Star Wars trading cards were fun in 1977. One of them just sold at auction for $687,500. The seller did not have the Canadian bilingual version with nicks.

 

Kris Abel has the Luke Skywalker card, the first in the 1977 Topps series. His is the Canadian edition, printed with both English and French text, and has seen better days. The pristine American version that just cleared nearly seven hundred thousand dollars looks almost identical to his. The difference, he estimates, comes out to about $686,500.

 

The other tech stories: Energizer Canada's new Child Shield coin batteries stain blue on contact with saliva, taste bitter, and have a casing designed to prevent the ingestion burns that doctors report seeing regularly. Carnegie Mellon has also trained humanoid robots to scoop kitty litter, squatting, sifting, and carrying the garbage away.

 

Topics: Star Wars trading card, Luke Skywalker card 1977, Energizer Child Shield, humanoid robots household, Carnegie Mellon robot

 

GUEST: Kris Abel | krisabel.com | @realkrisabel


Originally aired on 2026-05-12

Star Wars trading cards were fun in 1977. One of them just sold at auction for $687,500. The seller did not have the Canadian bilingual version with nicks.
&nbsp;
Kris Abel has the Luke Skywalker card, the first in the 1977 Topps series. His is the Canadian edition, printed with both English and French text, and has seen better days. The pristine American version that just cleared nearly seven hundred thousand dollars looks almost identical to his. The difference, he estimates, comes out to about $686,500.
&nbsp;
The other tech stories: Energizer Canada's new Child Shield coin batteries stain blue on contact with saliva, taste bitter, and have a casing designed to prevent the ingestion burns that doctors report seeing regularly. Carnegie Mellon has also trained humanoid robots to scoop kitty litter, squatting, sifting, and carrying the garbage away.
&nbsp;
Topics: Star Wars trading card, Luke Skywalker card 1977, Energizer Child Shield, humanoid robots household, Carnegie Mellon robot
&nbsp;
GUEST: Kris Abel | krisabel.com | @realkrisabel
 Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-12

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

The Luke Skywalker Card Worth $687,000 and the Week in Tech With Kris Abel

What makes a good concert is a question Kelly Alexander answers with a specific recent example. The show felt, she says, like being taken to church. Nothing about that had to do with the lighting cues.

 

The artist was genuinely present, talked to the crowd, chose an intimate venue over a larger arena, and made everyone feel connected. Alexander calls the current alternative a cookie cutter mentality and argues that is exactly why certain tours are being cancelled before they begin. Zayn Malik is her example of an artist whose team overshot the room.

 

COVID changed the live music habit for younger fans, Alexander says. They spent years falling in love with artists online and never built the urgency to see them live. The artists who maintain mystique by going away for a while, she says, are the ones who still fill rooms when they return.

 

Topics: what makes a good concert, concert connection, cookie cutter tours, Zayn Malik cancelled, COVID concert culture

 

GUEST: Kelly Alexander | virginradio.ca/montreal/shows/kelly-alexander.html


Originally aired on 2026-05-12

What makes a good concert is a question Kelly Alexander answers with a specific recent example. The show felt, she says, like being taken to church. Nothing about that had to do with the lighting cues.
&nbsp;
The artist was genuinely present, talked to the crowd, chose an intimate venue over a larger arena, and made everyone feel connected. Alexander calls the current alternative a cookie cutter mentality and argues that is exactly why certain tours are being cancelled before they begin. Zayn Malik is her example of an artist whose team overshot the room.
&nbsp;
COVID changed the live music habit for younger fans, Alexander says. They spent years falling in love with artists online and never built the urgency to see them live. The artists who maintain mystique by going away for a while, she says, are the ones who still fill rooms when they return.
&nbsp;
Topics: what makes a good concert, concert connection, cookie cutter tours, Zayn Malik cancelled, COVID concert culture
&nbsp;
GUEST: Kelly Alexander | virginradio.ca/montreal/shows/kelly-alexander.html
 Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-12

NEW - Take Me to Church: Kelly Alexander on What Actually Makes a Concert Worth Attending

FIFA World Cup 2026 is landing in Canada at a moment when ticket prices are disconnected from what fans are actually willing to pay. Bob Addison has been to Euro 2024. He knows the difference.

Vancouver's cheapest group stage ticket opened at $777. Knockout games are $800 a seat in Seattle. Prices have gone up as the tournament approaches, not down. Addison, who is part of the Canadian supporters group Canada Red and paid $50 for membership last September, still can't justify the window prices for games he could drive to in half an hour.

He is more bothered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who reportedly wanted a motorcade to stop Vancouver traffic between the airport and downtown. Addison calls it demigod behaviour. Vancouver hosts seven games. He is hoping the next four weeks change how this all feels.

Topics: FIFA World Cup 2026, World Cup tickets Canada, Gianni Infantino FIFA, World Cup Vancouver Seattle, Canada Red supporters

GUEST: Bob Addison | @‌riobobbo

Originally aired on 2026-05-12

FIFA World Cup 2026 is landing in Canada at a moment when ticket prices are disconnected from what fans are actually willing to pay. Bob Addison has been to Euro 2024. He knows the difference.
Vancouver's cheapest group stage ticket opened at $777. Knockout games are $800 a seat in Seattle. Prices have gone up as the tournament approaches, not down. Addison, who is part of the Canadian supporters group Canada Red and paid $50 for membership last September, still can't justify the window prices for games he could drive to in half an hour.
He is more bothered by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who reportedly wanted a motorcade to stop Vancouver traffic between the airport and downtown. Addison calls it demigod behaviour. Vancouver hosts seven games. He is hoping the next four weeks change how this all feels.
Topics: FIFA World Cup 2026, World Cup tickets Canada, Gianni Infantino FIFA, World Cup Vancouver Seattle, Canada Red supporters
GUEST: Bob Addison | @&zwnj;riobobbo
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-12

ICYMI - Bob Addison on the FIFA World Cup: Great Sport, Ugly Business

Butterfly population decline is measurable, documented, and connected to something most people eat every day. Federico Riva of Carleton University helped lead a global analysis to figure out how bad it actually is.

 

The UK has been counting butterflies since 1976. North America and Europe show clear declining trends. The tropical world is largely unmapped. Riva's global collaboration, built with researchers from every major continent, found that understanding where declines are happening and why is the first step. Habitat loss, he says, needs to be reversed now.

 

Canada's Boreal Forest ranks among the largest remaining wildlife sanctuaries on the planet. Monarch butterflies migrate here from Mexico every year. Riva did 500 days of field work in Alberta's forests counting butterflies. His advice for anyone not yet paying attention: start with the monarch. Five minutes, he says, is usually enough.

 

Topics: butterfly population decline, habitat loss Canada, monarch butterfly migration, Boreal Forest wildlife, pollinator loss food

 

GUEST: Federico Riva


Originally aired on 2026-05-12

Butterfly population decline is measurable, documented, and connected to something most people eat every day. Federico Riva of Carleton University helped lead a global analysis to figure out how bad it actually is.
&nbsp;
The UK has been counting butterflies since 1976. North America and Europe show clear declining trends. The tropical world is largely unmapped. Riva's global collaboration, built with researchers from every major continent, found that understanding where declines are happening and why is the first step. Habitat loss, he says, needs to be reversed now.
&nbsp;
Canada's Boreal Forest ranks among the largest remaining wildlife sanctuaries on the planet. Monarch butterflies migrate here from Mexico every year. Riva did 500 days of field work in Alberta's forests counting butterflies. His advice for anyone not yet paying attention: start with the monarch. Five minutes, he says, is usually enough.
&nbsp;
Topics: butterfly population decline, habitat loss Canada, monarch butterfly migration, Boreal Forest wildlife, pollinator loss food
&nbsp;
GUEST: Federico Riva
 Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-05-12

The Luke Skywalker Card Worth $687,000 and the Week in Tech With Kris Abel

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