The Pulse

"Send us a text about this episode!" In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome back BC political reporter Rob Shaw - host of Political Capital and co-author of the bestselling A Matter of Confidence - for the “Criterion Edition” of his rant on first reading at the BC Legislature. They unpack what first reading actually does, why the NDP government’s growing h...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode What happens when you’ve achieved everything you set out to do - and it still isn’t enough? Rob de Toni, a litigation lawyer, and Heather Emmerzael, a Registered Nurse, both built successful careers and found themselves in full burnout. Their story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t about pushing through...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Chris Buck has written 500+ songs in Nashville, earned a gold record, and just cracked the top 40 as an independent artist - all while staying unmistakably Canadian. Jim Moroz and the Seaside Cruisers have built a Father's Day tradition that draws 20,000 visitors, 500 classic cars, and gives back to local ch...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode If you are a parent, grandparent, caregiver, or teacher — or anyone who cares about the emotional wellbeing of a child — this episode is essential listening. Dr. Kirk Austin brings years of experience working with complex trauma in children and youth to a conversation that is as practical as it is profound. His fr...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Author Aaron Cully Drake has a provocative and practical take on AI in the writing process — not as a ghostwriter, but as a structural editor that never lets a contradiction slide. And Roy Forbes, Member of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame  and CKUA Radio host, has been writing songs since Grade school and perfo...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode  If you’ve experienced loss in motherhood — or love someone who has — this episode is for you. Alicia Nicholsen speaks with the kind of honesty that only comes from having lived through the unimaginable. Her story of losing a child to miscarriage and a second child at 23 weeks is one of profound grief. But it’s al...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Richard Brodeur backstopped the Vancouver Canucks to their first Stanley Cup final in 1982 — and spent the next four decades quietly building a second remarkable career as a painter. Now he’s soon opening Gallery 35 in Parksville, bringing eight professional artists with him. Brad Merritt, co-founder and bassist...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode What does it take to rebuild — not just buildings, but lives — after catastrophic disaster? Dr. Doug Walker knows firsthand. In this deeply moving conversation, he shares how surviving Hurricane Katrina in 2005 shaped his understanding of resilience and launched a career devoted to helping communities and children...

"Send us a text about this episode!" This Episode Features: (30:35) Greg Adams, founder of Lake Town Ranch and Sun Fest joins the podcast The undrafted NHL defenceman who played 545 games across a decade-long pro career talks about growing up in the Cowichan Valley, playing alongside Mark Messier in Edmonton the year after Gretzky was traded, and the Tampa festival in 1999 that made him...

"Send us a text about this episode!" In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood go full civics class -the fun kind - on what it actually means to be a thoughtful voter. From the difference between local, provincial, and federal elections to party slates, candidate vetting, and whether politicians actually lie, Joel and Sean break down the mechanics of democratic parti...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode  If you’ve ever thought about what it truly means to be an ally — not just in words, but in the daily, lived work of parenting — this episode will stay with you. Karen Peters and her husband Chris chose to grow their family through adoption, and what followed was an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and ultimately bea...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you’ve ever wondered what it actually takes to make a small town’s business community thrive — not just survive — Daniella Novak has the answer, and she delivers it with the conviction of someone who grew up here, built a career here, and isn’t done yet. Then Laura Kelsey walks in and reminds you that creativi...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode If you've ever wondered how the lessons passed down in childhood can shape an entire career — and a life of purpose — this episode is for you. Marj Busse grew up in a military family and carries a simple yet powerful piece of wisdom from her father that has stayed with her to this day. Her journey into leader...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you've ever watched someone struggle to reach the beach, navigate a cracked sidewalk, or find a parking spot that simply doesn't exist — this episode will change how you see your own community. Ralph and Maggie Tietjen of Access Oceanside Association bring hard numbers, personal heartbreak, and genui...

"Send us a text about this episode!" In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville, former Nanaimo city councillor, commercial lawyer, and Parliamentary Secretary for Transit. Anderson shares what it was like being the youngest person at the council table by four decades, how he went from door-knocking to Treasury...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode If you've ever had life take a turn you didn't choose, this episode is for you. Dr. Erica Harris received a two-month terminal diagnosis in 2012 and somehow turned that devastating detour into the most purposeful chapter of her life. Her story isn't about toxic positivity — it's about the raw,...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: If you've ever air-guitared to "I Like to Rock," wondered what it takes to build a brand over five decades, or just love hearing stories that remind you why mid-Island life is something special, this episode delivers. Lloyd Derry pulls back the curtain on the most exciting Beach Fest summer concert...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode If you've ever felt like stress was getting the better of you, or wondered whether resilience is something you can actually learn, this conversation is for you. Serena brings both professional expertise and genuine personal vulnerability — a rare combination. Whether you're a student navigating an overwh...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Why You Should Listen to This Episode: This one has real range — and real heart. If you've ever loved a blues-rock record, been curious about what drives a local business community, or just wanted to hear two genuinely fascinating people share their stories, this episode is for you. Colin James opens up in a way you rarely hear from a musician of...

"Send us a text about this episode!" What does it actually take to get something into a government budget? In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood go behind the scenes on Sean’s multi-year advocacy journey to increase the Volunteer First Responder Tax Credit — first at the federal level, then provincially in British Columbia. From jogging past the fire hall in Park...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Cyprine Omollo joins A Resilience Project to share a remarkable and deeply moving story of personal transformation and community impact. As Program Manager of Clean Start Kenya, Cyprine leads an organization dedicated to helping women and girls successfully transition back into society after serving time in prison or juvenile detention. Cyprine's...

"Send us a text about this episode!" This Episode Features: (23:51) Jeff Shields of Parksville has been working in web development for over 30 years and now speaks to groups across British Columbia about artificial intelligence. In a conversation that is equal parts practical and eye-opening, Jeff shows how AI can plan your weekly meals from a photo of your fridge, review your investment...

"Send us a text about this episode!" Alvin Law joins A Resilience Project to share a most remarkable stories of human resilience. Born without arms as a direct result of the Thalidomide drug scandal of the early 1960s — Alvin was placed in foster care at just five days old. Through the unwavering dedication of his adoptive parents, Alvin learned to use his feet as hands — a testament to...

"Send us a text about this episode!" This Episode Features: (24:44) Derek Edwards, one of Canada's most beloved stand-up comedians, brings his brand-new Oxymoron Tour to Vancouver Island this March with four stops across the Island. Derek talks about more than three decades on the road — from his first open mic night at a smoke-filled Yuk Yuk's in Yorkville, to navigating blizz...

"Send us a text about this episode!" In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and BC Conservative leadership candidate. Milobar’s political résumé spans city councillor, three-term mayor, regional district chair, and provincial legislator — what Sean calls “a full political bingo card.” The conversation covers wha...