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
Jan 15, 2026 • 35min
The economic cost of Venezuela's lost generation
Venezuela's collapse is often discussed in terms of oil production and geopolitics. Far less attention is paid to the human capital that left, and what that loss means for rebuilding the country. In this episode of Alberta Edge, Venezuelan-Canadian engineer and University of Calgary energy researcher Luis Virla explains how a socialist authoritarian government dismantled Venezuela's institutions and hollowed out its economy. That collapse triggered a mass exodus of skilled workers, many of whom eventually rebuilt their careers in Canada, especially in Alberta's energy sector. Drawing on his own experience, Virla describes what daily life looks like inside a failed petro-state, and why restoring trust and talent in his home country may prove harder than restoring oil output. 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 - Host, Producer, and Editor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 15, 2026 • 17min
So David Eby does want a pipeline, after all?
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 - So David Eby does want a pipeline, after all?, by Falice Chin 6:27 - With turmoil in Venezuela, Canada must urgently expand oil production and exports, by Alicia Planincic 10:08 - How Iran's 1979 religious revolution reshaped global politics and today's protests, by The Hub Staff 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 To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 14, 2026 • 37min
Carney's China test
Join David Coletto, founder of Abacus Data, and Amanda Galbraith, co-founder of Oyster Group, as they dive into Prime Minister Mark Carney's strategic visit to China. They discuss balancing Canada–U.S. relations amidst public distrust of China and trade opportunities. The pair also tackles the upcoming AI strategy, questioning the government's capacity to implement effective policies while navigating public awareness and industry needs. Transparency in AI serves as an essential starting point for political engagement.
Jan 14, 2026 • 15min
Why Canada's real estate market is in decline
Ron Butler, a principal broker at Butler Mortgage and insightful real estate commentator, delves into the troubling trends in Canada's housing market. He reveals how forced sales are depressingly recalibrating home values and creating widespread negative equity. Butler critiques policy missteps, including delayed interest rate hikes and unchecked immigration, which he believes are exacerbating the crisis. He also addresses the unique challenges faced by investor-driven condo developments, warning of defaults and an oversupply of micro-units.
Jan 14, 2026 • 19min
The Iran protests and the deafening sound of silence
The discussion opens with a deep dive into the urgent protests erupting in Iran, spotlighting the country's escalating crises. It explores the puzzling media silence surrounding these events, offering critical insights into ideological biases. The conversation further addresses the implications of weakening Iran in relation to geopolitical figures like Trump and Netanyahu. Shifting topics, hosts highlight the shortcomings of Canada’s Disability Benefit and propose bold reforms to alleviate poverty among disabled Canadians. Lastly, they analyze the risks and failures likely to accompany U.S. intervention in Venezuela.
Jan 13, 2026 • 18min
Why Carney shouldn't have gone to China
David Mulroney, Canada's former ambassador to China, discusses Mark Carney's trip to China, the first visit by a prime minister in nearly a decade. They explore the security risks China poses to Canada, whether the country can fill in for a U.S. far less interested in our country, and the economic allure the Middle Kingdom has held over Canada for decades. 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 Video Editor Elia Gross - Sound Editor Harrison Lowman - Host Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press - 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.
Jan 13, 2026 • 14min
How antisemitism highlights Canada's growing fault lines
Stephen Staley, director of The Hub's new initiative Fault Lines, discusses rising antisemitic violence across Western democracies and the broader societal fractures threatening Canada's social cohesion. He argues that failing to address difficult topics like immigration, integration challenges, and public disorder allows illiberal forces to fill the void. He emphasizes the need for courageous conversations that balance pluralism with defending non-negotiable values, warning that Canada risks following a path toward political fragmentation. This episode is a part of The Hub's new Fault Lines initiative, which examines the pressures pulling Canadian society apart and the principles that can hold it together. Click here to learn more. 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 Video Editor Elia Gross - Sound Editor Sean Speer - Host Markus Schreiber/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.
Jan 13, 2026 • 25min
The global free trade era is over
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. 0:21 - The global free trade era is over—gunboat economics have returned, by Peter Tertzakian 8:59 - How Donald Trump sees the world as a giant game of Risk, by Falice Chin 19:16 - Canadians lost confidence in Parliament at end of Justin Trudeau's prime ministership: Statistics Canada, 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 $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 To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, email support@thehub.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 12, 2026 • 47min
The importance of religious communities in Canadian public policy and society
Ray Pennings, co-founder and executive vice president of Cardus, marks the institute's 25th anniversary by discussing the think-tank's unique policy approach through the lens of faith, community, and principled pluralism. He also explains why Cardus starts every policy question with human dignity, how religious communities greatly contribute to social value, and why the space between individual and state—filled by families, faith groups, and civil society—matters more than ever. 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 & 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.
Jan 12, 2026 • 15min
Trump's war on the Federal Reserve: Why criminal charges against Powell crosses the line
Rudyard Griffiths and Sean Speer discuss the Trump administration's criminal investigation into Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell. They examine how this latest move threatens the central bank's independence, a cornerstone of post-war economic stability, and how weaponizing the U.S. Justice Department represents authoritarian overreach. They then explore why politicians seek to manipulate monetary policy, the risks of abandoning independent rate-setting, and whether Canada's stronger institutional norms could become a competitive advantage. 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 Video Editor Elia Gross - Sound Editor Sean Speer and Rudyard Griffiths - Hosts Jacquelyn Martin/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.
