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
"We need a Rat Czar? A Rat King?"
We got more rats! Lots of talk about the rat situation in the east end of London at city hall this week, which makes sense. It's a pretty gross problem. So how…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"I, also am against rats being in the streets"
Political insider Nathan Caranci and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck joined Craig for this week's Friday Round Table. They debated Fanshawe College…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Would $10k make you feel better about having to move?
As councillors are set to debate a proposed high-rise near the intersection of Ridout and Kent - people who would have to move for the building to be…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is 'safer supply' making downtown drug issues worse?
Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller and former YOU executive director Steve Cordes. They tackle the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Developer donations cause sparks at city hall
During a contentious debate over a proposed 30 floor residential high rise York Developments wants to build at the corner of Richmond and Kent Streets, there…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Can TVDSB avoid classroom cuts?
The Thames Valley District School Board remains in a time of transition. Trustees are sidelined, the province has put supervision in place, budgets under…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
CEO defends controversial St. Joe's dog research
Six months after controversial research involving dogs was snuffed out by Premier Doug Ford - St. Joseph's Heath Care and Lawson Research have released reports…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"We need real life plans, we don't need paper weights."
A brand new Friday Round Table, as Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by Ward 13 city councillor David Ferreria, political insider Scott…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"Band-Aids are good, but I feel like we need stitches"
The micro-modular shelter in south London is open! What impact ill it have? Is it in the right spot? How can we get more of them? Craig was joined in the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Is the gun buyback program a massive failure?
There's no way around it, the federal government's gun buyback program isn't working. Police services say they don't have the resources - or even the desire…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
"The people involved in this need to **** off"
Two former London City Councillors - Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller - joined Craig in the studio for this week's round table. First, they breakdown a CBC…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
What is a 'good neighbour', anyway?
There multiple several big discussions about London's homelessness crisis at city hall this week - and Ward 4 councillor Susan Stevenson helped bring two of…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
BRT is back!
The 2016 Instagram trend seems to have made its way to London City Hall. Bus rapid transit is back! Council is asking the province for cash to put a bus rapid…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Why is everyone getting sick?
Flu season has been especially brutal this year with the Middlesex-London Health Unit tracking some large case counts. Why have so many people been getting…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will homelessness in Ontario double?
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, London Cares Executive Director Chris…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will some councillors get booted in 2026?
It's the first Friday Round Table of 2026! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market Studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, political insider…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Scrap the controversial temporary foreign worker program?
The Temporary Foreign Worker program has come under criticism both in Canada from the opposition Conservatives and internationally from the United Nations - is…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Will past scandal haunt London Police Service?
Craig welcomes political insider Scott Collyer, advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck to the studio for the last Friday Round…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Crises, Shelters and Lawsuits
We have an addictions crisis and a homelessness one - is it time for the province to step up? Ontario's big city mayors say so. Will Doug Ford act? Meantime…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Mayor Josh Morgan: London is in a state of emergency
London is in crisis - but will the province acknowledge it? Ontario's Big City Mayors have all signed a letter urging the Ford government to declare…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 425: What bad test results say about Ontario's schools
We're still trying to figure out what's next for trustees, the standard testing/EQAO results are pretty bad, school boards all over the province are in flux -…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 424: Former London city councillor facing criminal charges
It's Friday Round Table time, and Craig opens the podcast by sharing what he knows about the Mariam Hamou arrest story. He goes over where this all may have…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 423: Growing Chefs Ontario Fights Food Insecurity
Teaching kids about food can help fight food insecurity. It's true - and that's one of the many things Growing Chiefs Ontario does. The London-based non-profit…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 422: Is London's opioid crisis getting better?
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and community advocate Jeremy McCall to the Covent Garden…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 421: Speed cameras aren't a cash grab
Unpopular take alert: Craig actually like speed cameras. And polling data says most people agree with him! Maybe the take is not so unpopular after all. Robyn…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 420: A quarter of Londoners don't like it here
Craig welcomes London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, London Cares Executive Director Chris Moss and organizational consultant Mojdeh…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 419: Was Carney's budget a 'disaster' for housing?
The reviews are in for Mark Carney's first federal budget, and, in a lot of cases, they are not good. Economist Mike Moffatt, co-host of The Missing Middle…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 418: Will 35% raise backfire on London councillors?
London city councillors have voted themselves a 35% raise. Will they pay for it at the ballot box next October? Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 417: Could a London engineering student change Canada's housing market?
Meet Ribal Zebian. He's received the Governor General’s Award of Honour and a $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship for his engineering work - which included…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 416: Council votes themselves a raise
Friday Round Table! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, political insider Devin Munro and former Green…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 415: Jail scandal lets three accused murders go free
A massive rights violation at Maplehurst Correctional Complex in the GTA has resulted in three men who stood accused of murder having their cases thrown out -…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 414: Are we making the homelessness crisis worse?
It's the Friday Round Table! Craig was joined by a panel of community advocate Jeremy McCall, former NDP candidate Shawna Lewkowitz, and Blackburn Media news…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 413: A TVDSB arrest and a TVDSB exit
It's been another banner week at the Thames Valley District School Board. One former executive (Linda Nicholls) was arrested by London Police for alleged mail…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 413: Go check out the Forest City Film Festival!
The Forest City Film Festival starts on October 24th! Screenings, workshops and more all coming to the city's core - and there's still a chance to get tickets…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 412: Why sign London's top cop to a big contract extension?
London Police Chief Thai Truong - just two and a half years in to his original five year deal - has signed a contract extension with the service that goes…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 411: Environment vs. housing - how does London grow?
London is growing - but may not as fast as we thought? New population projections show we may not have as many people living in the Forest City as we thought…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 410: Det. Gary Bezaire on what's changed at London Police
Detective Gary Bezaire has been with London Police for over 20 years, so he's seen a lot. How has the service evolved? Bezaire, who is in charge of the London…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 409: Debunking "zombie" clickbait in London's core
Multiple YouTubers have created videos calling London, among other things, a zombie city or the most drug addicted place in Canada. Of course, those sorts of…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 408: Reform after the Hockey Canada verdict
There's still anger and unrest in London and all over the country after the verdict in the Hockey Canada sexual assault trial. Even beyond just the verdict -…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 407: Bank of Canada Deputy Governor Rhys Mendes
Rhys Mendes, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, was in London this week and made some time to come chat with Craig on the podcast. They discussed ongoing…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 406: Friday Round Table with Frances Moore, Jeff Preston and Matthew Newton-Reid
The City of London had an update on the Whole of Community response this week and it actually is helping! Good news! But, there's a lot more people who need…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 405: Fixing London-Middlesex Community Housing
London-Middlesex Community Housing has a lot of problems. Buildings that are falling apart. Pest infestations. Plumbing issues. But - are those things getting…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 404: Friday Round Table with Kelly Elliott, Mojdeh Azad and Carol Dyck
On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad and former Green…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 403: Is London Transit getting better?
Six months after the London Transit commissioners were unceremoniously removed by council - is bus service in this city any better? Ward 11 councillor Skylar…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 402: Friday Round Table with Chris Moss, Ryan Gauss and Steve Cordes
Craig welcomed London Cares Executive Director Chris Moss, political insider Ryan Gauss and former YOU CEO Steve Cordes to the studio to talk about the week's…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 401: London Hydro CEO Ysni Semsedini on the grid and the future
Ysni Semsedini, about a year into his role as CEO at London Hydro, joined Craig on the podcast to talk about his time on the job so far, your hydro bill, the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 400: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller, Roger Caranci and Devin Munro
It's the 400th episode of The Craig Needles Podcast! Craig welcomes former London city councillors Cheryl Miller and Roger Caranci to the studio, as well as…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 399: Shmuel Farhi
Well-known and infamous-to-some London property owner Shmuel Farhi joined Craig on the podcast for a wide ranging conversation. They tackle Farhi's purchase of…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 398: Friday Round Table with Scott Collyer, Mojdeh Azad and Jared Zaifman
Last Friday Round Table of the summer! Craig welcomed political insider Scott Collyer, organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad and London Home Builders…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 397: United Way pushes for more affordable housing
The United Way has released their Built for Good report and it's ambitious. They want to spend more than $60-billion to bring new affordable homes online…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 396: Friday Round Table with Jennifer Dunn, Nathan Caranci and Jeremy McCall
Summer is winding down! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market Studio by London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, political insider…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 395: Time to break up the TVDSB?
Is the Thames Valley District School Board too big? Is it time to separate London's schools from the ones in Oxford and Elgin Counties? The Warden of Oxford…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 394: Friday Round Table with Cheryl Miller and Shawn Lewis
Craig welcomes London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and former city councillor Cheryl Miller to the Covent Garden Market studio to breakdown the issues of the week…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 393: Did the dog research at St. Joe's and Lawson need to be shutdown?
Last week: National Post breaks story about puppies being kept in brutal conditions at St. Joseph's Health Care and Lawson Research. This week: Doug Ford…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 392: Ousted TVDSB Trustee on Ford Government's School Board Take Over
Some former TVDSB trustees are speaking out after the province turfed them due to financial irregularities at the board. Was poor financial planning from the…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 391: Friday Round Table with Devin Munro, Carol Dyck and Jeremy McCall
Is downtown getting more safe? Do we need bail reform? How should LTC be managed? Should 16-year-olds be able to vote in Canada? Those questions and more on…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 390: Chief Thai Truong On Bail Reform, Downtown Safety
Do we need bail reform? How is the legal system's backlog impacting London? Police Chief Thai Truong joins Craig on the podcast to discuss changes he'd like to…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 389: Goodbye London!
Planning expert and regular podcast guest Dr. A.J. Wray is leaving London to take a job teaching at the University of Tennessee. So, as he waves goodbye, Craig…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 388: Friday Round Table With Shawn Lewis, Kelly Elliott and Scott Kitching
An unbelievable pair of lawsuits has been filed by London Health Sciences Centre. They allege several former executives and co-conspirators aligned to steal…
- The Craig Needles Podcast
Episode 387: Community orgs needing, getting help
Craig is back from vacation and rather than getting back at it by talking about scandal, he wanted to focus on London organizations trying to help the…