Synopsis
Media criticism, news analysis and investigations with host Jesse Brown. The #1 Canadian podcast.
Episodes
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Is Carney’s Bill C-2 ‘Much Worse Than Trump’?
10/06/2025 Duration: 38minThe Liberals’ first piece of legislation, Bill C-2 is a sweeping 139-page omnibus bill.It would allow police to open and inspect mail from Canada Post, restrict cash transfers over $10,000, bolster surveillance, and expand what law enforcement can do…without a warrant.But it will also overhaul our asylum-seeking process. And with the riots below the border, we can’t but ask: are we going down the same path?Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Adam SadinskyBackground reading:Experts warn of Bill C-2 as ’anti-refugee’ and ’anti-immigrant’ giving Canada ’unchecked powers’ like the U.S. – Radio CanadaOpinion | Border bill primed to give Mark Carney's government sweeping new powers. Who asked for this? - Toronto StarMontrealers protest against border security Bill C-2 – CTVWhy the ‘language of loopholes’ sho
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Brian Reed on Trump’s War on the Press
09/06/2025 Duration: 31minYou probably know Brian Reed from his award-winning podcast S-Town. Or from his other excellent podcast series, The Trojan Horse Affair. Finally, there’s his new show about journalism under Trump’s administration, Question Everything.Brian Reed and Jesse got together last week to interview each other. Jesse interviewed Brian about what happens to the free press when your government tries to crush it. Brian interviewed Jesse about what happens to the free press when your government tries to save it.Spoiler alert, both can be bad.Host: Jesse BrownCaleb Thompson (Mixing & Mastering), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian Abraham Additional music by Audio NetworkMore from Brian Reed:Listen to Question EverythingListen to S- TownListen to The Trojan Horse AffairSponsors: oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! BetterHelp: Visit betterHelp.com/canadaland toda
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Is it Patriotic to Support our Terrible Grocers?
06/06/2025 Duration: 35minCanada’s ongoing grocery redemption arc.The “Buy Canadian” moment has supplanted the grocery “Greedflation” narrative for now, but the $500 million bread price-fixing settlement is a reminder that Canada still has a lot to fix around food. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Vass BednarAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther reading: Supermarket workers are wearing body cameras. Welcome to the new dystopia – The Globe and Mail Buying Canadian is a matter of pride for shoppers. For major grocery chains, it's an opportunity - CBCHow you can get your dough in the $500M Loblaw bread-fixing settlement - CBCWhy owning a dog or cat in Canada has become so expensive – The Globe and MailRCMP says it’s probing potential war crimes related to Israel-Hamas conflict - The Toronto Star Sponsors: Douglas: 
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Carney is “Horny” for Productivity, Can A.I. Minister Evan Solomon Bring It?
04/06/2025 Duration: 34minWe’ve got a Minister of A.I. Now what?Former Journalist MP Evan Solomon leads Canada’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, but it’s unclear exactly how A.I. fits into the Liberal government’s mandate. Vass Bednar explains why she’s still optimistic about Canada’s A.I. future. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Lucie Laumonier (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Vass Bednar Further reading: I had high hopes for Mark Carney, but then he created a Ministry of AI and appointed Evan Solomon to the position - Halifax ExaminerMark Carney wants to use AI to supercharge Canada’s economy. It’s just not clear how – The Toronto StarCanada is a getting a fresh start on artificial intelligence. Let’s not waste it – CTV NewsPride Toronto loses two more corporate sponsors just weeks before festival launch – The Toronto Star Girl on Girl by Sophie Gilbert review
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When Politics Ruins Friendships
03/06/2025 Duration: 30minPolitical divides are growing, and it’s not just over basic issues anymore. Increasingly, people are feeling differences in basic conduct, morality, and how they approach discussions. These divisions feel too big to ignore.How do you go about fixing that divide? This week host Sam Konnert sits down with Ryan Broderick to iron things out.And the latest on the grand meeting of the Premiers in Saskatoon, Carney’s new chief of staff pick and Trump’s doubling of the steel and aluminum tariffs. Host: Sam KonnertCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Host/Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Ryan BroderickBackground reading:'Dude, I'm Done': When Politics Tears Families And Friendships Apart | NPRFriendship in divided times: People don't want to argue with you as much as you think | BBCIt is okay to lose friends due to politics | Johns HopkinsSponsors: Douglas
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Scoop: Cabinet Minister “Harassed” and “Humiliated” Employee
02/06/2025 Duration: 32minThe election is done and dusted. Votes cast, tallied, and 343 newly minted MPs are on the job. But even though we, the media collectively, tried our best to vet everyone, some things slipped past us.There’s one candidate that we at Canadaland did not vet. That candidate won. And then she was named to Cabinet. She is now a federal minister. Only then did we get a tip about her. A tip that did in fact turn up information about her that was not yet known but which should be known.Host: Jesse BrownJulian Abraham (Reporter)Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Max CollinsAdditional music by Audio NetworkFurther ReadingFacebook Post Highlighting Kyle DisputeRRC Changing Student Survey After Concerns raised over ‘offensive’ questions - Global NewsSponsors: oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FR
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What Canada’s Left Must Learn from Bernie and AOC
30/05/2025 Duration: 28minThe American populist left has a roadmap for Canadian progressives. With the NDP wandering the political wilderness, the rise of Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez points to where left-wing politics is headed. But will Canada’s progressive movement catch the wave? Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Cenk UygurPhoto by Jim Heaphy, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Further reading: The collapse of the NDP vote in the federal election: how it happened | Regina Leader Post Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders draw huge crowds on ‘fighting oligarchy’ tour - National | Globalnews.ca Conservatives block Trump's big tax breaks bill in a stunning setback - AP NewsFirst Read: Economic Populism Comes Front-and-Center for 2016 - NBC Despite a polarizing election, Canadians don’t want a two-party system, poll suggests - National Post 
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The Big Scary Canada-US Border
28/05/2025 Duration: 27minCanadians and Americans alike are afraid of crossing the border, and for political commentators like Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks travel requires extra precautions. What’s behind Trump’s puzzling decision to politicize border crossing for US citizens?Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Cenk Uygur Further reading: Nervous About Crossing the Border? You Should Be. - Macleans.ca ‘They’re not coming’: N.B. border town says fewer U.S. visitors making big impact - New Brunswick | Globalnews.caCheckpoints by U.S. border patrol raise concerns amid drop in Canadian visitors | CBC News A wave of artists are reconsidering tours over U.S. border detention fears | CBC News‘Don’t yap to cops’: why Hasan Piker’s US customs story kicked off a backlash | US immigration | The GuardianJewish senators accuse Trump of exploiting antisemitism to target universities
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Endangered Species – an Interview with an NDP MP
27/05/2025 Duration: 29minEarlier this year, Jagmeet Singh laughed off the idea of losing. Now, he’s out and the NDP is in free fall. They lost official party status. They lost ground with key voters, organized labor, and their traditional strongholds in B.C. and the GTA. So, did the NDP learn anything from this catastrophic loss? To answer that question, host Noor Azrieh asks Heather McPherson, one of the 7 NDP MPs left. And, the latest on King Charles Canadian tour, who’s gonna babysit rowdy MPs in the House of Commons, and maybe it's time to break up with Jenni Byrne…for good this time.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Heather McPhersonBackground reading:NDP caucus members dispute appointment of interim leader Don Davies – The Globe and MailNDP faces 'Parliament from hell' without official party status, says former MP
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Dave Thomas of SCTV on Why Canadians Rule Comedy
26/05/2025 Duration: 40minCanadian comedy legend Dave Thomas is here. What else is there to say? If you want to understand the last half century of comedy from SCTV to SNL to The Simpsons you only need to look to the comedic big bang moment when Thomas, Moranis, Levy and Martin converged on Toronto in the early 1970s. So Dave Thomas will tell you all about it, eh?Of course SCTV is only one of the hats (toques) the writer, actor, producer and director has worn. Thomas brings us up to speed on his latest venture, travelling to Ukraine to film a documentary on the country’s stand up comedians.Credits: Host: Jesse BrownCaleb Thompson (Audio Engineering), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkFor more information on the Freedom Fund go to:https://ukrfreedomfund.org/Sponsors: The Oat Company: Head over to https://oatcompany.com and use code CANADALAND20 for 20% off your order. They ship across Canada so you can
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The Mystery of the Disappearing Mystery Disease in New Brunswick
23/05/2025 Duration: 28minA new study suggests that New Brunswick’s mystery brain illness doesn’t exist, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Recent headlines declare the mystery is solved, but the new study only raises more questions. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Laura Robinson Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors: oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offer If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at our store, ticke
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Inside the Lurid Hockey Canada Trial
21/05/2025 Duration: 38minWhat the coverage isn’t capturing about the Hockey Canada Trial.Five former junior hockey players are on trial for sexual assault, and the reporting is full of graphic details. Laura Robinson takes us inside the courtroom and explains what’s really happening. Host: Jesse BrownCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Laura Robinson Further Reading On Our Website Sponsors:PolicyMe: Head over to policyme.com and secure your Health and Dental coverage in just 5 minutes - no medical questions needed!oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit article.com/canadaland and the discount will be automatically applied at checkout If you value this podcast,
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Can Carney Run Canada Like a CEO?
20/05/2025 Duration: 33minAfter a couple of weeks of pats on the back and trying to find Pierre Poilievre a new home, we’re finally seeing how Mark Carney’s government plans to tackle the country’s biggest problems and who he’s putting in charge to do it. Next week, King Charles is set to kick off parliament with the throne speech, and we’ll finally have MPs back in the House of Commons after months of parliamentary paralysis. We’re at the top of the hill before things start to inevitably crumble, so Host Noor Azrieh asks Nick Taylor-Vaisey what Carney’s first few weeks say about how he’ll be running our country?And the latest on what’s gone down in Terrebone, and where the hell Pierre Poilievre lives.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Nick Taylor-VaiseyBackground reading:Erskine-Smith says he feels 'disrespected' after being
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Confessions of a Girls Gone Wild Merch Girl
19/05/2025 Duration: 51minIn 2005 Courtney Kocak was a “merch girl” on the Girls Gone Wild tour bus. She doled out the swag, T-shirts, thongs, drinks, to help get the GGW parties started. The GGW party on wheels rolled through places like Red Deer, Banff, Kelowna, and promised small town kids a “wild” time. By the time the tour was over Courtney and the bus crossed back across the border with boxes of release forms and video of marketable footage of young Canadian women flashing their breasts at the camera and having sex with each other. Courtney has been processing this experience ever since. Was it fun? Was it coercive? Was it even legal? Was she exploited or was she the exploiter? Or was it all of the above? Courtney Kocak (Writer and presenter), Julie Shapiro (Executive Producer), Michael Castaneda (Sound Design), Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music b
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Why is Canadian Corruption Being Exposed by U.S. News?
16/05/2025 Duration: 35minIt's a new era for corruption in Canada, but the coverage isn’t keeping pace. Meanwhile, American outlets are breaking stories about Doug Ford and Brookfield. Why covering corruption isn’t worth the risk and the expense for many Canadian outlets, and why the reporting that does happen often doesn’t make a difference. U of T’s Dr. Jack Cunningham co-hosts. Host: San GrewalCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jack Cunningham Further Reading on Our Website Sponsors: Fizz: Visit fizz.ca and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off and 10GB of free data.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/canadaland today to get 10% off your first month.Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchas
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For King and Carney
14/05/2025 Duration: 30minStuck between a monarchy and a superpower.Carney calls on King Charles to deliver the Throne Speech–brilliant strategic move or colonial regression? U of T’s Dr. Jack Cunningham co-hosts. Host: San GrewalCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Jack Cunningham Further Reading on Our Website Sponsors: oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today. Visit douglas.ca/canadaland to claim this offerSquarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/ca
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Is Carney Actually Tough on Crime?
13/05/2025 Duration: 38minMark Carney promised tougher bail and more police – a “get tough” agenda that the Liberals shoplifted right off the Conservative shelf. Host Noor sits down with Adelina Iftene, a criminal lawyer from Romania, who calls Mark Carney’s revival of “tough on crime” a “slippery slope”. Will Mark Carney’s revival of “tough on crime” fix anything? What actually makes communities safer? And what happens if we get this wrong?And the latest on Canada’s unemployment problem, the one vote that changed Terrebonne, and Carney’s new cabinet crew.Host: Noor AzriehCredits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Sam Konnert (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Max Collins (Director of Audio) Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork)Guests: Adelina IfteneBackground reading:Man known to Toronto police faces 100+ charges in crime spree – City NewsFederal government proposes stricter bail system in new bill – CBC NewsRepeat violent offenders set to spend more time in custody
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To Catch a Creep Catcher
12/05/2025 Duration: 51minHe was a man who was convinced he was fighting monsters. A video vigilante capturing alleged paedophiles with a camera and shaming them online. He was a “creep hunter.” Then people started to die. Suicides. And the law came after him. Today we meet the filmmakers who caught the creep catcher in their new documentary “Shamed.”Host: Jesse BrownCredits: Tristan Capacchione (Audio Editor & Technical Producer), Bruce Thorson (Senior Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor and Publisher)Fact checking by Julian AbrahamAdditional music by Audio NetworkMore information:https://povmagazine.com/cornelia-principe-wins-don-haig-award-at-hot-docs/https://povmagazine.com/to-catch-a-predator-on-shamed-outrage-and-empathy/Sponsors: Fizz: Visit https://fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25$ off & 10GB of free data. PolicyMe: Get Covered in Minutes — No Hassle, No Hidden Fees. Vi
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Why Alberta Separatists are Whiny Losers
09/05/2025 Duration: 29minWhat’s really behind Danielle Smith’s separatist flirtations. Is separatist sentiment rising in Alberta, or is it just a convenient distraction? Max Fawcett explains why a referendum would actually be good for Alberta and Canada. Host: Noor AzriehCredits: James Nicholson (Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Sam Konnert (Fact Checking), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)Guest: Max Fawcett Further Reading On Our WebsiteSponsors:Squarespace: Check out Squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.CAMH: CAMH is building better mental health care for everyone to ensure no one is left behind. Visit camh.ca/canadaland to make a donation.oxio: Head over to canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! The Oat Company: Head over to oatcompany.com and use code CANADALAND20 for 20% off your order. They ship ac
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Introducing Our Newest Show
08/05/2025 Duration: 01minLast month, Sam Googled your candidates. It was a hoot. Today, we’re excited to announce that we’re working on something new, exclusively for our supporters…Stay tuned.You can become a supporter or increase your level of support at https://canadaland.com/join Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.