The Munk Debates Podcast

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

Friday Focus: Trump doubles down & Canada prepares for tariffs 01/24/2025

Be it resolved, the gentle parenting ethos raises happier children 01/23/2025

Be it resolved, the gentle parenting ethos raises happier children If you're a new parent, you've probably heard the term 'gentle parenting'. It's the latest trend that has taken hold among millennials who reject the authoritative principles under which they themselves were raised. This new, softer approach discourages consequences and punishments for bad behaviour in favour of positive reinforcement and a focus on the feelings and emotions which are driving bad behaviour. Proponents of gentle parenting argue that this approach is the most effective way to raise kids: emotionally-focused parenting raises calmer, happier children with increased self-esteem, emotional regulation, more empathy, and stronger parent-child relationships. Furthermore, research shows that kids who are frequently punished don't end up being better behaved. Gentle parenting’s critics argue that this approach relies on emotion as a substitute for authority and does not prepare kids for the real world where actions have consequences. Too much emotional self-awareness in childhood has resulted in high rates of anxiety and depression in young adults who cannot put aside emotions in order to carry out basic daily tasks. Arguing in favour of the resolution is Sarah Ockwell Smith. Sarah is a well known parenting expert and popular childcare author, who is widely recognized as being the founder of the gentle parenting movement. Arguing against the resolution is Anna Lussenburg, a professional child care and family intervention specialist. The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Ricki Gurwitz. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/35040975

Friday Focus: Gaza ceasefire - Trump prepares to take office 01/17/2025

Friday Focus: Trump's territorial aspirations - Liberal leadership race 01/10/2025

Munk Dialogue with Rudyard Griffiths and Ricki Gurwitz: the Munk Debates in 2025 01/09/2025

Friday Focus: Trudeau's January and lone wolf terrorist attacks 01/03/2025

Friday Focus: A Year in Canadian Politics 12/27/2024

Be it Resolved, history will be kind to Joe Biden 12/24/2024

Be it Resolved, history will be kind to Joe Biden “Together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear” Joe Biden proclaimed as he took his oath of office in January 2021. His supporters argue that what the President was able to accomplish in four years is nothing short of remarkable. They point to his success at passing the largest infrastructure program since the 1950’s, expanding health care, enacting gun control legislation, and expanding NATO as incredible accomplishments that have cemented his legacy as a transformative president along the likes of FDR and Lyndon Johnson. To his detractors, Joe Biden will be remembered as an ineffective leader who presided over an era of hyperinflation, global instability, and mistrust in institutions. The effects of excessive federal spending, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and an unprotected southern border will be felt for generations. And capping off his disastrous tenure with an unconditional pardon for his son severed the last threads of trust in government and added fuel to the growing fire of populist resentment. Arguing in favour of the resolution is Timothy Noah, staff writer at The New Republic Arguing against the resolution is Gil Troy, presidential historian and Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University You can vote on who you think won this debate. Go to our website www.munkdebates.com to become a free member and cast your vote. The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/35038465

Friday Focus: A crisis in Ottawa - Canada as the 51st state? 12/20/2024

Munk Dialogue with Stephen Moore: why Trump's tariff plans will benefit Americans 12/18/2024

Friday Focus: Trump's tariff plan and Canada's soaring debt 12/13/2024

Munk Dialogue with Michael Weiss: how Assad's fall is reshaping the Middle East 12/10/2024

Friday Focus: Democracies in trouble - a controversial political pardon 12/06/2024

Friday Focus: Democracies in trouble - a controversial political pardon Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus. Democracies are in trouble from South Korea to France to the U.S., where voters have lost trust in political elites, especially in France where the blowback to Macron's brand of politics has made room for the ascendency of the far-right under Marine Le Pen. Rudyard and Janice then turn their focus to the U.S. where President Biden has conferred an unconditional pardon on his son Hunter Biden, with speculation that he might pardon any politician or civil servant who could face prosecution from a vengeful Trump administration. This controversial move would be unwise, Rudyard argues, setting a dangerous precedent and confirming voters' suspicions that elites are not subject to the same consequences as everyone else. In the final moments of the show Ruydyard and Janice turn to Syria, where rebels have renewed their offensive against the Assad regime and taken over key battleground areas. Could this successful push have anything to do with Iran's weakening in the region, as a result of Israel's military successes against its proxies? To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at . /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331205

Munk Dialogue with Raja Mohan: the Canada-India relationship hits a new low 12/03/2024

Friday Focus: Trump Tariffs – Lebanon Ceasefire 11/29/2024

Be it Resolved, DEI workplace programs do more harm than good 11/28/2024

Be it Resolved, DEI workplace programs do more harm than good In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the protests that followed in the summer of 2020, offices across North America began introducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training programs with the objective of reducing racial bias and discrimination in the workplace. Lately, however, this multi-billion dollar industry is facing scrutiny by critics who believe these are unproven and expensive programs which are not only ineffective, but counterproductive. DEI training, they argue, often reinforces biases or introduces new stereotypes where they didn’t previously exist. Furthermore, if people from marginalized groups perceive themselves to be surrounded by others who are biased against them, they are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and antisocial behaviour, which will impede their professional success and overall happiness. Supporters of DEI programs argue that these initiatives are required to correct inequities that have long existed within organizations. This training helps people of different races, sexual orientations and diverse backgrounds to feel more comfortable in the workplace, which fosters creativity and collaboration and increases employee retention. By correcting power and privilege imbalances, DEI programs help create more equitable and productive work environments for all employees. Arguing in favor of the resolution is Rebekah Wanic. She’s a social psychologist, leadership coach and author Arguing against the resolution is Diya Khanna. She’s a Diversity Equity Inclusion strategist, consultant, and facilitator. The host of this podcast is Rudyard Griffiths Tweet your comments about this episode to or comment on our Facebook page To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to . To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/35042195

Friday Focus: Ukraine's dangerous escalation against Russia and the ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant 11/22/2024

Friday Focus: Ukraine's dangerous escalation against Russia and the ICC issues arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus. Rudyard and Janice start the show with the biggest geopolitical news of the week: the Biden administration gave Ukraine the green light to use American long range missiles to attack deep into Russia, which was met with an unprecedented Russian response. How significant is this escalation? Why, in his final 60 days of a lame duck presidency, is Biden so willing to take such risks? Are they setting up Donald Trump and putting him in a position where he can't cut a deal between Russia and Ukraine? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn to the other big geopolitical news of the week: the ICC issuing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense Minister Yoav Gallant. How will this affect Israel and its standing internationally? And as a co-creator of the court, does Canada have a responsibility to abide by this warrant should Netanyahu land on Canadian soil? And finally, what damage is this doing to the validity and legitimacy of these international institutions? To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at . /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331225

Friday Focus: Trump takes a wrecking ball to America's governing institutions 11/21/2024

Be it Resolved, Be it Resolved, Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of JFK 11/21/2024

Munk Dialogue with Jeff Weaver: a sober wake-up call for the Democrats 11/11/2024

Friday Focus: Democrats point fingers and Iran threats another strike on Israel 11/08/2024

Friday Focus: special US election episode 11/06/2024

Friday Focus: the US election enters the final stretch and North Korean troops join the war in Ukraine 11/01/2024

Friday Focus: the US election enters the final stretch and North Korean troops join the war in Ukraine Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates. The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus. Rudyard and Janice open the show with analysis of where the candidates stand as we enter the final stretch of this US election campaign. Rudyard believes Trump is positioned to squeak out a win thanks to the importance of the electoral college over the popular vote. And at a time of increased distrust of mainstream media, how and when will a winner be declared? How will a win be certified if there are challenges from the other party? In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice turn their attention to Ukraine, where North Korean troops are aiding the Russian army's offensive. How much of an escalation is this development, and can untested North Korean troops really make a difference in this war? We are seeing the restructuring of alliances because of the Ukraine War, and a future where the threats in the Middle East and Asia are linked with the threats in Asia. In the final moments of the show Rudyard and Janice talk about the Ayatollah of Iran instructing his military to prepare for a counter strike on Israel for hitting its military targets - a surprise development that much of the foreign policy community did not expect. To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at . /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331255

Be it Resolved, don’t stop now. The U.S. should join Israel and take out Iran’s nuclear program 11/01/2024

Be it Resolved, don’t stop now. The U.S. should join Israel and take out Iran’s nuclear program Israel’s retaliatory air strikes against Iran last week targeted strategic military locations, including drone and ballistic missile manufacturing sites as well as air defense batteries. And while the mission has been celebrated as a successful one by both Israeli and US military officials, some argue that Israel should seize on the current moment – specifically the inability of Iran to defend itself against a large scale attack - to destroy its nuclear facilities, neutralize the threat to Israel, and restore stability to the Middle East. Critics argue that this plan would result in a significant military retaliation by the Iranian government that will lead to a wider regional war that will draw in Israel’s allies, in particular the United States. America must use all the resources and influences at its disposal to prevent Israel from further strikes against Iran and de-escalate this crisis before it’s too late. Arguing in favour of the resolution is Mark Dubowitz. Mark is the CEO of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a non-profit, non-partisan research institute focusing on foreign policy and national security. Arguing against the resolution is Christopher Chivvis, senior fellow and director of the American Statecraft Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. You can vote on who you think won this debate. Go to our website www.munkdebates.com to become a free member and cast your vote. The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at Paid Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, streaming of our upcoming debates, and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331260

Friday Focus: A consequential election and serious warnings about Donald Trump 10/25/2024

Be it Resolved, cultural appropriation is part of the American experience. 10/22/2024

Be it Resolved, cultural appropriation is part of the American experience. The release of the country album “Cowboy Carter” by Beyoncé this spring caused some surprising controversy. Some complained Beyoncé, who is Black, shouldn’t be dabbling in what many consider a white music genre. At least one radio station in Oklahoma initially refused to play the album’s first single, “Texas Hold’em.” Her supporters pointed out that Black Americans have a rich history in country music and cowboy culture. But the incident raised the issue of cultural appropriation: The stealing from one culture by another. Some say that “imitation is the best form of flattery” and that cultures borrowing from each other only enriches us all. Others argue that while different cultures will always be inspired by and borrow elements from each other, there are times when borrowing crosses the line into theft. Arguing in favour of the resolution is Monica Harris. She is a TEDx speaker, blogger, and author of The Illusion of Division. She is also Executive Director of the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization committed to bridging the ideological divide in America by focusing on shared values and interests. Arguing against the resolution is Nadra Nittle. She is a reporter for The 19th News, and has also written for Vox.com, the Los Angeles News Group, and many others. Her books include “Toni Morrison’s Spiritual Vision” and “Recognizing Microaggressions.” Free Munk Members can vote on who they think won this debate on our website, www.munkdebates.com SOURCES: Beyonce The host of this Munk Debates podcast is Ricki Gurwtiz To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Producer: Daniel Kitts Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331270

Friday Focus: the death of Yahya Sinwar and Trump's worrying economic plans 10/18/2024

Friday Focus: How will Israel respond to Iran? 10/11/2024

Munk Dialogue with Dan Senor: a defining moment for Israel 10/10/2024

Be it Resolved, the UK needs migration for its future prosperity 10/09/2024

Be it Resolved, the UK needs migration for its future prosperity The fatal stabbing of three young girls at a dance class in Southport, England set off one of the worst periods of unrest across the UK. Mobs motivated by racial and religious hatred attacked hotels housing migrants and set buildings across the country on fire. The riots exposed an underlying anger at mass migration that has divided the nation. Left wing activists argue that migrants should be welcomed with open arms. They contribute more to the public purse than native born Britons, provide a much-needed influx of labour to an aging population, and are being unfairly targeted for a breakdown in social services by local governments. Others argue that while mobs and rioting should never be tolerated, the anger driving this unrest has merit. Mass, uncontrolled, low-skill, and low-wage immigration weakens the economy, puts a strain on the UK’s social safety net, and weakens its social fabric and cultural identity. Arguing in favour of the resolution is Ash Sarkar. She’s a British journalist, a senior editor at Novara Media, and a political activist. Arguing against the resolution is Matthew Goodwin. He’s a British academic, pollster, and author of one of UK's biggest Substacks: mattgoodwin.org The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Rudyard Griffiths Free Members can vote on who they think won this debate on our website www.munkdebates.com. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch /episode/index/show/fefe6363-0707-4b54-8f45-cbd666af908d/id/34331290

The Munk Debates Podcast

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