Ontario Liberal "No Goat Rodeos" Leadership Debate

Introducing candidates for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party: Michael Coteau, Brenda Hollingsworth, Alvin Tedjo, Kate Graham, and Mitzie Hunter.

We’re just six people sitting in a studio, no table, no podiums, with me as debate cop, here to arrest any canned talking points immediately. 

Join us to hear why they should be party leader and premier. And perhaps most importantly, learn if they’re cat or dog people.

The sixth candidate in the race, Steven Del Duca, declined to participate.

John Stackhouse

John Stackhouse spent close to 25 years at the Globe and Mail, first as a foreign correspondent, editor of Report on Business and then finally, Editor-in-Chief at the newspaper. Today, he’s a Senior Vice-President, office of the CEO at the Royal Bank of Canada where he advises leadership on emerging trends in the Canadian economy, with a particular focus on technological change and innovation in this age of disruption. He’s also the author of 3 books, with a fourth coming out in April.

But John just returned from the “crazy, unique thing” that is Davos and so we’re going to talk about the business community, what role it’s playing positively or negatively and what role it can play in addressing the great problems of the world. And more specifically, we’ll get into climate change and how we need to reframe the energy transition as an opportunity for business, and finally the case for reshaping capitalism.

Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media.

Byrne after Reiding?

Our favourite political panel guests Jenni Byrne and Scott Reid are with us, and so are some names you floated for a title to name the panel: "Byrne after Reiding" ... "Party Animals" ... "State of the f*cking Nation" ... "The Swear Jar Panel."

More importantly, this week we'll discuss:
- who's passing on the CPC race and who's entering the race
- Ontario polls as OLP picks a new leader and we inch towards 2022
- the Ford government's handling of the education file 

Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app. Join us on YouTube to watch this conversation.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from TELUS and OREA.

The Herle "Byrne-y" interview with Pat Sorbara

Patricia “Pat” Sorbara has been a backroom political operative for more than forty years. This conversation pulls back the curtain on the gritty work of managing Liberal campaigns, big and small, in Canada.

In an industry dominated by men we thought it would be both appropriate and fun to have podcast contributor Jenni Byrne—who shared with Pat some of the same obstacles and experiences in politics—lead the interview.

In this episode of The Herle Burly podcast, Pat joins us, not just to discuss her recent book, “Let ’Em Howl: Lessons from a Life in Backroom Politics” but to dive deep into the ground game operations of political campaigns, women in politics, and the election moments that broke our hearts.

It's 2020 and we're back with Jenni & Scott!

*This episode was recorded early in the morning on January 9, 2020.*

A new year, with a new episode, with our favourite political panel guests Jenni Byrne and Scott Reid!

Topics Covered:
- Ottawa
- the Ontario Liberal Party leadership race
- the Conservative Party of Canada leadership race

Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

The Herle Burly was created by Air Quotes Media with support from TELUS and OREA.

Bruce Cannon Gibney

Bruce Cannon Gibney is an American author, lawyer, and venture capitalist. First known for his work as an early investor in PayPal, Bruce went on to write “A Generation of Sociopaths: How the Baby Boomers Betrayed America.” In this episode of The Herle Burly podcast, Bruce joins us to discuss latest book, “The Nonsense Factory: The Making and Breaking of the American Legal System,” in which he writes about the deep structural problems of the US legal system and the ways in which disproportionately impacts the poor.

Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

Hamish Marshall

Hamish Marshall has been a rising player in conservative politics in recent years. He previously served as Manager of Strategic Planning to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and was the pollster for the successful 2008 national Conservative election campaign. Most recently, Hamish served as National Campaign Manager for the 2019 Conservative Party of Canada election effort under Andrew Scheer.

The Herle Burly podcast discussed that campaign expensively during the election period—from advertising to strategy to issues management—so this was an opportunity to speak directly with the decision maker at the top of the campaign structure. Hamish walks us through many of the political events over the past two years and why his party ultimately made the decisions they did as the campaign came to a close.

He was gracious with his time and we hope you’ll join us for this deep-dive discussion with Hamish Marshall.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.

Ken Dryden: Canada's Goalie on Hockey & Politics

Canada’s Ken Dryden joins us on the podcast to discuss his bestselling new book, and, as always, Canadian politics.

Ken Dryden was a goalie for the Montreal Canadiens in the 1970s, during which time the team won six Stanley Cups. He also played for Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. He has been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame. He is a former federal member of parliament and cabinet minister, and is the author of seven books. “Scotty: A Hockey Life Like No Other” is the latest book by Ken Dryden.

A hockey life like no other.

A hockey book like no other.

Scotty Bowman is recognized as the best coach in hockey history, and one of the greatest coaches in all of sports. He won more games and more Stanley Cups than anyone else.

Join us for this special tribute.

Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

Watch this conversation on YouTube.


The politics focused discussion begins at 52:10.

Game of Thrones (Speech): Scheer edition

Can a governing minority advance pharmacare with Doug Ford and Jason Kenney at the First Ministers table? Can an à la carte legislative agenda advance both the priorities of Canada and the interests of the political parties?  

All of that, plus, the fate of Andrew Scheer's throne at Conservative Party HQ, with our podcast panel: Jenni Byrne and Scott Reid. 

Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast. Please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

A Great Canadian: Ralph Goodale

It’s really difficult for me to imagine my life absent Ralph Goodale. Ralph took me under his wing when I was 18 and he was the tender age of 30. He taught me how politics was practiced and why it was important. Ralph has spent his life in politics and has proved to be unusually good at both the practice and the purpose of politics. For 40 years Ralph has not only been the most popular Liberal in Saskatchewan, but the only popular Liberal in Saskatchewan. In the last 50 years, 210 riding contests have happened in Saskatchewan, Liberals have won 19 of those 210; half of those wins are Ralph. Ralph's federal record is nine wins and four losses, every other Liberal candidate combined in Saskatchewan over that period of time: 10 wins, 188 losses. And through a succession of responsibilities and portfolios, he served Canada with great distinction, while always representing Saskatchewan, especially his beloved farmers. Last month Ralph was finally defeated in a tsunami of rage in the prairies. On this episode, Ralph joins me in studio to reminisce about his career, as well as the current state of politics in Canada.

A Very Sweary Swearing-In Ceremony Breakdown

Today, 36 Cabinet Ministers joined the Prime Minister to swear their oath, tonight, Jenni Byrne, Scott Reid, and I discuss what this means for the upcoming minority government with some swearing of our own. Thank you for joining us on The Herle Burly podcast and please take a moment to give us a rating and review on iTunes or your favourite podcast app.

After some deep reflection... go f*%k your hat

As Canadians—including our newly elected politicians—navigate the post-election Minority Government, David Herle will continue to be joined on The Herle Burly podcast by Jenni Byrne and Scott Reid as we explore the state of our political affairs. Our raucous panel will continue to assemble every two weeks as we paddle our way through these minority waters.

Disclaimer: newly invented profanity may accompany this podcast.

Closing Arguments #elxn43

Welcome to the third and final Election Advertising episode for the 2019 federal campaign. With just days until the ballots are counted, the political parties are serving up their closing arguments to voters through every medium available, including of course, via advertising.

Advertising gurus Dennis Matthews and David Rosenberg again join us to help us dissect how the ads help drive their GOTV strategy.

Dennis and David (for the Conservative and Liberal Parties, respectively) have been responsible for so much of the notable election advertising in this country.

Dennis managed, strategized and created advertising campaigns for Stephen Harper for over a decade, and his work helped Doug Ford to a majority victory in Ontario in 2018. Dennis now Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Enterprise Canada.

David has created campaigns for Paul Martin, Kathleen Wynne and his ads played no small part in Justin Trudeau’s stunning majority 4 years ago. David is currently partner and Chief Creative Officer at Bensimon Byrne.

The final week #elxn43

We’re just days away until all our election predictions come back to haunt us. The debates are over, the ads roar on, and the GOTV (Get Out The Vote) machines are fired up. On this episode of The Herle Burly podcast, David is joined by campaign strategists Jenni Byrne (Conservative) and Scott Reid (Liberal) to hear what each party is doing and why, but perhaps more interestingly, what each should be doing to make their closing arguments. This episode was recorded at the Orange Lounge on Queen Street West, Toronto.