In this debut episode of Gristle & Bone, hosts Christopher Bourne, Political Science Faculty at Dawson College, and Dónal Gill, Political Science professor at Concordia University, set the stage for their new podcast. They introduce their approach—providing historical and theoretical context to Canadian politics without partisan spin—and explain the name behind the podcast, drawn from a John A. Macdonald quote about the evolution of Confederation’s Confederation. The hosts break down Canada’s shifting political landscape leading up to the 2025 federal election, covering key moments such as:

• The 2019 and 2021 elections that resulted in minority Liberal governments.
• The Liberals’ supply and confidence agreement with the NDP in 2022.
• Pierre Poilievre’s rise as Conservative leader and his populist shift.
• The decline of Justin Trudeau’s government, culminating in his resignation.
• Mark Carney’s overwhelming victory in the 2025 Liberal leadership race.
• Donald Trump’s return to power and aggressive stance on Canada reshapes Canadian politics.

Join us as we break down the key players, strategies, and surprises defining Canada’s political future. Gristle & Bone is here to cut through the noise and provide the in-depth analysis you won’t find in the headlines.

Credits for Gristle and Bone

• Hosts: Christopher Bourne & Dónal Gill
• Production: João Roque & Gaëlle Poirier-Morin
• Audio Editing: Gaëlle Poirier-Morin

Music from Free Music Archive (CC BY-NC)
Intro & Outro: Ovar by Don Aman
6:23 Nature Morte by Don Aman
16:00 Have We Mistaken The Bottle For The Whiskey Inside? by Chris Forsyth and the Solar Motel Band
24:41 A2 White bells by Panta Rei
37:12 Satellite by Mr Smith
44:50 B2 The turk by Panta Rei
57:31 Canadian Summer Groove by Snerly

Gristle and Bone is an independent podcast providing in-depth, non-partisan analysis of Canadian politics.