Better Than Not

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege of a second conversation with investigative journalist and publisher of The Bureau, Sam Cooper. Sam revealed the deeply interconnected issues plaguing Canada—from organized crime and government corruption to land disputes and international influence. Much of what Sam shared in Episode #111 has proven to be accurate. Sam spoke on how these cov...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to speak with Mark Winters, aerospace engineer turned touring musician. Mark shared his extraordinary story of morphing an engineering world into one of music. Mark explained how his innate curiosity, supportive family, and relentless pursuit of learning transformed his life. He gave insight into how his creativity, science, and emotional expr...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure to speak with friend, engineer and innovator, Payman Kianpour. Payman is the founder and president of Kepstrum Inc, a design and thinking company. We explored the nature of problem solving through the idea of definition versus understanding and the importance of setting expectation throughout. Payman highlighted the profound shift from d...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure to speak with Eric Heath pastor of Northview Community Church’s Central Abbotsford Campus. Eric guested previously in Episode #65. Eric shared more of his unique journey from lawyer to pastoral ministry. We explored the importance of biblical study and reflected on the role of faith in our changing society. Eric also spoke of the influen...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure to talk with friend, music aficionado and Atlantis lead guitarist Craig Collett. Craig shared more of his musical journey, favorite instruments, legendary concerts, and the stories behind some of his iconic gear. Craig delved into some of his extensive knowledge of rock history and guitar collecting. He spoke about how the joy of music c...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to talk with resident author at Valley CrossWay Church, Pastor April Yamasaki, who is also editor of Rejoice magazine. April shared her journey from childhood dreams of writing to her calling in pastoral ministry. She discussed her new book “Hope Beyond Our Sorrows,” the importance of faith and community. She offered insight into navigating gr...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege to talk with sportscaster Paul Romanuk, who many will remember as the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs. He shared his journey from playing road hockey in Oshawa to announcing play-by-play for the Leafs. We discussed the evolution of hockey and music, the magic of bands like The Beatles, and the power of podcasting to explore stories in depth....

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to talk with Pastor Jesse Wilson who leads the Community and Care Ministry at Northview Community Church. Jesse shared his journey from a non-ministry background to becoming a pastor. He spoke on the power of prayer, community, and trusting in God's guidance. Jesse talked about the importance of staying rooted in scripture amidst cultural...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege and pleasure to talk with lo-fi popstar and recording artist Powfu (aka Isaiah Faber.) Isaiah shared his journey from creating music in his bedroom and uploading to Soundcloud to become a streaming sensation with over 3.5 billion streams of his work to date. He discussed his creative process including what was behind his hit “death bed (coffe...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to talk with Mark Medley, Deputy Editor, Opinion at Canada's The Globe and Mail and author of the new book “Live to See the Day.” This was a very unique and special episode for me. I originally met Mark through his Globe article, “The hardest working novelist you’ve never heard of.” This time around, however, Mark was on the other side of...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the distinct pleasure to talk with music composer Jeffrey Ryan. In 2025, I attended Gryphon Trio's performance of Jeff’s composition Chimera. Listening to the piece took me on a mind-expanding musical odyssey. Did the same to my wife. I reached out to Jeff and voila this episode followed. Jeff shared his journey from pop music influences to classical c...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the distinct privilege to talk with John Johnstone who is Stó:lō First Nations and works with Multiply and Inner Hope Youth Ministries in BC. I met John after participating in a Blanket Exercise that he hosted. I was so impacted by the event that I invited him to the podcast. We explored themes of identity, reconciliation, and the importance of relationshi...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to talk with Pastor Cameron Moore about his journey from Atlanta, Georgia, to Nanaimo, British Columbia, where he is involved in church planting. Cam talked about God's faithfulness throughout his journey and emphasized the need for open conversations about faith in today's society. He shared in his walk from musician to discovering hi...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure of a return visit with radio personality and political commentator Scott Thompson. Scott talked about the shifting political landscape in Canada including leadership and immigration. We talked about the shift in the housing market, the challenges facing the healthcare system, and the cultural shifts particularly in mental health awareness. Sco...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure of a return visit with Tizneem Jiancaro, PhD, master coach and engineer. We explored a wide range of topics in this episode including the nature of perception, the evolution of AI, the importance of memory and beliefs, and the journey of self-discovery. Tizneem talked about the significance of mystery in the human experience and the need for p...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the good fortune of a return visit with renown bassist, producer, composer and arranger Peter Cardinali. Through Peter’s extensive career, he’s been part of the evolution of music recording and seen the changes first hand from analog to digital formats from inside the industry. Peter shared more stories about his iconic $45 bass that is still his bass of c...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege of talking with Tony Keller, long-time columnist at Canada’s national newspaper The Globe and Mail. Tony writes on economics, politics, public policy and international affairs. I invited Tony on to talk about his recent article on immigration in Canada, which is one of the best depictions of what we've experienced that I've read. Tony talked...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure of a return visit with Canadian artist Kirk Sutherland to talk about his world of art. Kirk shared his unique approach to teaching art, emphasizing the importance of observation and the ever-changing nature of color. We talked about the intersection of art and technology, particularly in the context of AI and digital art. Kirk's insights o...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the distinct pleasure of a return visit with Michael Butler, PhD of Astrophysics. Michael is a speaker with Apologetics Canada. We again explored the intricate relationship between science and God with a particular focus on Michael’s area of expertise—quantum gravity. We discussed how both science and religion seek to explain the world. Michael emphasized...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure of speaking with Sylvain Lapointe, trumpet player and founder of Buzz Brass, an award-winning brass quintet that blends classical chamber music with innovative performance. This is the third episode where I talk with artists who will be part of this year’s Valley Concert Society’s season at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium in Abbotsford. Buzz...

In this episode, I had the distinct pleasure to welcome Kristal Toews, Pastor of Discipleship at Northview Community Church, to Better Than Not. Kristal leads the team responsible for the in-depth and remarkable Bible studies at Northview that I've often talked about on the podcast. Kristal talked about her journey in becoming a pastor, growing up in a missionary family, and the impact of cult...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure to talk with LEGO Certified Professional Robin Sather, LEGO’s first certified professional in the world. We began our discussion around LEGO’s evolving landscape with the rise of knockoff brands, the importance of building experiences, and the impact of LEGO on creativity and storytelling. We explored Robin's recent projects, the art...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege to talk with Alone: Season 9’s Adam Riley, a professional alpaca shearer and adventurer. Adam shared his journey from introverted, book-reading child in the UK to seasoned traveler and survivalist—though he doesn’t think of himself as one. He talked of his many adventures across sea (soloing the Pacific Ocean) and land including time in both...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege of a return visit with Barry Keane, the long-time drummer for the iconic Gordon Lightfoot. Our conversation continued from where Episode #102 left off. We again delved into Barry's extensive career in the music business including many of his collaborations with notable artists like Andy Kim and appearances in venues like the legendary Mas...

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure of a return visit from Pastor Joshua Scott. When last we chatted (Episode 39) Joshua was still pastor at our church, so that's where we began, with his transition from single church pastor to overseeing multiple campuses at Northview Community Church. We talked about leadership and how Joshua’s heart is in preaching. He shared his passion...