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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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PublishesWeeklyEpisodes196Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

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Artwork for WONK

Latest Episodes

Canada’s AI strategy involves positioning the country as a global AI powerhouse, driving economic growth and ensuring Canadian control over critical digital infrastructure. But the $2-billion strategy comes as skepticism and deep concerns grow not on... more

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Americans are about to head to the ballot box to cast their votes in the midterms. Canadians, of course, are watching quite intently. Industries and businesses have been hit hard by U.S. tariffs and threats against our sovereignty have been constant.... more

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It would not be an understatement to say that the Canada-U.S. relationship is undergoing a challenging time. The U.S. president describes Canada as a terrible trade partner and the 51st state. Both countries have applied tariffs and counter tariffs o... more

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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

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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

Scotty Greenwood
Former U.S. ambassador chief of staff, Canadian American Business Council CEO and founder of Ottawa Street Strategy
Ottawa Street Strategy
Episode: What the U.S. midterms could mean for Canada
Candace Laing
President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and author
Canadian Chamber of Commerce
Episode: Candace Laing on the Canada’s trade war plan: ‘We got this’
Anne McLellan
Former deputy prime minister in Paul Martin's government.
Episode: Lisa Raitt and Anne McLellan: Canadian democracy is working
Lisa Raitt
Former minister in Stephen Harper's government.
Episode: Lisa Raitt and Anne McLellan: Canadian democracy is working
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.

Host

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

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 90 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
#124
Canada/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What the U.S. midterms could mean for Canada
Q: Do you think if there's a change in the balance of power with the House of Representatives, that they might wrest back the power of tariffs away from the US executive?
Greenwood says Congress may try to reclaim authority, but it has ceded power to presidents over several administrations, and whether that effort changes tariffs is uncertain.
What the U.S. midterms could mean for Canada
Q: What's happening here? What are we witnessing in the US right now?
Greenwood says the president's party typically loses seats in midterms, and this election could bring a significant Democratic gain amid Trump's unpopularity.
Candace Laing on the Canada’s trade war plan: ‘We got this’
Q: Why do you think we've not yet achieved this internal free trade?
Laing says Canada focused on integrating with the United States and neglected its domestic growth potential. She points to regulatory barriers and jurisdictional questions, but argues governments can cooperate to open the Canadian market.
Candace Laing on the Canada’s trade war plan: ‘We got this’
Q: You have said that Canadian businesses are showing a remarkable resilience. In what way?
Laing says businesses are adjusting and negotiating with U.S. customers despite declining confidence, while larger companies generally have more capacity to absorb shocks and pivot than small and medium-sized businesses.
Lisa Raitt and Anne McLellan: Canadian democracy is working
Q: How should that guide Canada's foreign policy and trade policy, do you think, Anne?
McLellan says Canadians favor traditional trading partners such as the European Union and the United Kingdom, recognize the United States' importance, and want to diversify while approaching China and India cautiously and protecting Canadian values.

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. Curse of Politics
5. The House

How many episodes of WONK are there?

WONK launched 7 years ago and published 196 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?

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What guests have appeared on WONK?

Recent guests on WONK include:

1. Scotty Greenwood
2. Candace Laing
3. Anne McLellan
4. Lisa Raitt
5. Flavio Volpe
6. RJ Simpson
7. Gitane De Silva
8. Brett House

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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