Reviews
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“I’m happy for Mattea as they move on. However, the two episodes with her replacement have been utter trash. Hopefully, Jessie shows her the door and either retires this series or replaces her with someone better.
So far, it’s just two episodes of why Canada sucks, with griping and whining, and...”Read full review »
SanshinDojo via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/10/24
“Mattea proves that you can dig into and understand Canadian politics and political issues without getting confrontational and making people angry.”
Jim B Canada via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/10/24
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“In a time where there is an ‘acceptable’ train of thought in mainstream media, being regurgitated by our politicians, this podcast is a breath of fresh air”
The Hapless Romantic via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
05/22/24
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“I used to enjoy this show… until they started using sources like “The Breach” with thinly veiled antisemitism. I guess that’s what counts as being “progressive” in 2023. 😢”
Retro27 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/09/23
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“I like Mattea better as a host and have been listening for a couple years but the last episode was so ridiculously one sided. What’s the point of just having 3 people with the exact same opinion just having an agree fest with each other? It’s clearly a divisive subject so they should have been...”Read full review »
KamikazeCanuck150 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
11/29/23
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“Used to be insightful, now just a group of people trying to prove how woke they are with little basis in reality or differentiating opinions”
PeterDawn88 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
11/14/23
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“I loved this show under the previous host, Fatima Syed, whose style was disarming even while she was a really smart politics nerd. Mattea Roach had me right away: a concise, *sharp* interviewer who also comes off as a real human being. Love this show.”
TheRealOrion via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/28/23
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“I’m almost finished episode #63. Please give Riley Yesno a bit of a break or at least rotate through less often. She comes with a lot of obnoxious, antidotal opinions. Most of your other guests sound more thought through, wise and knowledgable in specific topics. People are more likely to...”Read full review »
Wellthenok via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
05/04/23
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“Matter is a way better host than Fatima, who made the show unlistenable. 2 stars deducted for that “point of order” nonsense.”
carcinogenital via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/19/22
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“The live show had me much more invested in listening to this show than ever. Typically I listen to this show the least because…well…Canadian politics.”
D Lurv via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/15/22
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“Everyone on this panel is great, they make the boringness of Canadian politics just a bit less boring.”
audienceeeee via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/15/22
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“Love the host. Appreciate the guests. Value the conversation”
BrackishFob via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/15/22
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“Genuinely love the show - Jesse made me do it.”
Mnenni via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
12/15/22
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“I love Matea! She’s a great host and not so left leaning. We all need to email objective reporting on news and politics. Matea seems neutral but the guests and lean left. It’s ok to remain objective and just deconstruct the news and politics.”
kkakala,a,a, via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
11/30/22
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“As a Canadian political junkie I often get my fix following US politics. Until now I had yet to find a thoughtful, intelligent debate on Canadian politics. I have definitely found that and more with your show. Keep up the great work and I will support in any way possible.
Cheers
Eric U”
Uytdeman via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
11/01/22
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“First episode I listened to was the Oct 18th show. I couldn’t believe the subjectivity your “alberta expert” had. You did a good job at dismissing all of Alberta’s concerns, it would be interesting if you explored why alberta feels the way they do vs calling the proposed sovereignty act absurd. I...”Read full review »
jtblack1414 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/18/22
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“You need to be a bit prepared to listen and enjoy it. Also, keep in mind that the hosts and the panelists are nor "average" Canadians but with significant lean to the left but they are open about it.
For a political and policy junkie, it was a joy to hear an informed, passionate group of...”Read full review »
Diganta via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/12/22
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“Way to chase a name over journalism”
readyjess via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/21/22
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“The Confessions of an International Student episode was brutal. How informative is it to listen to someone gripe about how no one hired them in the pandemic? Honey, everyone was laid off, not just you. It seems this person had unrealistic expectations of their “cake walk” life in Canada.”
kelseyalexacurtis via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
05/10/22
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“I love this podcast and the way Fatima interviews. My favourite episode was when she interviewed a PPC voter. As someone more on the left, I would love if Fatima could continue to interview people who have views that are more on the fringe to help bridge understanding across the political divide.”
kikiwally via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
05/10/22
“I’ve long looked for a Canadian politics in the vein of Slate’s political gabfest: an informal discussion between smart and informed people about the current state of politics. I’m happy to say that I think the Backbench is that podcast. As much as I love cbc’s podcasts, you really don’t learn...”Read full review »
HackFraud via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
03/22/22
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“Love hearing a nuanced take on politics every week from voices across geographic and political divides. Keep up the good work gang!”
kyleamcphee via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
02/08/22
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“I always enjoy the informed and good faith conversations on this show. It’s both serious and funny and nobody’s in it just to dunk on people or sound smarter than others (rare in political media).
Keep going Backbench!”
kelseysees via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
01/05/22
“Highly recommended.”
killer_P via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/22/21
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“I think this podcast replaced Oppo, which had the perfect combination of hilarity, seriousness and the magic chemistry of Jen and Justin. The Backbench feels so one sided. There’s nothing interesting in the dialogue, too much lefty whiner insider grievance and no conflict between speakers. Skip...”Read full review »
Cantlisten987 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/22/21
“Being a non affiliated group, perhaps, or at least, non traditional, I was disappointed that you did not review the fringe parties (at least with tongue in cheek spirit) and you did not talk about the first-past-the-post-system and why it should or should exist.
Bored of traditional, serious...”Read full review »
ret&ret 2018 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/15/21
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“However continuing to platform professional whiners like Celina Caesar-Chavannes lowers the discourse and damages credibility of the podcast.”
Plgrantns via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/14/21
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“There’s a tone problem with this podcast. The presenters would do well to distinguish between cynicism and scepticism when it comes to political analysis. For example: if you make your career in political journalism and broadcasting presumably you find politics interesting and elections, the...”Read full review »
Wayner88 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
09/09/21
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“A show that manages to combine the smug tone of television punditry with aspiring-insider detachment. Canadaland has proven it can produce discussions of political reality rather than of political appearances, so it’s disappointing that this supposedly focused podcast is so shallow and unserious....”Read full review »
Alek M via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/24/21
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“I love Canadian politics, and can’t get enough Canadian political podcasts. I’ve listened to every episode of the backbench and am sad to report it is my least favourite of them all.
Perhaps there is an audience for this. I lean left politically, but to me the show is just lefty smug griping...”Read full review »
Zester John via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/24/21
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“I love the energy of this podcast! The panel form gives an opportunity for different perspectives and information that I really appreciate hearing!”
guybrushpaulsen via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/11/21
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“Too many episodes already focus on the conservatives and their strategy.”
waawaate via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/10/21
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“I like this show. However, I feel for the length of show theirs too many guest. I think if you have three people total it would be better.
I find at times the conversation is dominated by only two people anyhow.
I think it will be better with a few small changes.”
Apr.il. via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
08/01/21
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“Have never written a review before, however, your Podcast deserves it- am passing my recommendation on to those I know!
Enjoy the intelligence, humour, diversified perspectives- and of course informative content
Sort of reminds me of a diversified, Canadian version of the US talk show The View-...”Read full review »
RHF6 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/29/21
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“I’m far from a conservative, so I guess I should like this show, but everyone in it comes across as a know it all. All comments and conversations boil down to: “Politicians are stupid, but we’re so smart!” No thanks.”
J Division via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/14/21
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“They neglect details. Per exemple on the treatment of the green party they neglected to treat the core issue of Paul’s refusal to communicate with Jenica Atwin refusing her calls and refusing to apologize for her chief of staff post calling to defeat all anti israel mp’s. They generalized by...”Read full review »
nadfreepalestine via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
07/13/21
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“I think it’s a cool idea but so far it’s not really jelling. Jen and Justin had real chemistry as co-hosts, and the new is group is still figuring that out. So far it feels like a group of friends being smug about how progressive they are- it’s a lot of ‘why are we the only ones talking about...”Read full review »
Ephemeral via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
06/15/21
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“Can we talk about John furlong now ?”
Magdalena and Charles via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
06/04/21
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“Much needed Canadian political podcast with some good perspectives and a touch of levity”
jessinsogna via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
06/02/21
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“Boring. Centrist. They don’t actually stand for anything on this show but propping up the system.”
Shitty App Is Shitty via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
06/02/21
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“We love Murad! More of him!”
CharlineSM11 via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
06/01/21
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