5 Great Canadian Podcasts
If you are searching for new, Canadian podcasts that will keep you informed about the world around you, and which are deep and engaging, I created a small list of podcast recommendations. This is by no means an exhaustive list, nor is this necessarily the best podcasts that Canada has to offer, but if you are looking for something new to try out, I think there will be at least one show on here worth checking out.
The Strategists (2015 — Present)
This show is probably not for everyone, but if you’re interested in going deeper into politics than news articles and learn about how political decisions are made, this podcast series is a great place to start. The show features Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan, Zain Velji, and more recently, Annalise Klingbeil. They are all really strong personalities, and, I’m not going to lie, I get a lot of “bro” energy from them, especially Stephen Carter and Corey Hogan, however, after listening, I always come away with a new perspective. Plus, Albertan politics is kinda ridiculous and, despite not living in the province, I am completely invested.
Should I Stay or Should I Go (2022)
This is a small podcast series, with only 10 episodes, hosted by Jenny Tan and produced in partnership with Urbanarium. Where I live, the housing crisis has reached ridiculous proportions and I know people who have moved away because they can no longer afford to live in the city. Jenny is forced to confront the decision of potentially moving away, and she made a fantastic series where she asked academics, journalists, and politicians (including former Minister of Housing, David Eby) the question, should I stay or should I go? It is a beautiful mix of informative and personal. I hope you give this show a shot.
Front Burner (2018 — Present)
If you like daily news shows, like The New York Times’ The Daily, but want more Canadian content, then I can’t recommend Front Burner enough. Personally, I think it is better than The Daily. Hosted Jayme Poisson, and produced by Shannon Higgins, Elaine Chau, and Nick McCabe-Lokos, this CBC series goes deeper into the issues that I want to learn more about, but may not know where to start. the topics are always interesting and relevant. I also love that right from the beginning, this show talked about climate change in an honest and direct way, especially during political campaigns.
Thunder Bay (2018, 2020)
You can’t talk about Canadian podcasts without mentioning Thunder Bay, hosted by Ryan McMahon on the Canadaland network. It has the vibe of an investigative, true crime show, and in many ways, it kinda is, since it is delving into systemic racism and the unexplained deaths of young Indigenous people in the titular city. It is dark and depressing, but also incredibly moving. There are some scenes I just keep thinking about.
Crackdown
Hosted and produced by Garth Mullins, this is one of the best podcasts I have ever listened to, and has made me far more informed about drug policy and the importance of safe supply. You almost always hear stories about drug users, rather than by drug users, and this series does so much to share their experiences and perspectives. I can’t do this series enough justice, but I will say that if you want to learn more about the overdose epidemic, this is a great show to check out.
I tried to have some variation in the styles and types of podcasts, highlighting the big and the small, the national and the local, so I hope that you find something that you like. There are so may great shows out there, that if this kind of content interests you, let me know in the comments and I can share some other great finds. If there are any podcasts series that you recommend (Canadian or otherwise), feel free to also share with me in the comments.
