 | April 24, 2025 | | | | | | Nobody gossips like a small town Canadian — but you didn’t hear that from me | Indie podcast Canardian scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had | | |  | Gotta love a Canada goose in a toque. (Illustration by Kattie Laur and Brad Cousins) | | | By Fabiola Melendez Carletti | | | So, I thought I was Canadian until I spent several months volunteering in small towns.
It was only then — young, broke and car-less in rural Alberta, Quebec and New Brunswick — that I realized: I was definitely a navel-gazing Torontonian with much to learn about Canada as a whole. With the veil of big city anonymity lifted, I learned that we’re a nation of generous storytellers, full of colourful language. And there’s so much to know about us that you definitely can’t Google.
I think that’s why I’m a fan of Canardian, an indie podcast that invites guests to gossip about their hometowns — and, frankly, to tell on themselves. I’ve been amazed at what people will admit to on this show!
Host Kattie Laur (fittingly pronounced “lore”) has found a delightful niche that finally explains why I felt culture shock in my own country. Her guests share everything from the sweet and charming to the straight-up alarming. It’s like Normal Gossip meets Atlas Obscura, if the latter listed illegal “ridge rides” in St. Stephen, N.B., as a cultural experience.
The first episode of the new season features our own Falen Johnson gossiping about Brantford, Ont. I’ve been working with Falen for years, and I had no idea about her youthful shenanigans!
At a time when Canadians are all “elbows up,” it doesn’t hurt to be a little more “ears open.” | | | | | | | By the way, Kattie also runs the excellent Pod The North newsletter, and is a tireless champion of the Canadian podcast scene — especially our vibrant constellation of indie pods. You’ll meet her in today’s conversation starter below. | | | | | | | THIS WEEK’S NEW EPISODES - ELECTION EDITION | | |  | A podcast listener enjoys House Party on his morning walk (Photo by Fabiola Melendez Carletti) | | | Canadians are going to the polls on April 28th, and if you’re still not ready, friend, there’s a podcast to help you get there. Choose your own adventure. - If you’re looking for the nitty gritty, Power & Politics has put out a podcast almost every single day of this campaign. They’ve even been working Saturdays to bring you weekend wraps, so you don’t miss a thing.
- CBC’s OG political podcast, The House, has radio roots tracing back to the 70s. This show is great at giving us the big picture and drawing from its refreshingly long memory.
- By contrast, House Party is like the House’s chatty sibling. This pop-up election series is going for an after-hours vibe and tackling just one big, burning question at a time, like, Are election platforms passé?
- The emphasis for At Issue is tapping the minds of Canada’s top political columnists. If you don’t know these big guns, now’s the time.
- And if you’re looking to hear from Albertans and not just about them, West of Centre is here to let you listen in.
| | | | | | | THE CONVERSATION STARTER | | |  | | |  | Podcast hosts, friends and independent journalists mingle at the Harbinger summer picnic in Toronto’s Christie Pits Park last August, including The Grind's David Gray Donald, The Maple's Emma Paling, Midnight Sun's Daniel Sarah Karasik and others.
(Photo by Andre Goulet) | | | We’re on the heels of many sacred days, whether you celebrate Ramadan, Vaisakhi, Passover, Easter or simply the arrival of spring. So in the spirit of renewal, let me re-introduce you to Kattie not-just-a-gossip Laur.
Kattie noticed something while curating Pod The North — she’s convinced Canada is leading the pack in terms of podcasting for social good. Say more, Kattie!
KATTIE: Thanks, Fab! Over the last year in particular, I've noticed an impressive swell of Canadian podcasts that are more than just podcasts — they're important parts of global movements toward equity, sustainability, and resistance. I LOVE to see it, and from my perspective there’s never been a better time for it. Here are just three examples among many. - If you’re reading this, you probably live in a city. That’s because in the next 10 years, as much as two-thirds of the global population are likely to be living in or near one. All that to say, cities are going to be key to sustaining life on earth for the foreseeable future. No pressure. That’s why you’ve got to check out Cities 1.5, a podcast that’s part of a movement that's mobilizing over 40 mayors from around the world to figure out what the heck a truly sustainable city looks like.
- Queerial, the new podcast from comedian and podcaster Trevor Campbell is a “neo-noir” detective story with one mission: to find the root source of queerness. It’s a satire and clever critique of the so-called gay agenda. If you already thought conspiracy theories were… a bit much, Queerial hilariously and exhaustively turns that up to 1000%.
- Community-building is more than something to talk about! The Harbinger Media Network — Canada’s largest progressive podcast community of over 80 shows (Tech Won’t Save Us, Replay, Alberta Advantage, etc.) — has been getting more intentional about fostering in-person connections through public events and live shows. It’s time to finally meet your favourite podcaster — for the sake of humanity!
| | | | | | | Thanks Kattie! I encourage folks to read Kattie’s whole piece, but also to subscribe to Pod The North in general. You really won’t find a more dedicated curator of specifically Canadian podcasts.
But okay, that does it for our most unapologetically Canadian issue, perhaps ever. | | | | | Sorry, not sorry!
-Fab | | | Share this newsletter | | or subscribe if this was
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