Conversations That Matter
Stuart McNish, Veteran Canadian Newsman
Conversations That Matter is a weekly news series hosted by veteran Canadian journalist Stuart McNish. He sits down with thought leaders from around the globe to dig into the issues that matter to Canadians.
Ep 517 - A crisis of indecision in Canada Guest: Gavin Dew
Ep 517 - A crisis of indecision in Canada
Guest: Gavin Dew
By Stuart McNish
On June 26th, Gavin Dew posted disappointing news on his LinkedIn profile. After four years of planning, fundraising, and negotiation with the City of Abbotsford, the Tech District project was pulling the plug. Dew says, “We couldn’t keep spending time and money without a clear signal from city council that this $5-billion private sector investment would be approved.”
Dew said, “I know a lot of people are disappoin
Ep - 516 - Weaving Two Worlds Guests: Christy Smith - Michael McPhie
Ep - 516 - Weaving Two Worlds
Guests: Christy Smith - Michael McPhie
By Stuart McNish
“The key to the Canadian economy is in the hands of First Nations,” says Christy Smith and Michael McPhie in their book, “Weaving Two Worlds,” a guide to economic reconciliation. According to Smith, “The intent of the book is to help First Nations, governments, and companies work together in the development of natural resources.”
McPhie says, “We believe the resource sector and the people within it have a
Ep 515 - Electronic Recycling Done Right Mohammad Doostmohammadi
Ep 515 - Electronic Recycling Done Right
Mohammad Doostmohammadi
By Stuart McNish
“There are six elements that play a key role in optimizing fuel and chemical production,” says Mohammad Doostmohammdi of pH7. “Without them, green hydrogen, low-carbon steel, biofuels and other climate technologies are not possible.” Those six elements are platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium – and they are among the rarest on earth.
While challenging to identify ore bodies with minea
Ep 514 - Real Estate Lessons from Singapore Guest: Ernst Lang
Ep 514 - Real Estate Lessons from Singapore
Guest: Ernst Lang
By Stuart McNish
“We can learn a few things from Singapore,” says Ernst Lang, the founder and CEO of Promerita Group. “Singapore has been getting housing right for many decades. In fact, it has found a way to make most of its housing affordable whilst also protecting the value of privately owned homes.”
According to a report by the Urban Land Institute, “private homes in Singapore are the most expensive in Asia” with an average
Ep 513 - British Columbia’s Lacklustre Prosperity Guest: David Williams
Ep 513 - British Columbia’s Lacklustre Prosperity
Guest: David Williams
By Stuart McNish
According to the 2024 British Columbia Prosperity Index, “BC places 11th out of 21 peer jurisdictions for overall prosperity.” The study was developed with the Centre for the Study of Living Standards, which compares BC’s performance on a range of economic, business, social and environmental indicators.
David Williams says, “There is no medal for 11th place and for good reason. This matters for young f
Ep 512 - To the Edge of Death and Back Guest: Paul Dragan
July 12, 2024
Ep 512 - To the Edge of Death and Back
Guest: Paul Dragan
By Stuart McNish
Ten years ago on June 10, 2014, Paul Dragan sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee across the street from his business, Reckless Bikes. He took a sip and as he looked up, a heavyset man wearing a bicycle helmet came around the corner, pulled out a gun and shot Paul in the chest. He landed on the ground, blood pouring out of his chest.
“Were it not for a series of remarkable events, I’d be dead,” says Dragan.
Ep 511 - Drug Free Kids Guest: Chantal Vallerand
Ep 511 - Drug Free Kids
Guest: Chantal Vallerand
By Stuart McNish
On Dec 8th, 2022, Jennifer Whiteside was appointed Minister for Mental Health and Addictions. At the time she said, “The Premier has asked me to prioritize accelerating BC’s response to the illicit drug toxicity crisis. The Premier has also asked me to expand new complex care, treatment, recovery, detox and after-care facilities across the province.”
Months later, the BC Centre for Disease Control released its report showing
Ep 510 - Post-Pandemic Leadership Guest: Ron Bremner
Ep 510 - Post-Pandemic Leadership
Guest: Ron Bremner
By Stuart McNish
COVID-19 disrupted supply lines and our lives. Now that the lockdowns are over, the lingering impact of the dramatic shifts in the workplace remain. During the pandemic, work from home became the rule. Many employees seized the opportunity and not only thrived, but they moved away – far away, so far that coming into the office became a remote possibility.
“The work from home practice was needed during the pandemic; now i
Ep 509 - Meet the BC Conservative Leader Guest: John Rustad
Ep 509 - Meet the BC Conservative Leader
Guest: John Rustad
By Stuart McNish
It’s been two years since John Rustad parted ways with the BC United Party over differences about climate change science. Regarding the reason for his removal from the party, Kevin Falcon is quoted as saying, “Climate change is one of the most critical threats facing our future.” And he added that Rustad “does not speak on behalf of [the] caucus on this issue.”
Six months later, John Rustad took over the leadershi
Ep 508 - Generously Giving Guest: Megan Owen-Evans
Ep 508 - Generously Giving
Guest: Megan Owen-Evans
By Stuart McNish
In the book “Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post writes that “giving to others” has been shown to increase health benefits. A separate study by Michael Norton from Harvard Business School revealed that “people are happier when they spend money on others versus themselves.” Megan Owen-Evans went far beyond the giving of money – she donated a kidney and part of her liver to two different anonymous recipients.
Ep 507 - A Bleak Market for EVs Guest: Adam Pankratz
Ep 507 - A Bleak Market for EVs
Guest: Adam Pankratz
By Stuart McNish
“Little did we know how fast the free market would slap the electric vehicle mandate back to reality, while Canadian taxpayers continue to subsidize green fantasies,” says Adam Pankratz, a lecturer at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business. The “slap” is in reference to plummeting sales of electric vehicles in North America.
Pankratz says, “The signs emerged in September 2023 when Volkswagen annou
Ep 506 - Will AI produce a state of Deep Utopia? Guest: Nick Bostrom
Ep 506 - Will AI produce a state of Deep Utopia?
Guest: Nick Bostrom
By Stuart McNish
In his new book “Deep Utopia: Life and Meaning in a Solved World,” philosopher Nick Bostrom ponders what life could be like in a “solved world” – a world where everything works and works better than if human hands got in the way. “What then?” asks Bostrom, is the reason to work? “Is it to earn extra income or because working is an intrinsically valued activity?”
Bostrom is the head of the Future of Human
Ep 505 - Has the Floatel Sunk? Guest: Christine Kennedy
Ep 505 - Has the Floatel Sunk?
Guest: Christine Kennedy
By Stuart McNish
The District of Squamish denied Woodfibre LNG’s application for a temporary use permit for its Bridgemans “floatel,” citing concerns over safety, environmental, and community impacts. Council also cited a lack of information from the company as its reasons for saying no to the refurbished cruise ship that is intended to act as a floating workforce accommodation.
“[It’s] hard to comprehend,” said Christine Kennedy, the
Ep 504 - Vancouver: Beautiful, yes – but! Guest: Bridgitte Anderson
Ep 504 - Vancouver: Beautiful, yes – but!
Guest: Bridgitte Anderson
By Stuart McNish
No doubt about it: Vancouver is beautiful. It’s beautiful to visit, it’s a beautiful place to study, and it’s a beautiful city to retire in. “But,” says Bridgitte Anderson, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, “it’s not so beautiful of a place to build a robust economy.” In fact, according to a new report commissioned by GVBOT, “the region’s economic size and mix under-performs when it comes to c
Ep 503 - Canada’s Sagging Productivity Guest: Jock Finlayson
Ep 503 - Canada’s Sagging Productivity
Guest: Jock Finlayson
By Stuart McNish
On March 26th, 2024, the Bank of Canada issued a report titled “Time to Break the Glass: Fixing Canada’s Productivity Problem.” Senior Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers said at a speech in Halifax, “Productivity is a way to inoculate the economy against inflation.”
The question ahead is, why has Canadian productivity sagged and how can it be turned around? Jock Finlayson, the Chief Economist at the Independent Contr
Ep 502 - Is Peace Possible in Gaza? Gidi Grinstein
Ep 502 - Is Peace Possible in Gaza?
Gidi Grinstein
By Stuart McNish
At the time of the recording of this interview, the war in Gaza raged on. Since Oct 7, when more than 1139 Israelis had been killed and another 240 taken hostage, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas. The atrocities of that day also severely challenged Israeli’s sense of compassion for Palestinians.
In Palestine, the death toll is horrifying – more than 30,000 Palestinians are believed to have died and another 72,000 have been in
Ep 498 - How Canada Saved Me Guest - Sasha Luchkov
Ep 498 - How Canada Saved Me
Guest - Sasha Luchkov
By Stuart McNish
On February 24th, 2022, in the dark of the night in Mukachevo, Ukraine, Sasha Luchkov woke to the news that his country was under attack. Sasha, a piano protege at the age of 17, was already an accomplished pianist. He had recently placed second in the Scherzo International piano competition, where he performed Beethoven’s Sonata #17.
Luchkov also performed at the Horowitz International piano competition and the Perugia Mu
Ep 497 - Climate Action: The Net Zero Economy Guest - John Stackhouse
Ep 497 - Climate Action: The Net Zero Economy
Guest - John Stackhouse
By Stuart McNish
“Population and economic growth spell a demand for much more energy,” states the opening paragraph of RBC’s Climate Action Institute report. The Institute is honest in its assessment of the path forward to a Net Zero economy. The bank’s John Stackhouse says, “Climate pressures spell an imperative for a different mix of energy sources.”
Looking forward, the global population is forecast to exceed 9 billion
Ep 496 - Ballooning Public Service Guest - Renaud Brossard
Ep 496 - Ballooning Public Service
Guest - Renaud Brossard
By Stuart McNish
According to the Montreal Economic Institute, Justin Trudeau ranks first among Canadian Prime Ministers over the past 40 years when it comes to the expansion in the size of the civil service. In a recent study, MEI notes that “over the past few decades, the number of employees in the federal public service has fluctuated somewhat under the mandate of successive governments under Justin Trudeau's current government. H
Ep 495 - Child Sex Trafficking Guest - Cathy Peters
Ep 495 - Child Sex Trafficking
Guest - Cathy Peters
By Stuart McNish
National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in Canada is February 22nd. It was instituted as part of the government’s commitment to fighting human trafficking. The point was to “raise awareness of the magnitude of modern day slavery in Canada and abroad and to take steps to combat human trafficking.”
In her book, “Child Sex Trafficking in Canada,” Cathy Peters says, “This book should never have been written. But here we are.
Ep 494 - Canada and China: What Happened? Guest - Dr Paul Evans
Ep 494 - Canada and China: What Happened?
Guest - Dr Paul Evans
By Stuart McNish
In 1970, Canada led the Western world by recognizing China. According to Paul Evans in his book, “Engaging China,” the Prime Minister of Canada Pierre Trudeau “believed that many of the world’s major issues ‘will not be resolved completely or in any lasting way unless and until an accommodation has been reached with the Chinese nation.’”
Over the course of the next 50 years, the Chinese economy and its clout g
Ep 493 - A Call to Purpose Guest - Mike Rowlands
Ep 493 - A Call to Purpose
Guest - Mike Rowlands
“Redefining success for the purpose economy,” Mike Rowlands says, “is to become a part of the rapidly growing movement toward social purpose in business. The social purpose focus creates healthier communities, restoration of our shared environment and better outcomes for companies’ staff, customers and other stakeholders.”
Rowlands says the path to developing this framework “emerged from our work with the nonprofit sector – a sector that requ
Ep 492 - The Fountain of Youth Guest - Angela Brooks-Wilson
Ep 492 - The Fountain of Youth
Guest - Angela Brooks-Wilson
By Stuart McNish
Researchers at Simon Fraser University and BC Cancer have pinpointed specific physiological traits that they say “can help people live longer, healthier lives.” According to a recent study published in GeroScience, the healthiest, older adults live in a “sweet spot,” where more than 100 different physiological traits interact, and that dynamic interaction makes them healthier than their counterparts.
Key to living
Ep 491 - The Claims of Life Guest - Diana Chapman Walsh
Ep 491 - The Claims of Life
Guest - Diana Chapman Walsh
By Stuart McNish
The Claims of Life, a new book by Diana Chapman Walsh, traces the emergence of a young woman who set out believing she wasn’t particularly smart but went on to meet multiple tests of leadership in the American academy – a place where everyone wants to be heard and no one wants a boss.
The Claims of Life offers readers an unusually intimate view of a trustworthy leadership that begins and ends in self-knowledge. During
Ep 49o - Addressing the Infrastructure Deficit Guest - Mark Liedemann
Ep 49o - Addressing the Infrastructure Deficit
Guest - Mark Liedemann
By Stuart McNish
The backbone of any complex society is its infrastructure. It is the glue that binds communities, provinces and countries together. The concept of infrastructure was central to Rome’s dominance for 500 years. Cody Gregory writes, “One of the key aspects of Roman society and development was its unprecedented utilization of roads, sewers and aqueducts.”
Here in British Columbia, it was the railway that br
Ep 489 - The Path to Urban Net Zero Guest - Jeanette Jackson
Ep 489 - The Path to Urban Net Zero
Guest - Jeanette Jackson
In June of 2021, Canada – along with the other G7 countries – committed to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It is an audacious goal, one that affords Canada with an opportunity to play a leadership role and become the first of the G7 to reach net-zero emissions.
It’s a long way from where we are at the moment. Currently, says Jeanette Jackson of Foresight, “we’re in last place, which accelerates our need to step up the p
Ep 488 - A Ministry of Entrepreneurialism Guest: Naseem Javed
Ep 488 - A Ministry of Entrepreneurialism
Guest: Naseem Javed
“The world, and in particular Canada, needs to embrace entrepreneurialism as a new frontier to resuscitate our gasping economy,” says Naseen Javed, the CEO and founder of Expothon. “We need a new Ministry of Entrepreneurialism that can ignite an economic revolution.”
Javed says, “This new Ministry will only work if it is managed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. Bureaucrats, academics, and economists live in a world where their
Ep 487 - The Greatest Gift of All Guest: Paul Sitnam
Ep 487 - The Greatest Gift of All
Guest: Paul Sitnam
By Stuart McNish
“Impact investing is an investment strategy that aims to generate specific beneficial social or environmental effects in addition to financial gains,” according to Investopedia. It is upheld as a societal good, but it does not include devoting your life to helping others.
“The greatest gift of giving possible is your life’s work,” says Paul Sitnam. He is a living example having done just that for the past 40 years. Sitnam
Ep 486 - Can First Nations Save Canada’s Economy? Guest: Chris Sankey
Ep 486 - Can First Nations Save Canada’s Economy?
Guest: Chris Sankey
By Stuart McNish
“Canada’s per capita growth has been negative three out of the last four quarters,” says Perrin Beatty, the President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. He adds, “Canada needs to do more to attract investment” – a sentiment that was recently shared by a panel of experts for “Conversations Live” about economic reconciliation. Haisla Chief Counselor Crystal Smith said, “First Nations hold the key t
Ep 485 - The interconnectedness of all things Guest: Wade Davis
Ep 485 - The interconnectedness of all things
Guest: Wade Davis
By Stuart McNish
The Roman emperor Markus Aurelius posited in his book “Meditations” that “all things are implicated with one another and the bond is holy.” At the time of his writing, it was a philosophical concept. Today it has been proven by science – genomics in particular.
Wade Davis, the great Canadian thinker and anthropologist, in his talk at the Dr. Rix Distinguished Keynote address “The Wayfinders of Genomic Wisdom,” s
Ep 484 - How to Stop Stereotyping Seniors Guest: Rudy Buttignol
Ep 484 - How to Stop Stereotyping Seniors
Guest: Rudy Buttignol
By Stuart McNish
More than 7 million people in Canada are older than 64 – that’s just shy of 20 percent of us. I’m one of those people. The issues that all seniors face include, but are not limited to, financial security, health care, and an end to ageism. Rudy Buttignol, the President of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP), represents associations across the country advocating with all levels of government on be
Ep 483 - Youthful Cities: Attracting and retaining a young population Guest: Robert Barnard
Ep 483 - Youthful Cities: Attracting and retaining a young population
Guest: Robert Barnard
By Stuart McNish
How a city attracts young adults to live and work matters. Robert Barnard, the founder of Youthful Cities, says, “Young adults are vital today and into the future. Attracting young people is important. Equally [as] important is retention – that is, keeping their residents in the city.” On that account, Vancouver is good at attracting but not so good at retaining.
This is a problem, s
Ep 482 - Save Our Streets Guest: Jess Ketchum
Ep 482 - Save Our Streets
Guest: Jess Ketchum
By Stuart McNish
At a press conference at the Woodwards development, the new Save Our Streets (SOS) public safety coalition said, “The growing crime, violence, vandalism and theft crisis is impacting local communities and businesses.” The costs associated with addressing security and safety, according to SOS spokesperson Jess Ketchum, are “jeopardizing the financial viability of many businesses and threatening their survival.”
The compounding ef
Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag Guest: Ken Peacock
Ep 481 - CleanBC’s $28.1-Billion Price Tag
Guest: Ken Peacock
By Stuart McNish
The government of British Columbia is aiming to lower CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. It’s a bold ambition – one that will reduce the BC economy by $28.1 billion, according to a model created by the CleanBC Roadmap. Ken Peacock, the Business Council of British Columbia (BCBC)’s Chief Economist, examined the model and discovered the stunning numbers.
Peacock says, “A $28.1-billion setback is significant.” After addi
Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty Guest: Jock Finlayson
Ep 480 - The Impact of Energy Poverty
Guest: Jock Finlayson
By Stuart McNish
Energy poverty, according to the Canadian Urban Sustainability Practitioners, refers to “the experience of households or communities that struggle to heat their homes and power their lights and appliances” – a reality that is playing itself out in the Maritime provinces of Canada, and it has forced the hand of the Prime Minister to offer financial relief.
In his blog, “The Honest Broker,” Roger Pielke Jr. wrote of
Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra Guest: Drew Collier
Ep 479- Social Purpose: The New Business Mantra
Guest: Drew Collier
By Stuart McNish
Social purpose is emerging as an important and necessary part of business. “What is social purpose?” you ask. Drew Collier, the President and CEO of LGM Financial Services says, “Social purpose is the reason to be in business. It is not just a nice-to-have policy. It is the company’s reason for being – its social ambition – and it is the path to profitability.” It is, in the words of Simon Sinek, “the ‘why we
Ep 478- What is Keto Diet? Guest: Dr. David Harper
Ep 478- What is Keto Diet?
Guest: Dr. David Harper
By Stuart McNish
“For 30 years, I taught the wrong stuff to generations of students. I taught them that a low-fat high-carb diet was the way to eat to prevent chronic disease and I got it wrong,” says Dr. David Harper, the co-author of the “BioDiet: The Scientifically Proven, Ketogenic Way to Lose Weight and Improve Health.” Harper goes on to say, “We now have 20 years of scientific evidence that a well-formulated ketogenic diet reduces chron
Ep 477 - Canada: The World is a Hard Place Guest: John Rapley
Ep 477 - Canada: The World is a Hard Place
Guest: John Rapley
By Stuart McNish
In the diplomatic spat between India and Canada, a rising India shows Canada that money is power, says John Rapley, a political economist at the University of Cambridge. He goes on to say that Canada is finding the world a hard place, and points out that it comes as a shock to Canada, namely because of its sense of itself.
Canada has historically been dominant – one of the world's biggest economies, a founding me
Ep 476 - Eat More - That’s the Message Guest: Dr Marion Nestle
Ep 476 - Eat More - That’s the Message
Guest: Dr Marion Nestle
By Stuart McNish
“We live in a food environment that encourages people to eat as much as possible,” says Dr. Marion Nestle. “Fighting those overwhelming messages and mustering up resistance is next to impossible!” The history of the “consume more” movement, says Nestle, “came about as a remedy to diseases of deficiency.” The message was so successful that Healthline now estimates that “42 percent of Americans are obese and two-thi
Ep 475 - Rent Control: A Blunt Tool Guest: David Hutniak
Ep 475 - Rent Control: A Blunt Tool
Guest: David Hutniak
By Stuart McNish
Housing affordability is a North American-wide issue. In the U.S., only seven states and Washington, D.C. have imposed rent controls as a measure to address housing affordability. Only seven states – largely because it is believed they don't work. In a poll conducted by the American Economic Association, 93% of its members agreed that a ceiling on rent controls reduces the quality and quantity of housing.
David Hutnia
Ep 474 - How Markets Shape Cities Guest: Alain Bertaud
Ep 474 - How Markets Shape Cities
Guest: Alain Bertaud
By Stuart McNish
What is a city and why does it exist? That may seem like a simple question but according to Alain Bertaud, the author of “Order Without Design: How Markets Shape Cities,” the answer is “not merely to house people but rather accommodate labour markets.” He goes on to acknowledge, “People are the most important part. They are the main attraction.”
The challenge for city planners, argues Bertaud, is that “they run into the
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation Guest: Laura Alfaro
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation
Guest: Laura Alfaro
By Stuart McNish
“Nearshoring, friendshoring and onshoring” are terms that are becoming common in reference to moves within the United States to address a number of issues associated with global value chains. According to co-author Laura Alfaro of a paper that was prepared for the Jackson Hole Symposium in 2023, there is a, “Looming Great Relocation” on the horizon.
Alfaro says, “The evidence is clear – the US reliance on China peaked
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility Guest: Joel Dembe
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility
Guest: Joel Dembe
By Stuart McNish
“Accessibility” is a word that you hear more of, and for good reason. Canadian Paralympian Joel Dembe says, “Being accessible is essential when creating a strong and inclusive workplace and society. And it's good business. It’s good business in so many ways – namely it’s good for the bottom line.”
According to Jason Keck, the CEO and Co-Founder of Broker Buddha, “Diverse and inclusive companies are 35% mo
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization Guest: Olaf Groth
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization
Guest: Olaf Groth
By Stuart McNish
“In August 2022, when central bankers from around the world gathered for their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a consensus emerged that the current methods for managing business cycles are woefully insufficient for managing today’s current economic and societal crises.” says Olaf Groth, one of the authors of a new book, “The Great Remobilization.”
“We have the energy crisis. We have the food crisis,” continues Gro
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable Guest: Bob Stamnes
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable
Guest: Bob Stamnes
By Stuart McNish
“The logic of being unreasonable sounds like an oxymoron,” says Bob Stamnes, one of Canada’s most creative ad Execs. “Unless, of course, you know exactly why you are being unreasonable.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, logic is “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.”
Stamnes says, “Unreasonable logic is when you stick to the facts and make sensible conclusions wher
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia
Guest: Brenda Bailey
By Stuart McNish
In April of 2023, the government of British Columbia announced a new life sciences and biomedical strategy. The objective is to position BC as a global hub in these sectors. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey says, “We’re boosting our world-class talent, innovators, entrepreneurs and anchor companies to create high-quality jobs.”
The Minister’s claim about world
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution
Guest: Danny Sitnam
By Stuart McNish
Can we achieve liftoff of electric helicopter passenger service? Danny Sitnam, the President and Founder of Helijet says, "Yes we can! But…"
The “but…” Sitnam refers to is, in fact, many “yes, but”s. Yes, helicopters can be powered by electricity – but the power plant for helicopters still needs to be built. Yes, batteries can carry enough of a charge to fly from Vancouver to Victoria – but the weight will elimi
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation
Ep 473 - The Looming Great Relocation
Guest: Laura Alfaro
By Stuart McNish
“Nearshoring, friendshoring and onshoring” are terms that are becoming common in reference to moves within the United States to address a number of issues associated with global value chains. According to co-author Laura Alfaro of a paper that was prepared for the Jackson Hole Symposium in 2023, there is a, “Looming Great Relocation” on the horizon.
Alfaro says, “The evidence is clear – the US reliance on China peaked
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility
Ep 472 - The Importance of Workplace Accessibility
Guest: Joel Dembe
By Stuart McNish
“Accessibility” is a word that you hear more of, and for good reason. Canadian Paralympian Joel Dembe says, “Being accessible is essential when creating a strong and inclusive workplace and society. And it's good business. It’s good business in so many ways – namely it’s good for the bottom line.”
According to Jason Keck, the CEO and Co-Founder of Broker Buddha, “Diverse and inclusive companies are 35% mo
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization
Ep 471 - The Great Remobilization
Guest: Olaf Groth
By Stuart McNish
“In August 2022, when central bankers from around the world gathered for their annual meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a consensus emerged that the current methods for managing business cycles are woefully insufficient for managing today’s current economic and societal crises.” says Olaf Groth, one of the authors of a new book, “The Great Remobilization.”
“We have the energy crisis. We have the food crisis,” continues Gro
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable
Ep 470 - The Reasonableness of Being Unreasonable
Guest: Bob Stamnes
By Stuart McNish
“The logic of being unreasonable sounds like an oxymoron,” says Bob Stamnes, one of Canada’s most creative ad Execs. “Unless, of course, you know exactly why you are being unreasonable.” According to the Oxford Dictionary, logic is “reasoning conducted or assessed according to strict principles of validity.”
Stamnes says, “Unreasonable logic is when you stick to the facts and make sensible conclusions wher
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia
Ep 469 - Boosting scientific innovations in British Columbia
Guest: Brenda Bailey
By Stuart McNish
In April of 2023, the government of British Columbia announced a new life sciences and biomedical strategy. The objective is to position BC as a global hub in these sectors. Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey says, “We’re boosting our world-class talent, innovators, entrepreneurs and anchor companies to create high-quality jobs.”
The Minister’s claim about world
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution
Ep 468 - The electric helicopter revolution
Guest: Danny Sitnam
By Stuart McNish
Can we achieve liftoff of electric helicopter passenger service? Danny Sitnam, the President and Founder of Helijet says, "Yes we can! But…"
The “but…” Sitnam refers to is, in fact, many “yes, but”s. Yes, helicopters can be powered by electricity – but the power plant for helicopters still needs to be built. Yes, batteries can carry enough of a charge to fly from Vancouver to Victoria – but the weight will elimi
Ep 467 - Is Canada Sinking?
Ep 467 - Is Canada Sinking?
Guest: Chris Gardner
By Stuart McNish
“We’re in trouble!” says Chris Gardner. “Big trouble and it's going to get worse, much worse.” The President of the Independent Contractors of British Columbia says, “The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance work in a building 4,427 kilometres from Surrey.” He says, “They’re even further away than that from understanding the challenges facing construction contractors, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and everyday Canadian
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss
Guest: Dr Devyn Parsons
By Stuart McNish
It has been called a wonder drug for its unintended benefits to anyone wrestling with obesity. Ozempic does for obese people what their bodies can no longer do – shedding weight. Dr. Devyn Parsons, an obesity specialist, says, “Your body locks onto what it believes is your ideal weight – that, being the highest weight of your life. And it doesn’t want to let go.”
According to a study published by the American Journal o
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential
Guest: Krista Thompson
By Stuart McNish
“The reasons why children end up on the streets are complex. Often, their arrival represents an active decision on their part in response to serious rights violations at home,” says Moses Ogutu in “Under The Bridge: The Invisible Lives of Street Children.” Ogutu was a child of the street for five years. Today, he is an international business and trade lecturer at the African Leadership University and a 2017 Mandela
Ep 464 - Addressing Renewable Energy’s Weak Link Guest: Matt Harper
Ep 464 - Addressing Renewable Energy’s Weak Link
Guest: Matt Harper
By Stuart McNish
Will vanadium redox flow batteries address an issue that has been the Achilles’ heel of renewable energy production – how to store the power generated by wind and solar power generation? The sector has challenges, such as the inability of renewable energy sources to produce consistent on-demand power needed to supply an ever-fluctuating need.
Matt Harper of Vancouver-based Invinity Energy Systems, a leader
Ep 463 - Working Towards Ending Genocide Guest: Dr James Smith
Ep 463 - Working Towards Ending Genocide
Guest: Dr James Smith
By Stuart McNish
“More than 60% of the population of Rwanda was born after the genocide in 1994. They feel its effects, but have little knowledge of what caused it to happen,” says Dr. James Smith of Aegis Trust. The ravages of genocide tear familes, communities and societies apart. Smith adds, “It takes decades of reconciliation, peace-building and support to repair the damage done, and constant vigilance to ensure it does not h
Ep 461 - Life in Canada after fleeing Syria Guest: Nour Suliman
Ep 461 - Life in Canada after fleeing Syria
Guest: Nour Suliman
By Stuart McNish
It’s been eight years since 25,000 Syrian refugees were resettled in Canada. Our country, in keeping with our commitment to the United Nations Commission for Refugees, is “obliged to protect refugees and treat them according to international standards.” Nour Suliman and her family fled to Canada after dodging bullets, landmines and barrel bombs in Syria.
Nour and her family were some of the 13 million Syrians f
Ep 462 - How to reduce adverse drug reactions Guest: Amani Saini
Ep 462 - How to reduce adverse drug reactions
Guest: Amani Saini
By Stuart McNish
According to the Food and Drug Administration in the United States, “there are more than 2.2 million serious adverse drug reactions in hospitalized patients, causing over 106,000 deaths annually.” The British Pharmacological Society in a “Fatal Adverse Drug Reaction” global study says, “Adverse drug reactions are the most common cause of hospital admission and one of the top seven causes of death.”
In Canada,
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss Guest: Dr Devyn Parsons
Ep 466 - Ozempic and Weight Loss
Guest: Dr Devyn Parsons
By Stuart McNish
It has been called a wonder drug for its unintended benefits to anyone wrestling with obesity. Ozempic does for obese people what their bodies can no longer do – shedding weight. Dr. Devyn Parsons, an obesity specialist, says, “Your body locks onto what it believes is your ideal weight – that, being the highest weight of your life. And it doesn’t want to let go.”
According to a study published by the American Journal o
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential Guest: Krista Thompson
Ep 465 - Seeing Street Kids’ Potential
Guest: Krista Thompson
By Stuart McNish
“The reasons why children end up on the streets are complex. Often, their arrival represents an active decision on their part in response to serious rights violations at home,” says Moses Ogutu in “Under The Bridge: The Invisible Lives of Street Children.” Ogutu was a child of the street for five years. Today, he is an international business and trade lecturer at the African Leadership University and a 2017 Mandela
Ep 460 - Creating Sustainable Pet Food Guest: Christine Mallier
Ep 460 - Creating Sustainable Pet Food
Guest: Christine Mallier
By Stuart McNish
Cats and dogs are everywhere in Canada and they outnumber children under 14 by a big margin. According to the Canadian Animal Health Institute, there are 16.5 million cats and dogs in Canada. Statistics Canada, for 2021, puts the child population at 15.6% or 6.2 million. In other words, we love our pets.
There are myriad reasons why people love pets. One is they never grow up and move away. According to Mindpath
Ep 459- British Columbia’s economy is a question mark Guest: Jock Finlayson
Ep 459- British Columbia’s economy is a question mark
Guest: Jock Finlayson
By Stuart McNish
British Columbia is but a speck on the global GDP map. “We are 0.3% – in other words, not very significant,” says economist Jock Finlayson. He goes on to point out that our place in the world isn’t about to change. In fact, it’s going to slip. “We are entering a lost decade of real per-capita GDP growth, which means growing real salaries will be challenging.”
It’s not all doom and gloom, however. BC
Ep 458 - Vaccinating against rejection Guest: Dr Eli Joseph
Ep 458 - Vaccinating against rejection
Guest: Dr Eli Joseph
By Stuart McNish
It is common to be intimidated by rejection. The thought of failing or getting turned down for an opportunity that we have always wanted can influence the way we make genuine decisions toward our goals. Moreover, the overall experience of getting rejected can negatively affect our self-esteem.
Dr Eli Joseph says, “You can get over this fear of rejection! In fact, you can become immune to it.” Based on his own experi
Ep 457 - Can Fish be Farmed on Land? Guest: Tony Pantages
Ep 457 - Can Fish be Farmed on Land?
Guest: Tony Pantages
By Stuart McNish
In February 2023, federal Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray announced that licenses for 15 open-net Atlantic salmon farms around British Columbia's Discovery Island will not be renewed – a planned cancellation that has now been delayed in large part due to concerns raised by indigenous leaders, who point to problems associated with moving fish farms on shore.
Norway has generated a depth of knowledge and experience in t
Ep 456 - A Lost Decade Ahead for Canada Guest: David Williams
Ep 456 - A Lost Decade Ahead for Canada
Guest: David Williams
By Stuart McNish
“The Canadian economy is on track to be the worst performing economy out of 38 advanced countries over the next 40 years, with the lowest growth in real GDP per capita,” says David Williams, the Vice-President of Policy at the Business Council of British Columbia. He goes on to say, “Young Canadians entering the workforce today are facing 40 years of stagnant average real incomes, according to OECD projections.”
T
Ep 455 - Women on Corporate Boards Guest: Jennifer Reynolds
Ep 455 - Women on Corporate Boards
Guest: Jennifer Reynolds
By Stuart McNish
Here, it is 2023 and according to Forbes Magazine, only ten percent of Fortune 500 companies are led by women. The magazine, however, sees that ten percent as “a new milestone. While these numbers may not seem like a cause for celebration, they are when one considers the history of women achieving top leadership roles in business.”
The history of women at the top of Fortune 500 companies has included just two CEOs
Ep 454 - The Power of Giving Guest: John Bromley
Ep 454 - The Power of Giving
Guest: John Bromley
By Stuart McNish
In the book “Why Good Things Happen to Good People,” Stephen Post writes that “giving to others” has been shown to increase health benefits. A separate study by Michael Norton from Harvard Business School revealed that “people are happier when they spend money on others versus themselves.”
These are all wonderful reasons to give. As Martin McNish stated in “Give a Damn” (a Conversations That Matter episode), “giving proves th
Ep 453 - Top Sixty Over 60 Guest: Helen Hirsh Spence
Ep 453 - Top Sixty Over 60
Guest: Helen Hirsh Spence
By Stuart McNish
“‘Sorry, you’re too old. Sorry, you’re too experienced. Sorry. Sorry, but we’re looking for someone younger who will stay with us longer.’ These are just some of the reasons employers use to overlook talented over 60 applicants,” says Helen Hirsh Spence of Top Sixty Over Sixty. The mission, according to the organization’s website, is to “provide tools and training to address ageism and promote age diversity in the workplace.
Ep 452 - Wrestling with Democracy Guest: Dennis Pilon
Ep 452 - Wrestling with Democracy
Guest: Dennis Pilon
By Stuart McNish
Justin Trudeau had promised that the 2015 federal election would be the last time a government would be chosen in Canada using the first-past-the-post voting system. That promise promptly evaporated and morphed into support for a proportional representation voting system. In the following months, the Prime Minister directed the Minister of Democratic Institutions to drop the idea.
In 2021, the Liberals set a record for th
Ep 451 - Cathedral Thinking Guest: Rick Antonson
Ep 451 - Cathedral Thinking
Guest: Rick Antonson
By Stuart McNish
Groucho Marx once quipped, “Why should I care about future generations? What have they ever done for me?” According to Rick Antonson, “You have a responsibility to your children’s great grandchildren.” In fact, Antonson says, “You need to wrench yourself from your phone and become a cathedral thinker about the big issues of our times.”
The concept crosses many cultures. Chief Oren Lyons, of the Onondaga Nation, a member of th
Ep 450 - Fighting Cancer with CAR-T Cells Guest: Sarah Roth
May 5, 2023
Ep 450 - Fighting Cancer with CAR-T Cells
Guest: Sarah Roth
By Stuart McNish
Cancer – there are more than 200 different types. The odds are high that you or someone you know will get cancer. It is an insidious disease; it can start almost anywhere in your body and spread. Stopping its spread is the work of cancer researchers all over the world and experts in British Columbia are developing breakthroughs.
Recently a multi-site Phase-I clinical trial, launched by BC Cancer and the
Ep 449 - Eight Deaths a Day Guest: Troy Clifford
Ep 449 - Eight Deaths a Day
Guest: Troy Clifford
By Stuart McNish
Eight people in British Columbia will die today from a drug overdose – eight people yesterday, eight the day before, eight the day before that, and so on. On March 22nd, BC’s Emergency Health Service responded to 205 overdose poisoning patients – “a new provincial record” says Troy Clifford, the Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics & Emergency Dispatchers of BC. He continues to say, “On April 2nd, BCEHS experienced t
Ep 448 - Space – The Final Food Frontier Guest: Prof. Mike Dixon
Ep 448 - Space – The Final Food Frontier
Guest: Prof. Mike Dixon
By Stuart McNish
Captain James T. Kirk starts “Star Trek” by saying, “Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its five-year mission: to explore new worlds; to seek out new life and civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before!” Five years is a long time and packing five years of food would be impossible.
While the writers of the series dealt with the production of food in a varie
Ep 447 - One Girl Can Guest: Natasha Questel
Ep 447 - One Girl Can
Guest: Natasha Questel
By Stuart McNish
“Every girl should have the opportunity to rise to her full potential,” says Natasha Questel, the CEO of One Girl Can, a British Columbia-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable girls. Questel adds, “Girls with high-potential deserve a chance to rise above extreme poverty and gender inequality.”
As citizens of the world, we have a responsibility to aid others in re
Ep 446 - Can data help at-risk youth? Guest: Bill Warburton
Ep 446 - Can data help at-risk youth?
Guest: Bill Warburton
By Stuart McNish
Can “a scientific approach to addressing social issues using administrative data” improve outcomes in education, health, social services and crime? That is the hypothesis of a new paper published by four distinguished Canadian economists. The authors say there is a “relationship between measures of secondary educational attainment and indicators of poor outcome later in life. Poor outcomes are seen to primarily manif
Ep 445 - Purpose and how it works Guest: Jade Simmons
Ep 445 - Purpose and how it works
Guest: Jade Simmons
By Stuart McNish
The world as you knew it has been upended. First, by the pandemic; and now emerging from lockdown, what you thought was going to be a return to your old life isn’t happening – and it's not going to. Jade Simmons knows all too well that life does not unfold the way you hope it will. She says, “You have to know what you want and where to find it.”
Simmons says, “Finding purpose in life isn’t easy. It’s not a formula that yo
Ep 444 - Grey Zone Warfare Guest: Calvin Chrustie
Ep 444 - Grey Zone Warfare
Guest: Calvin Chrustie
By Stuart McNish
According to “On Track,'' the magazine published by the CDA (Conference of Defence Associations) Institute, “hybrid warfare,” also known as grey zone conflict or unrestricted warfare, is a real and present danger.
“On Track” states that “these are just three terms used to describe the same phenomenon – multi-faceted attacks against a country that have serious implications for its national security and defence institutions.
Ep 443 - Monitoring the Ocean in Real-Time Guest: Dr. Scott Beatty
Ep 443 - Monitoring the Ocean in Real-Time
Guest: Dr. Scott Beatty
By Stuart McNish
The odds are good that you live on the coast. In Canada, according to Natural Resources Canada, 38.3 percent of us live within 20 kilometres of the coast. In the US, more than 52 percent live within miles of the coast. What happens on the waters that lap against our shores matters. According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, “we rely on our oceans for food, jobs, [and] clean air. Our social fabric is woven into
Ep 442 - What is Putin’s End Game? Guest: John Stufflebeem
Ep 442 - What is Putin’s End Game?
Guest: John Stufflebeem
By Stuart McNish
The one-year mark of the invasion of Ukraine has come and we’ve sailed past it with no end in sight. Vice Admiral (Ret) of the US Navy John Stufflebeem says, “Putin continues to ramp up pressure by withdrawing from the New START treaty, implying he's getting closer to going nuclear.”
Stufflebeem says, “For as long as Putin remains in power, he will continue his ‘military operation’ of defending Russia and use it to
Ep 441 - Our Digital Technology Supercluster Guest: Sue Paish
Ep 441 - Our Digital Technology Supercluster
Guest: Sue Paish
In space, a supercluster forms massive structures of galaxies called filaments or supercluster complexes. Here in British Columbia, the Canadian digital supercluster was designed to build networks of “big and small tech companies to develop, scale and unleash digital technology breakthroughs,” says Sue Paish, the CEO of the Digital Technology Supercluster.
The initiative is a joint Canadian government and member collective that w
Ep 440 - Surviving the Tech Layoffs Guest: Brian Pulliam
Ep 440 - Surviving the Tech Layoffs
Guest: Brian Pulliam
Tech layoffs have been making the headlines. The numbers are staggering, according to TrueUp’s tech layoff tracker. In 2022, through more than 1,400 rounds of layoffs, 220,000 people lost their jobs. And the layoffs continued through January this year, where another 107,000 people were let go. Then in February, the layoffs carried on, and another 35,000 people were shown the door.
The emotional and financial impact is devastating, esp
Ep 439 - A Recipe for a Life Well-Lived Guest: Dr. Doug Clement
Ep 439 - A Recipe for a Life Well-Lived
Guest: Dr. Doug Clement
“May you live long and prosper” (“dif-tor-heh”) is an idiom from a Jewish term and is popularly attributed to Commander Spock of Star Trek. While that may be so, it is also an apt description of the life of Dr. Doug Clement.
“The questions,” asks Clement, “is how do you do both? Live long and prosper?” The average life expectancy in British Columbia is just north of 82 years. “So living long isn’t the issue,” says Clement, “but
Ep 438 - Acupuncture Guest: Dr Linda Rapson
Ep 438 - Acupuncture
Guest: Dr Linda Rapson
Renowned acupuncturist Dr. Linda Rapson was the 2021 co-winner of the Dr. Rogers Prize for Excellence in Complementary & Alternative Medicine. The $250,000 prize is the largest of its kind and available only to work conducted in Canada. Dr. Rapson is an appropriate recipient.
Throughout her career, she has battled the establishment. From the time she entered medical school in 1965 as one of only 13 women, she has broken down barriers and, as state
Ep 437 - The Cold & Flu Rescue Kit Guest: Dr Samuel Gutman
Ep 437 - The Cold & Flu Rescue Kit
Guest: Dr Samuel Gutman
You feel a tickle in your throat; you notice your child snuffling; or your older parent is zapped of energy. You can’t help but wonder: COVID? Or what other respiratory disease is going to work inside your and your loved ones’ bodies? “We are all hyper-aware, just having endured three years of COVID”, says Dr. Samuel Gutman. “I was an ER doc who, for 3 decades, saw the look of fear on the faces of people who flooded emergency departmen
Ep 436 - Personalized Cancer Genomics Guest: Marco Marra
Ep 436 - Personalized Cancer Genomics
Guest: Marco Marra
Unlocking the genomic code of cancer – all types of cancer – is an ongoing research endeavour that, when completed, will be a great leap forward. POG is a BC Cancer, Genome BC and Terry Fox Research Institute program designed to offer personalized oncogenomic treatment to cancer patients.
The program is a clinical research initiative that started in 2012. The aim is to decode the genome – the entire DNA and RNA inside the cell – of each pa
Ep 435 - British Columbia’s Forestry Woes, Explained Guest: John Brink
Ep 435 - British Columbia’s Forestry Woes, Explained
Guest: John Brink
In December 2021, Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer penned a startling piece about British Columbia’s forest industry. His headline read, “BC forest companies expanding at a rapid pace, but not at home.” That means BC-based forest companies were and continue to invest heavily in wood product production everywhere except the home province they come from.
The flow of forestry capital out of BC is accelerating, including
Ep 434 - The State of Salmon in British Columbia Guest: Jason Hwang
Ep 434 - The State of Salmon in British Columbia
Guest: Jason Hwang
Salmon are one of the most magnificent species that you rarely get to see, especially when they go to sea. The migratory route from freshwater to the open expanse of the Gulf of Alaska and then back again is unparalleled. No other species travels these great distances without an overhead view – salmon travel to and from their spawning grounds, guided by some internal sonar that is remarkably precise.
Jason Hwang says, “They
Ep 433 - Unlocking the Magic of Probiotics Guest - Dr. Gregor Reid
Ep 433 - Unlocking the Magic of Probiotics
Guest - Dr. Gregor Reid
In 1983, Dr. Gregor Reid had a wild and crazy idea. He pondered, “Is lactobacilli bacteria good for your health?” It was an idea that was years ahead of its time. Back then, probiotics didn’t exist. No one thought of or considered the microbiome – in fact, the term microbiome didn’t exist. Dr. Reid faced ridicule: “Oh, I was called a whole host of names.”
Dr. Reid looked over the horizon and around the corner of history, and
Ep 432 - A Wicked Problem Guest: Douglas Todd
Dec 30, 2022
Ep 432 - A Wicked Problem
Guest: Douglas Todd
In his book, “White Angel,” John MacLachlan Gray describes the Vancouver of the 1920s as “a dirty, smelly, corrupt hellhole.” Anyone who passes through the Downtown Eastside of the city today might wonder if he was referring to 2020 – an unfortunate consideration because, in 2008, then-mayor Gregor Roberstson promised to end homelessness.
When Robertson left office, the Vancouver Sun reported that “tent-city organizers said that the
Ep 431 - The Magic, Mystery and Power of Words Guest: Jonathan Berkowitz
Ep 431 - The Magic, Mystery and Power of Words
Guest: Jonathan Berkowitz
By Stuart McNish
Words are magical things. Words, when spoken out loud in performance, can be and often are like music. When rhythm, timber, pitch and pace are spoken aloud, they are like notes of music. Words – whether spoken, read or thought – ignite a complex series of neural circuits that bring meaning to words.
Words can be and are fun unto themselves. Pulling together a combination of words – like “cantankerous o
Ep 430 - How we can Save Plastic Guest: Bob Masterson
Ep 430 - How we can Save Plastic
Guest: Bob Masterson
Plastics are ubiquitous. You can’t go anywhere without them. Your kitchen, for example, is filled with them and most likely you don’t realize how much a part of your life they are. Turn on a light switch – the switch, the face plate, the coating around the wires are all made from plastic. Turn on the tap and drain the sink, and it is plastic that delivers the water and takes it away. Not to mention, all of the wraps on foods that are in y
Ep 429 - Sounding the Ambulance Alarm Guest: Troy Clifford
Ep 429 - Sounding the Ambulance Alarm
Guest: Troy Clifford
By Stuart McNish
Imagine that a loved one in your family has fallen and hurt themselves. They can’t move. You call 9-1-1 and ask for an ambulance to be sent to your home – at least, that’s what you thought was the best way to care for your cherished family member. “Now, you can’t help but wonder if an ambulance will arrive,” says Troy Clifford, the Provincial President of the Ambulance Paramedics and Dispatchers of British Columbia uni
Ep 428 - HIV/AIDS is still a Pandemic Guest: Dr Julio Montaner
Ep 428 - HIV/AIDS is still a Pandemic
Guest: Dr Julio Montaner
By Stuart McNish
In 1996, Julio Montaner hosted the Vancouver International AIDS Conference and, at the same time, shared the HAART antiretroviral treatment that he and a team of committed scientists were pioneering in Vancouver. Since then, he has pioneered the concept of Treatment as Prevention (TasP). Dr Montaner was the first person to advocate for the expansion of HAART coverage to curb the impact on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and
Ep 427 - Working with Artificial Intelligence Guest: Thomas Davenport
Ep 427 - Working with Artificial Intelligence
Guest: Thomas Davenport
By Stuart McNish
“The world does not lack for management ideas [sic]. Thousands of researchers, practitioners, and other experts produce tens of thousands of articles, books, papers, posts, and podcasts each year. But only a scant few promise to truly move the needle on practice, and fewer still date to reach into the future of what management will become. It is this rare breed of idea – meaningful to practice, grounded in e
Ep 426 - Can Farming Survive Gov Policy? Guest: Kritjan Hebert
Ep 426 - Can Farming Survive Gov Policy?
Guest: Kritjan Hebert
By Stuart McNish
Farming is a risky business and it’s even riskier when bad government policies undermine good farming and agricultural practices. Kristjan Hebert says, “I can deal with a bad year, a bad crop, and even Mother Nature, but I can’t insure against bad policy.” He is speaking to the federal government’s plan to cut back on the amount of nitrogen Canada emits by use of fertilizers.
That plan would see a 30% reduction i
Ep 425 - Is Breast Cancer Research Flawed? Guest: Paula Gordon
Ep 425 - Is Breast Cancer Research Flawed?
Guest: Paula Gordon
By Stuart McNish
If you are a woman in your 40s, don’t worry about a mammogram. At least that’s what Canadian research has been saying since the 1980s. Dr. Paula Gordon, a renowned radiology researcher and clinical professor at the University of British Columbia, says, “The research is wrong!” In a commentary paper that was published in the Journal of Medical Screening, Gordon and colleagues point out the Canadian National Breast S
Ep 424 - YVR - Gateway Airport Guest: Tamara Vrooman
Ep 424 - YVR - Gateway Airport
Guest: Tamara Vrooman
By Stuart McNish
Anyone who passes through Vancouver’s YVR airport recognizes that the facility – like the city, the region and the province it services – is beautiful. So many other airports around the world are utilitarian structures designed to move people with no regard for the aesthetics that make people feel as if they are in a special place. Tamara Vrooman, the CEO of YVR agrees: “It’s spectacular!”
YVR is not only beautiful – it's
Ep 423 - Canada’s Gateway Port Guest: Duncan Wilson
Ep 423 - Canada’s Gateway Port
Guest: Duncan Wilson
By Stuart McNish
Dock workers, truck drivers, forklift operators, tug boat deck hands, ships pilots, and crane operators rarely make the news. In fact, the only time we hear about them is when, in rare cases, something stops working the way it does 99.9% of the time.
Duncan Wilson, the VP of Environment and External Affairs at the Port of Vancouver says, “These are the people whose work makes our lives work. They are the lifeblood of the co
Ep 422 - Can Genomics Save the Taz? Guest: Carolyn Hogg
Ep 422 - Can Genomics Save the Taz?
Guest: Carolyn Hogg
By Stuart McNish
The Tasmanian devil is a less than cuddly carnivorous marsupial with an international reputation, thanks to Looney Tunes. The “Taz” appeared in cartoons in 1954 and was still on television well into the 90s. The devil is important to Tasmania as a tourism attractor because people come from all over the world to see it.
In 1941, the devils became officially protected by the government of Australia. Unfortunately, that pr
Why Canada Needs Immigrants
Ep 421 - Why Canada Needs Immigrants
Guest: Patrick MacKenzie
By Stuart McNish
Even with uncertain economic conditions ahead, Canada’s labour market is still hot – unemployment is running at 4.9%, which is, in essence, full employment. There are more than one million job vacancies across the country. Some sectors, like health care and social services, are seeing vacancies and demand for workers climb higher and higher.
The Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia develops and promotes
Has Canada Lost Its Way?
Ep 420 - Has Canada Lost Its Way?
Guest: Ken Coates
By Stuart McNish
“Canada is a country without a centre, without a purpose”, says Ken Coates, a Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Indigenous Affairs Program at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and a Canada Research Chair at the University of Saskatchewan. It’s a jarring statement, one Coates says is, “an apt description of the state of the country.”
Coates says, “on one level, the idea that Canada’s future is uncertain seems absurd. Th
Searching for Innovative Addiction Treatment
Ep 419 - Searching for Innovative Addiction Treatment
Guest: Hirpal Hundial
By Stuart McNish
The numbers are staggering – almost five people a day in BC are dying from what the Coroners Service calls “illicit drug toxicity,” also known as opioid deaths. That adds up to 1,095 people from January 1, 2022 to the end of June.
Hirpal Hundial says, “There has been nothing transformative or innovative in the field of addiction medicine to assist people going through detoxification for the last 25
Is Ukraine vs. Russia a Proxy World War?
Ep 418 - Is Ukraine vs. Russia a Proxy World War?
Guest: Jeffrey Simpson
By Stuart McNish
Is the Ukraine-Russia war a proxy World War? Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says, “It is!” He contends NATO is “using Ukraine as a battering ram against the Russian state.” He says, “Russia is the target of one of the most ruthless proxy wars in modern history.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, in a Washington Post article, confirmed that America’s goal is to “‘weaken’ Russia,” saying that
A New Spirit of Capitalism
Ep 417 - A New Spirit of Capitalism
Guest: Drew Erdmann
By Stuart McNish
“Even before the Global Financial Crisis of 2008-09, the excesses of unchecked capitalism were manifest – what once seemed like a virtuous drive to maximise returns on investment for everyone came to seem like a race to the bottom. The wealthy got increasingly wealthy, workers’ wages stagnated, the environment suffered, and parts of many countries were left behind,” states a new book published by the Trilateral Commission
BC Legends
Ep 416 - BC Legends
Guest: Carole Taylor
By Stuart McNish
“British Columbia is rich with people of legendary status – people who looked the hardships of life in the eye and stared them down,” says Carole Taylor. “Along the way, the tales of their seemingly impossible feats became folklore. In other words, they are larger than life.”
Carole Taylor, a legend in her own right, set out to document BC’s living legends. She says, “I wanted to ensure we recognized and preserved the stories of thes
Is paper the right environmental choice?
Ep 415 - Is paper the right environmental choice?
Guest:Dr. Chris DeArmitt
By Stuart McNish
On June 22nd of 2022, the Government of Canada introduced its “Single-use Plastics Prohibition Regulations,” legislation that states that plastic checkout grocery bags are considered single-use if the bag breaks or tears if “used to carry 10 kilograms over a distance of 53 metres 100 times.” A plastic straw is considered single-use if after washing it 100 times in a dishwasher, it changes shape. Does t
Fighting for Truth and Justice
Ep 414 - Fighting for Truth and Justice
Guest: Matthew Caruana Galizia
By Stuart McNish
In the afternoon hours of October 16th 2017 in Bidnija, Malta, the car of investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia was ripped apart by a powerful bomb. “My mother had to go to the bank, she left the house and then I heard the explosion,” said Matthew Caruana Galizia in an interview for the Allard Prize for International Integrity. His mother was a fearless Maltese journalist who was assassinated for
Do Universities Matter?
Ep 413 - Do Universities Matter?
Guest: Joy Johnson
By Stuart McNish
If knowledge is empowerment, does the place where you garner that knowledge matter? “The answer is yes, it does matter,” says Joy Johnson, the President of Simon Fraser University. Johnson continues by noting, “a university degree carries with it exceptional career prospects, higher pay and it opens a person’s mind to the realm of the possible and pushes the boundaries of the seemingly impossible.”
There are many careers t
Blowing the Whistle on Danske Bank
Ep 412 - Blowing the Whistle on Danske Bank
Guest: Howard Wilkinson
As Russia continues to disrupt the world, we revisit a previous Conversation with Allard Prize for International Integrity co-winner Howard Wilkinson, the man who blew the whistle on the largest money laundering case in history. Wilkinson uncovered and exposed an international money laundering scheme that reached all the way to the Russian secret police, which included relatives of President Vladimir Putin. So corrupt is the r
Smart Mission: How NASA solves problems
Ep 411 - Smart Mission: How NASA solves problems
Guest: Ed Hoffman
“The COVID-19 global pandemic demonstrates the need for international collaboration to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges,” states a new book on project and program management called “The Smart Mission, NASA’s Lessons for Managing Knowledge, People and Projects.” Over 37 days, a NASA team of aerospace engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory with no knowledge of medical devices built a working ventilator from off-
Is Russia Collapsing?
Ep 410 - Is Russia Collapsing?
Guest: Diane Francis
The EU just announced its seventh sanctions package, which is set to put an embargo on Russian gold. Gold is Russia’s largest non-energy export. The Russian government’s response was to shrug it off and downplay the impact of sanctions – a position the Union of Gold Producers in Russia disagrees with, noting that “the country’s gold industry may suffer irreparable damage.”
Author, National Post Editor-at-Large, and Senior Fellow of the Atla
Health Care on Trial
Ep 409 - Health Care on Trial
Guest: Dr Brian Day
A recent Research Co. survey on health care shows that confidence in our healthcare system is dropping. “Three years ago, 77% of Canadians were proud of the healthcare system,” says Mario Canseco. “In 2022, the proportion has dropped by 19 points to 58%.” And an Angus Reid poll showed 70% of British Columbians feel the province is doing a poor job in health care and the opioid crisis.
Premier Horgan pointed the finger at Ottawa, saying, “The
Is Ethanol a Good Fuel Choice?
Ep 408 - Is Ethanol a Good Fuel Choice?
Guest: Marc Rauch
As we all know, the price of gas is skyrocketing. It’s a big issue for the President of the United States, namely because he’s under fire to address inflation. His response to soaring fuel prices was to lift a ban on the sale of E15 fuel. E-15 stands for 15% ethanol in the fuel and adding it to gas saves money and reduces carbon output. “A welcome announcement you’d think?” asks Marc Rauch, the Executive VP of the Auto Channel. “It shou
All of Life is a Gamble - Kamal Gupta
“All of life is a gamble, all of it!” says Kamal Gupta, a man who has taken big risks throughout his life – risks he details in his book “Play It Right,” the story of a young graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology who took a chance in the late 1980s and left India for the United States.
Gupta’s story is more than the story of an immigrant in search of the “American Dream.” His is a story of a man who took big risks. After securing a well paying job in tech, he became bored. To alleviat
Putin’s Long Game Guest: Vice-Admiral US Navy, (Ret) John Stufflebeem
Ep 398 - Putin’s Long Game
Guest: Vice-Admiral US Navy, (Ret) John Stufflebeem
By Stuart McNish
The war in the Ukraine has revealed that Russia is ruthless in its tactics, that it is willing to kill noncombatants. And it has also demonstrated that despite a coalescing of NATO nations, Ukraine is on its own. As retired U.S. Navy Vice-Admiral John Stufflebeem points out. Putin calculated the world's political and economic powers have fractured. He noted they did nothing after he annexed Crimea
It’s Lonely at the Top Guest: Ron Bremner
Ep 397 - It’s Lonely at the Top
Guest: Ron Bremner
By Stuart McNish
"It's lonely at the top" is the famous line in Shakespeare's Henry IV. The King had a very challenging reign; he felt alone in his misery. “It’s lonely at the top” speaks to the theory that leaders are not only lonely, they’re also isolated – which raises the questions: are they? And if so, where do they find companionship and trust?
Executive coach Ron Bremner says, “One of the challenges is as a CEO or executive leader, yo
Is Vancouver a Headquarter Ghost Town? Guest: Jock Finlayson
Ep 396 - Is Vancouver a Headquarter Ghost Town?
Guest: Jock Finlayson
By Stuart McNish
Is Vancouver a head office ghost town? “The numbers say no, but they also say we’re not doing well and the prospects of a change of fortunes are slim and dim,” says Jock Finlayson, the past chief economist of the Business Council of BC.
Head offices are highly sought after by any city because they generate employment, taxes and attract professional and financial services that support corporate headquarters
Financial Cold War - James Fok
April 15 , 2022
Ep 395 - Financial Cold War
Guest: James Fok
By Stuart McNish
Are China and the US sliding into Thucydides’s Trap? Are they bound to follow history or can they work together to avoid war? In “Financial Cold War,” author James Fok examines “the relationship between the two superpowers through the lens of financial markets.” The book reveals how the global financial system is contributing to geopolitical tensions and offers a pragmatic approach to de-escalation.
Fok explains, “
The Great Wealth Transfer
April 8 , 2022
Ep 394 - The Great Wealth Transfer
Guest: Nicole Garton
By Stuart McNish
According to Forbes magazine, “Over the next two decades, an unprecedented shift of demographics and finances will take place and will likely be felt by every American” and, by extension, every Canadian. That’s because baby boomers are expected to transfer in excess of $30 trillion to the next generation – an exchange of wealth that has been dubbed the “great wealth transfer.”
Much (while not all) of tha
Social Media - Good or Bad? - Dr Cody Buntain
Ep 393 - Social Media - Good or Bad?
Guest: Dr Cody Buntain
By Stuart McNish
Don’t you wish there was an app that lets you know which one of the people you know is an opinionated, bigoted, racist, mysoginistic, conspiracy theory idiot? Oh wait, there is! In fact, there are many and collectively, they are known as social media. “That is a big problem,” says Dr. Cody Buntain, an assistant professor at the University of Maryland’s College of Information.
Dr. Buntain points out that “TikTok is t
Beef Industry’s Commitment to Carbon Reduction: Ruaraidh Petre
Ep 375 - Beef Industry’s Commitment to Carbon Reduction
Guest: Ruaraidh Petre
The beef industry is feeling the heat. That heat is the ongoing campaign directed at cattle as a negative force upon the environment and in particular climate. While the industry in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and North America is already striving to reduce the environmental impact of cows, the rest of the world is also getting on-side.
The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef is a worldwide organization tha
It’s Time to Separate: Professor Barry Cooper
Ep 374 - It’s time to Separate
Guest: Professor Barry Cooper
Forget alienation, says University of Calgary Professor Barry Cooper – “Call a referendum on separation.” Cooper maintains it’s time for a new relationship with Ottawa, that it’s time to reset the agreement in Confederation, one that was established to ensure Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories would never have the power base needed to dictate the direction of their own territory, let alone the country.
St
Sacred and Strong: Dr Shannon McDonald
Ep 373 - Sacred and Strong
Guest: Dr Shannon McDonald
We want the right to choose and control our health; it is our right in British Columbia. Not so if you are a First Nations person and even less so if you are First Nations female. “Sacred and Strong” is a recently published report from the First Nations Health Authority focused on the health and wellness of First Nations women and girls living in BC.
The purpose of the report is to “reclaim First Nations teachings and protocols around bi
A Survival Guide in Rogue Times: Jonathan Brill
Ep 372 - A Survival Guide in Rogue Times
Guest: Jonathan Brill
When COVID-19 hit, the world went into shock. Virtually no one was prepared for the dramatic shift in every aspect of their lives that was cascading down on us. Well, not everyone. In 2015 at a TED Talk, Bill Gates warned a “Spanish flu”-like pandemic was coming. He observed the response to West Africa’s 2014 ebola outbreak and the poor response from the rest of the world. Gates rightly predicted a future pandemic was going to hit
Saving Private Bookstores - Marc Côté
Saving Private Bookstores
Guest: Marc Côté
“Bookstores are important, because they sell the cultural objects that feed and shape our souls – books and the stories they contain make us more human. They improve our ability to empathize, and empathy is the glue that holds societies together,” says Marc Côté, the publisher of Cormorant Books.
Ask yourself this: when was the last time you bought a book in a bookstore in Canada written by a Canadian? Not from Amazon, but in a bookstore with a pe
Was Popeye Wrong? - Andrea Betaglio
Ep 370 - Was Popeye Wrong?
Guest: Andrea Bertaglio
“I’m strong to the finish ‘cause I eats me spinach” is one of Popeye the Sailor Man’s favourite quotes. Wrong, says Italian environmental journalist Andrea Bertaglio. He says Popeye helped create the perception that all you need are veggies to live a healthy life.
“It seems the whole world has suddenly decided not to eat meat,” he says. “But have you ever wondered why?” He did and so he set out to find out the answer. Namely, Bertaglio says,
The Importance of early detection of Breast Cancer - Dr Paula Gordon
Ep 369 - The importance of early detection of Breast Cancer
Dr Paula Gordon
“I had suddenly gone from being the healthiest person I knew to having breast cancer,” said Christine Hazle during an interview for a Breast Cancer Awareness campaign produced for BC Cancer.
She continues to say, “I hadn’t been sick a day in my life, I’m the person who never gets a cold, never gets the flu and that was my perception of myself.” Despite her clean bill of health, she went for her mammogram. Her cancer
Your Brain on Fruits and Veggies - Dr Bonnie Kaplan
Ep 368 - Your Brain on Fruits and Veggies
Guest: Dr Bonnie Kaplan
Imagine, if you will, a wonder treatment that can help you overcome anxiety, combat depression, reduce ADHD and stress. “What a blessing that would be!” says Dr. Bonnie J. Kaplan, a research psychologist and co-author of “The Better Brain.” Kaplan goes on to say, “There is a paradigm-shifting approach to treating mental disorders with food and nutrients.”
For Kaplan, that approach is a broad spectrum one – an approach that was
Will the 2020’s be a decade of rage? - Alec Ross
Oct 1, 2021
Ep 367 - Will the 2020s be a decade of rage?
Guest: Alec Ross
Are we on the cusp of a paradigm shift? “Hopefully,'' says Alec Ross. “If we don’t, the 2020s and beyond may well be known as the decade of rage.” The source of that rage is a symmetrical distribution of wealth to the rich and the rest of us. In his book, “The Raging 2020s,” Ross points out that “over the past 30 years, the top 1 percent have grown $21 trillion richer while the bottom 50 percent have grown $900 billion
Every Child Matters: Michael Downie
Ep 366 - Every Child Matters - The Lonely Death of Chanie Wenjack
Guest: Michael Downie
On January 19, 2022, Chanie Wenjack would have turned 67 years of age. He died in 1967 at the age of 12 after running away from a residential school in northern Ontario. He tried to walk close to 400 miles in the cold weather to get back home.
Chanie was a member of the Ojibway and he was attending the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, Ontario. He became lonely and ran away. He died trying t
Corporate Farmers: Who Are They?: Adrienne Ivey
Ep 365 - Corporate Farmers - Who Are They?
Guest: Adrienne Ivey
Adrienne Ivey asks you to close your eyes and form an image of a corporate farmer – a corporate farmer with a board of directors who has shares and receives dividends, a corporate farmer that owns a large 10,000-acre ranch with 1,000 head of cattle, a corporate farmer that runs the business based on the numbers, and who sells products into a food production network, not at farmer's markets.
She then asks you to open your eyes
Power for All: Julie Battilana
Ep 363 - Power for All
Guest: Julie Battilana
“Power is one of the most misunderstood and therefore vilified concepts in our society,” says Julie Battilana, the founder and facility chair of the Social Innovation and Change Initiative at the Harvard Business School. Battilana goes on to say, “Most people assume power is predetermined by personality or wealth, or that it is gained by strong-arming others.”
According to Battilana, the myths associated with power stand in the way of access to i
Is Data Mapping a Crystal Ball: Will Caddell
Ep 362 - Is Data Mapping a Crystal Ball?
Guest: Will Cadell
Maps – try to go anywhere without them. You can get to places for sure, especially if the terrain is familiar. However, venture outside of your familiar neighbourhood and then your journey is one of trial and error. You wonder what is over there or over there or there and with each foray, you discover something new – new, but not necessarily helpful.
Data is a form of mapping; so is remote satellite imagery. Now combine the two and
Leadership Inside Out: Susan Ney
Ep 361 - Leadership Inside Out
Guest: Susan Ney
The topic of leadership is confounding. There are so many theories and concepts and guidebooks and textbooks that contradict one another and create confusion. Do I stand tall and lead from the front, or do I lean in or support from the sidelines?
It’s easy for me to say I have no idea what it means to be a leader. I really don’t. I’ve just had to trust my gut that somehow I was doing the right thing. I know quickly enough when I’m doing the wro
Is today finally hydrogen’s day? Guest: Jessica Verhagen
Is today finally hydrogen’s day?
Guest: Jessica Verhagen
To say hydrogen’s day has been coming for a long time is an understatement. It was discovered by Henry Cavendish in 1766 and it was quickly identified as the most abundant chemical substance in the universe – the entire universe. In other words, there is no “peak hydrogen.” We can use the stuff forever and we can use it to store energy and to fuel transportation. And maybe, just maybe, today is the day hydrogen takes centre stage as th
Social Media and Food Guest: Sylvain Charlebois
According to Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, one of the most important changes in the food supply network is social media. “Consumers,” he says, “finally have a voice and they're using it. They're talking a lot about food and where to buy it.” Previously, the food relationship was a push from manufacturer to grocer and then to consumer. But he says, “Now it's a pull in the other direction. And this, in essence, is putting tremendous pressure on the food industry in Canada.”
Charlebois says it's democrat
COVID-19: Where did it come from? - Nicholas Wade
The hunt is on for the source of the coronavirus. Was it a natural leap from animal to human via another host animal or was it a leak from the Wuhan Institute of Virology? To date, we don’t know. And the answer is vitally important to a large swath of people and the Chinese and American governments.
Early in the pandemic, we were heavily influenced to believe it was a natural emergence. The reason we were nudged in that direction was statements from two significant scientific groups – statem
Does Context Matter? Guest: Vince Taylor, author of “Beyond the Blindfold: Harnessing the Secret Power of Context”
Does context matter? It’s an odd question to ask, especially of yourself. After all, isn't your point of view yours and therefore it’s correct? So who cares? Well, Vince Taylor cares. He cares so much he wrote a book about his journey of self-discovery.
Taylor says, “Before I really understood context, I understood nothing.” If you sit back for a moment and think about Taylor’s assertion, it seems implausible that you could be so far off base because you haven’t taken the time to consider the
Will the cruise ships ever come back to BC? - Guest Ian Robertson
Ep 356 - Will the cruise ships ever come back?
Guest: Ian Robertson
Where have all the cruise ships gone?
They were a long time coming. It’s important to remember they didn’t come here by chance.
In the 1980s, the Honourable Grace McCarthy set her sights on building a sustainable tourism business and she knew the growing Alaska cruise ship industry was a perfect fit. She worked with the Feds and built Canada Place in Vancouver, not just as a convention centre but also as a world class cru
Is Cattle Ranching Sustainable? - Cherie Copithorne-Barnes
Ep 355 - Is cattle ranching sustainable?
Guest - Cherie Copithorne-Barnes
We need protein – plain and simple, we need it. And we need protein from nutrient rich sources. Beef, chicken, pork are all nutrient rich and when cooked, these are the foods that propelled the development of the human brain. They remain important to our brain health and the replacement of protein in our bodies that is continuously breaking down.
Alberta cattle rancher Cherie Copithorne-Barnes says, “Cows are an exceptiona
Setting the Standard for Renewable Cities
Ep 354 - Setting the Standard for Renewable Cities
Guest - Dr Walter Mérida
As much of the world switches over to electric transportation, the “What about this?” and “What about that?” questions are popping up from those people who are saying, “Not possible.”
On the other side of that discussion is Dr. Walter Mérida, who prefers to ask “What if?”, as in “What if there was a way to integrate all of our disparate urban infrastructure systems to create a cohesive, comprehensive, and connected p
Cannabis as Medicine - John Tse
Ep 353 - Cannabis as Medicine
Guest - John Tse
The idea of lighting up a doobie for medicinal purposes sounds fantastic. I’m stressed; I’ll take a toke, right on! I’m in pain; I’ll toke a little more, fantastic! I can’t sleep; yeah you got– you’re just a few tokes away for a night of bliss.
The problem, according to pharmacists and medical cannabis practitioner John Tse, is “cannabis as a medication doesn’t work that way – medical cannabis is not inhaled and the prescribing of it is complica
Can Granville St be Re-Imagined? - Chris Fair
Ep 352 - Can Granville St be Re-Imagined?
Guest - Chris Fair
Granville Street – at least the part of it that is within the downtown area – was redesigned in 1974 and it was “supposed to reflect Vancouver’s unique identity, character and sense of place,” according to Heritage Vancouver.
The street, unfortunately, is a mishmash of planning over the decades that don’t always work as well as hoped for. And let’s face it, the street is supposed to be a pedestrian mall where people want to be. Th
Let‘s Talk GMO
Ep 351 - Let’s Talk GMOs with a GMO Scientist
Guest - Dr Larry Gilbertson
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, otherwise known as CRISPR. It's a word many people know is associated with genetic engineering – the genetic engineering of food. But what most of us don't know is, what exactly is genetic engineering?
The science of adjusting the genetic makeup of plants has been in process for thousands of years. From the time humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to farm
BC Mining Leading the World - Adam Pankratz
Ep 350 - BC Mining leading the World!
Guest - Adam Pankratz
For generations, mining operations across British Columbia have provided high-paying jobs and economic activity in every region of the province. According to the Mining Association of BC, “mining continues to be vital to the provincial economy and standard of living. BC’s minerals and metals are key ingredients in clean energy technologies and are helping the world transition to a cleaner, lower carbon economy.” The Association goe
Let‘s Talk about CRISPR People - Henry T. Greely
Ep 349 - Let’s Talk About CRISPR People
Guest - Henry T. Greely
The science and ethics of editing human DNA went on high alert in November of 2018 when it was revealed that two babies had been born after their embryos were CRISPed. Professor Henry T. Greely, the Director of the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences, was notified and within minutes of the news, he was drawn into an ethical debate that we all must consider. Greely asks and attempts to answer the question, “Is it ethical
Addressing Anti-Asian Racism - Franco Ng
Ep 348 - Addressing Anti-Asian Racism
Guest - Franco Ng
Anti-Asian racism is increasing. Over the past 12 months, reports of discriminatory incidents in Canada have more than tripled, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Toronto and U of T’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health. And the reason for the increase, according to the authors of the report, is COVID-19.
Anti-Asian racism unfortunately is not new to Canada. People of Chinese discent have experienced racism, s
BC's World Class Life Sciences - Wendy Hurlburt
Ep 347 - BC’s World Class Life Sciences
Guest - Wendy Hurlburt
Let’s start with a quiz. What are life sciences and why should you care about them, especially if you live in British Columbia?
We know, it’s not a topic on the tip of your tongue nor is it top of mind. But maybe – just maybe – it ought to be. Not just because we’re past the one-year mark of a global pandemic that desperately needs life sciences to vaccinate and treat COVID-19 and all of its variants.
Life sciences are the di
The Right Stuff - Judy Desjarlais
The Right Stuff
Guest - Judy Desjarlais
“The Right Stuff” is a 1979 book by Tom Wolfe that celebrates the remarkable heroics for the flyboys that beat the odds and slipped the bonds of the Earth for the first time. The focus of the book is on the guts and determination it took to risk it all in the pursuit of a worthy cause.
Judy Desjarlais is made of that same stuff – fearlessness, drive, determination, the ability to see opportunity where others don’t, and the willingness to go for it k
Is all Methane Created Equal?- Guest: Robert Howarth, PhD
Is all Methane Created Equal?
Guest: Robert Howarth, PhD
The debate over agricultural methane is raging – cow burps and cow manure are in the eye of the storm. Dr Robert Howarth of Cornell University says, “Teasing the global warming potential of agricultural methane out of the global warming equation as less potent doesn’t matter because methane is methane.”
Haworth, however, acknowledges that “cow-produced methane is not the big culprit in global warming potential. It is by far and away t
One Billion Plastic Bottles - David Katz
One Billion Plastic Bottles
Guest: David Katz
Plastic, plastic, plastic – it is everywhere. It is woven into the fabric of the human experience in every country in the world. Plastic delivers water to your tap; it takes that same water away after it exits your sink. Plastic is wrapped around the wires in your home and it has reduced the likelihood of fire inside your home dramatically.
You can’t live without the stuff. In most cases, plastic is the better environmental choice. The life cycle
Farming is a Risky Business: Kristjan Hebert
Farming is a Risky Business
Guest: Kristjan Hebert
Farming is a risky business.
According to Kristjan Hebert, reducing that risk comes down to numbers. “You used to be able to blame financial losses on the weather,” he says, “You can’t do that anymore.”
He uses an 8,000-acre (32 square kilometre) farm as an example. To him, that’s one seeder, two combines, one sprayer and three full-time workers plus the owner.
“The cost to operate that farm runs about $400 an acre, he says. It means
Do you put your money where your mouth is? - Sean Carter
Ep 342 - Do you put your money where your mouth is?
Guest: Sean Carter
“Social entrepreneurship is the road less travelled, but is one of the paths that can lead to the building of hybrid businesses with triple bottom line,” said Oscar Auliq-Ice, the founder of Icetratt. The company focuses on investments in socially responsible companies that include the arts.
Auliq-Ice also said, “There is no better way to make money than doing what you love and are passionate about” – which is a great idea
Is British Columbia leading the way in Digital Health? - Sylvain Mreno
Ep 341 - Is British Columbia leading the way in digital health?
Guest: Sylvain Moreno
When the COVID-19 pandemic forever changed our lives, it also forever changed the way we receive primary healthcare. In an instant, healthcare went digital. Thankfully, foundational tools were in place that allowed us to connect with our doctors and clinics and we were afforded the opportunity to receive basic care.
Telehealth has been in place for seniors in remote and rural communities that were enrolled