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Canada
Donald Trump
Tariffs
United States
Climate Change
Artificial Intelligence
Immigration
Public Policy Forum
Economic Growth
Economic Policy
Housing Affordability
Trade War
NAFTA
Trade Policy
Housing Crisis
Public Policy
Inflation
Housing
Productivity
Canada-Us Trade Relations

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Michael Serapio, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays. This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking.

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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes193Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for WONK

Latest Episodes

The largest survey on Canadian views on foreign policy in over 50 years suggests that Canadians are united on a whole host of issues, from trade diversification to global health. It also shows a surprising confidence that democracy in Canada is worki... more

YouTube

When it comes to Canada's auto industry, the U.S. President is very clear: Donald Trump does not see the need for it and he is doing everything he can to force car makers to bring their operations to America. The rupture would undermine an industrial... more

YouTube

Canada’s Arctic is getting a level of attention it hasn't seen in decades. The federal government is promising to put some $35 billion towards asserting Canada's Arctic sovereignty, creating economic opportunities and, it is hoped, long-term prosperi... more

YouTube

Canada's push to diversify its economy has taken some big steps: An international investment summit in Toronto; a trip by PM Mark Carney to the European Parliament to explore becoming an associate member of the EU; and a meeting in Saint-Pierre with ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Flavio Volpe
President of Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association Canada
Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association Canada
Episode: Can the auto industry survive Trump?
RJ Simpson
Premier of the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories Government
Episode: Premier RJ Simpson on northern investment the need for better Arctic defence
Gitane De Silva
Executive Director of the Peter Lougheed School of Politics and Diplomacy, University of Alberta; former CEO of the Canada Energy Regulator
Public Policy Forum / University of Alberta
Episode: Canada’s search for $1 trillion — and new friends
Brett House
Professor at Columbia Business School; Senior Fellow, Munk School; Fellow, Public Policy Forum
Columbia Business School / Public Policy Forum
Episode: Canada’s search for $1 trillion — and new friends
Steve Verheul
Former chief Canadian negotiator, EU deal lead, and CUSMA diplomat; principal at GT, fellow at Public Policy Forum
GT (Strategic Advisory Firm); Public Policy Forum
Episode: Canada’s former top trade negotiator Steve Verheul: Moving beyond the U.S.
Josh Shapiro
Governor of Pennsylvania
Governor of Pennsylvania
Episode: Gov. Josh Shapiro on Canada-U.S. relations
Alison Nankivell
CEO of Export Development Canada (EDC)
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Episode: How to make a nation of supertraders
Evan Solomon
Minister of AI and Digital Innovation
Government of Canada
Episode: Evan Solomon on the promise and perils of AI
Joseph Pine
Author of The Transformation Economy; co-author of The Experience Economy
Author/Thought Leader on Economic Value Propositions
Episode: Building an economy that helps people flourish

Host

Amanda Lang
Host of the show, guiding interviews and anchoring policy conversations.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 89 ratings
  • Excellent

    Amanda Lang does a great job both because she asks the right questions and because she is passionate about Canada. The guests are surprisingly articulate to a person—it’s nice to hear what our politicians are capable of in the right forum.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maphib
    Canada9 months ago
  • Good topics but tired opinions

    I’ve listened to a number of these podcasts but while these conversations are worth having, the guests generally express tired views I’ve heard before, especially in the more abstract or macroeconomic conversations.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    PinkPine25
    Canadaa year ago
  • Amazing

    We need more of Amanda Lang.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steven1234567
    Canadaa year ago
  • Understanding policy partly means listening to different perspectives. This podcast is a good introduction to the news behind the news, focusing on the day's emerging politics across all areas of Canadian life.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Aurorespera
    a year ago
  • Best Canadian Policy Pod

    Very little slant. Very helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chris Sta113
    Canadaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Occasional critiques about depth in some macro discussions, but generally strong.
Policy-focused and engaging, with guests who bring real-world experience.
A balanced take on Canada-US relations and macro policy.
High-quality guests; thoughtful questions and clear explanations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#147
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#208
Brazil/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Premier RJ Simpson on northern investment the need for better Arctic defence
Q: What does this moment mean for you as Premier, given the newfound interest and potential to build in the NWT?
It's a historic moment shaped by long-running projects finally getting traction, with leadership from Indigenous groups and government working together to advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway and related energy and transport corridors, creating opportunity and hope for residents while balancing environmental and social considerations.
Premier RJ Simpson on northern investment the need for better Arctic defence
Q: OK, starting to pay attention. So what has changed here?
The change is a renewed, high-level focus on the Arctic driven by global geopolitical shifts and a visible Northward investment push, including stronger interest from international investors and a shift in Canadian policy toward developing infrastructure and resource opportunities in the Northwest Territories.
Can the auto industry survive Trump?
Q: What strategic options exist if the U.S. market remains uncertain and tariffs persist?
Volpe emphasizes the need to balance defense-driven diversification with maintaining a healthy relationship with the U.S. market, exploring joint ventures (e.g., with Hanwha on land systems) and leveraging Canada's defense-industrial capabilities to keep plants viable while pursuing long-term productivity and resilience.
Can the auto industry survive Trump?
Q: Why is it so hard for non-American brands to consider investing in Canada given the access uncertainties to the U.S. market?
The guest notes that the Canadian market is only 2 million units versus a 15 million U.S. market, so manufacturers must be convinced they can access the U.S. market or offset that opportunity with a strong local business case, noting Hyundai's case and the challenge posed by Chinese EV competition.
Can the auto industry survive Trump?
Q: Can I jump in there to push back on the idea that this policy would sink Detroit as well as Canada?
Flavio explains that halting Canadian production would cut off a massive interdependent market: American-owned plants in Canada underpin a large portion of U.S. assembly capacity, and removing Canadian demand or supply would threaten jobs and billions in parts business across both countries.

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 WONK

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

This series covers high-level policy, economics, and governance with a Canadian perspective, featuring interviews with politicians, industry leaders, economists, and university policymakers. Topics frequently center on cross-border trade, energy policy, infrastructure, taxation, and macroeconomic risk, often tying national issues to regional impacts in provinces like Ontario, British Columbia, and New Brunswick. Notable strengths include a balanced, policy-forward approach, accessible explanations of complex topics, and guests who bring practical experience from government, finance, and industry. A recurring edge is tying global trends to concrete Canadian implications, making it useful for listeners who want both context and actionable ins... more

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Which podcasts are similar to WONK?

These podcasts share a similar audience with WONK:

1. The Herle Burly
2. The Munk Debates Podcast
3. At Issue
4. The Paikin Podcast
5. The House

How many episodes of WONK are there?

WONK launched 7 years ago and published 193 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 WONK?

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.

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What guests have appeared on WONK?

Recent guests on WONK include:

1. Flavio Volpe
2. RJ Simpson
3. Gitane De Silva
4. Brett House
5. Steve Verheul
6. Josh Shapiro
7. Alison Nankivell
8. Evan Solomon

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