Shows / The Craig Needles Podcast
The Craig Needles Podcast
Longtime London, Ontario media personality Craig Needles talks about the biggest stories in the Forest City with local newsmakers and commentators.
Episodes
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is online gambling hurting our health?
A new study from the University of Toronto paints a disturbing picture of what's happened in Ontario with the legalization - and proliferation - of sports…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is the gap getting smaller in London's mayoral race?
We're just over two weeks from election day in London. Is the race between Josh Morgan and Susan Stevenson going to come down to the wire? Is it getting…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
The Michael Jordan of blood donation?
Glen Dietz first donated blood when he was 17. Now he's 73 and he has rolled up his sleeve 304 times - with number 305 coming up later this month. Why is…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Should Londoners re-elect Josh Morgan?
London Mayor Josh Morgan is asking for your vote in his campaign for re-election. Why should you give it to him? Morgan joined Craig at the Covent Garden…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Susan Stevenson promises millions in tax savings - can she do it?
The biggest promise of London's mayoral campaign is Susan Stevenson's pledge to get the tax increase down to between zero and one percent each of the next two…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
What can a councillor do about London's drug crisis?
Ward 13 council candidate Andrew Crook had a bit of a disagreement with Craig this week - so they decided to talk it out on the podcast. They breakdown the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Housing First. Hope Always.
London Cares - an organization in the centre of the homelessness crisis in the city - is out with a new message for the community. Housing First. Hope Always…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will a 1% tax hike pledge convince London voters?
Susan Stevenson says if she's elected mayor, tax increases will be at 1% or less for 2027 and 2028. Is this possible without major cuts? Craig welcomes former…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Not too chicken to talk Ward 4
London's Ward 4 has an unusual race in this council cycle - no incumbent! Craig sat down with candidate Mario Jozic to talk about issues like homelessness…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Dueling Platforms
The two leading London mayoral campaigns had launch events this week - and released platform ideas. Josh Morgan's platform is out and includes promises aimed…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
A Possible Fix For London's Construction Nightmares?
It's been a brutal construction season in London - no way around it (literally). How can we speed up these projects and maybe not have so many ongoing at once?…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Should Council Pump Cash Into LTC?
As we get closer to the 2026 election, council is debating an issue that many voters have identified as a high priority: transit. London Transit Commission –…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
It's Election Season! Let's Talk Environment
We go to the polls in less than two months - should candidates be talking about the environment more? Some have release platforms with little to no…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Are LHSC and St. Joe's never, ever, ever... getting back together?
Local hospital leadership has talked about saving money and finding efficiencies - especially in the wake of the massive fraud investigation at London Health…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Kirsten Krose takes aim at Mayor's chair
Kirsten Krose is running for Mayor of London - and just released her platform. Where does she think London can improve? How would city hall be different if she…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Election countdown is on!
The 2026 municipal election is just over two months away - and the nomination deadline is Friday! Craig asked Mike Donachie of London Ontario Online News to…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Raising money to run for mayor of London... in Toronto?
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig was joined by London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, London Cares Executive Director Chris…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Public health leaders take on food insecurity
Medical officers of health in various Ontario municipalities say that food insecurity is growing, and they want governments to take action. Why is food…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Time for council to take on the feds?
Friday Round Table! Craig is joined by a panel of London Home Builders Association Executive Director Jared Zaifman, former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Feds leave London homelessness service providers scrambling
Ark Aid Street Mission is one of London's key homelessness service providers - but some expiring federal funding means they're in a time of transition. What…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is London getting safer?
How safe is London? Craig was joined by political insider Ryan Gauss and former city councillor Cheryl Miller to breakdown that story and more on this week's…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will Bronagh Morgan split the mayoral race vote?
Is strategic voting making its way to London's mayoral campaign? Multi-time Green Party candidate Bronagh Morgan is running for Mayor. But does voting for her…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will special constables become an election issue?
Friday Round Table! Craig was joined in the studio by organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad, community advocate Jeremy McCall and former Green Party candidate…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
We'd better get used to that wildfire smoke...
London had major cancelations and closures due to smoke-filled air courtesy of wildfires in Northern Ontario - and, sadly, that may become a regular thing…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
New LHSC board chair comes with long track record
Ron Sapsford has decades of experience in Ontario's healthcare sector and later this year, he takes over as the chair of the board at London Health Sciences…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
House of Hope lives until 2027 - what does it mean?
We've found out that House of Hope is going to stick around until spring of 2027. The highly supportive units run by London Cares had been under threat of…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
An Even Bigger Price Tag For Policing?
It's the Friday Round Table! Craig was joined in the studio by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and former Youth Opportunities Unlimited CEO…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
London hitting housing targets - but where are the affordable homes?
The City of London got a nice gift from the provincial government - an $11.2-million cheque for hitting housing start targets. The money will be used on a list…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Why is LTC ridership dropping so fast?
On a hot Friday in downtown London, Craig welcomed political insider Matthew Newton-Reid and former city councillor Cheryl Miller to the Covent Garden Market…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Council candidate defiant amid misconduct complaints
Nicholas Saika-Voivod is a candidate in the Ward 13 London city council race - but over a dozen women have come forward telling stories of his misconduct. The…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Hockey excuses toxic behaviour
It's the offseason in the NHL, but that hasn't stopped league decision makers from giving out second, third, or fourth chances. The Edmonton Oilers have made…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Why does London have so much summer construction?
Have you been caught up in major traffic backups this month? You aren't alone. Commissioners at Wellington has huge delays. Highbury is down to one lane each…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Another new downtown plan - will this one work?
London city councillors have a new downtown plan! It isn't the first time we've made a plan - but can this one work? Will it even be implemented? Craig was…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
LHSC rebuilds after years of scandal
It's been a difficult half decade for London Health Sciences Centre. Travel scandals, lawsuits, police investigations and more. But, the organization is ready…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
New safe supply rules may not go far enough
There's some new rules surrounding the controversial safe supply program - but will those changes actually make a difference in London? Craig was joined by…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will Carney government's online harms bill actually work?
This week in Ottawa, Safe Social Media Act (also known at Bill C-34) was introduced. The government says their goal is to create "a safer online space for all…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Three levels of government failure on homelessness
In the wake of the announced House of Hope closure, fingers are being pointed. Should we blame the provincial government? London city council? Everyone? Craig…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
London could be a music city after all!
London has often been criticized by commentators (Craig included) for being anti-fun. But is the city shedding that label? The Forest City London Music Awards…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
New TVDSB boss wants to win back trust
It's been a messy few years at the Thames Valley District School Board. Scandal. Baseball trips. Criminal charges for an executive. Firings. A board of…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Ford government pulls the plug on supportive housing
A supporting housing facility in downtown London is closing after the Ford government decided to pull the plug on their half of the House of Hope funding. 45…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
The latest election buzz, LTC, dogs in hot cars and more
A busy week in London! Craig was joined by advocate Frances Moore and former Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to breakdown whether more Londoners will…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Early surprise changes London council race
When this election campaign started almost three weeks ago, we thought 13 of 15 members of council were going to run for their old jobs - then we got a…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
What will a Susan Stevenson for Mayor campaign look like?
It's official - Susan Stevenson is running for mayor. The often controversial Ward 4 councillor filed her papers this week - can she win? Craig is joined by…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will homelessness crisis be the top election issue?
It's election season, so let's break it down on the Friday Round Table. London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and former city councillor Cheryl Miller joined Craig…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Advocates push for bail reform
Brett Broadfoot lost his daughter Breanna to intimate partner violence in 2024. Now, he's an advocate for change - locally and nationally. He and London Abused…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
It's local politics Super Bowl!
It's election registration day! The municipal election is in October, but you can officially become a candidate for mayor, council or school board trustee -…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
South London's traffic nightmare
As the city rips up another major intersection for the southern leg BRT leg - this time Wellington and Commissioners - business owners and managers have…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Council asks for help managing drug issues
London City Council has asked the province for help - after downtown councillor David Ferreria noted problems popping up due to safe supply pharmacies in the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Why United Way cut off Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area has received funding from United Way Elgin Middlesex for 50 years. But, amid economic pressures, the United Way has…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"They clearly have some cash, because they're buying planes"
Former city councillors Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the studio to breakdown the issues of the week. First, they look at the proposed…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Ford government changes leave cloud of confusion for TVDSB
Doug Ford's education minister Paul Calandra announced changes for the trustee role this week. He isn't eliminating the position - but instead limiting their…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
What's really happening at the modular homeless shelter?
There's been lots of talk in the media and on social media about the micro modular homeless shelter on Cheese Factory Road in south London. Is it working? Do…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
EAs navigate chaos at TVDSB schools
In the midst of all the turmoil at the Thames Valley District School Board over the last 18 months, educational assistants have been in classrooms trying to…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
How will nursing cuts impact LHSC care?
The London Health Sciences Centre says 288 nursing positions at the hospital will be eliminated as they continue to battle a large deficit. However, there…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Could the 2026 election be more dramatic than we thought?
The 2026 municipal election could be a real snoozer in London - unless it isn't? City Hall writer Mike Donachie joined Craig to breakdown the latest important…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Home builders warn of looming crisis
London's home builders have laid off nearly 6,000 people as production stagnates for a variety of reasons. That number could increase rapidly. How did we get…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"You're going to have more open drug use on the street"
Friday Round Table! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market by city councillor and budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
St. Joe's dog research whistleblower strikes back
A report done by St. Joseph's Healthcare London and some external bodies says the dog research being done by the hospital and Lawson was within the rules and…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Ford's supervised consumption shutdown disaster
The supervised consumption site Carepoint has been operating in London since 2018. Now, the Ford government says they're going to shut it down in June. What…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is somebody poisoning people in London's downtown core?
London Police are looking for information, after dozens of overdoses in the city's downtown. Is somebody giving out "free drugs" with the aim of killing people…