Canada
CANADALAND
CANADALAND
The flagship show of an independent, listener-supported Canadian network, focused on news, media criticism and the stories behind how Canada’s institutions work.
Culture & Everyday Life
Culture & everyday life podcasts worth exploring
Podcasts about the country we live in and the things we use every day. There are stories from Canadian history, Indigenous voices, books and the arts, a daily news explainer, and two international shows on food and design.
Photo: Sébastien Cordat on Unsplash
The collection
Culture & Everyday Life podcasts
Eleven shows: nine Canadian, including several from CBC and two independent producers, plus two American favourites.
Canada
The Secret Life of Canada
Leah-Simone Bowen and Falen Johnson
The untold and under-told history of the country, presented with warmth and humour. Episodes revisit places, people and events that rarely make it into school textbooks.
Canada
Canadian History Ehx
Craig Baird
An independent history show covering everything from pre-colonial times to roughly 25 years ago, including the strange, local and overlooked episodes in Canada’s past.
Canada
Under the Influence
Terry O'Reilly
An adman tells funny, well-researched stories about advertising and marketing, and what they reveal about pop culture and human nature. Now published by the Apostrophe Podcast Network.
Canada
Q with Tom Power
Tom Power
In-depth interviews with musicians, actors, writers and other artists, Canadian and international. A good daily habit if you follow the arts.
Canada
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Elamin Abdelmahmoud
A culture panel show that unpacks the week’s talking points in film, TV, music and the internet, and asks why they matter.
Canada
Unreserved
Rosanna Deerchild
A space for Indigenous voices, with stories, music and conversations from communities across the country, hosted by a Cree broadcaster and poet.
Canada
The Next Chapter
Antonio Michael Downing
A book-club style show about great books and the people who write them, with author interviews and reading recommendations, many of them Canadian.
Canada
Front Burner
Jayme Poisson
A daily news podcast that takes one story shaping Canada or the world and explains it in about half an hour.
United States
Gastropod
Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
Food through the lens of science and history: the origins of root beer, the story of bacon, sushi’s evolution, accessible kitchen design and more.
United States
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Short, carefully produced stories about design, architecture and infrastructure, and the unnoticed decisions that shape cities, objects and sounds.
What you can explore
Topics covered in this collection
Canadian history
Overlooked people and events, local stories and the parts of the past that rarely appear in textbooks.
Indigenous voices
Stories, music and conversations from First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across the country.
Arts, books and pop culture
Interviews with authors, musicians and actors, and smart conversation about what everyone is watching.
Everyday things
Advertising, food science and design: the hidden decisions behind what we buy, eat and walk past each day.
Photo: John Michael Thomson on Unsplash
Practical guidance
How to choose a culture podcast
- Pick a rhythmDaily shows suit a commute; documentary and history series reward a long walk or a weekend.
- Try a single episode firstCulture podcasts vary a lot from week to week. Pick a topic you already care about to judge whether the host’s style works for you.
- Look beyond your usual subjectsSome of the best episodes are about things you never expected to find interesting, such as a soda, a sound or a forgotten town.
- Explore the archiveMany of these shows have years of episodes, and older ones often hold up well.
Keep exploring