Podcasts
WONK is the Public Policy Forum’s weekly podcast about big ideas in unprecendented times, hosted by acclaimed journalist Amanda Lang. Listen to our latest drops on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. (What’s a WONK, you ask?! We’ve got you covered. )
Bob Rae on the new world order
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to former UN ambassador Bob Rae about Greenland, NATO and why the U.S. can’t go it alone.
Why 2026 is a make or break year for Canada
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to Kevin Carmichael and Jean-Francois Perreault about the growth imperative, moving past trade worries and the time for bold moves
The coming battle to control your own AI
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to author and tech thought leader Don Tapscott about ‘identic AI’ and the next battle for sovereignty
The big policies that will shape 2026
On a special year-end episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to PPF president and CEO Inez Jabalpurwala about a year of big change and the increasing importance of smart policy
‘What is common knowledge?’ Steven Pinker explains.
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to the Harvard prof and author about the meaning of common knowledge and its profound impacts
Why Canada needs more anchor companies
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to Gordon McCauley, CEO of adMare BioInnovations, about how to build a thriving biotech sector and the big benefits for Canada's economy
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Putting a ‘generational’ budget into practice
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne about budgets, affordability and the German economic example
Danielle Smith on pipeline optimism and provincial relations
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to the Alberta premier about her hopes for a pipeline deal with Ottawa, dealing with separatist sentiment and working with B.C.
Canada’s fight to boost competition
On WONK this week, host Amanda Lang talks to Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell about better competition law, the problem with regulatory barriers and the pressure to police big tech
Fara Dabhoiwala on the meaning of free speech
On PPF’s podcast WONK, the senior research scholar at Princeton talks to host Amanda Lang about his book ‘What is Free Speech? The History of a Dangerous Idea.’
The biggest issues in the upcoming federal budget
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to Armine Yalnizyan and Sean Speer about huge budget pressures, tariff fallout and how to fortify the economy
How Canada ended up in a business investment crisis
On PPF’s WONK this week, National Bank Chief Economist Stéfane Marion talks to Amanda Lang about the fall of Canadian manufacturing and how to fix it
How Trump’s tariffs will hurt the U.S. economy
On this episode of WONK, host Amanda Lang talks to David Frum about America’s looming economic problem, why Trump needs tariffs and how Canada should respond to the threat
Catherine McKenna on climate costs and polarization
On this episode of WONK, the former environment minister talks about the balance between economic growth and climate costs, a life in politics and the importance of tackling hard things
The fight to fix social media and protect children from online harms
On PPF’s WONK podcast, host Amanda Lang talks to Ava Smithing, advocacy director of the Young People’s Alliance, about social media algorithms, advice for parents and taking on tech platforms