Episodes

  • WORK 16 - Boss Fight
    Jul 3 2024

    The video game industry, like much of the tech, has been resistant to unionization for a very long time. But like so many other white-collar businesses, video game studios are built on the backs of thousands of exploited, low-paid workers.


    This is the story of Canada’s first-ever video game union. And the lengths that the industry went to try to stop it in its tracks.


    Featured in this episode: James Russwurm, Johanna Weststar, Pablo Godoy


    To learn more


    Not All Fun and Games: Videogame Labour, Project-based Workplaces, and the New Citizenship at Work by Marie-Josée Legault and Johanna Weststar


    “Members of Canada’s first video game industry union vote in favour of strike action” by Curtis Ng in Global News.


    “The video game industry is booming. Why are there so many layoffs?” by Kenzie Gordon, Jennifer R. Whitson, Johanna Weststar, and Sean Gouglas in The Conversation.


    2024 has already had more video game industry layoffs than all of 2023 — and it's only June” by Nicole Carpenter in Polygon.


    FairPlay4GameWorkers Twitch Channel



    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Max Collins (Production Manager), Karyn Pugliese (Editor in Cheif)


    Additional music from Audio Network


    Sponsors: Sponsors:


    Douglas: Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today at Douglas.ca/Canadaland.


    Article: Article is offering our listeners $50 off your first purchase of $100 or more. To claim, visit ARTICLE.COM/COMMONS.



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    48 mins
  • WORK 15 - Canada’s New Underclass
    Jun 26 2024

    The huge rise in international students in Canada — most of them from Punjab, India — has become one of the biggest stories in the country. But most media outlets and political parties have framed it entirely as a housing issue.


    They’re missing the point.


    This is a story about the creation of a new, racialized underclass to do all of the work we don’t want to do. And it’s about the human wreckage that’s left in the wake after we’re done squeezing those people of every penny and every drop of sweat that we can.


    Featured in this episode: Jaspreet Singh, Rupa Banerjee


    To learn more:


    “The International Student Boom Might Be Over” by Kuwarjeet Singh Arora in Baaz News


    “How recruiters in India use false promises to lure students to Canada” by CBC’s Fifth Estate


    “Canada’s open secret: International students are here to be exploited” by Kunal Chaudry in The Breach


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Cahief)


    Sponsors: Douglas, Article

    Additional music from Audio Network


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    43 mins
  • WORK 14 - The Colossus of Roads
    Jun 19 2024

    Earla Phillips has almost 16,000 Uber rides under her belt. But over the last few years, she’s been trying to hold Uber, one of the most powerful tech companies in the world, to account.


    Earla is a leader in a growing movement of gig workers who are trying to reclaim the basic labour rights that have been stripped from them.


    She expected to face opposition from tech companies and governments that are hostile to workers. But what she didn’t anticipate was that one of the biggest obstacles in her path would be a labour union.


    Featured in this episode: Earla Phillips, Anthony Milton (Ricochet)


    To learn more:


    “Rideshare drivers are fighting to unionize. One of Canada’s biggest unions is standing in their way” by Anthony Milton in Ricochet


    “How Uber got almost everything it wanted in Ontario’s Working For Workers Act” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and Mail


    “Union worked with Uber to ensure Ontario government would not classify gig workers as employees, documents show” by Vanmala Subramaniam in The Globe and Mail


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)


    Sponsors: Douglas, Article

    Additional music from Audio Network


    If you value this podcast, Support us! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    38 mins
  • Introducing A Field Guide to Gay Animals
    Jun 15 2024

    Today we’re sharing an episode of the newest show on the network, A Field Guide to Gay Animals.


    A Field Guide to Gay Animals explores sexuality, gender, and joy in the animal world. Animal enthusiasts Owen Ever and Laine Kaplan-Levenson take us on a quest to see beyond the natural world as we know it and into the natural world as it is: queer as f*ck.


    Cheeky and contemplative, curious and raunchy, Field Guide shows us that the natural world is more exuberant, more joyful, and more gay than we could possibly imagine.


    Follow A Field Guide to Gay Animals wherever you listen to podcasts.




    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    43 mins
  • WORK 13 - Flying Under the Radar
    Jun 12 2024

    Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.


    But it’s not just airlines. So many workers, especially in female-dominated professions like nursing, education or food service, have to endure similar demeaning and violent treatment.


    And when they go to their employers, not only are they often ignored. They’re actively silenced.


    Featured in this episode: Mandalena Lewis, Julie Macfarlane


    To learn more:


    “Former WestJet flight attendant hails ‘history making’ decision to allow class action lawsuit” by Jenny Peng in The Toronto Star


    “B.C. Court of Appeal certifies former flight attendant's class-action lawsuit against WestJet” by Joel Ballard in CBC News


    Notice of Civil Claim in Mandalena Lewis vs WestJet Airlines Ltd. (2016)


    “How NDAs silence victims and let perpetrators off the hook” by Julie Macfarlane in Broadview


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

    Additional music from Audio Network


    Sponsors: Douglas, Article


    If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join


    You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    38 mins
  • WORK 12 - The Crucible of Confinement
    Jun 5 2024

    In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades.


    But this won’t be an episode about the Toronto 18 terror plot. This is about what happened to one of the ringleaders after that plot was foiled. About his many years of incarceration. About the possibility of rehabilitation. And what role, if any, imprisonment and prison labour played in that.


    Featured in this episode: Zakaria Amara


    CORRECTION: We stated in this episode that this was Zakaria Amara’s first interview with a member of the press. But it was in fact his first broadcast interview since his release. We regret the error.


    To learn more:


    The Boy and His Sandcastle: A Journey of Redemption by Zakaria Amara


    “The Toronto 18 case still skews our views on ‘radicalization’ and terrorism” by Adnan Khan in The Globe and Mail


    “Bomb plot ringleader: ‘I will change…’” by Michael Friscolanti in Maclean’s


    “Books behind bars” by Leslie Sinclair in This Magazine


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

    Additional music from Audio Network


    Sponsors: Article


    If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins
  • WORK 11 - The Way the Music Died
    May 29 2024

    ♩♪ A long, long time ago, I can still remember

    How the music used to pay my bills

    I knew that if I got my break

    That I could be as big as Drake

    And then I could stop shopping at No Frills ♩♪


    ♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us

    Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust

    The companies got too large

    Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪


    ♩♪ And the record labels I fear the most

    Have all just merged and so now we’re toast

    Don’t you think it’s just so gross?

    The way, the music, died ♩♪


    Featured in this episode: Simon Outhit, Cory Doctorow


    To learn more


    Chokepoint Capitalism: How Big Tech and Big Content Captured Creative Labor Markets and How We'll Win Them Back by Rebecca Giblin & Cory Doctorow


    “'A public relations nightmare': Ticketmaster recruits pros for secret scalper program” in CBC News by Dave Seglins, Rachel Houlihan & Laura Clementson


    “We went undercover as ticket scalpers — and Ticketmaster offered to help us do business” in Toronto Star by Robert Cribb & Marco Chown Oved


    “Is Live Music Broken? It’s Not Just Ticketmaster, It’s Everything” in The Ringer by Nate Rogers


    A Statement From Live Nation Entertainment


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Associate Producer), André Proulx (Production Coordinator)


    Additional music from Audio Network


    Sponsors: Douglas,


    For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    32 mins
  • WORK 10 - Prison Labour Industrial Complex
    May 22 2024

    Prison labour is largely invisible in Canada. Most prisoners who work do institutional upkeep, the kind of cleaning, cooking and maintenance that’s required to keep a prison running.


    But then there are prison industries. Not only do Canadian prisoners work for for-profit businesses, but they’re sometimes doing dangerous and nauseating work around.


    Featured in this episode: Calvin Neufeld


    To learn more:


    Bloody Bad Business: Report on the Joyceville Institution Abattoir


    “Prison farm supporter worries new Kingston farms may exploit prison labour” by Jonna Semple in Global News


    Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

    Additional music from Audio Network


    Sponsors: Douglas, Pod Save The World


    For a limited time, get 6 months of exclusive supporter benefits for just $2/month. Go to canadaland.com/join to become a supporter today.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    35 mins