Selection and sponsorship policy

1. Selection criteria

A podcast is considered for an editorial listing when it meets all of the following:

• It is real and active. The show publishes episodes and can be confirmed on its own official website or official YouTube channel.
• It is in English and relevant to listeners in Canada.
• It has a clear subject that fits one of our six categories. Each podcast appears in one category only.
• It has an official destination: an independent website, a show page on its producer’s or broadcaster’s site, or an official YouTube channel.
• Its host or producer can be identified. Where we cannot verify the host’s name, we name the producing organization instead.

We do not include shows built mainly to sell a product with little informational value, or shows that promote hatred, harassment or deliberate misinformation.

Each category contains between 9 and 12 listings. The number differs by category because we include shows that meet the criteria rather than filling a fixed quota. We do not call any collection a “top 10” or a ranking.

2. Canadian focus

We prioritize podcasts made in Canada or by Canadian creators. Where a subject needs broader coverage, we add English-language shows from other countries and label their origin on the card, for example “United States” or “Canada & United States” for co-hosted shows.

3. How we write descriptions

Descriptions are based on each show’s own website, published episode information and listening. They say what a show covers and who it may suit. We avoid vague praise, and we do not publish audience statistics, rankings, awards or claims such as “the most popular” unless we can verify them and they are useful to listeners. Today, no listing includes such claims.

Finance and health listings are informational. They are not financial, legal or medical advice.

4. External links and buttons

Card buttons link to official destinations only. We do not use podcast apps or aggregators, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify, as the destination of card buttons. Button labels describe the destination:

• “Visit podcast website” opens the show’s official website or its page on the producer’s site.
• “Watch on YouTube” opens the show’s official YouTube channel.

External links open in a new tab. We are not responsible for the content, availability or privacy practices of external websites.

5. Artwork and images

Podcast cards use each show’s own artwork, logo or official image, shown to identify the podcast. These remain the property of their owners. Editorial photographs come from Unsplash and are credited where they appear. We never present a stock or generated image as a real host.

6. Sponsorship labels

Spoke earns revenue by selling clearly disclosed placements to podcasters (see Promote your podcast). Any paid placement is labelled on the page where it appears:

• “Sponsored” on a sponsored card or featured profile.
• “Sponsored by [name]” on an editorial section supported by a podcast.

We apply these labels only to genuine paid arrangements. There are currently no sponsored placements on Spoke, so no listing is labelled as sponsored, and no listing should be read as a paying customer.

7. Editorial inclusion versus paid promotion

Editorial listing	Paid promotion
Free. Chosen by Spoke using the criteria above.	Paid for by the podcaster or its producer after a review.
No label.	Always labelled “Sponsored” or “Sponsored by”.
Description written to our editorial standard.	Description written to the same factual standard; no unverifiable claims.
Can be added or removed at our discretion.	Runs for the agreed period; does not guarantee future editorial inclusion.

Buying a placement does not change whether a podcast is listed editorially, how it is described or where it appears. Podcasters cannot pay to remove or alter another show’s listing.

8. Corrections and removals

If a listing contains an error, if a show has ended, or if you are a podcast owner who would like your listing changed or removed, email [email protected]. We review requests promptly and update listings when the information can be confirmed.