Group Chat: Making Sense of Canada’s Democracy With a Few Friends podcast artwork
Government

Group Chat: Making Sense of Canada’s Democracy With a Few Friends

by Samara Centre For Democracy

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About the show

Canada’s democracy is under threat, and the stakes are high. But when we focus on how we are connected, we find the power to act - to strengthen what’s working and fix what’s not. This is what is behind the Samara Centre for Democracy’s latest podcast, hosted by Sabreena Delhon. It’s called Group Chat and this five-part series is where we bring people together to make sense of what’s happening in our democracy. Group Chat is funded by the Rideau Hall Foundation and the Flanagan Foundation. If you like this podcast, help us keep it going. Your donation supports the show along with the Samara Centre for Democracy’s mission to realize a vibrant culture of civic engagement across Canada. Learn more at samaracentre.ca.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Latest episodes

  • Beyond Elections: Mini Publics as a Tool for Democratic Renewal with Dr. Seána Glennon

    July 15, 2026 · 38 min

    Across the world, democracies are grappling with declining trust, political polarization and questions about how to involve citizens more meaningfully in public decision-making. One response has been the rise of deliberative mini-publics…

  • Live from Toronto Tech Week: Democracy and AI

    June 24, 2026 · 32 min

    In this episode of Group Chat, we bring together civil society and academic perspectives to consider how advances in AI and declining transparency from social media platforms are shaping Canada's democratic culture. How can citizens be…

  • Age-gating: Canadian kids and social media

    June 9, 2026 · 43 min

    Parental anxiety, even desperation about keeping kids safe online is driving countries to adopt legislation that limits access to online spaces based on age. This type of legislation is called age-gating and countries like the United…

  • Re-imagining Academic Freedom and Advocacy

    May 7, 2026 · 50 min

    In this period of global democratic backsliding we’re seeing political pressures in the United States reverberate in Canada. Top American scholars are moving here while Canadian researchers are facing growing scrutiny over what they study…

  • Behind the Mic

    April 21, 2026 · 22 min

    Go behind the scenes of the Group Chat podcast with a BONUS episode featuring host Sabreena Delhon in conversation with Executive Producer Debbie Pacheco. This episode launches our Group Chat Listening Party guide - think book club but a…

  • The Politics of (Back) Home

    July 9, 2025 · 27 min

    With technology bridging communities across borders, global and local politics are connected more than ever. We explore how diasporic politics shape local democracy, the threat of foreign interference, and the power of belonging in civic…

  • Is Technology Democracy’s Saviour or Downfall?

    July 2, 2025 · 37 min

    Taiwan’s former Digital Minister Audrey Tang and economist Glen Weyl share an infectious techno optimism. In a surprisingly spiritual conversation, they tell us why they want to invite more, not less, technology into the democratic…

  • The Notwithstanding Clause: Hero or Villain?

    June 24, 2025 · 27 min

    Does the notwithstanding clause safeguard our rights or override them? We dive into one of the most controversial parts of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to figure out whether it’s a hero like Wolverine or a wildcard like The Joker…