Closer Look
In cities and towns across Ontario — and at Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill — our journalists work for you. Their mission is to dig for answers and tell you what they find. This podcast from Village Media — ‘Closer Look’ — is all about the stories we tell. Every Sunday morning at 8, hosts Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith go beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.
Episodes
283 episodes
Don Cherry's son talks about his dad, ‘you people’ and Ron MacLean
Even at 92 years old, Don Cherry is never far from the headlines.Back in February, the longtime co-host of “Coach’s Corner” was appointed to t...
Why banning kids from social media is a terrible idea
Back in December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under 16. Simp...
Our prime farmland in Ontario is rapidly disappearing
The Ford government says it wants to limit the foreign ownership of prime Ontario farmland, all part of proposed legislation aimed at boosting food sovereignty across the province.But some experts say the government’s focus on foreign ow...
Canada’s ‘Princess Warrior’ stops by our podcast (minus the sword)
Mary Walsh is so much more than one iconic character, but for countless Canadians she will always be Marg Delahunty, Princess Warrior.Her sword-wielding alter ego — who ambushed politicians, cornered them with uncomfortable questions, an...
Nothing stays the same, and our podcast is no exception
Every day, our Closer Look podcast chases the same mission: to learn something new.Whether we're dissecting a pressing issue, or speaking to a prominent guest, we try to leave the conve...
This is why Canada’s Wonderland adopted a new chaperone policy for kids
Canada’s Wonderland rode a roller coaster of headlines this week when it announced a new chaperone policy for kids....
AI robots for seniors? Time we start talking about our aging population
In Ontario, the number of people over the age of 80 is set to soar — and advocates say we're not doing enough to prepare for the demographic shift.We are definitely not alone. Countries around the world are grappling to prepare for the i...
As final game looms, voice of the Leafs looks back on ‘dream’ career
For 44 years, Joe Bowen’s signature voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season
Every teenager needs to listen to this interview about jobs of the future
Our guest on tonight’s Closer Look is Ian Howcroft of Skills Ontario, an organization that empowers youth to explore careers in skilled trades and tech...
Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage
Ontario's minimum wage is set for another bump later this year, rising 35 cents to $17.95 an hour.But is t...
These hi-tech mugshots help police track down Canada’s most wanted
Six months ago, we told you about the
Ford plus Carney equals more housing across Ontario?
Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look podcast is Aidan Chamandy, a reporter at TorontoToday who covered
You have one more day left to tell the government about your banned guns
Six years ago, the Trudeau government made the decision to ban more than 2,000 makes and models of assault-style firearms, including the notorious AR-15.The legislative change raised the obvious question: If a person purchased one of tho...
Everything you need to know about Doug Ford’s latest unbalanced budget
The Ford government unveiled its latest provincial budget on Thursday — a record $244-billion fi...
Play ball! Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman joins us for Opening Day chat
The Toronto Blue Jays came oh so close to capturing a World Series title last season — uniting fans from coast to coast in the process.Can they finish the job this year? Does the latest version of the Jays have what it takes to go on ano...
What is ‘maple washing’ — and why are grocery stores getting fined for it?
The ‘Buy Canadian’ movement is still going strong — and federal food inspectors
Here’s a winning bet: Let’s lose all those gambling ads before it's too late
Bruce Kidd, a now-retired professor at the University of Toronto, is our guest on tonight's episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast.Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti ...
Canada’s population actually shrank last year — is that a good thing?
For the first time in decades, the population of Canada declined from one year to the next.Statistics Canada says in 2025, the country’s
As retail theft soars, some businesses are eyeing drastic measures
A recent report found that retail crime in Canada “h...
Why it’s time to start screening much sooner for colorectal cancer
For reasons that still aren’t certain, colorectal cancer is striking younger people like never before.According to the Canadian Cancer Society, people aged 45 to 50 are now two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed than in ...
Should Canada ban all kids from social media?
Three months ago, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under the age ...
This Ontario township is wiping Prince Andrew off the map
Today on Village Media’s ‘Closer Look’ podcast: We speak to the mayor of Selwyn Township about the push to erase the disgraced royal’s name from a local island.Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produc...
What is Doug Ford trying to hide? More than ever before
"Shocking announcement.""A recipe for a more corrupt government."A "bullshit" move that will "gut public trust."That was just some of the reaction to today's