Joel Grenz and Sean Wood

Nonpartisan Hacks

Government EN ↓ 29 episodes

Hosted by two Parksville city councillors, Nonpartisan Hacks brings you behind the scenes of how government really works — without the spin, the shouting, or the partisanship. We dive into the practical, the absurd, and the oddly inspiring world of local government, while mixing in the occasional provincial and federal twist. Expect real talk about decision-making, budgets, bylaws, and political hot potatoes (with a helping of humour and honesty).

Author

Joel Grenz and Sean Wood

Episodes

Zero Percent Problem with Chris Brown from Cross Border Interviews 03.07.2025 46:05

Is a 0% property tax increase really something to celebrate? Or is it just kicking the financial can down the road? In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks , we’re joined by Chris Brown, host of Cross Border Interviews , for a candid conversation about municipal responsibility, political courage, and the dangerous allure of short-term wins. We dig into Chris’s viral editorial on local governments th...

From Paralympics to Public Office with Michelle Stilwell 18.06.2025 39:44

Welcome to Non-Partisan Hacks , where hosts Sean Wood and Joel Grenz, both Parksville city councillors, take you behind the scenes of good governance. This episode is extra special as we welcome our very first guest, Michelle Stilwell—Paralympic champion, former MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, and passionate advocate for inclusive communities. Michelle shares her journey from winning gold medals to n...

Horse, Cart, and 2,000 Elected Officials Walk Into a Conference… 06.06.2025 38:46

In this episode of  Non-Partisan Hacks , Joel and Sean return from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference in Ottawa. We share what we learned, who we met, and why it matters back home. We cover how FCM gives local governments a collective voice on national issues—from aging infrastructure to housing targets—and why property taxes alone aren’t cutting it anymore. We also br...

Good Government Should Be Boring… So Why Are You Still Listening? 22.05.2025 31:37

In our inaugural episode of  Nonpartisan Hacks , we dive headfirst into the world of local government — the meetings, the budgets, the sewage (yes, really). Joel Granz and Sean Wood explain why they started this podcast, why politics doesn’t have to be partisan, and why boring government is actually a good thing. We take on regional districts, mystery tax line items, and the Deloitte report o...