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This is Ottawa

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes123Founded2 years ago
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Artwork for This is Ottawa

Latest Episodes

Street racing is dangerous and illegal. Yet the roar of revving engines and screeching tires can be heard across the city all summer. In this encore episode, Robyn Bresnahan speaks to a former street racer who drove “without any concerns or worries o... more

Remember the time an MP was hit by a bag of flying feces in the House of Commons? Or the day a man accidentally blew himself up in a Parliamentary bathroom stall? What about the Playboy magazines you could sign out from the Library of Parliament? Rob... more

Why can you get a residential street parking permit on some Ottawa streets, but not others? That’s the question a couple living near Mooney’s Bay had after being denied a parking permit for their second vehicle. Now they have to move their car every ... more

Estate sales used to be the domain of the boomer generation. But if you’ve been to one lately you’ll notice a shift in who’s there to shop. Robyn Bresnahan joins a long queue of Gen Z treasure hunters to find out why estate sales are having a moment.... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

April Killikelly
Resident of Mooney's Bay with parking concerns
Mooney's Bay residents
Episode: Why can’t I park on the street where I live?
Manashe Spivak-Slodowski
April's partner and resident facing parking restrictions
Mooney's Bay residents
Episode: Why can’t I park on the street where I live?
Marlee Barzin
Estate sale organizer running the Morrisburg sale
Self-employed/Estate sale organizer
Episode: Ottawa's Gen Z's are lowkey obsessed with estate sales
Mary Frances Shea
Veteran estate sale organizer
Mary Frances Shea Estate Sales
Episode: Ottawa's Gen Z's are lowkey obsessed with estate sales
Allen Langdon
CEO for Circular Materials, leading Ottawa's recycling program
Circular Materials
Episode: BONUS: Kids ask questions to recycling CEO
Alan Langdon
CEO of Circular Materials
Circular Materials
Episode: Kicked to the curb – no blue bins in schools until 2031?
Valérie Leloux
Waste and recycling lead at EnviroCenter; founder of New Grocery
EnviroCenter / New Grocery
Episode: Kicked to the curb – no blue bins in schools until 2031?
Riley Brockington
River Ward Councillor
City of Ottawa
Episode: Kicked to the curb – no blue bins in schools until 2031?
John Fraser
MPP for Ottawa South; interim leader of Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
Episode: Kicked to the curb – no blue bins in schools until 2031?

Host

Robyn Bresnahan
Host of the CBC Ottawa segment; leads interviews and deep-dives on city-focused stories

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 129 ratings
  • So informative

    I discovered this podcast because it was advertised on another CBC podcast I subscribe to. Fortunately, there’s 2 years of archived episodes and it has become a personal favourite. Just finished listening to “This is me in grade 9” and I am grateful my son finished high school decades ago!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    crazycatlady56
    Canada2 months ago
  • 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
    Canada8 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
    Canadaa year 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
    Canada2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans appreciate the breezy format and accessible coverage of Ottawa's city issues.
Some listeners wish for broader perspective on controversial topics, noting a need for diverse viewpoints.
Listeners praise local focus and warm interview style, finding episodes informative and well-produced.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why can’t I park on the street where I live?
Q: What would be the impact if more streets gained residential permits?
Officials suggest a broader community discussion is needed, balancing resident needs with visitors and events, while noting that not all wards will grant permits.
Why can’t I park on the street where I live?
Q: Who decides what streets are zoned for residential street parking?
The decision involves a community-driven petition process with required support and local councillor approval, rather than a simple top-down designation.
Ottawa’s next top dog: who’s running for Mayor?
Q: Is there risk of vote splitting among candidates?
Yes, especially between urban and suburban candidates, with concerns about how endorsements and regional support could pull votes away from one another.
Ottawa’s next top dog: who’s running for Mayor?
Q: What are the transit plans being discussed by candidates?
Candidates talk about improving bus reliability with dedicated lanes, reversing service cuts, wider funding for maintenance, and fare changes to encourage ridership, with specifics varying by candidate.
Ottawa’s next top dog: who’s running for Mayor?
Q: What are the rules around when the mayor can start campaigning?
The mayor must continue communicating city policies, and council cannot use city resources to promote or oppose candidacy, though appearing at events not explicitly campaigning can still give a slight edge.

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?

A city-focused show that explores Ottawa's dynamics, from municipal politics and transit to local culture, education, and infrastructure. Episodes feature a mix of policymakers, researchers, business leaders, activists, and community organizers, with a strong emphasis on local impact and practical implications for residents and businesses. Notable strengths include accessible storytelling, on-the-ground reporting, and a knack for translating complex policy or urban-planning topics into relatable, bite-sized narratives. The host steers conversations with warmth and clarity, making it appealing to listeners who want a clear read on how city decisions shape daily life and opportunities in Ottawa.

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

How many listeners does This is Ottawa get?

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What are the audience demographics for This is Ottawa?

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How many subscribers and views does This is Ottawa have?

To see how many followers or subscribers This is Ottawa 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 This is Ottawa?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This is Ottawa:

1. The House
2. At Issue
3. The Current
4. Two Blocks from the White House
5. The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

How many episodes of This is Ottawa are there?

This is Ottawa launched 2 years ago and published 123 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 This is Ottawa?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for This is Ottawa?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for This is Ottawa from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on This is Ottawa?

Recent guests on This is Ottawa include:

1. April Killikelly
2. Manashe Spivak-Slodowski
3. Marlee Barzin
4. Mary Frances Shea
5. Allen Langdon
6. Alan Langdon
7. Valérie Leloux
8. Riley Brockington

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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