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Ontario
Auto Theft
Vaccination Mandates
Local Journalism
Measles
Super-Agers
Canadian Dental Care Plan
Financial Literacy
Condition Of School Attendance
Covid-19
Public Health
Vaccine Misinformation
Fraud
Workplace Efficiency
Employee Burnout
Four-Day Work Week
Ontario Education Policies
Investment Scams
Cognitive Ability
Healthy Aging

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

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Artwork for Closer Look

Latest Episodes

Every day, our Closer Look podcast chases the same mission: to learn something new.

Whether we're dissecting a pressing issue, or speaking to a prominent guest, we try to leave the conversation knowing a bit more than before.

We hope you've learned... more

Canada’s Wonderland rode a roller coaster of headlines this week when it announced a new chaperone policy for kids.

After 4 p.m., all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult in order to stay at the iconic park. Any guests 15 or ... more

In Ontario, the number of people over the age of 80 is set to soar — and advocates say we're not doing enough to prepare for the demographic shift.

We are definitely not alone. Countries around the world are grappling to prepare for the inevitable r... more

For 44 years, Joe Bowen’s signature voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season will be his last behind the mic — and with the Toronto Maple Leafs officially out of playoff contention, Bowen’s legendary career is down to its final ... more

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Recent Guests

Laura Tamblyn Watts
CEO of CanAge, aging advocate
CanAge
Episode: AI robots for seniors? Time we start talking about our aging population
Ian Howcroft
Executive with Skills Ontario
Skills Ontario
Episode: Every teenager needs to listen to this interview about jobs of the future
Craig Pickthorne
Director of Communications, Ontario Living Wage Network
Ontario Living Wage Network
Episode: Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage
Dan Shulman
Voice of the Blue Jays on Sportsnet
Toronto Blue Jays / Sportsnet
Episode: Play ball! Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman joins us for Opening Day chat
Richard Leblanc
Professor of Governance, Law and Ethics at York University
York University
Episode: What is ‘maple washing’ — and why are grocery stores getting fined for it?
Bruce Kidd
Former track and field Olympian, Chair of Ban Ads for Gambling
Ban Ads for Gambling (chair); University of Toronto (past)
Episode: Here’s a winning bet: Let’s lose all those gambling ads before it's too late
Brandon Purcell
Advocacy Manager of Prevention and Early Detection
Canadian Cancer Society
Episode: Why it’s time to start screening much sooner for colorectal cancer
Katherine Martinko
Author, public speaker, Globe and Mail contributor
Globe and Mail
Episode: Should Canada ban all kids from social media?
Sherry Senes
Mayor of Selwyn Township
Selwyn Township
Episode: This Ontario township is wiping Prince Andrew off the map

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.

These hi-tech mugshots help police track down Canada’s most wanted
Q: What is the goal of the Bolo program and when did it launch?
The Bolo program aims to encourage citizens to be on the lookout for Canada's most wanted; it launched in 2018 in Toronto as a pilot with the Toronto Police Service and operates as the main activity of the Stephane Creutier Foundation.
As final game looms, voice of the Leafs looks back on ‘dream’ career
Q: The phrase Holy Mackinac, where did it come from?
It originated with Joe Bowen's father; it became a signature call after Bowen observed his father exclaim 'Holy Mackinac' and he adopted it, later using it to connect with fans and even turning it into merchandise.
Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage
Q: Craig, what are you hearing from workers about the kinds of decisions they're being forced to make as costs rise?
Workers are tightening budgets due to spikes in fuel and food costs, prioritizing essential expenses like shelter while reducing discretionary spending and delaying investments in needs like housing and transportation.
Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage
Q: Craig, in real terms, what does that roughly $9 gap between minimum wage and a living wage actually mean in someone's day to day life?
The gap forces people to hold down multiple jobs, enter the gig economy, and make tough budget choices like which bills to fall behind on, often affecting shelter costs and overall stability.
Everything you need to know about Doug Ford’s latest unbalanced budget
Q: Can you walk us through the budget numbers and what the deficit means for Ontario moving forward?
Jessica outlines that the budget shows a record $244 billion in spending with a higher deficit of about $13.8 billion, explains why the balance date keeps shifting, and emphasizes that projections are contingent on economic conditions and later-year decisions.

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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.

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How many listeners does Closer Look get?

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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. The Paikin Podcast
2. Front Burner
3. Two Blocks from the White House
4. Ideas
5. Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

How many episodes of Closer Look are there?

Closer Look launched 4 years ago and published 279 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.

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What guests have appeared on Closer Look?

Recent guests on Closer Look include:

1. Laura Tamblyn Watts
2. Ian Howcroft
3. Craig Pickthorne
4. Dan Shulman
5. Richard Leblanc
6. Bruce Kidd
7. Brandon Purcell
8. Katherine Martinko

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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