The Strategists

Stephen Carter, Zain Velji
  • 4.7 (15)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Professional unprofessional strategists Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan and Zain Velji dissect the news of the day, pass judgment on strategy choices and lift back the curtain on how decisions are made. Described as "the least deliberate podcast of all time", "shockingly insightful" and "sports talk radio for politics". Not sponsored by Flair Airlines. Get Thursday episodes and bonus content on Patreon at strategistspatreon.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 3D AGO

    Episode 4015: How to Fight a Referendum

    Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s referendum gambit and the fight over Alberta’s immigration questions. What’s the smartest way to run a No campaign? Should the NDP lead the fight or stay in the background? And will Carter ever forgive Shannon for ranking Honeycrisp apples number one? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  2. Balance of Power: Immigration with Dr. Bronwyn Bragg

    5D AGO

    Balance of Power: Immigration with Dr. Bronwyn Bragg

    Are Alberta’s immigration referendum questions actually about immigration, or about politics? This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward are joined by Dr. Bronwyn Bragg, a human geographer at the University of Lethbridge who studies labour migration and precarious work. First, the politics behind Alberta’s proposed immigration referendum. The panel breaks down what the questions actually say and what they imply. How do complicated policy issues become simple political narratives? And what happens when those narratives start shaping public opinion? Then, the economics beneath the rhetoric. Using Brooks, Alberta and the meatpacking industry as a case study, Bronwyn explains how temporary foreign workers fit into the province’s labour market and why industries that depend on migrant labour are often missing from the political conversation. Finally, facts, feelings, and the politics of immigration. When economic anxiety and housing pressure collide with political messaging, why do facts often fail to change minds? And what responsibility do political leaders have when public debate moves from policy into identity? Immigration policy, labour markets, referendum strategy, and a reminder that behind every political talking point are real communities and real people. Welcome to Balance of Power. Guest: Bronwyn Bragg, PhD https://bronwynbragg.ca Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  3. Balance of Power: Touch Grass and Calm Down

    FEB 25

    Balance of Power: Touch Grass and Calm Down

    Are we governing for the moment? Or reacting to it? This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down three political pressure points, and what they reveal about leadership in high-stakes moments. First: The fallout from the Tumbler Ridge tragedy in B.C. After reporting revealed OpenAI had flagged violent content from the alleged shooter but did not alert authorities, the panel digs into AI regulation, public safety, and the politics of crisis response. How fast can governments realistically move? And when international media drives the story, does that change the pressure on Ottawa? Then: Alberta’s referendum fight. With multiple groups organizing against separatism, and others pushing citizen initiatives of their own, is decentralized activism a strength or a liability? What does effective organizing actually look like before the writ drops? Plus: a new segment, The Opinionati. When progressive columnists publicly question Naheed Nenshi’s leadership, what happens inside caucus? Is this a real warning sign — or just the hyper-engaged political class talking to itself? And if there is a pivot coming, what would it look like? AI, organizing, narrative control, and a reminder that sometimes the most strategic move is to touch grass and calm down. Welcome to Balance of Power. Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    59 min

  4. FEB 23

    Episode 4014: I Have Nothing to Offer

    Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips talk about whether Mark Carney should go early, how opposition parties actually win a legislative session, and why Danielle Smith’s referendum fight might be exactly the battlefield the ANDP has to choose. Should Carney pull the trigger now? Is floor crossing “fine” when Pierre says it is? And how different would the trajectory of the nation be if Shannon had paid attention in those Olympic bid meetings? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min

  5. FEB 21

    Episode 4013: Use All of It or Use None - Teaser

    In this Patreon teaser, Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Danielle Smith’s nine question referendum gambit and the politics of putting Alberta on the ballot. Is this a distraction, or the agenda? How are the questions framed to win? And will Carter ever see his daughter again? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    11 min

  6. FEB 19

    Episode 4012: Skill Issue

    Stephen Carter and Shannon Phillips dive into Jeneroux’s decision to spend less time with his family by crossing the floor to the Liberals, rogue MP Jamil Jivani, and Danielle Smith’s looming televised address. Is Mark Carney quietly outplaying everyone? Is Poilievre losing control of his caucus? And what exactly is a banana plus one? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps everybody in line. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  7. Balance of Power: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro

    FEB 18

    Balance of Power: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro

    The Strategists Media Corporation, in association with The Strategists Podcast Network, presents Balance of Power, a new series offering a fresh lens on the forces shaping Canada’s future. Are we misreading the political moment? This week, Annalise is away and Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward are joined by pollster and data scientist Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies, to cut through three dominant narratives: Alberta separatism, immigration backlash, and the supposed rightward shift among young voters. First: new reporting reveals Alberta separatist organizers meeting with officials at the U.S. State Department. How seriously should we take the movement? And what happens if it collides with Trump-era trade politics? Then: immigration. Is public concern rooted in xenophobia, the pace and direction of recent policy, economic anxiety, or all three? The panel examines what the data shows, why “out of control” has become such a powerful frame, and whether progressives may be reinforcing the very fears they’re trying to counter. Plus: are Gen Z voters really drifting right? Kyla shares research challenging the “young men gone conservative” narrative and introduces a revealing contrast in Canadian politics: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro. Finally: Pierre Poilievre’s rough week, polarizing favourables, and what happens when a campaign narrative flips. Welcome to Balance of Power. Guest: Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies Substack: relaywithkyla.substack.com Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    51 min

  8. FEB 13

    Episode 4011: The Everyman Plus - Teaser

    In this Patreon teaser, Stephen Carter and Zain Velji dive into whether looks still shape political destiny, unpack the machinery of campaign makeovers, and debate what “electable” means in 2026. They also turn to the quieter question of who really runs campaigns, and who gets paid to do it. Do voters want someone who looks like them, or someone just a notch better? Has the definition of electability changed? And did Shannon just seize the means of podcast production? Zain Velji, as always, picks the questions and keeps Carter in line. Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to our exclusive Discord. https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod You can also watch our episodes on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/@strategistspod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    10 min
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Trailers

Hosts & Guests

4.7
out of 5
15 Ratings

About

Professional unprofessional strategists Stephen Carter, Corey Hogan and Zain Velji dissect the news of the day, pass judgment on strategy choices and lift back the curtain on how decisions are made. Described as "the least deliberate podcast of all time", "shockingly insightful" and "sports talk radio for politics". Not sponsored by Flair Airlines. Get Thursday episodes and bonus content on Patreon at strategistspatreon.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Stephen Carter, Zain Velji
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2015-2026 The Strategists Media Corporation
  • Show Website
    The Strategists

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