David Cayley spent more than thirty years as a producer for the CBC radio program Ideas, where he created hundreds of documentaries on history, philosophy, politics, religion, and culture. He is also the author of several books, including his latest, The CBC: How Canada's Public Broadcaster Lost Its Voice (And How to Get It Back), a reflection on the corporation and the question of what a public broadcaster should be in a fractured and distrustful age.

It is not unusual today to hear criticism of the CBC. What makes Cayley’s critique different is that it does not end in cynicism or a call to tear it down. He is trying to understand whether a public broadcaster could still serve a real purpose in this country, and if so, what principles might guide it forward.

In this conversation, we spend time on his diagnosis of what has gone wrong, but more on his constructive vision. We talk about the fact that the past cannot simply be recreated, that the old world is not coming back, and that any path forward has to reckon honestly with the situation we are now in. What emerges is a discussion not just about the CBC, but about institutions, public life, thinking itself, and what renewal might require.

Those interested in more of Cayley’s work can visit his website, which collects decades of articles, books, and documentaries.

David Cayley's Links

The CBC: How Canada's Public Broadcaster Lost Its Voice (And How to Get It Back)

Website

The Canadians' Links

Website

Donations Page

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YouTube

Opening Song: Aria 51 by MicroBongo Soundsystem, used with permission.