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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.

PublishesDailyEpisodes1294Founded5 years ago
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NewsNews CommentaryDaily News

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Artwork for The Decibel

Latest Episodes

There’s a surge of excitement around a few big companies going public this year – like Apotex and SpaceX both going on stock exchanges this week. These IPOs, or initial public offerings, are generating a ton of buzz – and there’s particular interest ... more

The World Cup starts on Thursday, beginning what will be the largest iteration of a hugely popular global event. This time, there are 104 matches with 48 countries competing across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. And the Canadian team will b... more

YouTube

Smoking cigarettes is cool again. Apparently. Social media and accounts online are raving about the habit, turning it into a trend with images from celebrities and appealing to Gen Z. But this rebirth in popularity runs counter to widespread anti-smo... more

The federal government released its plan for AI, and it includes a lot of new money ($2.3 billion, to be precise) towards training, adoption and supporting Canadian businesses and tech companies. There was a lot of anticipation leading up to this str... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Gavin John
Journalist covering national defense
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Patrolling the Arctic with the Canadian military
Jason Kirby
Staff reporter for The Globe's Report on Business
The Globe and Mail
Episode: How alcohol sales explain Canada’s internal trade problem
Marieke Walsh
The Globe's senior political reporter based in our Ottawa bureau
The Globe and Mail
Episode: A crack in Carney’s Liberal caucus over climate
Greg Mercer
Investigative reporter at The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
Episode: Uncovering FIFA’s costly World Cup demands on Canadian cities
Janice Dickson
The Globe's international affairs reporter
The Globe and Mail
Episode: What’s behind the surge in military enlistment in Canada
Willow Fiddler
Reporter for The Globe and Mail covering indigenous affairs, survivor perspectives
Globe and Mail
Episode: The search for graves at Tk’emlups, five years on
Chris Hannay
Globe and Mail Business of Health Reporter
Globe and Mail
Episode: Deaths raise concerns over selling plasma in Canada
Pierre Poilievre
Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, federal opposition
Conservative Party of Canada
Episode: An interview with Pierre Poilievre
David Walensley
Editor in Chief
The Globe and Mail
Episode: An interview with Pierre Poilievre

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 1.4k ratings
  • 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
    Canada3 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
  • Tiresome Q and A

    I’ve listened to this show on and off for a while and ultimately find the style of interaction tedious. It’s like the host has preset questions to run through but beyond this doesn’t engage much with the substance of what guests are saying, just moves on to next question. Overall a bit too thin.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Elliesxxxxxx
    Canada5 months ago
  • Informative

    As an American who unfortunately finds themself living under an authoritarian regime, finding a reliable news source outside the USA that covers important topics is invaluable. I also strongly appreciate learning about the news stories and perspectives from Canada, as it is one of America's closest neighbors.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raven4EvRMore
    United States5 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
#199
United States/News/Daily News
Spotify
#149
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#74
Canada/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#4
Canada/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#13
Canada/News
Apple Podcasts
#74
United Kingdom/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How alcohol sales explain Canada’s internal trade problem
Q: Why hasn't momentum on reducing these trade barriers persisted, especially given recent conversations about creating a more unified Canadian market?
Momentum cooled as provinces and regulators faced competing priorities, with each jurisdiction protecting its own liquor monopoly while laboring under the political reality of balancing consumer access with revenue and control, leading to a stall in real progress.
How alcohol sales explain Canada’s internal trade problem
Q: What does it say to you that the provincial and territorial governments haven't been able to sort out this small issue of direct to consumer alcohol sales?
It shows that the economic promise of removing internal barriers is overshadowed by entrenched provincial interests and bureaucratic roadblocks; even with big intentions, the actual implementation stalls at the local level where monopolies and fees persist.
Uncovering FIFA’s costly World Cup demands on Canadian cities
Q: Why are these costs so much higher in Canada compared to the US?
Early estimates didn't fully account for security, policing, and stadium upgrades, and Canada faced intensified branding, security, and perimeters around venues, leading to ballooning costs.
Uncovering FIFA’s costly World Cup demands on Canadian cities
Q: So what exactly do these contracts require host cities to do beyond stadium upgrades?
They lay out obligations across transportation, immigration, policing, safety, and even brand protection, with revenues largely flowing to FIFA while host cities bear the costs and risks.
Patrolling the Arctic with the Canadian military
Q: What makes the Rangers such a crucial tool for Arctic defense compared to other forces or technologies?
Rangers bring intimate land knowledge, local presence, and community-based legitimacy that hard tech alone cannot provide; they act as eyes and ears and help stabilize remote regions through sustained presence.

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 House
5. The Current

How many episodes of The Decibel are there?

The Decibel launched 5 years ago and published 1294 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. Gavin John
2. Jason Kirby
3. Marieke Walsh
4. Greg Mercer
5. Janice Dickson
6. Willow Fiddler
7. Chris Hannay
8. Pierre Poilievre

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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