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This is Ottawa

CBC
Ottawa
Rideau Canal
Rats
Mental Health
Elgin Street Diner
Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre
Canada
Ontario
Ottawa, Canada
Lansdowne Park
Canada Day
City Council
Math Anxiety
Witchcraft
Ottawa Lynx
Education
Leech Therapy
Mello's Restaurant
New Beginnings
Pest Control

How are high rents impacting Ottawa businesses? What happens during an all-nighter at the Elgin Street Diner? Every week, host Robyn Bresnahan does a deep dive into a story you're curious about and the issues you want to understand in the city we call home. New episodes every Monday. Have an idea for an episode? Email: thisisottawa@cbc.ca

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes113Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for This is Ottawa

Latest Episodes

Need a saw to build a deck, but it’s not in the reno budget? Borrow it. Want to try camping, but you don’t have a tent? There’s a lending library for that. Stuff is expensive, but Robyn Bresnahan discovered you can be a loaner in Ottawa when it comes... more

Grade 9 is a biggie. The first year of high school. New class formats. New friends. Hormones. Social media. Robyn Bresnahan spends a day at St Francis Xavier school in Riverside South talking to ninth graders about dating, summer jobs, homework and w... more

Demand for downtown parking exceeds supply on certain weekday mornings. To score a spot, some commuters have a strategy. Robyn Bresnahan hung out in some downtown parking garages to hear why commuters feel the cost and stress of parking downtown is s... more

When war came to their country, thousands of Ukrainians arrived in Ottawa. Four years later, some of them wonder whether they’ll ever be able to return to their homeland. Robyn Bresnahan meets up with two women who’ve settled into jobs and life in Ot... 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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Recent Guests

Benjamin Gianni
Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Urbanism Program, Carleton University
Carleton University
Episode: Lot full: why parking downtown Ottawa is such a gong show
Derek Simpson
Transportation chair of the Centretown Community Association
Centretown Community Association
Episode: Lot full: why parking downtown Ottawa is such a gong show
Henry Grabar
Staff writer at The Atlantic, author of Paved Paradise
The Atlantic
Episode: Lot full: why parking downtown Ottawa is such a gong show
Svetlana Taran
Ukrainian refugee who settled in Ottawa and works with the Ottawa Police as a civilian
Ottawa Police
Episode: ‘My body is in Ottawa, my soul in Ukraine’
Tatiana Piatkowskova
A Ukrainian on a temporary work permit living with a host family in Ottawa
Startup Canada (employer)
Episode: ‘My body is in Ottawa, my soul in Ukraine’
Jamie Liu
Immigration lawyer and professor at University of Ottawa
University of Ottawa
Episode: ‘My body is in Ottawa, my soul in Ukraine’
David Goodale
Founder of MerchantAccounts.ca, fraud expert
MerchantAccounts.ca
Episode: Cucumber on your doorstep? It could be fraud.
Alex Usher
President, Higher Education Strategy Associates
Higher Education Strategy Associates
Episode: Slash — and learn? Will Algonquin College ever be the same again?
Jackie Lyons
Renounced American citizenship three years ago
Individual, former American citizen living in Ottawa
Episode: ‘I feel alienated from my U.S. identity’ - the Ottawans renouncing their US citizenship

Host

Robyn Bresnahan
Host and interviewer shaping Ottawa-focused narratives with a local-sourced, narrative-driven approach.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 122 ratings
  • Love that it is local

    I really enjoy listening to this local show. I feel so smothered by news from elsewhere that it is refreshing to have something local.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CinderDaxWolf
    Canada6 months ago
  • So glad I discovered!

    Interesting subjects, a smart and warm host, excellent production, breezy format. Thanks for keeping me up to date on the city I used to live in and still love!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LotstoLearnCDA
    Canada10 months ago
  • Love the stories

    Great to learn things that I did not know about the city I have lived in for over 30 years. Entertaining and informative.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DMOttawa
    Canadaa year ago
  • Regressive garbage

    I had unsubscribe after the most recent episode on the tree equity score. It continues a pattern of promoting a

    regressive racialist and ethnocentric view of Ottawans. It doesn’t have to be this way. They could’ve presented a different perspective. One that emphasizes our common humanity, but instead chose to label and divine people based on their immutable characteristics.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SargeantSpectacular
    Canadaa year ago
  • Carleton University visit!

    Thank you for your podcast on Carleton University. It was so great to hear the students. My daughter is currently in Lanark on the second floor! Your podcast are great.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EllieBeaG
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Community-minded content with broad appeal to Ottawa residents and visitors seeking city insights.
Listeners praise its strong local focus and accessible storytelling.
Episodes are described as informative, with a good balance of depth and brevity, though some reviews note perceived bias in a few topics.
Production quality and host warmth are frequently highlighted as standout strengths.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

There’s a hole in the city…
Q: How do you think they're gonna do that in the middle of the city?
They're going to demolish it floor by floor, with railings, scaffolding, and controlled removal rather than blasting the structure, to avoid danger to surrounding buildings and people.
There’s a hole in the city…
Q: Are you an engineer?
No, not at all.
Stand-up city: why comedians love Ottawa
Q: How do political jokes go down with Ottawa audiences?
Hart Sholdeis suggested that political jokes can be divisive; while government jokes may work, political humor requires a certain level of cleverness and care in delivery, as audiences are often fatigued by politics.
Stand-up city: why comedians love Ottawa
Q: What do you think makes Ottawa's comedy scene unique?
Ottawa has a diverse community with many different racial backgrounds, and audiences are willing to laugh at various types of humor, creating a lively comedy culture.
Will a floating sauna make you hate the NCC less?
Q: Do you think that things like floating saunas will make the haters hate the NCC any less?
Neusbaum believes that no matter what they do, they won't please everyone, but they are committed to innovation.

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 This is Ottawa

What is This is Ottawa about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show covers a wide range of Ottawa-centric topics, from urban development and city planning to local culture, politics, and public services. Episodes frequently pair on-the-ground reporting with expert or community voices to unpack how policy, infrastructure, and local decisions affect residents and businesses. A notable strength is its ability to translate complex local issues into accessible, timely stories, often with a clear link to everyday life in the nation's capital. The format blends documentary-style storytelling with timely debates, and standout episodes highlight practical implications for livability, housing, transit, and public services.

What stands out: strong local focus, multi-voiced perspectives, and a balance of har... more

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Which podcasts are similar to This is Ottawa?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This is Ottawa:

1. The House
2. Front Burner
3. Cost of Living
4. At Issue
5. The Current

How many episodes of This is Ottawa are there?

This is Ottawa launched 2 years ago and published 113 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 This is Ottawa?

Recent guests on This is Ottawa include:

1. Benjamin Gianni
2. Derek Simpson
3. Henry Grabar
4. Svetlana Taran
5. Tatiana Piatkowskova
6. Jamie Liu
7. David Goodale
8. Alex Usher

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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