Balance of Power – Details, episodes & analysis

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Balance of Power

Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, Shannon Phillips

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Frequency: 1 episode/8d. Total Eps: 24

A political podcast for people who know politics isn’t polite. We talk about who holds power, how it’s used, and why the process can make even reasonable people swear. Serious conversations with real-world stakes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Apple Podcasts

🇨🇦 Canada - politics
25/08/2026
#72
🇨🇦 Canada - politics
24/08/2026
#64
🇨🇦 Canada - politics
22/08/2026
#95
🇨🇦 Canada - politics
21/08/2026
#84

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https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod
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https://patreon.com/strategistspod
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https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article-canadians-arent-taking-their-paid-vacation-days-can-burnout-be-far/
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Score global : 68%

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An Orgy of Bribery

Season 1 · Episode 1

Wednesday, February 11, 2026 • Duration 59:42

Is Alberta separation gaining ground, and can it be stopped?

In the debut episode of Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips unpack new polling showing 29% of Albertans would vote to leave Canada, and why that number could shift quickly in a referendum. They debate the messaging war behind separatism, the silence from business leaders, and what a Brexit-style shock could mean for the province.

Plus: what an Edmonton community league on the brink of closure reveals about volunteer burnout, third spaces, and the state of democratic participation.

And finally, Mark Carney’s new national auto strategy — billions in public money, shifting EV rules, and a fundamental question: if companies want to sell cars in Canada, should they be required to build them here?

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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TV Dad vs YouTube Bro

Season 1 · Episode 2

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 • Duration 50:44

Are we misreading the political moment?

This week, Annalise is away and Shannon Phillips and Leah Ward are joined by pollster and data scientist Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies, to cut through three dominant narratives: Alberta separatism, immigration backlash, and the supposed rightward shift among young voters.

First: new reporting reveals Alberta separatist organizers meeting with officials at the U.S. State Department. How seriously should we take the movement? And what happens if it collides with Trump-era trade politics?

Then: immigration. Is public concern rooted in xenophobia, the pace and direction of recent policy, economic anxiety, or all three? The panel examines what the data shows, why “out of control” has become such a powerful frame, and whether progressives may be reinforcing the very fears they’re trying to counter.

Plus: are Gen Z voters really drifting right? Kyla shares research challenging the “young men gone conservative” narrative and introduces a revealing contrast in Canadian politics: TV Dad vs YouTube Bro.

Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Finally: Pierre Poilievre’s rough week, polarizing favourables, and what happens when a campaign narrative flips.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Guest:

Kyla Ronellenfitsch, President of Relay Strategies

Substack: relaywithkyla.substack.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Touch Grass and Calm Down

Season 1 · Episode 3

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 • Duration 58:46

Are we governing for the moment? Or reacting to it?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward and Shannon Phillips break down three political pressure points, and what they reveal about leadership in high-stakes moments.

First: The fallout from the Tumbler Ridge tragedy in B.C. After reporting revealed OpenAI had flagged violent content from the alleged shooter but did not alert authorities, the panel digs into AI regulation, public safety, and the politics of crisis response. How fast can governments realistically move? And when international media drives the story, does that change the pressure on Ottawa?

Then: Alberta’s referendum fight. With multiple groups organizing against separatism, and others pushing citizen initiatives of their own, is decentralized activism a strength or a liability? What does effective organizing actually look like before the writ drops?

Plus: a new segment, The Opinionati. When progressive columnists publicly question Naheed Nenshi’s leadership, what happens inside caucus? Is this a real warning sign — or just the hyper-engaged political class talking to itself? And if there is a pivot coming, what would it look like?

Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

AI, organizing, narrative control, and a reminder that sometimes the most strategic move is to touch grass and calm down.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Sit Up Straight

Season 1 · Episode 14

Wednesday, May 13, 2026 • Duration 01:09:19

In a province where politics increasingly feels like performance, what happens when the people who understand the stage best start talking openly about persuasion, authenticity, and fear?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips unpack the politics of communication, the growing international fascination with Alberta separatism, and why the fight over Canada’s future may already be underway.

First: the Wab Kinew factor. Leah reports from the Canadian Labour Congress convention in Winnipeg, where both Naheed Nenshi and Wab Kinew delivered very different kinds of speeches, sparking a conversation about charisma, media training, authenticity, and whether great political communication can actually be taught.

Then: Alberta as spectacle. The panel digs into recent coverage from The Guardian, Toronto Star, and other international outlets examining Alberta separatism, voter data controversies, and the rise of grievance politics. Is this necessary scrutiny, dangerous mainstreaming, or another example of Alberta being flattened into caricature for outside audiences?

Plus: Jason Kenney’s return to the federalist fight. After a Calgary event on Canadian unity featuring Kenney and MP Cory Hogan, the hosts debate whether conservatives who helped fuel western alienation can now successfully contain it, what responsibility they carry for this moment, and whether fear itself might be necessary to motivate Albertans to act.

Media training, separatism, grievance politics, posture discourse, and the uncomfortable question of who still has the power to persuade.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Hosted on Acast. See for more information.

A Polluted Process

Season 1 · Episode 13

Friday, May 8, 2026 • Duration 42:05

In a week where Alberta politics somehow got even messier, what happens when the process itself becomes the problem?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Shannon Phillips dig into the escalating fallout from the alleged misuse of Alberta’s voters list, the separatist petition, and why a data leak involving nearly three million Albertans is about much more than privacy.

First: the list. Elections Alberta has sent hundreds of cease and desist letters, political names are being searched, and people with real safety concerns are left wondering who has their information and what they might do with it.

Then: the referendum question. If the petition process was built on allegedly unlawful access to voter data, can any referendum that follows be trusted? And who needs to step up to restore confidence before Albertans are asked to vote?

Plus: blame, agency, and the politics of “not my fault.” From Danielle Smith’s response to Arlene Dickinson’s viral post, Annalise and Shannon look at how responsibility gets shifted, how stories break through, and what ordinary Albertans can actually do next.

Voters lists, cease and desist letters, separatists, public trust, and what it means when the democratic process gets polluted.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Mentioned in this episode:

Arlene Dickinson's Instagram Carousel

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYAgKmqEpo0/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigration with Dr. Bronwyn Bragg

Season 1 · Episode 4

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 • Duration 57:07

Are Alberta’s immigration referendum questions actually about immigration, or about politics?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward are joined by Dr. Bronwyn Bragg, a human geographer at the University of Lethbridge who studies labour migration and precarious work.

First, the politics behind Alberta’s proposed immigration referendum. The panel breaks down what the questions actually say and what they imply. How do complicated policy issues become simple political narratives? And what happens when those narratives start shaping public opinion?

Then, the economics beneath the rhetoric. Using Brooks, Alberta and the meatpacking industry as a case study, Bronwyn explains how temporary foreign workers fit into the province’s labour market and why industries that depend on migrant labour are often missing from the political conversation.

Finally, facts, feelings, and the politics of immigration. When economic anxiety and housing pressure collide with political messaging, why do facts often fail to change minds? And what responsibility do political leaders have when public debate moves from policy into identity?

Immigration policy, labour markets, referendum strategy, and a reminder that behind every political talking point are real communities and real people.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Guest:

Bronwyn Bragg, PhD

https://bronwynbragg.ca

Have a comment or idea? email us: suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gay Enough?

Season 1 · Episode 12

Friday, May 1, 2026 • Duration 41:20

Balance of Power: Gay Enough?

In a moment when trust in democracy feels fragile, what happens when the basic machinery of politics becomes the story?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil, Leah Ward, and Shannon Phillips dig into the Elections Alberta investigation, the alleged misuse of the list of electors, and why a story about voter data is not just procedural, but deeply personal.

First: the list. Who is supposed to have access to voter information, what is it meant to be used for, and why does alleged misuse by separatist organizers raise such serious questions about privacy, safety, and democratic trust?

Then: sport as politics. The federal government is making a major investment in sport, but the conversation quickly turns to something bigger: community, belonging, national identity, and why a playoff crowd might tell us more about unity than another press conference.

Plus, for Patreon subscribers: the Alberta NDP’s difficult moment. New polling shows the UCP still riding high and Naheed Nenshi struggling to break through. Is this a leadership problem, a message problem, a Calgary problem, or just the brutal work of opposition in a fractured media environment?

Privacy, trust, sports, sovereignty, polling, and what it takes to rebuild political attention when everyone is looking somewhere else.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Mentioned in this episode:

Alberta Referendumb

https://albertareferendumb2026.ca/

Hosted on Acast. See for more information.

Solving the Wrong Problem

Season 1 · Episode 11

Thursday, April 23, 2026 • Duration 31:56

If the problems keep getting worse, are we even solving the right one?

This week on Balance of Power, Annalise Klingbeil and Leah Ward take on a set of decisions that feel increasingly out of step with how people actually live. From time changes to family planning to public consultation, they walk through what happens when policy targets miss the mark.

First: daylight saving time. Alberta is moving toward making it permanent—but what does that actually mean for winter mornings, daily routines, and how people function? Is this about convenience, or are we ignoring what the research says?

Then: fertility in Alberta. A new report lays out the cost, access, and emotional toll of treatment, raising bigger questions about population growth, affordability, and what actually drives people’s decisions to have kids.

And finally: the Alberta Next survey. After a long fight to release the data, what do the responses actually show? And what’s the point of consultation if the outcome is already decided?

Policy, incentives, and what happens when we keep solving the wrong problem.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Picnic in a Thunderstorm

Season 1 · Episode 10

Wednesday, April 15, 2026 • Duration 38:55

In a moment where things feel like they’re slipping, what does control even look like?

This week on Balance of Power, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil step into a rough stretch for the Conservatives and unpack what happens when a party starts to wobble. From by-election losses to internal pressure, they walk through how instability takes hold and what it really takes to stop it.

First: stopping the bleeding. What actually works when things start to slip? Is this about discipline, tone, or something deeper inside the operation?

Then: the reset question. What does a real reset look like and who has to change for it to land? Can you adjust the message without changing the messenger?

And finally: the long game. What does opposition look like when there’s no quick path back? How do you rebuild credibility, keep a team together, and plan for three years instead of three months?

Strategy, tone, internal pressure, and what it means to lead when things aren’t going your way.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Mentioned in this episode:

Stand Up for Alberta’s Public Libraries

https://www.caplibraries.ca/stand-up-for-albertas-public-libraries

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does Anything Matter?

Season 1 · Episode 9

Thursday, April 9, 2026 • Duration 48:53

Balance of Power: Does Anything Matter?

In a political moment where lines are blurring and power is shifting, what actually matters anymore?

This week on Balance of Power, Shannon Phillips, Leah Ward, and Annalise Klingbeil dig into the growing trend of floor crossing. They talk about what it says about political values and whether consistency still counts in modern politics. From party loyalty to power plays, they unpack how decisions are really being made and who they’re serving.

Then: a rapid-fire round on housing, space exploration, and the moments shaping the conversation right now.

Plus: our new segment, Quarterly Report, where the hosts share the small things keeping them grounded in chaotic times.

Welcome to Balance of Power.

Have a comment or idea? Email us at suggestionbox@balanceofpowerpod.ca

Join the Strategists Podcast Network Patreon for ad-free episodes and access to our exclusive Discord:

https://www.patreon.com/c/strategistspod

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Balance of Power – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

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Balance of Power – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Patreon2

Other13

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Patreon2

Other13

Spotify

New York Times1