December 22, 2025
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#1284 UNLOCKED: The Most Powerful Tool in Media
This week, we speak to the people who manipulate and control your emotions. “Manipulate. It sounds like we’re doing something evil…” -Darren Fung
Tristan Capacchione
Audio Editor & Technical Producer
Sam Konnert
Producer/Host
Tony Wang
max collins
Director of Audio

Their stated goal is to manipulate your media and, by extension, you. We’re not flagging a secretive government agency here, not some media oligarch, no one in the usual line-up of Bondesque villains.

In fact, many of us love what these master manipulators do. They are, drum roll please…

composers! Their work literally underscores much of the podcast world. Their power lies in their ability to bypass the intellect and go straight for the heart. Chill it, warm it, speed it up.

Today we meet some of the most influential and largely invisible creators in the media landscape.

 

Host: Sam Konnert

Credits: Tristan Capacchione (Writer and Producer), Tony Wang (Executive Producer), max collins (Director of Audio), Jesse Brown (Publisher)

Guests: Darren Fung, Erica Procunier, Adrian Ellis

Photo: Ashlea Wessel

Featuring music by: Tristan Capacchione, Adrian Ellis, Darren Fung, Erica Procunier, and Audio Network

 

Further Reading:

 

Sponsors: 

oxio: Head over to https://canadaland.oxio.ca and use code CANADALAND for your first month free! 

CAMH: CAMH is building better mental health care for everyone to ensure no one is left behind. Visit https://camh.ca/canadaland to make a donation.

Squarespace: Check out https://squarespace.com/canadaland for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch use code canadaland to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

 

Can’t get enough Canadaland? Follow @Canadaland_Podcasts on Instagram for clips, announcements, explainers and more.

If you value this podcast, support us! 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 our store, 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.

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