rabble radio

Effective April 20, 2026, Rob Halpin will assume the role of executive director of ACTRA Toronto. ACTRA, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is the national union of professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. This week on the show, Halpin joins rabble editor Nick Seebruch to discuss his goals for the union, the exploitative nature of AI, and why it's so important to support union performers. About our guest Halpin is coming to ACTRA Toronto from the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) where he brings more than a decade of experience, most recently as general secretary, in worker advocacy, government relations, research communications, campaign strategy, leadership, administration and movement-building across Ontario's labour community. Rob Halpin has an undergraduate degree in Communications from Wilfrid Laurier University and a Master's degree in Labour Policies and Globalisation Studies from the University of Kassel and Berlin School of Economics and Law. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

On April 18, 2026, rabble.ca will celebrate 25 years of sharing 'news for the rest of us.' Ahead of our birthday celebration, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian sits down with rabble founder Judy Rebick to hear about the creation of rabble all those years ago, why it was so important (and still is) to be a progressive, feminist, independent news source, and where rabble should go next. To help celebrate our 25th anniversary, consider becoming a donor at rabble.ca/donate. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

This summer, Vancouver will host seven matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the lead-up to major global sporting events like this, a familiar narrative tends to resurface: fears of a spike in human trafficking, particularly for sexual exploitation. Yet, time and again, these claims have been widely circulated without credible evidence or data to support them. Advocacy organizations such as SWAN Vancouver have raised concerns about newly introduced RCMP anti-trafficking units, warning that such initiatives may conflate consensual sex work with trafficking. Critics argue this approach risks further marginalizing sex workers and could ultimately undermine the safety of already vulnerable communities. This week on rabble radio, rabble labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with Crystal Laderas, the communications manager at SWAN Vancouver, to talk about this issue and why advocating for sex workers' rights and protections is as essential as it is for any other workers in Canada. About our guest Crystal Laderas is the communications manager at SWAN Vancouver, an organization that promotes the rights, health and safety of im/migrant women engaged in indoor sex work. She focuses on public education, advocacy, and debunking misinformation. As a former reporter who worked across Western Canada, she encourages ethical and accurate reporting of the community SWAN supports. Crystal also manages ResponsibleReporting.ca, an online resource hub with quick facts, explainers and information for reporting on sex work and human trafficking. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

This week on rabble radio, we're sharing a clip from the latest episode of the Courage My Friends, featuring Kara Anderson (Mining Injustice Solidarity Network) and Rachel Small (World Beyond War) on Canada's defence spending and the connections between militarism and mining. The full episode can be found here. Listen to the entire series of Courage My Friends on Needs No Introduction. About our guests Kara Anderson is an organizer with the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, as well as a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto working on food justice. Rachel Small works as the Canada Organizer for World BEYOND War, a global grassroots organisation and network working to abolish war and the military industrial complex, is a founding member of the Jews Say No to Genocide Coalition, and coordinates the Arms Embargo Now Campaign. She has done grassroots organizing within local and international social/environmental justice movements for nearly two decades, with a special focus on working in solidarity with communities harmed by Canadian extractive industry projects. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

This week on rabble radio, journalist and author Jowita Bydlowska joins rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian in the rabble book lounge to discuss her latest memoir Unshaming, and reflect on how her 2014 memoir Drunk Mom transformed her life. About our guest Jowita Bydlowska is a Canadian journalist and author (originally from Warsaw, Poland) based in Toronto and Treaty 9 territory. She is the author of the memoirs Drunk Mom (2013) and Unshaming (2026). She is also the author of novels GUY (2016), Possessed (2022) and Monster (2024). As a journalist, her work has appeared in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star, Salon magazine, The Times UK, Elle, FASHION, Chatelaine, Hazlitt, THIS magazine and CBC. ​Learn more about Bydlowska on her website here. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

This week, rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian review the top stories in the news this week, including the attacks on Iran from the US and Israel and the upcoming NDP leadership convention. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

According to a December 2025 report from the Centre for Future Work, fossil fuel jobs in Canada are in decline and will likely continue to drop in the years to come. Not just because of climate policy, but because of technology, economic changes, resource limits and corporate greed. As director of the Centre for Future Work Jim Stanford explains, many fossil fuel workers are close to retirement, and surveys show they're most interested in early retirement options and transition plans supported by unions. The issue of fossil fuel jobs in decline isn't about whether or not they will continue to decline (they will), but about how to manage the transition fairly for workers. About our guest Jim Stanford is economist and director of the Centre for Future Work, a progressive labour economics institute based in Vancouver. He has a PhD in economics from the New School for Social Research in New York, and also holds economics degrees from Cambridge University and the University of Calgary. He is the author of Economics for Everyone, which has been translated into six languages. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

Bridget Potasky, rabble's 2025–26 Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellow, has been working on a series examining the growing use of the notwithstanding clause by federal and provincial governments, as we discussed in last week's episode. This week, she sat down with Ontario Federation of Labour president Laura Walton to talk about why strengthening worker solidarity is essential as governments increasingly invoke the notwithstanding clause. About our guest Laura Walton is the president of the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL), Canada's largest provincial labour federation. The OFL represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. Laura previously served as the president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees' Ontario School Board Council of Unions (OSBCU), which represents over 55,000 education workers across the province. In 2022, Laura led an historic strike that won unprecedented gains for OSBCU members and that led to the defeat of Bill 28, the provincial government's landmark anti-labour legislation. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

Since 2017, rabble.ca and the Institute for Change Leaders has presented the Jack Layton Journalism for Change Fellowship: a fellowship with the objective of supporting emerging writers and journalists who are passionate and engaged in developing unique voices in social change reporting. Our current fellow is Bridget Potasky. This week on rabble radio, Bridget sits down with rabble editor Nick Seebruch to talk about her series on Canada's recent frequent use of the notwithstanding clause and what her plans are after the fellowship wraps. About our guest Bridget Potasky is a graduate of Toronto Metropolitan University, where she earned her degree in Politics and Governance. Since completing her studies, she has been actively involved in peacebuilding and human rights advocacy. Bridget has worked with Human Rights Action Group, contributing to efforts that address mass atrocity crimes, transnational repression, and violations of international law. She has also collaborated with Canadian Friends of Peace Now, writing about issues of injustice, social movements, and democracy in the Middle East. Through this work, Bridget has developed a deep commitment to amplifying the stories of underrepresented voices and holding power to account. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

This week on rabble radio, something a little different: a love story. Sarah Sahagian sits down with Rachael Durie to talk about falling in love at 18, becoming a living organ donor, and what it means to keep going after losing the love of your life. This is part one of their conversation. To hear Sarah's full interview with Rachael, join our Patreon community today—memberships start at just $1 per month. About our guest Rachael Durie is a public policy and nonprofit leader with over a decade of experience spanning government, community advocacy, and social impact. She is currently the executive director of Spectrum Mothers Support Society, supporting mothers and families in crisis through community-based, preventative care. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and now: subscribe to rabble on Patreon to hear exclusive bonus episodes of rabble radio.

2026 marks the 60th anniversary of Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program. Today, at a time when Canada appears to be rolling back protections and freedoms for migrant workers, this anniversary raises an urgent question: what does Canada's treatment of migrants reveal about our values, and are we truly living up to the United Nations' expectations for human rights? Gabriel Allahdua (Justice for Migrant Workers) sits down with Gabriela Calugay-Casuga to talk about the urgent need to speak up for migrant workers in Canada and globally. About our guest Gabriel Allahdua is a former migrant farm worker from St Lucia, an island in the Eastern Caribbean. He is an organizer with the collective, Justice for Migrant Workers (J4MW) for almost a decade. He is currently an outreach worker working with migrant workers across Ontario and education and mobilization officer with the Association for the Rights of Household and farm Workers (DTMF). He was the activist in residence at the University of Guelph, the first person to hold that position, which brought activists and researchers together. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. Please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends. It takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

Over the last two years, Alberta and Saskatchewan have used a special legal power—the notwithstanding clause—to protect laws that affect transgender youth. These laws limit access to gender-affirming health care and require schools to get parental consent before using a student's chosen name or pronouns. Critics say these laws break basic rights protected by the Charter and could put transgender and gender-diverse young people at greater risk of harm. This week on rabble radio, Jack Layton Journalism for Change fellow Bridget Potasky sits down with Aaden Pearson, trans rights legal fellow with the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. The two discuss the use of the notwithstanding clause across Canada and its impact on 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. To learn more about this issue and about the recent increase in the use of the notwithstanding clause in Canada, read Potasky's latest piece on rabble today. About our guest Aaden Pearson is a staff lawyer and Trans Rights Legal Fellow at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. They develop and coordinate advocacy strategies to advance trans rights in Canada as well as monitor significant developments in this area. Prior to joining the CCLA, Aaden held a fellowship position with the Law Commission of Canada and was engaged in Canadian law reform. Aaden clerked at the Federal Court of Appeal and was a litigation associate at a boutique law firm practicing in the areas of civil litigation, public interest and constitutional law. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. Please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends. It takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

This week, the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting was held in Davos, Switzerland, under the theme of 'A Spirit of Dialogue.' On Tuesday, January 20, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a 17-minute special address in which he condemned the "old order" of the world and said the longstanding American-led rules-based international order is over. He called on "middle powers" such as Canada to work together and resist domination by larger, wealthier, and more heavily armed nations. The reaction from Canadians has been overwhelmingly positive. Across the political spectrum, many have praised Carney's speech for its measured, inspiring tone and for firmly positioning Canada in opposition to the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump—without ever mentioning him by name. This response is hardly surprising. As last year's election showed, few things currently unite Canadians as effectively as drawing a clear line against Trump and his actions. But should progressive Canadians be so quick to celebrate Carney's speech? What was left unsaid beneath the polished rhetoric? Which elements rang hollow or hypocritical, and which genuinely deserve recognition? Today on the show, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and rabble editor Nick Seebruch discuss the speech and what it might mean for Carney's plans in the year ahead. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

Labour reporter Gabriela Calugay-Casuga sits down with Kelly Botengan to discuss the recent changes by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has paused the intake of new applications for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots. Advocacy groups argue the pause leaves many migrant workers, predominantly women from racialized communities, in a precarious situation. If their work permits expire while waiting for a permanent residency decision, and they are unable to apply for an extension under the paused program, they risk becoming undocumented or losing their legal status in Canada. About our guests Kelly Botengan came to Canada via the live in caregiver program in 2006. She was involved in community organizing for a few years, then worked as a settlement counsellor with migrant caregivers for 13 years. worked exclusively with caregivers. Botengan is currently in her last term as a paralegal student at Seneca Polytechnic and works part time as a legal assistant in an immigration law firm. To learn more about the causes Botengan organizes around, check out the Caregivers Collective of Canada on Facebook. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

The NDP will pick their new leader at the end of March. rabble's Off the Hill political panel took a look at the race and broke down the major issues, endorsements, and events of the campaign so far. This week on rabble radio, we feature a segment from our most recent Off the Hill political panel. This month, our theme was 'Analyzing the NDP leadership race.' Our panel featured Libby Davies, Judy Rebick, James Adair and Karl Nerenberg. About our guests Libby Davies is a former NDP deputy leader and former co-host of Off the Hill. Davies has expressed her support for Avi Lewis in this race. Judy Rebick is a renowned activist and author and is the founder of rabble.ca. Rebick has also expressed her support for Lewis. James Adair is the co-president of the University of Ottawa NDP Association and has expressed his support in this leadership race for Rob Ashton. Karl Nerenberg is an award-winning journalist, broadcaster and filmmaker, working in both English and French languages. He is rabble's senior parliamentary reporter. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

It has been a very eventful year in Canada, to put it simply. As rabble editor Nick Seebruch and publisher Sarah Sahagian noted on last week's show, Canadian politics went through one of its most dramatic periods in recent memory—including a federal election that reshaped the national conversation. And politics were only part of the picture. Environmental challenges, major labour actions, and Canada's shifting role on the international stage all kept the news cycle moving. Throughout it all, rabble's reporters and freelance writers worked to make sense of these developments on our site and here on the podcast. Today, we're sharing the last episode of rabble radio for 2025. And, in the fashion of our last episodes of the past few years, we're highlighting some of our best interviews of this year on rabble radio. Thank you for listening to rabble radio Our show would not be possible without listeners like you. So thank you! From all of us here at rabble, we want to wish you and your communities a very merry holiday season and a safe and happy new year! If we've caught you in the giving mood and would like to support our show today, please visit rabble.ca/donate. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca. Or, if you have feedback for the show, get in touch anytime at editor@rabble.ca.

This week on rabble radio, rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and rabble editor Nick Seebruch discuss the major news in Canadian politics of 2025; including the resignation of Justin Trudeau, to now-Prime Minister Mark Carney—and his first months as leader, his budget and pipeline plans; the NDP leadership race; and more. This marks our final interview of the year! Next week on the show, we'll feature a collection of our favourite interviews of 2025 in the yearly fashion of the "best of rabble radio" episode. Tune in next week to see if your favourite interview made the cut! If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

In its newly tabled budget, the federal government announced that over the course of four years there would be a $2.7 billion reduction in international assistance. As Bridget Potasky writes in her November 13th piece on rabble.ca, this announcement has drawn the ire of NGOs who warn it could cause long-term, irreversible harm leaving vulnerable communities without essential medical care, food, and protection at a time when global needs have dramatically risen. This week on rabble radio, we tune in to her conversation with the director of policy and advocacy with Cooperation Canada, Paul Farran. Cooperation Canada is an umbrella group representing more than 100 Canadian non-profits engaged in humanitarian aid efforts and international development. About our guest Paul Farran is the director of policy and advocacy with Cooperation Canada. He works closely with the CSO sector in Canada on parliamentary and government engagement. He has a background working internationally with the United Nations and NGOs in different regions of the world on partnership and government relations issues. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

The New Democratic Party of Canada is currently looking for its new leader after the resignation of Jagmeet Singh and a colossal decline in support in the most recent federal election. It seems the NDP's reduced support stems from competition with the Liberals, strategic voting, demographic shifts, and difficulties uniting diverse voter groups across Canada. The new leader of the NDP must unite the party's diverse voter groups, rebuild national support and clearly differentiate the NDP's vision from its rivals. But how can this be done? rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian and assistant professor at the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University Daniel Westlake discuss this question and more this week on rabble radio. About our guest Daniel Westlake is a term assistant professor at the School of Public Policy at Simon Fraser University. He teaches courses on Canadian politics, quantitative methods, and multiculturalism and immigration policy. Westlake completed his PhD in political science at the University of British Columbia and has previously held positions at the University of Victoria, Queen's University, and the University of Saskatchewan. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.

Content warning: This interview centers around domestic violence. Please listen with care and sensitivity. Family and child protection lawyer Bobbi Olsen joins rabble publisher Sarah Sahagian to talk about the legal systems in Canada which handle issues of domestic and family violence. The two explore what is working and what needs to be improved. About our guest Bobbi Olsen is a dual-call (Ontario and Alberta) high conflict family and child protection lawyer who has practiced in Toronto for many years, and now practices with MD Law Group in Calgary, Alberta. In addition to her LL.B., she holds a Masters of Law in Family Law from Osgoode Hall Law School and a certificate from the Master Class of Negotiation, Harvard Law School, Executive Education. An army reservist during undergrad, she jokes that she has spent her adult life learning to protect people's freedom, a value she holds dear. She is known for spontaneous solo travel, running, and spending too much time alone with her dog, Ted Mosby. If you like the show please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you find your podcasts. And please, rate, review, share rabble radio with your friends — it takes two seconds to support independent media like rabble. Follow us on social media across channels @rabbleca.