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The Big Five Podcast

CJAD 800
Montreal
Canada
Mark Carney
Donald Trump
Quebec Liberal Party
Quebec Politics
CAQ
Parti Québécois
Justin Trudeau
Montreal, Canada
Quebec
United States
China
Air Canada
Montreal Canadiens
Quebec Referendum
OQLF
Christine Fréchette
Québec Solidaire
Artificial Intelligence

The Big Five is the quintessential Montreal podcast, and the best way to get caught up on the top stories impacting the city. Every weekday, host Elias Makos and a roster of Montreal thought leaders debate and inform.

PublishesDailyEpisodes213Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsDaily NewsNews

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Artwork for The Big Five Podcast

Latest Episodes

Trudie Mason is joined by Raphaël Melançon, political analyst for CTV Montreal and CJAD 800, and columnist for the Montreal Gazette, and Lea Streliski, Best-selling author, comedian and columnist.

• Canada and the U.S. appear to be getting closer ... more

Trudie Mason hosts Dan Delmar, media strategist, co-founder of TNKR Media, and independent political analyst, and Akil Alleyne, reporter, commentator, and manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program.

• Quebec Premier Christine ... more

Trudie Mason is joined by Meeker Guerrier, commentator at Noovo and RDS, and political analyst Karim Boulos.

• Donald Trump delayed the fifty percent tariff deadline by three days as a pending Canada-US trade deal takes shape.

• Paul St-Pierre Pl... more

Trudie Mason is with Andrew Caddell, columnist for the Hill Times and President of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy, and Paul Gott, lead singer of the Ripcordz and journalism professor at Concordia.

• PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon pledged ... more

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

Penny Arnes
Resident of La Cension, Laurentians
Local resident of La Cension
Episode: Conservatives struggle in Carney polls. Plus: Military bilingual units cut
Catherine Hogan
High School Teacher at Westwood Senior High in Hudson
Westwood Senior High, Hudson
Episode: Shopify CEO's voting ideas. Plus: Charles Milliard's economic vision
George Inney
Director at Automobile Protection Association
Automobile Protection Association
Episode: New 50% tariffs on Canada. Plus: Man who insulted police officer gets charged
Christopher Skeet
CAQM&A for St. Rose; Minister of International Relations and the Minister responsible for the fight against racism; also responsible for Laval
Quebec government/International Relations
Episode: New 50% tariffs on Canada. Plus: Man who insulted police officer gets charged
Akil Alleyne
Reporter and commentator with extensive experience analyzing legal, political and social issues; manager of the GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program
GemStar Circle of Excellence Scholarship Program
Episode: More Big O renovations. Plus: Will Canada keep all the revenue from the Gordie Howe bridge?
Lionel Perez
Former city councillor, former leader of the Official Opposition at Montreal City Hall; columnist for the Hill Times; president of the Task Force on Linguistic Policy
Montreal City Hall / Hill Times / Task Force on Linguistic Policy
Episode: A report shows that Canadians trust China more than the U.S. Plus: Bonuses for Canada Post execs
Lea Streliski
Best-selling author, comedian, columnist
Self / Zoom guest on show
Episode: Canada one step closer to the EU. Plus: Politics and sports collide at the World Cup
Massimo Likis
PastaGate whistleblower, former Buonanotte owner
Buonanotte, PastaGate media coverage
Episode: Mayor pushes for tougher gun laws, and there will not be an english provincial debate
Chef Ricardo
Chef Ricardo, Quebecois culinary figure
IGA Quebec
Episode: Mayor pushes for tougher gun laws, and there will not be an english provincial debate

Hosts

Elias Makos
Host of the show with a focus on Montreal politics and public policy discussions.
Trudie Mason
In-studio host and panel moderator for Big Five segments.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 25 ratings
  • Elias is always on point!

    Love this show as a quick cadence of what’s going on in our world. Elias is a great communicator and steers the conversation with relevant topics!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TonyBruneauB
    Canadaa year ago
  • Smart, funny, Montreal

    Part of my daily podcast listening. Elias is hilarious!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NickyZ86
    Canada5 years ago
  • Fantastic Montreal Podcast

    Probably the best Montreal-centric podcast out there. Elias is very entertaining with his guests. Must follow!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JimMTL36
    Canada5 years ago
  • refreshing and lively discussion about local topics

    I've been listening to The Big Five for a couple of weeks now and I've got to say it's refreshing to hear a discussion between people who don't agree on everything and that doesn't rely on one person being an arch-convservative. Elias and Trudie don't always agree but they're thoughtful and sensible and rely on facts and science for their opinions on things instead of rhetoric and truthiness. It's become part of my dog walking routine every afternoon and a great way to catch up on local issues i... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rcloss
    Canada6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, balanced debates with guests who don't always agree.
Engaging mix of local policy and broader national context.
Montreal-centric discussions with practical insights and caller engagement.

Top Politics Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Quebec's Human Rights Tribunal ordered a hair salon to pay $500 to a client. Plus: No more men allowed at Quebec solidaire
Q: What was the core issue that led to the tribunal ruling?
The core issue was discrimination based on gender identity due to offering only binary haircut options, which the tribunal found harmful to a non-binary individual.
New 50% tariffs on Canada. Plus: Man who insulted police officer gets charged
Q: What do you make of this? What is the appropriate response from Canada?
Panelists consider a mix of firm diplomacy and strategic economic responses, noting the potential penalties for American consumers and the broader political signaling, while suggesting that negotiations and alliances with other regions may shape Canada's response.
The challenge to Bill 21 heads to the Supreme Court. Plus: Your pet’s right to an apartment, and your right to resell concert tickets.
Q: How important is this Supreme Court case for religious rights and federalism?
The panelists indicate it is a defining moment for how religious freedoms intersect with provincial authority and the balance of power between federal and provincial levels, with the outcome potentially reshaping Canada's approach to charter rights and federalism.
The end of the Justin Trudeau era. Plus: Montreal’s continuing war on fun.
Q: How do you view the flurry of appointments and announcements made by Trudeau's government before leaving?
Meeker expresses discomfort with the timing of the appointments, yet acknowledges that some actions needed to progress, specifically mentioning the high-speed train.
The end of the Justin Trudeau era. Plus: Montreal’s continuing war on fun.
Q: What would you consider Justin Trudeau's biggest failure over the last decade?
Andrew highlights Trudeau's failure to defend the Constitution and his underwhelming reaction to challenges against it.

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 The Big Five Podcast

What is The Big Five Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The program features brisk, timely discussions on politics, public policy, and urban issues with a rotating panel of experts and regular hosts. Episodes frequently tackle Canadian and Quebec politics, U.S.–Canada trade dynamics, municipal infrastructure, health care, housing, and public policy tools, peppered with audience calls and sponsor reads. The format emphasizes practical analysis, diverse viewpoints, and an approachable, non-rhetorical debate style that aims to illuminate how policy choices affect daily life in Montreal and beyond. A few episodes stand out for weaving local governance with national or international context, and for inviting guests with hands-on experience in government, business, journalism, and advocacy. This mix m... more

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How many listeners does The Big Five Podcast get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Big Five Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Big Five Podcast:

1. The Andrew Carter Podcast
2. Montreal Now with Aaron Rand Podcast
3. Front Burner
4. The Vassy Kapelos Show
5. Two Blocks from the White House

How many episodes of The Big Five Podcast are there?

The Big Five Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 213 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 The Big Five Podcast?

Recent guests on The Big Five Podcast include:

1. Penny Arnes
2. Catherine Hogan
3. George Inney
4. Christopher Skeet
5. Akil Alleyne
6. Lionel Perez
7. Lea Streliski
8. Massimo Likis

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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