Educated Conjecture: An Ipsos Podcast

What's driving menu innovation for quick service restaurants in the face of broader health and post COVID trends? In this episode, Erin Cohen, Director of Consumer Insights at Tim Hortons, joins Mike, Sean, and guest host Jaclyn Chiarello, from Ipsos's Innovation group, talk about how data from both customers and broader trends is influencing Tim Hortons evolving offer to Canadians. Warning, this episode may make you very hungry.

In this episode, host Mike and Sean are joined by their Public Affairs colleague Sanyam Sethi to drill down into the Canadian data from the recent Global Trends study. Together they explore the data that shows how the country is changing and how Canadians feel about the impact of constant disruption and evolving technology as well as issues affected the most by the "say-do" and "believe-true" gaps. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Nick Chiarelli, Engagement Manager for Ipsos' Global Trends and Foresight group, joins Mike to discuss what's changed (and what hasn't) in trends and attitudes around the world as measured by Ipsos' annual Global Trends study. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this last episode of 2022, Mike and Sean are joined by Gregory Jack, VP of Public Affairs with Ipsos, to discuss 12 stats which helped to describe what was happening in Canada over the course of the last year. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published. Thank you for your support over the last year, and have a safe and happy holiday season!

In this episode, Milorad Ajder, Global Service Line Leader for Corporate Reputation at Ipsos, joins Mike and Sean to talk about all things reputation - how it's defined, what companies can do to develop reputational breathing space, the impact of trust, and the foundational effect of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Heading into the final week of Quebec's election campaign, in this episode, Sébastien Dallaire, SVP/ Directeur-général for Ipsos in Québec joins Sean and Mike to discuss how the upcoming election will play out. Topics of discussion include the key political parties and players, who is leading and who is lagging, as well as the issues shaping public conversation. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Are policies that link national funding to ensuring that sport is abuse-free, fun and safe resulting in a healthier sport culture for high-performance athletes and participants? In this episode, Derek Johnston, Communications strategist & facilitator for Face Value Communications, & Integral Professional Coach, joins Mike to talk about the shift from win-at-all-cost coaching to an approach that considers both the mental and physical health of athletes. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Is the mainstream media losing its role as the gatekeeper of objective news and reporting? With news and information available 24/7 from a huge variety of sources, how are Canadians getting their facts? In this episode, Beatrice Politi, Vice President, Corporate Advisory - Earned Media, Coaching and Strategy at Hill+Knowlton Strategies, joins Mike and Sean to talk about where Canadians are getting their news, how media habits are changing, and the impact on democracy and open discussion. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

We're dishing up a ‘mash-up', between our Educated Conjecture and Customer Perspective Ipsos podcasts, to give a customer and citizen perspective on the world. Hosted by Helen Wilson, Mike Colledge provides us with the ‘citizen lens', and Ray Kong provides us with the ‘customer lens'. Ray and Mike talk to us about what matters to today's citizens – what's keeping them awake at night, of course recognising that customers are citizens too. Among the topics covered are: customers' expectations of brands in helping them address pressing concerns – cost of living and sustainability among them; liquid expectations, including those crossing from the private into public sectors; executives' challenges, including staffing; and, on a positive note, disruption breeding innovation. As a flavour of the conversations they're hearing: “ … when my income hasn't risen as fast as my cost of living … the expectations (of organisations) are not that they are going to solve the root causes, (but) … how do you help me navigate these times?” “I vote every four years, but I spend every day, and I'd like my money to have a similar impact to my vote on those broad social issues” And from a business leader: “I know that this (staffing) is a problem. I know that we need to find ways to do better, but I just have no tools to solve this, because I cannot get people … and I cannot develop alternate tools fast enough”. Mike leads Ipsos Public Affairs in Canada, and is co-host of Educated Conjecture, our podcast that examines a current or emerging issue – what's happening today, the future impact, and steps that might need to be taken to generate a better outcome for tomorrow. Ray Kong is a President in our Ipsos Client Organisation and has previously led Ipsos CX business in both South Africa and Canada. Ray is representing Customer Perspective, which our loyal listeners will know is aimed at all of you who are concerned with helping your organisation deliver on its Brand Promise to customers. If you'd like to add another podcast to your favourites list, head to Educated Conjecture. And, yes, we'll be inviting Darrell Bricker to educate us, but if you cannot wait and would like to read his book, Empty Planet, head here for details. Find out more about our latest Ipsos CX and Channel Performance thinking.

More than two in three Canadians say they're worried that basic services have been neglected by our governments. In this episode, Mike and Sean are joined by Darrell Bricker, Global CEO, Ipsos Public Affairs, to discuss precarious public confidence, concerns about the delivery of public services, and a divided set of issues. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

If a week is a long time in politics, consider that when Ipsos was founded in 1975, NASA launched the first joint United States and Soviet Union space flight, Betamax and VHS videotapes were introduced, and the ethernet was just being born. In this episode, Simon Atkinson, Chief Knowledge Officer at Ipsos, joins Mike and Sean to talk about how Ipsos manages its wide range of knowledge, and how common (and not so common) beliefs, attitudes, opinions, and issue concerns have been changing pre-and-post pandemic. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Delivery, drive-through, take-out, or cooking at home, Canadians' food and beverage choices are changing. In this episode, Asad Amin, SVP and lead of Ipsos's syndicated food and beverage group, joins Mike and Sean to talk about the impact of the pandemic, inflation, pent up demand for a dining experience, and generational differences which are all affecting what Canadians eat (and drink!), and where. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Canadians are increasingly concerned about inflation, housing affordability/availability, interest rates, and the economy in general. In this episode, Mike Moffatt, Assistant Professor at The Ivey Business School at Western University and Senior Director of Policy at The Smart Prosperity Institute joins Mike to talk about a wide variety of economic issues that are affecting Canadians. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Does when you're born shape who you are? In this episode, Bobby Duffy, Director of the Policy Institute King's College London, and Author of The Generation Myth, joins Mike and Sean to discuss how generations shape societies, and why generational differences aren't as distinct as we think. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most major podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

As the pandemic (very) slowly becomes endemic, how are working Canadians dealing with the seemingly endless sameness of remote work? Are we working more hours, but becoming less productive? What's spurring Canadians to change their jobs, their careers, or their lives to find meaning and purpose as we move into the third year of COVID? In this episode, J.P. Gedeon, Leadership Psychology and Transformation Expert, Management consultant, Executive coach, and Corporate educator joins Mike and Sean to discuss how people and organizations are coping with anxiety and uncertainty, how these factors are influencing behaviours at work, and why it's important to make your bed! Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

What's most worrying our neighbours to the south? In this episode, Chris Jackson, SVP for Ipsos in the USA joins Sean to discuss the most important issues facing Americans, including the economy, COVID, and increasing concerns about war and foreign conflict. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Are Canadians believers or skeptics on the benefits that technology will bring to their lives over the next decade? The answer is – it depends. In this episode, Jesse Hirsh, Futurist & Co-Founder of The Academy of the Impossible, joins hosts Mike Colledge and Sean Simpson to discuss the impact of generation, technology literacy and trust in big tech when it comes to embracing the future. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Dawn Desjardins, Deputy Chief Economist at RBC joins hosts Mike Colledge & Sean Simpson to discuss the uneven impact of the pandemic on Canadians and their increasing worries about affordability and inflation. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

The Canadian political landscape seems to be changing by the minute. In this bonus episode of Educated Conjecture, recorded on February 14, 2022, Darrell Bricker, Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs joins Sean Simpson and Mike Colledge as they try to take stock of the latest news. They also try to assess the complex set of challenges that the Trudeau government faces as they move forward. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We're on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Mike and Sean talk about cryptocurrency with Kimberly Grauer, Director of Research at Chainalysis Inc. and Eric Jardine, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Virginia Tech and Co-author of “Look Who's Watching: Surveillance, Treachery and Trust Online”. Although still in the minority, increasing numbers of Canadians believe that paper money and coins are disappearing, and confidence in digital currency is growing. What is cryptocurrency, who's using it around the world, and what's contributing to it's growth? Our guests help us explore the issues. Link: Crime and NFTs: Chainalysis Detects Significant Wash Trading and Some Money Laundering In this Emerging Asset Class

In this episode, Mike and Sean talk about competition with Vass Bednar, Executive Director, Master of the Public Policy Program at McMaster University, and public policy entrepreneur. Why should consumers care about the Competition Act, and about making sure the business landscape fosters fair competition? Public opinion overwhelmingly supports a more competitive marketplace to give Canadians access to a wider range of goods at lower prices, but also to help small and medium size businesses compete with dominant market players. What should Canadian policy makers consider when it comes to creating the ideal marketplace that encourages innovation and entrepreneurial spirit? Vass Bednar helps us explore the issue.

In this episode, Mike is joined by Amanda Clarke, Associate Professor of Public Administration, Digital Government, Data Governance, and Civic Technology at Carleton University. She is also the author of Opening the Government of Canada: The Federal Bureaucracy in the Digital Age. While the pandemic has rejuvenated the value of government services in the public consciousness, it's also revealed cracks in the public sector's ability to deliver citizen services. Longer term, what investments should we be making to modernize public services, increase public trust, and build resilience to manage future challenges? Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Mike and Sean discuss brand purpose with Mark Tomblin, founder of Thinking Unstuck. What are the limits of a brand's role in corporate social responsibility? Is it possible, or reasonable, to assume that brands can ensure that their business activities are being conducted in ways that also spur large scale societal change in the face of increasing worries about inflation and economic concerns? Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Mike and Sean talk with Margaret Eaton, National CEO for the Canadian Mental Health Association, about the pandemic's impact on the mental health of Canadians. Although public opinion has shifted, stigma has been reduced, and open dialogue about mental health issues has become more common, Canadians rank mental health as the second biggest health problem in the country (after COVID but ahead of cancer). While government investment in mental health support has increased since the pandemic began, there are gaps that will need to be addressed now and in the post-pandemic world to ensure Canadians have access to free, easily accessible mental health programs. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Mike and Sean are joined by Jessica Long, Head of Ipsos MORI's Climate Change & Sustainability Practice in the UK. How has the conversation evolved from sustainability, climate change and the environment to a wider view of the long-term health of the world and its people? With concern for the environment now at an all-time global high, what do people, governments and the private sector need to know about understanding, prioritizing and leading ESG (Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance) initiatives that will make a difference? Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

In this episode, Mike is joined by Ron Vezina, Vice-President, Public Affairs at Canadian Blood Services to discuss the say-do gap between intention and action. This gap, lately much in the spotlight for vaccination and climate change, is particularly apparent when it comes to donating blood, an activity that Canadians universally agree is a good thing to do, however just under 4% of the eligible population actually donates. What's most critical to addressing this gap? For CBS it's trust - built by stakeholder consultation, ensuring safety, and being accountable over the long term. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

On this week's episode, Mike and Sean are joined joined by Mike Morrice, Ontario's first-ever elected Green MP, to discuss the role of government in combating climate change. A majority of Canadians say they're doing what they can to combat climate change, but they don't believe the same is true for governments and businesses. With Canadians no longer believing that growing the economy and addressing climate change are mutually exclusive goals, what policies could be adopted to reduce emissions, and what trade-offs might need to be made? Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

On this week's episode, Mike and Sean are joined by Kendra Jones, Account Management Director at Ipsos as well as in theatres around the world. They discuss the impact of the pandemic on theatre companies, and whether live theatre will see a return to its traditions, or will be reshaped in a post-pandemic world. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

On this week's episode, Mike and Sean are joined by Kevin Crigger, President of the Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB), and Broker and Team Leader with Johnston & Daniel Royal LePage. They discuss the impact of the pandemic on renting and buying, which groups have been the most mobile, and what new or improved policies could help remove barriers to housing affordability. Head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

This week, as we race toward next week's #elxn44, Darrell Bricker, Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs joins Mike and Sean to discuss the defining moments, issues, and the latest public opinion on all things election-related, including how political parties are positioning themselves to voters in the last week of the campaign, and if any party has a clear path to a majority government. Click here more information on the Canadian Federal Election, or head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Welcome to Educated Conjecture – an Ipsos podcast that combines what the public thinks, with what the experts think. In each episode, Ipsos' Mike Colledge and Sean Simpson and an informed guest examine a current or emerging issue. With the election coming up fast, Kyle Braid, SVP for Ipsos in Western Canada (and Winnipeg Jets super-fan!) joins Sean to discuss all things political – the issues, trends, and shifting party support – in BC and the west more generally. Head over to https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca for more information about Ipsos Canada. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

Having just finished the second week of Canada's election campaign, in this episode, Sébastien Dallaire, SVP/ Directeur-général for Ipsos in Québec joins Sean and Mike to discuss how the upcoming election will play out in Quebec. Topics of discussion include wedge issues, the role of debates, the impact of the BQ, as well as which political parties have the most to gain (and lose) in the province. Head over to https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca for more information about Ipsos Canada. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

It's our second episode of Educated Conjecture! In this episode, Ray Kong, President at Ipsos and specialist in CX and Financial Services joins Sean and Mike as they talk about the opportunities and challenges of a K-shaped economic recovery. Head over to https://www.ipsos.com/en-ca for more information about Ipsos Canada. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.

We're so excited to kick off our new podcast: Educated Conjecture! This is an Ipsos Canada podcast that combines what the public thinks with what the experts think. In our debut episode, Darrell Bricker, Global CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs joins Sean Simpson and Mike Colledge as they talk about the early days of the 2021 Canadian Federal Election. Click here more information on the Canadian Federal Election, or head over to www.ipsos.com for more information about Ipsos. If you have a topic that you'd like us to cover on a future podcast, please reach out to us at publicaffairs@ipsos.com. We are on most podcast platforms as well as on Spotify. Please like and subscribe to Educated Conjecture to get episodes sent to you as soon as they are published.