Wonk

WONK is a show about big ideas in unprecedented times. Hosted by Amanda Lang, we unpack some of the most pressing issues and challenges facing Canada, and talk to some leading thinkers and policymakers about how to tackle them. New episodes drop on Thursdays.This feed also hosts the archive for Public Policy Forum's podcast, Policy Speaking.

Recent Episodes
  • Measles has returned. How did we get here?
    May 15, 2025 – 00:37:48
  • Paul Wells: Is Canadian politics actually getting nicer?
    May 8, 2025 – 00:34:14
  • Sally Armstrong on the ongoing fight for women's rights
    May 1, 2025 – 00:28:50
  • America’s descent toward ‘modern tyranny’
    Apr 24, 2025 – 00:39:23
  • What should Canada do about China?
    Apr 17, 2025 – 00:33:09
  • Election panel: What Canadians actually need to be talking about
    Apr 10, 2025 – 00:39:17
  • Does Canada need a customs union with the U.S.?
    Apr 3, 2025 – 00:29:46
  • How to govern through an election on top of a trade war
    Mar 27, 2025 – 00:28:07
  • The fight over U.S. fighter jets
    Mar 20, 2025 – 00:36:18
  • Andrew Furey on the nastiness of politics and facing Donald Trump
    Mar 13, 2025 – 00:33:09
  • David Paterson on fighting the trade war and winning over Americans
    Mar 6, 2025 – 00:34:47
  • How to revive local news — and Canadian democracy
    Feb 13, 2025 – 00:38:21
  • A 30-day window to save Canada’s economy
    Feb 6, 2025 – 00:41:04
  • How Canada's energy industry can respond to Trump
    Jan 30, 2025 – 00:42:43
  • President Trump and Canada’s big choices
    Jan 23, 2025 – 00:42:03
  • U.S. panel: Is Canada ready for President Trump?
    Jan 16, 2025 – 00:37:50
  • Erin O’Toole on how to deal with Trump, Arctic defence and energy
    Dec 19, 2024 – 00:36:40
  • WONK panel: A game-changing bet on wind power in B.C.
    Dec 12, 2024 – 00:39:22
  • Tariff Special: What happened at Mar-a-Lago and what’s next for Canada
    Dec 5, 2024 – 00:44:07
  • Andrew Leach: How to hit climate goals – and not kill the economy
    Nov 28, 2024 – 00:32:29
  • Peter Loewen on what’s dividing America
    Nov 21, 2024 – 00:37:47
  • Brett House on understanding the rise of Trumponomics — and Swiftonomics too
    Nov 14, 2024 – 00:29:33
  • US Election special: What Trump’s big win means for Canada
    Nov 7, 2024 – 00:43:56
  • Alex Himelfarb on the ideology that ruined the world
    Oct 31, 2024 – 00:30:34
  • Steve Verheul on what a Trump victory could mean for Canada
    Oct 24, 2024 – 00:30:18
  • Economist David Campbell explains Atlantic Canada’s historic boom
    Oct 17, 2024 – 00:31:53
  • NWT Premier R.J. Simpson on why the North is hot right now
    Oct 8, 2024 – 00:28:14
  • Dr. Jane Philpott on how to fix Canada’s family doctor shortage.
    Oct 3, 2024 – 00:29:00
  • Raven Lacerte on leading a national movement to end violence
    Sep 26, 2024 – 00:28:38
  • Sean Speer on how governments can get stuff done
    Sep 19, 2024 – 00:25:30
  • Janice Stein on a world gone mad
    Sep 12, 2024 – 00:30:28
  • Wonk Returns for Season 2
    Sep 9, 2024 – 00:00:43
  • John Risley on his big green hydrogen bet
    May 9, 2024 – 00:32:34
  • Trevor Tombe, economic truth-teller, is kind of a big deal
    May 2, 2024 – 00:37:27
  • 'The fascinating economist’ Craig Wright, on the role of a big bank forecaster
    Apr 25, 2024 – 00:28:36
  • Mark Podlasly on the really big news in Budget 2024
    Apr 18, 2024 – 00:29:34
  • The new chief economist of the OECD, Álvaro Santos Pereira, on solving the productivity crisis
    Apr 10, 2024 – 00:32:59
  • Emera CEO Scott Balfour on the urgent energy transition
    Apr 4, 2024 – 00:32:02
  • Halifax Mayor Mike Savage on how a big city keeps up with growth
    Mar 28, 2024 – 00:31:49
  • Head of Canadian Olympic Committee David Shoemaker on how to win at the Olympics
    Mar 21, 2024 – 00:31:38
  • Rupa Banerjee: What does Canada really want from immigration?
    Mar 14, 2024 – 00:31:24
  • Beverley McLachlin: the problems with the online harms bill
    Mar 7, 2024 – 00:31:24
  • JP Gladu on the rise of big Indigenous business, and life on Lake Nipigon
    Feb 29, 2024 – 00:31:40
  • John Hannaford on the historic challenges facing the public service
    Feb 22, 2024 – 00:32:29
  • Paul Wells on not being mean, and building an empire
    Feb 15, 2024 – 00:32:01
  • ‘Are you a bot?!’ Shingai Manjengwa on why we shouldn’t fear AI
    Feb 8, 2024 – 00:34:29
  • Wearables for everyone: Dr. Vivek Goel on data-fueled health care
    Feb 1, 2024 – 00:31:12
  • It’s not easy being a Liberal in Alberta. Anne McLellan on a life in politics
    Jan 25, 2024 – 00:31:39
  • Chief Crystal Smith on the life-changing impacts of LNG
    Jan 18, 2024 – 00:29:22
  • From space to cabinet: Marc Garneau on a remarkable life
    Jan 11, 2024 – 00:34:13
Recent Reviews
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