Brian Crombie Radio Hour

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Kaveh Shahrooz.  Kaveh is a lawyer, a human rights activist, a university instructor, and a Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. A former Senior Policy Advisor to Global Affairs Canada on international human rights policy, Kaveh is a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Toronto. He serves as a legal advisor to the Association of Families of Flight PS752 and is also a co-founder of the Iranian Justice Collective, an organization focused on supporting Iranian democratic aspirations.Together Kaveh and Brian discuss the current situation in Iran, noting that the regime's nuclear policy has isolated and damaged the country economically. Kaveh explained that Iranians are angry not at Israel for its attacks, but at their own government for its handling of the situation and for prioritizing defense spending over civil liberties. He also expressed concern that the Israeli strikes, while currently precise, could escalate and lead to broader conflict. Kaveh agrees with the assessment that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at developing a bomb, rather than civilian energy purposes, and that the country is close to achieving nuclear capability.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Phil Richardson and Danielle Papillon Richardson. Professor Philip Richardson and Danielle Papillon Richardson discussed their upcoming book "Funny, Not Funny: Humanity's Risk Register," which addresses 12 existential threats, eight of which are human-made. They explained their approach of using humour to make these serious issues more accessible and emphasized the importance of creating a dynamic risk register for humanity, similar to how project managers plan for risks. The book, which includes contributions from global experts, will be published in early fall and is available for pre-order on Amazon. They also highlighted the need for resilience and agility in addressing these challenges. 

Brian interviews John J. Kirton. John is director of the G7 Research Group, G20 Research Group and the Global Health Diplomacy Program, and co-director of the BRICS Research Group, all under the umbrella of the Global Governance Program based at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. A professor emeritus of political science, he has taught Canadian foreign policy, global governance and international relations. The G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta was a successful event where leaders demonstrated strong cooperation despite Donald Trump's early departure, with significant progress made on various issues including tariffs, wildfires, AI advancements, and support for Ukraine. Professor John Kirton highlighted the summit's broad impact and new rules established to prevent foreign interference among G7 countries, while noting that Russia's suspension from the group in 2014 was based on democratic actions rather than Trudeau's influence. The discussion concluded with optimism about the G7's commitment to supporting Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of maintaining democratic nations and strengthening economic and military capabilities against global conflicts.

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Eliot Pence. Eliot is the Chief Business Officer of Osmo, a Lux Capital, Google Ventures backed deep tech company. From 2022-2024, Eliot was the Chief Commercial Officer of Cambium, an 8VC Build company that develops advanced materials for aerospace and defense. He discusses how drones have become a critical component of modern warfare and highlighted Ukraine's production capabilities, emphasizing the need for Canada to modernize its military technology and procurement processes.The conversation explores various aspects of drone technology, including manufacturing, defense challenges, and potential applications for border control and Arctic monitoring. Eliot and Brian discuss the importance of investing in autonomous systems, AI, and collaborative combat aircraft, while noting the need for Canada to develop its own military technology capabilities and reform its procurement processes to better respond to emerging security threats. 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian discusses transit. As we wrap up our week focused on key municipal issues in Mississauga and the GTA, we turn our attention to one of the most vital components of a thriving city: transit. In our final episode of the week, we explore the future of transportation across the GTA and the exciting potential it holds for shaping our urban landscape. Join us as we discuss where we are, what's in motion, and what could be next for transit in the GTA. We hope this episode leaves you informed, inspired, and optimistic about the possibilities ahead for building a smarter, more connected region. 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Arthur Lam. Arthur Lam of Nexus Strategic Consultants talks about his provocative article: “In clinging to the dying era of free trade, Canada has lost its edge”. Arthur writes: “Canada urgently needs to abandon outdated free trade strategies for a managed trade approach. Canadian businesses need an active government that facilitates commerce, not just negotiates agreements that sit on shelves. We need to concentrate on sectors with strong export potential, bilateral arrangements that facilitate those exports, and an independent Trade Commissioner Service focused on priority markets.” 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Brad Butt, Mississauga City Councillor for Ward 11, and Chair of the Budget Committee. Together Brian and Brad discuss the Mississauga budget, tax increases, spending, Peel Police budget, who's to blame, and the future of our city. 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews George Tavares. George has a diverse background in Political Science, Canadian Indigenous Studies, Electronic Engineering Technology, Smart City Design, and Business Management, including International Business. He is well-versed in city governance. He has run for Mayor twice and is actively involved in municipal politics. George shares what he thinks of his experience, the by-election campaign, and where Mississauga is today. Together Brian and George discuss tax increases, spending, Peel Police budget, who's to blame, and the future of our city. 

Brian interviews Saad Baig. Saad is a Director in StrategyCorp's Public Affairs group. He currently provides strategic advice to clients navigating government relations challenges in a variety of sectors including housing, infrastructure, land use planning, gaming, manufacturing, and professional regulation. Saad served as a senior advisor to cabinet ministers in the Government of Ontario including Minister of Finance, economic development, and international trade and infrastructure policy. Saad Baig talks about where we do a Political Roundup of Mississauga, GTA, Ontario and Canada politics. 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews David Tsubouchi and Marc Kealey.  "How did you get where you are today?". At public speaking events, this is the most frequent question young professionals ask former Ontario politician David Tsubouchi and governance and communications consultant Marc Kealey. The answer: it is impossible to succeed alone. David  has served as the Honorary Consul General of Mongolia. His book, "Gambatte" was nominated for the Speaker's Book Award and the Heritage Toronto Book Award. "The Chinese Door" that takes place in Mongolia of 500 years ago was his first YA fantasy novel and is followed by the sequel, "The Chinese Door, The Arctic Adventure". David and Marc about their newly launched book “The Ripple Effect”. 

Tonight on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Don Wright. Don is a senior fellow at the C.D. Howe Institute and senior counsel at Global Public Affairs. He previously served as deputy minister to B.C.'s premier, cabinet secretary and head of the public service. Don talks about his article: "The Canadian Promise is Broken.” He writes: “Canada's performance in terms of generating steady, year-over-year increases in real wages fell off dramatically after the late 1970s, how housing has become essentially unaffordable for most younger Canadians, and how this has led to a high degree of pessimism about the prospects for the next generation.” 

Today on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews David Perry. David is the President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, an independent, non-partisan international policy think tank, where his research focuses on Canadian defense spending and Procurement. David touches on Canadian National Defense, the 2% of GDP target which might be doubled, what we should spend on, Golden Dome, jets, recruitment, how war has changed, and our geopolitical reality today. 

Today on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Christopher Coates. Lt.-Gen. (Ret'd) Christopher Coates is director of national defence and foreign policy at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute. His contributions to the Canadian Institute for Arctic Security are informed by a 34-year military career in which he served in senior leadership roles alongside Canada's allies and defence partners, including NATO, the United Nations, and NORAD. Christopher talks about Donald Trump's proposed Golden Dome. 

Today Brian Crombie interviews Peter Dickinson. Peter is the editor of the UkraineAlert blog at the Eurasia Center and the publisher of Business Ukraine and Lviv Today magazines. Born in the United Kingdom and a permanent resident of Ukraine for nearly twenty years, Peter has worked to develop awareness of Ukrainian current affairs and issues in English-speaking countries. He established himself as a journalist and media manager in Kyiv, helping to launch and manage a range of media products in Ukraine over the past fifteen years. Peter talks about yesterday's surprise Ukrainian drone attack on four Russia airfields and what it means both militarily and politically. Together Brian and Peter also discuss the Russian drone attacks on people, the front line, Putin, and Trump. 

Today on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Sandra Venere. Sandra is the author of "7 Keys to Unlock Your Dream Life", and the book which we are highlighting today called “Pain To Power". She is a wellness and business coach who runs her own online coaching business, where she helps individuals discover their vision and make decisions that guide them toward their goals and dreams. Sandra also created a digital course called Unlock Your True Potential, which is available on her website. She talks about her book "Pain To Power". Sandra describes how depression and trauma caused by a tragic break up, debilitating health issues and a forced retirement were overcome through passion, perseverance, purpose and a lot of inner work.

Today on The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Dora Konomi. Dora is a dynamic lawyer, radio host, and community advocate known for her strategic mindset and passion for litigation. With a focus on civil and commercial litigation—including construction disputes, fraud, debt enforcement, and condominium law—Dora has earned a strong reputation as a trusted advocate in complex legal matters. She is committed to education and professional development, regularly teaching young lawyers and presenting professional courses. Dora is also a sought-after media voice, offering legal commentary and insights on current issues. Moreover, she discusses legal and litigation issues with fraud.

In today's episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews John Pasalis. John is the President of Realosophy Realty, a Toronto real estate brokerage which uses data analysis to advise residential real estate buyers, sellers and investors. As a specialist in real estate data analysis, John's research focuses on unlocking micro trends in the Greater Toronto Area real estate market. His research has been shared with the IMF and cited by the Bank of Canada and CMHC. Additionally, he's a frequent commentator on the Toronto housing market, a real estate consumer and comments on industry issues. John holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Toronto and is a candidate in the Doctorate of Business Administration Program at the University of Toronto and Henley Business School (UK). He discusses what he believes caused our housing bubble/crisis - The Great Sell Off: How Hyper-Capitalization is Driving Canada's Housing Affordability Crisis. Brian concludes his show with his own assessment of our housing crisis, causes and solution. 

On today's episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Bryce Tingle. Bryce is the N. Murray Edwards Chair in Business at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law and a member of the Alberta Securities Commission. He is the author of several books, most recently, "Hard Lessons in Corporate Governance". Bryce highlights his article: "Everything is on fire: why corporate governance in Canada is such a mess—and how it's harming the economy". Together Brian and Bryce discuss what is happening in Canada's public markets why are companies refusing to go public, why should we care about the number of companies that go public, and why did we embark on a totally new way of doing corporate governance.

On today's episode of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian interviews Laurent Carbonneau. Laurent Carbonneau is the Director of Policy and Research at the Council of Canadian Innovators. He previously worked in federal politics in legislative, policy and issues management roles for a senior MP and in the NDP leader's office as well as on a national central campaign. Laurent Carbonneau talks about Prime Minister Mark Carney's mandate letter to the whole Cabinet. Together Brian and Laurent explore the recognition that our weak productivity is a huge risk, strengthening Canada's strategic trade and security relationships, crafting a defence industrial policy and reinvest in security and integrating Canada's economy and making it more competitive. They also touch on making Canada a global destination for top talent.

Brian interviews Donna Besel. Donna is the author of “The Unravelling” a brave, riveting telling of the destruction caused by sexual assault within a family, and the physical, psychological, emotional, financial, and legal tolls survivors often shoulder. It's the antithesis of why a wedding should be memorable. In 1992, at a sister's nuptials, Donna Besel's family members discovered that their father, Jock Tod, had molested their youngest sister. After this disclosure, the other five sisters admitted their father had assaulted them when they were younger and had been doing so for years. Despite there being enough evidence to charge their father, the lengthy prosecution rocked Besel's family and deeply divided their small rural community. Donna Besel offers an honest portrayal of the years-long police process from disclosure to prosecution that offers readers greater insight into the challenges victims face and the remarkable strength and resilience required to obtain some measure of justice.To wrap up the show, Brian shares an interview he recently had with Julia Vellucci for "Voices Behind the Mic", a special program which recently aired on Sauga 960 AM.

Brian interviews Journalist Kathleen Lippa. Kathleen has written "Arctic Predator: The Crimes of Edward Horne Against Children in Canada's North". After years of research, Kathleen has written about the shocking crimes of trusted teacher Ed Horne who wrought lasting damage on Inuit communities in Canada's Arctic. In the 1970s, a young schoolteacher from British Columbia was becoming the darling of the Northwest Territories education department with his dynamic teaching style. He was learning to speak the local language, Inuktitut, something few outsiders did. He also claimed to be Indigenous — a claim that would later prove to be false. In truth, Edward Horne was a pedophile who sexually abused his male students.To wrap up the show, Brian shares an interview he recently had with Julia Vellucci for "Voices Behind the Mic", a special program which recently aired on Sauga 960 AM.

Brian interviews John Ruffolo. John is Founder & Managing Partner of Maverix Private Equity. He says: now that 6 months of elections (US, Ontario, Canada) are now over, I don't know about you, but I am exhausted. I would hope that the post-election ranting and cheer-leading end so we could get down to business with what really matters to Canada. Like I have repeatedly said many times, the shenanigans in the White House are a distraction and red herring for Canada. So, let's focus in on what we can control. Canada needs to focus its energy on supporting entrepreneurs to unleash them to help bring Canada back on track and lead us through a rocky period what will ideally be a path for a longer term sustainable and prosperous future where Canada controls its own destiny. We need to build or rebuild critical industries and have sovereignty over them including data, communications, energy, food, health, and defense. We will have to rely less on imports and substitute where we can with domestic players. We will need to diversify our markets in which we export to and whether you like it or not, the US will remain a very large part of the puzzle.

Brian welcomes on two guests.Tim Welsh is author of "Ley Lines". This book is a fascinating exploration around the mythos of the gold rush and southern Canada's— and the world's—fascination with the North. Set in the waning days of the Klondike Gold Rush, Ley Lines begins in the mythical boom town of Sawdust City, Yukon Territory. Luckless prospector Steve Ladle has accepted an unusual job offer: accompany a local con artist to the unconquered top of a nearby mountain. There, the duo finds a seven-foot human ear, floating in a halo of light. This mysterious discovery briefly upends Sawdust City's fading fortunes, attracting a crowd of gawkers and acolytes, while inadvertently setting in motion a series of events that brings about the town's ruin.Then, he speaks with George Matuvi, author of "The War as I Saw It". George brings us into the world of a young boy living through a war he doesn't understand. As violence drives his family from their home in the mountains to the streets of Zimbabwe's towns and then cities, the author shares his family's story with honesty, composure and a touch of humour. Interspersed within this tale of flight, hardship and the eventual return to rebuild, Matuvi shares stories of his life as a child, from making soccer balls out of discarded plastic bags to the tales his father told around the fire at night, adding depth and joy to his portrait of a family struggling with displacement. "The War as I Saw It" is not a tragedy, though there were many tragedies during the war, it is a story of love, of strength in difficulty and of the ingenuity of one family as they cope with forces beyond their control.

Brian interviews two different guests.Catherine Bush, a master of Canadian eco-fiction, poses trenchant questions about humanity's reaction to the ongoing influence of climate-based disaster, investigates relationships between the human and more-than-human, and explores a world where touch and intimacy are both desirable and fraught. Her blistering new book of short fiction "Skin" presents an extraordinary exploration of intimacy. "Skin" is a moving look at survival and tenderness in a world threatened by cascading crises.The recipient of numerous conservation awards, Jeanne McRight initiated an amendment to Mississauga's Encroachment By-Law, allowing residents to create habitat gardens on city boulevards, and in 2019 founded Mississauga's exciting new not-for-profit organization Blooming Boulevards. She is currently busy as Blooming Boulevards' President and Chair. Six years later, 350 new pollinator gardens connect our city's boulevards, parks, and public spaces, with thousands of volunteers involved in the organization's programs, a website with a worldwide reach, and passionate participants who claim that their gardens have changed their lives.

Brian interviews George Minakakis. George is the Founder and CEO of Inception Retail Group Inc., an advisory firm serving consumer-facing businesses across industries, from traditional retail to healthcare. George Minakakis helps senior executives craft next-generation strategies, foster innovation, and develop their organizations into Human - AI First Companies. In addition to leading the firm, George Minakakis is the author of four books, keynote speaker and a prolific commenter on and writer about current events. George Minakakis talks about Canada's relationship with the US, how trade and our tariff situation is upending the economy more than companies and people are prepared for, how Daniele Smith is harming Alberta and Canada, how AI will change everything and how people and companies need to respond to all that is going on.

Brian interviews Jeff Mahon. Jeff is Director of StrategyCorp's Geopolitical and International Business Advisory. He is also an Executive in Residence at the Canada West Foundation. Prior to this, he served as Deputy Director at Global Affairs Canada's China Division, was Nunavut's Chief Negotiator for the Canadian Free Trade Agreement negotiations, and ran his own import and export brokerage company. Jeff Mahon talks about Canada's relationship with China. Given trade issues, human rights concerns, and the potential for issues between China and Taiwan, and the charged atmosphere between the US and China, this is a very topical issue. We discuss several articles he has written about Canada as we are reckoning with big changes in the world.

Brian interviews James Cairns. James is a professor in the Department of Indigenous Studies, Law and Social Justice at Wilfrid Laurier University, where his courses and research focus on political theory and social movements. Drawing on social research, pop culture and literature, as well as on his experience as an activist, father and teacher, James Cairns explores the ecological crisis, Trump's return to power amid the so-called crisis of democracy, his own struggle with addiction and other moments of truth facing us today. In a series of insightful essays that move deftly between personal, theoretical and historical approaches he considers not only what makes something a crisis, but also how to navigate the effect of these destabilizing times on ourselves, on our families and on the world. James Cairns talks about his book: "In Crisis, On Crisis" which is about how we deal with the personal and society crises in our life.

Brian interviews Paula Manuel. A Registered Nurse for 40 years, Paula Manuel has cared for children from 23 weeks (premature infants) to 104 years old. She is a resource on how to optimize the well-being of nurses. Paula has been a direct care clinician, award winning leader and recognized by the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario for an Award of Merit, lifetime achievement, and a few days ago excellence in lifelong advocacy for her colleagues, patients, and communities in the nursing profession. This week it's nursing week and Paula shares her experiences.

Brian interviews Jacqueline Murray. Jacqueline is Professor Emeritus of History at the University of Guelph, Adjunct Professor of Medieval Studies at the University of Toronto and a Fellow of St Michael's College (UofT). Her career has been devoted to teaching students about the Middle Ages, researching the impact of ecclesiastical teachings on values, ideas and everyday medieval people. She is also a public historian who speaks and writes about why the Middle Ages matter to our 21st-century society. We discuss the election of the new pope just one week ago including some of the medieval background of papal election and conclaves that underlie what we have all been watching avidly. We also discuss the new pope and what this conclave and his papal name might suggest as we go forward.

Brian replays a show with his mom, Flora Crombie, about Mother's Day art.

Brian interviews Kelly Harris. Kelly is Principal of Toronto-based Kensington Strategies, specializing in communications and government relations. A reporter by trade he has worked across Canada, In British Columbia in the former Gordon Campbell BC Liberal Government he served in several roles. In Ontario he was part of the Ontario PC Opposition under Tim Hudak. We discuss:- The single most important thing about this election didn't even happen during the election, no not Trump, Chrystia Freeland and Justin Trudeau stepping down- The Four Nations Cup, the fulcrum of Canadian pride, under attack by an American president's trade war and the outpouring of Canadian pride when we beat the US at our game- Mark Carney's better resume then everyone else on the stage combined- Lack of a believable pivot from Pierre Poilievre, so much so that the campaign didn't start to come back until they started hiding him.And much more.

Brian interviews Josh Matlow. Josh is a lifelong resident of Midtown Toronto and has represented Toronto St Paul's since 2010. Prior to his role as Councillor, he served as co-director of Earthroots, a leading environmental organization, where he championed the protection of the Oak Ridges Moraine. As a former school trustee and a dedicated community advocate, Josh has a strong track record of fighting for residents' needs. He has championed initiatives such as expanding green energy options, improving access to quality education and affordable housing, and advocating for enhanced community safety. Josh Matlow talks about his political career, city issues, tax increases, development fees, the housing crisis, transit investments, and much much more.

Brian starts the show with his agenda for the Trump meeting as Canada's new PM Mark Carney meets with President Trump.Then he interviews Benjamin Hoy. Benjamin is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Saskatchewan and author of “A Line of Blood and Dirt: Creating the Canada-United States Border across Indigenous Lands”, which showcases how regional conflicts, political reorganization, and social upheaval created the Canada–US border and remade the communities who lived in its shadows. He has published on a wide range of topics including Indigenous history, borderlands, game-based learning, Indigenous representations in board games, and extradition policy. Benjamin Hoy talks about the history of the Canada US-Border (is it artificial?).Finally, Margarita Machura discusses Nursing Week and a big event to celebrate nurses Thursday night.

Brian interviews Phillip Millar. As a former Combat Officer, Phillip brings a refreshing approach to legal services. Phillip does not shy away from conflict as he has a Masters in Conflict Resolution and Negotiation and is skilled at fixing problems and winning in high-stakes scenarios. Phillip Millar talks about his provocative article “How to Lose by Playing Not to Lose - Playing It Safe Cost Pierre Poilievre the Election and Canada a Future”. Millar says: “In today's media landscape, real leaders show up, take risks, and speak to the people, unfiltered. This isn't just a political post-mortem; it's a warning for any leader or CEO clinging to a playbook that no longer works. Strategy matters. Adaptability matters more. Read why this election was lost long before the ballots were cast.”

Brian interviews Kathryne Mejias. Kathryne is the founder of Soulful Divorcee and Born for More. Born For More is a women's empowerment culture committed to unleashing the limitless potential within every woman. It strives to inspire, celebrate, and empower women worldwide, fostering a community where diversity is celebrated, and authenticity is embraced. Through transformative coaching, events, and collaborations, it aims to enable women with the tools and inspiration to break barriers, redefine societal norms, and confidently pursue their dreams. Kathryne talks about counseling women (and sometimes men) to find themselves after divorce.

Brian interviews Richard Littlemore. Richard is the author of "City Builders". Vancouver developers Peter and Shahram Malek have lost two great fortunes, both times at the hands of a hostile government. First, as young men in the flush of success, they were forced from Revolutionary Iran, leaving behind the massive construction and development business built by their father. Second, and more surprisingly, after rebuilding in Vancouver, to the point that they could deliver an internationally admired 80-acre, 1.5 million square-foot Athletes Village in time for the 2010 Olympics, and the City pushed the project into insolvency and seized everything but the Maleks' own homes. Either disaster would have ruined less resilient players. The Maleks, however, stand triumphant, and their company, Millennium Development Corporation, continues to enhance their chosen home of Metro Vancouver. When they found themselves attacked, rather than thanked, they never faltered. They remain - greatly to the benefit of their fellow citizens - city builders.

Brian interviews three different entrepreneurs to discuss their respective start-ups.

Brian interviews Professor Dr. Lauren MacIvor Thompson. Dr. Thompson is a historian and academic expert specializing in the U.S. Gilded Age—a period of rapid industrialization, economic inequality, and political corruption in the late 19th century. Her scholarship also includes in-depth research on the historical use of tariffs in American economic policy. Her work provides critical context for contemporary political rhetoric, including Donald Trump's appeals to revive protectionist trade practices and aspects of the Gilded Age economic model. Trump says: "You know, our country was the strongest, believe it or not, from 1870 to 1913. You know why? It was all tariff-based. We had no income tax"... Do you know what happened between 1870 and 1913? There were two economic panics. Huge ones. Deep, scarring panics where many working people went hungry and jobless.

Brian interviews Stefan Korshak. Stefan is from Houston, Texas and is a Yalie. He has worked in journalism in the former Soviet space for more than twenty years, and from 2015-2019 he led patrols in the Mariupol sector for the OSCE monitoring mission in Donbas. He has filed field reports from five wars and enjoys reporting on nature, wildlife and the outdoors. Stefan Korshak, the Kyiv Post Senior Defense Correspondent, talks about the state of the war currently in Ukraine.

Brian interviews Ted Redlarski. Ted is CEO of Noram, a high-end manufacturer of curtain wall windows. They employ over 120 people in a state of the art highly automated manufacturing plant. Ted's shares inspirational story of building a national business in Poland then escaping communist Poland, being a refugee, starting a small time renovation business and now founding a technology leading company. He argues the solution to our housing crisis is technology, innovation and productivity in an industry that still builds the same we have done for generations. Ted Redlarski talks about construction productivity and innovation.

Brian interviews Darcy McNeil. Darcy is a writer and thinker from the wild west coast of British Columbia, McNeil's work explores Canada's identity and its crucial role in the future of Western civilization. Through his Substack platform, he has become a powerful commentator on the threats facing Canada, particularly from its southern neighbor. His essays, including "Trump's Narcissism", "Canada Fights U.S. Terrorism", and "Why Alberta is Being So F**ing Stupid Right Now", pull no punches in exposing the risks of economic coercion, political pressure, and cultural erosion. Darcy McNeil talks about what he sees are threats to Canada.

Brian interviews Greg Lyle. Greg is founder and President of Innovative Research Group. He talks about the current federal election polls with less than one week to go.✅ The gap between the Liberals and Conservatives is narrowing, as Trump and tariffs fade from the headlines.✅ Both Carney and Poilievre performed strongly in the debates.✅ Support for the NDP and the Bloc is collapsing.✅ Even if the Tories win the popular vote, they're unlikely to win the most seats.✅ This will motivate all parties to push hard for higher voter turnout.