Beyond the Headlines

About Beyond the Headlines

Beyond the Headlines is a weekly current affairs show that aims to make public policy discussions more accessible to you. We take you beyond the headlines of our daily news, bringing you access to current leaders through in-depth interviews. Produced by Master’s Students at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.

Publisher

beyondtheheadlines

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Apr 2021

Latest episode

5 May 2025

Latest episodes

107 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 May 2025

   Doctrine, Diplomacy, and Influence: The Papacy and the Catholic Church on the Global Stage

   As the Catholic Church enters a period of profound transition following the death of Pope Francis, questions are mounting over how it will navigate its dual role as a guardian of spiritual tradition and a global political and moral actor. Francis’s tenure as pontiff was defined by a renewed emphasis on social justice, migration, and interreligious dialogue, as well as symbolic gestures that reflected his commitment to marginalized communities and to addressing the moral complexities of an evolving world. Yet, enduring tensions remain. From reproductive rights to LGBTQ+ inclusion, the boundaries of doctrine continue to shape the Church’s engagement with contemporary social issues. At the same time, the Vatican’s diplomatic footprint has come under renewed scrutiny. From its responses to humanitarian crises in Gaza and Ukraine to its delicate relationships with political leaders around the world, the Church’s moral authority continues to be tested on the global stage. In this episode, Beyond the Headlines examines the evolving role of the Catholic Church at the intersection of faith, diplomacy, and global politics. As the conclave prepares to elect a new pope, we ask: How will the next chapter of the papacy shape the Church’s stance on key social and political issues? Can it continue to act as a moral compass in an increasingly secular and polarized world? These questions, and more, are explored in conversation with this week’s distinguished guests. Professor Reid B. Locklin is an Associate Professor of Christianity and the Intellectual Tradition at the University of Toronto, jointly appointed at St. Michael’s College and the Department for the Study of Religion. Professor Locklin is engaged in advancing interfaith understanding and reconciliation. He founded the Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circle at St. Michael’s College and has collaborated with organizations including the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Lonergan Research Institute. A long-serving faculty member since 2004, he continues to foster dialogue across cultural and religious divides. Professor Mark G. McGowan is a Professor of History and Celtic Studies at the University of Toronto and a Senior Fellow at Massey College. A renowned historian of Canadian, Irish, and Catholic history, he has authored award-winning works on immigration, religion, and public life. Professor McGowan has held senior leadership roles at the University of Toronto and St. Michael’s College, and in 2024, he was elected to the Royal Society of Canada in recognition of his contributions to historical scholarship. His current research explores Indigenous contributions to Irish famine relief and the legacies of colonial governance in Canada. Produced by: Julia Brahy

2. 

   28 Apr 2025

   The Costs of Protectionism: Professor Walid Hejazi on Trump's Tariff Policy, Economic Instability, and the Global Market

   In his return to office, President Donald Trump has intensified the use of tariffs as a central instrument of U.S. trade policy. Recent measures have expanded tariffs on strategic imports, particularly from China, and continued the application of steel and aluminum tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, as well as broader sanctions under Section 301 investigations into intellectual property practices. These policies have been positioned as efforts to protect national industries, reduce trade deficits, and bolster American economic sovereignty, while also signaling a more assertive U.S. approach to global commerce. Despite these intentions, the structure and execution of these tariff measures have introduced volatility into global markets. Empirical analyses indicate that while select domestic sectors have experienced short-term benefits, overall economic costs—including higher input prices, retaliatory tariffs from trading partners, and dampened investment—have offset many of the perceived gains. International institutions such as the IMF and WTO have linked prolonged tariff conflicts to downward revisions in global growth projections. Financial markets, in turn, have exhibited heightened sensitivity to tariff escalations, reflecting broader uncertainty about the sustainability of current trade policies. This episode examines the evolving nature of American trade strategy: What distinguishes short-term political signaling from durable economic policymaking? How have Trump’s tariffs reshaped global supply chains, investor confidence, and the strategic positioning of U.S. industries? And as financial markets demand greater predictability and resilience, what future pathways could be pursued to align tariff and fiscal policy with long-term competitiveness and global stability? Our special guest this week is Professor Walid Hejazi. Professor Hejazi is the Academic Director of Executive Programs and Professor of International Business, Economic Analysis, and Policy at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. He is also a Fellow at the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship and serves on the Board of Directors of the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation. Over the course of his career, Professor Hejazi has advised private-sector firms and collaborated extensively with Canadian and international governments on foreign investment and international trade strategy. He has testified before parliamentary and senate committees, taught extensively in Rotman's MBA, EMBA, and executive education programs, and delivered lectures in over 30 countries worldwide. His research focuses on the intersection of global competitiveness, trade dynamics, and strategic economic policy, making his insights particularly timely for today’s conversation. Join us as we delve into the consequences of tariff-driven protectionism, the gaps in America's current trade approach, and what more sustainable, market-stabilizing policies could look like in the years ahead. Produced by: Julia Brahy

3. 

   21 Apr 2025

   Planning Sustainability, Practicing Behavior: The TransformTO Challenge

   In 2017, Toronto launched TransformTO, a comprehensive climate action strategy aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the city's resilience, health, economy, and social equity. The strategy set ambitious targets, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, with interim goals of a 65% reduction by 2030 and 45% by 2025, relative to 1990 levels. TransformTO encompasses key sectors such as buildings, transportation, energy, and waste, and emphasizes co-benefits like improved public health and economic growth. Despite these commitments, Toronto is not on track to meet its 2030 emissions reduction target. Analyses indicate that without transformative action across all sectors, the city is unlikely to achieve its 2030 and 2040 goals. A significant challenge lies in the strategy's limited integration of behavioral science insights and community engagement mechanisms necessary for lasting change. While TransformTO outlines technical solutions, it lacks robust frameworks to influence and sustain behavioral shifts among residents, particularly in diverse and equity-seeking communities. This episode examines the behavioral dimensions of urban climate policy: To what extent is TransformTO designed not only to build sustainable infrastructure but also to influence how people live, think, and act in the face of climate change? Can net-zero targets be achieved without addressing the habits, values, and psychological barriers that shape public behavior? We explore how municipal climate planning can evolve to place human behavior, not just emissions metrics or technical interventions, at the center of its mission. Our special guest this week is Professor John Robinson. Professor Robinson teaches both at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy and the School of the Environment at the University of Toronto. He currently serves as the Presidential Advisor on the Environment, Climate Change, and Sustainability and is Co-Chair of the President’s Advisory Committee on these issues. His work sits at the intersection of research, public policy, and institutional leadership, with a focus on integrating sustainability across academic and operational domains. Before joining the University of Toronto, Professor Robinson held several leadership roles at the University of British Columbia, where he founded the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS), one of North America’s most advanced living laboratories for sustainable building and urban systems. He also played a key role in the development of MetroQuest, a participatory urban planning tool used by cities across North America. He has worked extensively with graduate students, academics, municipal leaders, and community groups, championing research that is inclusive, applied, and grounded in real-world change. Tune in as we examine why TransformTO is a resourceful program for implementing sustainability strategies across Toronto, and what gaps currently exist within its mechanisms. Produced by: Julia Brahy

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

4.1 / 5

17 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

70

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

75

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.