Stories That Shape Us with George Strombolopoulos episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 20, 2026 · 34 MIN

Stories That Shape Us with George Strombolopoulos

from Face2Face with David Peck

What happens when we slow down long enough to really listen, to our stories and to one another? In this episode of Face2Face, I sit down with George Strombolopoulos for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about the power of storytelling in shaping who we are, personally, culturally and as Canadians. We talk about authenticity, the responsibility and possibility of art and why shared narratives matter more than ever in a fractured world. From truth and reconciliation to community building, this is a conversation about paying attention, staying curious, and making space for voices that need to be heard. If you believe stories can still bring us together and maybe even point us toward something better you’ll want to lean in for this one.George Stroumboulopoulos is a multi-faceted storyteller, broadcaster, producer and filmmaker. His range of experience is unparalleled in Canadian media. Including hosting iconic prime-time news and late-night talk shows, CBC’s The Hour and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, his interview series on CNN and anchoring the nation’s most-watched television show, Hockey Night in Canada. He hosted and produced Canada's premiere culture show, The New Music, on MuchMusic.Canada's first Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), travelling to Haiti, Pakistan, Darfur, Lebanon and Syria. He established the George Stroumboulopoulos Music Therapy Scholarship, funding music therapy education. He’s also worked closely with the World Wildlife Fund, Innocence Canada, Amnesty International, Music Heals, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He serves on the Artists for Peace and Justice Canada board. Building schools and funding medical clinics in Haiti.Learn more about George here.The MADE | NOUS campaign shines a spotlight on the achievements of Canadians who bring exceptional stories to life and encourages audiences to discover and celebrate their work.This campaign is the result of a collaborative effort between Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada.Made Nous - watch the first episode here. David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when we slow down long enough to really listen, to our stories and to one another? In this episode of Face2Face, I sit down with George Strombolopoulos for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about the power of storytelling in shaping who we are, personally, culturally and as Canadians. We talk about authenticity, the responsibility and possibility of art and why shared narratives matter more than ever in a fractured world. From truth and reconciliation to community building, this is a conversation about paying attention, staying curious, and making space for voices that need to be heard. If you believe stories can still bring us together and maybe even point us toward something better you’ll want to lean in for this one.George Stroumboulopoulos is a multi-faceted storyteller, broadcaster, producer and filmmaker. His range of experience is unparalleled in Canadian media. Including hosting iconic prime-time news and late-night talk shows, CBC’s The Hour and George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight, his interview series on CNN and anchoring the nation’s most-watched television show, Hockey Night in Canada. He hosted and produced Canada's premiere culture show, The New Music, on MuchMusic.Canada's first Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), travelling to Haiti, Pakistan, Darfur, Lebanon and Syria. He established the George Stroumboulopoulos Music Therapy Scholarship, funding music therapy education. He’s also worked closely with the World Wildlife Fund, Innocence Canada, Amnesty International, Music Heals, and the Michael J. Fox Foundation. He serves on the Artists for Peace and Justice Canada board. Building schools and funding medical clinics in Haiti.Learn more about George here.The MADE | NOUS campaign shines a spotlight on the achievements of Canadians who bring exceptional stories to life and encourages audiences to discover and celebrate their work.This campaign is the result of a collaborative effort between Canada Media Fund and Telefilm Canada.Made Nous - watch the first episode here. David Peck is a writer, speaker, and award-winning podcaster who works at the intersection of storytelling, social change, and meaningful dialogue. As the host of Face2Face and former host of Toronto Threads on 640 AM, he has published over 650 in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most compelling thinkers, artists and storytellers, including Viggo Mortensen, Sarah Polley, Raoul Peck, Werner Herzog, Chris Hadfield, David Cronenberg, Jason Issacs, Gillian Anderson and Wade Davis. With a background in philosophy and international development, David brings a thoughtful, globally aware perspective to every conversation.He’s a published author and experienced keynote speaker, known for creating spaces where complexity is welcomed and ideas come alive. Whether moderating panels, hosting live events, or speaking on issues ranging from ethics to media, David’s work is grounded in a deep curiosity about people. At heart, he simply loves good conversation — and believes it’s one of the best ways we grow, connect, and make sense of the world.For more information about David Peck’s podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit his site here.F2F Music and Image Copyright: David Peck and Face2Face. Used with permission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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This episode is 34 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 20, 2026.

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What happens when we slow down long enough to really listen, to our stories and to one another? In this episode of Face2Face, I sit down with George Strombolopoulos for a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation about the power of storytelling in...

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