About Media
Here is a collection of videos where I discuss my work or share my thoughts on topics in the news, whether it’s on a podcast, radio show, etc. I also host explainer videos and produce my own long-form video essays on my YouTube channel. Much of it is business and finance-related, though I report on stories involving other subjects as well.
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
On my YouTube channel, I produce a collection of video essays about topics in the financial media and stories I’ve covered, explaining them in more detail and sharing some of my thoughts. The aim is to improve my reporting and keep video editing skills sharp. I’ve talked about cryptocurrencies, the Reddit rally, Canadian real estate, and much, much more. Check it out!
Stephanie Hughes Channel Trailer
Welcome to my Youtube channel! My name is Stephanie Hughes, I’m a Toronto-based freelance journalist who largely covers business and financial stories. The purpose of this channel is for me to improve my video reporting skills and to promote my website, http://www.stephaniehughesjournalism.com.
Timber! Why Lumber Prices Are On A Wild Ride
January 29, 2022
Through the past two years, lumber has quite literally been a hot commodity. In this video, I break down the reasons why lumber supply is tight in North America and why price went absolutely haywire in 2021
The Year of Canadian Finance in Review: Top Stories in 2021
December 23, 2021
It’s been a crazy year in finance with boardroom dramas, bidding wars, and market turmoil, making it a year for the books. Here are the top ten stories in finance that all Canadian journalists had on their radars.
Canada’s Oligopoly Problem: Why Canadians Pay High Prices
December 17, 2021
Inflation has been running amok during the past few years, but there is also one overdue conversation we need to have about this country’s industries. From phone bills to airfare, Canadians have paid exorbitant prices even before 2020. This is Canada’s oligopoly problem.
Canadian Real Estate 2021: the Surge, the Impact, the Vulnerability
November 13, 2021
When the pandemic struck, housing analysts asked themselves: is this the event that will kill the housing bull market? It turns out, the opposite happened. Here’s what happened during the pandemic Canadian real estate storm and where it leaves many of the country’s young people.
Crypto 2021: Decrypting the Digital Currency Trade
September 04, 2021
Cryptocurrencies are having a wild ride in 2021, seeing whipsaw volatility, new debates around these digital currencies, and a reinvigorated enthusiasm for their underlying technologies. Here’s what you should know about bitcoin, Ethereum and dogecoin and the conversations surrounding the crypto space
GameStop and the Reddit Revolution
March 14, 2021
In January, ailing video game retailer GameStop suddenly saw its stock rip to new highs, with a Reddit community leading the charge. What followed was a battle between Wall Street and the little guy, questions around the legality of the situation, and what role regulations play.
Locked Down During the Holidays
January 10, 2021
In any given year, running a business is an immensely challenging task – all culminating to a particularly stressful, high-earnings holiday season. The problem is, 2020 wasn’t just any given year. This video explores the challenges faced by small businesses in Canada.
Why Everyone is Talking About ESG Investing
October 25, 2020
In recent years, ESG (environmental, social, corporate governance) investing gained in popularity with billions in assets under management and 85% of investors expressing interest in sustainable investing. In this video, I explain ESG investing and how 2020 could be a pivotal moment with how we invest sustainably.
2020: The Year The CMHC Riled Up Canadian Real Estate
September 18, 2020
Back in June, I wrote a feature called “Evan Siddall Versus the World: A Summary of the 2020 CMHC Saga”. I approached it as an explainer on the organization’s – and Evan Siddall’s – moves in what turned out to be a turbulent year.
The Business of Video Games
July 04, 2020
Many industries were decimated by the COVID-19 recession. One industry that seemed to do well despite the economic downturn was the gaming industry, which had many gamers flocking to their consoles and computers during the lockdown. But the video game industry is no stranger to challenges, here’s the history of the gaming business, where it stands today, and how it continues to thrive.
Choppy Waters The Cruise Industry in 2020
May 28, 2020
The cruise industry hit some choppy waters when the global pandemic put international travel to a standstill. In this video, I talk about how the cruise industry became the mega-sized industry you see today, how much it has contributed to Canada, and whether or not it should be bailed out.
The Lockdown and the Modern Moloch
May 22, 2020
The COVID-19 lockdown has helped stem the amount of cases across the country – but it came at the cost of a functioning economy. This has left both Canada and the U.S. in a divisive struggle of when is the right time to re-open. Some of the more extreme proponents of lifting the lockdown argued that deaths were justified if it meant keeping the economy going… which is why I call this movement the “Modern Moloch”.
Stephen Poloz: The Man, The Myth, The Candyman
May 08, 2020
Last Friday, Tiff Macklem was appointed the new Bank of Canada Governor, closing the chapter on Stephen Poloz’s tenure. It has been a wild ride of low interest rates, economic challenges, and mounting debt loads. I take a look through his years as Governor and address the challenges that the next in line will have to face.
Spilling The Tea on Airbnb
April 24, 2020
AirBnB has long been considered a sort of villain to affordable housing and one of the largest pushers of Canadian real estate investment trends. Now that COVID-19 has ravaged world tourism, AirBnB’s over-leveraged hosts have been left high and dry. The company recently asked for a bailout for its hosts. Here’s why Canada isn’t having it.
Canada’s Gig Economy and the Future of Work
April 17, 2021
The good ‘ol 9-to-5 work day is starting to become a thing of the past. That’s because if you’re in the gig economy, you’re always on the clock to keep up with rising costs. In this video, I explore the benefits and downsides to the gig economy and muse about what this could mean for Canada’s workforce in the future.
Canada’s Airline Prices and the Great Gouge
April 10, 2020
We need to talk about Canada’s airline industries – now more than ever. Air Canada, WestJet and a few other major Canadian airlines have always charged an exorbitant price for flights, largely because of a lack of price competition. But when it came to an international crisis, they took it much further.
Retailapocalypse Now: Why Malls are Dying
April 03, 2021
Retailers going bankrupt, stores shuttering, malls being abandoned… the retailapocalypse has turned the neon-hued retro 80’s mall into a wasteland. It seems like every week, you hear about another business going under. From my experience tracking bankrupt retailers and covering the sector, I explain some of the reasons retail is changing in North America.
Canada and COVID: Where we Stand
March 28, 2020
Far from my most polished video, but I wanted to comment on coronavirus updates in my country. I recorded this on March 27th to get the most up-to-date information on Canada’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, what this means and you should look out for, and I open up a bit about the challenges reporting on this crisis. I expect there will be a follow-up in the upcoming weeks, but I’m going to release a different video next week… Unless of course something huge and unignorable happens (which it probably will).
Canada and the COVID-19 Crash
March 16, 2020
COVID-19 cases are escalating across the globe, oil prices are crashing, and major industries are taking significant financial hits. Canada’s economy has a lot of challenges that the Bank of Canada stands to face – but how effective are these stimulus policies? This video explores the arguments for and against deeper rate cuts.
Toronto Housing Hits Pre 2017 Levels – What Could Go Wrong?
February 21, 2020
Toronto’s house prices staggered upward, making 2019 the ‘year of recovery’. Economists are warning about these unsustainable price surges, predicting housing bubble doom if they keep up unabated. I explain how we got here and why it’s a problem.
FP EXPLAINED VIDEOS
Why Is The Loonie Lagging During An Oil Boom?
August 03, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, explains why the loonie has been languishing despite the boom in commodities prices
FP Explained: Breaking Down Canada’s Hot Inflation Numbers
July 21, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, breaks down the June 2022 inflation figures and shares economist perspective on what the Bank of Canada could do next to slow price pressure growth.
What you should know about the Bank of Canada’s surprise 1% hike
July 14, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, breaks down the details on Bank of Canada’s full percentage rate hike and how it impacts for your mortgage.
Crypto crash may not be a bad thing
June 16, 2022
Financial Post’s Stephanie Hughes talks with Larysa Harapyn about why the crypto crash may not be a bad thing.
What does ‘central bank independence’ mean?
May 16, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, Financial Post’s finance reporter, talks about the central bank independence as the Bank of Canada comes under fire from Conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre.
FP Explainer: Worst case rate of 3.5%? What it could mean for your mortgage
April 14, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, explains what the Bank of Canada moving “modestly” above neutral means and how it could impact your mortgage.
Budget 2022 in 60 seconds
April 07, 2022
From housing to bank taxes, Stephanie Hughes of the Financial Post breaks down what’s in Budget 2022 to get the economy back on track.
How to prepare your mortgage for rising rates
March 22, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, explains how home owners can prepare for a rising rate environment.
The age-old question: rent or buy?
March 22, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, goes through the pros and cons of renting and buying a home.
What you need to know about using RRSPs to fund your down payment
March 22, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, explains what you need to know about using registered retirements savings plans to fund a down payment on a house.
What rising rates mean for your mortgage
February 28, 2022
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, talks about how the Bank of Canada’s interest rate hikes could impact your mortgage.
Enter the Metaverse: what to know about alternate virtual spaces
November 04, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post explains what the metaverse is and why these interactive virtual worlds are gaining traction with a wider user base.
How to get in on the NFT craze
October 21, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, gives a quick rundown of what you need to know about the NFT marketplace before you start buying, selling and minting your own unique digital assets.
How privacy coins slip crypto transactions under the radar
September 30, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post explains how privacy coins in the cryptocurrency space work and the legal battle surrounding these controversial tokens.
How Solana is taking the crypto world by storm
September 14, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, explains how Solana, one of the new crypto kids on the block, is turning heads in the cryptocurrency market through an innovative platform.
Election 2021: What you need to know about major parties’ housing platforms
September 09, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, gives a run-down on what the Conservatives, NDP, and Liberals are promising in their housing platforms amid a home affordability crisis.
Ethereum 2.0: Cryptocurrency to move to a sustainable model
August 19, 2021
Ethereum underwent a major upgrade in August, bringing it one step closer to the hotly anticipated Ethereum 2.0 model.
The sports memorabilia market is being disrupted by the booming NFT trend
August 10, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, breaks down how the NFTs took the sports world by storm, bringing in a new memorabilia market for an age-old industry.
Can bitcoin clean up its high carbon emissions act?
July 21, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, Financial Post’s finance reporter, explores bitcoin’s growing environmental impact – and what the crypto community is doing to clean up its carbon polluter image.
Are stablecoins the answer to crypto volatility?
July 07, 2021
Stephanie Hughes, finance reporter for Financial Post, describes how stablecoins work – and why they’re turning heads among central bankers.
AUDIO
MEDIA APPEARANCES
Collision 2022 Panel: Can DeFi still save the global economy?
June 23, 2022
Join these crypto leaders as they explore whether decentralized finance DeFi – can lay the foundations for an open digital economy, and how quickly it can get us there.
What the demise of the penny taught us about our relationship to cash
May 25, 2022
A decade has passed since the last penny was pressed in Canada in 2012, and somewhat suddenly, there’s a lot of talk about taking all cash out of circulation amid the rise of new digital forms of payment.
This week on Down to Business, Financial Post reporter Stephanie Hughes discusses how taking the penny out of circulation has provided valuable insight into how cash is used.
Not too long ago, there were billions of pennies floating around in people’s wallets, all of which have disappeared rather painlessly.
Stay tuned after my conversation with Hughes for a past interview I conducted with Andreas Park, a professor at the University of Toronto, who co-authored a design proposal for a digital currency for the Bank of Canada. Park explains in depth what blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, means for the financial system.
What is an NFT? The Financial Post’s Stephanie Hughes explains!
January 30, 2022
This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir chats with Financial Post reporter Stephanie Hughes to figure out WTF is an NFT. Are NFTs a big scam?
Buying Virtual Real Estate in the Metaverse | Full Episode
November 30, 2021
I joined Bruce Sellery on the Moolala podcast and radio show to discuss the metaverse and virtual real estate. My appearance begins in the final ten minutes.
The F Words: Do You Crypto?
I joined the F Words podcast to discuss crypto, you can listen to the segment here.
June 29, 2021
RETAIL FALLOUT SCENARIOS AND THE IMPACT OF COVID-19: COVIDEO W/ STEPHANIE HUGHES
April 04, 2020
In this episode, Stephanie Hughes and I recap on an episode we recorded that was scheduled for release in March, but feared it would be lost in the Covid-19 media attention. So, we expanded on the original conclusions, created this follow-up episode, and decided to release both pieces of content. Stephanie Hughes is a Toronto-based research writer and freelance journalist with a focus on business news and the financial markets
Understanding the Retail Apocalypse with Stephanie Hughes
November 30, 2019
Understanding the Retail Apocalypse with Stephanie Hughes – Debt Free In 30 – A Personal Finance Podcast – Ep. 274. Over 600 big name store locations have closed in Canada in the last three years, resulting in over 17,000 lost jobs, and that doesn’t include hundreds more small stores that have shut down. Is this just the impact of Amazon, or is there something deeper happening? And what does this mean for the Canadian economy going forward? On today’s show first-time guest Stephanie Hughes explains why the stores are closing, and what this means for the typical retail worker specifically, and the Canadian economy and real estate.
No “retail apocalypse” in Canada right now
August 09, 2019
I sat down with Morningstar’s Ruth Saldanha to talk about how the recent Hudson’s Bay restructuring plan presents a canary in the coal mine for Canadian retail.
The Business News: The Airbnb-Hotel Industry War: What to Expect in 2018
My first publicized industry research report, “How the Airbnb and Hotel Industry War Will Look in 2018”, was featured on BNN in late 2017. Featured in the segment is my colleague who I collaborated on the report with representing the piece on live television.
EVENTS
FP Crypto Decoded: The Road to Mainstream
Stephanie Hughes, reporter at Financial Post, speaks with Anthony Di Iorio, Bilal Hammoud, Igor Pejic, and Emma Todd about how cryptocurrencies went from niche to a mainstream investment asset. FP Crypto Decoded: The Road to Mainstream was presented by NDAX, and brought to you by supporting sponsor Netcoins.
Stephanie Hughes 