The Okotoks Podcast

Send us Fan Mail You go into Costco for a rotisserie chicken and come out with a jacket, a case of popcorn, and three things you didn’t know you needed. Sound familiar? Tina Chow, the Costco Queen behind Costco Lovers Canada, returns to The Okotoks Podcast for a fun conversation about why we love Costco—and what drives us crazy. We compare favourite finds, talk about American products we wish we c...

Send us Fan Mail Not all wounds are visible. Not all wounds are military. On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, I sit down with Canadian Armed Forces veteran Scott Casey, Founder of The Rolling Barrage and Director of The Rolling Barrage PTSD Foundation. Scott shares how the loss of friends to suicide led him to create a coast-to-coast motorcycle ride that brings veterans, first responders and c...

Send us Fan Mail A 12-year-old racks up strikeouts at the Little League World Series, and suddenly universities start calling. That’s where Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson’s story begins and it only gets wilder from there. We sit down and walk through the real steps between early hype and a career that leads all the way to the San Francisco Giants, with Okotoks playing a huge role in the middle. We talk...

Send us Fan Mail Who’s Really Winning? The Hidden Cost of Sports Betting With Dr. Carrie Shaw | The Okotoks Podcast You can hardly watch a game anymore without seeing an invitation to place a bet. But behind the promotions and promises of a big win, what are the real costs? This week on The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Dr. Carrie Shaw, an assistant professor of psychology at the U...

Send us Fan Mail Is the Alberta real estate market finally starting to turn a corner? Are better days ahead for buyers and sellers, or should we be preparing for more uncertainty? On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , I sit down with Anne-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), to talk about what's really happening in the real estate market across Calgary, O...

Send us Fan Mail Curtis Armstrong is back, and we’re welcoming a new panelist, Emma Calver from Okotoks, for another episode of 5 Questions, 5 Minutes (5Q5M) on The Okotoks Podcast. This week, we’re covering everything from professional sports to some of the biggest issues facing Alberta and our community. We kick things off with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s comments about getting paid for past perform...

Send us Fan Mail Alberta’s referendum debate has been dominated by one issue: independence. But there are nine questions on the ballot. With all the talk of “Yes to the Nine” and “No to the Nine,” I realized something: had I actually taken the time to look closely at each question on its own? So I invited Paul Howarth back to The Okotoks Podcast. There’s a reason I keep asking Paul back. I respect...

Send us Fan Mail Why Stay? Why Go? | Keith Wilson & Paul Howarth Alberta is facing a question that is creating passionate debate across the province: Should Alberta stay in Canada, or is it time to go? In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , Keith Wilson and Paul Howarth sit down for a respectful, candid conversation about Alberta’s future. Keith makes the case for why Albertans should have t...

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to bring live music to the Foothills? This week on The Okotoks Podcast , I’m joined by Kevin Levacque, who organizes the Travellers Concert Series, and recording artist Meera Sylvain. Kevin shares what goes into bringing performers to our region, while Meera talks about her music and the path that led her to the stage. We also hear Meera perform. Listen to the en...

Send us Fan Mail Politics can divide friends, families and entire communities. Is there a way to disagree without giving up on each other? On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Brandi Weston, a University of Calgary researcher whose work examines populism and Take Back Alberta. Brandi began studying political division after watching relationships fracture during COVID. Her...

Send us Fan Mail Are your kids prepared to speak up and get help if a situation feels unsafe? Would you recognize a scam if it sounded like someone you love? This week on The Okotoks Podcast , I sit down with Chris Kennedy, owner and instructor of Rhino Defense Inc. Chris spent 18 years with the Calgary Police Service and now teaches practical safety skills to children, adults and seniors. We talk...

Send us Fan Mail Alberta is facing an important conversation about its future—and Albertans deserve the opportunity to decide what that future should look like. In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , I welcome Tanya Clemens back to discuss Alberta independence, the growing frustration with Ottawa and the movement calling for greater provincial autonomy. We talk about the proposed pathway to inde...

Send us Fan Mail Okotoks is growing—but are we growing too fast, and are we prepared for what comes next? In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , I sit down with Paul Howarth for a frank conversation about the future of our community. We discuss increasing housing density, traffic and infrastructure pressures, rising municipal debt, waste collection challenges, and the Town’s plan to grow Okotoks...

Send us Fan Mail On the northeast edge of Okotoks, a new commercial development has been taking shape for years. Now, it finally feels like the finish line is in sight. Located at the corner of Milligan Drive and 48 Street, the development will feature everything from a gas station and daycare to a dentist, pizza, 99-cent wings—and, of course, another liquor store, because apparently Okotoks neede...

Send us Fan Mail Tariff This: Elbows Up, Egos Down “Elbows up” has become Canada’s rallying cry—but is retaliation actually a strategy? In this solo episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer draws on 15 years in real estate to examine how arrogance, pride and personality can prevent two sides from reaching a deal—even when the people they represent desperately need one. Carlin explores Canada’...

Send us Fan Mail Why would a company with no clients in the Foothills Region  put its name on our Regional Field House? Carlin sits down with Nathan Neufeld, CEO of the Tenfold Group, to discover the answer. Nathan shares his journey from growing up in Okotoks to building a successful group of companies rooted in the values of character, relationships and performance. He also explains why Tenfold...

Send us Fan Mail Sick… and Sick and Tired of Waiting What if getting medical care didn’t mean sitting for hours in a waiting room? In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , Carlin sits down with Charlene Crooks, BScN, MN, FNP-C, owner of Your NP Next Door. Charlene has more than 20 years of healthcare experience in surgery, medicine, public health and acute care. Today, she is bringing healthcare d...

Send us Fan Mail Youth sports are supposed to teach teamwork, accountability, resilience and a love of the game. But with rising costs, packed schedules and increasing pressure to win, have we lost sight of their real purpose? Chris Cederstrand returns to The Okotoks Podcast to talk honestly about what youth sports have become—and what needs to change. Chris is a former Team Canada sledge hockey p...

Send us Fan Mail Ricky Sanchez came to Okotoks from Mexico City at just 15 years old with very little English, a love for baseball and a dream he was determined to pursue. In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Ricky shares the story of leaving his family in Mexico to join the Dawgs Academy, attending Holy Trinity Academy and continuing his baseball career through several American colleges, inclu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Amedeo, the owner and executive chef behind Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant. Born in Calabria, Italy, Amedeo shares his journey from culinary school in Italy to working as an executive chef across Canada—and eventually building a family-run restaurant right here in Okotoks. We talk about the importance of family, the Italia...

Send us Fan Mail Are data centres a major economic opportunity for Alberta—or do the demands on electricity, water and local infrastructure outweigh the benefits? In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Jasona Rondeau to explore Alberta’s growing interest in attracting large-scale data centres. They discuss the potential for investment, jobs and economic diversification, whil...

Send us Fan Mail       What happens when you sit down with a mayor who doesn't speak in political talking points? In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast , I sit down with Mayor Craig Snodgrass for one of the most open and candid municipal conversations I've had. Craig has earned a reputation for saying exactly what he believes, and whether you agree with him or not, you always know where...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast , Carlin Lutzer is joined once again by Brent Robinson , Executive Director of Lacrosse Alberta, and Curtis Armstrong , Publisher of The Western Wheel , for another round of fast-paced conversation on topics that are making people think in Okotoks and across Canada. With just five minutes allocated to each question, the conversation moves qui...

Send us Fan Mail Since our first conversation on growth in Okotoks, a lot has happened. If you'd like to share your thoughts with Town Council, please take a few minutes to reach out. Visit the link below and select "Mayor & Council" from the drop-down menu to send your comments or questions: https://www.okotoks.ca/form/contact-us-mayor-and-council Town Council has approved high...

Send us Fan Mail What happens to a community when a beloved local landmark is given a second life?  For years, many Okotokians worried that the Okotoks Air Ranch Airport (CFX2) might disappear into yet another housing development.  Carlin Lutzer sits down with airport manager Rob Grover, a lifelong aviator who soloed on this very field back in 2003, to explore the new ownership group's exciti...