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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
Donald Trump
Personal Finance
Cost Of Living
Retirement Savings
Critical Minerals
Real Estate
Thrifting
Bank Of Canada
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes51Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Cost of Living

Latest Episodes

Craving a popsicle? Boxes of 'em are available at the grocery store. So why do we run for the ice cream truck like it's our last chance for frozen refreshment? We explore AI's growing influence in the music industry and whether it's really a problem.... more

Should Canada invest in guns (defence)? Or butter (schools, roads, hospitals)? Military spending is already way up in this country, and is expected to keep rising. Host Paul Haavardsrud discusses the implications of this with Eugene Lang at Queen's U... more

Sure, if you compare our economies based on GDP per capita. But is GDP per capita the best way to measure our standard of living? From donuts to chia seeds, we explore why so many products have their own national day on the calendar. Plus, is putting... more

The price of services, like haircuts, is climbing, but the price of some goods, like microwaves, is dropping. So what gives? Something called the Baumol effect. Also, we look at the growing popularity of "admin parties," and ask if being yourself at ... more

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Recent Guests

Drew Thurlow
Former record company executive with Sony and author of Machine Music, How AI is Transforming Music's Next Act
Former Sony executive; Author
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Michael Byers
Professor at UBC and co-founder of the Outer Space Institute
University of British Columbia; Outer Space Institute
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Skyler Chan
Entrepreneur behind Galactic Resource Utilization (GRU Space)
GRU Space
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Joseph Lutu
Ice cream truck driver discussed for experiential marketing angle
Self-employed ice cream truck operator
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Rhea Catapano
Marketing professor at Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Daniel Neely
American ethnomusicologist who studied ice cream truck music
Independent researcher/ethnomusicologist
Episode: Why the siren call of the ice cream truck is hard to resist
Eugene Lang
Professor at Queen's University, School of Policy Studies
Queen's University
Episode: Guns vs. Butter
Krista Wiebe
Calgary-based parrot owner and school volunteer
None given
Episode: Guns vs. Butter
Joseph Jeffrey
Chair of Canadian school libraries
Scholastic (represented in discussion)
Episode: Guns vs. Butter

Hosts

Paul Haavardsrud
Host of Cost of Living
Jennifer Keene
Host of The Cost of Living / The Cost of Living

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 634 ratings
  • Fantastic

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Todd Ulysses B
    Canada4 months ago
  • Don’t ever stop!

    Always look forward to the new episode each week

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ben_Horne
    Canada5 months ago
  • One of my favourite show

    Interesting topics about living in Canada

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KCS ON
    Canada6 months ago
  • I feel 10% less dumb after listening

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JBitz93
    Canada6 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 States7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners find the host's delivery warm and approachable.
Audiences appreciate data-backed context and practical takeaways.
The podcast consistently explains economic topics relevant to everyday life in Canada.
Guests are knowledgeable and the discussions are accessible.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#59
Canada/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why some prices go up when others go down (Encore Edition)
Q: So Tomas, if authenticity is overrated, what should people bring to the table at work instead?
People should bring a credible, well-edited version of themselves—one that aligns with organizational needs, builds trust, and provides real value to others, rather than a raw, unfiltered persona that can erode credibility.
Canadians are crowdfunding to pay their bills
Q: What is Fordism and why is Musk linked to a modern version of it?
Fordism is the social and economic framework around mass production with strong labor protections; the discussion suggests Musk's rise represents a shift where private tech moguls are integrated into public markets and pension funds, altering traditional corporate accountability.
A big reason the U.S. still needs Canada? Our aluminum
Q: Is it now easier to buy a home than it has been?
The expert says it's slightly easier than a year ago, but prices remain high and affordability is still a long way off, with multiple factors like local markets and income levels influencing actual ability to buy.
BONUS: How high could oil prices go?
Q: At what point does the duration of this oil shock start to really become a serious issue for policy makers?
Rory suggests that even if the war ends soon and Hormuz reopens, the economy could feel the effects for months, and policymakers would need to respond to persistent supply-induced inflation and the resulting consumer cost pressures, which could influence political calculus and policy timing.
BONUS: How high could oil prices go?
Q: So then Rory, how high could gas prices go if all this keeps going on?
Rory explains that peak pump prices could reach well above current levels, with potential scenarios where gasoline could rise to several dollars per liter in Canada and correspondingly high per-gallon prices in the U.S., driven by constrained supply and continued demand pressure.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cost of Living

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

A Canadian economics show that translates complex money topics into everyday relevance. Episodes routinely explore how price changes, policy decisions, and broader market forces touch daily life—from housing affordability and consumer costs to inflation, labor markets, and energy dynamics. A key strength is the mix of accessible explanations, real-world anecdotes, and expert guests ranging from academics to policy researchers and industry insiders, which helps listeners understand the practical impacts behind headlines. The series often threads together Canadian-specific context with broader global trends, making it useful for both informed consumers and professionals tracking market developments. Noteworthy is the tendency to combine clear... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cost of Living?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cost of Living:

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

How many episodes of Cost of Living are there?

Cost of Living launched 7 years ago and published 51 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cost of Living?

Recent guests on Cost of Living include:

1. Drew Thurlow
2. Michael Byers
3. Skyler Chan
4. Joseph Lutu
5. Rhea Catapano
6. Daniel Neely
7. Eugene Lang
8. Krista Wiebe

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.

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