Humans of the House: Trailer

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March 9, 2023

Humans of the House Podcast

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Humans of the House: Trailer

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You know what a politician sounds like on the job. But once they leave office, that’s when they can share what’s truly on their minds.

Join host Sabreena Delhon as she speaks with former Members of Parliament, to hear, in their own words, what this job is really like. Their stories are woven together in a six-part series that explores an MPs path to politics, why they left, and what it cost them to serve their communities.

Tune in to Humans of the House, a podcast from the Samara Centre for Democracy.

Listen to the trailer and subscribe now. The first episode of Humans of the House will be available on all podcast platforms on March 21.

Tune in to hear their stories.

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Humans of the House is produced by Media Girlfriends and funded by the Government of Canada and Rosemond Ivey.

For all media inquiries, please contact media@samaracentre.ca.

Explore our work

In 2024, the Samara Centre team published timely analyses on technology's impact on democracy, political engagement, and civic participation in Canada, sharing insights across mainstream, policy, and peer-reviewed outlets.

2024 Publications

In a period of democratic backsliding, the work of the Samara Centre for Democracy is more urgent and relevant than ever before.

2024 Highlights

Humans of the House has received national media coverage and has been the #1 show in the Government category for several weeks on Apple Podcasts where it has also been featured as a New & Noteworthy Special Series.

Humans of the House in the Media

SAMbot has received national media coverage and been presented at meetings across governmental, policy, technology, human rights and academic spaces.

SAMbot In The Media

The Samara Centre for Democracy is frequently asked to provide commentary and analysis on a range of topics related to civic engagement and political participation. We regularly appear in print, broadcast and digital news networks across the country.

Samara Centre in the Media

On Wednesday, December 4th, more than 400 people attended The Walrus Talks at Home: Polarization.

CEO Sabreena Delhon Participates in Walrus Talks Panel on Polarization

Our CEO, Sabreena Delhon, received a King Charles III Coronation Medal, presented at a special ceremony hosted at the Samara Centre’s office on November 1st.

CEO Sabreena Delhon receives King Charles III Coronation Medal

CEO Sabreena Delhon Featured in CPAC Documentary on Online Harms and Cyberbullying

Samara Centre for Democracy CEO, Sabreena Delhon and Connie Walker, this year’s In Defence of Democracy feature speaker appeared on CTV’s The Social on November 12th, 2024 to promote our annual event.

In Defence of Democracy Featured on CTV’s The Social

What is truly threatening Canada’s democracy is the dominant story that we are disengaged and disconnected.

Donate to the Samara Centre this Giving Tuesday

On October 2nd, the Samara Centre hosted Democratic Innovation: What’s Needed, What’s Not Necessary, What’s Next featuring panelists Malorie Flon (Institute du Nouveau Monde), Bianca Wylie (Digital Public) and Sarah Yaffe (MASS LBP).

Montreal Event Explores How to Increase Public Participation in Politics

To mark the 10th anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons our co-founders Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan reunited for a special bonus episode of Humans of the House hosted by Samara Centre CEO Sabreena Delhon.

Bonus Humans of the House Episode Featured in The Hill Times

On October 10th, we hosted an intimate gathering to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons, the bestselling book by Samara Centre co-founders Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan.

Celebrating a Milestone Moment for Tragedy in the Commons

Ten years ago, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan published Tragedy in the Commons.

Founders of the Samara Centre Reflect on 10 Years of the Bestselling Tragedy in the Commons in New Podcast Episode

In this special bonus episode, we celebrate and reflect upon the tenth anniversary of the bestseller book, Tragedy in the Commons, written by Samara Centre for Democracy co-founders, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan. Samara Centre CEO Sabreena Delhon hosts this conversation to ask, what has changed? What has stayed the same? Where are the fault lines in Canadian democracy?

Humans of the House BONUS Episode: The "Reluctant" Politician

Sabreena Delhon and Andrea Mariko Grant delve into solutions to tackle the harmful working conditions that local politicians are facing in a new Municipal World Magazine article.

Municipal World article examines solutions to combat abusive working conditions for local politicians

We sat down with the Pulitzer and Peabody-award winning investigative journalist ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

A Q&A with this year’s in Defence of Democracy Speaker: Connie Walker

CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy Sabreena Delhon joined Ontario Today host Amanda Pfeffer on a September 17th call-in show where listeners shared how political polarization is taking a toll on their interpersonal relationships.

How are a handful of users on social media platforms fueling affective polarization?

Sabreena Delhon will be featured in Dave Meslin’s new documentary series, Unrigged premiering Sunday, September 15th on TVO’s broadcast channel.

Samara Centre’s CEO, Sabreena Delhon to appear in Unrigged Documentary on TVO

Lawyers and paralegals in Ontario can now listen to Humans of the House in partial fulfillment of their continuing professional development requirement.

Humans of the House Accredited by the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario

Resources for Canadians considering elected office

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Bestselling book endures with critical insights about how to build a more resilient Canadian democracy

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons

Samara Centre for Democracy Advises on Safer Working Conditions for Elected Officials Before the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs

Samara Centre for Democracy Advises on Safer Working Conditions for Elected Officials

Our CEO Sabreena Delhon was interviewed by The New York Times about foreign interference in Canadian nomination races.

CEO Sabreena Delhon in The New York Times

The Samara Centre for Democracy’s podcast Humans of the House is a national finalist in the best podcast category of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) 2024 Awards.

Humans of the House Nominated for RTDNA Award

The Samara Centre for Democracy welcomes three new members to our Board of Directors: The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, OC, Professor Kathleen Mahoney, KC, Professor Debra Thompson

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The eventual mayor and a fringe candidate had similar engagement and levels of abuse — but very different experiences online.

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Chloe Brown and Anthony Furey were among the most successful mayoral candidates, but as political outsiders, they faced barriers breaking into media opportunities.

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Mayoral runner-up Ana Bailão proved that offline success didn’t necessarily require high online engagement.

Does Online Engagement Mean Higher Electoral Success?

Xiao Hua Gong spent a lot on advertising, and though those expenses didn’t translate into success at the polls, it showcased how big campaign budgets alone can reach into communities — sometimes in unexpected ways.

Buying Attention, On and Offline

Exploring engagement, toxicity, and civic conversations across online and offline spaces in the Toronto by-election.

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Les Personnages de la Chambre est, depuis plusieurs semaines, l’une des émissions les mieux placées dans la catégorie gouvernementale sur les balados d’Apple Podcasts (Canada).

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Born in Happy Hill, Grenada, the Honourable Jean Augustine became the first Black Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons.

Featured Voices

The Samara Centre for Democracy and Media Girlfriends team were nominated in the Consumer category.

Humans of the House Podcast Wins Silver at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards

At the Samara Centre for Democracy our purpose is to make it easier for people to talk about and participate in politics. We want to move past simplistic commands like “you should run” or “you should vote” towards more nuanced and personal understandings about what it truly means to be civically engaged.

Samara Centre for Democracy 2023 Highlights

Nous connaissons les politiciens et politiciennes tels qu’ils se présentent à nous dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions. Mais ce n’est que lorsque leur mandat touche à sa fin qu’ils et elles peuvent réellement s’exprimer sur leur expérience. Animé par Chloë Hill, Les Personnages de la Chambre est un nouveau balado qui présente six anciens et anciennes député.e.s de la Chambre des communes du Canada qui décrivent, dans leur propre voix, la réalité de cette profession.

Les Personnages de la Chambre: Bande-annonce

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The Samara Centre for Democracy welcomes two new members to our Board of Directors.

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How are our policies around elections limiting voter engagement - and what do we need from policymakers in order to make things better?

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SAMbot tracked toxic tweets in eight municipal elections across Canada by monitoring candidate and political party accounts.

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SAMbot tracked online abuse during Toronto's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

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SAMbot tracked online abuse during Yellowknife's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

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SAMbot tracked online abuse during Charlottetown's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

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Explore Our Work

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