Best How To Navigate Canada’s Economy Podcasts (2025)

1
Seeing Red - The Politics of Anger 48:01

4d ago48:01

48:01

It's an unfortunate fact that the heated rhetoric of modern politics has had a negative effect on our mental health. The level of anger, hostility and division in the air has damaged or ended relationships and fractured families. It makes many of us want to curl up into a ball. Liana walks us through the motivations behind the rancor and how we can…

1
Economic ruts are a good time to double down 44:22

4d ago44:22

44:22

In recent months we’ve seen quite a few corporate VC units either shut down, or get spun off, as their corporate parents grapple with how to deal with a tough macroeconomic environment. That’s not always the case though – we’re also seeing a number of other CVCs get launched, and some existing CVCs launch big new funds. My guest today is in the lat…

1
The Scale of Canada's Deficit and What it Means: Lessons on Fiscal Policy with Trevor Tombe 39:13

6d ago39:13

39:13

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Trevor Tombe, Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary and Director at the School of Public Policy. Tombe discusses the widening fiscal divide between Canada and the United States and what it means for Canada's economy, trade, and future stability. While …

1
Money Is Scary! 48:01

11d ago48:01

48:01

Money makes the world go 'round - and many heads to spin. Fears and traumas related to money are commonplace and may lead us to make poor decisions - or indecision - which negatively affect our lives. Liana talks to financial planner Natasha Janssens about finding the root of your money trauma and tips to control and overcome your financial fears. …

1
Investing in the in-space economy 54:45

11d ago54:45

54:45

Space has historically been the domain of governments – as that has changed and it’s becoming a more private sector-based commercial endeavour, something else has been changing too, and that is that whereas before space was a matter of launching things up where they will do something for a while, then they come back down. What’s emerging now is the…

1
Beyond Offsets: How to Build a Carbon Removal Industry 31:39

13d ago31:39

31:39

Carbon offsets aren’t enough. To truly tackle climate change, we need a global industry dedicated to pulling carbon out of the air and at massive scale. Join hosts John and Sonia inside the innovation race to scale carbon removal technologies, featuring insights from leading voices in the field. They speak with Dr. David Keith, a pioneering climate…

1
Chief Economist Douglas Porter Discusses Canadian Economy: Trade War, Inflation, and Economic Outlook 23:08

13d ago23:08

23:08

Al welcomes Douglas Porter, Chief Economist at the Bank of Montreal, to the podcast to discuss Canada’s current economic landscape. They delve into topics such as Canada's economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 and the effects of trade wars with the U.S. on Canadian businesses and consumers. Porter shares valuable advice for small busine…

1
Dealing with an unprecedented demand for power 51:44

19d ago51:44

51:44

Demand on the power grid is not getting any lower, in fact it’s growing faster than ever, and putting real pressure on the existing infrastructure. As more energy-hungry customers like data centres are coming online, better solutions need to be found to get more capacity through the system. My guest today is Pradeep Tagare, head of investment at Na…

1
Protecting critical infrastructure is big business 12:20

25d ago12:20

12:20

The world is becoming, if not a more dangerous place, then perhaps a testier one. Over the past decade or so, we’ve seen an intensifying staccato of cyber attacks against critical infrastructure and other large facilities, which can, of course, bring with it huge financial and operational problems. It is increasingly not just a problem for individu…

1
Calm Before the Storm: Canada’s Economic Outlook & Recession Risk with Dawn Desjardins 26:05

27d ago26:05

26:05

In this episode, host Marwa Abdou speaks with Dawn Desjardins, Chief Economist at Deloitte Canada, about the country's fragile economic outlook for 2025. Desjardins shares insights from Deloitte’s Calm Before the Storm report, which highlights falling interest rates, stable inflation, and household savings as economic supports — while new U.S. tari…

1
Detect Early, Treat Early: Innovations Shaping the Fight Against Cancer 30:00

27d ago30:00

30:00

Early detection remains the single most effective strategy for treating cancer, significantly enhancing survival rates and outcomes. Join hosts John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik as they explore how groundbreaking innovation and technology are reshaping cancer detection, treatment, and prevention. Physician and entrepreneur Jesse Salk discusses his p…

1
"Don't be Negative" Is Not Actually Advice 48:01

1M ago48:01

48:01

You've probably heard this over and over - "Don't be negative." What you won't hear is how to accomplish that. Liana talks with life coach Janet Ettele, author of "How Joyous Effort Works" about how a slight shift of focus in how we approach our relationships, our jobs, our families and ourselves can uncover sources of happiness that have always be…

1
Canada’s startups navigate the new normal 43:47

1M ago43:47

43:47

My guest today is Talia Abramowitz, managing partner of Deloitte Ventures, a unit which has made the vast majority of its direct investments in Canadian startups and is well-placed to speak to the feelings within ecosystem. We talk about how startups and investors are thinking of navigating the current uncertainty, and how far along Canada has come…

1
The Incoherent Case of Tariffs: Trade Talk with Chad Bown 29:05

1M ago29:05

29:05

In this episode of Canada’s Economy, Explained, host Marwa Abdou sits down with Dr. Chad P. Bown, Reginald Jones Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics and former Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of State, to examine how new U.S. tariffs could impact Canada’s economy. Bown explains how Canada’s deep ties to U.S. s…

1
Why Some People Hate On Immigrants 48:01

1M ago48:01

48:01

Why Immigrants? You'd think we'd learn from history that blaming Immigrants for society's problems is never warranted and never solves any problems - just makes them worse. Yet too many haven't learned...but why? Liana lays it out in simple terms and why and how we can question our illogical urges.By Liana Kerzner

1
How CVCs can help hard-tech startups 36:22

1M ago36:22

36:22

It is commonly thought that if you’re dealing with deeptech, that means you’re dealing with long horizons and long timelines to make your money back after an investment, but that is not necessarily the case, according to my guest today. I speak with Julien Fredonie, who heads up investments in Europe and Africa for Honda Xcelerator Ventures, the co…

1
How Tech Entrepreneurs Can Capitalize on the Buy Canadian Movement 22:14

1M ago22:14

22:14

The “Buy Canadian” movement has surged during talks of tariffs, often highlighting consumer goods. How can Canadian tech companies take advantage of this sentiment? Join John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik in a conversation about Canada's emerging era of supporting local businesses and products. This episode explores how recent geopolitical shifts and…

1
What Are the Biggest Challenges Faced by Restaurants in Canada Today? 35:51

2M ago35:51

35:51

Rising costs, labour shortages, sustainability, and yes, tariffs, these are just a few of the challenges facing the food service industry in Canada. What is being done about it? Al sits down with Max Roy, VP of Federal and Quebec at Restaurants Canada to talk about it. Also, we all know how important trust is in business, but how do you measure tru…

1
The New Age of Raising Sensitive Boys 48:02

2M ago48:02

48:02

"Suck it up, be a Man!" That's the message boys have received for generations, meant to crush their more sensitive natures. And it worked, at the cost of the spirits of these boys who became men. But when author and journalist Amy Molloy's toddler son started exhibiting troubling sensitivities, she didn't impose stern discipline, instead finding so…

1
How innovation can keep democracies ahead 32:07

2M ago32:07

32:07

Innovation has long been one of the primary forces shaping power around the world. If your society is innovating, it will be more prosperous, more influential, and more consequential. In today’s world, we’re seeing some shifts in global power dynamics between democracies and less democratic nations. We’re also seeing traditionally democratic govern…

1
The Cruelty Economy 48:01

2M ago48:01

48:01

Seems as though cruelty and meanness have become greatly valued currency in how people are treated (and maybe how you're treating people). Are we living in meaner times? Is our only path retaliating or just taking it? Liana tackles these questions and more with Jennifer Keluskar, Ph.D. a professor of Biobehavioral Health at Pennsylvania State Unive…

1
Everyone is waiting for IPOs, but will market uncertainty delay them? 13:46

2M ago13:46

13:46

Since the end of last year/beginning of this year there’s been quite a bit of optimism that investors will once again be able to count on the public markets for exits – with 2025 being highly anticipated as the year where listings will be back on the menu. But that is now more uncertain – or at least the timing of it is – what with the amount of un…

1
Canada’s Biggest Missed Opportunity: Women Entrepreneurs 29:11

2M ago29:11

29:11

This episode explores Canada’s gender gap in entrepreneurship with Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of the Business Development Bank of Canada, and tackles the systemic barriers women face—especially in accessing capital. Drawing from BDL’s new report, Women Entrepreneurs: Canada’s Biggest Missed Business Opportunity, the discussion reveals why wo…

1
The Cleantech Edge: Tackling Methane Emissions with Canadian Innovation 25:43

2M ago25:43

25:43

With global energy demands surging and climate concerns intensifying, Canada finds itself in a rare position: rich in natural resources, top technical talent, and the innovation needed to become a clean energy superpower. But how do we harness that potential without compromising on sustainability? John and Sonia take listeners inside Houston’s CERA…

1
The coming Web3 acquisition wave 20:06

2M ago20:06

20:06

If we rewind to 2021, as we were starting to come out of the covid pandemic, there is nowhere you could look without seeing a flurry of investment rounds, many of them very, very big, backing Web3 and crypto startups. Everyone and their dog was looking to get a piece of the action. Eventually, of course, it cooled off but it’s been making a big com…

1
Happiness Is Real and You Can Have It Right Now! 48:07

2M ago48:07

48:07

We talk about the pursuit of happiness as if it's something that will be achieved at some later date, if we just keep chasing it. But what if happiness is already here but we've been blinded to it? Dr. Gillian Mandich, a PhD in health science, believes that happiness is not a destination, it’s a practice; not something we earn, but something we lea…

1
rEnergy Partners: Charting a new course as a spun-out cleantech investor 53:28

2M ago53:28

53:28

My guest today is Greg Zavorotniy, who was managing director at what was then called BayWa Energy Ventures, and is now partner at rEnergy Partners. We talk about the advantages of being able to invest from outside the corporate architecture, the unit’s plans to raise a fund north of $200m to invest in cleantech startups, and their plans to bring in…

1
Scammers, Fraud, and Deepfakes: The AI Arms Race 31:44

2M ago31:44

31:44

With cybercriminals leveraging AI to fuel scams and misinformation, how do we verify what's real? Joined by cybersecurity experts Shuman Ghosemajumder (former Global Head of Product Trust at Google and Co-founder of Reken), and Ken Nickerson (Inventor and Entrepreneur, iBinary, ex-Microsoft, ex-Rogers, ex-Kobo, ex-OMERS, and behind Sealed, a tool d…

1
Has Medicine Lost Its Mind? - Mental Health and The Health Care System 48:01

2M ago48:01

48:01

For the majority of patients, their primary care physician is the one who will address their mental health issues...even though they aren't trained for it. But shouldn't they be? The medical profession has separated mental health from physical health, creating two separate streams of care and separate medical practitioners for mind and body - leavi…

1
Cencosud Ventures: Venture clienting should involve skin in the game 45:34

2M ago45:34

45:34

Pilot projects between corporates and startups are a dime a dozen, just about any large corporate can do one. The problem, according to my guest today, is after the pilot – why is it that so many startups’ solutions don’t end up scaling within a corporate post-pilot, and what can be done about it? The post Cencosud Ventures: Venture clienting shoul…

1
How Can Canada Navigate a World of Trump-ed Trade? 26:18

2M ago26:18

26:18

U.S. tariffs threaten Canada’s economy and will put industries, jobs, and supply chains at risk. According to the Business Data Lab, $3.6 billion in goods and services cross the border daily as part of our $1.3 trillion trade relationship. Trump's 25% tariff on goods could shrink Canada’s GDP by a whopping 2.6%. Mairead Lavery, former President and…

1
How Are Canadian Grocers Responding To The Tariff Threats And The Growing ‘Buy Canadian’ Movement? 30:58

3M ago30:58

30:58

It’s March, and the #1 topic on the minds of most Canadians is tariffs. How will this affect purchasing decisions moving forward? Al welcomes Gary Sands, Senior VP @ Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) to the podcast. They talk about how independent Canadian grocers are already preparing for the imminent tariffs and what this could me…

1
How the Incredible Hulk Helped Save a Family 48:01

3M ago48:01

48:01

As she explains in her new book The Unlocking - An Autism Story, Porscia Lam and her husband had a problem - their toddler, Harry, would not do anything he was asked to do. Yes, that's typical for some children, but Harry's reactions were extreme, with troubling behaviour escalating to the point it endangered Harry and his younger sibling. The Lams…

1
BMW i Ventures: Carmakers must innovate to navigate rapid technology shift 40:33

3M ago40:33

40:33

Investing in automotive is not what it used to be – it has gone far beyond just what makes the car itself better, but of course to the entire ecosystem and experience around them. The post BMW i Ventures: Carmakers must innovate to navigate rapid technology shift appeared first on CVC Unplugged.By Mawsonia

1
Entrepreneurs seek to boost Canada’s prosperity and productivity 30:42

3M ago30:42

30:42

How can Canadians unleash their competitive spirit and rediscover the drive to build bigger, faster, and smarter? Serial entrepreneur and tech investor Daniel Debow joins John and Sonia to tackle that question. They explore how decades of slow productivity growth have eroded Canada’s economic position, and why there’s new urgency to rewrite the cou…

1
You Don't Need To Forgive 48:01

3M ago48:01

48:01

That's the title of trauma therapist Amanda Ann Gregory's new book, and her book's synopsis, "(f)eeling pressured to forgive their offenders is a common reason trauma survivors avoid mental health services and support. Those who force, pressure, or encourage trauma survivors to forgive can unknowingly cause harm and sabotage their recovery" gives A…

1
Leaps by Bayer: Agtech investors look for zebras, not unicorns. 46:09

3M ago46:09

46:09

If you happen to be a human being, chances are you need to eat in order to survive. Agriculture is as crucial an industry to the maintenance of modern society as any other – and with a growing population and threats from climate change, finding new ways to produce more food is more important than ever. So why is it that investment into innovative a…

1
Everyday Mental Health's Fantastic Four 48:01

3M ago48:01

48:01

They aren't cosmically-powered superheroes, but understanding them can give us greater power over ourselves and lead to happier lives. Values, Needs, Boundaries and Manipulations - understanding these four building blocks is key to achieving better mental health, and Liana shares personal experiences to show you how you can do it.…

1
Argentina’s turbulent economy is a forge for fintech founders 31:05

3M ago31:05

31:05

Investing in fintech is hard wherever you are, but what if where you are is known for its economic and political turbulence? My guest today is Sebastian Spena, the managing director of Galicia Ventures, the corporate VC unit of Argentinian financial services company Grupo Galicia. The post Argentina’s turbulent economy is a forge for fintech founde…

1
AgriFood and Food Security: Can Canada Feed the World? 29:26

3M ago29:26

29:26

With a growing global population and climate challenges reshaping food production, Canada has a golden opportunity to lead the ag-tech revolution. But are we ready? In this episode of Disruptors x CDL, John Stackhouse and Sonia Sennik take a deep dive into the future of farming with industry experts Evan Fraser (Director, Arrell Food Institute) and…

1
Top 10 Ways You're Driving People Away 48:01

3M ago48:01

48:01

The TV show "Seinfeld" popularized the line, "It's not you, it's me." And while George Costanza wasn't being sincere, the truth is that for a lot of people, it is them! Liana takes us through the top 10 things people do that drives others away from them in romantic relationships, friendships and work situations.…

1
Was The Tax Holiday In Canada Worth It For Canadian Businesses? 8:46

3M ago8:46

8:46

This month, Al welcomes back Sean McCormick, VP Business Development at Moneris Data Services to talk about consumer spending data in the first half of the tax holiday in Canada. Was it worth it for Canadians? Obviously every bit of savings helps. But what about Canadian Businesses? Did it change anyone’s shopping behaviour? Listen now to find out.…

1
Canada’s Productivity — An Emergency 40 Years in the Making 23:05

3M ago23:05

23:05

This episode of The Business Data Lab Podcast explores Canada’s “productivity emergency” and why the country ranks second-lowest in the G7 for labour productivity. Host Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director, and Andrew DiCapua, Economist at the BDL, break down the challenges—from 11 consecutive quarters of negative productivity growth to underinves…

1
Economic Outlook 2025: Predicting What's Ahead for Canada 18:55

3M ago18:55

18:55

In this episode of Canada’s Economy Explained: The Business Data Lab Podcast, host Marwa Abdou speaks with Stephen Tapp, Chief Economist, and Patrick Gill, Senior Director, about the key economic predictions shaping Canada in 2025. The conversation covers affordability pressures, labour disruptions, immigration slowdowns, and the potential impact o…

1
About the BDL Podcast 2:00

3M ago2:00

2:00

Welcome to The Business Data Lab Podcast: Canada's Economy, Explained. An initiative of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by Senior Research Director Marwa Abdou, this podcast features insightful discussions with economists and business leaders. Listen in for deep, expert analysis of Canada's top economic trends to help you make sense of the…

1
Are You a Narcissist? Are They? 48:01

4M ago48:01

48:01

No, probably not. True narcissists - those with Narcissistic Personality Disorder - are rare. But you don't need to be a narcissist to behave like one; personality traits can be absorbed from others without our realizing it. Liana guides us to understand what true narcissism is and, importantly, what it isn't...and how to effectively deal with one.…

1
Inside the WEF: AI, Geopolitics, and Canada's Place in the Future Economy 29:32

4M ago29:32

29:32

What happens in Davos doesn’t stay in Davos, it shapes the future of business, technology, and global markets. In this episode of Disruptors x CDL: The Innovation Era, John Stackhouse joins co-host Sonia Sennik from Davos to break down the biggest conversations at the World Economic Forum. From Donald Trump's controversial speech and its implicatio…

1
Looking ahead at fintech’s comeback 34:19

4M ago34:19

34:19

The past year has been a big one for fintech startups. The high interest rate environment we’ve been under is slowly easing, along with the uncertainties stemming from having to wait for the outcome of the election in the US. The huge amounts of capital that have been parked on the sidelines are now looking to be deployed, and momentum is returning…

1
How Girls Bully 48:01

4M ago48:01

48:01

Real talk: society trains girls and women to use feminine stereotypes to bully other women - and to use the same stereotypes to get away with it. Liana shines a light on the tactics female bullies use and the cultural attitudes that enable and excuse the behaviour.By Liana Kerzner

1
What Was The Busiest Shopping Day This Past Holiday Season? 10:02

4M ago10:02

10:02

In the first episode of 2025, Allan welcomes back Sean McCormick, VP of Business Development at Moneris' Data Services, to discuss holiday spending trends from 2024 and their implications for 2025. They touch on the significance of Black Friday sales, regional differences in consumer spending, and predictions for economic recovery. Subscribe now! I…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

How To Navigate Canada’s Economy Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen