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Céline: Understood

CBC

Céline Dion is having a moment. It’s not her first, and millions of fans are hoping it won’t be her last. While Céline’s international stardom seems obvious now, it was all so unlikely.


Now, as a rare illness threatens to retire Celine’s more-than-four-decade long career, culture writer Thomas Leblanc reveals the surprising cultural, political and business alchemy that created one of the most enduring superstars the planet has ever seen.


Four episodes. Weekly, starting October 15, 2024.


About Understood: Know more, now. Understood is an anthology podcast that takes you out of the daily news cycle and inside the events, people, and cultural moments you want to know more about. Over a handful of episodes, each season unfolds as a story, hosted by a well-connected reporter, and rooted in journalism you can trust. Driven by insight and fueled by curiosity…The stories of our time: Understood.


Season 1 - The Naked Emperor: the rise and fall of bitcoin king Sam Bankman-Fried.

Season 2 - The Pornhub Empire: the story of how a Montreal-founded company came to dominate the adult industry.

Season 3 - Modi’s India: how one man rose from poverty to the peak of political power.

Season 4 - Céline: the surprising cultural, political and business alchemy that created a superstar.

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Our Editor's Take

The Modi's India: Understood podcast is about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Salimah Shivji started the show to explore Modi's impact on India and the world. Anyone who follows Indian and global politics may enjoy this informative content.

This podcast is part of the Understood anthology. The series explores significant events and figures shaping the world today. The English podcast begins by examining Modi's rise to power. He went from being a humble tea seller to one of the most powerful leaders in India. Modi's early life and political strategies helped him gain great popularity. The show also scrutinizes the impact of the 2002 religious riots on his career. It questions whether these events hindered or propelled Modi's ascent.

Much of the podcast discusses Modi's economic policies. His supporters say he changed India's economy making it the fifth largest in the world. The show examines how Modi's plans for development earned him the support of millions. It also discusses how people worldwide view his leadership.

Modi's India: Understood explores other controversial topics as well. It covers accusations against Modi of involvement in religious violence. It also addresses alleged international assassination plots during his time in office. Shivji offers a balanced analysis of Modi's leadership. The show considers what might happen if Modi wins a third term. It also speculates on the future of India's democracy and secularism.

The show also analyzes India's broader cultural and political environment. It examines how Modi's government has affected Bollywood films and Gandhi's legacy. Some worry that democracy is in danger. The series shows the struggle between what India believes about democracy and what is happening.

Each season of Understood addresses different topics. Listeners may also enjoy The Pornhub Empire: Understood and The Naked Emperor: Understood. The straightforward storytelling and careful research in each season could enthrall its audience.

Modi's India: Understood can be a compelling listen. The larger anthology began in 2023.

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Introducing: The Pornhub Empire
Feb 22 2024
Introducing: The Pornhub Empire
Pornhub — that site you only access on your browser’s incognito mode? It gets way more views than Netflix. But because of the sheepishness and stigma around porn, it’s treated as if it’s fringe, instead of what it really is: one of Canada’s largest cultural exports.In The Pornhub Empire: Understood, hear the story of how a Montreal-founded company came to dominate the adult industry — only to have its reputation obliterated in a massive scandal — and where it stands today.The Pornhub Empire is a new season of Understood, from the CBC. Four episodes, starting March 11.

Season 4

Introducing Céline: Understood
Oct 8 2024
Introducing Céline: Understood
Céline Dion is having a moment. It’s not her first. And millions of fans are hoping it won’t be her last. While Céline’s international stardom seems obvious now, it was all so unlikely. This four-part series hosted by Céline expert Thomas Leblanc explores the surprising cultural, political and business alchemy that created one of the most enduring superstars the planet has ever seen. Four episodes releasing weekly starting on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Conquering Québec
Oct 15 2024
Conquering Québec
Céline Dion slept in a drawer as a baby born into a poor francophone Catholic family in Québec. At 12, she gets discovered in an office in Montreal, and she becomes a rising star in the insular constellation of Québec celebrity. But just as Céline is trying to break into English Canada, political tensions are running high in Québec. And some accuse her of selling out.
The U.S. Gamble
Oct 22 2024
The U.S. Gamble
With her manager René Angélil by her side, Céline Dion is starting to crossover into the US. But there’s a secret René and Céline have been keeping: one René feared could stop Céline’s blooming career in its tracks.
The Globalization of Céline
Oct 29 2024
The Globalization of Céline
Céline Dion becomes inescapable in the mid-nineties with her hit song from the Titanic soundtrack, My Heart Will Go On. She achieves a unique level of global fame, earning fans from Jamaica to Iraq. But her ubiquity will also inspire a backlash in North America.
The Céline-aissance
Nov 5 2024
The Céline-aissance
In the aftermath of René Angélil’s death, a Céline-aissance. But then, illness strikes. In the final episode of Céline: Understood, a look at her recent years, and why her fame endures.

Season 3

Modi's India: Season 3 of Understood
Apr 24 2024
Modi's India: Season 3 of Understood
How did one man rise from poverty to the peak of political power and secure the adoration of nearly one billion people? And how did he overcome accusations — that he denies — of complicity in religious violence and alleged international assassination plots?In the latest season of Understood, Mumbai-based journalist Salimah Shivji examines the remarkable rise, and incredible power that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acquired. And as his country embarks on a massive election, Shivji asks the pressing question: what’s at stake if he wins again? Coming May 13, 2024.
Modi's India Episode 1: Emperor of Hindu Hearts
May 13 2024
Modi's India Episode 1: Emperor of Hindu Hearts
How did Narendra Modi, the son of a humble tea seller rise up the political ranks to become one of the most powerful leaders India has ever seen? And did bloody religious riots damage his political future, or turbocharge it?Access the transcript for this episode here.
Modi's India Episode 2: Development Man
May 13 2024
Modi's India Episode 2: Development Man
Narendra Modi is the most popular political leader on the planet. His supporters boast that he’s transformed India’s economy – it’s now the world’s fifth largest, surpassing its former colonial ruler, Great Britain. How did Modi shake off the memory of deadly religious riots to win the devotion of hundreds of millions of Indians across the country and the world?Access the transcript for this episode here.
Modi's India Episode 3: The Strongman
May 20 2024
Modi's India Episode 3: The Strongman
Entering his second term stronger than ever, Modi can wield his power in ways that shock many inside India and out. There are crackdowns on dissent at home and accusations his government is tied to assassination plots abroad. His government denies these allegations, but the question remains: how far will Modi go to stop those who challenge him?Access the transcript for this episode here.
Modi's India Episode 4: The Storyteller
May 27 2024
Modi's India Episode 4: The Storyteller
India’s democracy has been called a miracle. Now, some fear it’s at risk.From Gandhi’s legacy to Bollywood films, how is Modi rewriting the story of India?Access the transcript for this episode here.
BONUS: Modi’s weak win
Jun 5 2024
BONUS: Modi’s weak win
Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have narrowly won a third term, but without a majority government, his grip on power appears weaker than ever. On this bonus episode of Modi’s India: Understood, host Salimah Shivji and producer Joyita Sengupta talk about the surprising results of the Indian election. Access the transcript for this episode here.

Season 2

Introducing: The Pornhub Empire
Feb 22 2024
Introducing: The Pornhub Empire
Pornhub — that site you only access on your browser’s incognito mode? It gets way more views than Netflix. But because of the sheepishness and stigma around porn, it’s treated as if it’s fringe, instead of what it really is: one of Canada’s largest cultural exports.In The Pornhub Empire: Understood, hear the story of how a Montreal-founded company came to dominate the adult industry — only to have its reputation obliterated in a massive scandal — and where it stands today.The Pornhub Empire is a new season of Understood, from the CBC. Four episodes, starting March 11.
The Pornhub Empire Episode 1: Free porn for everyone
Mar 11 2024
The Pornhub Empire Episode 1: Free porn for everyone
How did a handful of competitive foosball players in Montreal create the world’s largest online porn site? And what do a picturesque Dutch cabin, thousands of pornographic VHS tapes, and the subprime mortgage crisis have to do with it?This is episode 1 of The Pornhub Empire: Understood. Hosted by Samantha Cole.Full transcript here.
The Pornhub Empire Episode 2: Pornhub goes mainstream
Mar 18 2024
The Pornhub Empire Episode 2: Pornhub goes mainstream
Not only did Pornhub become a massive moneymaker, it also helped push porn into the spotlight by using data, clever PR, and the power of celebrity. How did Pornhub make itself a household name? This is episode 2 of The Pornhub Empire: Understood. Hosted by Samantha Cole.Full transcript here.
The Pornhub Empire Episode 3: Pornhub’s disgrace
Mar 25 2024
The Pornhub Empire Episode 3: Pornhub’s disgrace
Jane was coerced into making a pornographic film, and told it would never be shared online. Then, it was posted on Pornhub, over and over again. How did a scandal involving the hosting of sexual abuse material seriously damage the lives of many and nearly destroy the company? This is episode 3 of The Pornhub Empire: Understood. Hosted by Samantha Cole.Full transcript here.
The Pornhub Empire Episode 4: Cleanup crew
Apr 1 2024
The Pornhub Empire Episode 4: Cleanup crew
New name, new owners, new rules. Can Pornhub rebuild its reputation and remain one of the world’s biggest porn sites? Or will the company be disrupted out of business by a new crop of online porn entrepreneurs?This is episode 4 of The Pornhub Empire: Understood. Hosted by Samantha Cole.Full transcript here.

Season 1

The Naked Emperor Trailer – Season 1 of Understood
Feb 22 2023
The Naked Emperor Trailer – Season 1 of Understood
In The Naked Emperor journalist Jacob Silverman explains how Sam Bankman-Fried built and destroyed FTX, a multi-billion dollar crypto currency empire. Who helped? Who was hurt? And will anything change following one of the most stunning financial collapses in modern history?The Naked Emperor is season 1 of Understood from the CBC. All episodes are available now.
The Naked Emperor Episode 1: The Hype
Mar 13 2023
The Naked Emperor Episode 1: The Hype
Sam Bankman-Fried wasn't like other crypto moguls: he drove a Toyota Corolla, he was an advocate for government regulation, he said he would give billions away to charity. That is, until he lost it all in what has been called “one of history’s greatest-ever destructions of wealth.” Sam Bankman-Fried, aka SBF, had an empire. His cryptocurrency exchange, FTX, and hedge fund, Alameda Research, together were worth billions. Celebrities sang his praises, and politicians took his donations. Then, it all collapsed – almost overnight. There were millions of FTX customers. Now, they don’t know where their money is. Host Jacob Silverman, co-author of a forthcoming book about crypto and fraud, takes a closer look at the hype around SBF and FTX, and how it only grew, even as other crypto companies crashed around them. How powerful was Sam Bankman-Fried? And how did he initially manage to hang on, to thrive even, as other giants tumbled towards bankruptcy?
The Naked Emperor Episode 2: The Beginning of the End
Mar 20 2023
The Naked Emperor Episode 2: The Beginning of the End
We return to the beginning of Sam Bankman-Fried’s lucrative foray into crypto and ask: how did it all fall apart? Sam Bankman-Fried rose to the top of the crypto world with help from his friends. Gary Wang was a former fellow math-camper and brilliant programmer; Caroline Ellison was a former colleague at an elite Wall Street firm and an avid LARPer on the side. While still in their twenties, they were entrusted with billions of dollars of customer and investor funds. But in retrospect there were signs that maybe their enormous fortunes weren't created simply through their supposed technological and financial genius. For transcripts of this series, please visit here.
The Naked Emperor Episode 3: Busted
Mar 27 2023
The Naked Emperor Episode 3: Busted
In the weeks after FTX filed for bankruptcy Sam stuck to his story: he did not commit fraud. FTX’s post-collapse CEO claimed the company had been a managerial and financial disaster, writing that he had never seen “such a complete failure of corporate controls and such a complete absence of trustworthy financial information.” In response to his cratering public image, Sam Bankman-Fried talked. A lot. He exhibited an almost reckless desire to tell his side of things, insisting he could explain – and vindicate – himself. It was an exceptionally bizarre move for someone who had lost not just his personal fortune, but potentially the funds of millions of customers. Even as U.S. prosecutors filed charges, and his former friends turned on him, SBF was unwavering. With the legal odds against him, why would SBF risk so much by refusing to shut up? Update: Since this episode was published, U.S. prosecutors have added a new charge against Sam Bankman-Fried, accusing him of conspiring to bribe one or more Chinese government officials. The charge has not been proven in court. For transcripts of this series, please visit here.