<p>Heated Rivalry’s breakout success is bringing CanCon, hockey, and gay sex to the world. Does this surprising hit give Canadian TV a new playbook?</p><br><p>Heated Rivalry is also bringing in new hockey fans and helping the sport’s image, so why isn’t the NHL embracing it? Can the show have a real impact on hockey culture?&nbsp;</p><br><p>Plus, Canada Proud double dips on CBC messaging, and an NDP leadership candidate uses AI to answer questions on Reddit.&nbsp;</p><br><p>Host: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jesse Brown</a></p><p>Credits: James Nicholson (Producer), Katie Laur (Associate Producer and Fact Checking) Caleb Thompson (Mixing and Mastering), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Editor)</p><p>Guest: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sam Konnert</a></p><p>Additional music by Audio Network</p><br><p>Further reading:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/arts/commotion/why-is-heated-rivalry-so-popular-its-not-just-the-sex-but-the-canadianness-9.7039892" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Why is Heated Rivalry so popular? It’s not just the sex, but the Canadianness | CBC Arts</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/business/media/heated-rivalry-hbo-max-popularity.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Popularity of ‘Heated Rivalry’ Has Surprised Even TV Executives - The New York Times</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://xtramagazine.com/culture/tv-film/heated-rivalry-canada-schitts-creek-279224" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">What ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Schitt’s Creek’ say about the Canada we want to be | Xtra Magazine</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6936576/2026/01/06/heated-rivalry-nhl-hockey-culture-change/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hit show ‘Heated Rivalry’ became a TV phenomenon. Can it change hockey culture? - The Athletic</a></li><li><a href="https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/parekhs-apology-for-robot-comments-has-flames-teammates-moving-forward/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Parekh’s apology for 'robot' comments has Flames teammates moving forward - </a><a href="http://sportsnet.ca" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sportsnet.ca</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBP4Ny0KGQU" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DREW DOUGHTY, World Juniors, Heated Rivalry &amp; TONS More - Ep. 608</a> - Spittin’ Chicklets [YouTube]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/rob-ashton-artificial-intelligence-ndp-ama-9.7043887" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">NDP leadership candidate apologizes for using AI to respond to Reddit questions | CBC News</a>&nbsp;</li><li><a href="https://www.canadaland.com/ndp-leadership-candidates/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Five (Delusional? Brave?) NDP Leadership Candidates on WTF They Plan to Do</a> - CANADALAND</li><li><a href="https://www.nationalobserver.com/2026/01/08/investigations/cbc-canada-proud-ad-campaigns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The same firm ran a campaign to save CBC — and Canada Proud's push to defund it</a> - Canada’s National Observer&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Sponsors:&nbsp;</p><br><p><a href="https://douglas.ca/Canadaland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Douglas</a>:&nbsp; Douglas is giving our listeners a FREE Sleep Bundle with each mattress purchase. Get the sheets, pillows, mattress and pillow protectors FREE with your Douglas purchase today.&nbsp; Visit<a href="http://douglas.ca/Canadaland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> do</a><a href="https://douglas.ca/canadaland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">uglas.ca/canadaland</a> to claim this offer.</p><br><p><a href="https://mubi.com/en/canadaland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MUBI</a>: To stream great cinema at home, you can try MUBI free for 30 days at<a href="http://mubi.com/canadaland" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> mubi.com/canadaland</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>If you value this podcast,<a href="https://canadalandnetwork.supercast.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Support us</a>! You’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on merch at<a href="https://canadalandstore.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> our store</a>, tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis, you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody.&nbsp; </p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>