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Lean Out with Tara Henley

Tara Henley
Canada
Donald Trump
Feminism
Working Class
Mental Health
Justin Trudeau
Canadian Politics
Mark Carney
Identity Politics
Chrystia Freeland
NDP
Public Policy
Marriage
Cancel Culture
Women's Rights
Political Polarization
CBC
School Vouchers
Covid-19
Gender Identity

Tara Henley is a Canadian journalist and bestselling author. On the Lean Out podcast, she interviews heterodox writers and thinkers from around the world, in an attempt to widen the Overton window of acceptable thought in society. You can learn more about her work at tarahenley.substack.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes258Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for Lean Out with Tara Henley

Latest Episodes

In January of 2022, during one of Toronto’s never-ending pandemic lockdowns, I launched Lean Out from the tiny kitchen of my 485-square-foot apartment. I had just left legacy media, somewhat loudly. I had been a current affairs radio producer at Cana... more

In the maelstrom that is modern life, we’ve lost any sense of seasonality. These days, the summer is as non-stop as any other time of the year and the long, sun-drenched days can come and go without any real rest or relaxation. But we remember a time... more

One of the themes of the Lean Out podcast is a crisis in confidence in the mainstream media. In a few weeks, Tara's new book on this topic will be released in the United States and Canada. The Trust Spiral: Why the Media Needs Objectivity unpacks whe... more

It has now five years since the Kamloops band made an announcement of the discovery of the "remains of 215 children” at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School, kicking off an intense period of national grief and anger. A month ago, The Globe a... more

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Recent Guests

Tyler Dawson
Author and opinion editor at The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
Episode: EP 252: Tyler Dawson: Why Alberta Separatism is Back
Jacob Siegel
American journalist, special features editor for Tablet Magazine, co-host of the Manifesto podcast
Tablet Magazine
Episode: EP 249: Jacob Siegel on Big Tech and the Information State
Tony Keller
Columnist at The Globe and Mail; author of Borderline Chaos
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Ep 248: Tony Keller on How Canada Lost the Plot on Immigration
Freya India
British writer and commentator; staff writer at Jonathan Haidt's newsletter After Babel
After Babel
Episode: EP 247: Why Are Gen Z Girls Miserable? Freya India Explains
Tom Junod
American journalist and senior writer for ESPN; author of In the Days of My Youth, I Was Told What It Means to Be a Man
Esquire (historically), ESPN
Episode: EP 246: Tom Junod: What Does It Mean to Be a Man?
John Tomasi
American political philosopher, president of Heterodox Academy
Heterodox Academy
Episode: EP 245: John Tomasi on the Diversity We Don't Discuss
Ric Esther Bienstock
Emmy Award-winning Canadian filmmaker and investigative documentarian
Self
Episode: EP 244: Ric Esther Bienstock on the Campus Culture Wars
John Fraser
Veteran Canadian journalist, author and academic
Author of The Governors General, An Intimate History of Canada's Highest Office
Episode: EP 243: John Fraser on Canada's Most Misunderstood Job
Leah Libresco Sargeant
American writer
Substack: Other Feminisms
Episode: EP 242: Leah Libresco Sargeant: Rethinking Feminism

Host

Tara Henley
Host of Lean Out, focused on heterodox writers and thinkers.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 254 ratings
  • One of my tops

    Love the topics, format and in-depth discussion. Recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mark AP
    Canadaa month ago
  • Brilliant interviewer

    Tara is simply superb as an interviewer, and she is so gracious as well as intelligent. Her empathy seems to open her dialogues with her subjects to a remarkable level of depth.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Patsy-2
    United States5 months ago
  • A serious concern with the Ric Esther Bienstock interview and her documentary Speechless

    I just listened to your interview with filmmaker Ric Esther Bienstock (Apr 22, 2026). This was a day after I watched her Speechless documentary. There is a blatant flaw in Speechless; an elephant in the room; it is completely absent any Canadian content. Viewers may watch this documentary and conclude the issues it lays out are uniquely American, with a small side in the UK. Just another example of that crazy, uniquely American social unrest.

    1. Yes, in a way it’s surprising that the CBC produc... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Saskatoonist
    Canada5 months ago
  • Joanna Williams

    Terrific show with JW. Fascinating and informative conversation with someone with common sense ideas regarding transgenderism.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gnome chopper
    United States6 months ago
  • Thick Convos

    Tara is a good interviewer because she seems to understand the deep forces moving our world towards politics as badges of moral tribal belonging. She talks a lot about her time at the Canadian media company and why she left and feels freer now. Definitely valuable to get a former insiders perspective on why the media got so blinkered.

    I first listened to a few episodes back in 2023- George Packer and Louise Perry and other writers I had heard of. I really enjoyed her recent series on the state o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Harryschill25
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive feedback on the show's breadth and civility in tackling tough issues.
Listeners praise the host's interviewer skills, noting empathy and depth.
Some critique coverage when guests tilt toward controversy or polarizing topics.
Appreciation for professional production quality and balanced, challenging conversations.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 253: In Memoriam: David Cayley
Q: What might a pluralistic CBC look like in practice?
A CBC that treats distance as a core value, remains formal enough to include diverse perspectives, and fosters a space of discovery where journalists approach topics with humility and openness to new modes of understanding.
EP 253: In Memoriam: David Cayley
Q: What is your view of objectivity in journalism today?
Objectivity is a problematic word with multiple meanings, but elements like fairness, self-awareness, and courtesy should guide reporting; the goal is to move toward a form of journalism that acknowledges prejudice and invites responsible dialogue rather than pretending to be neutral.
EP 253: In Memoriam: David Cayley
Q: Can you describe the broad strokes of the CBC's first era and how it differed from later periods?
Cayley outlines the early era as a 'church-like' populist period where the CBC rooted authority in its audience, balancing education with entertainment and aiming to include those who had been excluded, but without surrendering critical distance or becoming an echo of what the audience wanted.
EP 250: Is Phoebe Maltz Bovy the Last Straight Woman?
Q: Can you explain what hetero-pessimism is and how it has evolved since 2019?
Hetero-pessimism is a cultural trend where some straight women internalize negative views about heterosexuality, sometimes wishing for a world without men or questioning the value of traditional relationships. It has evolved from academic discussions to mainstream discourse, including consumer and media expressions that critique straight female desire, while also provoking debates about authenticity and the practical realities of relationships.
Ep 248: Tony Keller on How Canada Lost the Plot on Immigration
Q: What were the concrete consequences of these policy shifts, particularly during and after the 2020–2024 period?
There was a marked increase in temporary immigration, a surge in refugee claims, social frictions like housing strains, and concerns that the labor market and per-capita wealth growth did not keep pace with population growth; the data showed a misalignment between population influx and long-term economic benefits.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lean Out with Tara Henley

What is Lean Out with Tara Henley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, conversation-driven show that hosts heterodox writers and thinkers from around the world. Episodes span media critique, culture, political ideas, and social issues, often challenging mainstream narratives and exploring how journalism, policy, and society intersect. Noteworthy traits include a calm, probing interviewer style, a willingness to host controversial or fringe perspectives, and a focus on nuance, pluralism, and questioning established orthodoxies. This breadth makes it a potential fit for listeners who value rigorous debate, data-informed discussion, and guests who push listeners to rethink conventional wisdom.

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Which podcasts are similar to Lean Out with Tara Henley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lean Out with Tara Henley:

1. Hub Podcasts
2. The Unspeakeasy With Meghan Daum
3. The Line
4. Full Comment
5. The Munk Debates Podcast

How many episodes of Lean Out with Tara Henley are there?

Lean Out with Tara Henley launched 5 years ago and published 258 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 Lean Out with Tara Henley?

Recent guests on Lean Out with Tara Henley include:

1. Tyler Dawson
2. Jacob Siegel
3. Tony Keller
4. Freya India
5. Tom Junod
6. John Tomasi
7. Ric Esther Bienstock
8. John Fraser

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