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This Matters

Toronto Star
Canada
Olivia Chow
Toronto
Freedom Of Information Act
Doug Ford
Housing Development
Mpps Salary
Norman Jewison
Ontario Politics
Greenbelt
Khalid Rashid
Auditor General
Queen's Park
Toronto City Budget
Gaza
Toronto PWHL
International Students
Santa Claus
William Nylander
Financial Literacy

The world is changing every day. Now, more than ever, these questions matter. What’s happening? And why should you care? This Matters, a daily news podcast from the Toronto Star, aims to answer those questions, on important stories and ideas, every day, Monday to Friday. Hosts Saba Eitizaz and Ed Keenan talk to their fellow journalists, experts and newsmakers about the social, cultural, political ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes1084Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentaryNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for This Matters

Latest Episodes

Guest: Ben Cohen, Toronto Star City Hall reporter

Electric scooters weaving through sidewalks, e-bikes flying through intersections, and mopeds cutting into bike lanes have become a common sight in Toronto. The city is being rapidly reshaped by the... more

Guest: Mike Wilner, baseball columnist & host of Deep Left Field baseball podcast

The Blue Jays are currently battling the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series (or ALCS for short), the one that precedes the World Series. Gett... more

Guest: Andy Takagi, Toronto Star transportation reporter

Many of us know this pain too well: waiting on a very late bus or crawling between subway stations with no idea when we’ll get to where we're trying to go. Long commutes can famously take a r... more

Guest: Omar Mosleh, Toronto Star reporter

The RCMP says it has dismantled one of the largest dark web drug networks in Canadian history, a GTA-based group called RoadRunna that was allegedly shipping about 400 packages of drugs a week across Canada... more

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Recent Guests

Mike Wilner
Baseball columnist at The Star and former baseball broadcaster for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Star
Episode: 10 years ago, the Jays lost the first two games at home. Then the bat - and script - flipped
Geddy Lee
Lead singer, bassist, and keyboardist from the Canadian rock band Rush, and a passionate Blue Jays fan.
Rush
Episode: We look at the Jays ALDS matchup against the New York Yankees, plus we discuss the Blue Jays season with a special superfan and we open up the mailbag
Steve Teekens
Executive Director of Na-Me-Res, an Indigenous-led organization focused on helping Indigenous men experiencing homelessness.
Na-Me-Res
Episode: Truth and Reconciliation and the reality of Indigenous homelessness
Ava Smithing
Social media activist and host of Left to Their Own Devices
The Toronto Star
Episode: Has Big Tech rewired Gen Z?
Ben Spurr
Star reporter covering environmental issues
Toronto Star
Episode: Why Toronto's garbage problem stinks for everyone
Raju Mudhar
Resident speed camera expert and former host of This Matters
Toronto Star
Episode: Serial vandalism of Toronto speed cameras are about something bigger
Manuela Vega
Housing reporter
Toronto Star
Episode: Are financial landlords reshaping Toronto's rental market and driving evictions?
Josh Rubin
Business reporter at Toronto Star
Toronto Star
Episode: Elbows in? Why Carney pulled back on tariffs with Trump
Raisa Patel
Star reporter based in Ottawa
Toronto Star
Episode: Elbows in? Why Carney pulled back on tariffs with Trump

Host

Saba Eitizaz
Host of the podcast, engaging in discussions around social, cultural, and political issues.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 476 ratings
  • Speaker needs voice lessons august 2025

    Trying to hear the content in the elbows down interview. Raisa Patel over-modulates her tone speaks too fast for radio and relies on that annoying vocal fry to imply gravitas. I could not follow her reporting because her vocal acrobatics were too distracting.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Tangled garden
    Canada2 months ago
  • Hope Ed returns

    Big fan of all the hosts, but Edward Keenan was the main reason I looked forward to my commute listening to This Matters. He brought an energy that made the issues of the day, as gloomy and oppressing they may be, seem manageable. The show was always informative as well as entertaining with his quips and stories. Not all media should be uniformly structured. Ed’s unique delivery of “…and this matters”, punctuating the upbeat notes of the intro music, always focused me to subject.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    14Bmc2
    Canada3 months ago
  • Gambling Ads - STOP!! STOP!!

    If I hear one more gambling ad I am going to unfollow this show! The gambling companies are designing ads that target the vulnerable, especially the young. This is a public health issue. The ads should be banned. Why is The Star aiding the gambling companies in their efforts to recruit more gamblers???

    March 29 - still bombarding us with gambling ads. Shame on you Toronto Star.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Proud Canadian Triathlon Fan
    Canada7 months ago
  • Gambling Ads - STOP!!

    If I hear one more gambling ad I am going to unfollow this show! The gambling companies are designing ads that target the vulnerable, especially the young. This is a public health issue. The ads should be banned. Why is The Star aiding the gambling companies in their efforts to recruit more gamblers???

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Oldish Runner
    Canada9 months ago
  • Started from the top, now it’s weird

    Up until a disatrous fall-off in mid 2024, This Matters was such an excellent podcast that it actually managed to outclass far better known daily podcasts from the New York Times and Washington Post, and often managed to upstage the rather mid tier newspaper, The Toronto Star, to which it was technically attached.

    Unlike those American papers, The Star itself has no pretense of being a global leader in news. It shares similar flaws as the US and UK mainstream media— an unwillingness to take an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    melodie-c
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the in-depth analysis of current events and the engaging storytelling approach.
Some concerns have been raised about occasional interruptions among hosts affecting the listening experience.
Overall, feedback highlights a desire for continued informative and thought-provoking discussions.
There are calls for improvements in audio quality and music selection.
The podcast is praised for hosting knowledgeable guests and tackling relevant societal issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#115
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Worst Commute
Q: What are some solutions for easing commutes in Toronto?
Implementing platform edge doors, handling congestion on city streets, and establishing full transit signal priority are key suggestions.
The Worst Commute
Q: How did you choose which terrible commutes to try?
They chose based on a mix of factors, including the length of commutes, specific known trouble areas, and different types of commuting experiences.
The Worst Commute
Q: What is the goal of the worst commutes series?
The goal is to identify the issues that make TTC commuting miserable and explore potential solutions, while also highlighting the good aspects of the system.
10 years ago, the Jays lost the first two games at home. Then the bat - and script - flipped
Q: How did the Bat Flip feel different to you compared to the recent grand slam?
It lacked the same emotional release; however, it evoked a sense of inevitability and joy during the moment.
10 years ago, the Jays lost the first two games at home. Then the bat - and script - flipped
Q: Why did you think that writing about the Bat Flip for its anniversary deserved that kind of treatment?
It was the biggest thing that happened in sports in Toronto since the Raptors' NBA title, marking a major emotional and historical event for fans.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Matters

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

Focusing on critical current affairs, this daily news podcast addresses pressing topics that shape societal dynamics and personal experiences. Through engaging discussions, the hosts and their guests explore a variety of subjects, including social justice, governance, environmental issues, and cultural reflections. Each episode aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of events and their broader implications, encouraging informed engagement with the world around them. Notably, the inclusion of expert guests and diverse perspectives sets this podcast apart, enhancing its relevance and appeal to those interested in understanding the complexities of today's news landscape.

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Which podcasts are similar to This Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with This Matters:

1. The Decibel
2. The Big Story
3. Front Burner
4. It's Political with Althia Raj
5. The Current

How many episodes of This Matters are there?

This Matters launched 6 years ago and published 1084 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 Matters?

Recent guests on This Matters include:

1. Mike Wilner
2. Geddy Lee
3. Steve Teekens
4. Ava Smithing
5. Ben Spurr
6. Raju Mudhar
7. Manuela Vega
8. Josh Rubin

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