This is Vancouver’s bona fide culture and politics podcast. Hosted by Mo Amir, parse through the relevant issues with the city’s most colourful personalities. With its heart on its sleeve and caution thrown to the wind, this is a podcast that is provocative, informative, and sometimes emotional. This is VANCOLOUR
SPILL THE Z: What's up with Gen Z's monster doll obsession? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks CHEK's own resident Zoomer, Neena Savage, to unbox the Labubus hype.Recorded: September 22, 2025
Could Bitcoin mining really heat community pools, like Kitsilano Pool, as Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has suggested? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks MintGreen CEO Colin Sullivan to explain why it's not as far-fetched as it sounds. Recorded: September 22, 2025
Are couples and singles alike suffering from less intimacy? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks psychologist Dr. Carolin Klein (West Coast Centre for Sex Therapy) why Canadians are hitting record lows between the sheets.Recorded: September 22, 2025
Healthcare in B.C. on trialIf long wait times in British Columbia's healthcare system actually harm your health, can you sue the government? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks criminal defence lawyer Kyla Lee for her verdict in the latest edition of Kyla's Court. Plus, in March 2024, B.C. became the first province in Canada to establish minimum nurse-to-patient ratios — a policy meant to protect nurses from burnout and create better health outcomes for patients. But are those ratios really being implemented? BC Nurses' Union President Adriane Gear explains. And first, B.C.'s Ministry of Health says it funds 3,700 treatment beds across the province. But do those numbers actually add up? Conservative Party of BC MLA for Skeena, Claire Rattée, digs into the government's claims about funding treatment beds after nearly a decade of the province's toxic drug crisis being declared a public health emergency.Recorded: September 15, 2025
THE LOW ROAD REPORT: Do Canadians actually support being politically correct? Pollster Mario Canseco and comedian Dino Archie reunite with This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir to unpack the numbers, the nuance, and the punchlines. Mario shares his latest polling and Dino reports back from the “Low Road.”Recorded: September 8, 2025
TEA TIME WITH TAMARA: Are we too quick to slap labels on kids against our idea of “normal”? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with beloved broadcaster Tamara Taggart about the rise in behavioural labels, how they differ from medical diagnoses, and what happens when “normal” becomes the goal. Tamara even shares a label she was diagnosed with.Recorded: September 8, 2025
Students across British Columbia are back in class, but some of their learning resources aren't. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir explains how the BC NDP government is underdelivering on education, and how these cuts could have political consequences.Recorded: September 8, 2025
It's the special one-hour season finale of This is VANCOLOUR — featuring B.C. Premier David Eby! Host Mo Amir presses the Premier on some of his government's most controversial decisions: walking back the promised grocery rebate; greenlighting a BC Ferries shipbuilding contract awarded to a Chinese shipyard; and pushing through Bills 14 and 15 despite vocal opposition from external stakeholders, including some First Nations leaders. Plus, is Premier Eby trolling John Rustad and the Conservative Party of BC? And is the Premier actually a fan of Vancouver rapper bbno$?Recorded: June 20, 2025
BONUS PODCAST: This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir and Angelo Isidorou compare and contrast the 2025 federal election with the 2024 B.C. provincial election. Plus, they discuss recent B.C. Conservative controversy and "drama".Angelo Isidorou is the Executive Director for the Conservative Party of British Columbia.
The Forbes Report: Do social media influencers and celebrities — like CHEK's Paul Haysom — always provide the best self-care advice? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Fiona Forbes about what to consider and how to spot beauty trends that might do more harm than good! Recorded: June 16, 2025
Currently, Gen Z Canadians are experiencing the worst youth unemployment rates in decades. Is it because they're lazy? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks This is VANCOLOUR editor Neena Savage about her generation's approach to the workplace, from coining terms like “quiet quitting” and “bare minimum Mondays” to walking away from hustle culture altogether.Recorded: June 16, 2025
Why did a black bear pick This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir's yard to rip open stolen garbage bags and throw a backyard bash? Holly Reisner from the North Shore Black Bear Society explains bear behaviour — and how we can all be a little more bear-aware.Recorded: June 16, 2025
This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Juno-Award winning comedian Jacob Samuel (Big Talk) about his "marriage optimization hacks" to help you level up your relationship.Recorded: June 9, 2025
Why is Pride celebrated when there's no "Straight Month"? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir sits down with award-winning author Danny Ramadan (The Clothesline Swing, Crooked Teeth) to explore the origins of Pride, how it should be celebrated, and whether police should take part in the festivities. Recorded: June 9, 2025
This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir wonders if Pierre Poilievre has become the very brand he used to mock. Is the Conservative Party of Canada leader... okay?Recorded: June 9, 2025
What is fun? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks the world's most famous pie-artist Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin (Host, Fun City) to explain what makes something fun! Catch "Fun City" every Saturday at 6:30pm on CHEK.Recorded: June 2, 2025
Did Vancouver's most famous stay-at-home son win enough money on Jeopardy to move out of his parents' home? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks three-time Jeopardy champion Brendan Liaw for the behind-the-scenes scoop on his gameshow journey! Recorded: June 2, 2025
The Low Road Report: Has tipping culture gone too far? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks pollster Mario Canseco (President, Research Co.) and comedian Dino Archie how they - and Canadians - feel about tipping prompts, tipping expectations where tipping was never expected before, and tipping on online orders! Recorded: June 2, 2025
Are you a people-pleaser? Certified counsellor Breanne Felicella (@diaryofapeoplepleaser_) explains to This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir how trying to make others happy can become toxic and self-destructive.Recorded: May 26, 2025
After a recent provincial and federal election, have we stopped caring about climate change? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks family physician Dr. Melissa Lem (Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment) to assess whether or not climate change is still a priority for most Canadians, especially given how climate change impacts our health.Recorded: May 26, 2025
Does the pervasive "wine mom"-trope reflect the reality of overworked moms who need an escape? Or is it a harmful stereotype? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks B.C. broadcasting legend Tamara Taggart about what "wine mom" culture says about all of us. Recorded: May 26, 2025
Harm Reduction - Vaping, Drugs, Social MediaDoes harm reduction actually work to reduce the harms of things like illicit drugs, cigarettes, and social media? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir sits down with former BC Centre for Disease Control director Dr. Mark Tyndall to discuss how vaping can greatly reduce the harms of consuming nicotine compared to smoking cigarettes. Plus, with British Columbia's toxic drug crisis now in its tenth year as a public health emergency, what policies have protected vulnerable drug users? Is there any hope to keep people alive? The author of "Crackdown: Surviving and Resisting the War on Drugs", Garth Mullins discusses the politics of the drug crisis. Lastly, should social media be seen as a vice for all the harms it causes? Mo has some thoughts!Recorded: May 12, 2025
It's This is VANCOLOUR's anti-post-election show! Host Mo Amir sits down with the Conservative Party of BC house leader (and mother of three) Áʼa꞉líya Warbus to discuss the impacts of politics on family life. MLA Warbus also has advice for newly-elected elected officials throughout the country. Recorded: April 22, 2025
Canada is the only country in the G7 without a national food school program. Do these programs improve student outcomes? Are they worth funding? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks the Chair of the Vancouver School Board Victoria Jung!Recorded: April 22, 2025
Elementary schools in Surrey, British Columbia are running out of paper! This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Lizanne Foster (President, Surrey Teachers Association) if these are isolated cases of mismanagement or if they reflect something more systemic in B.C. schoolsRecorded: April 21, 2025
Do tough-on-crime sentences actually prevent crime? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks criminal defense lawyer Kyla Lee (Acumen Law) and motivational speaker Guy Felicella on whether or not crime prevention is being properly discussed in Canada's federal election.Recorded: April 21, 2025
Elbows up! Are Canadians actually cancelling their travel plans to the United States? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks travel guru Claire Newell about the travel trends and what travel deals may be out there for Canadian travellers.Recorded: April 21, 2025
Who keeps home values so high in British Columbia: Baby boomers or politicians? Maybe both? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks the Angry Mortgage Podcast's Ron Butler about the entrenched, political interests that keep housing expensive throughout Canada. Plus, is Vancouver sowing the seeds for the next housing supply shortage in a few years? Real estate analyst Steve Saretsky points to some concerning trends in real estate development and construction. Finally, if you're a renter, under what circumstances can your landlord evict you legally? What recourse do renters have to make sure evictions are by the book? Kyla Lee (Acumen Law) explains the legal basics when it comes to evictions in British Columbia.Recorded: April 8, 2025
Does Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre give women "the ick"? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks world-famous, Canadian gynecologist Dr. Jenn Gunter to explain some of the recent outrage over Poilievre's comments about women's "biological clocks". Plus, did CTV cave to a bad-faith harassment campaign when they pulled an independent journalist off the air? Rachel Gilmore speaks to the seemingly coordinated campaign she faced from political operatives, media personalities, and online trolls. Lastly, celebrities usually fawn over Vancouver. But Malcolm in the Middle star Frankie Muniz's recent trip to Vancouver didn't start off so hot. Fiona Forbes reports on other celebrities who weren't super fond of Vancouver, either.Recorded: April 7, 2025
The Crunch with J.J. McCullough: American content creators - like Joe Rogan, Logan Paul, Adin Ross - had a huge influence on the U.S. Presidential Election. But will Canadian content creators have the same impact in Canada? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir and YouTuber J.J. McCullough discuss!Recorded: March 31, 2025
As an experienced B.C. Cabinet Minister - including being Minister of Finance with five consecutive balanced budgets to his name - Mike de Jong was poised to be a star candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada. So why did Pierre Poilievre's inner circle reportedly deem him "unqualified" as they rejected his nomination bid in Abbotsford-South Langley? Mike sits down with This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir to explain what happened. Recorded: March 31, 2025
With the Canadian federal election in full swing, This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir wonders if Prime Minister Mark Carney has more to explain about Brookfield Asset Management's investment funds in Bermuda, a known tax haven. Recorded: March 31, 2025
Tea-Time with Tamara: Canada's 2025 federal election campaign has begun! All the parties have begun to roll out the lofty promises, mud-slinging, and signs! But do campaign signs actually have an impact on elections? Tamara Taggart - a former political candidate herself - spills the tea with This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir. Recorded: March 24, 2025
This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir welcomes home CBC Vancouver's Justin McElroy, who has returned home to British Columbia after spending a year travelling the world! In all that time, what did Justin learn about B.C... by being away from B.C.? Recorded: March 24, 2025
Is Pierre Poilievre blowing the federal election for the Conservative Party of Canada? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir explains how dramatic swings in the polls may be explained by Poilievre's unserious personality.Recorded: March 24, 2025
What can B.C. Premier David Eby and the provincial government actually do to boost British Columbia's economy? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Greater Vancouver Board of Trade CEO Bridgitte Anderson to explain the opportunities and limitations that the province faces.Recorded: March 17, 2025
Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie was recently expelled from the Conservative Party of BC for her comments about residential school survivors. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Wade Grant of the Musqueam First Nation to explain what exactly was so hurtful about Brodie's comments and how such comments contribute to misinformation about Canada's history of residential schools.Recorded: March 17, 2025
The Low Road Report: Are Canadians taking the "low road" when they boo The Star Spangled Banner and boycott American booze? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks Vancouver-based comedian (and American) Dino Archie about how Canada's vocal responses to US President Donald Trump's tariff threats looks like from the outside.Recorded: March 17, 2025
Are your 40s the new 30s? Not really, according to comedian Katie-Ellen Humphries who has life advice for the freshly-forty, like This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir.Recorded: March 10, 2025
It's hot tips for the apocalypse! With everything that's happening in the world, how should you think about your money? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks financial columnist Mark Ting (Foundation Wealth) for personal finance advice in the world of Trump, tariffs, and impending doom!Recorded: March 10, 2025
How do you cultivate a happy marriage? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks lovebirds - and 96.9 JACK FM radio co-hosts - Christy and Fraser for their secrets to achieving relationship success! Recorded: March 10, 2025
BONUS PODCAST: This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir, Kareem Allam, and Angelo Isidorou unpack the 2025 B.C. Budget and the recent infighting within the Conservative Party of BC caucus.Kareem Allam is a Founding Partner of Richardson Strategy Group. He was the Campaign Manager for BC United (formerly BC Liberal Party) leader Kevin Falcon's successful BC Liberal leadership campaign.Angelo Isidorou is the Executive Director for the Conservative Party of British Columbia.RECORDED: March 10, 2025
Is the corporate consolidation of veterinary clinics across Canada affecting the cost and quality of care for your furry family members? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks animal law lawyer and saint to your pets, Rebeka Breder about what's happening to pet care in Canada.Recorded: March 3, 2025