The Spotlight Hour with Linda Olsen

In this episode, I'm talking with geographer Dr. Lynn Moorman, from Calgary's Mount Royal University, who helps us understand our changing landscapes in ways most of us never see. We explore how her work reveals what's happening to our glaciers and why that matters for our waterways.

This week, I'm sitting down with glacier cave explorer Christian Stenner, who has ventured into dangerous, rarely seen spaces deep below the ice. We talk about what those discoveries show Calgary researchers as they study the forces shaping our mountain glaciers.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I am in conversation with Aly Bandali, co-founder of Tribute Training. It is a new digital platform that aims to modernize cancer fundraising through transparency and movement. We talk about his global humanitarian work and why a Calgary-based fundraising campaign, A Million Reasons to Live, was the right fit to start Tribute Training.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I'm talking with four-time cancer survivor Tom Shindruk and community leader Eric Bennett about their campaign, A Million Reasons to Live. We explore how movement became Tom's lifeline and how this new fundraiser is giving Canadians a powerful way to honour the people they love.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I am exploring the stories of some of the soldiers who are part of the Veterans Walkway. It is a new installation in Calgary, along Memorial Drive, designed to connect us with our military history and the people who lived it. Joining me are, military historian Tom Leppard, and Major (Retired) Kent Griffiths, who share the stories of the people behind the hist...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I'm exploring the story of the Veterans Walkway in Calgary. It is a new way of connecting people to the city's military history. My guests are Carolyn Patton and Brigadier-General (Retired) Steven Graham, who share how the project came together and why this walkway of remembrance honours service and sacrifice.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I sit down with Program Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta + Centre for Suicide Prevention, Fawna Bews. We talk about the programs that can help someone on the road to addiction recovery. It is about connection, stigma reduction, and supporting the supporters. We explore the systems that work to make recovery possible for so many fam...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I'm talking with the founder of Sober Runway, Suzzy Anibueze about addiction recovery and the power of creative expression. We explore how visibility helps people reclaim identity and dignity. It is a hopeful, deeply human conversation that helps bring recovery into the light.

This week, I sit down with Calgary Stampeders President, Jay McNeil, a two-time Grey Cup champion turned team executive, to talk about what it took to bring the 2026 Grey Cup Game home to Calgary. We'll hear about the Grey Cup Festival fun, and the emotional moment when Jay learned Calgary would be hosting the CFL Championship game, plus his plans to put on the best party ever.

Calgary is hosting the CFL Championship - Grey Cup 2026! Grey Cup Committee chair, Steve Sommerfeld, joins me to talk about the fun this volunteer team has in store and some of the past stories of how the legendary Grey Cup party came to be. And yes, it includes the story of a horse going into a hotel in Toronto back in 1948.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, Brendan Parker, Flames TV Host and my former Global Calgary colleague, joins me to talk about "The Chase: Inside the Calgary Flames" the documentary he created to highlight the people behind the game. We explore his career path and when that dream of being a sports reporter was first sparked. And we talk about the AMPIA Rosie Award nomination for The Chase an...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I sit down with Kelly Fox, the newly named Executive Director of AMPIA, the Alberta Media Production Industries Association, to discuss how the organization is building Alberta's film, television, and digital media industry. We talk about her story and what inspires her in this creative field and how AMPIA celebrates the incredible talent in our province with...

On the episode of The Spotlight Hour Podcast, I wanted to take a closer look at how businesses lead with their core values. I'm joined by the co-owner of Rocky, formerly Rocky Mountain Soap Company, and Joydrop Founder, Shashi Behl. We explore the values that guide their decisions, define success, and connect them to their customers.

This week on The Spotlight Hour, Calgary's Aviation Future. I'm talking with Chris Dinsdale, President and CEO of Calgary Airports, and Lynda Holden, Dean of SAIT's School of Transportation and School of Manufacturing and Automation. It's an inside look at the exciting future of Calgary aviation.

This week, I am joined by two Calgary women who saw the gap families face during challenging times, whether it's growing economic pressures or a medical crisis. Tori Tilley and Shonalie Biafore share how small acts of help can bring real hope to families navigating illness and financial strain. It is a powerful conversation about two grassroots organizations working to make a difference after they...

In this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I explore the power of music. John Morgan, Artistic Director of Revv '52 and Mount Royal Kantorei and Vocal Director of The Young Canadians, shares how choirs and vocal ensembles build confidence and community. And Carrie Erickson, Director of Programs with Alzheimer Calgary, explains how music can become a lifeline for people living with dementia and their f...

I've always loved how Calgary's weather seems to have a mind of its own, and Jimmy Hughes and Paul Dunphy helped all of us understand it better. They earned our trust and walked us through the weather for decades on your local TV newscasts, so we could plan our lives and stay safe. In this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I sit down with Jimmy and Paul, who are longtime friends, for a warm, behind-t...

In this episode of The Spotlight Hour, I explore surprising early stories of the Calgary Stampede - the ones that shaped the event long before the crowds arrive. I sit down with Alison Keene to talk about the legacy of Flores LaDue, a world-class trick roper and wife of Guy Weadick. Jessica Smallman, with the Stampede's Collections and Archives, joins me to talk about the artifacts and lesser-know...

This week on The Spotlight Hour, I'm looking at how Calgary is rethinking waste, from rescued food to reused clothing and household items. My guests are Colin King from Leftovers Foundation and Karen Ramchuk from WINS (Women in Need Society) talking about sustainability and the economic and social impact of taking a second look at what is worth saving.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour Podcast, join me for a conversation about what happens when opportunity becomes intentional. My guests, Therese 'Tag' Goulet and Dr. Laura 'Lolly' de Jonge are two Calgarians behind a new Canadian TV series called The Gift, It is a conversation about mentorship, creativity, human potential, and the power of believing in others.

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, a powerful conversation with Calgary Wild FC's Deanna Zumwalt, who opens up about watching Haiti compete in the World Cup, alongside her children who were adopted from Haiti. Also, Wild FC forward, Serita Thurton, part of Canada's next wave of talent, shares her path to professional soccer. It's a conversation about the World Cup, identity, and the future of...

This episode of The Spotlight Hour explores what life looks like after the uniform, through the work of the Canadian Legacy Project's Veterans' Business Bootcamp and the lived experience of a Calgary veteran starting a new chapter after a diagnosis of PTSD. Judy McMillan-Evans shares her work as the Program Coordinator and Evan Wile talks about transitioning out of the military and starting again...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour Podcast: Strength Beyond Sport, legendary fight-world cutman, Jacob “Stitch” Duran, brings the kind of stories only he can tell, from working with Sylvester Stallone, Michael B. Jordan, Wladimir Klitschko, and Mike Tyson, to the real moments in his own life that shaped the man fighters trust most. Stitch opens up in a way fight fans rarely hear, mixing grit, h...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour, Building Futures, together. For 30 years, a Calgary for‑profit and a local non‑profit have worked side by side to build futures for girls and young women at risk of homelessness. I speak with Sharlene Massie of About Staffing and Krystyna Lloyd of Safe Haven Foundation of Canada about their rare long‑term partnership, the evolving needs of young women, and wh...

On this episode of The Spotlight Hour Podcast, I'm looking at The Frontline of Leadership. Calgary Police Chief Katie McLellan and retired Lieutenant-Colonel Deanna Manson join me to talk about what leadership has looked like in their lives, from the early days of their careers to the work they're doing now. We get into the moments that shaped them, what kept them steady, and what they hope the ne...