Ottawa is Home to a Growing Podcast Scene

Podcasts are all the rage these days. In fact, according to Abacus Data CEO David Coletto, approximately 10% of Canadian millennials listen to a podcast daily. While most of us have listened to, or at least heard of, chart-topping podcasts such as Serial, S-Town and Someone Knows Something, did you know that right here in Ottawa there is a steadily growing podcast scene?

There is a wide variety of podcasts produced right here in the National Capital, ranging in topics from politics to comedy, and with the recent opening of Pop Up Podcasting, Ottawa’s very first podcast-specific production studio, we can only expect more to come in the future. Here’s a few of our recommendations to get you started on your Ottawa podcast binge!

Lunch Out Loud Ottawa

Lunch Out Loud Ottawa is a podcast about all things Ottawa, whether it be food, music or local business, they’ve got you covered. Each episode features hosts Nick Bachusky and Andrew Miller chatting with a special guest such as a local restauranteur, musician or artist, in an effort to spread awareness about the gems of this beautiful city. They are currently on hiatus but hope to be back soon.

Ottawhat?

Ottawhat? is a nice, casual podcast that focuses on interesting people who live in Ottawa. Not necessarily just business owners or well-known figures, but also everyday people doing cool things in the community. Special guests that hosts Keegan On Amaan Bashir and Robert Attrell have featured include everyone from 3-time Jeopardy champion Grant McSheffrey to local craft beer brewmaster Marc Evans.

The Ottawa Comedy Podcast

If you're into stand-up comedy, this is the podcast for you. Every week host Daniel Araya interviews local comedians, comedy club owners, actors and other figures in Ottawa’a comedy scene. Ottawa’s comedy scene is not often talked about, so this show makes for such an interesting and entertaining listen.

The Watering Hole

The Watering Hole is a millennial-oriented podcast that highlights topics such as youth culture, education and life in general. Hosts Barâa Arar and Buraidah Aslami Razack have an interest in people and their stories, so that’s what they focus on through their discussions with artists, activists and other change-makers.

GROWCast

GROWCast is your go-to podcast for all things business and entrepreneurship. Hosts Paul R. Stevenson and Greg Campbell aim to bridge the gap between businesses and the community in an effort to help grow independent business and start-ups. As entrepreneurs themselves, the hosts offer professional, yet laid-back conversation about business-related topics and also often interview Ottawa-based business owners and young entrepreneurs.

Queers, Questions and Cocktails

Queers, Questions and Cocktails is a news, trivia and cocktail recipe LGBT podcast that is informative, interactive and instructional. Every episode they mix up a creative cocktail that becomes the game's theme.