. She told host Jeff Douglas what it was like being a part of an organization so many depend on — in the midst of the wildfire crisis.

Pop culture references to kegels is probably where we all first learned a little something about pelvic floor muscles, but there is so much more that all people need to know. Freelance contributor Amy Grace has been spending time at a pelvic health centre in Halifax and she felt compelled to share what she learned.

Kathy Legge of Duncans Cove is still waiting for repairs after her access road was washed away in significant rainfall and flooding last weekend. And she's not alone. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Kathy, and Brendan Maguire, the Liberal MLA for Halifax Atlantic, about the damage and questions that remain.

As the North American Indigenous Games got underway on Monday, Mainstreet was broadcasting live from the cultural village on the Halifax Common. Host Jeff Douglas was joined by Mi'kmaw linguist Bernie Francis and Jesse Benjamin of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, to chat with athletes, coaches and other special guests.

There's an investigation underway to determine whether or not the old Morvan Road dump in the south-end of Shelburne has contributed to high cancer rates and deaths in the nearby, largely African Nova Scotian, community. Mainstreet's Alex Guye went down there to learn more about the study from people involved during a recent town hall.

It's two years to the day after the standoff between police and protestors over the eviction of tents and shelters for the unhoused in downtown Halifax. Amanda Rekunyk was arrested that day, and appeared in court today. She spoke with host Jeff Douglas about how it went.

You might be noticing you can't access or share news stories on Facebook or Instagram anymore. In response to Canada's new Online News Act, their parent company Meta has started blocking Canadian news from their sites. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Tim Bousquet, the editor of the Halifax Examiner, about how it's affecting independent online news organizations.

The North American Indigenous Games are set to begin in Halifax on Sunday, as thousands of young athletes flock to Nova Scotia. Sara-Lynne Knockwood, a former NAIG competitor, is the director of sport and venue for the Games. She told host Jeff Douglas about what the Games mean to so many people.

The writer Jane Friedman made headlines earlier this month when she discovered fraudulent books were available on Amazon under her name. She suspects they were written by AI, and has had a hard time getting them taken down. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Phil Moscovitch, president of the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, to discuss challenges AI poses for writers.

Jason Ripley, the chief of the Greenwich Volunteer Fire Department, gives CBC's Jean Laroche a sense of just how many close calls there were during an extreme flooding event in Nova Scotia this past weekend.

A brand new music festival happening in Annapolis County is hoping to raise awareness and funds for a campaign to save old forests — all while having a rip-roaring good time. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Rob Bright from the Save Our Old Forests campaign.

Millbrook First Nation has been hosting the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Summer Games this week. Host Jeff Douglas went down to the community and spoke with some of the young folks who are participating.

An estimated 5,000 young athletes from 750 nations will be coming to Nova Scotia for the North American Indigenous Games next week. Some of the events will be hosted in Millbrook First Nation, which has been supporting young athletes for years. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Chief Bob Gloade to learn more.

Everyone's favourite Canadian meme account on Instagram @canada.gov.ca is coming to do two live shows in Dartmouth this month. So what does a meme account live show look like? And who is the enigma behind the canada.gov.ca account? And why do they love those plastic chairs so much? Mainstreet tracked down John Batt, the supposedly anonymous admin, to get some answers.

Emily McEwan, the president of Bradan Press, gives us a look at what new books are coming this fall. The Dartmouth-based Gaelic publishing company will be printing their first books in Irish Gaelic — a children's book and a graphic novel.

Mi'kmaw lawyer Paul Prosper was appointed to the Senate of Canada last week. The educator and former chief of Paqtnkek Mi'kmaw Nation has more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous legal issues. He spoke with host Jeff Douglas about his recent appointment and what it means to him.

Liz LeClair, an activist and survivor of sexual assault, says there is a culture of misogyny in Nova Scotia's policing and legal systems that hinders the protection of women. She tells host Jeff Douglas why Carrie Low's case is just one example of a much broader problem.

A new exhibition will open Thursday at the St. Francis Xavier Art Gallery, but the medium is one of humanity's oldest — tapestry. The show is called Cloth and Consequence and was put together by Murray Gibson, who weaves contemporary tapestries in his studio in Pomquet, near Antigonish. He spoke with Mainstreet's Rose Murphy to explain the interconnectedness of life, death and textile practice.

A new musical variety show will feature some of the amazing musical talent in Nova Scotia. It's called the Big Turnip Jubilee, and its first screening is scheduled for June 29. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Dylan Jewers, the founder of folk and roots record label Big Turnips, to learn more.

Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist in Halifax, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk all things COVID-19 and vaccines ahead of the fall season.

An Australian-born Nova Scotian will be showcasing her work at the Paris Haute Couture Week, which brings names like Christian Dior and Balenciaga. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Tori Poynton, the jewelry designer behind the brand TORI.XO, about her career and how she got there.

Mi'kmaw linguist Bernie Francis stopped into Studio A to give Mainstreet's Alex Mason, and our listeners, a basic lesson in the language. To learn more, you can check out previous episodes with Bernie here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAtUYiZ2wUbGB6kSgep-Qo4lRNE84cEUu

Later this month, Nova Scotians can catch a Neptune Theatre production that celebrates queer history. It's called 'Life's A Drag' and was created by Tyler Craig — also known by their drag persona Anna Mona-Pia — who is a professional actor and performer. They spoke with host Jeff Douglas about the upcoming production.

East of East, the Atlantic Canadian Hip-Hop Archive, went live last week. Hip-hop academic and archivist Michael McGuire spoke to Jeff Douglas about the purpose of the archive.

Today is Overdose Awareness Day, a day to remember those who have died from drug overdose, and to talk openly about the problem, without stigma. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with harm reduction consultant Emily Percival-Paterson who talked about what's happening here in Nova Scotia.

This weekend, the Ship's Company Theatre in Parrsboro, N.S., is hosting a very special show — it takes place around a dinner table and weaves together tales of long-distance love, immigration and an ancient Chinese folktale. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Gloria Mok, the show's playwright, to hear about her intimate one-person performance.

The Burlington Community Club celebrated its 35th annual Canada Day event this past weekend, and for the first time ever it included a drag show. Zakary Miller was asked to host an hour of the festivities and invited drag performer Queera Bang to share his set. They joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about how it went.

Eleanore Sunchild, a high-profile Cree lawyer from Saskatchewan, is calling for residential school denialism to be added to the Criminal Code alongside Holocaust denialism. Jeff spoke with Barbara Perry who is the UNESCO Chair in Hate Studies at Ontario Tech University about the line between free speech and hate speech.

The Halifax Fringe Festival is nigh. This has been a banner year for submissions, with more than over 40 shows on offer at half a dozen venues across the city. One of them is Forest World, co-written by mother and son team, Louise Fox and Matthew Burley. It opens Sept. 6.

A new music festival and conference featuring all Black artists is coming to Halifax this August. It's called Crescendo Fest and it was put together to "turn up the volume on Black music artists." Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Michah Smith, the festival organizer, to learn more.

Girls on Boards is a non-profit organization on a mission to get girls up on anything with a board — whether it be a surfboard, a paddleboard or a skateboard. Their goal is to empower young women and build their confidence. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with paddleboard instructor, Rosalind Beddoe, to learn more.

From devastating wildfires to fatal floods, there's no denying climate disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe — and it's making people increasingly worried about climate change and the uncertainty of the future. Tina Oh, a Halifax-based climate activist, joined host Jeff Douglas, to talk about climate anxiety.

The Mi'kmaq Rights Initiative, also known as the KMKNO, says there wasn't enough community consultation while the federal government was developing its action plan on implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Sarah Toole, the governance lead at KMKNO, joined host Jeff Douglas to explain.

An American investment group is suing the government of Honduras for $11 billion in damages — almost a third of the nation's annual budget — which would most likely bankrupt the country. Olabisi Akinkugbe, a law professor at Dalhousie University, spoke with host Jeff Douglas about how "neo-colonial" investment laws are making situations like this increasingly common.

The Nova Scotia government has announced it is partnering with a non-profit homesharing website to help address the housing crisis. Happipad pairs people looking for places to rent with homeowners who have empty rooms in their house. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Jeff Karabanow, a social work professor, about the potential strengths and risks.

Kix Marshall is on his way across Canada looking for stories about Canadian cuisine and culture for a cookbook. He's been to almost every province and territory so far on his travels and now he's here in Nova Scotia. Mainstreet's Alex Guye gave Kix a call to learn more.

Just over one month from now, the 2023 North American Indigenous Games begin in Kjipuktuk, in Dartmouth, in Millbrook, and Sipekne’katik. With over 5,000 participants representing more than 750 nations, across 16 different sports, NAIG is the largest multi-sport and cultural event in the history of this region. Fiona Kirkpatrick-Parsons, chair of the 2023 NAIG Host Society, joined us for an early preview of what's to come.

The first several weeks on college campuses are when the vast majority of sexual assaults occur - it's called the Red Zone. Host Jeff Douglas talks to Micah Kalisch about a new toolkit she created for Students for Consent Culture Canada aimed at keeping students safer this year.

Long before emancipation, there were enslaved people in Nova Scotia, and in other parts of what is now Canada. But there was also resistance. Charmaine Nelson studies this history through the advertisements that slaveholders put in newspapers, when enslaved people ran away. She told host Jeff Douglas about what these ads tell us.

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is hosting a new exhibition starting Tuesday. It's called Hearts of Freedom: Stories of Southeast Asian Refugees. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with the exhibit's creator, Stephanie Phetsamay Stobbe, to learn what it's all about.

Bruce Guthro, one of Cape Breton's most well-known troubadours whose remarkable 40-year career made waves on both sides of the Atlantic, died on Tuesday evening after a battle with cancer. We hear from Bill MacNeil, one of Guthro's co-producers, and fellow musicians Kim Dunn, Matt Minglewood and Sam Moon.

Nova Scotia is investing $3.2 million to make access to mental health and addictions support easier for young people. The initiative will be led by a team from IWK. Daphne Hutt-MacLeod, the director of integrated youth services for Nova Scotia with IWK Health, tells Jeff the investment was desperately needed.

There has been much debate over whether queer characters in film and television are appropriate for younger viewers, especially in the United States. Kristen Hutchinson, an adjunct professor of feminism and popular culture at the University of Alberta, spoke with Mainstreet's Alex Guye about the importance of 2SLGBTQ+ representation in media.

A short documentary by Halifax filmmaker Brandon Boyd will premiere this fall at the Halifax Central Library. It's called 'What Do You Think?' and is about representation of people with autism and disabilities in the film industry. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Boyd to learn more.

Flash floods were happening in the Halifax region last Friday night at around 7pm but an emergency alert wasn't sent until after 10 p.m. Jeff spoke to HRM councillor Lisa Blackburn about lessons learned and what more needs to be done.

Melanie Chambers was nervous about meeting her high school bully Kendra Coady, but to her surprise, they became friends — 35 years later. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Melanie and Kendra Coady for a challenging conversation, looking back at their relationship.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Swissair flight 111 crash, Lachlan MacKinnon, a professor of history at Cape Breton University, talks about what commemoration looks like and represents for people a quarter of a decade later. And then Mary Ellen MacDonald, a professor and palliative care researcher at Dalhousie tells us what to expect from "Good Grief, Nova Scotia!" - an upcoming festival all about grief and ways we can increase literacy around death and grieving.

It’s hard enough being a teenager, but it can be even harder when you face bullying and hate just for being who you are. Tyler Jesso is an 18-year-old transgender student living in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and he’s dealt with it all during his teenage years. But he’s strong in his convictions and has his mom, Amy Thibeau, the president of the southwest Nova Scotia chapter of PFLAG, by his side. They spoke with Mainstreet’s Alex Mason.

The 33rd annual Halifax Fringe Festival is just around the corner. It begins on Aug. 30 and runs until Sept. 10. Venue locations range from places like the Neptune Theatre to the Cambridge Battery. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Sara Graham, the executive director of Halifax Fridge to learn more.

Many people believe that 10,000 steps a day are what’s needed to benefit from exercise. But a new study suggests otherwise. Health columnist Dr. Iris Gorfinkel joins host Jeff Douglas for a closer look.

Theatre Nova Scotia is doing something new this summer — promoting all the theatres across the province in one campaign. It invites you to "Discover Your Theatre." Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Mark Ferraro-Hauckis, the executive director of Theatre Nova Scotia, to learn more about the campaign.

Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative government is nearing the halfway point of its mandate. It's a mandate that was earned largely on a promise to fix health care. Reporter Michael Gorman joins host Jeff Douglas to discuss his recent interview with the health minister about that promise and what's been happening in the last two years.

Liliona stopped by to tell us a bit about herself, what she's hoping to bring to this role, and what we should keep an eye on this season.

Just ahead of National Indigenous Peoples Day, two new exhibits have been installed at museums in Halifax. CBC's Brett Ruskin visited " Revealing Chignecto", which is on display at the Canadian Museum of Immigration. And Mainstreet host Jeff Douglas went down to the Museum of Natural History to check out another called "Honouring Our Ancestors".

There's been a lot of back and forth between Ottawa and the government of Nova Scotia over putting a price on carbon, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and greening the grid. Premier Tim Houston says the Atlantic Loop proposal has grown too expensive and has the potential to send power rates through the roof. The premier's position led MP Kody Blois to write him a letter. He joined host Jeff Douglas to explain.

Dartmouth came alive on Sunday when the city closed Portland Street to traffic — and opened it for fun! The event featured performances by Mi'kmaw drummers and Bahamian big band Rush Culture. There was even a motorized replica of the ferry! Mainstreet's Alex Mason was there to check it out.

It's believed there are some 27,000 Canadian soldiers still missing in action with no known grave. According to St. Mary's University archaeology professor Aaron Taylor, Canada does not actively search for MIAs. He joined host Jeff Douglas to explain why he wants that to change.

The school year is coming to an end and graduations are getting underway across Nova Scotia this week. To celebrate, guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with three valedictorians from across the province.

Alex Yang, a pianist and violinist from Halifax, has made CBC Music's list of 30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30 — at just 14 years old. Mainstreet's Alex Mason gave Alex a call to hear what the distinction means to him.

August marks two years since the United States and its allies left Afghanistan and the Taliban took over. Just last week, the Taliban issued a decree banning girls as young as Grade 3 from classrooms. Murwarid Ziayee, with the Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan spoke with host Jeff Douglas about why there's an extreme need for more international support. 

The "thumbs up" is one of the most popular emojis in the world, but you've got to be careful with that thing. A court in Saskatchewan recently found a company liable for more than $80,000 in damages after they failed to deliver 86 tonnes of flaxseed — something it had agreed to by sending a text with the emoji. Mainstreet's Alex Mason called David Fraser, a Halifax internet and privacy lawyer, to get his reaction.

Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre says it will adopt Ticketmaster as its ticketing platform in a phased approach this summer. We hear why the change was made and what one concert promoter thinks.

People across Nova Scotia are assessing the damage done by rain and flooding on the weekend. Basements have filled with water, culverts have been washed out and roads have been damaged. Halifax councillors Cathy Deagle Gammon and Pam Lovelace are urging patience as repairs get underway.

Be prepared to be amazed by an ACTUAL wizard! Join host Jeff Douglas and reporter Brett Ruskin as they're captivated by Vincenzo Ravina, an award-winning Halifax magician who claims to be an actual wizard. He will be appearing at Serpent Brewing in Halifax later this month.

Pam Glode-Desrochers, the executive director of the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre, joins host Jeff Douglas in Studio A to discuss the 2023 edition of their Mawita'jik Competition Pow Wow and plans to host some events during the upcoming North American Indigenous Games.

Snowy River Farm in Cook's Brook, N.S., recently announced they are scaling back production dramatically due to financial strain and labour shortages. Mainstreet's Rose Murphy spoke with the farm's owner, Amy Hill, about how tough it has been.

The living wage rates have gone up an average of 14 per cent across Nova Scotia. A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives says the 2023 living wage rates range from a low of $22.85 per hour for Cape Breton residents to a high of $26.50 in Halifax. To learn more, guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with director Christine Saulnier.

On Saturday, a group of Indigenous youth, elders and others will gather to celebrate the launch of a new professional training program for young Indigenous storytellers. It's called Bridge to Publishing: Reclaiming the Indigenous Narrative of Atlantic Canada. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with knowledge holder Lindsay Marshall, one of the co-chairs of the publishing program.

Dan Kinsella, chief of Halifax Regional Police, has announced he is retiring later this month. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Halifax Mayor Mike Savage and El Jones, one of the authors of "Defunding the Police: Defining the way forward in the HRM," about the change and what is needed in the policing system.

Puck drop for the new professional women's hockey league happens in January, and rosters are quickly filling up. Guest host Preston Mulligan speaks with Cole Harbour's Alexis Miller, who is the league's new director of player experience.

The '90s are making a comeback — and that includes zines. The Anchor Archive in Halifax is hosting an intro to zine-making workshop called The ABCs of Making a Zine. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Amanda Stevens, a zine librarian, to get the low down on zine culture and history.

It's estimated more than 300 babies are born with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder every year in Nova Scotia. The disorder can have an impact on learning and social skills. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Francis Perry, who lives with FASD, about why the provincial government needs to provide more support for those living with the disorder.

How do whales and dolphins make decisions? Do they follow a leader or decide as a group? Elizabeth Zwamborn is a Dalhousie University researcher looking into that and has discovered unexpected results. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Zwamborn to learn more.

It's a race against time for rescuers in Morocco as they work to find survivors after Friday's devastating earthquake that killed close to 2,700 people. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Ghita Rhammaz, a Moroccan-Nova Scotian, who has been watching rescue efforts in her home country.

The number of people living rough in Halifax is growing, and those tasked with providing services to them are trying to keep up. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Joy Knight, the executive director of Nova Scotia's Employment Support and Income Assistance, to learn more.

A university professor says his biggest fear about the use of artificial intelligence on campuses isn't plagiarism — he's more worried about whose knowledge is being excluded or erased. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Ajay Parasram about why students should avoid using AI for research.

An unusual but consequential summit between North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially wrapped. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Aurel Braun, an expert in international affairs, to learn why the meeting was dubbed "Arms for Food."

Alejandra Torres and Alejandra Sanchez are co-vice-presidents of the board of the Latispanica Cultural Association. They dropped by Studio A to to talk to guest host Preston Mulligan about the celebration of Latin American culture they have planned for Sunday afternoon.

A new film that documents a key member of Halifax's queer and artistic communities is premiering at the Atlantic International Film Festival on Monday. Celestial Queer: The Life, Work and Wonder of James MacSwain explores his experience growing up gay in the 1950s and '60s in small-town Nova Scotia. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with directors and producers, Eryn Foster and Sue Johnson.

Acclaimed Canadian playwright and television writer Hannah Moscovitch, who wrote for AMC's Interview with a Vampire, has co-created and written the show Little Bird, a six-part mini-series about the Sixties Scoop. Moscovitch spoke with guest host Preston Mulligan about her achievements and the importance of telling stories like the ones depicted in Little Bird.

The Maritime Circus Festival is underway in Halifax. One show, called Twist of Fate, tells the story of one woman's diagnosis with scoliosis and not letting that stop her from becoming an aerial and circus performer. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Angola Murdoch, the creator and aerial arts performer, and Matthew Reid, who created the production soundtrack.

Organic farming is getting a boost from the province. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with members of Organic Nova Scotia to find out about two new programs, and what will be happening for National Organic Week next week.

Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe is showing this weekend at the Atlantic International film Festival in Halifax. Ernie Coombs, better known by millions as Mr. Dressup, passed away in 2001. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with director Robert McCallum about Coombs' life and legacy.

A summit for African Nova Scotian and Black youth is bringing together about 130 students from across the province on Friday to talk about anti-Black racism, innovation and transformative change. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Jayreece Whiley and Brittany Oakley about the Nia Summit. Learn more here: https://bccns.com/nia-summit/

Thirty-six years ago, more than 100 Sikh migrants were forced off a ship that had brought them across the Atlantic. They landed in the tiny community of Charlesville at the southwestern tip of Nova Scotia. On Monday, several people who arrived that day returned to say thank you to the fishing community that welcomed them. CBC's Paul Withers tells us more.

While many Nova Scotians breathed a sigh of relief after the remnants of Hurricane Lee swept through the province, business owners on the South Shore are reporting more damage than during Hurricane Juan. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Valerie Tailleur, the owner of Seaport Gifts & Treasures, and Mike Moreland, who runs a marine services company in Lunenburg.

A new Angus Reid survey is shedding light on Canadians' current attitudes toward gender identities. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, to learn more.

Jen Powley, a Halifax disability rights advocate and environmentalist, is being remembered for the impact she had on Halifax and the people around her. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Maggy Burns, who worked with Jen at the Ecology Action Centre.

Georgia Ray Guest is a Grade 8 student from Dartmouth, N.S., who is training in the National Ballet School's Professional Ballet-Academic Program. Mainstreet's Josefa Cameron spoke with Georgia about her experience and what advice she has for other dancers.

Have you heard of girl dinner? How about girl math? They're trends that are becoming more popular as people embrace girlhood. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Morgan Bimm, a professor of women's and gender studies at St. Francis Xavier University, to learn more.

The student housing crisis has become a huge issue here in Nova Scotia, but what can we do about it? Mainstreet's been talking about possible solutions all week long. We spoke with Rylan Kinnon, the CEO of Spaces Shared, Georgia Saleski, the Executive Director of Students Nova Scotia, and Mitchell Archibald, the Executive Director Halifax Student Housing Society.

Nimbus's mini-literary festival Word On The Hill is back! The publisher's book block party is happening tomorrow on Strawberry Hill in Halifax. Mainstreet's Rose Murphy dropped by to chat with Terrilee Bulger, manager and co-owner of Nimbus, and author and photographer Len Wagg.

Dr. Lisa Barrett, an infectious disease specialist in Halifax, joins host Jeff Douglas to encourage people to get the updated COVID-19 vaccine to help protect themselves ahead of a potential fall wave.

Ashwyn Singh, who considers himself Canada's funniest Indian import, is coming to the Maritimes next month. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Ashwyn about his upcoming tour, which touches on mother-son relationships, dating and religion.

Jeff Dahn, a professor emeritus at Dalhousie University, will be presented with the Olin Palladium Award in Sweden next month, for his distinguished contributions to electrochemical science. Dahn tells host Jeff Douglas about his research into lithium-ion batteries and his work with Tesla.

Dalhousie Law prof Naiomi Metallic and her sisters Jessica and Melissa have published a book of columns their late father wrote for a newspaper in Campbellton, N.B., two decades ago. Emmanuel Nagugwes Metallic's column was called Migmaq Heritage Notes. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Naiomi about the new book and her dad.

West Hants has been through a lot this year. Four people died during the flash flooding in July and the damage to roads, bridges, dams and other infrastructure is far from being repaired. On Wednesday night, West Hants Mayor Abraham Zebian hosted a Q&A session at the Windsor Community Centre. Mainstreet's Preston Mulligan called him to ask how the meeting went.

A damning report from Food Banks Canada puts Nova Scotia last among all Canadian provinces in an evaluation of poverty reduction efforts. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Nick Jennery, the executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, about the report.

El Jones, a long-time advocate for people behind bars, shares her perspective on the re-trial of Randy Riley, who was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of Donald Chad Smith, following a jury trial in 2018. Last week, two key Crown witnesses admitted under oath that they lied at the previous trial.

The Yarmouth expo is named for a 1967 incident where multiple witnesses in Shag Harbour reported seeing bright lights disappear into the ocean. They suspected a plane crash, but nothing was ever found. Mainstreet spoke with Chris Styles, an active UFO researcher and panel, about this weekend's event.

Shakespeare's story of MacBeth has resonated with audiences for centuries and not just with people of European descent. Starting October 3, Neptune Theatre and the Prismatic Arts Festival present Pawâkan MacBeth, an Indigenous take on the classic play. Director and playwright Reneltta Arluk and actor Aaron Wells joined us to talk about the production.

Brandon Boyd's documentary pitch won The Launch's pitch contest at the Lunenburg Doc Fest. Boyd is an independent filmmaker from Halifax, who is autistic, spoke to us about the experience and the musician who is the subject of the documentary.

Twila Gaudet, director of consultation, KMKNO joins us to speak about the status of the Avon River. Gaudet works on behalf of the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia in discussions with the Province of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada on Rights implementation.

Many people will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada this weekend, but in polarizing times, some people may dread some of the conversations around the dinner table. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Gina Massulo, a professor at the University of Texas, who has spent years researching how to talk to someone you may fundamentally disagree with.

The Lung Association of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are holding two sharing circles in Dartmouth on Thursday for Indigenous people who want to quit smoking, and for those who have quit in the last year and want to share their insight. Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with Mi'kmaw elder Junior Peter-Paul who is leading both circles.

In the world of competitive axe-throwing, two countries have dominated international competition: Sweden and Germany. But Canadians, particularly Nova Scotians, are leaving their mark. Three members of Barrington's Wild Axe Club travelled to an international competition in Germany earlier this week, earning all the top spots. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Suzy Atwood, who placed second in the women's competition, and first with her team.

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 has announced its artist-in-residence for 2023 and it's poet, playwright, artist and ecologist shalan joudry from Bear River First Nation. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke to shalan about her work and the role.

What would happen if you suddenly need expensive medication to deal with a pressing health issue? A town hall in Bridgewater, N.S., will be asked to consider that question Tuesday evening. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with two people involved: Robin Tress, co-executive director of the Council of Canadians, and Bill Swann, the "lead agitator" of a group he started called Faces of Pharmacare.

A Halifax food and furniture bank is hoping a massive environmentally friendly retrofit will help them help more people. The Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank has been waiting years for funding to go green, and now the work is finally underway. Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with Denise Daley, the executive director of the food bank.

A man in Nova Scotia is selling his vintage, high-quality collection of men's dress shoes on Kijiji. Paul Fecteau in Lyon's Brook, Pictou County, has had a fascination with the shoes since he was a student, and it's a passion he shared with CBC's Rose Murphy.

A Nova Scotia-based forest ecologist is the central character of a new documentary premiering on CBC Gem on Friday. Donna Crossland appears in In the Quiet and the Dark, which outlines her efforts to save Eastern hemlock forests from the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid. Mainstreet's Alex Mason spoke with Nance Ackerman, the film's director, before the premiere, which you can watch here: https://gem.cbc.ca/absolutely-canadian/s23e23

Melissa Peter-Paul, a Mi’kmaw quill artist from Abegweit First Nation, will be part of a panel called Activating Art in Mi'kma'ki during Nocturne on Thursday. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Melissa about her work, and how the environment influences art.

Zachary Steinman is a Lego sculptor. He takes Lego blocks and makes original creations with them, and he's received a fair amount of attention for his projects, measured by his almost 39,000 Instagram followers. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Steinman about how his work is now on display at the Lego House in Denmark.

A Mi'kmaw historian has used generative AI to bring to life characters from Mi'kmaw legends. Host Jeff Douglas spoke to Trevor Gould, who is also a Mi'kmaw storyteller from Paqtnkek First Nation, about the legends and why he wanted to share the images on his social media feeds.

Emmy-nominated voice actor Larissa Murray, who grew up in Dartmouth, N.S., but now lives in the United Kingdom, visits host Jeff Douglas in studio to talk about her success in the industry. She spoke about her experience being the voice of the first female stormtrooper, her television and commercial work and how her job relates to radio play.

The Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement was signed on Tuesday. It will provide $28.5 million to protect another 82,500 hectares of land in Nova Scotia. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Bonnie Sutherland, executive director of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, to get her perspective on the deal.

The exhibition, Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art, opened to the public at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia on Thursday evening. The show is being promoted as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore one of Canada's legendary private art collections. CBC's Rose Murphy was there. *A note of clarification: Ursula Johnson's installation titled "Museological Grand Hall" is not part of the Sobeys' collections and is being displayed courtesy of the artist.

The number of farmers' markets in Nova Scotia has been growing over the past 20 years and there are no signs of stopping. Guest host Carolyn Ray speaks to the manager of a new market in Lower Sackville and we hear from Justin Cantafio with Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia.

Public libraries are for more than just books. They also offer a range of programming, services and other items that can be borrowed. Jocelyn Covert, the Western District manager with Halifax Public Libraries, tells host Jeff Douglas about everything public libraries have to offer.

Ingrid Waldren will be holding a series of workshops in a dozen African Nova Scotian communities this month to talk with people about climate change preparedness. Waldren is the HOPE chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University, and she spoke with host Jeff Douglas.

A dentist in Dartmouth has installed a lift in their new office. If you visit the Transen-Dental Group on Waverley Road, you'll see a mechanism in the ceiling that helps people who use wheelchairs into the dental chair. CBC's Carsten Knox spoke with the office manager at Transen-Dental, a disability advocate and a member of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons.

In wake of Nova Scotia's failing grade on Food Banks Canada's poverty report card, a family physician and professor at Dalhousie University's Faculty of Medicine says poverty should be considered a public health issue. Dr. Tim Holland joins host Jeff Douglas to discuss how poverty is one of the most important aspects of the social determinants of health.

It was a busy day for Nova Scotia's new Speaker on Friday. Karla MacFarlane just became the first woman Speaker of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly on Thursday, and during her second day on the job, she ejected NDP leader Claudia Chender from the House. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with MacFarlane about her new role, and later spoke with Chender about being removed.

Some one million Palestinians living in Gaza were told by the Israeli military to evacuate the north on Friday. Reem Abukmeil's family is among that number. She is a Dalhousie University student in Halifax, and she spoke with host Jeff Douglas about her family's efforts to get out amid conflict.

A new production that is a mash-up of theatre and sitcom will pay homage to the television comedies that raised a generation. The Crevice (Season 2, Part 2) is coming to the Bus Stop Theatre on Friday. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with the series creator and star, Rebecca Falvey, and director Meg Hubley.

The Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash, N.S., was founded in the 1950s as a home for deep and brave conversations. Its first conversation brought together top international scientists concerned about the prospect of nuclear war. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Bob Cervelli, the executive director of the Centre for Local Prosperity, about an upcoming reunion at the Thinker's Lodge.

A new book will explore the art of Mi'kmaw basketry, its history and its future. The Art of Mi’kmaw Basketry features the work of nine different artists, including Malglit Pelletier from Whycocomagh and Virick Francis from Eskasoni.

A day-long roundtable discussion about the needs of the 2SLGBTQ+ community is happening at St. Andrew's United Church in Halifax on Tuesday. Rev. Shaun Fryday, who is organizing the discussion, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how United churches can help meet some of those needs.

They may not be able to leap tall buildings or shoot webs from their wrists, but some people with ADHD say that their diagnosis comes with some surprising superpowers. CBC producer Antonia Reed, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder herself, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the positive aspects of the disorder and dispel some of the bad press.

The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is offering free admission to all Nova Scotians until mid-January. The pilot program is meant to remove financial barriers and increase access to the arts. CBC's Josefa Cameron, spoke with Colin Stinson, director of marketing and visitor experience.

Video journalist and professor Trina Roache joins host Jeff Douglas to discuss a new book that challenges readers to reconsider the history they've been taught about settler colonialism. Roache will be hosting a live discussion with Anishinaabe writer, Patty Krawec, at the University of King's College Tuesday evening.

CBC investigative reporter Jonathan Montpetit has been examining a pattern of anti-trans legislation in the United States where a bill is proposed, it's challenged by civil rights groups, and then the state calls on experts to defend it. One of those experts is Canadian psychologist James Cantor. Montpetit breaks down the impact of Cantor's work.

From Strategy to Action: A Black & African Nova Scotian Justice Symposium kicked off at Saint Mary's University in Halifax on Thursday. Its goal is to better co-ordinate justice work being done in support of African Nova Scotians. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Sobaz Benjamin, who works closely with Black/African Nova Scotian youth who have encountered the justice system.

A series of competitions to pick East Coast artists who will get a chance to perform at JUNO Fest is starting on Saturday. It's called the Wavemakers Tour and it's being held at the LightHouse Arts Centre in Halifax. Allegra Swanson, the chair of the Halifax Juno host committee, joins host Jeff Douglas.

Nova Scotia's health system is failing its Mi'kmaw communities was the stark message delivered to provincial politicians on Thursday. Juliana Julian, Sharon Rudderham and Elaine Allison are three health directors of First Nations communities are calling on the province to improve care for Mi'kmaq.

It's been almost a year since GuysWork got a million dollars to expand from Nova Scotia to the rest of Atlantic Canada. The school-based program brings together male facilitators and young men to "examine how traditional masculinity norms can impact their health, and the health of their peers." Host Jeff Douglas spoke with the program's founder, Morris Green.

An agreement between the Town of Bridgewater and the Housing Trust of Nova Scotia is working to address both the dire need for more health-care professionals and available housing in the area. To learn more, guest host Preston Mulligan speaks with Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell.

Thursday is Intersex Awareness Day, and host Jeff Douglas is joined by Veronica Merryfield, the founder of the Cape Breton Transgender Network, to talk about her journey as an intersex person and how medical decisions at birth are not always correct.

When Savannah Thomas of Fredericton, N.B., became a mom, she turned to Facebook groups for some support. But only for a while. She explains why in an audio essay she made for the CBC Creator Network.

As the Israel-Hamas war stretches into a third week, the world continues to brace for the likelihood of a ground assault into Gaza by Israeli forces. At the same time, there's growing fears that the situation in the Middle East could escalate into a wider conflict. Host Jeff Doulgas speaks with Nader Hashemi, an associate professor of Middle East & Islamic Politics at Georgetown University.

The water is long gone, but there are still many businesses with closed signs on their doors in Bedford, N.S. Their repairs are taking months longer than expected, and so is the financial aid promised by the provincial government. Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with several business owners in the area.

This fall sitting of the Nova Scotia Legislature has triggered two spats between the Houston government and the two biggest municipalities in our province. Mainstreet's Spinbusters Barb Emodi, Michelle Coffin and Chris Lydon join host Jeff Douglas to talk it out.

A recent report from Food Banks Canada says Nova Scotia is failing people who are living in poverty. Some say universal basic income could help fix that. CBC's Rose Murphy joins guest host Carolyn Ray to tell us more.

Diwali, a festival that is said to represent a spiritual victory of light over darkness, is being celebrated in Halifax this weekend. There are several events planned, so here's what you need to know.

The Fifth Estate's Making an Icon documentary about Buffy Sainte-Marie's background has raised questions about who or what defines being Indigenous, and how colonialist systems usurped the autonomy of Indigenous peoples around identity. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Aaron Prosper, a Mi'kmaw artist and Indigenous health consultant from Eskasoni First Nation. He started by asking Aaron what was front of mind when the news was breaking last week.

In the wake of The Fifth Estate's documentary that called into question Buffy Sainte-Marie's claim to Indigenous ancestry, many people have been asking questions about how and why CBC presented the findings of its investigation. To weigh in on that, host Jeff Douglas spoke with Trina Roache, an assistant professor in the School of Journalism at the University of King's College.

Saturday marks the 60th anniversary of the Brunswick-Cornwallis Pre-School, which was dedicated to addressing educational inequities for marginalized children. Ahead of the anniversary, host Jeff Douglas spoke with Iona Duncan States, the preschool's first Black head teacher, former teacher Heather Hackett and Ann Verrall, who's mother co-founded the preschool.

Who's Yer Father is the latest feature comedy film from Prince Edward Island director and writer Jeremy Larter. The film, which was created by a mostly Atlantic Canadian crew, is opening at threatres around the Maritimes this weekend, including a screening and Q&A in Halifax.

Cesar Padilla, stylist extraordinaire and clothing archivist, has helped dress Rihanna, Billie Eillish, cast members in Mad Men and Boardwalk Empire, Ryan Gosling and many more. He joins host Jeff Douglas to talk fashion, his punk style and working in the industry before he holds several talks in Halifax this weekend.

The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness will hold its annual national conference in Halifax next week. Organizers say the conference is a chance to find out what's working and what's not working to end homelessness. Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with communications director Andrew Burns and host committee co-chair Sarah Napier.

A panel discussion about living through extreme weather, including droughts, wildfires and severe flooding, is happening at Dalhousie University in Halifax on Thursday evening. It's called "Fires, floods, and hurricanes: how can we thrive in our new climate reality?" Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with two panelists, Shannon Miedema, HRM's director of Environment and Climate Change, and Alex Cadel, a climate services specialist for Nova Scotia.

In the wake of The Fifth Estate's documentary that called into question Buffy Sainte-Marie's claim to Indigenous ancestry, Mainstreet has been looking into the background and determination of Indigenous identity and status. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Cheryl Simon from Epekwitk (P.E.I.), an assistant professor of Aboriginal and Indigenous Law.

Natalie Wexler, an American education writer, worries that elementary schools in the United States don't do enough to help students build up a knowledge base that would assist them with reading comprehension. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about "closing the knowledge gap," ahead of her talk at the Cross-Canada Research-Ed Conference in Halifax.

A group called Architects Against Housing Alienation has created a housing plan that involves the old Gray Arena in north-end Dartmouth. Their plan was submitted to the 2023 Venice Biennale, a competition that is considered the Olympics of the art world. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Susan Fitzgerald, an architect and design director at FBM, who will be giving a talk about the plan at the Halifax Central Library next week.

A sensitivity reader is a somewhat controversial title in book-lover circles: it's a specialized editor who looks through authors' work for potentially offensive material or stereotypes. Actor and director Shelley Thompson used three sensitivity readers for her novel, Roar, which is about the experience of a trans woman and her family. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Thompson and one of the readers, Veronica Merryfield.

While politicians argue about how, where, when and whether to put a price on carbon dioxide pollution, two new reports show Canada is not on target to be a climate leader by 2030. To learn more, host Jeff Douglas spoke with Gretchen Fitzgerald, the national program director for the Sierra Club Canada Foundation.

On Thursday evening, Canadian rapper and record producer Kardinal Offishall is performing at a free concert alongside musicians Jah'Mila, Kayo and Haviah Mighty. But before his performance, he joined host Jeff Douglas to catch up about everything that's been keeping him busy.

A project aiming to smooth out the process of reintegration after incarceration for people in the African Nova Scotian community is hosting a series of community engagment and roundtable sessions. Barb Hamilton Hinch and Lisa Dennis joins host Jeff Douglas to explain how the project works.

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston apologized to people with disabilities for years of “historic, systemic discrimination" earlier this week. Disability rights advocates say they are grateful for the gesture, but they're hoping it comes with action.

Trombonist and composer Andrew Jackson led the way with the most awards at last weekend's Music Nova Scotia Awards in Yarmouth, including the event's biggest honour, 2023's Musician of the Year. Jackson is a Halifax-based Juno Award-winning musician and the artistic director of the TD Halifax Jazz Festival. He spoke with CBC's Josefa Cameron.

Ther are so many problems in this country, including the housing crisis and climate change, but in the midst of them, there's so much disagreement between politicians. The issues at stake are hugely consequential for people, but how many of the political disagreements are accomplishing anything consequential? Mainstreet's Spinbusters are Barb Emodi, Michelle Coffin and Chris Lydon and they joined host Jeff Douglas.

A new memoir explores what it's like to come out of the closet later in life. Being a lesbian was a secret Jo Deluzio kept from everyone for years, before she finally told friends, family and her husband. She joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about her new book, Surviving the Closet.

Three years in the making, Trafficked Voices tells the stories of women and girls turned into commodities, bought and sold, and the impact on them and their families.This new documentary is on CBC Gem's The Passionate Eye. Writer and director Viveka Melki joins host Jeff Douglas.

A recent research project has been examining Nova Scotia's health-care system and how African Nova Scotians experience it, especially when it comes to gender-based violence. Investigator Nancy Ross joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about what's needed to create a more culturally responsive system.

A private member's bill from a New Democrat MP would criminalize coercive control as a form of domestic abuse. The bill has received cross-party support in Parliament, but there are concerns it's too vague and doesn't provide a specific definition of what constitutes coercive or controlling conduct. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Diane Crocker, who has done years of research into gender-based violence and criminal justice intervention.

Training camps for the Professional Women's Hockey League start on Wednesday, preparing the original six teams to take to the ice in January. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Alexis Miller, the league's director of player experience, who is originally from Cole Harbour, N.S.

Sasha Wang, an undergrad student at Dalhousie University's School of Planning, has been studying and documenting queer spaces in Halifax. They joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about their work and how they determined what spaces are safe for LGBTQ+ people in Halifax. See their map here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1pHxpk4F6VexyAB1jx9oFcT0WFGmMjv4&ll=44.76756101047286%2C-63.0755054&z=9

A 2022 study published by Billboard found that over a 10 year period, women accounted for just over 20% per cent of charting songs. A new East Coast concert series will take aim at the disproportionality in the music industry. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Cathrine MacLellan and Lisa MacIsaac of Madison Violet to learn more.

Andre Fenton is one of the organizers of Write Your Heart Out, a free, youth writing circle being held at the Bus Stop Theatre. Mainstreet's Josefa Cameron spoke with Fenton about the importance of these kinds of programs.

An event to support Gaelic speakers in Halifax is taking place at the central library on Sunday. Making Space for Gaelic will explore how Scottish Gaelic speakers can give their language a meaningful place in their lives as city dwellers. Host Jeff Dougals spoke with Kieran Patrick Walker, who is the administrator for the Gaelic Council of Nova Scotia.

The Coaching Association of Canada has recognized United DFC, a local soccer organization, with a national Impact Award for its W-Inspire conference, which celebrates women and gender-diverse coaches. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with member Kim Wallace and Canadian Olympian Erin McLeod, who will be speaking at the conference on Saturday.

At a time when people are struggling to afford essentials, the Rural Communities Foundation of Nova Scotia has been working to raise money to help restock food pantries in rural schools through its Dave Gunning Zero Hunger Campaign. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with executive director Penny Day to learn more.

Montreal author Daniel Allen Cox is currently on tour with his new memoir "I Felt the End Before it Came: Memoirs of a Queer Ex-Jehovah's Witness. The book details his life as an ex-Jehovah's Witness, experiencing coercive control and how being queer allowed him to forge a new identity. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Cox, starting with why he felt now was the time to share his story.

November 20 is the international Transgender Day of Remembrance. Teo Ferguson, the creative programming facilitator at the Youth Project in Halifax, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about misconceptions around the trans experience and the need for proper education and support.

There's been an increasingly challenging push and pull facing charitable organizations in Nova Scotia. While more people need support, donations are down across the sector. To learn more, host Jeff Douglas spoke with Lisa Harrison, the executive director of the Brunswick Street Mission in Halifax.

Award-winning Wolastoqiyik musician Jeremy Dutcher joins host Jeff Douglas in studio to talk about his new album, Motewolonuwok, the concept behind it, and the importance of forming connection within community.

Wetlands — particularly salt marshes, are critical in the fight against climate change, but why aren't they better protected? Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Gail Chmura, a professor in the geography department at McGill University who specializes in wetlands, to learn more.

DJs, breakdancers, barbers and other artists will take to the stage to perform during Coastal Culture Clash at the Light House Arts Centre in Halifax on Friday. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Shevy Price, DJ IV, and Ryan Veltmeyer.

Sian Gwynne Turner is a basket weaver from Antigonish, N.S., who has recently turned to a new project. She has learned to make caskets entirely out of material from willow trees. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Turner about her craft and why these caskets could be the future of "green burials."

After a week-long stay in the Nova Scotia home of two veterinarians, an endangered green sea turtle has landed in Bermuda where it will be returned to the wild. The turtle had travelled too far north and became cold-stunned. To learn more about the turtle's journey, host Jeff Douglas was joined by Kathleen Martin, the executive director of the Canadian Sea Turtle Network.

Wild pigs are on the move across Canada, and experts worry that nothing will stop them from wreaking ecological havoc wherever they go. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Ryan Brook, a professor at the University of Saskatchewan in the department of Agriculture and Bioresources, to talk about the feral swine.

Legendary local rock band The Trews are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, House of Ill Fame, with a tour that starts in January and runs until the end of February. They joined host Jeff Douglas in the Mainstreet studio to talk about the album and its legacy.

Ski Wentworth has announced it will open the first lift-accessed downhill mountain bike facility in Nova Scotia next summer. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Leslie Wilson, the president and general manager of Ski Wentworth.

Meaghan Smith is performing three concerts at the end of this week at The Stage at St. Andrews in Halifax in support of Feed Nova Scotia. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about her new Christmas song, The Magic of Christmas, and the joy the season brings her.

Andrea Paul is the first woman to be elected as Nova Scotia's regional chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Chief Paul at the Millbrook Cultural and Heritage Centre on Sunday, not long after her brand new official headdress was delivered.

Dartmouth High School will be hosting a new conference next week, which is all about cultivating peace. It will involve a number of presenters from the community and almost 1,000 students. It's a huge undertaking, and Mainstreet's Alex Mason dropped into the school to find out what's in store from Principal Eartha Monard, Schools Plus Community Outreach worker Jaime Bent and three Grade 12 students.

The Juno Awards are coming to Halifax next March so to prepare, CBC Music's Holly Gordon and the East Coast Music Hour's Bill Roach, join Mainstreet host Jeff Douglas to talk about — and listen to — some memorable music from former Juno nominees.

A man who pleaded guilty for a deadly attack at a Toronto massage parlour in 2020 has been sentenced to life in prison. Earlier this year, the attack was deemed an act of terror because of his link to the "incel" movement. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Rob Currie, a distinguished research professor in the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, to get an update on the case.

Mainstreet freelancer Damini Awoyiga joins host Jeff Douglas in studio to talk about what she's been hearing from other teens and their relationship with the languages they speak — and what it means to them to know more than one.

Lailo Farm Sanctuary's phone has been ringing off the hook lately. The farm's owners, Jen Lussing and Will Cooper, say it's because there is currently an overpopulation of pot-bellied pigs in Nova Scotia, and people are looking to give them up. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Jen about the problem.

Chris Aucoin, the executive director of the AIDS Coalition of Nova Scotia, says more than 150 red scarfs will be tied to the black iron fencing around the Halifax Public Gardens on Dec. 1 in honour of World AIDS Day. He joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how AIDS awareness and access to health care has changed over the years.

The Town of Lunenburg is one of several municipalities in Nova Scotia that has decided to drop the Cornwallis name from its landscape. The street formerly known as Cornwallis will now be known as Queen Street. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Ed Halverson, the deputy mayor, about how the decision was made.

If you've been around downtown Kentville, N.S., lately, you might have noticed signs posted on some restaurant doors along with meal receipts. It's a way to pay it forward for someone who needs a bite to eat and can't afford it. Guest host Carolyn Ray spoke with Mark Rogers, who started the initiative.

Earlier this month, the group Northern Cree was the host drum for the first ever round dance in Paqtnkek First Nation. Mainstreet's Sis'moqon was there to take in that, and everything else happening at the event.

It was Giving Tuesday earlier this week, which means people around Nova Scotia offered financial support to organizations in need. We hear from a Dartmouth animal shelter about the donations they received, and get a roundup about other worthy causes from the founder of Nova Scotia Gives More.

The vice-admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy says it's in need of sailors. Ken Hansen, a former naval commander who writes for the Globe & Mail, joins guest host Carolyn Ray to provide some insight about why that might be.

Money is tight for most Canadians right now, but with Christmas approaching, what do you do if your kids do not fully appreciate that? Lana MacLean is a mother of a 13-year-old girl and a social worker in Halifax, and she spoke with Mainstreet's Alex Mason about appreciating what you have and tempering children's expectations around the holidays.

Two new Canadian studies are raising concerns about political inference in environmental science. More than 700 researchers responded to the related surveys and most of them indicated they've experienced some form of interference in their work. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Manjulika Robertson, a research associate in the School for Resource and Environment Studies at Dalhousie University, to learn more.

Mainstreet looks back at the best of Myles Goodwyn and the amazing music he made with April Wine. Goodwyn, who lived in Halifax, died on Sunday.

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is holding a series of events to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On Monday evening, it will host a virtual panel discussion examining housing as a human right. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Marie-Josée Houle, the independent federal housing advocate, and Alison Coldwell, who works with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Musical trio Brigid from Truro, N.S., has released a brand new Christmas album. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Emma Smit-Geraghty, Beth Terry and Sarah Glinz to talk about their new album and their new single.

Last week, the Town of Lunenburg voted to rename Cornwallis Street to Queen Street. Following public criticism, the mayor says council is revisiting the decision. We'll hear from Mayor Jamie Myra and Margie Knickle, who was on the anti-racism committee involved in bringing forward a list of names.

A panel discussion happening in Antigonish, N.S., on Thursday evening will examine supported employment. It's being organized by the Canadian Association for Community Living, a non-profit that supports adults with intellectual disabilities. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Sean Wiltshire, CEO of Avalon Employment in St. John's and founder of the Canadian Association of Supported Employment.

Daniel Paul was determined to tell the history of Mi'kma'ki as it happened, and not the "fairy tales" he'd learned. On what would have been his 85th birthday, Mainstreet dives into the CBC Archives to hear Paul describe some key moments in his own story and how they inspired his book, "We Were Not The Savages."

Michel Drapeau, a retired colonel, law prof and expert in military law, has represented and advocated for military personnel who've been victims of sexual harassment and assault. He joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about new data from Statistics Canada that shows nearly 2,000 regular Canadian Armed Forces members have reported being sexually assaulted by other members.

It's that time of year again! Neptune Theatre's annual adaptation of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is back on stage for its 20th year. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by two Scrooges, the artists who have often put on the hat, Rhys Bevan-John and Jeremy Webb.

Dartmouth's newest entertainment venue is getting another update. The Sanctuary Arts Centre, which is located inside a 1820s church, has a new edition just under the main stage. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Stefano Andriani, who manages the arts centre, and Dylan Jewers, founder of Big Turnip Records and a booking agent for the arts centre.

A new community interest company in Nova Scotia is working to make burials more environmentally friendly. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Louisa Horne, the founder of Epilog Transition Services, to learn more.

Tia Upshaw, a small business consultant, author, entrepreneur and motivational speaker, was honoured with an award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission on Friday. She received the award for championing racial equality and fostering economic empowerment for women of colour. She joins host Jeff Douglas.

Thrifting and re-regifting for holiday gifts is part of a growing trend that allows people to save money and save the environment. CBC's Jane Sponagle joins host Jeff Douglas to explain how you can make the most out of thrifting this holiday season.

Nova Scotia is the first province in Canada with a 911 call centre that has an on-site clinical support paramedic, a physician and a registered nurse. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Rob Groom and Jessica Chisholm to learn how the additions have helped triage patients more efficiently.

With prices rising everywhere, many people are finding the pressures of the holiday season to be increasingly stressful. Jeff speaks to Stan Kutcher, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and the former Sun Life financial chair in adolescent mental health, at Dalhousie University about how be grateful as a counter to holiday pressure.

It's not exactly business as usual today for some local shops. They're closing their doors to customers as part of a global strike action calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Kimberley Dares, the owner of The Trainyard in Dartmouth, N.S., spoke with CBC's Brooklyn Currie about her decision to close the shop to show solidarity.

As Nova Scotia Power works to restore electricity to a number of homes and businesses after a severe rain and wind storm on Monday, guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Blair Feltmate, the head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo, to talk about adapting our infrastructure to keep up with the effects of climate change.

The portraits of four trailblazing African Nova Scotian women educators were unveiled at the Colchester East Hants Public Library in Truro, N.S., on Friday. The unveiling was part of a project that aims to expand women's history outside of Halifax. Mainstreet's Alex Guye and Sis'moqon were at the event.

The Canada Reads 2024 longlist was just announced and Nova Scotia's own Leo McKay Jr. has made the cut with his debut novel, What Comes Echoing Back. He joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the achievement.

The Houston government has long said it will not introduce legislation to ban non-disclosure agreements, but didn't give a reason. Within recent weeks, two universities and a large union have pledged to not use NDAs in cases involving harassment and abuse. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Liz LeClair, a volunteer with the Can't Buy My Silence campaign, to talk about the misuse of NDAs and the need for reform.

More than 1,000 students at Dartmouth High School participated in a conference about cultivating peace on Friday. Mainstreet's Alex Guye and Sis'moqon were there to hear about how the first official peace conference went, and what the students learned during the speeches and workshops.

You may know Barbara Emodi as a Mainstreet Spinbuster, but the former communications professor at Mount Saint Vincent University has a not-so-secret talent. She's a published author, with books about sewing and several mystery novellas. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about her upcoming mystery novel that's set in Nova Scotia, called Crafting Deception.

Adam Baldwin, a singer-songwriter based in Dartmouth, N.S., joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about his album, Concertos and Serenades, and how it came together after he had "tapped out" as a writer.

Host Jeff Douglas is joined by the founder of Operation Christmas Spirit, a small group that has been buying gifts for children in need in Guysborough County for two decades, and Nick Jennery with Feed Nova Scotia.

From craft fairs to giant inflatable Santas, host Jeff Douglas is joined by three community groups from around Nova Scotia that are getting creative to raise money for their local food banks.

Host Jeff Douglas visits The North Grove in Dartmouth to hear how they're working to address the food insecurity among students, and then he's joined by the Villagedale Community Association about their efforts in Barrington. Nick Jennery with Feed Nova Scotia rounds out the show to provide an update on how the annual CBC Feed Nova Scotia Day went.

Journalist and professor Trina Roache joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the University of King's College's Mi'kmaw Cohort Initiative, which covers tuition costs for up to three Mi'kmaw students per year in the Bachelor of Journalism honours program.

Many famous women have found themselves the targets of AI-generated deepfake pornography, but the technology is now so accessible that there have been cases of people making fake videos and photos of teens in North America. Mainstreet's Alex Mason spoke with David Fraser, an internet and privacy lawyer with McInnis-Cooper in Halifax, about the harm this technology can cause.

Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Millbrook First Nation Chief Bob Gloade to talk about common misconceptions around Indigenous fisheries sometimes created by the media, and the importance of implementing the TRC Calls to Action that implores media outlets to represent all perspectives.

Teresa Heffernan, a professor of literature at St. Mary's University in Halifax, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how science fiction has influenced some of the people developing artificial intelligence and why we should be wary of how it's influencing some of them.

For many generations, Inuit throat singing has been bringing the community together. The traditional singing style originated as a playful artform to tell stories by mimicking the sounds of nature. Last week, a concert at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre welcomed performers from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut and Halifax. CBC’s Sis’moqon was there.

Dr. Jessie Kang joins host Jeff Douglas from the Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Dalhousie University to talk about a study she co-authored that compares CT scans of the chests of people who smoke pot, people who smoke cigarettes, people who smoke both and people who smoke neither.

Before he was a linguist, Bernie Francis worked in courtrooms in Sydney, Baddeck and elsewhere across Mi'kma'ki, helping his people navigate the linguistic and cultural divides between Mi'kmaw and English. Decades later, he joins host Jeff Douglas to share some stories about those courtroom experiences.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about his own family’s holiday traditions and how he uses the Christmas spirit to move through his day-to-day life all year.

Fisheries scientist Rebecca Schijns joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the recent findings of her 2023 Fishery Audit for Oceana Canada, and why she doesn't share concerns about the well-being of lobster stocks and treaty fisheries.

The Oscars shortlist was announced on Thursday, and Nova Scotia’s own Ben Proudfoot made it on the list for the second time. Proudfoot's latest documentary, The Last Repair Shop, was directed alongside pianist and composer Kris Bowers. It’s nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject.

Every year, Patricia McLean runs a Christmas pajama campaign for seniors called Alyssa's Angels, in honour of her late daughter, Alyssa. McLean joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how the pajama drop-offs went this year.

Mainstreet’s Jeff Douglas and Alex Guye visit the new home of folk duo Cassie and Maggie to record a special winter edition of the Backstreet Traffic Jam, and to talk about what goes into crafting holiday tunes.

On the day of this year's winter solstice, CBC's Mariam Mesbah brings you the history of the longest night of the year and the return of the light. We'll also hear from Mainstreet's Rob Doublett who talked to some kids about the special day, and CBC’s Sis’moqon is joined by Wolastoqey Elder Ron Tremblay, who talks about the solstice being a time of reflection, gratitude and renewal in Wabanaki culture.

Mainstreet host Jeff Douglas teams up with musician and visual artist Jenn Grant to bring the sounds of the season to residents of Northwood in Halifax.

Kathy Sabean will be celebrating 40 years of service at the Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Middleton, N.S., in January. She joins Mainstreet Halifax host Jeff Douglas to talk about her time working in food service at the hospital, and how rewarding it has been.

What happens when some groups are pushed outside of their traditional territory and divided into separate countries? Mainstreet's Sis'moqon spoke to Aaron Dana -- a Passamaquoddy Tribal Representative in the Maine Senate -- about the issues surrounding the Jay Treaty and its history in Canada.

On the second day of Kwanzaa, we check in with Nova Scotian independent Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard to hear about the meaning of the celebrations, and some of her family traditions.

Ingrid Waldron is the HOPE Chair in Peace and Health in the Global Peace and Social Justice Program in the Faculty of Humanities at McMaster University. Mainstreet's Alex Guye called Ingrid to hear about how the year has gone for her research and advocacy around environmental racism.

Athanasius 'Tanas' Sylliboy is a member of Eskasoni First Nation, who works as a nurse practitioner in Pikangikum First Nation in northern Ontario. They also perform in drag as Anita Landback. They joined host Jeff Douglas to talk about how their desire to make people feel seen and loved fuels their twin career.

The cost of raising a child can be daunting and for some, the cost of conceiving can be downright prohibitive. Couples here in Nova Scotia have told CBC News in vitro fertilization treatments can add up to $20,000 per year, or more, and there's no guarantee they'll work. Ellen Wright and her wife, Anne, recently turned to crowdfunding to help cover the cost.

To talk about some of their favourite games of 2023, Mainstreet's Alex Guye spoke with some of our CBC colleagues, Brooklyn Currie, Danielle McCreadie, Cassidy Chisholm, and Information Morning's video game columnist, Erin MacInnis.

Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Halifax psychiatrist Rudolf Uher to talk about managing seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD, during the long, cold and dark winter.

For many Nova Scotians, 2023 was memorable for all the wrong reasons. Unprecedented wildfires burned tens of thousands of hectares in Tantallon and Shelburne County. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with two Shelburne residents, Laura Torak and Paula Sutherland, to talk about how the community was affected by the devastating blaze.

Elder Albert Marshall of Eskasoni First Nation in Cape Breton was named as an officer of the Order of Canada on Thursday. He was recognized for his contributions to our understanding of Etuaptmumk or two-eyed-seeing, and for his dedication to promoting Mi'kmaw culture, language and environmental ethics.

Zachery Lefave was last seen in the early hours of New Year's Day in 2021. He had just left a party and was seen walking along the side of the highway near Plymouth in Yarmouth County. His case was recently added to the provincial reward program for major unsolved crimes. Mainstreet's Alex Guye spoke with Lefave's cousin, Kim Morton, about their family's search for answers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/394333384970825

The Scott Pilgrim franchise is having a resurgence in popularity, due to the recently released animated tv show on Netflix this fall. However, did you know the inspiration for the series began with a song from a Nova Scotian band called Plumtree? Mainstreet's Alex Guye sat down with one of the former members of Plumtree, Lynette Gillis, to hear about the song, 'Scott Pilgrim', and if they ever thought it would go this far.

Naiomi Metallic is a member of Listuguj Mi’gmaq First Nation, a practicing lawyer and law professor. Cheryl Simon is a member of Epekwitk First Nation and an assistant law professor. They spoke with Mainstreet host Jeff Douglas about the 'Understanding Our Roots authored by by the Task Force on Settler Misappropriate of Indigenous Identity' and their concerns about it.

Part 2 of host Jeff Douglas's discussion with Wolastoqiyik musician Jeremy Dutcher about his new album, Motewolonuwok. They talk about the challenges of recording bilingual music for the first time, the artwork for the single, Skicinuwihkuk, and creating the choral song, Sakom. Part 1: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-37-mainstreet-ns/clip/16025024-wolastoqiyik-musician-jeremy-dutcher-album-motewolonuwok

On New Year's Day, the Professional Women's Hockey League held its first official game. New York beat Toronto with a four-to-zero shutout — and one of those goals was scored by two-time Olympian Jill Saulnier of Halifax. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the historic game.

Dana Calder-Boutilier is known in Nova Scotia as the Coupon Nannie. She is also the chair of the board for the Truro Homeless Shelter. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how people are coping with the high cost of essentials amid a dire housing crisis.

Jan. 4 marks National Ribbon Skirt Day, which encourages Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit people to wear their traditional regalia. Mainstreet Halifax spoke with Emily Pictou of Millbrook First Nation and Nina Kent, an Anishinaabe woman living in Eskasoni First Nation, about the meaning of the day.

The flat-out denial that human-caused climate change is happening has become passé — but that doesn't mean everyone is in favour of doing something about it. So what needs to be said right now about climate change to encourage action? Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Michael Mann, a climate scientist, to find out.

Elder and linguist Bernie Francis has been leading a course for fluent Mi'kmaw speakers who want to teach the language. He tells host Jeff Douglas that although there's been an emphasis on creating more opportunities to learn Mi'kmaw, there hasn't been a course on "the nitty-gritty" of the language — until now.

As Nova Scotia braces for a winter storm, the lead volunteer at the Grand Parade encampment is busy preparing to keep people living in tents safe and warm. CBC's Celina Aalders spoke with Stephen Wilsack.

Ross Hamilton provided comfort and a blessed distraction to Canadian soldiers before some of the deadliest battles of World War One. But in World War Two, the Canadian military discharged him for being gay. Host Jeff Douglas spoke with Mieke van Vulpen who would like to see Hamilton commemorated on a Canada Post stamp.

With more men reporting having been sexually assaulted in the military, what kind of services do they — or men in any area of our society — need? The Department of National Defence has promised to improve its services for members. Host Jeff Douglas spoke to social worker Robert Wright, who created the support group, ManTalk.

Kate Ervine, an associate professor in Saint Mary's University and member of its School of Environment, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about climate change and whether it makes sense to have a national conversation about carbon pricing.

Climate change is likely top of mind for many Nova Scotians after a year of extreme cold, devastating wildfires and deadly flooding. Host Jeff Douglas dives into this topic with two conversations, including one with Robert McLeman, who specializes in human dimensions of environmental change, and then Scott Tingley, a forest protection manager for Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources.

COVID-19 vaccination rates have dropped dramatically in Canada, particularly among younger age groups, but that doesn't mean disagreements over vaccine mandates are over. Nova Scotia's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the efficacy and importance of COVID-19 vaccines.

Researchers in Canada and Germany are investigating the idea of breathing new life into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Mainstreet's Oceans Guy Boris Worm joins host Jeff Douglas to explain how that could work and why it's an important issue to explore.

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax is teaming up with two freelance photographers from Montreal to create an exhibit that humanizes those who have been on the move in recent international migrations. Photographer Darren Ell and curator Dan Conlin join host Jeff Douglas to talk about Crossing Lines, which opens on Wednesday.

Musician Don Ross joins host Jeff Douglas in Studio A to talk about his new album, Water, ahead of a couple of shows in Halifax, including one with Symphony Nova Scotia at St. Andrew's United Church as part of the Open Waters Festival.

Anya Waite, a professor of oceanography at Dalhousie University and the scientific director and CEO of the Ocean Frontier Institute, joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how the oceans have provided humanity a grace period in which to deal with climate change.

The price of baby formula has been skyrocketing to the point where cases of it are being kept under lock and key in some Halifax drug stores. Guest host Carolyn Ray is joined by Lesley Frank, a Canada research chair in food, health and social justice at Acadia University, to talk about what this means for Nova Scotian families.

A global update on the status of sharks published Thursday finds that overall, sharks are being caught by coastal fisheries at increasing rates. That's in spite of a ten-fold increase in regulations against shark finning since the turn of the century. Mainstreet's Oceans Guy Boris Worm and report co-author Nidhi D’Costa explain the findings.

Dr. Brent Young, an author of a Dalhousie University report that aims to disrupt false claims of Indigeneity, joins host Jeff Douglas to respond to fears that it impedes self-determination and excludes victims of policies aimed at separating people from their culture. 

Leaked documents show the Royal Canadian Air Force is worried about maintaining aging weapons systems aboard its Cyclone helicopters. The country has a history of procurement delays and budget issues, but how concerned should the public and the service members who work on those helicopters be about this? Guest host Carolyn Ray is joined by Ken Hansen, a former naval commander and an independent defence analyst who writes for Globe & Mail.

A petition is circulating around Atlantic Canada that is calling on Bell Media to restore CTV's Live at Five to its original hour-long format, after it was scaled back late last year. CBC's Josefa Cameron spoke with Brian Daly, a veteran TV journalist, about outrage the change has created, and the current state of local media across Canada.

Apricot is the name of a Baltimore Oriole that perhaps unwisely decided to over-winter in Nova Scotia. Luckily, the bird has a friend in Emma Barss. Barss joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the not-so-stranded bird, and how she's created a backyard shelter outfitted with homemade peanut butter suets and a heating pad.

Laura MacNutt is taking her interest in clothing to a new level. The business owner is soft-launching a new market at the Historic Properties, called Halifax Vintage Garment Market. She joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about how the market will work as a circular economy that offers sustainable, repurposed clothing.

An ongoing project based in Nova Scotia is looking to bring awareness to the depression and anxiety some mothers feel after giving birth and offer support to those suffering. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Carole Rankin, the founder of Connecting Threads: A Community Quilt for Perinatal Mental Health, and Jennifer Jollymore, a clinical nurse specialist on the birth unit at the IWK.

With light pollution growing around the world, it's getting harder for many people to step outside and see constellations on a clear night. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Murdo Messer, an amateur astrophotographer in Nova Scotia, to hear whether this is impacting his ability to capture images.

Some Canadian business owners are needing to turn to financial institutions to repay the Canada Emergency Business Account loan, but that's not the case for one Halifax woman. When Laura MacNutt received the life-changing loan, she wanted to keep it safe — even from the bank — so she buried it. She tells Mainstreet's Alex Mason why.

Jamieson's General Store in Tatamagouche is facing financial strain after it lost significant product during post-tropical storm Fiona 16 months ago. That damage and loss may be the store's undoing, so owner Jenna Jamieson has turned to the internet for financial help to save her store.

As baby formula becomes more expensive, some families are finding it challenging to feed their children and themselves. Some go store to store trying to find affordable formulas — and some have even turned to other countries. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by postpartum doula and lactation counsellor Shandelle Ferguson to learn more.

Senator Wanda Thomas Bernard joins host Jeff Douglas to talk about the Senate report, Anti-Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Commission. As the deputy chair of the committee responsible for writing the report, she shares her insights on the findings.

A peer support program called Returning Warriors Ranch is set to open in Bishopville, N.S., this April. Mark Long, a former police officer who has struggled with PTSD, decided to open the ranch after visiting a similar program in Malibu, Calif. Host Jeff Douglas visited the site of the new program to learn more.

A 22-year-old man is facing charges for allegedly starting what is considered the largest wildfire in Nova Scotia's history. From people who lost their livelihoods and homes to those who supported their neighbours, the effects of the fire are still being felt throughout Shelburne County months after it was extinguished.

After nearly a decade of hearing from advocates, Nova Scotia is starting a lung screening program. If you've smoked daily for more than 20 years and you're over 50, you might be eligible to get tested. Guest host Carolyn Ray is joined by Dr. Daria Manos, the head of the new program.

On Monday, Canada's Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced a two-year cap on visas for international students, reducing the number of undergraduate study permits allotted each year. Miller says the problem is not the students themselves, but institutional "bad actors." Mainstreet's Spinbusters break down what that means.

Last year, Nova Scotia had its highest number of Group A Strep cases in six years with 96 cases across a range of ages. In 2024, there have already been 10 reported cases of the infection. Mainstreet's Alex Guye is joined by Dr. Ryan Sommers, a senior regional medical officer with Nova Scotia Health, to learn more.

Six years ago, the Halifax Regional Municipality and the United Way released a report called Building Poverty Solutions. On Wednesday, a follow-up report was released that takes into account some of the upheaval that has happened since then, including the high cost of living and housing crisis. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Sue LaPierre, the director of Social Impact Strategy with United Way Halifax.

The CBC's Kathleen McKenna tells Mainstreet how the water in Lake Banook felt on Tuesday — a cold day in January. She was in there almost up to her neck, for one minute, with a member of the Dark Side Dippers. The group formed this year, and has always grown to more than 55 dippers.

Joe B. Marshall's daughter, Eleanor Bernard, talks about her father's legacy. Marshall, who co-founded the Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq in 1969, died on Friday. He was 83.

A new exhibit is opening at the Prow Galley that features the work of Nigerian-born artist Ibe Ananaba. He and his family relocated to Halifax in January 2022, and his new exhibit, Fresh Take, is a reflection of his experiences in Nova Scotia as a newcomer and his impressions of Halifax specifically.

National Pie Day was created in the United States by the American Pie Council. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving America's pie heritage. But National Pie day is also celebrated in Canada. CBC's Mariam Mesbah brings us some of our own pie history, both savoury and sweet.

Host Jeff Douglas joins Health Minister Michelle Thompson for a tour of the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub. They talk about why embracing technology, including the new YourHealthNS app, is central to improving access to health care in the province.

A study published in the journal Canadian Public Policy finds there is "no consistent correlation" between police spending and crime rates in this country. Although the Halifax Regional Municipality is not one of the cities examined in the study, there have been recent proposals to increase police budgets. Host Jeff Douglas is joined by El Jones, an author of Defunding the Police: Defining the way forward in the HRM, to talk about the study and how the city compares.

February is just around the corner, and that means Lunar New Year events will soon begin! Host Jeff Douglas is joined by Will Yang, president of the multimedia organization Halitube, to talk about what he has planned to celebrate the year of the Dragon.

Ontario is in the process is trying to pass legislation to ban "Canadian experience" requirements from job postings in the province. They say it is to allow newcomers to get a foot in the door for employment and to help retain immigrants in the province. Would similar legislation in Nova Scotia help newcomers find jobs in their field? Rebecca MacDonald of New Dawn in Cape Breton tells guest host Preston Mulligan it's a complex issue.

Keonte Beals speaks with guest host Preston Mulligan about burnout and shares two conversations he had with the busiest people he knows and how they are dealing with the phenomenon.

Emily vey Duke is a is a Halifax-born visual artist and film and media arts professor at the College of Visual Performing Arts at Syracuse University who explores drug use, recovery and harm reduction. She spoke tto Preston Mulligan about her work that is on display this weekend at Halifax's Blue Building Gallery.

In 2019, a public inquiry was launched to investigate what happened when former soldier Lionel Desmond, who suffered from PTSD, killed three family members and himself in rural Nova Scotia. The inquiry set out to answer whether he and his family had access to appropriate mental health and domestic violence intervention services before their deaths. The CBC's Kayla Hounsell spoke with Adam Rodgers, the lawyer for Desmond's sister Cassandra Desmond, who represents his estate.

The federal government says Canada's health-care system isn't ready to offer medically assisted death to those who suffer solely from mental illnesses, but some say otherwise. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Independent Senator Dr. Stan Kutcher and Dr. Tim Holland, a physician who provides medically assisted dying in Halifax.

The long-awaited final report from the Desmond Inquiry was released on Wednesday. The CBC's Richard Cuthbertson joins guest host Preston Mulligan to talk about the report, and its recommendations related to intimate partner violence, access to mental health services, support for veterans and access to firearms.

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives released its Report Card on Child & Family Poverty in Nova Scotia on Tuesday. It says 35,330 kids in the province experienced poverty in 2021, or 20.5 per cent. That's up from 18.4 per cent in 2020. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with one of the authors of the report, Acadia University professor Lesley Frank.

If you use your work cellphone outside of work -- it is a document of your life that can be easily accessed, with privacy requirements possibly ignored. Guest host Preston Mulligan spoke with Francis Syms, a professor and technology expert at Humber College.

With the release of the Desmond Inquiry final report, comes recommendations to increase awareness and services related to intimate partner violence. Trauma therapist Kristina Fifield joins guest host Preston Mulligan to talk about the need for more education and support for victims — and perpetrators — in a society where violence is normalized.

On Thursday, Nova Scotia's Privacy Commissioner Tricia Ralph made public to a review committee her 32 recommendations to improve the province's Freedom of Information Act. The CBC's Jean Laroche spoke with Ralph about her concerns with the Act and whether this review will ultimately be a fruitful one.

On Friday, the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax will welcome the public to their new exhibit called Dinosaur Exploration. Mainstreet's Alex Guye got a sneak peek.

A new housing development for 38 people experiencing homelessness is under construction in Halifax and will use something called "trauma-informed design." Guest host Preston Mulligan is joined by Ray Burke, president of Halifax's Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, who is helping oversee the project, to learn more.