Rephonic
Artwork for Wonk
Canada
Immigration
Public Policy
Labor Market
Energy Transition
Canada's Economy
International Students
Economic Inclusion
Temporary Foreign Workers
Online Harms Bill
Housing Crisis
LNG
Artificial Intelligence
Canadian Journalism
Hate Speech
Express Entry System
Health Data
Climate Policy
Elon Musk
Nova Scotia

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Amanda Lang, 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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes171Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsPoliticsGovernment

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Wonk

Latest Episodes

Canada has changed tack on its climate efforts from a price on carbon and a philosophical view that fossil fuels might be phased out to a more pragmatic policy that embraces energy development while still aiming to meet climate targets. It's a tricky... more

Some of the thorniest problems of our time won't be solved with the tools and systems that we currently use, but that doesn't make them beyond our capacity to solve. Tom Chi has spent his career at the center of innovation and process design — that i... more

Nestled in a tiny fishing outport in Newfoundland, Fogo Island Inn has become a luxury stop for the well-traveled. But it is a lot more than that -- by design. Fogo's part of a social enterprise called Shorefast, and while its success has definitely ... more

YouTube

With gambling in the palm of everyone's hand, it's not just big business: it's changing the world of sports. It also ignores the harms that come along the way. Danny Funt is a journalist and the author of a new book, Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous R... 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.

Curse of Politics
Curse of PoliticsAir Quotes Media
The Munk Debates Podcast
The Munk Debates PodcastMunk Foundation / iHeartRadio
The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge
The Bridge with Peter MansbridgeManscorp Media Services

Recent Guests

Tom Chi
Author and inventor with a background in innovation and process design, including tenure at Google X.
Formerly with Google X
Episode: Tom Chi on how to make an economy that works
Danny Funt
Journalist and author of Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling
Episode: The dangerous spread of sports betting
David Eby
Premier of British Columbia
Government of British Columbia
Episode: Premier David Eby on building a new economy
Bob Rae
Former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, former premier of Ontario
Episode: Bob Rae on the new world order
Kevin Carmichael
Logics Economics columnist and editor-at-large
Episode: Canada’s make or break year
Jean-Francois Perreault
Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Scotiabank
Scotiabank
Episode: Canada’s make or break year
Don Tapscott
An author and thought leader known for his insights on technology and digital economics.
Co-author of the book You to the Power of Two
Episode: Don Tapscott on the battle to control your own AI
Steven Pinker
Professor at Harvard University, author of 13 books including 'When Everyone Knows What Everyone Knows'
Harvard University
Episode: ‘What is common knowledge?’ Steven Pinker explains
Gordon McCauley
President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations, a national life sciences accelerator.
adMare BioInnovations
Episode: Why Canada needs to build ‘anchor companies’

Host

Amanda Lang
Host of Wonk

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 74 ratings
  • 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
    Canada4 months ago
  • Amazing

    We need more of Amanda Lang.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steven1234567
    Canada5 months 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
    6 months ago
  • Best Canadian Policy Pod

    Very little slant. Very helpful.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chris Sta113
    Canada6 months ago
  • Much improved

    I’ve been listening more consistently since Amanda Lang took over as host. She has a good voice (no vocal fry, croakiness, twang, or other irritating quality). Her guests are thoughtful.

    Recently episode on AI with Valerie Posano was excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Loganhamman
    Canada8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many reviews praise the host's engaging delivery and thoughtfulness in discussing critical issues.
There are opinions highlighting the podcast's importance in providing timely and relevant insights into Canadian policy and governance challenges.
Listeners appreciate the insightful discussions and expert guests, often noting the show's ability to explain complex topics clearly.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#68
Canada/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#242
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#242
United Arab Emirates/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Chi on how to make an economy that works
Q: How do you approach the fact that right now, there's some people who just simply deny the existence of the problem?
Chi suggests that despite the denial, many impactful changes can be made by small teams of dedicated individuals working independently of public belief.
Tom Chi on how to make an economy that works
Q: What's your message here?
Tom Chi discusses the importance of recognizing economics as a design discipline rather than a rigid belief system, encouraging innovative thinking to meet societal needs.
Zita Cobb on economic growth, one town at a time
Q: What about 129 rooms? How did you decide what enough looked like?
Zita explains that narrow market logic can trap businesses into unsustainable practices, emphasizing the importance of thinking about broader economic benefits beyond just the local community.
Zita Cobb on economic growth, one town at a time
Q: What do you hope for the Shorefast Institute? Where do you begin? Where is it now?
Zita discusses the launch of the Shorefast Institute, highlighting a successful pilot project that confirmed their community-based economic development approach is valid in other contexts, and emphasizes the need for connected, collaborative community efforts.
Premier David Eby on building a new economy
Q: What is the agenda for you to change housing affordability in your province?
Eby outlines measures including a new law on multi-family housing construction and affordable home initiatives aimed at reducing down payment burdens for first-time buyers.

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?

A show centered around significant ideas relevant to contemporary challenges in Canada, featuring discussions with influential policymakers and thinkers. The content frequently focuses on pressing issues such as economic policy, climate change, healthcare, and social justice, revealing diverse perspectives on how these topics affect the Canadian landscape. Episodes often tackle systemic issues, highlight innovative solutions, and encourage a nuanced understanding of the socio-political dynamics influencing Canada today. Unique to this show is its commitment to exploring the intersection of public policy and everyday life, offering listeners insights into how major decisions shape their communities and the nation at large.

Where can I find podcast stats for Wonk?

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

How many listeners does Wonk get?

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

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Wonk, 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 Wonk have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Wonk 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 Wonk?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Wonk:

1. Curse of Politics
2. At Issue
3. The House
4. The Munk Debates Podcast
5. The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

How many episodes of Wonk are there?

Wonk launched 6 years ago and published 171 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.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Wonk?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Wonk 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 Wonk?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Wonk. 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 Wonk?

Recent guests on Wonk include:

1. Tom Chi
2. Danny Funt
3. David Eby
4. Bob Rae
5. Kevin Carmichael
6. Jean-Francois Perreault
7. Don Tapscott
8. Steven Pinker

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