Hub Podcasts
Hub Media Canada
Welcome to Hub Podcasts, the audio version of the big ideas and in-depth conversations found at TheHub.ca, Canada's fastest growing digital news outlet with half a million people engaging weekly with our content.
Hub Dialogues features The Hub's editor-at-large Sean Speer and managing editor Harrison Lowman engaged in longform conversations with leading thinkers on the big issues and ideas shaping the public conversation.
In Conversation with David Frum features the insights and analysis of leading author, journalist, and thinker David Frum, who weighs in every second Friday on global and Canadian news events.
The news cycle never slows down and neither does Hub Hits. Each day we provide you with quick hits on topical stories, big issues and important voices appearing in The Hub.
Every week, editor-at-large Sean Speer is joined by David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, and Amanda Galbraith, principal at Oyster Group, to dig into the drama and strategy of Canadian politics. Topics range from the issues dominating headlines, the communications battles behind the scenes, to the trends shaping parties, leaders, and voters. Some weeks, they'll focus on the hot story in Ottawa.
The Hub's media criticism podcast Full Press looks at how the media in Canada is covering the major stories of the day. Full press is hosted by The Hub's managing editor Harrison Lowman, and features journalist Tara Henley, and veteran news media executive Peter Menzies.
Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.
Each Friday, The Hub Roundtable features Hub co-founders Rudyard Griffiths' and Sean Speer's take on the big political and economic stories making the news.
Hub Dialogues features The Hub's editor-at-large Sean Speer and managing editor Harrison Lowman engaged in longform conversations with leading thinkers on the big issues and ideas shaping the public conversation.
In Conversation with David Frum features the insights and analysis of leading author, journalist, and thinker David Frum, who weighs in every second Friday on global and Canadian news events.
The news cycle never slows down and neither does Hub Hits. Each day we provide you with quick hits on topical stories, big issues and important voices appearing in The Hub.
Every week, editor-at-large Sean Speer is joined by David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, and Amanda Galbraith, principal at Oyster Group, to dig into the drama and strategy of Canadian politics. Topics range from the issues dominating headlines, the communications battles behind the scenes, to the trends shaping parties, leaders, and voters. Some weeks, they'll focus on the hot story in Ottawa.
The Hub's media criticism podcast Full Press looks at how the media in Canada is covering the major stories of the day. Full press is hosted by The Hub's managing editor Harrison Lowman, and features journalist Tara Henley, and veteran news media executive Peter Menzies.
Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go.
Each Friday, The Hub Roundtable features Hub co-founders Rudyard Griffiths' and Sean Speer's take on the big political and economic stories making the news.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 24, 2025 • 17min
Just how much damage did Justin Trudeau do to Canada's economy?
Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go. 0:18 - Just how much damage did Justin Trudeau do to Canada's economy?, by Livio Di Matteo 7:13 - Canada's lost dynamism: What Peter Howitt's Nobel Prize reminds us about growth, by Alicia Planincic 11:09 - A definition of racism that targets Jews is racist, by Cary Kogan, Adam Louis-Klein, and Mark Sandler This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perks, subscribe to the Hub for only $1 a week: https://thehub.ca/join/hero/ Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get all our best content: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Watch The Hub on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Get a FREE 3-month trial membership for our premium podcast content: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, email support@thehub.ca
Oct 23, 2025 • 34min
Did Carney's economic address meet the moment?
In this episode of Hub Politics, host Sean Speer is joined by Amanda Galbraith, co-founder and president of Oyster Group, and David Coletto, founder and CEO of Abacus Data, to discuss Prime Minister Carney's recent major speech at the University of Ottawa. Their general reaction is that his "rambly technocratic" presentation missed the mark: it failed to provide concrete plans to improve the lives of young Canadians in attendance. They also discuss Premier Ford's remarkable political staying power and polling numbers. They explore Ford's populist retail politics and whether his political brand could translate nationally, as well as the overlap between Ford supporters and federal Liberal voters who voted for Prime Minister Carney. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer Alisha Rao - Sound Editor Sean Speer - Host To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca
Oct 23, 2025 • 18min
Carney's BIG speech. Just what exactly did he say?
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Prime Minister Carney's primetime television address to the nation, and how it fell short of expectations despite being positioned as a major speech. In particular, they discuss Carney's pledge to divert exports away from the United States and his commitment to balance the operational budget within three years, questioning the feasibility of both goals given existing trade relationships and fiscal constraints. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Elia Gross - Producer & Sound Editor Sean Speer and Rudyard Griffiths - Hosts To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca.
Oct 23, 2025 • 35min
Unpacking Alberta's political mystery
Alberta isn't always the "true blue" province some might think. Independent pollster Janet Brown and political commentator Dave Cournoyer join Alberta Edge host Ryan Hastman to dissect the province's political DNA — from the cowboy archetype to Alberta's unique brand of tax aversion. Together, they explore how decades of royalty windfalls have allowed governments to sidestep tough political choices, and why years of rapid in-migration haven't dramatically changed the province's political makeup. This podcast is generously supported by Don Archibald. The Hub thanks him for his ongoing support. The Hub is Canada's fastest-growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to our YouTube channel to get our latest videos: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Falice Chin - Producer and Editor Ryan Hastman - Host To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca
Oct 23, 2025 • 25min
Edmonton and Calgary chart different courses in their municipal elections
Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go. 0:22 - Need to Know: A tale of two (Albertan) cities, including commentaries by Falice Chin and Peter Jon Mitchell 6:49 - In defence of Ronald Reagan, by Sean Speer 17:13 - Build Toronto aims to make a worn-out city world-class, by Graeme Gordon This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perks, subscribe to the Hub for only $1 a week: https://thehub.ca/join/hero/ Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get all our best content: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Watch The Hub on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Get a FREE 3-month trial membership for our premium podcast content: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, email support@thehub.ca
Oct 22, 2025 • 35min
How restructuring the post-secondary ecosystem will help Canada meet its economic ambitions
John Stackhouse, senior vice-president at the office of the CEO at RBC, and Jackie Pichette, director of skills policy for RBC Thought Leadership, discuss Canada's post-secondary education crisis and its implications for economic competitiveness. They argue that while Canada faces historic nation-building investments in sectors like defence, AI, and energy, universities and colleges are scaling down due to funding constraints and policy neglect, creating a dangerous disconnect between national ambitions and institutional capacity. The discussion explores how post-secondary institutions must shift toward competency-based education, stronger industry partnerships, and greater focus on practical skills training to support Canada's productivity challenges and strategic economic priorities. This episode is presented in partnership with RBC Thought Leadership. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get all our best content: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Watch a video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Elia Gross - Producer & Editor Sean Speer - Host
Oct 22, 2025 • 12min
Is the Canadian government's new ad campaign state propaganda?
Rudyard Griffiths and Harrison Lowman discuss a recent Government of Canada advertising campaign promoting Canadian patriotism and national pride, and the jarring disconnect between the ad's upbeat, flag-waving messaging and the current reality facing Canadians, from economic uncertainty, high unemployment, to everyday cost of living struggles. They explore whether this represents state propaganda, with the government potentially spending millions on symbolic imagery, rather than investing in tangible improvements and concrete results that would give Canadians genuine reasons for national pride. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Producer - Amal Attar-Guzman Alisha Rao - Sound Editor Rudyard Griffiths - Host
Oct 22, 2025 • 16min
Inside Canada's China Reset: Trade, Security, and Xi's Grip on Power
Charles Burton, senior fellow at Sinopsis.cz and former diplomat at Canada's embassy in Beijing, discusses Canada's complex relationship with China as Prime Minister Carney prepares for a potential meeting with President Xi Jinping. As our government begins to thaw its frozen trade and diplomatic relationship with the Middle Kingdom, he examines China's use of economic coercion tactics, and warns about the security risks of Chinese electric vehicles. As CPP officials meet, he also touches on internal challenges facing Xi's leadership, including recent purges that suggest potential instability within China's power structure. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Producer - Amal Attar-Guzman Elia Gross - Sound Editor Harrison Lowman - Host To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca.
Oct 22, 2025 • 19min
With patriots like these, who needs Trump? A review of Elbows Up!
Hub Headlines features audio versions of the best commentaries and analysis published daily in The Hub. Enjoy listening to original and provocative takes on the issues that matter while you are on the go. 0:16 - With patriots like these, who needs Trump? A review of Elbows Up!, by Howard Anglin 6:17 - Vancouver Parks' Harry Potter freak out and how the media covers 'controversial' events, by Peter Menzies 11:48 - The Toronto Blue Jays return to the World Series—just how inevitable are they?, by Kirk LaPointe This program is narrated by automated voices. To get full-length editions of popular Hub podcasts and other great perks, subscribe to the Hub for only $1 a week: https://thehub.ca/join/hero/ Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get all our best content: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Watch The Hub on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHubCanada Get a FREE 3-month trial membership for our premium podcast content: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, email support@thehub.ca
Oct 21, 2025 • 16min
Carney-Trump trade deal: What was traded away?
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss recent reports from the Globe and Mail of a potential Canada-U.S. trade deal that could come before the upcoming APEC summit. They discuss how this sectoral trade agreement would likely cover steel and aluminum through quota systems, rather than tariff elimination, while notably excluding major industries like autos and lumber. They explore potential concessions Canada may make to secure this trade deal, and question how these compromises align with Prime Minister Carney's rhetoric about Canadian independence. The Hub is Canada's fastest growing independent digital news outlet. Subscribe to The Hub's podcast feed to get our best content when you are on the go: https://tinyurl.com/3a7zpd7e (Apple) https://tinyurl.com/y8akmfn7 (Spotify) Want more Hub? Get a FREE 3-month trial membership on us: https://thehub.ca/free-trial/ Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Producer - Amal Attar-Guzman Elia Gross - Sound Editor Sean Speer and Rudyard Griffiths - Hosts To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca.
