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This Matters

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

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 weeklyEpisodes1102Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & CultureNews

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Artwork for This Matters

Latest Episodes

Guests: Toronto Star journalists Ben Mussett and Omar Mosleh

A Toronto Star investigation uncovered a troubling loophole inside Meta's advertising system. Reporters Ben Mussett and Omar Mosleh found illegal drugs being advertised and sold to Canadi... more

Guest: Megan Ogilvie, Toronto Star health reporter

A new study has found that over a million Ontarians — that's more than one in ten people with a family doctor — live far outside their physician's region, often more than 30 kilometres away. Some a... more

Guest: Bruce Arthur, Toronto Star columnist

In a high-stakes war games exercise held in Toronto, top military officials, health-care leaders, and government representatives gathered behind closed doors to game out a scenario few Canadians can ever ... more

Guest: Tonda MacCharles, Ottawa bureau chief Canada avoided a snap election Monday night as the Liberal government pushed its federal budget through by a two-vote margin, 170 to 168. Support from Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and two NDP abstentio... more

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Recent Guests

Bruce Arthur
Columnist for the Toronto Star, who witnessed the war games firsthand
Toronto Star
Episode: If Canada went to war, could our hospitals cope? A simulation in Toronto revealed alarming gaps
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

Host

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

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 481 ratings
  • E bikes episode

    It’s too bad the episode didn’t talk more about what, if anything, the city is looking into doing about getting control of the situation. Even if the reporter had made a statement that nothing seems to be happening, it would’ve been clarifying.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Active veteran Toronto cyclist
    Canadaa month ago
  • 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
    Canada3 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
    Canada4 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
    Canada8 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
    Canada10 months 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
#243
Canada/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dispatches from Texas: Trump's America up close
Q: What was the emotional impact of visiting the site of the tragic floods?
Visiting the flood site was deeply emotional, highlighting the profound loss and the necessity for government intervention in catastrophic events.
Dispatches from Texas: Trump's America up close
Q: Can you tell me about the significance of the anti-vaccine sentiment you encountered?
The anti-vaccine movement in Texas reflects a drastic shift from being a fringe belief to a mainstream issue within conservative politics, influenced heavily by figures like RFK Jr.
Dispatches from Texas: Trump's America up close
Q: What did you find in Texas that relates to our national issues?
During my visit, I found a convergence of several political and public health issues that exemplify the current state of America's socio-political climate, particularly under Trump's administration.
Can One Great Idea fix Toronto?
Q: Why does this feel like the moment to start asking these questions?
The city is at an interesting point where it ranks well internationally, but faces significant problems that people notice, requiring collective engagement to address them.
Can One Great Idea fix Toronto?
Q: What made you want to do this?
The idea started from a desire to address the problems of the city and explore how to make it better, sparked by Nicole McIntyre's observations about falling out of love with Toronto.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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 1102 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. Bruce Arthur
2. Mike Wilner
3. Geddy Lee
4. Steve Teekens
5. Ava Smithing
6. Ben Spurr
7. Raju Mudhar
8. Manuela Vega

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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