Over the past several years, podcasts have become one of the most popular ways to consume media. They’re a quick and easy way to learn something new, stay up-to-date on current affairs, have a laugh, or hear from your favourite public figure. Whether you’re listening on your morning commute or during your daily dog walks, podcasts allow you to multitask while listening, one of the main reasons why people love them so much.
If you’re new to the world of podcasts, you may not know where to start. Here are a few of our favourite Canadian podcasts that we think are worth checking out!
Our Recommendations
The Salmon People
“This is the fascinating story of a 20-year battle to save Canada’s wild salmon.”
Host: Sandra Bartlett
Number of Episodes: 10
Length of Episodes: 25-55 minutes
Kuper Island
“An 8-part series that tells the stories of four students: three who survived and one who didn’t. They attended one of Canada’s most notorious residential schools – where unsolved deaths, abuse, and lies haunt the community and the survivors to this day.”
Host: Duncan McCue
Number of Episodes: 8
Length of Episodes: 30-50 minutes
Au coeur de la Colombie
“Les journalistes Félix Séguin et Marc Sandreschi racontent les péripéties de leurs séjours en Colombie où ils sont allés à la rencontre d’un important narcotrafiquant. Un récit inédit au cœur de la production et du trafic de la cocaïne.”
Host: Félix Séguin et Marc Sandreschi
Number of Episodes: 5
Length of Episodes: 25-45 minutes
Chacun sa classe
“Karine Dubois voit arriver à grands pas le choix d’une école secondaire pour son plus vieux. École publique, privée ou à programme particulier? Au cours de sa réflexion, elle voit de plus en plus de drapeaux rouges se lever autour d’elle.”
Host: Karine Dubois
Number of Episodes: 5
Length of Episodes: 20-30 minutes
Projet Polytechnique: Faire face
“Plus de 30 ans après le drame de Polytechnique, certains glorifient toujours le tueur Marc Lépine. Les féminicides s’accumulent, la question du contrôle des armes à feu n’est pas réglée et le web alimente les discours antiféministes.”
Host: Jean-Marc Dalphond et Marie-Joanne Bouche
Number of Episodes: 7
Length of Episodes: 10-30 minutes
Maman, arrête de mourir: survivre aux féminicides
“Un triste record a été atteint en 2021 au Québec : 26 femmes ont été assassinées, dont 17 en contexte de violence conjugale. Monic Néron s’intéresse à celles et ceux qui restent après le départ de ces femmes, notamment les parents, la fratrie, mais surtout les enfants.”
Host: Monic Néron
Number of Episodes: 6
Length of Episodes: 30-45 minutes
It’s Political with Althia Raj
“As Liberals from across the country gather in Ottawa for the party’s first in-person national convention since the pandemic, “It’s Political” digs into Justin Trudeau’s record as party leader and his time as prime minister.”
Host: Althia Raj
Number of Episodes: 1
Length of Episodes: 58 minutes
canadaLANDBACK
“From Idle No More to Reconciliation to Land Back, from the police killing of Dudley George to the lobster wars of Nova Scotia, Karyn brings listeners into the homes and history of the Indigenous struggle.”
Host: Karyn Pugliese
One in Six: A Fertility Journey
“Jen and Neil are a happily married couple in their thirties. From the outside, life is picture perfect. But behind their smiles lies a heartbreaking secret: they can’t get pregnant.”
Host: Jen White and Neil Hyde
Number of Episodes: 8
Length of Episodes: 20-50 minutes
Welcome to Paradise
“Love, marriage… and a secret history of trauma. Anna Maria Tremonti has been keeping her past a secret for over 40 years.”
Host: Anna Maria Tremonti
Number of Episodes: 6
Length of Episodes: 30-35 minutes
Fireside Canada
“A podcast about Canadian legends, lies & lore.”
Number of Episodes: 33
À la poursuite de Gilles Villenueve
“Comment un petit gars de Berthierville sans le sou, sans contact ni connaissance du milieu a-t-il pu devenir l’une des légendes de la Formule 1? Si ça semble être un scénario de film hollywoodien, c’est la réelle histoire du seul et unique Gilles Villeneuve, qui est décédé il y a 40 ans aujourd’hui.”
Number of Episodes: 9
Length of Episodes: 20-50 minutes
Dépeindre Riopelle
“Jean Paul Riopelle aurait eu 100 ans en 2023. Bien qu’il soit l’un des plus grands artistes de l’histoire du Canada, on en sait peu sur lui. Qui était-il vraiment? À quel point vivait-il dans la démesure et les excès?”
Host: Stéphane Leclair
Number of Episodes: 7
Length of Episodes: 35-45 minutes
SickKids VS Podcast
“The stories behind SickKids discoveries.”
The Art of Sovereignty
“Our stories define who we are. When Indigenous cultures were outlawed across Canada, our voices were silenced. When our stories went underground to survive, others tried to define us. But it was our artists who brought our stories back for the world to see and hear.”
Host: Chris Beaver and Shelby Lisk
Number of Episodes: 9
Length of Episodes: 30 minutes
We all know that media trends come and go, but it looks like podcasts are here to stay! That’s why we’ve introduced three podcast categories across the National Magazine Awards, National Magazine Awards: B2B, and Digital Publishing Awards.
For more incredible media coming out of the Canadian publishing industry, check out our full list of nominees for the 2023 National Magazine Awards, Digital Publishing Awards, and National Magazine Awards: B2B.