PODCAST · news
Maxed Out
by Canada's National Observer
In an era where all debate seems to be increasingly polarized one man tries to have a reasonable conversation. Sometimes it works. Maxed Out, is hosted by Canada’s National Observer’s lead columnist Max Fawcett. If you read his columns or follow him on Twitter, you’ll know Max has a take no prisoner approach when it comes to errors, lies, and disinformation. But like so many people, Max is frustrated by the relentless partisanship and refusal to discuss things in good faith. In other words he is maxed out. You probably are too. In this podcast, Max invites a new guest each week to debate, even contradict him. This isn’t about picking fights. It’s about escaping our silos, and re-learning the art of disagreeing, without being disagreeable. Maybe we’ll all find some new common ground we didn’t know was there.This bi-monthly podcast is all part of Podcast Tuesdays at Canada’s National Observer. Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:g
Episodes
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Former Alberta minister Shannon Phillips on Danielle Smith, climate and the next political fight
Max Fawcett and former Alberta NDP MLA and environment minister Shannon Phillips unpack the fallout from the referendum and what comes next for the province. They discuss why Phillips believes Smith is facing pressure from within her own party, whether the province’s NDP missed an opportunity...
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Are Alberta and B.C. headed for a political shakeup? with Shachi Kurl
Max reunites with Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute and his former co-panellist on a CBC show a decade ago, to unpack a pivotal moment in Canadian politics. With Albertans heading to the polls in a referendum, the two discuss what the results could mean for Danielle Smith and...
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Why young Canadians can't afford the lives their parents had with Ali Amad
Max Fawcett speaks with journalist Ali Amad, author of the Maclean's feature The Great Generational Rip-Off, to discuss why homeownership, starting a family and saving for retirement have become increasingly difficult for younger Canadians. They also explore potential solutions, including reforms...
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Who is Danielle Smith, really? with Jeremy Appel
Who is Danielle Smith, really? And how did she make one of the most remarkable political comebacks in Alberta history? Max Fawcett sits down with Alberta journalist Jeremy Appel, author of the new book Dark Phoenix: The Rise, Fall, and Re-emergence of Danielle Smith, to unpack the political…
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A Calgary Liberal MP on separatism, pipelines & Western alienation with Corey Hogan
Corey Hogan is a Liberal MP for Calgary Confederation and a former senior Alberta government official who has worked under both the NDP and UCP. He and Max discuss Alberta’s upcoming referendum -- including Danielle Smith’s approach to separatism and why conservative politicians have been…
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Canada's future is clean tech, whether politicians admit it or not with Phil de Luna
Max Fawcett sits down with Phil De Luna, co-founder and CTO of Alberta-based climate technology startup CURA, to discuss why he believes Canada's push to attract investment could also accelerate the country's clean energy transition. Music credit: Energy Rock Bundle by Basspartout, via Envato...
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The $442-billion problem with Alberta separation with Trevor Tombe
Max and economist Trevor Tombe dig into the financial realities of Alberta separation. They dig into what an independent Alberta could mean for the province’s debt, taxes, pensions, public services, and borrowing costs—and why the fiscal benefits separatists promise may not be as straightforward…
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How MAGA is hurting Canada's Conservatives with Anthony Koch
Max talks to Anthony Koch, managing principal of AK Strategies and a longtime Conservative strategist, about what’s happening inside Canadian conservatism. They cover why Conservatives are struggling to adjust to PM Mark Carney while digging into Donald Trump and MAGA’s influence on Canadian...
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The energy transition isn’t slowing down. Is Canada? with Sara Hastings-Simon
Max sits down with the University of Calgary's Sara Hastings-Simon to take stock of the global energy transition and what it means for Canada. They talk about the rapid growth of renewables and the future of oil demand, whether the oil sands’ Pathways carbon capture project still makes economic...
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Canada is sleepwalking into a national security crisis with Patrick Lennox
On this latest episode of Powerlines, Max speaks with former national security investigator Patrick Lennox about foreign interference, disinformation and why he believes Canadians are "sleepwalking" into a dangerous moment. Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National...
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Is Canada betting on the wrong energy future? with Heather Exner-Pirot
Max and Heather Exner-Pirot of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute talk Canada's energy strategy. They get into whether global demand for fossil fuels will continue to grow, if renewables are advancing faster than the industry expects and whether new pipelines still make economic sense. Buckle in....
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Is Carney supporting the oil and gas industry or sabotaging it? with Margareta Dovgal
Max Fawcett sits down with Margareta Dovgal, managing director of Resource Works, for a debate on Canada's energy future. They discuss whether federal climate policies are driving away investment, the future of pipelines and Canada's regulatory system, and much more. Prefer watching? Full video...
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Is Canada failing the next generation? with Paul Kershaw
Are younger Canadians paying the price for decades of political short-term thinking? Max Fawcett talks with Dr. Paul Kershaw of Generation Squeeze about housing, healthcare, retirement spending, climate policy and the growing generational divide in Canada. They ask a difficult question: can…
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The death (and life) of great climate policy with Dr. Kathryn Harrison
Max Fawcett is joined by Dr. Kathryn Harrison, a political science professor at UBC and expert on climate and energy policy, to unpack how Canadian climate politics have shifted from the Trudeau era to the current rollback of key policies. They talk about why public concern about climate is so...
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It's the NDP vs the NDP with David Moscrop
Following the election of Avi Lewis as leader of the federal NDP, cracks are forming between the federal party and its provincial counterparts. Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi came out swinging following Lewis' election, as did Saskatchewan NDP leader Carla Beck — both raising concerns with…
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How to keep Alberta in Canada with Dan Arnold
Max Fawcett is joined by pollster Dan Arnold to talk through the Alberta independence referendum and why Canadians shouldn’t be complacent about its potential to tear Canada apart. Also: Dan bets the over/under on the “yes” vote. Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's...
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Canadian oil in the Iran war era with Rory Johnston
Max Fawcett is joined by Rory Johnston, the founder of Commodity Context and one of Canada’s best oil analysts. They talk about what the war in Iran means for oil supplies, Canada’s future, and the prospects of a new West Coast pipeline. Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on...
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Bitcoin or Bust (Summer rerun)
Is Bitcoin a legitimate alternative currency? Is it the currency of the disenchanted? Or the hedge against a rocky future? Max Fawcett talks with Bitcoin enthusiast Adam O'Brien about that as well as government overreach, the Ottawa occupation and the seizing of bank accounts. Prefer watching?…
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Special Episode: Protecting Haida Gwaii
Haida Gwaii is a stretch of islands teeming with life just off the coast of British Columbia. The land, its skies, and the bodies of water around it have been protected for thousands of years by local Haida guardians. Protecting Haida Gwaii is a story about a First Nation that continues the fight...
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Greedflation and Justflation (Summer rerun)
Greedflation, justflation, and even shrinkflation are the newest terms to describe what we have all been going through financially for the past two years. And on top of this, we have rising interest rates. Is there anything that can be done to ease the pressure? Max speaks to economist Armine...
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Nuclear Revolution (Summer rerun)
Can nuclear be part of the fight against carbon emissions? In some places, nuclear is back in vogue. Max Fawcett talks with an environmentalist who thinks it is essential for nuclear to be part of the solution because renewables aren't yet at the scale needed to solve the problem. And she's not...
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The Urban-Rural Divide (Summer rerun)
The carbon tax is misunderstood and controversial. The federal government's price on polluting is one of its strategies to fight the climate crisis. But is it working? And is it fair? Max Fawcett talks to a Saskatchewan farmer who feels rural Canada and, in particular, agriculture, is being hit…
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Mobilizing for War (Summer rerun)
Should we treat the climate emergency like a war? Seth Klein thinks so. In his book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency, Klein lays out a comparison between the Second World War and the climate crisis. He argues that we can't win the war unless we work together like we did in...
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Egos & Apologies in Alberta Elections
Jeromy Farkas might be called a cautionary tale of politics and political friends. Max talks to the former city councillor and Calgary 2021 mayoral election runner-up about his take on the recent provincial election and the highs and lows of his career in the Conservative circle. Prefer watching?...
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Bitcoin or Bust
Is Bitcoin a legitimate alternative currency? Is it the currency of the disenchanted? Or the hedge against a rocky future? Max Fawcett talks with Bitcoin enthusiast Adam O'Brien about that as well as government overreach, the Ottawa occupation and the seizing of bank accounts. Prefer watching?…
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Nuclear Revolution
Can nuclear be part of the fight against carbon emissions? In some places, nuclear is back in vogue. Max Fawcett talks with an environmentalist who thinks it is essential for nuclear to be part of the solution because renewables aren't yet at the scale needed to solve the problem. And she's not...
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The Politics of Pandemics
Janet Bufton believes in libertarianism — a philosophy that argues for minimal government involvement in people's lives. However, she's thankful for the federal government's intervention during the pandemic. Max Fawcett thinks most libertarians behaved badly during the pandemic by making it…
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The Rachel Notley Interview
Max Fawcett asks Rachel Notley if the NDP have the policies to win the next Alberta election. The former Premier of Alberta gets into the energy transition, health care and door-knocking. Oh, and she also talks about political interference in the judicial system. Prefer watching? Full video...
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The LNG Debate
The fossil fuel industry considers Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a tool for emissions reduction. It is used to replace coal as a power source in many countries. Canada sees exporting LNG as a contribution to meeting our climate commitments. Max Fawcett isn't so sure. And he's talking it through...
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The Firewall Frenemy
Ken Boessenkool has been a Conservative strategist for more than 20 years. He's worked with Canadian politicians like Stephen Harper, Ralph Klein, Christy Clark and Stockwell Day. So, what does he think about the policies of the new kids on the block like Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and…
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The Carbon Capture Conundrum
Some experts say carbon capture is the wrong way to address the climate crisis in Canada and that the government should not fund the fossil fuel industry for this technology. Instead, spending should focus more on renewables. Is it that simple? Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available…
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The Unjust Transition
Alberta has been unhappy with Ottawa for a long time. There is a feeling they pay into Canada but don't get enough in return. Some are saying Canada is broken and Alberta should leave the federation. Max speaks to Derek Fildebrandt, a former politician and the head of a major right-leaning...
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The Urban-Rural Divide
The carbon tax is misunderstood and controversial. The federal government's price on polluting is one of its strategies to fight the climate crisis. But is it working? And is it fair? Max Fawcett talks to a Saskatchewan farmer who feels rural Canada and, in particular, agriculture, is being hit…
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The Observer
Canada's National Observer's publisher, Linda Solomon Wood, chats with Max about journalism, how the publication came to be and who really funds his columns. Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
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Maxed Out Introduces "The Salmon People"
As we unwind into the holidays, we'd like to bring your attention to another Canada’s National Observer creation: This true crime climate podcast is called The Salmon People. The investigation, by Sandra Bartlett, our Managing Producer for podcasts, takes us off the coast of British Columbia…
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Greedflation and Justflation
Greedflation, justflation, and even shrinkflation are the newest terms to describe what we have all been going through financially for the past two years. And on top of this, we have rising interest rates. Is there anything that can be done to ease the pressure? Prefer watching? Full video…
more -
Polarized Politics
A discussion with a former Alberta Progressive cabinet minister on politics, oil and gas (of course!) and Danielle Smith's brand of populism. Prefer watching? Full video episodes are available on Canada's National Observer YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Mobilizing for War
Should we treat the climate emergency like a war? Seth Klein thinks so. In his book A Good War: Mobilizing Canada for the Climate Emergency he lays out a comparison between the Second World War and the Climate Crisis. He argues that we can't win the war unless we work together like we did in the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
In an era where all debate seems to be increasingly polarized one man tries to have a reasonable conversation. Sometimes it works. Maxed Out, is hosted by Canada’s National Observer’s lead columnist Max Fawcett. If you read his columns or follow him on Twitter, you’ll know Max has a take no prisoner approach when it comes to errors, lies, and disinformation. But like so many people, Max is frustrated by the relentless partisanship and refusal to discuss things in good faith. In other words he is maxed out. You probably are too. In this podcast, Max invites a new guest each week to debate, even contradict him. This isn’t about picking fights. It’s about escaping our silos, and re-learning the art of disagreeing, without being disagreeable. Maybe we’ll all find some new common ground we didn’t know was there.This bi-monthly podcast is all part of Podcast Tuesdays at Canada’s National Observer.
Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:g
HOSTED BY
Canada's National Observer
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Maxed Out have?
Maxed Out currently has 38 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Maxed Out about?
In an era where all debate seems to be increasingly polarized one man tries to have a reasonable conversation. Sometimes it works. Maxed Out, is hosted by Canada’s National Observer’s lead columnist Max Fawcett. If you read his columns or follow him on Twitter, you’ll know Max has a take no...
How often does Maxed Out release new episodes?
Maxed Out has 38 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Maxed Out?
You can listen to Maxed Out on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Maxed Out?
Maxed Out is created and hosted by Canada's National Observer.
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