The AmberMac Show

This week’s special episode includes a nod to Canada’s 2026 technology newsmakers, including Cohere and Waabi, and a look back at the top Canadian technology inventions and not-so-tech innovations. Plus, in celebration of the upcoming 10-year anniversary of The Tragically Hip’s final concert with frontman Gord Downie, we’re including an encore of our conversation with the band’s manager, Jake Gold, on why there will never be another band like The Hip.
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Jake Gold – Manager of The Tragically Hip

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Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter

On this week’s episode: Amber and Jeff discuss social media bans and how they can help keep kids safer online, including what makes sense in Bill C-34 (Canada’s Safe Social Media Act) and why age verification isn’t impossible. Plus, we chat with keynote speaker and bestselling author Doug Stephens about his new book, The Future of Competitive Advantage, which unpacks why saving democracy is good business. We also talk to two Intel executives about how they’re powering the AI revolution and what you need to know when buying your next AI PC.
Check out our guests online…
Doug Stephens – Founder & CEO of Retail Prophet
Caitlin Anderson – Corporate VP & General Manager Americas Sales at Intel
Asma Aziz – Country General Manager at Intel Canada

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Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter

On this week’s episode, we unpack Canada’s Safe Social Media Act with Taylor Owen, founding director of the Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy. We discuss Canada’s plans to keep kids – and maybe all of us – safer online, including what the Act proposes and how misinformation is getting in the way. Plus, Amber and Jeff chat about the rising costs of artificial intelligence and the countries that want tech companies to share their wealth with workers. We also speak to Digital Moment about upskilling Canadian youth in the age of AI, and Marc Saltzman joins us to talk tech for grads and dads.
This week’s guests
Taylor Owen – Founding Director at The Centre for Media, Technology, and Democracy + Host of Machines Like Us
Indra Kubicek – CEO of Digital Moment
Max Medyk – Influencer & Founder of ImmigrateAI
Marc Saltzman – Tech Expert

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Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter

On this week’s episode, Canada finally has an AI strategy (six months behind schedule). Amber and Jeff unpack what this means for Canadians building skills for the future and where the plan falls short. We’re also going to speak to an expert about heat pumps who will demystify how they work, especially in cold climates. Paul Lambert, Founder & CEO at Quilt, joins us to share more. Plus, our second guest this week is Andrew Burke, a Halifax-based software developer and digital artist, who has created a mobile app that connects modern-day Halifax to 1903 Dublin through the lens of James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.
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Paul Lambert – Founder & CEO at Quilt: LinkedIn | Website
Andrew Burke – Creator of the Bloomsday Halifax App: LinkedIn | Website

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Amber Mac: Bluesky | X/Twitter
Jeff MacArthur: Bluesky | X/Twitter

Amber and Jeff break down Canada's new AI plan, called AI for All (released Thursday, June 4, 2026). The plan includes three principles: trust, opportunity, and sovereignty. There are some solid initiatives in the strategy to improve AI literacy, power AI adoption, and build the foundation for Canadian sovereign AI. However, there is also room for improvement. Listen to today's conversation for more on this announcement (releasing this segment in advance of our full episode next week).