Best Dave Trafford Podcasts (2025)

1
Carney's Minority Challenge and Chow's Congestion Gamble 51:46

6d ago51:46

51:46

Now & Next (May 1, 2025) Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Lindsay Broadhead, Anne-Marie Aikins, Bob Reid As the federal election dust settles, Dave Trafford is joined by the NOW and NEXT C.A.S.T (Comms And Strategy Team) to dissect the results, implications, and missed opportunities across Canada’s political landscape. The panel delves into voter behavi…

1
Rants, Rifts, and Rulings- Ford’s Fury and Inside the Conservative Civil War 1:00:07

7d ago1:00:07

1:00:07

On the Ledge – May 1, 2025 Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, John Wright Episode Summary: In this week's fiery edition of On the Ledge, host Dave Trafford is joined by Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, and John Wright to unpack a turbulent week in Canadian conservative politics. The panel dissects the fallout from the recent federal e…

1
Election Fallout - Carney’s Challenges, Poilievre’s Future, and the NDP Collapse 49:05

9d ago49:05

49:05

On the Ledge – Special Election Edition Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Keith Leslie, Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, John Wright Summary: In this special post-election edition of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford convenes the panel to break down the federal election results. Keith Leslie, Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, and John Wright dive into what the Liberal mino…

1
The NDP collapse killed Poilievre's PM hopes 57:08

13d ago57:08

57:08

Boomer Turnout, Betting Markets, and a Liberal Path to Victory On the Ledge – April 24, 2025 Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Kathleen Wynne, John Wright, Keith Leslie, Amanda Galbraith (filling in for Tim Hudak) In this edition of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford and the panel dig into the final days of the federal campaign. With polling margins narrowing, …

1
Do Election Debates Move the Needle? 36:47

20d ago36:47

36:47

Now & Next – April 16, 2025 Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Anne-Marie Aikins (AMA Communications) Bob Reid (Broadview Strategy) Lindsay Broadhead (Broadhead Communications) Episode Summary In this episode of Now and Next, Dave Trafford is joined by communications and strategy veterans Anne-Marie Aikins, Bob Reid, and Lindsay Broadhead to assess the ra…

1
Does the Therme Ontario Place Development pass the sniff test? 55:52

20d ago55:52

55:52

On the Ledge – April 17, 2025 Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Kathleen Wynne, Tim Hudak, Keith Leslie, John Wright As Canadians look ahead to a long Easter weekend, the On the Ledge panel tackles the aftermath of the French-language leaders’ debate and the political blowback from the Ontario Place Therme spa deal. They analyze the debate performances o…

1
Poilievre’s Pivot and the Polling Mirage - Inside Canada’s Election Pulse 52:05

27d ago52:05

52:05

It must be Thursday! We're dealing with another round of tariff chaos courtesy of the Useful Idiot. On the Ledge : April 10, 2025 Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Kathleen Wynne, Keith Leslie, John Wright, Tim Hudak In this wide-ranging episode of On the Ledge, Dave Trafford and the panel dig into the volatile tariff landscape shaped by U.S. trade moves…

1
Trump's Tariffs Hit Ontario and Quebec harder than the rest of Canada 56:58

1M ago56:58

56:58

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast: Dave Trafford leads a dynamic roundtable with political veterans Tim Hudak, Keith Leslie, and John Wright, unpacking the seismic shifts in North American trade following Trump’s sweeping tariff announcement. From the economic aftershocks of “Liberation Day” to the potential realignmen…

1
Canada Need a WAR-TIME PM: Trust, Tariffs & Trump’s Shadow 48:30

1M ago48:30

48:30

Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Lindsay Broadhead, Bob Reid, Anne-Marie Aikins Episode Summary: On this special Liberation Day edition of Politically Speaking, Dave Trafford convenes his regular comms and strategy roundtable—Lindsay Broadhead, Bob Reid, and Anne-Marie Aikins—to dissect Canada's precarious position in the wake of mounting trade tensions…

1
Ontario’s Silent Workforce- The Caregiver Crisis No One Talks About 32:23

1M ago32:23

32:23

A Special Edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast. Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Lauren Bates – Chair, Ontario Caregiver Coalition Daniel Nowoselski – Advocacy Manager, Hospice Palliative Care (Canadian Cancer Society); Board Member, Ontario Caregiver Coalition Malene Stewart – Social Worker, Educator & Co-Chair, Caregiver Collective …

1
Donald Trump TARIFFIES the Auto Sector 49:23

1M ago49:23

49:23

The Useful Idiot is at it again. Whether he was simply trying to distract from the Signal App scandal in Washington or is Trump deliberately asserting himself into the federal election campaign in Canada, the 25% tariffs on the auto sector caught Doug Ford off guard. And it appears to be the final nail in the Can-Am relationship. In this edition of…

1
An OTL Bonus: Carney starts fast. Opinion polls show the Canadian federal election is a real horse race! 29:20

1M ago29:20

29:20

This is an OTL BONUS! Welcome to POLITICALLY SPEAKING. Three days into the federal election campaign in Canada and the latest polling aggregators have seat modelling suggesting Mark Carney's Liberals are in a position to win a strong majority. But hey! It's early yet. One thing we do know is it's shaping up to be a very close race between the Liber…

1
Carney starts fast Opinion polls show the Canadian federal election is a real horse race! 29:20

1M ago29:20

29:20

Here's the latest from POLITICALLY SPEAKING. We're three days into the federal election campaign in Canada and the latest polling aggregators have seat modelling suggesting Mark Carney's Liberals are in a position to win a strong majority. But hey! It's early yet. One thing we do know is it's shaping up to be a very close race between the Liberals …

1
OTL BONUS: The WRIT RACE has started. Canadians are going to the polls April 28th 27:30

2M ago27:30

27:30

We'll be adding episodes of POLITICALLY SPEAKING for you here in the On the Ledge feed throughout the federal campaign! Hope you enjoy it. John Wrigth and Dave Trafford break down the details of the election call. Prime Minister Mark Carney has set April 28, 2025 as Election Day in Canada. AND...Donald Trump and his trade tariffs are THE BALLOT QUE…

1
The WRIT RACE has started. Canadians are going to the polls April 28th 24:26

2M ago24:26

24:26

Welcome to this edition of POLITICALLY SPEAKING! John Wright and Dave Trafford break down the election call in Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney has set April 28, 2025 as Election Day in Canada. AND...Donald Trump and his trade tariffs are THE BALLOT QUESTION. Who can handle Trump? Who can manage the cultural and economic angst of Canadians?…

1
Did Doug Ford Just Spend $189M on a Cabinet Shuffle? 1:00:57

2M ago1:00:57

1:00:57

We're back with On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast! Former Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, Queen's Park Commentator and broadcaster Keith Leslie, and our founding pollster John Wright are around the table with Story Studio Network's Chief Executive Producer Dave Trafford. Doug Ford and his "new" cabinet…

1
"Look into yourself!" We're headed to the polls in Canada 46:35

2M ago46:35

46:35

This week on Now and Next: It's THE C.A.S.T. - our Comms and Strategy Team: Lindsay Broadhead, Bob Reid, and Anne Marie Aikins. "Elbows Up!" isn't just a cute slogan, it's a posture Canadians are assuming on a number of levels knowing tough times are coming thanks to the stupid antics of the useful idiot and his White House minions. Also, Olivia Ch…

1
Trump says he respects Ford but survey says Canadians aren't all that crazy about the US 15:02

2M ago15:02

15:02

It's my bi-weekly visit to Moore in the Morning on Newstalk 1010 in Toronto! Sitting in on the Roundtable with Paven Bratch, Rowena Santos and host John Moore. Lots of Trump and tariff talk: Trump says he respects Doug Ford as the premier heads to Washington DC (copy below) https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/donald-trump-calls-doug-ford-a-…

1
AN OTL SPECIAL: The Carney Coronation Resets the Federal Liberal Party 53:34

2M ago53:34

53:34

Hello On the Ledge listener! Welcome to POLITICALLY SPEAKING on Now and Next. Former Bank of Canada Governor and self proclaimed political outsider, Mark Carney won't nearly 86% of the vote in his bid to be leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He set a new tone for the party while setting his sights on CPC Leader Pierre Polievre in anticipation o…

1
The Carney Coronation Resets the Federal Liberal Party 53:34

2M ago53:34

53:34

Welcome to POLITICALLY SPEAKING on Now and Next. Former Bank of Canada Governor and self proclaimed political outsider, Mark Carney won't nearly 86% of the vote in his bid to be leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. He set a new tone for the party while setting his sights on CPC Leader Pierre Polievre in anticipation of a soon-to-be-called federal…

1
Ford got his majority. Now what? 1:00:47

2M ago1:00:47

1:00:47

We've arrived! It's the FINAL edition of the DAILY election edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast. Ontario has voted and given Doug Ford another strong majority mandate at Queen's Park. But the discussion got side-tracked by the latest GONG SHOW performance from the Oval Office. The screaming match among Donald Trump, J.D. Vance a…

1
Get out the Vote. Get out the shovel. It's snowing on Election Day in Ontario 53:21

2M ago53:21

53:21

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast: How, if at all, will the weather affect voter turnout, which is expected to be low? How quickly does Doug Ford need to get back to the business of governing, (assuming the polling trend doesn't turn upside down). Some seat models suggest the Liberals and NDP would win 17 seats each ba…

1
The Campaign's all but over. Is Olivia Chow's career over? And remembering a broadcast legend 51:20

2M ago51:20

51:20

John Wright, Lindsay Broadhead, Anne Marie Aikins and Bob Reid join the pod to do three things. Taking time to remember radio journalism legend Tayler Parnaby What's going on in Olivia Chow's office (if not her head?) How will Doug Ford manage what's shaping up to be a landslide majority?By Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions

1
We've got a housing crisis now. What will it look like when the tariffs hit? 55:58

2M ago55:58

55:58

In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario election podcast, we're joined by Pedro Barata, President and CEO at Habitat for Humanity, Neil Hetherington, CEO at Daily Bread Food Bank and Gerard Kennedy, CEO at Enterprising for Good. (Neil's golden lab Charley also offers an opinion:) And we talk about the ramifications of the Ontario gover…

1
Doug Ford says his PC government is "fiscally responsible" and he kept a straight face 46:23

2M ago46:23

46:23

In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario election podcast, Doug Ford releases his party's "costed" platform. It includes $40b in new spending, including a $5b Protect Ontario Account to fend off the effects of the Trump tariffs. But there's no indication where that money will come from. Meanwhile, Bonnie Crombie's campaign steps on a bi…

1
It's our 300th Episode and it's all about Canada-US relations "on ice"! 46:32

3M ago46:32

46:32

We wrap the final full week on the campaign with former Toronto Mayor John Tory, former Ontario Education Minister Gerard Kennedy, the Queen of Corp Comms Lindsay Broadhead and our resident/founding pollster are around the table for out 300th episode of On the Ledge! What does a hockey game have to do with the campaign on a day when Doug Ford's in …

1
Doug Ford kicks off the final week of the campaign with another trip to DC 44:24

3M ago44:24

44:24

In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario election podcast, we're joined by Public Affairs Consultant Bob Richardson, CH Television commentator Keith Leslie, Counsel Public Affairs Partner Tim Hudak, former Toronto Mayor John Tory and our founding pollster John Wright. With less than a week of campaigning to go, the question is which opp…

1
Does a PC surge in Toronto mean bad news for the NDP? 43:21

3M ago43:21

43:21

In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario election podcast, we're joined by Monique Smith (Global Public Affairs), Lindsay Broadhead (Broadhead Communications) and Amanda Galbraith (Oyster Group). Question: How does a campaign keep volunteers and workers enthusiastic when it appears the Tories are going to run away with the election and …

1
The Liberals are now campaigning for NDP votes 50:56

3M ago50:56

50:56

Only 9 more sleeps before Election Day in Ontario. In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario election campaign podcast, we're joined by Laura Babcock at Powergroup Communications, Public Affairs Consultant Bob Richardson, Former Deputy Mayor of Toronto Ana Bailao and Toronto Sun Columnist Brian Lilley. The crew says early assessments of …

1
Did the Leaders' debate performances chance anything in the Ontario election campaign 45:14

3M ago45:14

45:14

The second half our of On the Ledge DOUBLE HEADER included Deb Hutton from Newstalk 1010, Lindsay Broadhead - a member of our Now and Next C.A.S.T. (Comms and Strategy Team), Tim Hudak, Counsel Public Affairs, Keith Leslie, CH TV commentator and our resident pollster John Wright. Key takeaways: Doug Ford did what he had to do. He stayed out of trou…

1
It's a DOUBLE-HEADER for the On the Ledge crew. Up first - the PRE-DEBATE show! 26:21

3M ago26:21

26:21

It's the first show on a DOUBLE HEADER day for On the Ledge! Tim Hudak, from Counsel Public Affairs, Monique Smith at Global Public Affairs and Keith Leslie, Queen's Park Commentator at CH Television join DT to set the table for the Leaders' Debate set to go later this evening.By Story Studio Network, Dave Trafford and iContact Productions

1
It will be hard to come back from US betrayal 30:27

3M ago30:27

30:27

Our Canadian Sovereignty is front, centre and focussed as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of our Maple Leaf national flag. So we explore it against the backdrop of the Trump tariffs, Pierre Poilievre's commitment to beefing up our defence in the Far North, and the seriousness of the Annexation rhetoric. Scott Clancy is a retired Major General, ha…

1
Canada could have been better prepared for this trade war if we'd learn the lessons of COVID 1:00:13

3M ago1:00:13

1:00:13

In this episode of On the Ledge - your DAILY Ontario politics podcast, we're joined by Daily Bread Food Bank CEO Neil Hetherington, Sheila Regehr from the Basic Income Network and pollster, John Wright. It's clear the trade war with the US is going to have a serious effect on Canada's economy. That's going to mean lost businesses, lost jobs, lost p…

1
Missing Christie Blatchford 31:20

3M ago31:20

31:20

In this episode of Now and Next, we take a moment from the chaos of the news cycle to remember our friend, colleague and competitor Christie Blatchford. Christie passed away five years ago on Feb. 12, 2020. This episode of the pod features an Edward R. Murrow award winning radio documentary called Embedded in Kandahar. It was based on Christie's Go…

1
Who's got the advantage in the race for second place in the Ontario election? 50:50

3M ago50:50

50:50

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Daily Ontario politics podcast: The Grits appear to be making some gains at the expense of the New Democrats. But it's not just based on the polling. We're joined by John Tory, Amanda Galbraith, Keith Leslie and our resident pollster John Wright to take the pulse on the pulse of the campaign. There is some tho…

1
Will Doug Ford face an Official Opposition in the legislature? 1:01:12

3M ago1:01:12

1:01:12

Today's episode of On the Ledge - the DAILY EDITION features the insights of our C.A.S.T. (Comms and Strategy Team) Lindsay Broadhead, Brad Ross, Anne Marie Aikins and Bob Reid. the team breaks down the latest developments in the Ontario election, including Doug Ford’s messaging strategy in Washington, Bonnie Crombie’s efforts to gain momentum, and…

1
From Parliament Hill to Capital Hill to Queen's Park: It's a noisy election campaign in Ontario 53:27

3M ago53:27

53:27

In this episode of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast - the DAILY EDITION: We're joined by Laura Babcock, Gerard Kennedy and John Wright. Items on the menu include: Justin Trudeau's call for FREE TRADE across Canada to galvanize our economy against future instabilty and threats from U.S. trade antagonists. Ford’s Campaign Shift: With tari…

1
Is there a chance neither the NDP nor the Liberals gain official party status at Queen's Park? 50:50

3M ago50:50

50:50

Look at the latest polling after nine days of campaigning in Ontario and Douf Ford's Progressive Conservatives are flirting with the possibilty of winning 99 seats in the legislature. A party would need 63 seats to form a majority. The same seat modelling, based on the latest polls, suggests the NDP would end up with 13 seats and the Liberals would…

1
Tariffs Paused—Can Ontario’s Election Shift Back to Real Issues? 57:03

3M ago57:03

57:03

In today's episode of On The Ledge, the panel tackles the latest political shifts following a temporary reprieve on tariffs, giving the Ontario election campaign a new trajectory. Doug Ford’s positioning as "Captain Canada" comes under scrutiny, while Bonnie Crombie and Marit Stiles fight for visibility amid the chaos of Trump-driven global headlin…

1
Polls, Politics & Policy: Can Ontario's Opposition Find Its Voice in a Noisy Campaign? 46:55

3M ago46:55

46:55

Host: Dave Trafford Guests: Bob Richardson (Hammersmith Consulting), Anna Bailão (Former Deputy Mayor of Toronto), Sheila Regehr (Basic Income Canada Network) In this episode: The 30-day tariff reprieve and its impact on the Ontario election. With Premier Doug Ford’s lead solidifying in the polls, experts discuss how Bonnie Crombie and Marit Stiles…

1
Doug Ford vs. Donald Trump: The Politics of Trade and Tariffs 51:02

3M ago51:02

51:02

The OTL Daily crew breaks down the escalating trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. as tariffs loom large. Host Dave Trafford leads the discussion with our insiders Keith Leslie, Tim Hudak, and Monique Smith from Global Public Affairs. They explore the economic and political fallout of Trump’s tariffs, Premier Doug Ford’s strategic response, a…

1
February 1st is the TARIFF-ying day for Canada, Mexico and China 44:14

3M ago44:14

44:14

The White House has confirmed February 1st will be Tariff Day for Canada, Mexico and China with no indication as to how that will play out or what will be affected. Add to that the mixed messaging that came out regarding the date of the tariffs! Today's DAILY edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario politics podcast includes pollster John Wright, for…

1
Is David Peterson's 1990 election disaster a warning for Doug Ford? 55:32

3M ago55:32

55:32

The Ontario election campaign is a political marathon of daily sprints! So,here we are with the DAILY edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast. In this episode, former Toronto Mayor John Tory, former Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak, veteran pollster John Wright, Queen's Park commentator Keith Leslie and Story Studio Network Chief Executi…

1
Our Now and Next C.A.S.T. weighs in on the Ontario WRIT RACE 54:40

3M ago54:40

54:40

We are dropping our DAILY edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast into the NOW and NEXT feed through the course of the proviincial campaign. We've lined up the Traveling Wilburys SUPER GROUP of political commentators in Ontario to dissect, discuss, analyze and scrutinize this provincial campaign. In this DAILY edition of On the Ledg…

1
Are the Ontario Liberals and NDP campaign ready? 54:40

3M ago54:40

54:40

We've lined up the Traveling Wilburys SUPER GROUP of political commentators in Ontario to dissect, discuss, analyze and scrutinize this provincial campaign. In this DAILY edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast: We expect Doug Ford to run a front runner’s campaign. The Liberals and NDP appear to be alarmingly unprepared for this cam…

1
Is the ballot question in Ontario anti-Trump or anti-Ford? 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

Here we go! This is the first of 24, Monday to Friday, daily On the Ledge podcasts. We've lined up the Traveling Wilburys SUPER GROUP of political commentators in Ontario to dissect, discuss, analyze and scrutinize this provincial campaign. The WRIT RACE has started in Ontario. Premier Doug Ford met Lt. Governor Edith Dumont at Queen's Park this af…

1
Doug Ford's snap election call is a master class in retail politics 37:22

3M ago37:22

37:22

In this edition of On the Ledge - your Ontario Politics Podcast. Premier Doug Ford used the occassion of a public transit announcement in Brampton to let us know he will indeed be paying a visit to the Lt. Governor to dissolve the legislature and send the province to the polls on Thursday, February 27th. Ford insists he needs the mandate in order t…

1
What will the NEXT NORMAL look like in 2025? 1:01:31

4M ago1:01:31

1:01:31

We’ve reassembled our NEXT NORMAL Roundtable! The NEXT NORMAL, with David Hardy Lisa Taylor, CCDP and Ujwal Arkalgud, is the first podcast series produced under the Story Studio Network banner. It launched in 2021. It explored the foundational shifts in culture, in politics, education, healthcare, and economics - all forced upon us by the COVID 19 …

1
He may not wear a cape but Doug Ford's wearing his Captain Canada Cap! 59:01

4M ago59:01

59:01

In this episode of 'On the Ledge,' Dave Trafford and the team dive into Ontario politics and broader Canadian issues amid evolving US-Canada relations. It's a spirited conversation covering political strategies around proposed US tariffs, the role of Canadian premiers in shaping responses, and federal leadership dynamics. The importance of unity am…

1
We head into 2025 facing a Perfect Political Storm in Ottawa and Washington. 53:54

4M ago53:54

53:54

In this episode of 'Now and Next with Dave Trafford' for Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Our C.A.S.T (Comms and Strategy Team), featuring Anne Marie Aikins, Bob Reid, Lindsay Broadhead and Brad Ross, dives into a range of pressing issues. The discussion covers he political turbulence and leadership challenges in Ottawa and Washington, budget concerns …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Dave Trafford Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen