Harmonious Gentlemen

In this episode of The Harmonious Gentlemen, the gents discuss "The Wisdom of Your Body" by Hillary L. McBride. The book explores how we can find healing, wholeness, and connection through embodied living, but let's face it - sometimes our bodies can be a pain in the butt (or neck, or knee). The gents share their reflections on the book, what they've learned, and what they continue to wonder about...

In this episode, the Gents share something interesting and scientific. Through linguistic politics, plastic-eating worms, and the economics of happiness, they seek a harmonious approach to the complex world they live in. This episode was recorded in the company of friends, at the Craft Beer Commonwealth in Red Deer, Alberta. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other su...

Youths in the wild, password management, people who don't help when help is clearly needed... The gents got together at Phil's restaurant to rant and complain about pet peeves over eggs and corn beef hash. What exactly are pet peeves and where do they come from? If developing pet peeves is unavoidable, and annoying others with our behaviour is inevitable, how do we navigate this topic harmoniously...

How can we do the most good for the world? What's the "elephant in the room" when it comes to opiate addiction? What does working for two years in the Alberta Oil Sands look like? . In Episode 89, the Gentlemen prove that they know how to read by taking turns sharing about something they've read recently. They present their key learnings, reflections, challenges, and questions to each other and ha...

When you think about the "youth of today", are you hopeful or hopeless? In Episode 88, The Gents are joined by educator (he won the flippin' Governor General History Award for Excellence in Teaching), skateboarder, punk rocker, and "Rad Dad", Kristian Basaraba. They discuss whether or not we should be worried about the future of our species and how we can do a better job coming alongside the young...

Father Cristino Bouvette, who is of Métis and Cree-Ojibwe heritage, joins the gents and discusses his view on faith and reconciliation as an Indigenous person and Catholic priest. He explains his rational, measured, and nuanced positions and shares an inside perspective on the recent Papal visit. From a unique point of view, Father Cristino addresses ideas such as ideological colonization, racial...

Did you know that our friends at Blindman Brewing enjoy a well-crafted story almost as much as they enjoy a well-crafted IPA? Over the past number of years they have worked with Alberta writers and CKUA to bring these two art forms together by publishing micro-fictions on the sides of their super-tall cans. The Gents have loved reading these stories while sipping a Super Session, Coffee Stout, or...

Join the Harmonious Gentlemen as they delve into the world of Artificial Intelligence. The rapid advancement in AI technology has led to both excitement and fear. In this episode, they explore the potential benefits and dangers of AI, and separate fact from fiction. They'll be discussing the latest developments in AI and what they mean for our future. From ChatGPT to self-driving cars to intellige...

In this episode, the Gents are enlightened on the traditions of a mysterious Christian denomination you've probably never heard of. Jess joins the pod and graciously shares her experiences with the religion known discretely as the "2x2's" by outsiders. She goes on to share an honest look into her deconstruction process and provides insight to the joys of reconstruction as well. It's a conversation...

In this episode, the Gents discuss the all-too-common experiences of burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression. These are issues that many of us face at some point in our lives, and it's important to have open and honest conversations about them. They explore the causes of these challenges and the difficulty in managing and coping with them. Whether you're dealing with these issues yourself or just...

In episode 82, the gents met up with special guest Will Fraser at their favourite skate cafe in Lacombe to chat about snowboarding, extreme sport athletes, psychology, and self-awareness. It was a very rad conversation that we think you'll love, no matter how extreme you are! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit h...

Join the gents for an early morning chat at Phil's restaurant. They get sincerely braggadocious and explore the intricacies of pride, and humility. Why is it so hard to brag on command? Why is it so easy to do it unintentionally? Is bragging healthy? And most importantly, which gent brags the most? Honestly, let them know what you think about that last one! This is a public episode. If you would l...

In Episode 80, the Gents try something different. Acting on the suggestions of loyal listener Andy, they attempt to take opposing sides on a series of topics. Starting with a surprise debate on a fairly serious topic, one needs to argue against his true feelings. Facing a moral dilemma, two are put on the spot and forced to analyze their choices. Finally, they discuss an ethical issue that is quic...

Episode 79 is all about bullying, getting bullied, and how to stand up to a bully harmoniously. The gents start their conversation by defining the term, "bullying", then dive deep into the past, revealing stories of being victims and perpetrators. The chat changes directions quickly and they move on to a discussion of what bullying looks like in the adult worlds of work, politics, and economics. G...

In episode 78, Peter joins the gents for an enlightening conversation about conversion therapy, empathy, forgiveness, and religious freedom. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonu...

In this episode, the gents explore their impending demise. It's not as gloomy as you'd think, and they discover that death is actually pretty easy to talk about. Is there a "right way" to grieve? What's the best way to die? Does it matter what happens to your body after you die? Chris, Graham, and Tyler kill it on this one, but as always, they'd love to hear your thoughts. Get in touch on social m...

In Episode 76, the Gents take their show on the road to Angry Bear Growlers in Airdrie. There, they meet with a friend of a friend of the podcast, Dason, and hear his story of joining, participating in, and eventually leaving, the Mormon Church. Dason knows his stuff and shares a bit about the history of the church, the modern church, and his story of deconstruction and leaving. Dason shares with...

In this episode, the Gents revisit a topic they happen to know a bit about. They start the conversation by addressing public perception of teachers and the comments they hear regularly about their chosen field of work. From there the chat meanders... from busting myths and defending the profession, to critical self-reflection and questioning career choices. Is public education broken? What's the s...

It's the start of a new season (whatever that means), and the Gents are fired up and ready to go. In this episode they address the idea of awkwardness and why they avoid certain topics. They identify the inconsistencies in how they talk on and off the podcast, and wrestle with their fears of being cancelled. Considering who they are, should they tiptoe around hot issues? Or is it important to mode...

Recorded way back in July, this episode is a response to what seems like the rise of nationalism. Don't know what that means? Well, the gents barely do either, but they aren't afraid to talk about it. They discuss the differences between patriotism, nationalism, and national pride, and attempt to tackle a number of tough questions: Is Nationalism bad? What are the different types of Nationalism? I...

In this episode, the gents explore the depths of their favourite cults. How and why would someone join a cult? Is the phrase, "healthy cult" an oxymoron? Who is likely to be recruited for cult life? How do we protect ourselves and our loved ones from cults? The conversation flows like a crisp Blindman Five of Diamonds pilsner, and you'll finish the episode feeling filled-up like after a delicious...

In this episode, the Gents are joined by the wonderful and brilliant Anita Veldhuisen Slomp. With humility, curiosity, and expertise, she shares stories of life as a mediator and conflict resolution professional. She provides tips for preventing future podcast disharmony and strategies for becoming better mediators of conflict in our everyday lives. Thanks to Blindman Brewery for hosting the episo...

We love jujubes, well-fitted underwear, and mowing the lawn. We love Seinfeld, full moons, and the smell of spring. We love our families, each other, and you! In this episode, we serve up a steamy plate of love stew. Crafted with care with only the finest ingredients: vulnerability, acceptance, and time. We love love, but why do we find it so hard to share it with certain people? Should we be bett...

How can it be that the Harmonious Gents are so filled with hate? In Episode 69, they embrace the forbidden feelings we've been told not to have. They talk about what they hate, what they REALLY hate, and whether or not it's okay to hate other humans or be hated by other humans. Is hatred compatible with harmony? Check this one out. We hope you don't hate it. . The harmonious conversations on this...

Peter joins the Gents on Episode 68 for a heartfelt conversation about doubt and how it plays a role in their lives. Are the concepts of doubt and faith in opposition to each other? Are they exclusively relevant to religion? Has your understanding of doubt changed over time? Is doubt a sign of weakness or strength? What's your biggest doubt when it comes to your faith? Who has the winning doubt ac...