Now For Someone Completely Interesting

When Danica St Arnault reached out to inquire about starting her own podcast,  my natural curiosity compelled me to ask why?  Her answer was intriguing so my next question was, would you like to come on mine?  This episode, Danica reiterates in more detail what she told me.  Through her career as a teacher, navigating covid protocol with students and pausing her career to focus more time on her fa...

Bob Bezpalko is another local radio guy who worked in the business through what I feel were the greatest years in Radio.  While Bob shares some of his stories about his time in broadcasting, what he's really passionate about these days is his work with economic development in small, rural communities.  As the Executive Director Regional Economic Development with Northeast Alberta Hub, Bob exp...

What do you do when you move from a large city to a rural community and they don't have a club that represents your interests?  You go ahead and start one!  Khurram Abbasi arrived in St. Paul just over a year ago and when he could not find a science club for his kids, he immediately started one.  Khurram's initiative has been so well received that the St Paul and District STEAM Society,...

Wrestling, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu jitsu, all have brought Ryan Wilson to the sport of Ultra Distance Swimming!  None of which has anything to do with him being dressed up as a Christmas Elf the first time I met him.  My friend and co worker, Ryan has done all of this and more.  We talk about it here on this episode because of course, it's all completely interesting!

I met Linda Sallstrom over a cup of coffee at the start of this year.  In that conversation she had a lot to ask about me and what some of my thoughts were on the direction of our community.   Unfortunately, being short on time, I didn't get to ask much about her and her thoughts on the same topic.  So, what better way to do that then to invite her on the podcast.  Linda is the Economic Devel...

One of my wife's high school teachers, Jeff Pew was recommended because he does what this show does, except in a more traditional form of media.  A high school teacher of creative writing for over 30 years, Jeff also writes for 2 magazines in the Kootenay region featuring interesting people from the area.  It's my belief that people who seek out interesting people are themselves interest...

Because his job with missionary work takes him to some hostile places, we'll only use his first name.  Those that know him will know who he is with his distinct monotone delivery with his dry but hilarious sense of humor.   Dere  takes us through his years growing up in St Paul Alberta, to his current home in, St Paul Minnesota!   His strong faith and values has led him to travel the world th...

My first immediate family member, my one and only, BIG Brother, Tim Poulin.  Tim talks politics, religion and Budweiser marketing.  With me growing up as the youngest of 5 and Tim being the oldest, what was his take growing up with us?  A trucker with a university degree who's Australia bound this fall to live with his latest wife.  Interesting, a bit unorthodox, and still imparting big broth...

Knowing Jamie Morrow for as long as I have, I've never had the chance to pick his brain about his profession as a lawyer.  How he decided to get into the "family" business and practice a variety of law is discussed.  I also try to steer Jamie into a political career as he's always had a comprehensive knowledge and some entertaining views in that realm.  A long time friend who a...

Welcome to the two timers club!  Back in Episode 23 I introduced you to one of my all time best friends, Darren Watson.  This time around we talk about when his family had a video rental store and what happened to all those tapes when it closed.  Darren's also done some post covid travel and visited one of those Eastern European locations that has the capability to humble and haunt a person. ...

Experiencing organ transplant from both sides.  When Arla Pirtle was in her early 20's a close friend of hers died in a car accident.  Because she was an organ donor, her friends heart is still beating today.   On the other side, just 12 years ago, her father received a double lung transplant and is still going strong today.  As a committee member of the 2nd Chance Trail Ride Society, Arla sh...

There's no better way to make a living then indulging in your passion.  Mark Beland has been involve in the tech industry since his high school days.  Not long after high school, he came to work for MCS Net, a local computer company that has since expanded into internet and communications provider that is gaining global recognition.  Not only is he the Chief Innovation Officer,  Mark also fli...

Growing up on an Elk Farm near Hairy Hill,  Richel Brousseau kept a low key on her family's beliefs in a wholistic, naturopathic way of life.   After high school, she left home to pursue a career in health care as a nurse.  During that time an illness that couldn't be solved with conventional medicine lead her back to her roots and her current profession as a Trauma Release Practitioner,...

The best way to utilize a diploma in radio broadcasting is to become a medic in the Canadian military ... Right??  Kevin Bernhardt tends to follow his intuition and that has lead him down some interesting career paths.  He eventually came back to radio broadcasting and in the process has become a go to guy in the St Paul community as a volunteer.  While I'm lucky that we've got to work t...

I always find it interesting to hear the same story from a different perspective.  That was one reason why I wanted to have Jeremy Yaremchuk on this show.  Jeremy's wife, Breanna Malcomson was on the show last year, (Episode 31) and together over the last three years they've started a side business, Backroad Farmhouse Roasting Company,  roasting coffee and selling it locally.  When expla...

Not your typical oilfield trucker, Keith Poulin has a keen interest in art, photography, and music. However, not your common musical instrument selection.  Keith talks about making his flutes in the Native American Style that he also plays.  We get a sample of that skill along with my own flute playing debut!  He's also learned to play an array of instruments from around the world.  Self taug...

For the last 15 Years, every time I've had a BS session with Trent Rowley, I've come away learning something new and maybe thinking a little bit differently.  Never one to hide his true self Trent shares a bit of his less than ideal experiences growing up and how he uses that to guide and coach young basketball players in our community today.  Never one to sugar coat his words, his focus...

An old soul with youthful pluck.  Meeting Cole Jackson for the first time, you sense his up-beat energy and charisma.   He's invested fully in his hobbies and community.  While today he may fit the bill of a Co-op board member, he was a rarity when he first joined in his early 20's.  He loves restoring antique machines and tools, talking pipes (the kind you smoke) and shares some persona...

I would seem Tanya Fontaine has developed an outlook on life and chose a path for herself through mistaken identity and happy little accidents.  With 100% Ukrainian heritage, she speaks fluent Cree and has been an influential advocate with the Truth and Reconciliation initiatives for St Paul and area.  Tanya explains how small actions can create significant change and how an open mind can open doo...

My long time friend Aaron Grosseth returns!  Someone completely offensive!  Back in Episode 7 I introduced you to Aaron.  This time his filter comes completely off!  From his thoughts about wives vs prostitutes to why Hitler wanted to take over the world.   A former Auctioneer who golfed naked, and plans to attend a Bill Cosby show in 2023.  If you haven't been the least offended by this epis...

Ben shares a lost family tradition along with some fun facts!  Hope you Enjoy.  We look forward to having more Completely Interesting People in 2023.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

A fellow Elk Point-er, born and raised, Brian Poitras has become a fixture in the community.  Being involved in sports as a participant, coach and an official Brian continues to give back and mentor Elk Point youth.  The caretaker at the AG Ross Arena, Brian is either running the Zamboni, reffing hockey and sometimes both.  With a talent for MCing  local events, and his passion for professional wr...

Garth Finlay has been a friend of mine for close to 5 years.  While a great conversationalist, he doesn't talk a lot about himself.  So, I decided to corner him on this podcast so he wouldn't have a choice.  Garth took the scenic route to becoming a teacher, enjoying a careers in Ag sales, a canning supervisor at a brewery and the standard stint in the oil patch.  While in his words, he&...

Waaay back in episode 3, I introduced Colin Porozni, the retired pharmacist who opened a brewery.  While the story of his career transition is completely interesting, I also always found the story behind his Beers' names also interesting.  Since opening the Lakeland Brewing Company in July of 2016, Colin has served up almost 30 different brews.  All with unique names and great stories behind...

We dig into the story of how an Alberta prairie farm kid pursues a career in Archeology with a focus in underwater archeology!  Derrick Plante gives the scoop on  how the seeds for this path were planted at a young age and how he overcame a reading disability in high school that gave him the confidence to go on to university.  Our first real life archeologist right here on Now For Someone Complete...