Hub Podcasts
Hub Canada Media
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 monthly 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Feb 11, 2026 • 10min
The mainstream media failed Canadians during the Freedom Convoy
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. 0:20 - The mainstream media failed Canadians during the Freedom Convoy, by Peter Menzies 6:05 - Oh, Mandy! Starmer's naïveté comes back to bite him, by Howard Anglin 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 $2 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 The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 10, 2026 • 45min
Why it's a critical moment to rebuild public trust in Canada's research universities
Daniel Jutras, the recteur of the Université de Montreal and new chair of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, discusses the overlapping paradigm shifts facing universities today: geopolitical upheaval, the AI revolution, and questions about public trust in higher education. Jutras offers a thoughtful defence of what he calls "institutional restraint" rather than neutrality, explains why epistemic humility should be every academic's core posture, and makes the case for why Canada's research universities remain essential to our national sovereignty and prosperity. This episode is presented in partnership with U15 Canada. 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) Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Elia Gross - Producer & Editor Sean Speer - Host To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 10, 2026 • 13min
Will Carney stay silent about China violating press freedom and human rights?
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Hong Kong media publisher Jimmy Lai being sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Chinese government-controlled court. They examine what this means for press freedom and human rights in Hong Kong, criticize the Carney government's muted response, and argue that Lai's imprisonment violates the 1997 Sino-British treaty guaranteeing democratic freedoms. They then explore Canada's reluctance to confront China's authoritarian actions and the costs of prioritizing trade relations over democratic principles. 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) Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer Elia Gross - Editor Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer - Hosts Chiang Ying-ying/AP Photo - Photo Credit To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 10, 2026 • 14min
Does Japan's election lay the groundwork for a Liberal majority?
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. 0:20 - Does Japan's election lay the groundwork for a Liberal majority this spring?, by Rudyard Griffiths 6:43 - Canada is under threat—and the U.S. is not our biggest problem, by Richard Shimooka 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 $2 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 The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 9, 2026 • 26min
Heather Reisman on why Canada's literacy crisis could cost $60 billion
Heather Reisman, founder and CEO of Indigo, discusses her Build Canada policy memo on Canada's literacy crisis, in which she explains why early childhood is a critical window for literacy development and the role of parents, schools, and public policy to support better reading outcomes. She also explains the importance of phonics instruction, limiting screen time, and how improving literacy is not only an economic imperative and civic infrastructure issue, but also crucial to preserving children's natural love of reading and storytelling. 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 Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer and Editor Sean Speer - Host Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 9, 2026 • 14min
Why Japan's election landslide is a warning for Canada's fiscal future
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's recent election supermajority in Japan and its implications for Canadian politics. They explore how she used loose fiscal policy, tax cuts, and deficit spending to secure electoral victory—a playbook potentially being replicated by Prime Minister Mark Carney. They then address the political appeal versus economic risks of transactional policies, structural reform challenges, and the dangers of fiscal profligacy for Canada's long-term economic health and borrowing costs. 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) Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer Elia Gross - Editor Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer - Host Eugene Hoshiko/AP Photo - Photo Credit To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 9, 2026 • 13min
Why Chinese EVs were never going to get Canada to its EV adoption goal
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. 0:20 - Why Chinese EVs were never going to get Canada to its electric vehicle adoption goal, by Alicia Planincic 4:49 - Here's the solution to Canada's military recruitment crisis, by Eric Sauvé and Walter Wood 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 $2 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 The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Alisha Rao – Producer & Sound Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 8, 2026 • 32min
Poilievre's leadership win and the politics of artificial intelligence
In this episode of Hub Politics, 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 Pierre Poilievre's resounding leadership review victory and the Conservative convention's strategic messaging. They analyze Poilievre's focus on affordability over Trump, the significance of the 20th anniversary of Stephen Harper's first election win, and new Abacus Data polling revealing widespread Canadian nostalgia for the 1950s. They then explore emerging political risks around artificial intelligence and job displacement, questioning whether the Carney government's embrace of AI is a vulnerability. 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) Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer Alisha Rao - Sound Editor Sean Speer - Host Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 7, 2026 • 9min
Stephen Harper got the big things right
A look back at a two-decade political legacy and the steady, disciplined style that shaped governance. New research on political polarization and which side is shifting the most. A debate over whether identity politics is peaking and what moderation might mean. Fresh data on persistent low income in Canada and policy ideas focused on education, work and family stability.
Feb 6, 2026 • 18min
Why Carney's $2.3-billion EV program is vibes over reality
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss Carney government's multi-billion dollar auto industry strategy, and its attempt to walk back unrealistic EV mandates while preserving Ottawa's climate commitments. They critique how the policy will create a captive market that will lead to less consumer choice and higher prices. In the second half, they discuss major developments this week in the world of Artificial Intelligence and what it means for different industries and workers, including the so-called "laptop class." If you are enjoying the free version of the Hub Roundtable, subscribe to become a Hub Hero or Fellow to access the full version every week: https://thehub.ca/join/ 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) Follow The Hub on X: https://x.com/thehubcanada?lang=en CREDITS: Amal Attar-Guzman - Producer and Editor Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer - Hosts To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
