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Ontario
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Canada
Toronto
Donald Trump
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Toronto Blue Jays
Homelessness
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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 podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every Sunday morning at 8, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featur... more

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Latest Episodes

If recent headlines are any indication, gift card scams have become a lucrative enterprise for organized criminals.

On this week’s episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast, we revisit an eye-opening conversation we had with Ritesh Kotak, a law... more

If you're a sports fan, you've no doubt heard of the acronym CTE. It has made plenty of headlines in recent years.

CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy — is a devastating, degenerative brain disease triggered by repetitive head injuries. It often ... more

This week, Toronto police displayed the fruits of a massive seizure of counterfeit soccer merchandise worth millions of dollars.

The haul included 16,000 fake name-brand jerseys and flags — including FIFA, Nike, Adidas and Puma — and even two counte... more

Here's a piece of advice: Take a good look at your auto insurance policy.

Starting July 1, Ontario is introducing some significant reforms to auto insurance rules. Simply put, some coverage that is now mandatory will soon become optional — including... more

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Recent Guests

David Lipkus
Intellectual property lawyer (co-founder of Lipkus Law)
Lipkus Law
Episode: Spot the difference? How fake merch inflicts very real harms
Tudor Gagea
Associate lawyer with Oakley Vigmond Law Firm,Barrie
Oakley Vigmond Law Firm
Episode: Here’s what you need to know about Ontario’s new auto insurance rules
Ian Howcroft
CEO of Skills Ontario
Skills Ontario
Episode: Why we’re spending billions to attract more people into skilled trades
Tim Cherry
Son of Don Cherry, author referenced in discussion
The Don Cherry Story Part II (book)
Episode: Don Cherry's son talks about his dad, ‘you people’ and Ron MacLean
Michael Geist
Professor of Law and Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law
University of Ottawa
Episode: Why banning kids from social media is a terrible idea
Martin Straathof
Executive Director of the Ontario Farmland Trust
Ontario Farmland Trust
Episode: Our prime farmland in Ontario is rapidly disappearing
Mary Walsh
Iconic Canadian comedian, writer, and performer; founder of Marg Delahunty character
Episode: Canada’s ‘Princess Warrior’ stops by our podcast (minus the sword)
Grace Peacock
Director of Public Relations, Six Flags Entertainment (Canada's Wonderland)
Canada's Wonderland / Six Flags Entertainment
Episode: This is why Canada’s Wonderland adopted a new chaperone policy for kids
Laura Tamblyn Watts
CEO of CanAge, aging advocate
CanAge
Episode: AI robots for seniors? Time we start talking about our aging population

Hosts

Michael Friscolanti
Editor-in-Chief of Village Media and lead host for the show; frequent driver of policy and local journalism discussions.
Scott Sexsmith
Co-host/Editor and long-time host, guiding interviews and shaping episode structure.

Reviews

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

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dortmunder
    9 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.

Conversation quality and diverse expert guests are consistent strengths.
Shows balance between investigative reporting and expert insights.
Stories emphasize community impact and practical policy implications.
Listeners appreciate grounding in local issues with concrete takeaways.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Spot the difference? How fake merch inflicts very real harms
Q: As consumers, what is the easiest way to tell if an item is legitimate, and how can we spot red flags online?
Lipkus describes a practical approach: verify who you're buying from, check authorized vendors on the brand's site, assess price and seller information, read reviews, and beware deals that seem too good to be true; exercise due diligence online and in stores using serial numbers, holograms, and clear return policies.
Spot the difference? How fake merch inflicts very real harms
Q: David, without getting into specifics of the investigation, how significant is a seizure of this size in the world of counterfeit merchandise?
Lipkus explains that the seizure illustrates a snapshot of a much larger, global problem; while the one-distributor, one-city case is significant, counterfeit networks span many brands and channels, and law enforcement relies on ongoing raids and lawsuits to disrupt them.
Why we’re spending billions to attract more people into skilled trades
Q: Ian, is it free to be trained? Is it all apprenticeships?
Apprenticeship is the key pathway; you earn while you learn, but there are also school-based programs and college-driven training; partnerships with platforms like apprenticessearch.com help connect learners with opportunities.
Voting really matters, but our democracy demands so much more
Q: What can be done to reduce polarization and increase meaningful public engagement in governance?
Create spaces where people are brought together with similar information and a chance to change their minds, ensure governments actively involve the public in work beyond elections, and fund programs that mobilize citizen participation as a democratic dividend.
Voting really matters, but our democracy demands so much more
Q: How do citizens' assemblies actually help rebuild trust, not just in theory but in practice?
By actively involving ordinary people in deliberation, exposing them to diverse viewpoints, and giving them real decision-making tasks, which leads to tangible policy outputs and a sense that government is listening and responsive.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Closer Look

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

Ontario-focused current affairs podcast delivering in-depth conversations with reporters, experts, and policymakers. Episodes frequently cover policy shifts, infrastructure, digital policy, public safety, and regional issues affecting families and communities, often balancing practical implications for everyday life with broader civic and economic context. Notable strengths include a steady stream of expert guests from law, technology, education, public policy, and journalism, plus a clear emphasis on local impact, actionable takeaways, and real-world examples. The show stands out for its combination of investigative-style reporting and expert perspectives on timely Ontario topics, making it a strong fit for listeners who want nuanced, loca... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Closer Look?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Closer Look:

1. The Paikin Podcast
2. The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge
3. The Big Story
4. The Decibel
5. At Issue

How many episodes of Closer Look are there?

Closer Look launched 4 years ago and published 289 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 Closer Look?

Recent guests on Closer Look include:

1. David Lipkus
2. Tudor Gagea
3. Ian Howcroft
4. Tim Cherry
5. Michael Geist
6. Martin Straathof
7. Mary Walsh
8. Grace Peacock

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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