Gander Social officially opened its doors to the public this summer, finally inviting everyone in to try out the promise of the most Canadian of experiences: a kindler, gentler social media app. The sort where, rather than insults and trolls, users are more likely to apologize to each other, eh?
But Gander is more of a canary than a goose, so to speak, in that it’s in the proverbial coal mine. With sovereignty being built into its technological infrastructure and operating ethos from the ground up, it’s an experiment into whether it’s possible to build a fully Canadian startup.
As Canada’s trade war with the United States heats up and lakes get renamed, it’s no surprise that all eyes are on Gander to see if it can successfully chart a different course.
Founder and chief executive Ben Waldman returns to Do Not Pass Go for our very special 50th episode to talk about the progress his team has made and what challenges remain. He also tells us why pet photos do better on Gander than contentious news stories.
And, as part of our 50th episode celebration, check out our special deal on tickets to Rogers v. Rogers, the hit one-man play based on the book about the cable giant’s succession drama and takeover of Shaw Communications.
The show returns to Toronto this fall and we’ll be recording a very special live podcast episode – with playwright Michael Healey and Globe and Mail reporter Alexandra Posadzki, who wrote the book the play is based on – on Nov. 20.
Head to Canadian Stage at this link and use promo code DONOTPASSGO for discounted pricing to the show and taping, but hurry as tickets are limited!
