Rephonic
Artwork for Cost of Living

Cost of Living

CBC
Canada
Tariffs
United States
Consumer Behavior
Inflation
Economy
Electric Vehicles
Artificial Intelligence
Canadian Economy
Housing Market
Google
Retirement Savings
Donald Trump
Bank Of Canada
Personal Finance
Cost Of Living
Critical Minerals
Real Estate
Thrifting
USMCA

Money talks. We translate. Every Friday, Paul Haavardsrud looks at the way money shapes our lives in ways big, small, obvious, and unseen. From Big Macs to Big Banks, the Cost of Living connects the dots between the economy and everyday life.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes56Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Cost of Living

Latest Episodes

Ottawa is spending more than ever on seniors’ benefits — more than $80 billion annually — and that’s only going to climb. So, is it time to look at OAS reform (again)? Plus, how the fashion industry is responding to a wave of people literally downsiz... more

For years, Greg Martel was running one of the biggest Ponzi schemes in Canadian history. He stole $300 million dollars. Then, he skipped town. Financial crime reporter Zak Vescera explains how Martel got away with it – and why Canada is ripe for this... more

YouTube

Canada is leaning into the resource economy, spending billions on megaprojects. But could we be falling into the 'staple trap?' Again? Also, how many mini Mars bars have you crushed lately? We explain how Big Candy makes us powerless to resist those ... more

YouTube

Loyalty apps promise us deals and insider status, but how much information are we giving in return? Reece Rogers, a writer for WIRED magazine, dug into what McDonald’s knows about him — and whether his loyalty is paying off. Plus, how music residenci... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Zak Vescera
Financial crimes reporter with the Investigative Journalism Foundation
Investigative Journalism Foundation
Episode: Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Hilary Schulman
Communications professor who studies jargon
Ohio State University
Episode: Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Angie Borcharding
Contest enthusiast who runs an online database of Canadian giveaways and sweepstakes
Contest Scoop
Episode: Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Noah Lister-Stevens
Toronto paralegal who makes law videos on TikTok
Episode: Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Erin Beatty
Owner of a Victoria boutique
Episode: Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Michael Kempe
Criminology instructor at the University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
Episode: Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Nelson Amaral
Consumer psychologist at Ontario Tech University
Ontario Tech University
Episode: Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Megan Stewart
Calgary pharmacy shopper
Episode: Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Jessica Ryan
Canadian shopper preparing for a Halloween street party
Episode: Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?

Hosts

Paul Haavardsrud
Host of Cost of Living segments, CBC / Cost of Living; regular host on related CBC economics programs
Danielle Nerman
On-air host for Cost of Living segment; contributor and panelist on various CBC economics discussions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 645 ratings
  • Fantastic

    Listening to Paul is a lot like talking to an old friend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Todd Ulysses B
    Canada7 months ago
  • Don’t ever stop!

    Always look forward to the new episode each week

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben_Horne
    Canada8 months ago
  • One of my favourite show

    Interesting topics about living in Canada

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KCS ON
    Canada8 months ago
  • I feel 10% less dumb after listening

    This show makes business reporting accessible and entertaining — good work team!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JBitz93
    Canada9 months ago
  • Hy-un-dai?

    Why doesn’t Hyundai have an auto plant in Canada? Maybe because you can’t even pronounce it right

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bruindude88
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are credible and the hosts ask insightful questions.
Listeners appreciate accessible, engaging discussions of Canadian economics and policy.
The show helps demystify economics for everyday life, with practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#42
Canada/Business
Apple Podcasts
#242
South Korea/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Q: What advice would you give all of us?
Vescera advises people to scrutinize investment offers carefully and to speak with anyone they fear may be a fraud victim. He also recommends contacting the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for resources.
Are we in a 'golden age of fraud' in Canada?
Q: What did the company promise investors?
My Mortgage Auction Corp said it would use investors' money to fund commercial real estate projects, while offering unusually high returns, including a promised 17 percent over three months.
Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Q: What does Brendan Haley think Canada could do differently?
Rather than simply abandoning resource development, he proposes using investment to build opportunities around housing, home retrofits, food and digital sovereignty, and to help niche innovations and Canadian-owned businesses grow.
Canada wants to build big. But are we building the right things?
Q: Why has shoplifting gone up so much?
Michael Kempe points to organized crime networks and online marketplaces that make stolen goods easier to distribute and sell. Retailers' losses also reflect a wider set of factors grouped under shrink.
Are we too loyal to our loyalty programs?
Q: Would you have any advice for someone who's like, yeah, you know what, I'm going to download the app, I'm going to use it?
Rogers recommends requesting and, where possible, deleting personal data, and comparing app offers across different users to see whether deals vary.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Cost of Living

What is Cost of Living about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on how economics shape everyday life in Canada, exploring topics from cross-border trade and tariffs to consumer prices, housing, and public policy. Episodes frequently feature economists, policymakers, and industry insiders who break down complex ideas into practical insights for listeners navigating budgets, jobs, and markets. Notable strengths include a steady stream of expert guests, accessible explanations of difficult concepts, and timely discussions that connect macro trends to real-world outcomes. A standout trait is its willingness to tackle controversial or big-picture questions—such as privatization, supply management, and the economics of big events—through balanced, thoughtful dialogue that remains relatable fo... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Cost of Living?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Cost of Living. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Cost of Living and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Cost of Living get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Cost of Living, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Cost of Living?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Cost of Living, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Cost of Living have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Cost of Living has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Cost of Living?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cost of Living:

1. The Dose
2. Front Burner
3. The Sunday Magazine
4. White Coat, Black Art
5. The Current

How many episodes of Cost of Living are there?

Cost of Living launched 7 years ago and published 56 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Cost of Living?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Cost of Living?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Cost of Living from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Cost of Living?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Cost of Living. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Cost of Living?

Recent guests on Cost of Living include:

1. Zak Vescera
2. Hilary Schulman
3. Angie Borcharding
4. Noah Lister-Stevens
5. Erin Beatty
6. Michael Kempe
7. Nelson Amaral
8. Megan Stewart

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days