Rephonic
Artwork for Closer Look
Ontario
Auto Theft
Vaccination Mandates
Local Journalism
Measles
Super-Agers
Canadian Dental Care Plan
Financial Literacy
Condition Of School Attendance
Vaccine Misinformation
Public Health
Covid-19
Fraud
Mental Health
Staffing Crisis
Employee Burnout
Workplace Efficiency
Four-Day Work Week
Ontario Education Policies
Investment Scams

In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find. This new podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every weeknight, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring ou... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes265Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryDaily NewsNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Closer Look

Latest Episodes

A recent report found that retail crime in Canada “has escalated into a national crisis” that costs businesses across the country a whopping $9-billion a year.

The situation is so dire in Winnipeg that some businesses are considering drastic measure... more

For reasons that still aren’t certain, colorectal cancer is striking younger people like never before.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, people aged 45 to 50 are now two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed than in previous ge... more

Three months ago, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under the age of 16. Many other governments are now eyeing the same idea, including Greece, Denmark, Malaysia and Norway.

Should Canada legislate a simila... more

Today on Village Media’s ‘Closer Look’ podcast: We speak to the mayor of Selwyn Township about the push to erase the disgraced royal’s name from a local island.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek ... more

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

Aidan Chamandy
Reporter from TorontoToday, previously with Trillium
TorontoToday
Episode: This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport
Marit Stiles
NDP Leader
Ontario NDP
Episode: ‘Absolutely deadly’: Ontario’s northern highways in desperate need of a fix
John Vanthof
Tumiskaming Cochrane MPP
Ontario NDP
Episode: ‘Absolutely deadly’: Ontario’s northern highways in desperate need of a fix
David O'Connor
Lead plaintiff's lawyer, founding partner of Roy O'Connor
Roy O'Connor (Law Firm)
Episode: How a settlement was finally reached in 14-year mall collapse lawsuit
Jack Howland
Queen's Park reporter for Village Media
Village Media
Episode: Fantasy island? We fill you in on Doug Ford’s grand vision for new convention centre
Patricia Lakin Thomas
Biology professor at York University who studies circadian rhythms and biological clocks
York University
Episode: Daylight saving time is a scam, but don’t forget to change your clock!
Laura Tamblyn-Watz
CEO of CanAge
CanAge
Episode: Ontario’s population is only growing older — what’s our plan?
Jason Wong
Lead author of the CPWS white paper; economic analyst at the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
Episode: Our wilderness is breathtaking — and worth billions to the economy
Steve Smith
Detective Sergeant, Toronto Police Service, Cold Case Squad
Toronto Police Service
Episode: How a new DNA technique has helped solve hundreds of cold cases

Hosts

Michael Friscolanti
Editor-in-Chief at Village Media and host of Closer Look, frequently guiding conversations on policy, governance, and major Ontario stories.
Scott Sexsmith
Co-host and interviewer focusing on political economy, public policy, and on-the-ground reporting from Ontario.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 38 ratings
  • CUPW strong for all Canadians!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dortmunder
    6 months ago
  • Scam movie

    Great episode on fraud. Watch The Bee Keeper.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shoovel
    Canada2 years ago
  • Balanced journalism at its best

    The team presents very interesting community based journalism that speaks to problems that we face in our smaller communities every day. Thank you

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Danielle Dorschner
    Canada3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Episodes are timely and well-researched, with clear takes on Ontario issues.
Balancing journalism and policy, it provides in-depth context and thoughtful guests.
The show offers credible, community-based journalism that speaks to local problems.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport
Q: Who are the main opponents and what are their arguments?
Opposition includes Mayor Olivia Chow and waterfront residents; main concerns focus on noise, congestion, and protecting existing agreements that govern the airport's operation.
This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport
Q: What are the main legal hurdles to the expropriation of a stake in the land?
The city's partial ownership (about 20%) and the tripartite agreement with the Port Authority and federal government create a complex legal framework the province would need to navigate or override through new legislation.
This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport
Q: Can Billy Bishop actually accommodate these bigger jets when/if expropriation proceeds?
Aidan says expansion plans exist, including runway extensions that could enable larger jets, but specifics depend on federal standards and detailed city planning.
This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport
Q: Has Ford brought this up before, or is this the first time?
Aidan explains this is a long-standing thread dating back to the Ford era on City Council, with renewed attention from the current premier.
How a settlement was finally reached in 14-year mall collapse lawsuit
Q: Who is eligible for the settlement and how will claims be assessed and distributed?
The class includes mall businesses, employees who lost wages, and individuals harmed in the mall; around 275-300 people/entities are eligible, with a separate process to assess each claim, using a third-party adjudicator to determine reasonable values for individual claims.

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 Closer Look

What is Closer Look about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program delivers consistently topical, in-depth conversations centered on Ontario policy, governance, public safety, health, and economic issues. Episodes frequently feature on-the-ground reporting, expert analysis, and voices from government, academia, and advocacy groups, with a focus on how policy changes affect communities across the province. Noteworthy traits include long-form, issue-led discussions that blend journalism, policy insight, and real-world impact, plus a clear emphasis on accountability, transparency, and practical implications for readers and listeners. Potential listeners can expect thorough context, balanced perspectives, and timely dives into provincial affairs, infrastructure, and public-interest stories.

Where can I find podcast stats for Closer Look?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Closer Look. 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 Closer Look and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Closer Look get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Closer Look, 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 Closer Look?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Closer Look, 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 Closer Look have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Closer Look 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 Closer Look?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Closer Look:

1. Front Burner
2. All There Is with Anderson Cooper
3. White Coat, Black Art
4. Q with Tom Power
5. Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

How many episodes of Closer Look are there?

Closer Look launched 4 years ago and published 265 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 Closer Look?

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 Closer Look?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Closer Look 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 Closer Look?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Closer Look. 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 Closer Look?

Recent guests on Closer Look include:

1. Aidan Chamandy
2. Marit Stiles
3. John Vanthof
4. David O'Connor
5. Jack Howland
6. Patricia Lakin Thomas
7. Laura Tamblyn-Watz
8. Jason Wong

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