Rephonic
Artwork for The Big Story
Canada
Donald Trump
United States
World Cup
Mark Carney
Artificial Intelligence
Strait Of Hormuz
Iran
Toronto
Hantavirus
Statistics Canada
Alberta
Ottawa
Calgary
Toronto, Canada
NATO
Climate Change
Social Media
Liberal Party Of Canada
Privacy

An in-depth look at the issues, culture and personalities shaping Canada today.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1990Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for The Big Story

Latest Episodes

Plus: The CBC is barred from attending the Republican Party’s midterm convention, international school trips across Canada are cancelled or tweaked amid a changing landscape, prayer room restrictions go into effect in Quebec, and what information do ... more

US Senator Mitch McConnell hasn't been seen by the public in some 12 weeks. His last in-person sighting was in Washington, D.C. on June 11, before posting a proof-of-life picture from a rehabilitation centre in mid-July. He's since been discharged, b... more

Plus: Oil prices surge after the U.S. and Iran trade strikes, voters head to the polls in three federal by-elections, Nepalese cultural festivals are cancelled across Canada following recent floods in Nepal, and immigration experts say more tracking ... more

In US President Trump's latest attempt at dominating Canada, an executive order was signed last week renaming Lake Ontario to 'Lake America'.

Whether the new title will actually stick is up for debate, but several Canadian leaders, high-profile cele... 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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Dr. Catherine Fawzi
Professor of Christianity
University of Quebec in Montreal
Episode: Big Headlines: America's new tariff deadline approaches for Canada and Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is being demolished
Catherine Foisy
Professor of Christianity at the University of Quebec in Montreal
University of Quebec in Montreal
Episode: What led to the largest Catholic schism in 156 years?
Dr. Jack Jedwab
President and CEO of the Association for Canadian Studies and Metropolis Institute
Association for Canadian Studies / Metropolis Institute
Episode: Big Headlines: Canadian trade reps continue talks with Washington as new tariffs go into effect this week
Jack Jedwab
Principal author of the report on antisemitism on university campuses
Cain-Harris (partner) / Department of Canadian Heritage project oversight
Episode: How do we stop antisemitism on university campuses?
Jordan Damiani
Investment Advisor, Meridian
Meridian
Episode: Weekend Listen: Keeping a steady ship in turbulent markets
Kaylee Thiessen
From the Canadian Shield Institute
Canadian Shield Institute
Episode: Big Headlines: Iconic Canadian sports broadcaster passes away and select international students under review for protests in Calgary
Kaylie Tiessen
Chief economist at the Canadian Shield Institute
Canadian Shield Institute
Episode: Is it time to end the U.S. "booze bans"?
Gerald Knauss
President of the European Stability Initiative
European Stability Initiative
Episode: Big Headlines: Farage vs. Binface: Voters in Clacton head to the polls
Gerald Knaus
President of the European Stability Initiative
European Stability Initiative
Episode: What's behind 70,000 migrants flooding into a Spanish town?

Hosts

Virjesh Dave
Host of The Big Headlines; frequently appears across major segment leadership and headline recaps.
Maria Kestane
Host of The Big Story; contributes investigative and policy analysis.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Left Leaning Journalism

    Their political segment is biased. Left leaning and Pro-Liberal. I am a long time listener but sinced then, I noticed they have started taking sides and prop-up the Liberals instead of holding them into account. Disappointing. That's not journalism. I will unfollow after their last segment re Martel's appointment to the senate. Don't waste your time listening. The only good segments they have now are those from Mike Eppel who is fair and objective. Others are a waste of time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mike Heavens
    Canada2 months ago
  • Jordan and the team gone

    This was one of my favourite podcasts. However, Rogers let a lot of the team go. This has resulted in very low quality. The topics aren’t as unique, the guests don’t have any new insights and the questions are not inspired.

    At least I can follow Jordan on LinkedIn and keep an eye on what he does next. But all I keep thinking about is how Jordan would advertise the UofT continuing education program is a way to safeguard against layoffs. Now, here we are.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    leagleahleah
    Canada4 months ago
  • Unfortunate

    Really used to love this show. Have tried to give it a chance with the random hosts now but it’s just not good.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    readyjess
    Canada5 months ago
  • Epstein file cover up

    Could hardly listen to their guest today try to minimize the gravity of the Epstein files

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    LarjSarj
    Canada6 months ago
  • Episodes under the past host were pretty good. Now the episodes are tacky at best. The Alberta separatism episode with Barry Cooper was disgusting. Why would you platform someone who says something as divisive as "nobody cares what happens in the Maritimes"? That interview was full of misinformation and should not have made it to publication.

    Podcast Addict
    2
    Aurorespera
    7 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners sometimes feel quality declined after host changes and guest variety issues.
Some episodes are criticized for overemphasis on politics at the expense of depth.
Overall, the show is seen as a staple for Canadian policy discourse, with mixed reception.
Praise for certain reporters and guests who provide fair, data-driven analysis.
Biased viewpoints noted by some listeners, with calls for more balanced discussion.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#231
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#201
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#8
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#35
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#141
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#193
Australia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Canada's new highway of tears
Q: How are sex ads and online data used to track movement of trafficking victims?
Researchers compare long-term missing persons data with contemporaneous online ads, identifying patterns where ads for the same individuals appear in different cities within short timeframes, which helps map travel corridors and active cases.
Canada's new highway of tears
Q: Could you summarize what the Thompson Reuters report reveals about trafficking corridors in Canada?
The report links missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls to online sex ads, showing concrete corridors across the country where ads appear soon after disappearances, signaling structured routes used by traffickers and the need for cross-agency awareness.
Weekend Listen: Keeping a steady ship in turbulent markets
Q: How do you coach clients to deal with FOMO and influencer hype?
I reinforce fundamentals, provide ongoing education, and communicate a plan that aligns with risk tolerance and time horizon, so clients stay disciplined even amid social-media-driven excitement.
Weekend Listen: Keeping a steady ship in turbulent markets
Q: What should investors focus on during volatile times?
Investors should emphasize diversification, a solid financial plan, and long-term thinking such as dollar-cost averaging, rather than chasing hot stocks or reacting to every headline.
Big Headlines: Canadian trade reps continue talks with Washington as new tariffs go into effect this week
Q: If you haven't listened yet, today on The Big Story, how do we stop anti-Semitism on university campuses?
Dr. Jedwab discusses systemic drivers of campus anti-Semitism, emphasizing the importance of robust reporting, education, and campus-wide dialogue, supported by data from surveys and first-hand testimonies to guide effective university policies.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Story

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

A brisk, Canada-focused news and policy program that threads together breaking national headlines with deeper policy analysis and governance discussions. Episodes frequently explore labor and labor relations, healthcare policy (including debates over private delivery and MAID safeguards), AI in government, public safety, and the societal impact of cultural trends and online subcultures. The show often features academics, policy researchers, industry experts, and public advocates, providing a mix of skeptical scrutiny and practical context for Canadian audiences. A notable strength is its ability to pair tight, five-minute briefs with longer, issue-driven conversations that connect policy, politics, and real-world consequences for cities and... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Big Story?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Big Story:

1. The Decibel
2. Front Burner
3. The Current
4. CANADALAND
5. At Issue

How many episodes of The Big Story are there?

The Big Story launched 8 years ago and published 1990 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 Story?

Recent guests on The Big Story include:

1. Dr. Catherine Fawzi
2. Catherine Foisy
3. Dr. Jack Jedwab
4. Jack Jedwab
5. Jordan Damiani
6. Kaylee Thiessen
7. Kaylie Tiessen
8. Gerald Knauss

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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