Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Trivial Pursuit wasn’t designed in a corporate boardroom — it was dreamed up by two Canadian journalists over beers and a Scrabble game. Journalist and historian Taylor C. Noakes joins Shane Hewitt to reveal the wild, unlikely backstory of one of the world’s best-selling board games. Discover how a simple idea turned into a cultural juggernaut, why the game's design was a game-changer itself, and what makes Trivial Pursuit timeless. Plus: a trivia question about Trivial Pursuit itself. Can Shane get it right? GUEST: Taylor C. Noakestaylornoakes.com Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Food delivery exploded — and now so has the cost. In this episode, Ryan O’Donnell walks through a side-by-side cost breakdown of groceries, meal kits, and pre-made meals, showing how easy it is to spend over $800 a month on food without even realizing it. Shane Hewitt adds real-world insight on time, travel, and what people don’t factor in when they “opt out” of grocery shopping. From missed butter to missing savings, this episode is for anyone trying to eat better and spend smarter.  Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Some childhood memories age well. Others would get you arrested. In this nostalgic trip back to 1979, Shane Hewitt shares his first-ever memory — a cross-country road trip riding in the bed of a pickup truck… on his fourth birthday. This Throwback Thursday turns into a hilarious and reflective look at the wild, weird, and definitely-not-okay-by-today’s-standards stuff our families used to do. From steering cars while standing on the seat to secondhand smoke being part of the furniture, the team shares memories and asks: what stories from your childhood would be totally illegal now? Also, a nod to 1979’s pop culture staples, including the debut of Trivial Pursuit. Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Smoking in taxis. Kids tethered in the back window of a Barracuda. A Ford Pinto packed like a clown car. This episode asks one big question: what did your family do in the past that would never fly today? Shane Hewitt shares wild listener throwbacks from 1979, adding his own stories of smoky rides and sketchy road trips. From pipelines and grocery prices to the launch of the Walkman and Gretzky joining the NHL, it’s a full-spectrum flashback to the year when everything seemed normal… until you look back. Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Dollarama sells food — but where do we draw the line? Sylvain Charlebois dives into the economics of dollar store groceries, brand deals, and why chilled foods still pose a challenge. He explains how shelf-stable items, vendor loyalty, and private label packaging give Dollarama a major edge — even if marinated pork tongue never becomes a top seller. Shane and Sylvain also debate food delivery habits, digital convenience, and what really drives the choices young Canadians make around food. Insightful, unexpected, and just the right amount of weird. GUEST:Sylvain Charlebois@‌foodprofessor Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Sent to the store alone. Smoked around indoors. Hitchhiked without question. Rob Breakenridge and Shane Hewitt dig into the cultural whiplash of growing up in the 70s and how today’s parents — often the same kids from back then — became so risk-averse. From Sesame Street memories to real-world parenting shifts, the conversation blends humor with insight. Then it turns serious, touching on Canada’s trade surplus hype, floor crossings in Parliament, and Trump’s latest threat to Canadian potash exports. What seems like nostalgia leads directly to how global economics and political games still shape daily life. GUEST: Rob Breakenridge@robbreakenridgerobbreakenridge.ca Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Online fraud isn’t just a nuisance — it’s a global criminal industry stealing billions from Canadians each year. Detective Dave Coffey explains how AI has supercharged scams and why the most dangerous ones now look completely legit. From tax “loophole” cons to phishing emails that know your name, address, and banking info, this episode uncovers the new frontier of fraud. Dave reveals staggering numbers from Toronto alone, breaks down how scammers weaponize AI and stolen data, and shares what local police can — and can’t — do. Learn how the rules have changed, what red flags to look for, and why no one is truly “too smart” to be scammed. GUEST:Dave Coffey Originally aired on 2025-12-11

Care Bears, Dungeons & Dragons, and Strawberry Shortcake all trace back to 1979 — not the ’80s. Ed Conroy reveals how one overlooked year shaped a decade of imagination, play, and cultural identity. In this nostalgic-yet-insightful Throwback Thursday, Ed breaks down why 1979 was a turning point: board games got deeper, toys started speaking to personality, and the rise of the hobby shop changed how kids played. From Trivial Pursuit to the Care Bear Stare, Shane and Ed uncover what made this moment so formative — and why it still resonates in everything from Stranger Things to Walmart toy aisles. Explore how family, boredom, and good old analog fun built the foundations for a generation. GUEST:Ed Conroy@‌retrontariohttp://retrontario.com Originally aired on 2025-12-11

What Do You Get a Wookiee for Christmas?Yes, that’s a real song. Richard Crouse takes us deep into pop culture oddities, including the legendary (and legendarily awful) Star Wars Holiday Special. They also talk about viral teen slang forcing fast food chains to adapt, a digital-only “reality” show run entirely by AI, and a chaotic streak of celebrity ambushes that’s earned one influencer bans across multiple countries. Equal parts absurd and insightful, it’s a holiday episode full of nostalgic nods and modern madness. Why a Killer Santa Movie Deserves a Cocktail This Good’Tis the season for blood, booze, and bizarre holiday traditions. Richard Crouse brings back Booze and Reviews with a breakdown of Silent Night, Deadly Night, the slasher reboot you didn’t know you needed. This version mixes twisted nostalgia with practical gore and a surprisingly satisfying revenge plot — plus it leans hard into Dexter-style “bad guy vs. worse guy” ethics. To balance the chaos, Richard serves up three unforgettable cocktail stories: the Snowball, created to unload a Dutch booze surplus; Irish Coffee, born during a brutal 1943 flight delay; and George Washington’s eggnog — packed with brandy, rye, rum, and regret. This episode blends history, horror, and hilarity in one boozy sleigh ride. GUEST:Richard Crousehttp://richardcrouse.ca Originally aired on 2025-12-11

From Game of Thrones to The Last of Us, Warner Bros. owns some of the most iconic entertainment on earth. Now Netflix wants to buy it — and Paramount’s crashing the party. Media lawyer David Zitzerman joins to explain how this blockbuster battle could reshape the entire industry. Find out how this deal could affect streaming platforms, change licensing in Canada, and test global antitrust laws. Zitzerman explains the stakes, the strategy, and the surprising scenarios that could emerge if the deal goes through. Plus: why lawyers are the biggest winners — no matter who buys whom. GUEST:David Zitzerman Originally aired on 2025-12-10

Think your smart camera is locked down? Think again. Hank Fordham, ethical hacker and cybersecurity specialist, explains how basic oversights—like default passwords and shady devices—are giving criminals an open door into private spaces. In this eye-opening episode, Fordham explains how low-level actors use tools like AI and Google searches to access thousands of home cameras without breaking a sweat. The conversation moves from South Korea’s camera sexploitation scandal to global digital hygiene, consumer risks, and the growing underground market for stolen footage. Learn what to look for, what to avoid, and how to take back your digital privacy. GUEST: Hank Fordhamx10technologies.com Originally aired on 2025-12-10

Ottawa is buried in snow. Calgary turns from sunshine to sub-zero. And in the middle of it, a quiet story unfolds—about what we see, what we don’t, and what still lingers underneath. Shane and the team talk about weather, yes—but also about trust, memory, and how something like hypnosis lives on the edge between science and mystery. Along the way: a personal story about a homemade advent calendar, reflections on the digital age’s creepy corners, and a side of humor that keeps the cold out. This episode is about what happens when we let conversations drift, and where they take us when we follow. Originally aired on 2025-12-10

Part 1 Microsoft Teams Is Tracking You. Should You Care?The snow’s falling, the coffee’s hot, and so is the debate around digital privacy at work. Shane Hewitt hosts Jamie Ellerton and Lindsay Broadhead for a fast-moving, personal, and surprisingly funny conversation about what it means to be watched—even subtly—by your employer. From the rise of remote surveillance through Microsoft Teams to the blunders of corporate email, this episode blends expertise with lived experience. Plus, a nod to hypnotists of the past, winter blues, and the time someone replied-all with a rant—only to get an answer from the company owner himself. Part 2 Is the U.S. Setting the Stage for Another War?An oil tanker’s been seized. Boats are being blown up. And Donald Trump says the U.S. is keeping the oil. On this episode of Smart Speakers, Jamie Ellerton and Lindsay Broadhead join Shane Hewitt to untangle the chaos off the coast of Venezuela and what it really signals. With pointed analysis and personal perspective, the crew breaks down what’s different about this moment—and what dangerously echoes Iraq, the Middle East, and past regime-change strategies. From media manipulation to international law, this is a revealing look at how fast things are shifting, and why it all matters far beyond South America. GUEST: Jamie Ellertonconaptus.com Lindsay Broadheadbroadheadcomms.ca Originally aired on 2025-12-10

Could hypnosis turn people into spies — or killers? The CIA thought so. Nathan Radke walks through real Cold War projects where U.S. intelligence seriously explored mind control as a weapon. Hear the documented truth behind MK-Ultra, Project Artichoke, and bizarre experiments designed to force truth-telling, erase memory, and implant commands. Discover why hypnosis seemed so promising — and why it didn’t deliver. Plus: how today’s propaganda machines may be doing what hypnosis never could. Chilling, strange, and weirdly relevant. GUEST:Nathan Radke@‌theuncoverup Originally aired on 2025-12-10

What if the worst songs on Spotify weren’t made for people — but for bots? Greg Fish unpacks a rising wave of AI-generated tracks flooding streaming platforms for one purpose: to trick advertisers and launder money. From fake supergroups to background noise channels, Fish explains how bad music + good algorithms = big profits. He also reveals how bots are gaming prediction markets, inflating ticket prices, and breaking trust in digital systems. This episode pulls back the curtain on the strange, dystopian grift happening right now — and why it’s getting harder to tell what’s real online. GUEST: Greg Fishcyberpunksurvivalguide.com Originally aired on 2025-12-10

What if every day in December came with a mission to make the world better — not a chocolate? Tony Chapman joins Shane to co-create a bold business idea: a kindness-based Advent calendar that flips the script on holiday giving. This episode is part brainstorm, part blueprint, and fully rooted in heart. Hear how 24 simple actions — like giving socks, buying coffee for a stranger, or writing a thank-you note — can reshape how families experience the season. With corporate sponsors providing the “tools of kindness,” the duo explores how this could become a national movement. Plus, Tony shares the story of Carla Briones from Chatter That Matters — an immigrant entrepreneur helping others do the same. GUEST:Tony Chapmanhttp://chatterthatmatters.ca Originally aired on 2025-12-10

What do fishbone earrings, powwow songs, and Christmas markets have in common? According to Ceiran Starlight — everything. In this conversation, explore what the holidays mean inside Indigenous culture today, and how tradition stays alive through artistry, community, and land. From the symbolism of beaded jewelry to the rhythm of drum circles, this episode offers a grounded look at how culture and celebration intertwine. Plus: why Indigenous markets like Christmas at the Nation aren’t just events — they’re invitations into relationship, storytelling, and mutual respect. Whether you're shopping or just curious, there's a place for you here. GUEST:Ceiran Starlight Originally aired on 2025-12-10

Robot scandals are heating up — and Kris Abel is here for all of it. This episode breaks down how humanoid robots are getting so realistic that companies now have to prove they’re not faking it. From Tesla’s bot flopping on stage (literally) to Chinese tech firms staging martial arts demos with robot fighters, the line between sci-fi and PR stunt is thinner than ever. Plus: A Swiss watch you can only buy if it’s snowing in Switzerland, and a time-travel-worthy subway ride through 1930s New York. Robots, nostalgia, and marketing weirdness — this one’s a ride. GUEST: Kris Abel@realkrisabelrealkrisabel.com Originally aired on 2025-12-09

Dr. Elaina Hyde returns with fresh cosmic insights: why now is prime time for aurora hunting, what’s behind those solar flares lighting up our skies, and how a comet 170 million miles away is making headlines — even if you can’t see it. Shane shares the story of a couple chasing the Northern Lights in Yellowknife — and how sun weather dashed their proposal plans. Elaina explains the science behind it all, including what makes auroras unpredictable, how space weather works, and why the comet 31 Atlas, despite its dazzling tail, remains invisible without major gear. This episode captures the wonder of the night sky — and why it’s worth watching, even when it doesn’t go to plan. GUEST: Dr. Elaina Hyde yorku.ca/science/observatory/observers Originally aired on 2025-12-09

Is Canada really using "Warning Yellow Snow" as an official weather term now? On this Good News Tuesday, Shane, Ryan, and Noah take that storm rating update for a hilarious spin, then shift into some truly heartwarming personal wins. From Noah’s near-pet-care disaster (good news: the bird lives!) to Shane’s family escape to Banff, and Ryan’s powerful moment in Montreal at the Notre Dame Basilica — plus those life-changing bagels — this episode is equal parts absurd, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny. Discover the weird new Environment Canada colour codes, and walk away reminded that good news comes in all shapes… including feathery ones. Originally aired on 2025-12-09