It’s that time of year when we reflect on what’s happened the last 12 months, and dream up changes for the new year. Whether you’re looking for guidance in your career, relationships, or setting personal goals, we could all use a little bit of extra help dealing with the curveballs life brings us.

On this episode of Just Asking, we have two advice columnists ready to share their wisdom and help you strategize for the new year. Gretchen Rubin is a writer who studies happiness and human nature. She also co-hosts the advice podcast, “Since You Asked.” And Steve Almond is a writer and author of the book, “Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow.” He was also the co-host of the advice podcast, “Dear Sugars,” which wrapped up in 2018.

You’ll also hear from actor Jake Johnson and comedian Gareth Reynolds about what inspired them to start the “We’re Here to Help” podcast where callers share their problems with actors and comedians like Nick Kroll, Roy Wood Jr, D’Arcy Carden and Dakota Fanning.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

From Sinners to Severance, and all the memes in between, 2025 was a huge year in pop culture. And as critics argue over which “Best of 2025” is truly canon, the way we consume content is rapidly changing with Netflix's Warner Bros. acquisition and the ongoing debate of whether artists should avoid or embrace AI.

On this episode of Just Asking, we take all your questions about the movies, music and online trends that broke through in 2025. Richie Assaly is a culture writer who covers music, books and politics. And Kate Lindsay is a culture writer and co-host of “In Case You Missed It" – a podcast from Slate that explores internet culture.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

2025 has been quite the year on Parliament Hill. The Liberals kicked off the year with Justin Trudeau stepping down, and now Prime Minister Carney is ending the year hoping for another floor-crosser for Christmas. It's also been a year of soul-searching for the opposition parties as Pierre Polileve looks forward toward a leadership review in the new year, and the NDP are in the middle of their own leadership race.

On this episode of Just Asking, our guests take all your Canadian politics questions about the non-stop news out of Ottawa. Stephanie Taylor is a parliamentary reporter with The National Post. And Phillipe Fournier is the Editor in Chief of polling website 388Canada.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

When OCD is depicted in pop culture, it often becomes the butt of the joke like on TV shows like Friends or The Big Bang Theory. But According to the International OCD Foundation, over two-thirds of the public cannot accurately identify OCD symptoms and it takes over 7 years on average before a person suffering with OCD starts to get treatment.

On this episode of Just Asking, our guests take all your questions about OCD-myth busting and how to support friends and family who have it. Justine De Jaegher is an advocate who has OCD herself. And Dr. Marlene Taube-Schiff is a clinical psychologist who works with patients who struggle with OCD.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

Justice Minister Sean Fraser wants to eradicate violence against women, and he says the Liberals’ new legislation will help. In the wake of the Diddy trial, Just Asking explored the push to recognize "coercive control" in the law. Ottawa’s new bill seeks to do that, along with changes to how the courts deal with femicide, and delays in the justice system.

On this episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about how to prevent intimate partner violence, and what solutions survivors are looking for. Kirsten Mercer is a lawyer and gender-based violence advocate. And Nneka MacGregor is a survivor of intimate partner violence and the co-founder and executive director of the Women’s Centre for Social Justice, also known as the WomenatthecentrE.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, help is available through: https://endingviolencecanada.org/

Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime: 1-877-232-2610 or text 613-208-0747

Just Asking episode on Coercive Control

Canada has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. Humans develop deep connections with the animals in their lives. But how much do we really understand about them? And why have some animals evolved to become domesticated social media stars on Instagram while others run wild?

On this episode of Just Asking, longtime science broadcaster and former Quirks and Quarks host Jay Ingram takes your questions about his new book “The Science of Pets.”

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

Jay Ingram’s “The Science of Pets”

A new report found influencers reached more people during Canada’s federal election than news outlets or politicians. So what role do influencers play in how we navigate the media landscape, and how can you tell the difference between reliable sources and misinformation?

On this week’s episode of Just Asking, we take your questions about getting news through social media. Ashley Fraser is a senior reporter for CBC's The National who helped launch CBC News’ TikTok account in 2022. And Jaigris Hodson is the Canada Research Chair in Digital Misinformation, Polarization, and Anti-Social Media at Royal Roads University.

We'll also hear from Cole Benett, a Canadian news influencer who posts about politics and current affairs on TikTok and Instagram.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca

After a renewed push from Trump, the future of peace talks to end the war in Ukraine remains unclear. US special envoy Steve Witkoff held separate meetings this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the head of Ukraine's national security council, Rustem Umerov. Putin continues to ramp up his rhetoric, threatening that Ukrainian troops must withdraw from the eastern Donbas region or it will be seized by force.

On this week’s episode of Just Asking, we dig into your questions about the ongoing push for peace between Russia and Ukraine. Paul Goode is a Professor and the McMillan Chair of Russian Studies at the Institute of European, Russian and Eurasian Studies at Carleton University. And Robert English is a Professor and Director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California.

Do you have a question you want Just Asking to explore? Send us a text or voice note at 226-758-8924. You can also e-mail us at justasking@cbc.ca