Podcast Playlist

Alexi Mostrous tells the story behind his hit podcast Sweet Bobby, plus February's best new podcasts

Featuring: a 10-year long catfish, an exploration of grief, an iconic Canadian astronaut, and more.
(Tom Pilston for Tortoise Media)

When Kirat Assi met a man named Bobby online, her life changed forever. Their long-distance love story was a slow burn, lasting for 10 years. They texted and called every day, sharing dreams of starting a life together. In all that time Kirat and Bobby never met in person. 

Kirat then learned that Bobby wasn't real – and she was the victim of an elaborate catfishing scam.

If that setup has you hooked, you'll understand why so many people are obsessed with the podcast Sweet Bobby. This week Leah welcomes the host, investigative journalist Alexi Mostrous, for a spoiler-free interview you won't want to miss. 

Leah also talks to the creator of a new CBC podcast all about exploring grief and memory. Alex McKinnon's brother Paul was killed 30 years ago by a speeding police car, at only 14 years old. As time went on, Alex's memories of Paul became hazy and then went away. In his podcast Sorry About the Kid, he explores his childhood grief and tries to get those memories back. 

Plus, Canada's first female astronaut and the world's first neurologist to go to space, Dr. Roberta Bondar, has a new podcast! We've got her conversation with fellow icon Buffy Sainte-Marie. 

Podcasts featured this week:

(Courtesy of Podcasts)

Sweet Bobby: "Kirat is a successful radio presenter. On Facebook she meets Bobby, a handsome cardiologist. He's a catch. Soon, they get tangled up in a love affair full of lies and manipulation. Then...Kirat discovers a deception of almost unimaginable proportions."

Sorry About the Kid: "Alex worshipped his older brother, Paul. But when Paul was killed by a speeding police car at age 14, Alex almost immediately started to forget him. First his voice. Then his laugh. Then pretty much everything else. But what if those memories could be retrieved? Through a series of intimate conversations with family and friends about Paul's final moments alive, Alex begins to explore why Paul's death has become the only thing he remembers."

Sharing Space with Dr. Roberta Bondar: "Singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie talks to Dr. Bondar about beloved foods that were cultivated by Indigenous peoples of the Americas, comparing spaceflight to jetlag, the importance of curiosity, and more."


What's your latest podcast obsession? We want in on it! Email, tweet us @PodcastPlaylist, or find us on Facebook.

For more great podcasts, check out CBC's podcast portal, subscribe in Apple Podcasts.