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

PublishesDailyEpisodes1643Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNews CommentaryNews

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Artwork for The Big Story

Latest Episodes

AI-generated sexualized images of women and children started appearing across X beginning late 2025. These images, created by user prompts on the Grok AI tool, showed women and children in various stages of undress and sexualized poses. Some reports ... more

In 2016, the Canadian federal government recognized the opioid crisis as a public health emergency, yet 10 years later, thousands of Canadians die from opioid toxicity every year.

Health Canada committed $17 million to research projects and harm red... more

The Alberta separatism movement isn’t new, but this most recent resurgence seems a little more potent. That's in part because of the passage of Alberta’s Bill 14, which has made it arguably easier for citizen-led initiatives to end up on referendum b... more

What were once mildly-concerning threats against the sovereignty of Greenland, have now come into clear focus in the aftermath of Nicolas Maduro's arrest.

US President Donald Trump openly admitted he's governed by his own morality rather than intern... more

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Recent Guests

Dimitra Panagiotoglou
Canada Research Chair in the Economics of Harm Reduction and Associate Professor at McGill University
McGill University
Episode: How is Canada solving its opioid crisis 10 years later?
Dr. Barry Cooper
Political Sciences Professor at the University of Calgary and expert on Alberta separatism.
University of Calgary
Episode: What's at stake if Alberta separates from Canada?
James McCann
Senior Economist at Edward Jones
Edward Jones
Episode: Weekend Listen: Deal or no Deal? How U.S. Trade talks will determine Canada's 2026 economy
Dr. Younes Alila
Professor of Forest Hydrology and Watershed Management at the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
Episode: More than rain: why flooding is getting worse in BC
Aaron Ettinger
Political science professor at Carleton University
Carleton University
Episode: Jan 6th five years later: what's changed, what hasn't?
Kelley Keehn
CEO of the Money Wise Institute, best-selling author, and personal finance educator
Money Wise Institute
Episode: Buy Now Pay Later: how does it work and is it right for you?
Jenn Trepeck
Host of the podcast Salad With a Side of Fries and author
Seeker app
Episode: FOF: Why You “Ruin Your Diet” Every Holiday (PS: It’s Not Willpower) with Jenn Trepeck
Eric Kam
Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University
Toronto Metropolitan University
Episode: AI, EVs and HBC: Looking back at Canada's biggest business stories of 2025
Shawn Zigelstein
Broker and team leader at Team Zold.
Royal Lepage, Your Community Realty
Episode: Weekend Listen: Will 2026 bring any sort of stability in the real estate market?

Hosts

Richard Southern
Host of the segment and interacts with various guests, exploring topical issues pertinent to Canadian society.
Maria Kestane
Host who notably leads discussions on healthcare and social issues, engaging with expert opinions on various topics.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 2.9k ratings
  • Like rain on your wedding day

    Listening to someone yammer on for 15 mins attempting to explain “Zohran Mamdani connected to voters via pragmatic policies communicated in clear, concise language which succeeded because of its accessibility to a broader range of constituents. Communications is an area where the NDP has fumbled in recent years” in circles leading to tangents and ums and as I was sayings was mildly infuriating and quite literally dashing of any remaining hopes for this country to ever dig itself out of the hole ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    noisecancelling
    Canada2 months ago
  • Zombie show!

    Sometimes shows up in my feed and can’t believe it still exists. Should have ended it when you got rid of the actual people who made it. Garbage now

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    readyjess
    Canada3 months ago
  • Biased maybe?

    When it comes to carney the PM and the conservative leader. I feel this is very one sided. I used to love listening to this podcast but it’s always about one view point. The guest who’s speaking.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Michild
    Canada3 months ago
  • Not the same without the original host

    Ngl I rarely ever listen to the big story podcast nowadays, but recently got to listen to one of their new episodes, and it’s pretty much gone downhill, what I was told the original host jordan heath rawlings left around the end of last year, that pretty much explains why this podcast is not has good has it once was

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bmister__
    Canada4 months ago
  • Something different

    I throughly enjoy hearing all the different types of hosts. It gives the format a vibrant listen..

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    newsytoronto
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Many reviews highlight the engaging nature of discussions, while others express disappointment regarding shifts in hosting dynamics and content direction.
Listeners appreciate the expert insights and diverse topics presented, making it a go-to for those interested in Canadian current affairs.
Feedback indicates a divide in listener satisfaction, with some feeling recent changes have diluted quality compared to previous iterations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#173
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#9
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#38
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#193
United Kingdom/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#65
China/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#125
Colombia/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What's at stake if Alberta separates from Canada?
Q: What would an independent Alberta look like?
Dr. Cooper discusses the possibilities of Alberta becoming either a 51st state or a fully sovereign nation, noting that independence would provide Alberta with more power and control over its resources.
What's at stake if Alberta separates from Canada?
Q: Why do you believe that Alberta needs greater independence?
Dr. Cooper states that Alberta's economic transformation over past generations necessitates greater independence to reflect its status as the economic engine of Canada.
Weekend Listen: Deal or no Deal? How U.S. Trade talks will determine Canada's 2026 economy
Q: Do they cut rates at all this year? Or does that just come back to, if there's no trade deal, all bets are off?
Our view is that they'll sit on their hands this year as the policy is in a good place, not expecting significant changes unless there's major issues with trade negotiations.
Weekend Listen: Deal or no Deal? How U.S. Trade talks will determine Canada's 2026 economy
Q: Do you think we're actually going to see a three-way deal again, or is it just simpler to go bilateral?
There's a strong case for the trade agreement to remain across three parties, especially given the integrated supply chains across North America.
How is Canada solving its opioid crisis 10 years later?
Q: What does the research tell us about taking this kind of abstinence-based approach versus allowing for safe consumption?
Success in recovery often depends on having high recovery capital, which includes support systems and motivation, rather than just relying on abstinence-based models alone.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Story

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

Exploring pressing issues, cultural shifts, and significant personalities, this podcast presents a comprehensive examination of contemporary Canada. Episodes address a range of topics, from the complexities of cannabis tourism and immigration policy to challenges in healthcare and the implications of significant political agreements. The unique blend of expert insights and journalistic investigation aims to keep listeners informed about the nuances that impact Canadian society, making it an appealing resource for those interested in current events and socio-political dynamics. Noteworthy is the diverse array of hosts and experts, contributing to a rich variety of discussions, ensuring that listeners receive different perspectives on each to... 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. CANADALAND
4. The Current
5. The House

How many episodes of The Big Story are there?

The Big Story launched 8 years ago and published 1643 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. Dimitra Panagiotoglou
2. Dr. Barry Cooper
3. James McCann
4. Dr. Younes Alila
5. Aaron Ettinger
6. Kelley Keehn
7. Jenn Trepeck
8. Eric Kam

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