Most Americans don't have a good understanding that their nation is not number one in everything. It's an arrogance only growing more deeply ingrained with political upheaval in the nation.
In podcasting, the U.S. is close, but no cigar. Statistics from various sources reveal that Australian listeners top U.S. listeners for length of time listening to a podcast and a percentage of the population who listen to podcasts.
Canada also has a thriving podcasting community. An excellent source to learn more about Canadian podcasting is the Pod The North Substack by Kattie Laur.
A good place to start is Kattie's December article: The 10 Best Canadian Podcasts of 2024.
Anyway, I think Canadians should be recognized for their superb podcasting skill. When you have such talented people as Mike Boon, Danny Brown,Kattie Laur, Jolyn Showalter, and Quentin Sheriff, Canada has much to be proud of in podcasting.
As proof of Canada's vibrant podcasting community, the Canadian Podcast Awards were held on December 30, 2024, proudly celebrating another incredible year, honoring the talent, passion, and dedication that define Canada’s podcasting community. With over 2,300 votes cast and participation from more than 1,000 individuals, this year’s event highlighted the continued growth and influence of Canadian podcasts.
The event was made possible through the significant support of Shure, whose ongoing contributions continue to elevate the Canadian podcasting industry. Additionally, Recycle My Electronics generously supported the Business, Society & Culture, and Technology categories.
“Every voice has its unique frequency, and every story resonates differently,” said John Leschinski. “Shure’s involvement signifies an enduring commitment to capturing these voices with clarity and precision.”
Erika Casupanan, the first Canadian winner of CBS’s Survivor and a first-time podcaster, took home two awards in her debut year: Debut and Television & Film.
“It is such an honor to have joined this community. I felt so loved. I felt so supported.” said Erika Casupanan.
Other multiple standout wins included “Geist” excelling in Arts and Original Music, and “Lullaby: The Fear Podcast” taking home awards for People’s Choice and Production.
Listed below are three of the many excellent Canadian podcasts that are indeed award-worthy.
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The Connectors
A podcast about
connections among people is a topic in which a large podcast network --
we're calling it iWontifyXM -- would hire an actor who starred on a
network show 20 years ago and would host this new show with a script
written and questions for the weekly guest already prepared.
Thankfully for listeners, an independent podcast called The Connectors employs that concept like a concert pianist, playing all the right notes in a pleasing harmony.
Co-hosts Jolyn Showalter from London, Ontario and Quinten Sheriff from Montreal can tell you about their podcast: "We explore the importance of making meaningful connections for personal and professional growth and happiness. We explore how building and recognizing strong connections in life can help you achieve your goals, find personal fulfillment, and how you can create opportunities to build a purposeful and fulfilling future."
The first episode was released in March 2023 with over 50 episodes produced and released so far.
On the podcast, Jolyn Showalter and Quinten Sheriff create a sonic enclave where listeners can feast on the concept of cultivating a thriving community built on authenticity, growth, and the power of connection. It is obvious that they enjoy each other's company and their connection is strong and infiltrates the vibes of the show.
My favorite episodes include the August 23, 2024, show that focuses on the vital role of human performance in business success. While many companies invest in technology and office upgrades, true growth comes from investing in people.
Nurdan Tokoz, founder of Nurdanpinar Solutions for Human Performance, who spent over 20 years in Learning & Development within large corporations, launched her consulting business to help organizations fully utilize their workforce's potential.
Check out The Connectors podcast. The show and co-hosts have a fresh approach -- bringing people together instead of splitting them apart via artificially constructed political views, fabricated cultural value differences or extremist conspiracy theories.
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Toronto Mike'd podcast
Mike Boon bills himself on his LinkedIn page as the "Canadian Godfather of Podcasting." After researching all that he's accomplished on Canadian podcasting, I think we are ready to kiss the ring.
Toronto Mike has produced over 1,600 episodes, which is an amazing feat.
On his Toronto Mike'd podcast, Boon discusses various issues of the day and chats with interesting guests about the serious and not-so-serious. It's authentic controlled chaos with a Toronto spin.
What I really admire about Toronto Mike is that he acts like a de facto local newspaper. Want to know what's going on in Toronto? Listen to Toronto Mike'd. He truly has the pulse of the city.
In December, Toronto Mike'd aired an episode that moved me deeply. In that show, Mike spoke to former NHL player Luke Sellars about his life of
substance abuse, depression, assault, the near loss of a leg, failed NHL
dreams, and a suicide attempt before redemption. It was a show that will make you think about the stresses in professional sports.
You don't have to be Canadian to enjoy Toronto Mike'd. It seems like he's an institution in the Toronto area. I enjoyed his insights, his humor, his openness, and his longevity.
If you visit Toronto, you should hit the key tourist sites, such as CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Hockey Hall Of Fame. I think that Trip Advisor should add "listening to at least one episode of Toronto Mike'd" to that list of must-do things while in the city.
Who knows? Toronto Mike'd must even have you on his show!
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5 Random Questions
The interview podcast is the most common form of podcasting. It's the easiest format to set up and sustain, and requires the least amount of research and money. Whether it's true-crime, comedy, or just a gabfest, over 70 percent of all podcasts are somebody interviewing somebody else.
Yet, leave it to a podcasting pro like Danny Brown to put a surprise twist on the tried-and-true interview podcast.
Welcome to 5 Random Questions with host, Danny Brown. Each week,
Danny sits down with his special guest and uses a random question
generator to come up with five unpredictable, thought-provoking, and
sometimes downright hilarious questions. No topic is off-limits as Danny
and his guests dive into their answers, sparking lively discussions
filled with laughter, surprises, and occasional deep insights.
The podcast began in June 2024 and has already received a lot of listener attention and buzz. Here's just an appetizer to some of the randomly generated questions Danny has asked in the first five episodes. These responses include a poop-dropping neighbor from hell, why one guest would love to be splashing around with an umbrella, a preference for wet dog smells, and the person most likely to die by the guest's hand.
Whether you're looking for a good laugh, some unexpected wisdom, or just
an entertaining chat, 5 Random Questions is the podcast for listeners who want their ears to hear something "completely different."
As Danny Brown says: "Tune
in for a mix of humor and heart, and discover something new with every
episode!"
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