100 episodes

The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO's flagship current affairs program - devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural and economic issues that are changing our world, at home and abroad. The Agenda airs weeknights at 8:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.

The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio‪)‬ TVO | Steve Paikin

    • News
    • 4.5 • 403 Ratings

The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO's flagship current affairs program - devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural and economic issues that are changing our world, at home and abroad. The Agenda airs weeknights at 8:00 PM EST on TVO - Canada's largest educational broadcaster.

    How an Unelected Barber Helped Make Modern Ontario

    How an Unelected Barber Helped Make Modern Ontario

    The 400 series highways. The 401. Hundreds of schools. Hospitals. Canada's first subway. Metro Toronto itself. He helped make much of modern Ontario. But behind every great man is, of course, a good barber. This is the story of Old Man Ontario, the Silver Fox, the Laird of Lindsay, Leslie Frost and the peculiar influence his barber had over policy in Ontario during the 1950s.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 6 min
    When Gen X Culture Collides With Reality

    When Gen X Culture Collides With Reality

    Author Allyson McOuat loves horror stories, especially those real and fictional specific to gen X pop culture. So much so that she wrote a book of essays with 1980s and '90s as their backdrop. "The Call is Coming from Inside the House," is a raw look at McOuat's influences and touchstones as she navigates her life from early adulthood on as a queer woman trying to fit into society's prescriptions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 20 min
    Homegrown Horror

    Homegrown Horror

    "In a Violent Nature" is a new horror film by director Chris Nash and producer Peter Kuplowsky. Shot in Sault Ste. Marie, its fresh take on the slasher flick - this one told from the point-of-view of the killer - has earned rave reviews from critics and horror fans. It joins a long list of horror movies made in Ontario - from "Black Christmas" to "The Fly" - that have scared audiences for decades. To discuss Canada's significant contribution to horror movies, we welcome: Chris Nash, director of "In a Violent Nature;" Peter Kuplowsky, a producer of "In a Violent Nature," and programmer of TIFF's Midnight Madness;Carolyn Mauricette, programmer at Fantasia International Film Festival and Blood in the Snow Film Festival; and Alexandra West, author of "Gore-geous: Personal Essays on Beauty and Horror," and co-host of the Faculty of Horror Podcast.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 34 min
    Knives on the Road

    Knives on the Road

    A cook's knife is their most important tool and Eugene Ong has been obsessed with cutlery for a long time. As a chef, he came to appreciate the necessity of a perfect edge - from there, knife sharpening became a full-time obsession. For 15 years, Eugene has run KNIFE in Toronto, teaching young cooks how to hand-sharpen their gear as well as passing on the lessons of discipline required to maintain blades in peak condition. Now he also drives the Knife Truck to various towns in Ontario to bring his hand-sharpening skills to a broader audience.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 10 min
    World Crokinole Championship

    World Crokinole Championship

    It's a beloved game found in cottages and farm houses across the province. And every year on the first Saturday in June, the top players from around the world gather in Tavistock, Ontario to compete in the World Crokinole Championship.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 13 min
    Challenges for Cultural Long-Term Care

    Challenges for Cultural Long-Term Care

    Cultural long-term care homes have provided elder care for seniors steeped in their language, diet, and cultural traditions. But recent legislation has left these homes grappling with an influx of new residents from outside those cultures, and are seeing what they say are serious consequences. How can care homes that cater to specific culturally needs be preserved in Ontario?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
403 Ratings

403 Ratings

NewYorkAmericans ,

A human Westminster Dog show

Hey! You want to know what Steve’s pets are up to? What interesting side project he’s working on now? This is the show for you!

Want to hear a vigorous defence of a mayor who watched Toronto slide into multiple political crises, and made a number of them worse? Check out Steve’s view of John Tory! Don’t be glad that a man who exasperated the housing and COL crisis is gone: Tory was a victim of a witch hunt cuz he cheated on his wife! Just ask Steve.

Want to hear why urban sprawl and gross municipal mismanagement is cool? Check out the eulogy for the queen of sprawl Hazel “don’t wear religious costumes to the hospitals” McCallion! Or download the show from a decade ago where Hazel yells “people want sprawl” and watch Steve nod along. Oodles if fun!

And don’t forget the mandatory references to ‘full disclosure my family is made up of developers’ so he can at least pretend to be objective about the gross urban development failures plaguing the province. Just kidding! There’s no hard questions or serious discussions here. That would take a desire to see Ontario change. Instead enjoy the bread and circuses!

If you want serious discussions about the myriad of issues the province is facing, this is not that show. (Ontario doesn’t have one like that.) but if you want people shilling books, defenders of the status quo, comments about ancient premiers no one remembers, and an answer to “who ghostwrote Patrick Brown’s book?” Try this podcast. Or put on some rose coloured glasses, add some blinders and pretend everything is working as it should. It’s almost the same thing.

NicKnamE57563 ,

Gold Standard

Hands down, this is the best current affairs program in Canada and beyond. Steve’s genuine curiosity and level hand make this show into a highly informative and critical component of our democracy.

Lord Pretty Jacko ,

The Most Unbiased Show On TV

Steve has been an unbiased and even keeled host for as long as I have been watching him. The agenda is not afraid to have people from all sides of the political field come and share their views.

I appreciate that there are people in the world who are making informed and interesting content about the issues that affect Canadians.

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