In this conversation, Jen Gerson and Karen Valis delve into the multifaceted world of artificial intelligence (AI), exploring its implications on human cognition, creativity, and mental health. They discuss the evolving role of AI engineers, the limitations and capabilities of AI, and the ethical considerations surrounding its use. The dialogue hig…

This episode of The Line Podcast was recorded Friday, August 15th, with Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson — newly back from her vacation. We start off with a look at how the Toronto International Film Festival has managed to completely beclown itself in an utterly avoidable controversy over the airing of a film depicting one family's nightmarish experienc…

This episode of On The Line with host Matt Gurney has two conversations worth your time. First up, Matt speaks with Denys Prevost, a retired firefighter with nearly 40 years of service in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Denys walks us through what’s been happening in Nova Scotia’s forests, how and why these fires can spread so quickly, and — most importan…

With Jen off this week, Matt is joined by Line contributor, author and McGill professor Andrew Potter for a talk about the state of our politics — and the unsettling sense that few people ate taking things seriously. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by sm…

In this episode of On The Line join Jen Gerson as she delves into a fascinating conversation with Professor Avi Loeb, a renowned astrophysicist, about the mysteries of interstellar objects and the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. It’s no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis.…

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Aug. 1, 2025, your hosts talk about various conflicts. And celebrities ... and aliens. First, we kick things off with the latest on the trade war front. Friday was the deadline for a deal, and ... there is no deal. Matt shares why his patience with the prime minister is running thin. The conversation…

In this episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney speaks with two sharp political observers to take stock of where things stand across Canada — and how some leaders are adapting to the post-election landscape. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. If you’ve been following the pod the last few weeks, you’re familiar by now with the fact…

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on July 25, 2025, your hosts are back with three hot topics segments — and a healthy dose of concern. Jen is increasingly worried Alberta is heading toward banana republic territory. There’s a lot of money flowing through the province right now, and much of it is funding fringe causes. One local reporte…

For OTL this week, we have Brandon Forsyth, a book buyer at Indigo. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. It’s no secret that Canada is in a housing crisis. Some think that short-term rentals such as Airbnbs are the problem. But the closer you look, the clearer it gets. Attempts to lower rents by regulating short-term rentals hav…

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded July 18, 2025, your hosts tackle three big themes across Canada, the U.S., and the media world. First up, Matt and Jen talk sovereignty — and why every time Canada tries to build domestic industrial capacity (in defence, tech, food, etc.), it seems to end in scandal or failure. Or even just massively in…

In this episode of On The Line, two big conversations on two critical topics: housing and national security. First up: Mike Moffatt. Mike is one of Canada’s leading housing experts. He’s a professor at Western University’s Ivey Business School, senior director at the Smart Prosperity Institute, and host of the Missing Middle podcast. Matt talks to …

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on July 11, 2025, your hosts are back together! Matt returns from Europe and Jen gets him caught up. First up: a full debrief on this year’s Calgary Stampede. Matt wants to talk breakfast, but Jen wants to talk vibes — and this year, the CPC was a much quieter, more cautious presence than last. Poilievr…

This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Airbnb. Everyone agrees that Canada needs to take real action to tackle the housing crisis, but only a few people argue that short-term rentals like Airbnb are part of that solution. Countless experts have argued that short term rental regulation is nothing more than a distraction, with the Harvard B…

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded very early on June 19, your hosts are making the best of a classic summer situation: we're both gone. Jen is off-grid somewhere. Matt is unplugging on another continent. But we didn’t want to leave you hanging — so we figured we’d get ahead of it. How do we do that when we can’t talk about the news of t…

This episode of On The Line was recorded in advance, as Matt Gurney is away on summer vacation. But we didn’t want to leave you hanging — so we’ve got two long-form conversations this week that are well worth your time. This episode is also brought to you by the Métis Nation of Ontario. For generations, Métis communities in Ontario helped build Can…

In this episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on time on June 20, 2025 — so don't blame us for any catastrophes — Jen Gerson returns from covering the G7 and offers a rare dose of optimism: she’s impressed by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Matt Gurney remains skeptical but gives credit where it's due — Carney has handled everything so far with a stead…

In the latest episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson is joined by Dave Cournoyer — Alberta politics watcher, writer at daveberta.ca, and longtime chronicler of this province’s wilder turns — for a conversation that cuts through the noise and gets to the big question: what is actually going on in Alberta right now? This episode is brought to you by the …

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded (at great risk) a day early on June 12, 2025, Matt and Jen admit they tempted fate. They had to record on Thursday evening due to travel — and even predicted that a war in the Middle East would probably break out while they were offline. So ... yeah. That happened. And no, they don’t talk about it…

In this episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney speaks with Christian Leuprecht — professor at the Royal Military College and Queen’s University, editor of the Canadian Military Journal, senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and visiting fellow at the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels. His forthcoming book is The Mili…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on June 6, 2025, Matt and Jen open with a wide-ranging look at U.S.–Canada relations — and the increasingly difficult balancing act both countries are trying to manage. The Americans need to show they’re getting wins. Canada needs to show it’s not caving. That creates a dangerous mismatch in incen…

In this engaging conversation, Jen Gerson and royal watcher Patricia Treble, author of WRITE ROYALTY on Substack, discuss the recent visit of King Charles III to Canada, focusing on the significance of his throne speech and its geopolitical implications. They explore the role of the monarchy in Canadian sovereignty, the authority of King Charles in…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on May 30, 2025, Matt and Jen assess the early days of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government — and wonder if things are moving fast enough. Parliament is back, the procedural stuff is over, and it’s go-time in Ottawa. Matt asks whether Carney is pushing hard enough out of the gate — how fast can…

This week on On The Line, we’ve got a packed episode with three sharp conversations on three very different fronts — monarchy, cybersecurity, and continental defence. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Innovative Medicines Canada. With a new government in place, one thing remains clear: Canada must continue to prioritize patients and …

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on May 23, 2025, Matt and Jen check in on the early turbulence of the Carney era. First up: the new cabinet. There’s a new energy minister visiting Calgary, staffing delays across the board, and yes — god help us — Marco Mendicino is still around. That’s bad news for almost everyone, but possibly …

In this episode of On The Line, The Line's Jen Gerson interviews David Perlich, a CBC producer and Vatican analyst, about his experiences covering papal conclaves. They discuss the intricacies of the conclave process, the role of Cardinals, and the dynamics of voting for a new pope. Perlich shares insights from his time in Rome, the historical sign…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on May 16, 2025, Matt opens with what he claims is a harmless anthropological observation about Alberta. Jen hadn’t noticed it before — but to her surprise, she agrees. And no, it shouldn’t piss anyone off. (Probably.) From there, they move on to the first days of Mark Carney’s duly elected govern…

In the latest episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney dives into the geopolitics of trade and the early days of a new Canadian government. First up, Ian Lee from the Sprott School of Business at Carleton University joins Matt to talk about the so-called “deal” recently announced between the United States and China. Ian isn’t here to defend Donald Trump…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on May 9, 2025, Matt and Jen round up the week in Canadian politics — and things are getting weird again. They start with Pierre Poilievre’s decision to run in an extremely safe riding and tap Andrew Scheer as the party’s interim House leader. Matt says both choices radiate loser energy. But he al…

In this episode of On The Line, Israeli ambassador to Canada Iddo Moed sits with Jen Gerson to discuss the evolving situation in Gaza, the ongoing hostage crisis, and Israel's strategic objectives in the region. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Innovative Medicines Canada. With a new government in place, one thing remains clear: Can…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on May 2, 2025, Matt and Jen debrief the end of a long, weird federal election — and everything it upended. They start with what surprised them about the results and how the political map has scrambled in unexpected ways. Then, naturally, they pivot to constitutional monarchy. Why? Because it work…

In the latest episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney is joined by Gregory Jack, senior-vice president of public affairs at Ipsos Canada, as they do their best to unpack what the hell just happened on Monday night. And what might happen next. In the first half, they go tactical. Matt and Greg walk through the horse race numbers — who’s up, who’s down, …

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 25, 2025, Matt and Jen take stock of the final days of the election campaign — and of Canada’s increasingly bizarre political mood. Matt kicks things off by previewing his upcoming final column before election day. He spoils it a little, of course. His basic argument? The Liberal pitch to…

In the latest episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson reunites with journalist Justin Ling for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of the federal campaign — and the increasingly surreal experience of covering it. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Westinghouse. Canada’s energy future is being shaped by the choices we make toda…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 18, 2025, Matt and Jen unpack the weirdest Canadian federal election in recent memory. The race feels like it’s tightening, there are reports of massive early turnout in the advance polls, and nobody knows what it means — which, as Matt points out, usually means something is breaking, but…

In the latest episode of On The Line, Matt Gurney sits down for an unusually personal — and sometimes raw — conversation with Marcus Kolga: human rights activist, anti-corruption crusader, and a man who’s been sanctioned by both Russia and China. That wasn’t a figure of speech. He’s literally sanctioned by both regimes. This episode of The Line Pod…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 11, 2025, things get unexpectedly emotional right out of the gate. Jen opens with a raw reflection on the state of public discourse in Canada — how partisanship is melting brains, how the media is under attack, and how political parties have become so addicted to campaigning that they’ve …

In the latest episode of On The Line, we take a look (through our fingers, which are covering our eyes) at what's happening with the markets, and whole economies, around the world. Guess we'll be delaying retirement a few extra years, eh? This episode of On The Line is brought to you by Westinghouse. Canada’s energy future is being shaped by the ch…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on April 4, 2025, Jen spends a lot more time talking about her internal anatomy than Matt had expected. But he more or less kept his game face on. He thinks. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, …

In the latest episode of On The Line, the key issue is why the Conservative campaign is already being rocked by internal fighting — is the campaign going that badly? Our first guest tackles that issue — Stephanie Levitz joins the show from the Globe and Mail, where she is a reporter covering the campaign. Despite all the doom and gloom, the Conserv…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 28, 2025, your hosts get dark. And deep. And psychological. And have a few inappropriate giggles. Matt almost gets himself cancelled and The Line shut down by quoting a bad lyric ... but stops himself just in time. Been that kind of a week, right? This episode of The Line Podcast is broug…

As Canada prepares to go to the polls, we are proud to introduce its Anti-Panel — a politics panel, but fun. Each week, we’ll publish a new Anti-Panel in written form, but we’re kicking things off with something a little different: getting the whole gang On The Line. Get it? They're on the line. Literally. This episode of On The Line is brought to …

Recorded in the last-pre-election days on March 21, 2025, Matt Gurney and Jen Gerson look around and realize that this is as calm as their lives are going to be for about a month. And that's just sad. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canada. Canada can be a global leader in reducing the harm caused by smoking, but it re…

Happy Tuesday. It's time for another episode of On The Line. And this is another two-guest episode, too. There's that much to talk about! Our first guest, making a return appearance on On The Line, is P.J. Fournier, creator of 338Canada.com and 338Canada.ca. (The man has so much to offer he needs two websites!) Since we last spoke in February, Cana…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on Carney Era Day 0, or March 14, 2025 on the old calendar, your hosts offer sincere welcome and best wishes to the new prime minister, and we're counting on all of you to not ruin this moment for us. Really. We can be nice sometimes. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke C…

In this week's episode of On The Line, Jen Gerson speaks with Adam Sadinsky, a refugee lawyer and member of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers about the Safe Third Country Agreement — and why lawyers like him think it needs to be radically altered in the Donald Trump era. This episode of On The Line is brought to you by the Forest Products…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on March 7, 2025, your hosts spend a good long while talking about the various new stories to come out of Washington, D.C. this week. A trade war is on! But now it's off! Sort of, maybe! No one really knows! Also, President Donald Trump put on a real masterclass this week in reminding us all that …

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. In this episode, Matt Gurney speaks with Richard Shimooka, a Canadian defence expert and senior fellow at the Macdonald-La…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 28, 2025, your hosts open with a chat about federal politics. Mark Carney had some good stuff going, but then he got caught in a dumb lie. We aren't sure if this will break outside the Twitter bubble, but it's an interesting reminder that the man is pretty new at politics ... This epis…

Welcome back for another edition of On The Line, The Line's latest podcast offering. Each week, On The Line will bring you an extended conversation with Matt Gurney or Jen Gerson and a guest — or guests! — that can speak with authority on whatever is in the news. In this episode, Jen Gerson speaks with Duncan Dee, an airline analyst and former chie…

In the latest episode of The Line Podcast, recorded on February 21, 2025, your hosts continue to bask in the afterglow of Connor McDavid's overtime goal for Team Canada last night. How sweet it was. They also talk about the news and politics and stuff, but, man. Thank you, McJesus. This episode of The Line Podcast is brought to you by Unsmoke Canad…