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PODCAST

The Missing Middle Podcast

Cara Stern, Mike Moffatt, and Meredith Martin

Welcome to the Missing Middle, a podcast about why the middle class in Canada is disappearing. We hope to help you understand why life is becoming unaffordable for so many in this country, and what can be done to reverse course.

news news commentary

All Episodes

13:38

The Inflation Number You Hear vs. The One You Feel

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/04/01

If inflation is only around 2–3%, why does everything feel so much more expensive? In this episode, we break down how inflation is actually measured, and why your personal experience can feel completely disconnected from the official numbers. From grocery bills and gas prices to rent and mortgages, not all price increases hit the same way—and some matter a lot more than others. We also dig into the hidden forces shaping your cost of living: shrinkflation, quality drops (“chocolatey” vs. c...

en-ca

43:39

Paige Saunders: Why the US and Canada are Trapped...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/27

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern sits down with YouTuber Paige Saunders to discuss the one structural glitch that is sabotaging Canada’s economy, healthcare, and housing market: our electoral system. While most democracies have moved on to Proportional Representation, Canada remains stuck with a model that empowers swing ridings and ignores millions of voters. Paige explains why this monopoly on power prevents real innovation and how a simple change in how we vote could lead ...

en-ca

22:55

Second-Time Buyers Are Screwed (And Ignored)

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/25

You built equity, planned ahead, and did everything right, so why is the next step on the housing ladder completely out of reach? Canada’s housing crisis is usually framed around first-time buyers struggling to get into the market. But a growing number of Canadians already made that leap and are now stuck. Couples who bought small condos with the expectation of eventually upgrading are discovering that the path forward has quietly disappeared. In this episode, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Mad...

en-ca

15:35

The Meritocracy Myth: Is Canada Still the Land of...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/20

Is Canada still a “land of opportunity,” or has your success become a function of who your parents are? In this segment, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dive into the uncomfortable reality of meritocracy in Canada. While Boomers largely believe hard work still pays off, Millennials and Gen Z are seeing a different story. We break down the latest Ipsos polling data and Statistics Canada research that shows social mobility is eroding. From the "Housing Theory of Everything" to the widening gap betw...

en-ca

10:06

The Statistical Illusion Inside Canada’s Housing Data

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/18

In 2025, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reported nearly 260,000 housing starts, a figure that suggests real progress on the housing crisis. But a deeper look reveals a much more complicated and concerning reality. Most of the new supply is made up of small condos and apartments, not the family-sized homes people are looking for. Because housing starts are recorded late in the construction process, today’s data often reflects decisions made years ago, not current market condi...

en-ca

10:56

Why You Can’t Find a Rental for Your Family (It’s Not...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/13

Looking for a family-sized apartment in Canada feels almost impossible. In this episode, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt explore why they’re so rare in Canadian cities and why building regulations, zoning, and outdated fire safety rules make larger units nearly impossible to construct. Restrictive codes, high costs, and policy gaps mean that families often end up squeezed into spaces that don’t meet their needs or leave cities entirely. This shortage has shaped urban life, contributed to declini...

en-ca

16:35

Out of Nowhere: How Canada Fell Behind Alabama

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/11

Is the Canadian dream officially broken? A recent headline claiming Canada is now poorer than Alabama sparked outrage and pearl-clutching from coast to coast. But beyond the headlines, what does the data actually say about our quality of life? In this episode of Classonomics, hosts Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux strip away the “economic hubris” and look at the cold, hard numbers. They explore why Canadians are so obsessed with “dunking on Americans” that we’ve ignored a decade of stagnati...

en-ca

17:49

The Giant Planning Error That Destroyed Housing Supply

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/06

For decades, housing planners have assumed that seniors would eventually downsize, freeing up family homes for the next generation. But that hasn’t happened. In this episode, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt explore why most seniors choose to stay in their homes and why that decision is often perfectly rational. High moving costs, limited housing options, strong community ties, and government policies that encourage aging in place all make downsizing far less appealing than planners expected. This...

en-ca

17:43

If We’re Not in a Recession… Why Does It Feel Like One?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/03/04

If Canada isn’t in a recession, why does it feel like one for so many Canadians? In this episode of Classonomics from The Missing Middle, hosts Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt dig into one of the biggest contradictions in today’s economy. On paper, everything looks great. GDP is growing. Corporate profits are strong. Stock markets are hitting record highs. Yet, for millions of Canadians, life feels harder than ever. Food bank usage has doubled since 2019. Young people can’t afford homes in ...

en-ca

15:43

Is “Buying Canadian” Actually a Luxury for the Rich?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/27

Is boycotting American products a patriotic duty, or a luxury belief most Canadians can’t afford? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt unpack the growing generational divide in Canada, and why older Canadians are far more likely to boycott U.S. products, while younger Canadians are stuck navigating a brutal affordability crisis. After a winter storm destroyed his car, Mike shares why he chose a Canadian-assembled vehicle, and how that decision sparked a bigger ...

en-ca

18:44

You’re “Middle Class” on Paper. So Why Do You Feel...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/25

If $130,000 is the new poverty line… what does that make you? In this episode of Classonomics, we tackle the viral argument that the middle class isn’t struggling — it’s being mismeasured. On paper, incomes are up and unemployment is low. So why does it feel harder than ever to afford a home, raise kids, or even stand still? We break down the hidden costs of economic participation, from housing and childcare to smartphones and “technological coercion”. We also examine the rise of the two-inco...

en-ca

23:34

The Disappearing "Third Place": Why Making Friends Is...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/20

Why is it so hard to make friends once you leave school? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dive into the "Loneliness Epidemic" and the disappearing concept of the Third Place – those vital social hubs that aren't home (the first place) or work (the second place). From the 1980s mall culture and bowling alleys to the modern era of "convenience-first" coffee shops and endless doomscrolling, we explore why 60% of Canadians feel disconnected from their communitie...

en-ca

15:42

The Hidden Job Market Crisis No One Is Talking About

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/18

The unemployment rate says everything is fine. So why does finding a job feel impossible? Canada has added nearly 200,000 jobs and unemployment sits around 6.5%. On paper, that’s a “normal” economy. But talk to young workers, or anyone trying to switch jobs, and you’ll hear a very different story: hundreds of applications, zero callbacks, and months of silence. In this episode of Classonomics, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt break down the hidden story behind the headlines. They explain why...

en-ca

36:04

Why Canadian Transit is Failing Families (and How to...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/13

Does having a baby mean you're officially "car-dependent"? In this episode of DemograFix, Cara Stern and Reece Martin, of @RMTrasit, tackle the reality of navigating Canadian cities with kids. While many parents are told that a private vehicle is the only safe or convenient way to get around, Cara and Reece explore why our transit systems often fail families – and how we can fix them. From the "elevator roulette" at subway stations to the hidden costs of car ownership, we’re breaking do...

en-ca

22:47

Why Risky Bets Are Rational in a Housing Crisis

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Your 20s: risky bets, crypto hype, and meme stocks. 🎲 Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt explain why being priced out of a home is turning saving into gambling — and why young men are taking the biggest swings. In this episode of The Missing Middle – Classonomics, we unpack why a generation priced out of housing is turning to meme stocks, crypto, and online sports betting instead of traditional saving. Mike and Sabrina explore how the “gamification” of investing on your phone blurs the line

en-ca

19:48

AI is Killing Entry-Level Jobs: The 13% Drop Nobody...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/06

Yesterday, Bank of Canada governor Tiff Mackem warned that early evidence shows AI is reducing the number of entry-level jobs available. Are we heading toward a future of mass unemployment, or is AI just the latest "calculator" to change how we work? Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt dive deep into the data behind AI's impact on demographics and the workforce. While Mike leans into historical optimism, Cara brings the receipts: a recent Stanford study showing a 13% drop in employment for youn...

en-ca

25:11

Why Condos Are Trapping a Whole Generation

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/02/04

Canada’s housing ladder is broken. In this episode of Missing Middle, Sabrina Maddeaux and Mike Moffatt explain why the starter home no longer works and how an entire generation has been locked out of moving up. They compare buying a detached home in 2004 for $168,000 with today’s reality, where condos fail as a first step and buyers are trapped with no clear path forward. The conversation explores how this breakdown affects family formation, careers, ambition, and Canada’s economic future.= ...

en-ca

26:01

Canada’s Demographic Time Bomb: What Boom, Bust &...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/01/30

Canada’s housing crisis. Youth unemployment. Immigration debates. A broken healthcare system. What if we told you a book published in 1996 predicted almost all of it? In this episode of The Missing Middle, Cara Stern and Mike Moffatt revisit the Canadian classic Boom, Bust & Echo to explore how demographics, especially the aging of the baby boomers, reshaped Canada’s economy, housing market, job prospects, and public policy. We break down: • Why youth unemployment was a policy choice • Ho...

en-ca

24:41

These Changes Can Help Make Homes Affordable for...

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/01/28

In this episode of The Missing Middle, Mike Moffatt and Sabrina Maddeaux dig into why homeownership for Canadians under 40 has fallen off a cliff. Spoiler: it’s not just zoning, NIMBYs, or avocado toast. The federal government plays a much bigger role in today’s housing mess than it likes to admit. They break down how rapid population growth collided with a massive slowdown in building family-sized homes, why “dog-crate condos” became the default housing plan, and how taxes, development cha...

en-ca

23:16

You’ll Own Nothing and Be Happy: Is That Our Future?

The Missing Middle Podcast ·

2026/01/23

Do you actually own the things you pay for anymore? In this episode of the Missing Middle Podcast, economist Mike Moffatt and Cara Stern explore how ownership is quietly disappearing from everyday life—and what that means for consumers, younger generations, and the economy as a whole. From streaming services and digital books to video games, cars, exercise bikes, and even housing, more and more products are shifting from one-time purchases to subscription-based access. While these models offe...

en-ca

165 results

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