Free Daily Podcast Summary
CanCon: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Jordan Heath-Rawlings, Laura Palmer, Mat Keselman
Get key takeaways, quotes, and insights from CanCon in a 5-minute read. Delivered straight to your inbox.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago15 min
Midseason update: Surveillance pricing, listener feedback and more
This week we're checking in with the audience on the first few months of CanCon, discussing episodes we did or didn't (yet!) create, reading some of your feedback and getting a feel for where we're at before we dive back in to another few months of Canadian stories. If you haven't yet, don't forget to let us know what you think, and what you'd like us to cover. And thanks, as always, for listening. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- 1 weeks ago31 min
The emotional side of the Canadian housing crisis
A roof over one's head has been a necessity of life since we lived in caves. But when that roof also represents Canada's class struggle, our income inequality issues and potentially the owner's entire retirement portfolio...things get complicated. More than half of young Canadians don't expect they'll ever own a home. There are millions of Canadians right now who own their homes thanks to privilege, timing, relationships and...just plain ol' luck. Some of those lucky Canadians, including Cancon's host and today's guest, look around and see the generations following them stuck in shoebox apartments with no hope of qualifying for a mortgage and feel guilty for owning their homes. Not enough to do much about it, mind you, but still, guilty. Are we part of the problem? Today we unpack the complicated dynamics of home ownership, at a time when a human right has become an investment strategy. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- 2 weeks ago27 min
What is YouTube 'Slopaganda'? And why is it pushing Alberta separation?
In recent weeks, dozens of videos pushing Alberta separation (and frequently US annexation) have driven tens of millions of views on YouTube. But there's a problem. All these videos and accounts are remarkably similar, and to someone who actually knows the province, there are signs the people making them ... do not. Who's behind these videos and what's their goal? To truly drive an independent Alberta, or to sow division during a tumultuous political time for Canada? How do they manage to pump out so many, and why do they drive so much engagement? And most importantly, what do Canadians need to know about who's messing with our political discussions? We invited Alex Boyd, a Calgary-based reporter on the Toronto Star's investigations team, to join us to take the temperature on the Alberta separatist movement, break down a study of these videos and explain what and who might be behind them. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- 3 weeks ago30 min
When music went digital Canada was at the front of the line. What happened?
In the late '90s and early '00s, the music industry fundamentally changed. Within a decade, fans went from buying CDs in a local music store to purchasing $0.99 singles on iTunes. But before iTunes was available in Canada, and before the US giants took over the industry, Canadian startups were at the front of the pack. In this episode, we reminisce on a very strange and transformative time in media--you might remember the first CD you ever bought, but you probably don't remember the last one. We speak to Cam Gordon, author of Track Changes: The Origin Story of Canadian Music on the Internet, about Maple Music and Puretracks. And if you were a Canadian music fan in the early '00s ... you might know what we're talking about. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- Apr 16, 202634 min
Can Canadian tech fix 911 wait times? Do we trust AI enough to let it try?
It's not just a Canadian problem, though it has likely cost some Canadians their lives. Staff answering 911 calls in centres the world over are overworked, stressed and sometimes ... there just aren't enough of them. As a result, callers are sometimes left on hold in the most awful circumstances possible. Money has been spent on recruitment, but talent is tough to come by. Enter Hyper. A Canadian startup that was just acquired by Motorola, Hyper is already helping 911 operators in several cities—but not in the way you might imagine. Not yet, anyway... Award-winning reporter Katherine Laidlaw joing the show to discuss her piece on Hyper, which was written for a brand new Canadian publication called Be Giant, which aims to report on the people, places, ideas and breakthroughs shaping Canada's future. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- Apr 9, 202621 min
What makes a company "Canadian" enough for government contracts?
Would you call Walmart Canada a "Canadian" company? It's a much more complex question than it appears—but I think most of us would agree on the general answer. It's a Canadian subsidiary of a giant US retail behemoth. But when it comes to procurement spending from the federal government, often these are kinds of companies that can meet qualifications to describe themselves as "Canadian" and earn an edge over their competitors. It shouldn't be a surprise that government spending can get complicated, but it does raise a fascinating question: For the past year many of us have learned a lot about what makes a food item or a retail product Canadian—but what about a company? Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian Shield Institute, joins Jordan to puzzle through that question, and how our tax dollars are spent because of it. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- Apr 2, 202622 min
Canadian happiness scores are dropping fast. Why?
When the World Happiness Report first began scoring countries on their self-reported levels of happiness in 2012, Canada was consistently in the top 10. It felt right, we were pretty happy. Over the past several years, things have been changing, first slowly and now rapidly. In the recently published edition of the report, Canadians' happiness levels ranked 25th in the world, by far a new low. And that precipitous drop has been driven predominantly by one demographic... UBC Professor Emeritus and co-creator and editor of the World Happiness Report John Helliwell joins us to discuss what's changed, who's unhappy and what we know about how to generate happiness in our own lives from two decades of scientific research. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
- Mar 26, 202624 min
Canada's a video game powerhouse. Why don't we ever talk about it?
In any other entertainment medium, a Canadian-made product winning the equivalent of a Best Picture Oscar would be historic, headline-grabbing news. But when Canadian-made games win Game Of The Year—and they have, multiple times—the country barely bats an eye. Games are big business in Canada, and we have some of the world's premier talent, in both massive corporate studios and tiny indie development houses. Yet unless you're really, really into video games, you'd never know. Why? Jonathan Ore of the CBC hops on the show to talk about video games in Canada, how good they are, and why nobody even knows where the games they play are made. Feedback from listeners is so, so welcome. If you have something to say, email us: hello.cancon@gmail.com.
Get CanCon summaries in your inbox
Free AI-powered daily recaps. Key takeaways, quotes, and mentions — in a 5-minute read.
Get Free Summaries →Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
You Might Also Like
Listeners also like.
CANADALAND
CANADALAND
Hub Podcasts
Hub Media Canada
The House
CBC
The Decibel
The Globe and Mail
Open to Debate with David Moscrop
Canada 2020
This Canadian Thinks
This Canadian Thinks
The Backbench
CANADALAND
CanadaPoli
canadapoli
10/3: Canada Covered
Postmedia
The Current
CBC
Full Comment
Postmedia
Your World Tonight
CBC
About CanCon
It's a fascinating time to be Canadian. This is a show that breaks all that wide open. Dangers. Opportunities. The stories that make this country what it is. And what it isn't.Longtime journalist and podcast host Jordan Heath-Rawlings (Elbows Up, The Big Story, The Gravy Train) returns to host critical Canadian Conversations with leading experts and storytellers.These are discussions—about who we are, how we got here, and where we're going—designed to offer more than soundbites and headlines. They'll introduce you to places, people and policies you might not have otherwise met, or perhaps not considered to be worth your attention. But they are.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from CanCon in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's CanCon daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of CanCon as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the CanCon podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official CanCon product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Jordan Heath-Rawlings, Laura Palmer, Mat Keselman.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does CanCon release new episodes?
CanCon publishes weekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does CanCon cover?
CanCon covers topics including News, History, Commentary, Culture, Society & Culture. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting CanCon summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.