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This Matters | Daily News Podcast

The world is changing every day. Now, more than ever, these questions matter. What’s happening? And why should you care? This Matters, a daily news podcast from the Toronto Star, aims to answer those questions, on important stories and ideas, every day, Monday to Friday. Hosts Saba Eitizaz and Raju Mudhar talk to experts and newsmakers about the social, cultural, political and economic stories that shape your life.

  1. How Chow should approach taxes and hate crimes

    Friday, January 12th 2024

    Voters seemed to want change when they voted for Olivia Chow to run Toronto, and a property tax increase of as much as 16.5 per cent certainly is a break from the past. Edward Keenan and Emma Teitel discuss how the city got here, whether a double-digit increase is justified, how people are likely to react and what the key for Chow is if it is going to be accepted. They also talk about a wave of antisemitic and Islamophobic crimes in Toronto and how officials here ought to react to them. Plus, a public square by any other name just isn't as popular.

    This episode was produced by Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Paulo Marques, Emma Teitel and Edward Keenan.

  2. Nylander stays at “home”

    Thursday, January 11th 2024

    Guest: Kevin McGran, hockey reporter

    The Toronto Maple Leafs signed star forward William Nylander to a record-setting $92-million, eight-year contract, a monster deal amid what has been a monster season for the winger. At a time when every sports fan is expected to be a salary cap expert, can any of us just be happy that we get to watch one of the most talented and entertaining teams to play around here in decades? Nylander’s had "just like us" moments, like his riding the subway to work and, like many in Toronto, finding a home here after moving all around the world. "Uncle Kevin" also shares some early notes about Ilya Samsonov returning to the ice with the Leafs and making sense of the goalie situation.

    This episode was produced by Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Paulo Marques and Edward Keenan.

    What would you like to hear on Toronto Star podcasts? Let us know in this survey and you can enter to win a $100 gift card.

  3. Rooting for a new year, new hockey team

    Friday, January 5th 2024

    The city is hyped for the sold-out inaugural season of Toronto’s new professional women’s hockey team, and so are hosts Ed Keenan and Emma Teitel. They also turn their attention to city hall, talking over increased photo radar enforcement, the mayor’s rush to get things done, the threat of cybercrime and the city budget process kicking into high gear in the coming week. Plus: why shootings have gone down in Toronto and whether Trudeau’s government should be taking credit.

    This episode was produced by Paolo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.

    Audio Sources: CTV, CBC

  4. Home ownership or kids: do I have to choose? (Episode 1 of the Millennial Money podcast)

    Friday, December 29th 2023

    This Matters would like to share the first episode of the third season of the Toronto Star podcast "Millennial Money." The show includes millennials speaking about relatable financial dilemmas that are often taboo or embarrassing but that many are grappling with behind closed doors. 

    Maria was saving up to freeze her eggs, but some tough financial decisions forced her to change her plans. Competing financial priorities as an adult makes her wonder: travel, own a home or have a kid - does she have to choose just one?

    Personal finance and travel expert Barry Choi offers practical advice on how to balance the life you want while also planning for kids. He also talks about the financial and emotional cost he and his partner experienced while going though the IVF process and the real cost of having a kid.

    Returning for its third season, "Millennial Money" host and Toronto Star business reporter Ghada Alsharif speaks to fellow millennials about relatable financial dilemmas that are often taboo or embarrassing but that many are grappling with behind closed doors. Alsharif then brings the topic straight to an expert to work out some options.

    This episode was produced by Ghada Alsharif, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Sean Pattendon, Kevin Sexton and Andrea Varsany

  5. 'It's Political' listener questions on Trudeau, Poilievre, dental subsidy, foreign interference and more

    Thursday, December 28th 2023

    This Matters is pleased to publish the year-end episode of the Toronto Star's political podcast It's Political, featuring: National Columnist Susan Delacourt, Ottawa deputy bureau chief Stephanie Levitz and reporter Mark Ramzy, who join host Althia Raj.

    It’s been quite a tumultuous year in federal politics, from allegations of foreign interference involving China and India, to the expansion of industrial and dental subsidies, and a rejigging of public support for Canada’s two main parties. We asked Toronto Star readers and “It’s Political” podcast listeners for their questions — and received many probing queries about themes from the last year, especially about the influence of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre on Canadian politics and the future of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. We gathered a few of our parliamentary journalists to answer them.

    Some of the clips this week were sourced from CPAC, CBC, CTV, Global, the NDP’s Instagram account, Rex Murphy’s Full Comment podcast and Pierre Poilievre’s Facebook page.

     

    This episode of “It’s Political” was produced by Althia Raj and Michal Stein. Kevin Sexton mixed the program. Our theme music is by Isaac Joel.

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