Veteran journalist Paul Wells interviews the leaders and thinkers tackling the world's big problems — war and peace, democracy and dictatorship, making governments and communities work. Paul draws on decades of experience as a reporter and columnist at Macleans, the Toronto Star and elsewhere to bring you smart, intimate conversations with newsmakers and people who deserve a higher profile. The Paul Wells Show is produced by Antica, in partnership with the National Arts Centre and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. It is published by the Toronto Star and iPolitics. Our founding partner is TELUS. Our title sponsor is Compass Rose.
The Paul Wells Show year-end variety special
Join us for a night of jazz, political wonkery and a novel-length poem about werewolf whalers for some reason. Featuring: - Shuvaloy Majumdar, the new MP for Calgary-Heritage - Jason Guriel, reading from his book The Full Moon Whaling Chronicles - Larisa Galadza, Canada’s former ambassador to Ukraine - Jazz singer Caity Gyorgy, accompanied by Mark Limacher on piano
12/13/2023 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 11 seconds
EMERGENCY EPISODE: Catherine Tait Makes Her Case for the CBC
CBC/Radio-Canada announced today that they’re cutting 600 existing jobs and leaving another 200 vacant positions unfilled. Shortly before these cuts were announced, their president and CEO Catherine Tait joined Paul to lay out her case for a public broadcaster, and her vision for its future.
12/4/2023 • 47 minutes, 47 seconds
Toomas Ilves on living in Russia’s shadow
As the former president of Estonia, Toomas Henrik Ilves has a unique perspective on Russian aggression. Though he grew up in the United States, he moved back to Estonia and got into politics, helping to lead a technological revolution that has given them a unique advantage for a country of only 1.3 million inhabitants. He talks to Paul about building up his country’s tech sector, pushing to get Estonia into NATO, and what it’s like watching from a small, Baltic country as Russia grows more aggressive.
11/29/2023 • 31 minutes, 26 seconds
Olivia Chow Wants Toronto to Work
When John Tory resigned as mayor of Toronto, Olivia Chow decided to take another shot at the job. Despite much of the establishment lining up against her, she won. She talks to Paul about that campaign, and about trying to implement her vision for the city on a shorter-than-usual term, while dealing with a $1.5 billion deficit from COVID. This episode was recorded live at the University of Toronto’s Munk School.
11/22/2023 • 41 minutes, 37 seconds
Patty Hajdu on pain, healing and politics
Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu joins Paul to talk about reconciliation, drug policy, and the road that led her from working with the most vulnerable members of society, to sitting in Trudeau's Cabinet. This episode was recorded live at the National Arts Centre. Subscribe to Paul's Substack for a premium version of this show: paulwells.substack.com
10/25/2023 • 37 minutes, 24 seconds
Dopesick author on hope and the future of the overdose crisis
Beth Macy is one of the leading chroniclers of crisis in the American heartland. Working in Roanoke, Virginia, she wrote Factory Man, an influential book about outsourcing in American industry. Then she wrote Dopesick, an account of the opioid overdose crisis. Dopesick became an award-winning TV series. Now Macy has written a sequel, Raising Lazarus, looking for hope and a path forward on overdoses. Please take five minutes to complete this podcast survey for a chance at a $100 gift card.
10/19/2022 • 41 minutes, 47 seconds
Jason Kenney, the Man the Right Left Behind
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney reflects on his surprise resignation, after he lost the votes of nearly half of his party. He talks about how COVID hardened the divides in the conservative movement, how Donald Trump has influenced Canadian politics, and the future of conservatism in Canada.
9/28/2022 • 40 minutes, 40 seconds
How the Invasion has Changed Ukraine, and how it’s Changing Canada
Roman Waschuk spent more than three decades in Canada’s foreign service, beginning in Moscow in the final years of the Soviet Union, and ending as Canada’s Ambassador to Ukraine from 2014 to 2018. He is currently Ukraine’s Business Ombudsman, a role he began shortly before the Russian invasion. He talks to Paul about how the invasion has changed Ukraine, how it’s changing Canada, and how it might yet change Russia. The Paul Wells Show is produced by ANTICA, in partnership with the National Arts Centre and the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. It is published by the Toronto Star and iPolitics. Our founding sponsor is TELUS and the title sponsor is Compass Rose.
