Best Canadian Playlist Podcasts (2026)

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A mixtape of you: the summer of the Great Canadian Playlist 31:04

Play Pause

3d ago31:04

31:04

Canadians have been spending a lot of time thinking about identity and their relationship to Canada. As U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war drags on, taking an ‘Elbows Up’ approach isn’t just about economics – it’s also cultural. Many of the songs and albums that make up the soundtrack to your life are written and performed by Canadian artists …

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True North Holidays: A Festive Canadian Playlist 58:21

5d ago58:21

58:21

This week on Songwriters From Here and Away we unwrap a joyful collection of seasonal songs from Canadian artists and beyond — a soundtrack for cozy nights, snowy walks, candlelight celebrations, and all the warm emotions that come with the holidays. From intimate reflections of returning home to spirited celebrations of cultural traditions, this e…

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Is AI making us dumb? 24:47

1d ago24:47

24:47

Most schools are now off for winter break — but this year, some educators are wondering how much their students are learning. A KPMG survey found that over 70 per cent of Canadians over 18 years old now use generative AI to complete their school work. Professors and students are concerned that a growing reliance on tools like ChatGPT and Gemini cou…

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Steven & The Evens (60 minute Blue Light Sessions) - Dec '25 1:01:53

9h ago1:01:53

1:01:53

Steven & The Evens (60 minute Blue Light Sessions) - Dec '25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Tobacco Brown - 45 min performance Blue Light Sessions (December 2025) 47:11

9h ago47:11

47:11

Tobacco Brown - 45 min performance Blue Light Sessions (December 2025) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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To save this baby, doctors had to kill part of her brain 36:42

2d ago36:42

36:42

Maryam Fatima was born with a condition called hemimegalencephaly, a rare birth defect where one side of the brain is abnormally large. She suffered from severe seizures from the moment she was born. They became so bad that they stopped Maryam from feeding, sleeping and breathing. Her life was at risk. That’s when a team at the Hospital for Sick Ch…

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Ep381 YEAR IN REVIEW Part.2 (108 mins - 9 guests - Dec 30 '25) 1:50:29

4d ago1:50:29

1:50:29

NINE GUESTS in our 2025 Year In Review, Part 2. MUSIC: #Helix singer Brian Vollmer, Rachel Cousins, #Sloan singer Patrick Pentland SPORTS: #BCLions president Duane Vienneau, 14x #Kart Racing champion Sabre Cook, #WWE ring announcer / Vegas #GoldenKnights host Mark Shunock ENTERTAINMENT: author / retired #spy Gavin Stone, actress Gina La Piana, acto…

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Stop Me…ep186 - Actor Antonio Cupo on doing a Sex Scene with Penelope Cruz (Dec 30 ’25) 7:44

5h ago7:44

7:44

Actor Antonio Cupo on doing a Sex Scene with Penelope Cruz (Dec 30 ’25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Listen To This ep298 - Danko Jones on European shows and audiences (Dec 30 ’25) 4:32

5h ago4:32

4:32

Danko Jones on European shows and audiences (Dec 30 ’25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Unplugged & Unforgettable: Cruikshanks Open Mic Live From The Funeral Home 1:01:34

4h ago1:01:34

1:01:34

This week on Songwriters From Here and Away we take you back to one of Halifax’s most unique and welcoming musical gatherings — the Cruikshanks Funeral Home Open Mic, held on the last Wednesday of each month in the chapel at Cruikshanks Funeral Home in downtown Halifax. It’s a fully accessible, all-ages show where songwriters, storytellers, and mus…

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Bark! The Herald Angels Sing: how people met their pets 26:20

8d ago26:20

26:20

The winter holidays are a time to cozy up with family – even if those family members are furry and of a different species. For many, dogs and cats aren’t just animals, they’re cherished loved ones who come into our lives at the exact moment we need them. This holiday season, The Decibel’s editor David Crosbie, Globe and Mail staffers and Canadians …

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Why time feels like it’s speeding up – and how to slow it down 28:21

9d ago28:21

28:21

Many factors of modern life can make time feel like it’s moving faster than it actually is: hustle culture at work, a productivity compulsion at home, over-programmed kids – they’re all attempts to get as much as possible out of our time and keep up with the frantic pace of life. But life also has moments where time feels like it’s slowing down, or…

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Why Heated Rivalry has everyone hot and bothered 24:22

10d ago24:22

24:22

The Canadian television show Heated Rivalry has found major success not just in Canada, but with American audiences, too. The show, a love story between two male hockey players, has broken television streaming records and taken over social media. The Globe’s television critic J. Kelly Nestruck joins The Decibel to talk about why Heated Rivalry has …

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Ep380 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW Part 1 (106 minutes - Dec 23 '25) 1:47:57

11d ago1:47:57

1:47:57

NINE GUESTS in our Year In Review Part 1! MUSIC #BRKNLove singer Justin Benlolo, #WideMouthMason singer Shaun Verreault, #Anciients singer Kenny Cook SPORTS Vancouver #Canucks anthem singer Elizabeth Irving, Vancouver #WhitecapsFC CEO & Sporting Director Axel Schuster, #IFBB pro national champion Alicia Bell ENTERTAINMENT #Cosplay streamer Danielle…

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Listen To This ep297 - ET Canada’s Sangita Patel on ET Canada job was supposed to be just a 6 month contract (Dec 23 ’25) 4:20

11d ago4:20

4:20

ET Canada’s Sangita Patel on ET Canada job was supposed to be just a 6 month contract (Dec 23 ’25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Stop Me… ep185 - Mother Mother on How social media has affected their band (Dec 23 ’25) 3:19

4d ago3:19

3:19

Mother Mother on how social media has affected their band (Dec 23 ’25) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Canadian military officer charged with leaking government secrets 20:46

13d ago20:46

20:46

Canadian counter-intelligence military officer Matthew Robar, is facing charges of espionage. The veteran military officer is accused of sharing information with Ukraine in its war against Russia, according to a source for The Globe and Mail. Robar was arrested last week, and charged with multiple offences related to passing highly sensitive govern…

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The rise of medical tourism 19:46

7d ago19:46

19:46

This travel season, Canadians might be headed away for something other than a vacation. More Canadians are participating in medical tourism, travelling to another country to receive medical treatment, though some question its safety and the threats this poses to Canada’s public health care system. Sarah Bartnicka, a freelance writer for The Globe, …

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Bondi Beach shooting echoes past antisemitic attacks 18:31

15d ago18:31

18:31

The attack on Jewish Australians at Bondi Beach in Sydney has sent shockwaves around the world. To many in Jewish communities, it mirrors previous antisemitic attacks seen in countries around the world over the past several years. Globe columnist and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette executive editor David Shribman joins The Decibel. He covered the Tree of L…

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Why your loyalty points don’t go as far as they used to 22:41

16d ago22:41

22:41

Loyalty reward programs are everywhere we shop. They’re at coffee shops, retailers, airports and grocery stores. Many of us are connected to our points, but the rewards no longer seem to go as far as they used to. Vass Bednar, the managing director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute, explains the changes to Canadian loyalty rewards programs, what we …

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The multibillion-dollar fight over the McCain Foods fortune 22:20

17d ago22:20

22:20

The heirs to Canada’s multi-billion dollar frozen food empire are fighting. New Brunswick’s McCain Foods is the world’s largest French fry maker, and is privately owned by the McCain family. Recently, one of its heirs, Eleanor McCain, requested to be bought out of her stake in the company – but her relatives are refusing to. Globe business columnis…

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Songcircle Recorded Live: Hit Writer Steven McClintock (TX) & Nova Scotia's Kristen Martell (plus Special Guests) 1:24:56

14d ago1:24:56

1:24:56

This week’s episode captures a live songcircle-style concert recorded in 2024, finally making its way online — and it’s well worth the wait. Two deeply respected songwriters from very different places share the stage, stories, and songs, with a couple of beautiful co-writing cameos along the way. Steven McClintock (Texas) Steven McClintock is a mas…

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New crime bill addresses violence against women and court delays 24:07

20d ago24:07

24:07

Mark Carney’s federal government has introduced its second tough-on-crime bill this fall. The new bill, Bill C-16, focuses on violence against women and children, changes to mandatory minimum sentences and the growing problem of court delays. The Globe’s justice reporter, David Ebner, explains the specific changes to the Criminal Code that this bil…

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Rise in late-stage prostate cancer raises concerns over testing 25:33

14d ago25:33

25:33

Late-stage prostate cancer diagnoses are on the rise in Canada. According to a recent study, between 2010 and 2021, rates of prostate cancer discovered at Stage 4 increased by about 50 per cent in men aged 50 to 74. In men over the age of 75, rates were up over 65 per cent. There is a simple blood test that can screen for early signs of prostate ca…

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The traveller’s guide to Canadian airline disruptions 22:31

22d ago22:31

22:31

Hours before a strike deadline, Air Transat and the union representing airline pilots reached a tentative agreement. For customers, it comes as relief in the middle of a busy holiday travel season. And in a year already wracked by airline work stoppages, the threat of disruption and lengthy customer reimbursement periods continue to loom. Mariya Po…

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How three Canadian businesses have coped with Trump’s tariffs 20:13

23d ago20:13

20:13

The Canadian manufacturing sector has been having a hard time, which has been made worse by U.S. tariffs. The impact of these tariffs varies company to company. So a team of Report on Business journalists from The Globe spoke to several manufacturers to see how they’ve fared this past year. Matt Lundy, The Globe’s Economics Editor, speaks about how…

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The construction industry’s opioid problem 21:48

24d ago21:48

21:48

For families, the tragedy of opioids is beyond measure. The opioid epidemic has claimed tens of thousands of lives in Canada and has been recognized as a public health crisis, but it’s also an economic one – and it disproportionately affects workers in key sectors like construction and the trades. As Ottawa ramps up its push to build major projects…

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Ep379 Big Wreck drummer Sekou Lumumba, Mr. Tequila & actor Seth Edeen (64 min - Dec 9 ’25) 1:06:05

18d ago1:06:05

1:06:05

Episode 379: Big Wreck drummer Sekou Lumumba, sports loudmouth Mr. Tequila & actor Seth Edeen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Stop Me… ep184 - The Walking Dead actress Kerry Cahill on The hardest Thing about Acting (Dec 9 ’25) 3:50

18d ago3:50

3:50

The Walking Dead actress Kerry Cahill on The hardest Thing about Acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Listen To This ep296 - Age of Electric & Mounties’ Ryan Dahle talks Career Highlights (Dec 9 ’25) 5:05

18d ago5:05

5:05

Age of Electric & Mounties’ Ryan Dahle talks Career Highlights! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Back towards the Beginning: Keith Mullins, Angela Saini, Morgan Toney & Hans Grondel 1:01:00

26d ago1:01:00

1:01:00

This week on Songwriters From Here and Away, we’re taking a joyful step back to early 2023 — a moment when four exceptional artists shared their songs, stories, and sparks of creativity. All different, all powerful, and all deserving of a second spin. From Nova Scotia’s rhythm-driven Keith Mullins to the radiant acoustic pop of Toronto’s Angela Sai…

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The future of Canada’s military and joining Europe’s defence fund 18:23

27d ago18:23

18:23

Canada is in the midst of reframing its approach to military spending. The reasons for this are twofold; a commitment to fulfilling NATO spending as part of GDP, and the push to diversify spending away from the U.S. To that end, Prime Minister Mark Carney has recently signed a deal joining the EU’s military procurement fund, granting Canada access …

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The businessman at the heart of Alberta’s health care controversy 25:59

28d ago25:59

25:59

It’s not unusual for business owners to forge ties with governments, but there are rules around conflicts of interest when it comes to procurement. In February, 2025, an Alberta senior public servant stepped forward with allegations of political interference in the awarding of large health contracts. These allegations prompted investigators, audito…

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The case against cleaning before hosting 24:45

29d ago24:45

24:45

With the holidays right around the corner, households are getting ready for company and deep cleans are underway. Even the idea of letting family and friends see a clutter-strewn home can be anxiety-inducing, and images of perfectly-clean celebrity homes on social media don’t help. But what are we actually losing when we prioritize the act of clean…

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Why do so many Canadian roads not have cell service? 22:30

1M ago22:30

22:30

Across Canada, highways and rural roads are studded with cellular ‘dead zones’. In some provinces, coverage gaps span over 30 per cent of major roads. In some cases, you can’t receive calls and texts for more than 100 kilometres. So when something goes wrong, what do people do? Today, the Globe’s telecoms reporter Irene Galea and national news repo…

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Why a new Ontario law has renters worried about more evictions 20:56

1M ago20:56

20:56

Ontario just passed Bill 60, officially named the “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act.” It’s a big omnibus bill, but it’s garnered the most attention for reforms to Ontario’s rental system. Doug Ford’s government walked back the most controversial part of the bill, but critics are concerned that what remains will still lead to more evictions and …

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True North Songbook: New + Timeless Canadian Voices + one from away! 57:37

1M ago57:37

57:37

This week on Songwriters From Here and Away, www.sfhaa.ca we’re proud to present a coast-to-coast showcase of Canadian songwriting — from rootsy folk to indie-pop, heartfelt ballads to dynamic storytelling. Dive into songs that reflect home, heartbreak, hope and everything in between. And fulfilling some requests too! Featured artists include stalw…

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Carney, Smith agree to pipeline framework, as minister resigns 24:03

1M ago24:03

24:03

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have signed an agreement that sets the framework for building a new pipeline, carrying bitumen to the west coast. The deal commits to simultaneously making Canada a “global energy superpower” and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. Indigenous co-ownership is a requirem…

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Why Canada lost consensus on immigration — and how to get it back 33:29

1M ago33:29

33:29

The Canadian consensus on immigration cratered last year. In the fall of 2024, an Environics poll found that for the first time in a quarter century most Canadians felt there was too much immigration. Under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, the country experienced one of the biggest periods of immigration growth in its history, but after the sh…

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If AI is a bubble, how will it pop? 23:38

1M ago23:38

23:38

Some of the world’s largest tech companies, like OpenAI, Google and Meta, have invested hundreds of billions of dollars into artificial intelligence as they try to build the data centres they need. And right now, a lot of the stock market’s growth is based on AI companies. But what if it’s all a big financial bubble? And if it is, what are the sign…

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Alleged drug trafficking, murders and an Olympian-turned-fugitive 24:40

1M ago24:40

24:40

Last week, the FBI and the RCMP announced 10 new arrests in connection with a $1-billion drug-trafficking ring allegedly run by Canadian former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. The charges, which haven’t been tested in court, include drug trafficking, conspiracy to retaliate against a witness and murder. Wedding, who’s been in hiding since 2015, i…

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The controversial push to expand private health care in Alberta 22:11

1M ago22:11

22:11

No Canadian province allows doctors to offer care under both private and public systems – but leaked draft legislation obtained by The Globe and Mail shows Alberta is trying to change that. The province says it’s proposing the change in an effort to reduce surgery wait times and retain health care workers. But experts say it could result in a two-t…

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Ep378 Sloan Patrick Pentland, WWE ring announcer Golden Knights host Mark Shunock & actress Gina La Piana (61 minute Nov 25 '25) 1:03:39

1M ago1:03:39

1:03:39

Episode 378: Sloan Patrick Pentland, WWE ring announcer Golden Knights host Mark Shunock & actress Gina La Piana (61 minutes)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Stop Me… ep183 - City News Vancouver sports anchor Marcus Fitzgerald talks career highlight (Nov 25 ’25) 5:30

1M ago5:30

5:30

City News Vancouver sports anchor Marcus Fitzgerald talks about his career highlight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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Listen To This ep295 - Fitness expert Carmel Rodriguez on what to look for in a Personal Trainer (Nov 25 ’25) 4:01

1M ago4:01

4:01

Fitness expert Carmel Rodriguez on what to look for in a Personal Trainer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Todd Hancock

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15 Canadian Tracks: From Coast to Prairie 57:47

1M ago57:47

57:47

This week on Songwriters From Here and Away, we spotlight a vibrant mix of Canadian singer-songwriters... From dreamy folk to soulful grooves, each track tells a story — and together they paint a panorama of today’s songwriting spirit. 🌐 Artists & Links Lily Monaghan – Willing to Wait — https://linktr.ee/lilymonaghan McKINDRED – Washes Over Me — ht…

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The bureaucracy slowing down access to life-saving drugs 29:57

1M ago29:57

29:57

For cancer patients, every day of treatment is critical. But the best care possible is not always reaching patients quickly. Despite Health Canada approving a drug treating an aggressive blood cancer, a complex web of organizations, insurance plans and negotiations over drug pricing means it’s still not available in Canada. Globe reporters Kelly Gr…

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Canada courts UAE amid calls to stop its arming of Sudan militia 20:27

1M ago20:27

20:27

This week, Prime Minister Mark Carney is in the United Arab Emirates to try to shore up foreign investment ahead of next week’s G20 summit in South Africa. Human rights groups and Sudanese activists are calling on Carney to condemn the U.A.E. for allegedly sending weapons to Sudan — a claim the country denies — but federal officials won’t say wheth…

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The Epstein scandal and the Canadians who knew him 22:43

1M ago22:43

22:43

Last week, over 20,000 pages of the late Jeffrey Epstein’s emails, texts and other documents were released. In one email, Epstein – the deceased child sex trafficker with ties to U.S. President Donald Trump – writes that Trump “knew about the girls.” It has intensified the public outcry for the U.S. government to release all of its investigative fi…

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Why beef is so expensive right now 22:45

1M ago22:45

22:45

Beef prices are currently around 23 per cent above their five-year average. And there’s no relief in sight. Kate Helmore is The Globe’s agriculture and food policy reporter. She explains what’s going on in the beef industry to cause these sky-high prices. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Email us at [email protected] Hosted by Simplecast, an A…