Closer Look
by Village Media Inc.
Latest episode
Away from the cameras, 'Rick the Temp' hid a dark secret
Away from the cameras, 'Rick the Temp' hid a dark secret
About this podcast
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
The newest 50 of 298 episodes
- Away from the cameras, 'Rick the Temp' hid a dark secret · 29 minFor a generation of Canadians, Rick Campanelli has been one of the most recognizable faces on television — the energetic, always-grinning “Rick the Temp” who turned a MuchMusic…
- NHL's rookie of the year takes a shot at joining our podcast · 26 minMatthew Schaefer was the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL draft — and he definitely lived up to the hype. In his first season, the talented defenceman put up Bobby Orr-esque…
- Far-fetched or not, Carney is right to prepare for U.S. military action · 36 minPrime Minister Mark Carney revealed this week that he has studied the possibility of U.S.-led military action in Canada. In a lengthy New York Times interview published…
- Navdeep Bains has some things to say about Doug Ford · 24 minIn November, the Ontario Liberals will elect a new leader — the party’s third in six years. Five candidates are on the ballot to replace Bonnie Crombie: Navdeep Bains, Stephanie…
- Should Trump's ambassador to Canada get the boot? · 17 minAt last count, nearly 200,000 people have signed an online petition demanding the expulsion of Donald Trump's ambassador to Canada. The petition — which will be presented in the…
- Our last conversation with Lloyd Robertson · 33 minFor countless Canadians, Lloyd Robertson was more than a trusted voice. He was a fixture of their nightly routine. The chief anchor of CTV News for nearly three decades…
- Why this could be a 'turnaround decade' in the fight against Alzheimer's · 30 minResearchers have identified a new blood test that could reveal signs of Alzheimer’s disease decades earlier than ever before. The potential breakthrough is just the latest piece…
- Meet the Zamboni-like robot cleaning Ontario beaches · 15 minWhen you’re at the beach this summer, you might notice something pretty cool: a Zamboni-like robot that meticulously cleans the sand. It’s called a BeBot, and it was unveiled for…
- The Wealthy Barber is closing up shop · 25 minReleased nearly four decades years ago, The Wealthy Barber helped countless Canadians understand money management and sound investing strategies. Last year, author David Chilton…
- Not even your gift cards are safe from fraudsters · 19 minIf recent headlines are any indication, gift card scams have become a lucrative enterprise for organized criminals. On this week’s episode of Village Media's Closer Look podcast…
- CTE is a devastating brain disease, but there is hope · 23 minIf you're a sports fan, you've no doubt heard of the acronym CTE. It has made plenty of headlines in recent years. CTE — chronic traumatic encephalopathy — is a devastating…
- Spot the difference? How fake merch inflicts very real harms · 29 minThis week, Toronto police displayed the fruits of a massive seizure of counterfeit soccer merchandise worth millions of dollars. The haul included 16,000 fake name-brand jerseys…
- Here’s what you need to know about Ontario’s new auto insurance rules · 20 minHere's a piece of advice: Take a good look at your auto insurance policy. Starting July 1, Ontario is introducing some significant reforms to auto insurance rules. Simply put…
- Why we’re spending billions to attract more people into skilled trades · 18 minLast month, Mark Carney’s Liberal government announced a $6-billion plan to help recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 new skilled tradespeople over the next five years. The plan…
- Voting really matters, but our democracy demands so much more · 27 minIn communities across Ontario, nominations are now open for October’s municipal elections. It is local democracy in action: candidates put their names in the hat, lay out their…
- Don Cherry's son talks about his dad, ‘you people’ and Ron MacLean · 45 minEven 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 the Order of Ontario. A month later…
- Why banning kids from social media is a terrible idea · 27 minBack in December, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under 16. Simply put, popular platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat were…
- Our prime farmland in Ontario is rapidly disappearing · 26 minThe 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…
- Canada’s ‘Princess Warrior’ stops by our podcast (minus the sword) · 27 minMary 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…
- Nothing stays the same, and our podcast is no exception · 17 minEvery 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…
- This is why Canada’s Wonderland adopted a new chaperone policy for kids · 22 minCanada’s Wonderland rode a roller coaster of headlines this week when it announced a new chaperone policy for kids. After 4 p.m., all children under the age of 16 must be…
- AI robots for seniors? Time we start talking about our aging population · 28 minIn 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…
- As final game looms, voice of the Leafs looks back on ‘dream’ career · 34 minFor 44 years, Joe Bowen’s signature voice has been the soundtrack of Leafs Nation. But this season will be his last behind the mic — and with the Toronto Maple Leafs officially…
- Every teenager needs to listen to this interview about jobs of the future · 20 minOur guest on tonight’s Closer Look is Ian Howcroft of Skills Ontario, an organization that empowers youth to explore careers in skilled trades and technologies. Reach out to…
- Minimum wage is going up, but it’s still nowhere near a living wage · 17 minOntario's minimum wage is set for another bump later this year, rising 35 cents to $17.95 an hour. But is that a living wage? Not even close. On tonight’s episode of Village…
- These hi-tech mugshots help police track down Canada’s most wanted · 29 minSix months ago, we told you about the latest list of Canada's 25 most-wanted fugitives. The hi-tech mugshots are released annually by Canada’s Bolo program — “Be on the Lookout”…
- Ford plus Carney equals more housing across Ontario? · 22 minJoining us on tonight’s Closer Look podcast is Aidan Chamandy, a reporter at TorontoToday who covered Monday's announcement by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford and…
- You have one more day left to tell the government about your banned guns · 24 minSix 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…
- Everything you need to know about Doug Ford’s latest unbalanced budget · 27 minThe Ford government unveiled its latest provincial budget on Thursday — a record $244-billion fiscal roadmap (with a projected deficit of $13.8-billion). Joining us on tonight’s…
- Play ball! Blue Jays broadcaster Dan Shulman joins us for Opening Day chat · 28 minThe 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…
- What is ‘maple washing’ — and why are grocery stores getting fined for it? · 22 minThe ‘Buy Canadian’ movement is still going strong — and federal food inspectors say they’re determined to help ensure shoppers know exactly what’s in their grocery carts. The…
- Here’s a winning bet: Let’s lose all those gambling ads before it's too late · 27 minBruce 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…
- Canada’s population actually shrank last year — is that a good thing? · 22 minFor the first time in decades, the population of Canada declined from one year to the next. Statistics Canada says in 2025, the country’s population shrank by approximately…
- As retail theft soars, some businesses are eyeing drastic measures · 35 minA recent report found that retail crime in Canada “has escalated into a national crisis” that costs businesses across the country a whopping $9-billion a year. The situation is…
- Why it’s time to start screening much sooner for colorectal cancer · 18 minFor 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…
- Should Canada ban all kids from social media? · 25 minThree months ago, Australia became the first country in the world to ban social media for kids under the age of 16. Many other governments are now eyeing the same idea, including…
- This Ontario township is wiping Prince Andrew off the map · 19 minToday 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…
- What is Doug Ford trying to hide? More than ever before · 23 min"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 sudden news that…
- This is your captain speaking: Doug Ford bent on bringing jets to island airport · 22 minPremier Doug Ford says the province will take over the City of Toronto’s stake in Billy Bishop Airport, clearing the path for larger planes on the island. “This is a crown…
- ‘Absolutely deadly’: Ontario’s northern highways in desperate need of a fix · 21 minWelcome to a special road-trip edition of Village Media's Closer Look podcast. On tonight's episode, we catch up with members of the provincial NDP who've spent some quality time…
- How a settlement was finally reached in 14-year mall collapse lawsuit · 37 minNearly 14 years after the roof caved in at Elliot Lake's shopping mall — killing two women and injuring 19 others — the tragedy is back in the headlines. A proposed settlement…
- Fantasy island? We fill you in on Doug Ford’s grand vision for new convention centre · 20 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Premier Ford says he is considering filling in part of Lake Ontario to make room for a multi-billion-dollar 'shock and awe'…
- Daylight saving time is a scam, but don’t forget to change your clock! · 25 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Few phrases get people more riled up than 'spring forward' and 'fall back' — so in advance of this weekend's time change, let's…
- Ontario’s population is only growing older — what’s our plan? · 26 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: The number of people over the age of 80 in our province is set to soar, and advocates say we're not doing enough to prepare for…
- Our wilderness is breathtaking — and worth billions to the economy · 19 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: As Canada works to shore up its economy in the face of Donald Trump's tariffs, new research reveals the true value of protecting…
- How a new DNA technique has helped solve hundreds of cold cases · 30 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Investigative genetic genealogy is helping police across the world solve decades-old mysteries, including the crimes of a…
- Trump was the ‘wake-up call’ our economy needed — will we listen? · 37 minTonight on Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Matthew Holmes from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce talks to us about the seemingly endless tariff war, and why he sees…
- Violence against teachers, staff the ‘new normal’ in classrooms across Ontario · 30 min'Schools cannot be safe places to learn if they are not safe places to teach': Tonight on the Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast, a new report sheds even more light on a…
- Starting to panic about your March Break trip? Here’s what to do · 32 minTonight on the Village Media's 'Closer Look' podcast: Should you stay away from Mexico? Cuba? Where should you go instead? Our travel expert has all the answers to your pressing…
- Are you a student who depends on OSAP? Your debt load is about to soar · 20 minAre you one of the many Ontario students who rely on OSAP to help cover tuition? Brace yourself. The Ford government has announced billions in new funding for colleges and…
