Listen "How Orwell’s words became our reality"
Episode Synopsis
Writer George Orwell has had a major impact on the way we talk about and view the world. His book 1984 introduced us to words and phrases like “thoughtcrime,” “doublespeak” and “Big Brother,” which have become common parts of our vocabulary. Seventy five years after his death, his ideas around mass surveillance and propaganda continue to resonate in a world of Big Tech, challenges to democracy, and distrust of institutions.The new documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 by filmmaker Raoul Peck explores the origin of Orwell’s ideas, and how they connect to political events like the January 6th insurrection, the persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, and the invasion of Ukraine.Raoul Peck joins guest host Daemon Fairless to talk about Orwell’s life, his words, and the ideological battle over his ideas.For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
More episodes of the podcast Front Burner
The former PM and the pop star
12/11/2025
Is Pierre Poilievre’s leadership in trouble?
10/11/2025
A big Mamdani win, a big Dem identity crisis
06/11/2025
Carney’s budget: generational or generic?
05/11/2025
What’s fuelling the war in Sudan?
04/11/2025
Mark Carney’s high-stakes first budget
03/11/2025
Is Alberta headed for a general strike?
31/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.