The Walrus: How BlackBerry Staged a Comeback by Winning Over Car Companies

Dubbed “Crackberry” by ardent users—Webster’s New World College Dictionary proclaimed it the Word of the Year in 2006—the impact and influence of the BlackBerry device in the early 2000s could be found everywhere. It featured in pop song titles and explicit rap lyrics; Kim Kardashian was a loyal user; former United States president Barack Obama famously said he was “clinging” to his BlackBerry and that they would have to “pry it out of [his] hands” when he entered office.

In this explainer piece for The Walrus, I trace the history of BlackBerry and delve into why everyone’s talking about this company — once left for dead — again.

Business, Canada, Culture, Technology, The WalrusS HoJune 26, 2026BlackBerry, Crackberry, Research In Motion, RIM, QNX, EVs, RTOS, Microkernel, AI, Physical AIComment

NüVoices Podcast: The Politics and Business of Climate Change in the US-China Race, a Conversation with Kate McKenzie

I spoke with writer, podcaster and consultant Kate McKenzie to discuss the business of climate change amid geopolitical competition and the global energy transition. In this episode, Kate McKenzie shares her insights into the latest trend of climate collaboration, renewable energy development, and how we could save our planet at a time of geopolitical uncertainty.

Business, China, Economy, Podcast, Politics, U.S., WorldS HoJune 2, 2026Polycrisis, Kate McKenzie, Energy, Climate Change, U.S.-China Relations, EVs, Renewable EnergyComment