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North Star with Ellin Bessner

The CJN Podcasts
Israel
Canada
Anti-Semitism
Jewish Community
Antisemitism
Toronto
Holocaust
Auschwitz
Hamas
Montreal
Iran
Vancouver
Israel-Palestine Conflict
Jewish Education
Zionism
Bill C-9
Israel-Hamas Conflict
Canadian Jewish News
Ottawa
Anti-Zionism

Newsmaker conversations from The Canadian Jewish News, hosted by Ellin Bessner, a veteran broadcaster, writer and journalist.

PublishesDailyEpisodes886Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

[This episode originally aired on The Jewish Angle. Subscribe to that podcast here.]

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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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

Sean Goulding
Aidan Goulding's father
Episode: CFB Wainwright's Jewish victim: Pte. Aidan Goulding’s family remembers their ‘ambitious’, ‘brilliant’ hero
Regan Goulding
Aidan Goulding's aunt
Episode: CFB Wainwright's Jewish victim: Pte. Aidan Goulding’s family remembers their ‘ambitious’, ‘brilliant’ hero
Lila Sarick
News editor at The Canadian Jewish News
The Canadian Jewish News
Episode: CFB Wainwright's Jewish victim: Pte. Aidan Goulding’s family remembers their ‘ambitious’, ‘brilliant’ hero
Kimberly Goulding
Aidan Goulding's aunt
Episode: CFB Wainwright's Jewish victim: Pte. Aidan Goulding’s family remembers their ‘ambitious’, ‘brilliant’ hero
Izzie Helenchilde
Producer at The Canadian Jewish News who attended the court hearing
The Canadian Jewish News
Episode: Hear the courtroom drama over a Winnipeg synagogue's fight with former members
Debbie Strub
Israeli Canadian who has lived in Hamilton and Jerusalem
Episode: Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election
Eviatar Tron
Israeli citizen who moved to Toronto under Canada's temporary special visa program
Episode: Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election
Marty Strub
Israeli Canadian and founder of Marty's Pickles
Marty's Pickles
Episode: Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election
Avi Miller
Toronto realtor and former Israeli infantry soldier
Episode: Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election

Host

Ellin Bessner
Host of North Star, CJN North Star Podcast and related CJN segments; veteran broadcaster, writer and journalist.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 86 ratings
  • Excellent Host, Timely Topics

    A must-listen for anyone interested in keeping up with Jewish news in Canada. Elin Bessner is an excellent host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LarbyDarby
    Canada7 months ago
  • Excellent Host, Timely Topics

    A must-listen for anyone interested in keeping up with Jewish news in Canada. Elin Bessner is a good host.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Maman Canadienne
    Canada2 years ago
  • Must-listen for Canadian Jews

    This is the only breaking-news daily podcast for Canadian Jews. If you care about issues that matter to the community, this is an important podcast to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MBF432
    Canada2 years ago
  • Insightful and concise

    I like the show because I learn a lot about Canadian Jewry in a brief daily form. Ellin is thoughtful but measured with her guests making the show about them and not her, the way others often do.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mscott76
    United States3 years ago
  • The best!

    Amazing podcast with important information delivered in a clear and factual way.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LisaLev1981
    Canada4 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Appeals to those wanting deep yet accessible discussions of policy and identity.
Many note thoughtful hosting and strong guest selections.
Listeners praise concise, timely updates on Jewish Canadian news.
Some mention the show's usefulness for staying informed in a fast-moving news landscape.
Audience finds the coverage credible and well-curated for community matters.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#92
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#179
Israel/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election
Q: What kind of Israel would you want to see, if we talk it from year from now, that your kids would be happy that your kids and grandchildren will inherit?
Marty Strub and Eviatar Tron want Haredi students to receive broader education and take part in civic and economic life. Tron also hopes for a democratic society and peaceful relationships with Israel's neighbours.
Meet the Israelis travelling from Canada to vote in the Knesset election
Q: Why did you decide that you needed to go in person and vote?
Eviatar Tron says voting in person was a condition of moving to Canada and that he considers the election crucial. He also committed to returning for future elections.
Hear the courtroom drama over a Winnipeg synagogue's fight with former members
Q: And what is it that they are suing for?
They want their membership reinstated, arguing that Etz Chaim unfairly terminated it and violated the Manitoba Corporations Act. The synagogue says it is a voluntary religious organization and the Act does not apply.
Hear the courtroom drama over a Winnipeg synagogue's fight with former members
Q: Why were they in court on October the 7th of this year? What was the significance of anything of that actual date?
The couple's dispute arose from their views and public activities after October 7, 2023. Their lawyer opened the hearing by recalling the attacks in southern Israel on that date, then connected the events to the case.
CFB Wainwright's Jewish victim: Pte. Aidan Goulding’s family remembers their ‘ambitious’, ‘brilliant’ hero
Q: What do you need to know now from the military? You said that they're helping you with counseling and what have you and whatever. But in terms of the investigation or so that no other family has to go through this, what do you need to know?
Sean says he cannot understand why the soldiers were training in conditions with rising winds and wants to understand how the fire happened, while recognizing that training is necessary for military service.

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 North Star

What is North Star about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Concise daily updates on Canadian Jewish news and community affairs, with a focus on policy, safety, education, and culture. Episodes often feature prominent journalists, community leaders, educators, and experts discussing current events, governance, and how geopolitical issues affect Canadian Jewry. Notable strengths include tight, interview-driven formats, clear editorial standards, and a track record of bringing insider perspectives from media, academia, and community organizations. Listeners likely value timely, fact-based coverage of community impact, leadership decisions, and initiatives that foster resilience and connection.

Where can I find podcast stats for North Star?

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

How many listeners does North Star get?

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What are the audience demographics for North Star?

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How many subscribers and views does North Star have?

To see how many followers or subscribers North Star 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 North Star?

These podcasts share a similar audience with North Star:

1. For Heaven's Sake
2. A Mandatory Listen
3. Call Me Back - with Dan Senor
4. The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
5. Boundless Insights - with Aviva Klompas

How many episodes of North Star are there?

North Star launched 6 years ago and published 886 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 North Star?

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 North Star?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for North Star from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on North Star?

Recent guests on North Star include:

1. Sean Goulding
2. Regan Goulding
3. Lila Sarick
4. Kimberly Goulding
5. Izzie Helenchilde
6. Debbie Strub
7. Eviatar Tron
8. Marty Strub

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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