The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge - Your Turn -- How Do You Take A Break From Politics?

Episode Date: May 8, 2025

Your answers are revealing ... and so is the Random Ranter's rant this week, with a subject we don't often talk about.

And hello there, Peter Mansbridge here. You're just moments away from the latest episode of the Bridge. It's Thursday. That means your turn. And once again, this week, lots of letters from you. Plus the random ranter. That's all coming right up. And good morning, Peter Mansbridge here. Want to get right at the letters, but first, very quickly. This is VE Day. It's May 8th.

It's a time where we pause to, well, actually celebrate the results of the Second World War. It was a lot at stake in that conflict, and Canadians showed up by the hundreds of thousands as volunteers. Forty thousand never came home, more than forty thousand. And we remember those as well. But really it's a day, you remember those pictures, those images from May of 1945 when there was celebration in the streets in Europe and at home for the achievements that had been made in that conflict. I'll be talking about it a number of times

today on CBC radio on stations across the country. So if you get a chance, please tune in. But today's Your Turn is not about VE Day. It is about your thoughts about what you do not to think about politics. We've had a heavy, heavy run of politics a heavy, heavy run of politics. Really since last fall, the US election and with its result and in the Canadian election campaign that started with the resignation of a prime minister and ended up with his replacement winning the election campaign that ended just last week. So we have been hard on, heavy on politics on this program throughout that time period. So the question this week was pretty simple,

is what do you do to try and get a break from politics? So let's get to the letters. Mark Engelden in Barriered BC. That's in the North Thompson Valley. It's important to be informed and face the reality of the Trump regime. I have several podcasts I listen to religiously, including The Bridge, but you gotta take a break. I just switch from podcast to music on Spotify, focus on my hobbies, old pickup truck and a dirt bike project, kids and cats, walk in the woods, swimming and bicycle rides, moderate drinking and good meals.

Cathy Fairburns in Toronto. Cathy writes, Like most of my friends, I have found it almost impossible to avoid picking up my phone every time a news alert appears. But when I realized how cranky and anxious I had become, I decided to try three things. I go for walks with friends, where we mostly talk about other things. I stop watching news and opinion shows,

and instead watch Brit Box and the like. And I unsubscribe to many of the blog and news alerts. Really helps. Corin Peet in Prince George P.Z. When I want to escape from political news, I read the cooking sections of my news apps. Discovering new recipes is a simple way to dream about the future. It's more cost effective and attainable than other daydreams like travel and sometimes initiates plans to host friends to share a meal.

Cindy Zampa in Airdrie, Alberta. As a retired teacher, counselor and art therapist, I know the importance of finding peace amidst chaos. I consciously disconnect from devices and reconnect through painting, walking, cooking, and writing poetry to calm my mind and lift my spirits. Attending local bookstores and art galleries to both see and participate in other types of creativity like open mic nights and exhibits brings me joy and reminds me of what really matters connection beauty and presence Betsy Sabara in Kingsville Ontario that's Canada's southernmost town I like to take the 15-minute drive to Canada's southernmost town. I'd like to take the 15-minute drive to Canada's southernmost national park, Point Pelley. It is the smallest national park with huge biodiversity.

The sandy shoreline, dense Carolina forest, wetland boardwalks, and tall grass prairie within the peaceful beauty of nature helps me to focus on things that are tangible and real instead of fake news and the egotistical rants of politicians. The park continues to be a refuge for me from the stress of modern life. By the way, there are only 24,000 people in Kingsville, but we got three letters there this week. Here's another. This one's from Sandra Walker. I did stop listening to your podcast for several months.

Each day I relax by practicing yoga, walking in the beautiful nature that surrounds me, reading and quilting. Creativity, sorry, creating, whether it's designing my own patterns, sewing them up, participating in online quilting activities, and donating several quilts each year to various causes or people I know personally who may be in need of a quilty hug. Helps me lift out of the political abyss. Good for you. Misha Gringas in Victoria.

I've been asking myself this exact question for weeks. My answer came with a degree of relief actually. Italy, in addition to the natural beauty, the amazing food and delicious wine, Italy is blessed with another significant benefit, a nine-hour time difference from B.C. Learning the news on a nine-hour time delay provides emotional support to facilitate acceptance. And on those occasions where the news arrives in real time, Did I mention the wine? Steve Carrignan in Quebec City. I wander through the aisles of my ultra local grocery stores near the old town. The products are usually

sustainable and local. I touch, smell, and read about the many wonderful products they offer. Time seems to stop and you start getting creative with your menu. We had a one-word answer from Rachel Evans in Alliston, Ontario. Tequila. And another one-word answer from Lawrence Rainey in Muskoka, Ontario. Music. We actually had a few people deliver that exact same one word answer. A different one word answer from Derek Forsyth in Edmonton.

Golf. Phil Garrioch in Auburn, Ontario. It's about an hour northwest of Stranford. Phil Garriott in Auburn, Ontario. It's about an hour northwest of Stranford. I grab my camera and head out to the surrounding woodlots and bury myself into photographing nature. I quickly lose the concerns of the world, both domestically and internationally. A wonderful tonic that helps recharge my batteries. Daniel Cole in Regina. A few months ago I turned my smartphone into a mostly dumb phone. I

removed the news apps, social media, and internet browser. This prevents me from checking the news and politics in my downtime and mindlessly picking up my phone to scroll. I can still access this information through my laptop but this change has caused me to be much more intentional. I don't regret it. Sounds so easy to do but it's hard to do that isn't it? But clearly the rewards are as Daniel mentions. Richard Swindells in Mono, Ontario.

How do I relax? It's not by watching hockey. I'm a Leaf fan in Leafland and it's a might stressful. Yeah, but hey, this is the year. This is the year baby. For the Leafs and maybe for the Jets too. Although the Leafs did win last night. They're up to nothing. The Jets, tough one, tough loss. Um, but that's the only the first game in their series I'm that's the only the first game in their series.

And the oilers are there. The oilers. It's great having three Canadian teams in the playoffs of the eight, the SIG still exists and they could all win. They could all win. And we'd move forward into the round of four with three Canadian teams. Wouldn't that be great? and we'd move forward into the round of four with three Canadian teams. Wouldn't that be great? The opposite hockey reaction from Glenn Lee in Berlin, Germany, not exactly relaxing, but I forget about politics by watching hockey, especially the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sports is such a great distraction.

The challenges of dealing with the chaos of politics is the order and rules of an organized game of hockey. And one more, Naya Henderson in Yellow Knife Northwest Territories. Naya writes, I watch hockey. Go Leafs, go. Still stressful, but we're used to it, right? Oh yeah, we're used to it. 1967. Mark LeBrun in Milton, Ontario. People have told me that they tune out of current affairs and politics because it's all depressing or boring. This irks me. There's a difference between taking a mental health break from the news and deciding you're not interested enough to become informed. Choosing to remain ignorant is selfish. It prevents you from engaging in issues that matter to your local and larger community. Need a break?

Fine, but reengage soon. Betsy Dobb in St. Agatha, Ontario. First, play the piano. That takes me into a world that is so magical and devoid of the toxicity and frustration of politics. I can play for hours at a time. Second, quilting.

Seeing a pattern take shape from little and not so little bits of cloth. All quilters are surrounded by UFOs, unfinished objects. We start or even finish a quilt, top, then get distracted by the next shiny object, a different pattern with different fabrics. Ray Tremblat in Shoal Harbor, Newfoundland. To break the obsession of politics, I watch American late-night comedy shows. It makes me feel better knowing other people see the insanity.

Greg Millage in Kingston, Ontario. I do not wish to disengage from political news and discourse. Starting when Christia Freeland resigned from cabinet, Canadian politics have been fascinating. Our politics used to be boring. Not now. Paula Dairy in Montreal. One of the things that I like to do that keeps politics off my mind is spend time with my dad who is full of energy at 84, but he has

Alzheimer's. We go out every Thursday afternoon for a long walk along the water and he tells me stories of his childhood summers in Vermont, helping on his aunt's farm while also learning English. These are special moments spent together far from politics. Roger Laverson in Prince Edward County, Ontario. I turn to my rural environment and dive into working with my hands. Nothing quite like wallowing in dirt and feeling good about it at the end of the day. Alexa Burchill in Rocky View County in Alberta.

That surrounds Calgary. To ground myself I spend time with my dog and horse. Their calm presence pulls me into the moment. I breathe, let go of the noise, and remember what's real. I'm honestly jealous of their blissful ignorance. No awareness of someone like Demolition Don, who seems to break everything he touches. There's peace in their world and I borrow a bit of it whenever I can. Shelley Malone in Ilderton, Ontario, is near London.

I sometimes try to stop thinking about politics, but I must admit it always is niggling at the back of my mind because there's just too many questions and unsettling things going on in the world. Thank goodness spring has finally arrived in southern Ontario. When I've had enough of the political mess, I go outside and work in my garden. I get great satisfaction in pulling weeds, planting new things, and preparing my yard for summer. Sometimes I must admit I find myself muttering and swearing at Donald Trump, Daniel Smith,

and Pierre Poliev, whilst digging, and then I laugh. So I guess the garden escape route isn't foolproof. Elizabeth Prosser in Bracebridge, Ontario. That's in the Muskokas. I relax by heading to my happy place, the barn, where my horse Cleo lives. I leave my phone in the car and completely disconnect from the stresses in my life and in the world. Doing chores, grooming, riding, and often just sitting with the horses lowers my heart rate and grounds me. I'm so grateful to have this sacred place. Steven Sands in Oxbridge, Ontario, near Oshawa.

For a politics and news junkie like me, the best reprieve from thinking about these is live theater and British TV crime drama series. Weekend getaways to Stratford during the summer and fall to catch a show, enjoy the restaurants and visit St. Jacob's Market are ideal. Weekend tours of Niagara wineries are also a bomb for the soul. Trevor Barry in Saanich, BC. I agree that the federal election meant I was inputting too much political info. Metadata. Noise into my head. Best way to relax away from it? Step one, take the podcast headphones out. Step two, turn on the Nintendo. Step three, beat my kids at Mario Kart. Troy Wilson in Victoria, BC. I relax by getting offline and getting outside, or getting into a good book. I purposely allow myself to get distracted by shiny objects like the sun.

Hano Dosing in Hamilton, Ontario Fishing offers a refreshing escape from politics and the news. I enjoy travelling south to the Grand River. Being in nature is relaxing and when I'm borrowing my tackle box, or sorry, browsing my tackle box for a lure, putting my line in the water and reeling it back in, I'm fully immersed in the moment and politics is the last thing on my mind. I only wish my fishing trips were more frequent. Lisanne Donnelly in Sutton Quebec. I plan a road trip with my dog and my convertible. My dog loves being in the car and I'm happy when my dog is happy. Stephen Moorhead in Charlottetown. Your podcast actually relaxes me. A combination of your familiar

Canadian voice and your balanced clarity on the issues of the day makes me feel much more settled about the rapid change and chaos in the world today. Wendy Dunn in Onoway, Alberta, it's Northwest of Edmonton. Over the last nine months, I listened to Canada and U S politics podcasts two to three hours daily while doing chores, getting ready for work or driving. Now trying to find interesting non-political podcasts.

This past week I started to listen to audiobooks that I never would sit down to read including Prince Harry's spare. Great listening while getting into the garden. Tara Lavoie in London, Ontario. At the start of the year, I felt overwhelmed by the political climate. I've always loved political podcasts, but it became too much to listen to constantly.

Then I stumbled on Philosophize This, a 300-plus episode archive that explores philosophy in mostly simple terms. So I started to take the weekends off from politics and instead listen to philosophy. Julie McGonigal in Allora, Ontario, near Guelph. As a parent, I see this political madness through a lens of interrupted sleep and constant worry for the next generation. A month ago, I booked in two camping trips, two weeks off the grid with my family this summer.

It felt like a saner choice than actually cutting the internet, which I did momentarily consider. In the meantime, I'm trying to get outside and into my body. The splendor of spring helps tremendously. Paula Gratton in Miramichi, New Brunswick. I will freely admit that since the change in president, my usual love of politics has had ebbs and flows. Add in our tumultuous five-week election campaign, and I have been feeling politically burned out. The constant mudslinging has seen me taking social media breaks. A few times I've told my husband that I didn't want to know anything unless it was necessary.

Politics can become all-consuming. Protecting mental health is pertinent. I'll say it. Sandra Fowler in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Sometimes the situation in the world can be quite depressing. I coordinate a hot lunch program each Thursday for people who face financial and or housing challenges. It's uplifting to provide a nutritious hot meal

for 70 to 90 people. It is good to hear the gratitude from the people we serve. As well a group of people with cognitive disabilities help with things like clearing dishes and giving out cookies. The whole thing is a win-win and for a few hours the world seems a good place. Bernie Shau in Edmonton. I always say believe in democracy and trust government. Once the election is over, I let government do its thing. Even if my party did not win, I just let it go

and live peacefully knowing democracy has spoken. Thanks, Bernie. Sharon McDonald, Bay Duet, Quebec, Montreal's West Island. The ultimate escape is my Zumba class. At close to 80, dancing to upbeat music is playful and requires full concentration. This chases away all thoughts of politics. Ben Zumack in Regina. The gym is my place to forget about everything, including politics. I usually walk to the gym, listening to various podcasts, but once there,

I turn on my music playlist and tune out of everything except my workout. It is the way I reset, recharge, stay sane and fight old age. Chris Harvey in North Saanich BC. I focus my thoughts on those things that I am grateful for. In the context of this question, I feel deep gratitude to be a citizen of this country. I'm fairly sure I will continue answering that no matter how events proceed. The hard part is in disciplining myself to do this, particularly in the middle of the night. Wendy Cecil in Toronto. To obliterate the American political soap opera and nail-biting Canadian political drama,

spend time with children, your own or borrowed for a few hours. Their parents will thank you, and you will be reintroduced to curiosity, silliness, wonder, and the outright tragedy of a dropped ice cream cone. Pat Ryan in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. I confess to being a political junkie. In these times more than ever, when I need to get away from it, I go play with my two-year-old grandson. When I do this, it feels like it's the only thing that matters. Because it is. Carl Webe in Winnipeg. It's not I'm not able to stop thinking about politics. When I'm feeling overwhelmed I have a very simple habit of seeking out a better quality

of news. Gwynne Dyer, Chantelle Iber or the Bridge. I know that my original anger and frustration is just a symptom of not really understanding what's going on. The cure is not to turn your back on news, but to seek out better sources of information. This calms me. Sean Flanagan in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I escape current events in politics with history books and podcasts. Puts it all in context. Time for our break. Take a quick break then we'll listen to the random rantor this week. It's a really interesting one. And then we'll be back

to your letters and there's lots of them. And we're gonna start with an old friend from Ukraine. But first, as I said, we'll take a quick break. And welcome back. You're listening to The Bridge, the Thursday episode. That means your turn in the random ranter right here on Sirius XM, Channel 167, Canada Talks, or on your favorite podcast platform. We're glad to have you with us. We'll start off this second segment of your turn this week with the random Rantor.

And if you don't like numbers, you're probably going to have a hard time with this one. If you like numbers, you're going to love this one. But this is kind of scary. It's not about politics. It's about our world though. Well, listen in. Here he is, the random ranter for this week. I want to talk about something serious today, something that we all take for granted, even though it's vital to our very existence.

Water. Now, despite living on a blue planet, only a small fraction of our water is fresh water, and a significant portion of that is stored underground in aquifers. Now, not all of these aquifers are created equal. Some recharge quickly, some recharge slowly, and some don't recharge at all. As the world warms and the climate changes, we are placing more and more demands on our fresh water supplies. Populations require water, industry demands water, and of course agriculture demands water.

Just think about the food we eat and where it comes from. Almonds come from drought-stricken California and it can take up to 37 liters to grow just one almond. And if you love almond milk, yikes! It takes 6,000 liters of water to produce just one liter. How about those avocados from Mexico? It takes 70 liters to grow one, and they grow in a place where farmers are literally fighting over water. How bad is the situation? Mexico's second largest lake has lost 70% of its volume. But before you say, hey, we live in Canada, there's lots of water,

consider that delicious steak from Drought-Torn Alberta. It's estimated that it takes 16,000 liters of water to produce just one pound of beef. Now as crazy as those numbers are, they barely scratch the surface of how we use and abuse water, because I haven't even talked about our industrial uses. Lithium, that green gateway to zero emissions? While extracting one ton of lithium uses up to 2.273 million liters of water. So maybe we should stick with a gas car then. Oh wait, the average fracking well requires over 15 million liters of water.

And the oil sands? Well in 2023, they used a trillion liters of water. Now granted, they recycled 80% of that. So it's really just a paltry 200 billion liters of water, give or take. Now if you don't believe my numbers, just Google them. But before you do, please keep in mind that Google's data centers, they consumed over 22 billion liters of water last year. Now I promise

I'll stop with the numbers. I just wanted to make the point that the whole human enterprise is reliant upon water. We're not just using it in the shower or to do our laundry. It's being used to make pretty much everything. And it's not being used efficiently enough because aquifers are being depleted around the world at an alarming rate and with dire consequences. Mexico City, the world's seventh largest city of 22 million people, has sunk nine meters

in the last 70 years. That's like a three-story building, and it's all due to the depletion of its aquifer. I feel like we're at a turning point in history right now, where freshwater is suddenly gonna become a very serious geopolitical issue. We're already seeing it abroad along the Mekong and the Nile, where overuse is spilling across borders and threatening the sustainability of entire river basins.

And let's not forget that fresh water is front and center to Trump's yearning 51st state gaze. Now I'm not a water expert, but it seems to me that we need to be doing a better job at managing the one resource that's fundamental to life on this planet. We use it and we abuse it. And I think we do that because it's too cheap. If you need some, dig a hole. If it runs dry, dig deeper.

I know I'm oversimplifying, but not by much. I mean, why incur the cost of recycling water if you can just get more for less? I'm pretty sure the oil sands recycles 80% of their water because there was no other choice. It was recycle or shut down. And that's human nature. We need to have that gun to our head before we act. And what I'm saying here is, I think we have that gun to our head and we just don't know it yet. I think the last half of the 20th century was about oil.

And the last half of the 21st century is going to be about water. It stands to be central to mass migrations of populations, famines, wars, and so much more. I don't know what the solution is, but I know digging deeper or accessing untapped lakes and rivers is not it. We need to be conserving water, as in using less of it and recycling more of it, and we need to be making more of it through desalinization. There's an opportunity here

and there's an incentive for Canada to get on top of this. If we can play our part in developing technology to help solve this, maybe it will keep the barbarians from our very wet gates. Well, I told you, there was quite something, right? Lots to think about in the renter's rant this week. Okay, let's get back to our mail. First up, Brandon Mitchell. Remember Brandon? He was a guest on this program a couple of years ago.

We've replayed that interview a number of times because he's a remarkable guy. It's from New Brunswick, but he spent the last few years in Ukraine working as a basically kind of an ambulance guy. He's a medical guy. Brandon writes from Kyiv in Ukraine. If I focused on news headlines, I'd have a meltdown.

I serve in the armed forces medical service and must stay focused. I read The Economist. Its Friday release gives stories time to mature. I also listen to your Monday show for its thoughtful perspective. That's Dr. Janice Stein, right? That's how I manage. When I really need to unwind, I watch old shows on YouTube, Colombo, and the Rockford Files. Watching them reminds me when I watch

them with my grandfather. Simpler times, I'll say. take care Brandon and lemon in Owen Sound Ontario my antidote to compulsively consuming and worrying about political news is to spend time in my sewing room I have recently reacquainted myself with the joyful art of quilt making spending time creating is giving me space to sort out the frayed edges of my thoughts and fears. Stephen Lowe in Maitland, Nova Scotia, that's along the St. Lawrence River in eastern Ontario. What? How can Maitland, Nova Scotia be in eastern Ontario? I don't think that's, must be a misprint. My solution is Dungeons and Dragons,

a game of cooperative storytelling. I've been playing and or running the game and other tabletop role-playing games for 55 years. It's great escapism that allows me to leave the politics behind and have the feeling of agency in the world for an afternoon. Last fall, I started running games at my local Canadian Mental Health Association for their youth outreach program. Erwin Corobow in Winnipeg. I've made a decision to give up on cable news. In fact, we've given up on TV altogether.

If I need the news, I can read it online through various subscriptions I have. I've given up on my, on most podcasts with a political bent. Crime podcasts are my favorite and I listen to Jimmy Buffett when I'm at the gym or riding my bike. We indulge in culture such as the symphony and ballet. Matthew Sklarczyk in Vernon, B.C. Matthew Sklarczyk in Vernon, BC I recently returned from my first cruise where I shut my phone off for 10 days. I was completely disconnected and finally relaxed. I read three books and simply enjoyed being present.

At home on Saturday mornings I'll head down to the garage to tinker on my 1952 Mercury pickup my wife got me as a 40th birthday present from an old farmer in Saskatchewan. I put on some pre-war blues and slip away. Sue Morris in Halifax To forget about politics and all things Trump, I recently took up playing the guitar. Lessons weekly. I practice daily. I am a truly awful beginner with no musical talent and no signs of promise, but I love the instrument and how it sounds. Well, when others play it. Anyway, my regular dose of guitar-related stubborn effort and humiliation makes me temporarily forget the swirl of politics and Trump-induced

mania all around me. Michael Pash in Victoria. Never speak the American president's name. Banish politics from social gatherings. It's all just noxious gas and too explosive. Focus on the positives in your life. A friend pointed out that three billion years ago the only sounds on earth were the wind and the sea. Lucky

earth. Zachary Drake in Ottawa. I was in high school when the Trump Trudeau era started and as I became a young man I found it easier to keep my head in the sand and ignore the politics and issues. And as I'm getting older and surrounded by misinformation, conspiracies and hate in my workplace, I think it's more important than ever to be informed and up to date. For that reason, I don't feel the need to get a break from politics.

Jeff Stover in Thamesford, Ontario near London. For years, my escape hatch from our crazy world has been my screened backyard deck. I have a comfy recliner and 51 playlists for any possible mood. Everything from symphony to reggae to punk rock and old country twang. I sit in my secluded yard cold drink in hand and chill not missing the world at all. I'm a boomerluded yard, cold drink in hand and chill, not missing the world at all. I'm a boomer, I don't need to know what is trending to feel fulfilled. Mariam Hamu in London, Ontario. Out of sight, out of mind. To stay away

from all the politics, I either go up north for a nature-filled time off for this continent or off this continent into Europe, Africa or Asia. It's getting harder and harder to find places that have no Wi-Fi. I've better luck finding a connection in rural Africa or Asia than up north in Canada in the US. That's the key. No way to get information in. Mike Warcantantine in Nanaimo, BC. I find it's not so much politics that I need to disconnect from, but media, print, television, social, internet, all of it.

My wife and I like to spend a few nights camping, motor home nowadays, reading, biking, drinking homemade wine. Also, we like watching the tide going in and out, wondering what the people here thought when the first big Spanish ship rounded the bend and sailed into Departure Bay. Margaret Robinson in Metcalfe, Ontario and Lac-Pos-en-Blanc, Quebec. There's no escaping politics in Carlton riding, where we just ousted Pierre Poliev. We plunged directly into a municipal by-election to replace our counselor who won a provincial seat.

A smaller slate of candidates, fortunately, only 12 instead of 91. We escaped to our cottage near Mont-Saint-Marie, Quebec, where we can disconnect, sit on our dock, or go for long woodland walks. Jonathan Dignan in Ottawa. I am someone steeped in politics. I studied political science.

I'm a public servant. My friends and partner are staffers. I can't escape it if I try. Yet these days, the news is overwhelming. Even for me, I read somewhere online recently that I read somewhere online recently that novels are the only entertainment medium where you don't encounter advertising. That opened my eyes and I turned those eyes to reading more.

Christina Hayes in North Vancouver. Walk my dogs on the trails of the North Shore Mountains. Drink wine. Repeat. Chow and Goyen in London, Ontario. A quick YouTube search for 10 hours of relaxing Oceanscapes from BBC Earth. Tim Martin in Calgary. My friends and I tune up and drop out so to speak and spend a couple of hours playing music together. Highly recommended. Monica Pease in Guelph. I'm a psychotherapist and I can say without reservation that my number one prescription for relaxation is regular exposure to nature.

Attending to one's senses in nature has been shown to reduce the fight or flight response and couldn't we all use some help with that these days. Bird song, the smell of rain, the touch of bark, the trickle of a creek. Take notice of these things and feel yourself unwind. I will vouch for its efficacy. Steve Loudon in Simcoe, Ontario. When the news and politics are too much, I turn to my library of books from independent Canadian authors, not the award winners that the publishers push on us, but true Indies. Their stories are set either in Canada or in worlds that they have created.

I can escape as I read. Peter Aratto in Toronto. If relaxation means much less tense or stressed, my solution is to disconnect my brain from future-related panic and plug it into present-moment fun. Nothing works better than time with our grandkids, when their unavailable friends or the great outdoors will do. Of course, if you combine fresh air, friends and Trump talk, relaxation vanishes instantly. Luckily, the grandkids are too young to bring them up.

Byron Hohn in Calgary, when I find myself vehemently defending a politician, that's when I know I need to take a break from politics. With the election behind us, I look forward to the summer of backcountry camping and taking my son to Tofino, British Columbia. I think I'll tune it all out for the summer. Emily Bennett in Kitchener, Ontario. To get away from politics and recharge, I have no tech weekends, aside from adding to to my wordle streak with my morning coffee You know wordle. It's a New York Times game People get addicted to it. I won't watch any news programs listen to news podcasts or read any newspapers

Focuses on hikes hobbies and finally getting back into the garden Ryan Coombs in Hamilton I into the garden. Ryan Coombs in Hamilton. I recently got a puppy so most of my non-politics thinking time is devoted to her training and walks. Leona Boyd in Toronto. Yes, that Leona Boyd. There are many ways I choose to escape from the fraught political realities of our time. Sometimes just going for a walk in nature can suffice. Being in the moment, seeing blossoms on the trees in the early days of spring, audiobooks, particularly autobiographies, are a great escape.

Becoming lost in another person's story. And of course, for me, writing and playing music on my guitar. Playing music on her guitar, as she modestly puts it, as earned Leona Boyd international fame. Five June Awards over the years made her a member of the Order of Canada. And I think she gets a spot on the Walk of Fame this year, too.

Josh Baker, a Calgarian living in Washington, D.C. It's simple. I head to the mountains and go fly fishing. Robin Sagan in Wasega Beach, Ontario. I'm a fortunate one. I go up into Halliburton Forest where there's no cell service, telephones or television. The trees, birds and insects do gossip amongst themselves, but they never let us in on their little secrets. It's wonderful to lie back or hike in nature where politics have no meaning morning, noon, day, or night. Jason Burke in São Paulo, Brazil. Trees. I'm from Hubbard, Nova Scotia, population 387. I reside now in São Paulo, Brazil, population 22

million. No matter the location, a forest towering above me makes the human created problems of the day seem very, very small. Shirley Shum in Vancouver. I love federal politics, but yes, it can get overwhelming sometimes. To unplug and relax, I love to watercolor and take exercise classes at our community centers. Having walks and meals with friends is also relaxing. As long as politics is not on the dinner menu, your podcast is the best. I don't get pushed back when I do chat about politics

because I'll say Peter Chantel and Rob said so. Pat Provo in San Basil Le Grand Quebec. Lately I've been getting burned out consuming so much breaking news, most of it bad that I now tune into our CBC or CNN station and put it on mute and get on with my own work online. I have a big screen TV that will get my attention if something interesting comes to the screen. I find it is the noise that bombards us that weighs on our psyche.

Glenn Roach in Spaniards Bay, Newfoundland on the northwest coast of Conception Bay. A good book. Right it's the greatest rate of all about a commando raid in World War II by C.E. Lucas Phillips. Anita de Rozier in Toronto. Relaxation is a big goal in the fractured chaotic world we live in. Political junkies perhaps gain some relaxation from listening closely to everything happening to know where we all stand. Not knowing leads to more anxiety. However, in between podcasts and newscasts I find meditation, gatherings with family and friends, exercise, watching movies and painting artistic reflections of emotion

can help deflect. Breathe Canada, breathe. Julia Peters in Edmonton. The best parts of my week to distract me from politics are a. my ladies trail running meetup and b. my Saturday morning park run. My dog Weasley joins me at both weekly events which take place year-round in Edmonton's gorgeous River Valley Park system. Park Run is a free weekly 5 kilometer running walking event held every Saturday in 22 countries around the world with 53 sites just in Canada. There might be one near you. Anne Harmer in Garden Bay, BC. I'm fortunate to live adjacent to Crown Land, which I call my back 40.

I walk with my dogs in the forest every day to talk to the trees, perhaps hug one, listen to the silence and let the scent of nature fill my senses. I close my eyes and feel the sun or rain on my face. There's no artifice here, no human games. In the forest, everything is real. Norma Jack in Stoweville, Ontario. When I want to switch politics off, I play

with my grandchildren or I go and play pickleball, Canada's fastest growing game. Pickleball is indeed the fastest growing sport in Canada and North America. It's estimated at one and a half million play in Canada, but it's far from the fastest growing sport in Canada and North America. It's estimated that one and a half million play in Canada, but it's far from the most popular sport in Canada. If you judge a sport by how many participate, not just watch swimming is number one, cycling is number two, running is number three. Louise Mantha in Ottawa, as a political junkie, I constantly listened to podcasts

like The Bridge, Watch Power in Politics, Read About Political Affairs, and attend talks on the changing world order. I enjoy every minute of it. The only time I get away from politics is on the golf course or by playing board or card games with my spouse and with friends. But I soon returned to politics

because it's so fascinating. David Ennis in Fort Langley, BC. To clear my head from politics, I walk or bike with the dog, stay busy with yard work, and tackle home projects. My spouse and I also get off-grid to camp, hike, and paddleboard. I cherish time with our adult children who live nearby. Seeing them regularly reminds me of what truly matters. Ian Hebblethwait in Moncton, New Brunswick. Getting anything out of your head

is easier for some than others, but for me, I force myself onto something else that requires thought as well. That new thing can be productive, a task around the house or unproductive, word older, Sudoku. Sudoku. Nancy Burton in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia, that's suburban Halifax. Be of service to others, volunteer, call a friend or family you haven't spoken to in a while, say hello to a stranger. Find ways to expand yourself so we don't collapse from the weight of our worries. They will seem so much lighter. Tim Stott in Kinnisota, Manitoba. Don't forget to laugh because sometimes that's all we can

do. Carol Burney in Stratford, Ontario. To forget about politics, I like to watch birds. This morning I saw a dozen red-breasted grosbeaks at my feeders, along with some goldfinches and a white-crowned sparrow, everyone happily getting along. Then a crackle burst into on, a grackle burst onto the scene and chased away all the other birds so he could have the food for himself. That reminded me of politics all over again. Sue Ironside, she gets our last letter of the week and a reminder that we got lots of letters, letters real two or three times more than we needed this week and so the tough process of editing and

making choices trying to get as many new voices in as possible is what happens but sue Ironside in Thornberry Ontario that's up on Georgian Bay. Gets our last letter this week. I consider myself somewhat of a political junkie. I do my darndest not to listen to the news, weather, TV, podcasts, or other sources. I have to admit that I have been failing miserably. I detach myself from the media. For an hour or two and then like an addiction I jump back in I will be listening to what your other listeners have to say and perhaps I can learn

Well Sue I hope you've learned something all kinds of choices there Going to nature being with your pet dog or horse or what have you. Quilting, sewing, reading. There are lots of ideas in our letters this week. And it's so great to have them. You know, I got a letter from somebody the other day who says, they listen to Your Turn

every week with a map. Each time I read out where somebody's writing from, they find it on the map. And they just feel so connected to our world and our country as a result of that. And listening to the different thoughts that come across from different parts of the country. And that's great, you know, love it. Love the fact that you take that kind of interest in in our kind of community gathering on Thursdays. I love doing this program and I love it now that so many people engage. Now when we first started, it'd be kind of a handful of letters, 10, 12,

and we'd have to fill the hour with all kinds of other things. Not anymore. Now it's your letters and lots of them, as I said, way more than we need. But we read them all. So we're the lucky ones at this end of things. All right, that's going to wrap it up. Tomorrow, of course, is Good Talk, Chantelle Iber, Rob Russo. It's been another interesting week.

And we'll have lots to talk about as a result of that. I'm Peter Mansbridge, thanks so much for listening. Talk to you again in less than 24 hours.