Best Ontarian Podcasts (2024)

1
1 million Ontarians used a foodbank over the last year. Why are you? 51:47

14h ago51:47

51:47

Your stories about turning to the food bank with the head of Feed Ontario, Catherine Stewart. Feed Ontario's recent astonishing report showed a record breaking year in food bank use, up 25 per cent from last.

1
What life skills are missing from Ontario's highschool curriculum? 51:49

15h ago51:49

51:49

The Ontario Government is asking for input on what practical skills should be added to the school curriculum. You weigh in with the CEO of People for Education Annie Kidder, and Diane O'Shea, a member of the Home Economics Association.

1
Cobbling together multiple jobs to make a living...What's the real cost on you? 51:48

15h ago51:48

51:48

Filling your spare time with side hustles can put more money in your pocket, but what will it cost you? Deena Ladd, executive director of the Workers Action Centre, joins Ontario Today to hear your stories about the impact of the gig economy.

1
How are you affected by political polarization? 51:41

15h ago51:41

51:41

You weigh in on the growing concern around political polarization with guests Sabreena Delhon with the Samara Centre for Democracy, MP Marco Mendicino, former public safety Minister, and Journalist Justin Ling, author of a final report on polarization for the Public Policy Forum.

1
Do you want a fall election? 24:08

14h ago24:08

24:08

You weigh in with Toronto Star national columnist Susan Delacourt. The House of Commons fall session begins with the Conservative leader taunting the NDP to support a vote of non-confidence to topple the minority Liberal government.

1
Our gardening expert Paul Zammit offers ideas to add colour to your late summer and fall garden that go beyond the chrysanthemum 27:48

17h ago27:48

27:48

Zammit is a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

1
TRILLIUM TALK: Why are so many Ontario school boards bleeding red ink? 9:04

5h ago9:04

9:04

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today is deputy editor Sneh Duggal, who breaks dow…

1
How did you get out of a situationship? 51:47

6d ago51:47

51:47

Ontario Today is joined by Toronto-based Natalia Juarez, a relationship coach and dating strategist.

1
Vaccines: What you need to know for you kids this fall. 51:48

1d ago51:48

51:48

Ontario has seen a massive drop in childhood vaccination rates. McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish is the Executive Director of the Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health. She talks about measles, whooping cough, rubella, school suspensions, asthma, COVID, and Mpox.

1
Are we losing the balance between coddling and supporting university students? 51:46

2d ago51:46

51:46

Ontario Today invites two guests onto the program. Journalist Simon Lewsen who teaches at the University of Toronto and recently published an article in the Walrus entitled, "Are Universities Failing the Accommodations Test?" Jeff Preston also joins the conversation. Preston is an associate professor and chair of disability studies at Kings Univers…

1
Ontario's reading curriculum is getting an historic update: Are these changes making a difference for you? 51:46

3d ago51:46

51:46

Following the recommendations of the Ontario Human Rights Commission's Right to Read report, the province is now adopting a new science based reading curriculum. But there's still lots of work to do. Your -- sometimes -- emotional stories about efforts by kids to catch up with guests Alicia Smith, exec dir. Dyslexia Canada and Stephen Krause with t…

1
Fall is nearly here. Gardening expert Paul Zammit is in with the gardening tips for the cooler season. 27:47

4d ago27:47

27:47

Zammit is a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

1
Is it time for your city to adopt a renoviction bylaw? 24:07

4d ago24:07

24:07

The city of Hamilton recently passed a bylaw to stop 'bad faith' renovictions. Toronto is considering doing the same. Ontario Today speaks with Toronto city councillor, Brad Bradford

1
TRILLIUM TALK: Washing away the Greenbelt scandal 8:30

5d ago8:30

8:30

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today is reporter Charlie Pinkerton, who just publ…

1
Folding laundry and other BS chores: what have you given up? 51:45

7d ago51:45

51:45

Ontario Today checks in with Seattle-based writer and mother, Kathleen Donahoe, whose article "Folding Laundry is a Scam," flips the narrative on household chores.

1
The Liberal/NDP deal is dead -- about time or a bad idea? 51:48

8d ago51:48

51:48

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said he's ripping up the confidence and supply agreement with the Liberal Party. CBC Senior writer Aaron Wherry joins Ontario Today along with former NDP researcher Jordan Leichnitz.

1
Why do the Paralympics matter? 51:46

9d ago51:46

51:46

Ontario Today catches up with Canadian track paralympian Zachary Gingras in Paris and four-time paralympian turned researcher, David Howe. Howe is a professor of Kinesiology at Western University and has been researching disability in sport for decades.

1
Gardening with Paul: A chill is in the air 27:46

10d ago27:46

27:46

Overnight temps just dropped to the single digits this week. What does that mean for your more delicate plants? Paul Zammit gives advice on that and more gardening inquiries.

1
Are you ready for alcohol at the corner store? 24:07

10d ago24:07

24:07

You weigh in, with the head of the Ontario Convenience Store Association, Terry Yaldo. The Ontario government has approved more than 4 thousand grocery stores to sell beer and wine, as well as coolers for the first time in the province's history.

1
TRILLIUM TALK: Get out your books, put away that cellphone 11:11

14d ago11:11

11:11

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today — a special audio-only edition — is deputy e…

1
Summer Bucket List 51:47

14d ago51:47

51:47

As we head into the last long weekend of summer - what’s left on your summer bucket list? How will you delay the end of summer?

1
Back to school: Teens and Kids weigh in on what they're looking forward to most and least 51:37

19d ago51:37

51:37

A show dedicated to teens and kids only, as we head back to class. Our guest hosts include Nanak Sidhu, a student at Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay, and the newly elected president of the Ontario Student Trustees Association. Also, student leaders, Anthony Li, at St. Robert's Catholic High School in Richmond Hill, and Angelika Bell, at Will…

1
Cities, towns, homeowners: how prepared are we for a flood? 51:30

22d ago51:30

51:30

Ontario Today invites Anabela Bonada to the program. Bonada is the managing director of climate science at the University of Waterloo's Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation.

1
The province is shutting more than half of Ontario's supervised consumption sites. Why does it matter to you? 51:46

23d ago51:46

51:46

The Ontario government is closing 10 supervised drug-consumption sites. You weigh in with reaction from Michael Parkinson, head of the non-profit group Drug Strategy Network of Ontario, and Dr. Ahmed Bayoumi, one of the experts behind a review of safety at those sites.

1
What's been your biggest gardening success this year? 51:45

24d ago51:45

51:45

Listeners share their stories with gardening expert, Paul Zammit. Zammit is a professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College. Ontario Today also checks in with Toni Ellis wth the Elora Environement Centre's Tree Trust.

1
TRILLIUM TALK: Supervised drug consumption site? Not in my backyard 6:54

21d ago6:54

6:54

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today is Editor-in-Chief Jessica Smith Cross, who …

1
Railway Strike Notice 24:05

22d ago24:05

24:05

We are joined by John Corey, the President of the Freight Management Association of Canada to talk about the latest move in the rail dispute.

1
Creative Use of AI 27:47

27d ago27:47

27:47

A grocery list for the perfect vegetarian Asian dish? Fixing a leaky faucet? How have you creatively incorperated AI in to your life? Our guest is Shruti Shekar, the managing Editor of tech news site Android Central.

1
Are dating apps ruining our chances to find love? 51:39

25d ago51:39

51:39

We explore how dating apps have changed the way we approach romance. Our guest is with Jaime Woo, author of Meet Grindr: How One App Changed the Way We Connect.

1
Random Road Trips: What did you learn along the way? 51:25

29d ago51:25

51:25

Ever set off on a trip without a plan and just explored whatever caught your eye? Callers share stories and discoveries that left big impressions with our guest Jessica Off, founder of Guess Where Trips.

1
Homelessness: What should government do? 51:52

27d ago51:52

51:52

Clearing encampments is fraught with controversy. But if that's not the answer, what is? Toronto crisis outreach worker Lorraine Lam and Kingston Mayor Bryan Patterson join us to hash out what could work.

1
Gardening: Bearded Irises 27:47

28d ago27:47

27:47

Paul Zammit gives us advice on dividing overgrown irises. He's a Professor of Horticulture and Environmental Studies at Niagara College.

1
Kamala Harris will become the official US presidential candidate for the Democratic Party: Why are you paying attention? 24:07

28d ago24:07

24:07

As the Democratic Party Convention gets underway this week in Chicago, you weigh in on why you're paying close attention to the new candidate. Christian Science Monitor Washington Bureau Chief Linda Feldmann is at the convention and shares her insights.

1
TRILLIUM TALK: How dire is the homeless crisis in Ontario? New stats shed some light 5:51

27d ago5:51

5:51

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today is reporter Jack Hauen, who will be in Ottaw…

1
Stunt driving: Confessions of fast drivers 51:49

1M ago51:49

51:49

We hear from people who've put the pedal to the metal and learn the consequences of their actions. Our guest is owner of Ticket Shield Matt Hazell, a paralegal who represents drivers who've been charged with speeding and stunt driving.

1
How near-death experiences change you 51:47

1M ago51:47

51:47

In 2020, Sebastian Junger nearly died from a ruptured aneurysm on what began as a normal day at home with his wife and children. He explores his near-death revelations in his book, In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife. Junger talks with callers about how they processed their own brush with death.…

1
Hard time swallowing Canada's alcohol guidelines? 51:46

1M ago51:46

51:46

In 2023, Canada set dramatically different guidelines for drinking alcohol. Dr. Tim Naimi, Director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research who helped develop of the guidelines, explains how to judge your own individual risk factors.

1
Memories of growing up in a family restaurant 51:46

1M ago51:46

51:46

After growing up in a family restaurant, restaurant kids wrestle with whether to take over the family business. It's an emotional decision, full of gratitude and admiration for their parents' hard work. Ontario Today invites two guests onto the program. Jeanette Liu is now the co-owner of Yueh Tung restaurant after taking it over from her parents. …

1
Gardening: Basics of pest management 27:46

1M ago27:46

27:46

Mary Reid gives us a primer on what to do about wormy, buggy problems. She is a volunteer with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton and owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre.

1
Motorcycle deaths on rise: Have you had a close call? 24:07

1M ago24:07

24:07

Thirty six motorcyclists have died on OPP-patrolled roads this year. Steve Reed, President and founder of Biker Down North America, speaks with callers about why motorcycling has got so much more dangerous.

1
TRILLIUM TALK: The scoop about poop (on the beach) 7:38

1M ago7:38

7:38

Send us a text Welcome back to Trillium Talk, your must-see briefing from Village Media’s team of journalists at the Ontario Legislature. Every Sunday, Scott Sexsmith sits down with one of our staffers at The Trillium to talk about the week that was at Queen's Park — and the week ahead. On the show today is Editor-in-Chief Jessica Smith Cross, who …

1
Overtalking: What do you do about it? 46:48

1M ago46:48

46:48

What do you do when someone talks on and on? Maybe it's you. Dr. Rod Wilson, the author of Thank You. I'm Sorry. Tell Me More, explains how to move from what looks like self-centeredness to connection.

1
What does it cost to have Instagram Face? 46:46

1M ago46:46

46:46

That fawless, filtered, contoured face has sparked a boom in plastic surgery, fillers and botox in young women. Taking your calls is Jia Tolentino, writer of the New Yorker articleThe Age of Instagram Face: How Social Media, FaceTune and Plastic Surgery created a single, cyborgian look, and author of Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion.…

1
The personal cost of hospital understaffing 46:43

2M ago46:43

46:43

The CBC documentary One Doctor on Shift: Inside Ontario's ERs in Crisis is our starting point for a conversation about the personal cost of hospital under-staffing. Our guest is Ottawa emergency physician Dr. Michael Herman who speaks for the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians. We're also joined by researcher Jim Brophy whose upcoming rep…

1
Is it getting any easier to buy a home? 19:08

2M ago19:08

19:08

Mortgage brokers can now offer 30-year amortization periods for homeowners. But are lower interest rates and new rules getting people into a new home? Our guest is mortgage broker Elan Weintraub.

1
Gardening: Fertilizing 101 27:43

2M ago27:43

27:43

Mary Reid gives us the basics on how to keep your soil rich and your plants thriving. She is a volunteer with the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton and owner of Green Thumb Garden Centre.

1
Why do women apologize more than men? 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

Research shows a woman's threshold for an apology is lower than it is for a man. Sociologist Maja Jova novic says that's a problem. Jovanovic is the author of "Hey Ladies. Stop Apologizing.'

1
What do we lose when coaches and athletes cheat? 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

What did you lose? Despite the Canadian women's soccer scandal, the team is advancing to the quarter-finals. But has their reputation been marred? Ontario Today is joined by Charlene Weaving, a professor in the human kinetics department at St. Francis Xavier University, and has researched ethics in sport.…

1
What you need to know about COVID this summer 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

Ontario Today is joined by Dr. Fahad Razak, internal medicine physician at St. Michael's Hospital.

1
Are the rules for who gets to be a foster parent fair? 46:48

2M ago46:48

46:48

Alana Jenkin and her husband were recently denied a request to foster children. The reason? They say the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa blamed the couple's fertility treatments. Ontario Today speaks to Alana and Alan Leschied. Alan is a psychologist, professor emeritus in the faculty of education at Western University and conducted Canada's large…

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