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Artwork for The Decibel
Canada
Mark Carney
Donald Trump
Iran
United States
USMCA
Tariffs
Artificial Intelligence
Israel
Venezuela
China
Electric Vehicles
Strait Of Hormuz
The Globe and Mail
Ontario
Alberta
British Columbia
Trump Administration
Mexico
Ukraine

Context is everything. Join us Monday to Friday for a Canadian daily news podcast from The Globe and Mail. Explore a story shaping our world, in conversation with reporters, experts, and the people at the centre of the news.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1310Founded5 years ago
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Artwork for The Decibel

Latest Episodes

With July 1 approaching – the formal review date for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement – it has become clear that there will be no 16-year extension of the trade treaty. The USMCA governs trade between the three countries, and Canada receives... more

Billions of dollars of illegal wildlife parts get trafficked around the world each year. Think elephant tusks, rhino horns, polar bear pelts and even some rare plants, like wild ginseng. One of the countries caught up in these criminal networks is Ca... more

YouTube

Dating can be rough, but it seems to be especially bad right now. According to Statistics Canada, in the 1980s, 68 per cent of Canadians aged 25 to 29 were in a relationship. In 2021, that number was 39 per cent.

The Globe’s healthy living reporter ... more

YouTube

Canadian businesses don’t have an innovation problem – they have a growth funding problem. Small- and medium-sized businesses often find themselves in what’s known as the ‘valley of death’ – the crucial time when a business is ready to grow, but can’... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

David Winner
Sports journalist and author of Brilliant Orange
Author, Brilliant Orange
Episode: Introducing Pitch and Power: How Soccer Shapes Everything
Michael Geist
Law professor at the University of Ottawa, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law
University of Ottawa
Episode: Canada’s first steps towards a social media ban
Neil Davidson
Sports writer at The Globe and Mail who covers soccer
The Globe and Mail
Episode: World Cup 2026: Breakout stars, dark horses and Canada’s chances
Robert Schwartz
Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto; Executive Director, Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
University of Toronto/Ontario Tobacco Research Unit
Episode: Is smoking making a comeback?
Joe Castaldo
Staff reporter for The Globe who writes about artificial intelligence
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Carney’s plan for AI in Canada, explained
Gavin John
Journalist covering national defense
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Patrolling the Arctic with the Canadian military
Mark Rendell
The Globe and Mail economics reporter
The Globe and Mail
Episode: The recession question
Sara Mojtehedzadeh
Investigative reporter for The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Unpaid and overworked: labour violations in Canadian trucking
Greg Mercer
Investigative reporter at The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Uncovering FIFA’s costly World Cup demands on Canadian cities

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • Re Streaming funds CanCon

    As if. Canada - in all metrics - just isn’t big enough to have leverage. Heck, our ‘national broadcaster’ can’t even broadcast ‘our national game’. What does that tell me? Everything’s gonna be sold by November 2028, perhaps? Dunno.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jammyjimmy
    Canada13 days ago
  • Unique stories - Very well reported

    For the most part this podcast covers interesting topics and the stories are well done. This is journalism done right - it tells stories that inform.

    I would like to compliment a specific episode on arctic sovereignty. The reporter not only described the issue and challenges, but also the context and explained why it’s done as it is and why it’s important. I feel smarter for listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chillgguy
    Canadaa month ago
  • Not great

    Guest today had poor delivery and sounds like the average middle schooler. I need some more gravitas before I will make this a regular listen.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    RebeccaSaw
    Canada2 months ago
  • Excellent work

    I love the diversity of topics and also the different approaches to covering different topics. The episode featuring voices of the Iranian Diaspora was great radio. There was such a range of views, informed opinions and all presented in the most human way possible, people speaking in their own voices about their own hopes and fears.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    goorooo
    Canada4 months ago
  • Kelly Grant - informative but bad voice.

    Way to crokey. Sounds like she constantly needs to clear her throat.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    jzeeman
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

A solid source for understanding policy implications and real-world impacts.
Some listeners feel the host could push back more on guests for sharper takes.
Very informative and timely coverage of Canadian issues from a reputable outlet.
Diverse topics and voices; winners when featuring Indigenous and global perspectives.
Strong topical depth, credible reporting but pacing can feel like a quick Q&A at times.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#147
United States/News/Daily News
Spotify
#161
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#86
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#5
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#195
United Kingdom/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The risks and rewards of the IPO hype in Canada
Q: What is an IPO and how does it work?
An IPO is when a private company decides to go public, allowing everyday people to invest on the stock market; there is a waiting period to gauge demand and set a launch price based on interest from investors.
World Cup 2026: Breakout stars, dark horses and Canada’s chances
Q: Starting with breakout stars, who might end up becoming a household name worldwide?
Davidson highlights Luminio Mal, Gilberto Mora, Jan Diamande, Michael Elisse as breakout talents, with Mal and Mora especially noted for rapid rises and eye-catching play.
Carney’s plan for AI in Canada, explained
Q: How did you arrive at the 250,000 jobs figure for AI adoption by 2031?
The government referenced OECD-style modeling using the most aggressive adoption scenarios to estimate job creation, but there remains uncertainty about the actual impact on employment and which jobs will be created versus displaced.
Pierre Poilievre: An interview, in full
Q: Would there be anything off limits?
The guest explains that the government should not pursue revenue-raising taxes beyond necessary levels and emphasizes using leverages like existing trade arrangements to secure tariff-free access, while pursuing a leaner government and targeted reforms to maximize efficiency and growth.
Is smoking making a comeback?
Q: Professor Schwartz, what do we know about what influences young people to smoke?
The single most important influence appears to be the depiction of smoking in movies and on screen, which can normalize smoking for young people who see attractive actors smoking; this is compounded by broader marketing tactics and industry involvement in entertainment.

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 Decibel

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

The show consistently covers hard-edged public affairs and national/international issues through conversations with Globe and Mail reporters, policymakers, and subject-matter experts. Recent episodes span indigenous rights and reconciliation, regional political tensions in Canada (notably Alberta separatism), health policy and public health controversies, energy and climate policy, and global security topics like drone warfare and US-China dynamics. A notable pattern is rigorous reporting blended with editorial framing, often foregrounding survivor and community perspectives, regulatory scrutiny, and policy trade-offs. The format tends to pair investigative reporting with contextual analysis, making it useful for listeners who want informed... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Decibel:

1. Front Burner
2. At Issue
3. The Big Story
4. The Current
5. The House

How many episodes of The Decibel are there?

The Decibel launched 5 years ago and published 1310 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 Decibel?

Recent guests on The Decibel include:

1. David Winner
2. Michael Geist
3. Neil Davidson
4. Robert Schwartz
5. Joe Castaldo
6. Gavin John
7. Mark Rendell
8. Sara Mojtehedzadeh

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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