Podcasts about Vancouver Island

A Sermon for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity 2 Corinthians 3:4-9 by William Klock Imagine you're an Israelite at the time of the Exodus.  Moses shows up and announces that the God of your ancestors—a God no one's heard from in four hundred years—is going to deliver you from Pharoah's slavery.  Sounds pretty sketchy.  But then God begins to act.  He sends ten plagues on the Egyptians.  He turns the Nile to blood.  Wow!  But then Pharoah's magicians do the same thing.  Okay…maybe not as impressive as it seemed at first.  But as the plagues go on, they get more and more impressive and Pharaoh's magicians can't keep up.  By the tenth plague you know without a doubt that this God of your fathers is something.  He's even more powerful than Pharoah and his gods.  And then the Red Sea.  Pharaoh chased you down.  Your people are stuck between the sea and Pharaoh's army.  All is lost.  And then the God of your fathers parts the sea itself in an amazing display of power and authority.  Imagine what it was like to walk through the sea on dry ground.  And then to watch as, just as miraculously, the God of your fathers causes the waters to come crashing back into place just at the right time to drown Pharaoh's army.  And you join with your people as, for the first time, you sing praise to this God of your fathers—a God whom you're now starting to think of as your God.  But God isn't finished.  He appears as a magnificent pillar of cloud in the day and a pillar of fire at night and he leads your people into the wilderness.  When there's nothing to drink, he causes water to pour forth from a rock.  When there's nothing to eat, he miraculously provides an abundance of manna and quail.  At Mount Sinai he meets your people in cloud and lightning on the mountaintop.  He establishes a covenant with you.  He will be your God and you will be his people.  He sends Moses down the mountain with the torah and with instructions for the tabernacle.  And having been in God's presence, Moses' face shines so brightly with God's glory that he has to wear a veil.  And when your people have finished assembling the tabernacle, you see God's glory—like a cloud—descend to fill it.  It's stounding.  It's the sort of thing the Egyptians could only dream about their gods doing and the God of Israel does it for real.  And, eventually, just as he promised, God leads your people into Canaan—the promised land—and he conquers the people for you and gives you their cities.  And you know it's him, not you.  There's no doubting it.  He had you march on Jericho, not with swords, but carrying his ark and blowing trumpets as you marched in circles around the city.  Not to attack it.  Not to put siege to it.  But simply to announce that the Lord, the God of Israel had come.  And when that announcement was clear and when everyone could see that you and your people had done nothing but announce the Lord's presence, he caused the walls to come crashing down.  He defeated the city.  And neither you nor anyone else could possibly think of taking credit for it.  Neither you nor anyone else took the Lord for granted.  Neither you nor anyone else could dream of giving your faith, your loyalty, your allegiance to any other god.  Because you had seen with your own eyes the glory of the Lord. Even as the generations passed, the people remembered the Lord.  They lived in those cities, they drew from those well, they harvested crops from those fields that the Lord had taken from the Canaanites and given to their fathers and grandfathers.  They bore in their flesh the sign of God's covenant—that statement, “I will be your God and you will be my people”—they bore that sign in their circumcision.  And every year they celebrated the Passover and not only recalled the events of the Exodus in which the Lord had saved their fathers; they participated, themselves, in those events—they owned them as if they'd happened to them.  And the covenant was renewed. And if you read the Old Testament no further you might think it would be like that forever.  How could a people who had so experienced the glory of God ever take him for granted, let alone turn their backs on him?  How could a people who had so experienced the glory of God ever look for confidence and hope in anyone or anything else?  But it happened.  They took their status as his people for granted.  They began to take those cities and wells and vineyards and fields he'd given them for granted.  They stopped celebrating the Passover and remembering what he'd done for them.  They started worshiping other gods.  They lost faith in the Lord and started putting their trust in kings and in armies and in politics.  And when the prophets came to rebuke the people and to call them back to faithfulness, they refused to listen and abused those prophets.  Eventually, because they took it all for granted, because they were unfaithful, the Lord took away the land and the cities and fields and vineyards—and finally even his presence—and sent the people into exile in a foreign land.  But not before he promised them renewal.  One day he would restore them and make them new and fill them with his own Spirit, he would turn their hearts of stone into hearts of flesh, so that they would be forever faithful. And, in Jesus, the Lord fulfilled that promise to his people.  In Jesus he was born as one of them, but rejected and crucified as a false Messiah.  God raised Jesus from death and overturned the verdict against him, declaring that he really was the Messiah and creation's true Lord.  In rising from the grave Jesus conquered death.  And then, to those who were baptised and received the sign of God's new covenant, he gave God's Spirit.  The old Israel had a temple.  This new Israel is the temple.  And as we read in last week's Epistle, Paul stressed that the risen Jesus appeared to the twelve, and to the other disciples, and even at one point to five hundred, and lastly to him.  And Jesus changed everything for them.  In his death and resurrection he led his people in a new exodus, not this time from physical bondage under Pharaoh, but from bondage to sin and death themselves.  And in baptism, Jesus leads his people like Moses through the waters of redemption to meet the Lord on the far side.  And the Spirit leads us, not as a pillar of cloud or fire, but as God's very presence within us, as we embark on a world- and humanity-saving trek through the wilderness of the old evil age into the age to come, towards the New Jerusalem, to that day when gospel and Spirit have done their work and Jesus does away with sin and death and evil once and for all and forever, and creation is set to rights and we enjoy the presence of our God eternally.  Those first eyewitnesses took this astounding gospel story to Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria and to the world and amazing things happened.  It was more than just a story of the glory of God.  The story of the old exodus was that, but this was more.  The story of the Messiah and this new exodus has power unlike any story that has been told before or since.  This is a story backed by the life-giving and life-changing power of Jesus and the Spirit and the people who heard it and believed it and came to trust in the death and, most importantly, the resurrection of Jesus, they were changed.  Forgiven by the redeeming death of Jesus and then given a foretaste of the life of God's new world by the Spirit whom he poured into them.  It was a change that no one could ignore.  Some were captivated by it and came to hear and to believe the gospel story for themselves and they shared in this new life too.  And others got angry as the gospel story and God's new world challenged the gods and the kings and the systems in which they were already invested.  But to those who believed, the gospel, the good news about Jesus was life itself.  And they gathered together as often as they could and when they did, they not only shared the community the gospel had given them, they shared in the meal Jesus had given them.  In the Lord's Supper they ate bread and drank wine—and just as in the Passover—they didn't just remember what Jesus had done to deliver them from sin and death, they appropriated that death and resurrection, they participated in that saving event themselves.  They owned this new exodus just as the Israelites owned the events of the first exodus.  And each time it was as if the Lord was renewing his covenant with them: through Jesus and the Spirit, I will be your God and you will be my people. And you might think that their faithfulness to the Lord would be unending.  You would think that their trust and loyalty—their confidence—would always and only be in Jesus the Messiah.  But it wasn't.  If we're honest about our struggles, we know that it's easy to become distracted by other things.  There's a reason we gather every Sunday to hear the good news again and to come to the Lord's Table to be reminded and to renew the covenant.  There's a reason why wendaily immerse ourselves in the scriptures and in the story there of God and his people.  Because when we don't, even as glorious as that story is, even as it once captivated us so thoroughly, somehow—and to our shame—we forget.  And Jesus is still there, but we start focusing on other things and we start looking for other things and we start putting our confidence and our hope in other things. It even happened in the early church with that first generation of believers.  Paul had arrived in Corinth in about a.d. 50 or 51.  He proclaimed the good news about Jesus and both Jews and gentiles there were captivated by the story.  They believed.  They were baptised.  And Paul stayed with them for about a year and half, helping them to set up a church.  And everyone knew that it wasn't Paul who had done.  He was just an unassuming little man.  Funny looking, maybe with a speech impediment.  (Remember in last week's Epistle he owned that insult about being a monster, prematurely born.)  What happened in Corinth wasn't about Paul.  Brothers and Sisters, it was about the power of the gospel and the Spirit.  And yet just a few years later, it all started to fall apart.  The amazing story about the death and resurrection of Jesus that had once so spoken to them about the glory of God started to fade, and with it their motivation to holiness.  Sin—gross, truly wicked sin—started to creep into the church and they found ways to justify it.  Their worship became chaotic as people began using the gifts the Spirit had given to bring attention to themselves instead of to build up the body.  They abused the Lord's Supper and twisted and undermined its covenant meaning.  And when Paul, their brother, the one who had not only brought the gospel to them, but who could speak with authority about it because he, himself, had met the risen Jesus, when he wrote to them they brushed him off.  They told him they didn't want to hear from him anymore.  He'd been displaced by other preachers who were flashier, who were more handsome, who were better spoken then he was. And so, at the end of 2 Corinthians 2 he appeals to them.  He talks about himself as “we” instead of “I” and I think he does that to emphasise that he stand with the other apostles whose authority came from being eyewitness of the risen Messiah.  The same could not be said of others who have come to them and led them astray.  He writes to them, saying, “We aren't mere peddlers of God's word, as so many preachers are.  We speak with sincerity.  We speak from God.  We speak in God's presence.  We speak in the Messiah.”  The Messiah: that's who this is really about.  Paul has no authority of his own.  He simply speaks what he heard from Jesus himself.  And his point here is that they had once been captivated by that gospel of the Messiah that Paul had proclaimed to them, but now they've been captivated by the words of mere men.  “Do you want a letter of recommendation before you'll listen to me?” Paul asks.  “Do I need to give you a sheaf of reference letters so you'll know I'm legit?” “No,” says Paul, going on in 3:2: “You are our official reference!  It's written on our hearts.  Everyone can know and read it.  It's plain that you are a letter from the Messiah, with us the messengers.  A letter not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.  Not on tablets of stone, but on the tablets of fleshly hearts.” In other words, despite all their problems, despite their backsliding into worldly ways, they are not the people they once were.  Paul had proclaimed the good new—the story about Jesus and his death and resurrection and ascension—and through that preaching the Spirit had captivated them and filled their hearts with faith.  They believed.  They gave their trust, their loyalty, their allegiance, their obedience to Jesus and they were transformed.  And Paul could see it even through all their problems.  No, Paul doesn't need to give them references.  “You are my reference,” he says to them.  I know you've kicked me to the curb, but it was the message I received from Jesus that I preached to you that transformed you—not the merely human words of the other preachers who came along.  It was the word of God that did it. And they really, really need to hear this.  Because in the years since Paul left, as they've listened to teachers who led them astray, as the glory of the pure gospel has faded from their vision, they've begun to put their confidence in other things.  They no longer associate Paul with the gospel.  They're thinking of him as that funny-looking little man with the speech impediment.  And following someone like that in Greek culture, well, that wasn't going to get you anywhere.  And so they associated with the handsome preachers with eloquent rhetoric who could impress the Greeks.  They've forgotten that the gifts the Spirit gave them were gifts of grace to build up the body, and now they're abusing them and putting their confidence in them.  They've forgotten that the gospel puts them all on an equal footing before the throne of grace, and they're letting their old class and cultural divisions divide them up.  They were growing their church—as we'd say it today—but they weren't growing it on the gospel. We do the same thing today.  We may do it even more than the Corinthians, because commercialism is the cultural water we swim in and we don't even realise how much it impacts how we think about church and we don't realise how it so easily displaces the gospel and gospel growth and gospel ministry.  We build our churches around personalities.  We build our churches around programmes.  We build our churches around demographics.  We build our churches by advertising that we're better than or that we're not like our neighbouring churches.  We treat the church as if it's a business or a social club instead of a family—the covenant people of God, transformed and shaped by the gospel and the Spirit.  The Spirit has transformed our hearts of stone into hearts of flesh through the power of the gospel, but we forget the centrality of the gospel and allow our hearts to calcify back into stone.  It might not seem like that's what's happening at first.  Our churches may even have the appearance of success, but it's because we're appealing to stony hearts of worldly people with what they value, not with the power of the transforming gospel they need.   It's that simple gospel that needs to be at the centre of everything.  The risen Jesus always before us.  The risen Jesus at the centre of every decision we make.  The risen Jesus at the heart of everything we do.  Just Jesus, crucified and risen.  The simple gospel.  So Paul goes on in verse 4: “That is the kind of confidence we have toward God, through the Messiah.”  Stop putting your confidence in other things.  Just put it in Jesus.  He and only he can bring us before God.  So Paul says, “It isn't as though we are qualified in ourselves to reckon that we have anything to offer on our own account.  Our qualification comes from God: God has qualified us to be stewards of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit.  The letter kills, you see, but the Spirit gives life.”  The gospel was his only qualification and the only one that mattered.  The same goes for us. Now, think again of the glory that God put on display in the Exodus and in the story of Israel that followed.  That's what Paul gets at in verse 7 when he writes: “But just think about it: when death was being ministered, carved in letter of stone,”—he's talking about Mt. Sinai and the giving of the law”—“it was a glorious thing, so glorious in fact that the children of Israel couldn't look at Moses' face because of the glory of his face, a glory that was to be abolished.”  The glory God displayed in those days was astounding.  It moved the people to faith and trust and worship. But now Paul's talking about the new covenant and what God has done in Jesus and the Spirit.  “Will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?” he asks them.  “If ministering condemnation is glorious, you see, how much more glorious is the ministry of vindication—of righteousness, of justice?  In fact, what used to be glorious has come, by comparison, to have no glory at all, because of the new glory which goes so far beyond it! O, Brothers and Sisters, would that we would also be so captivated by the glory of the simple gospel of Jesus the Messiah.  There is no other glory that can compare and if we will keep it always before us—this good new of Jesus, crucified, risen, and Lord—if we would keep our eyes always focused on it, if we let it shape our lives, if we let it shape our decision, if we let it be the basis for everything we do as the church.  If the glory of the gospel were our sole source of confidence and hope, it would transform our churches and make us the people God intends for us to be.  God's promise is that one day the knowledge of his glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea, but, Brothers and Sisters, remember that he has made us the stewards of that glory.  He has entrusted his gospel of life to us and he's filled us with his Spirit.  It is our calling to make his glory known by taking the good news of Jesus to Courtenay and Comox, to Vancouver Island, to Canada, and even to the ends of the earth.  You may have placed a veil over God's glory.  This morning let the scriptures lift that veil.  Let the bread and the wine here at his Table lift that veil.  Look on the glory of the Lord revealed in Jesus the Messiah and be refreshed and renewed for the gospel ministry to which you have been called. Let's pray: Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve:  Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Saviour; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.

On this episode of Big Blend Radio's “Diva Saturday,” travel writer Linda Kissam, the “Food, Wine & Shopping Diva,” shares her recent adventures in Sidney, British Columbia—a lovely seaside town on Vancouver Island that's rich with culture, cuisine, and coastal beauty. This lively conversation highlights the charm of Sidney, from strolling the waterfront walkway and exploring local bookstores to savoring delicious pastries from the town's famed bakery. Linda also spotlights the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, multicultural dining experiences, and the area's vibrant, welcoming atmosphere. Linda also shares insights on the local transit system that connects Sidney to nearby attractions like Victoria and Butchart Gardens—where high tea, boutique shopping, and beautiful gardens await. Whether by land or sea, Sidney offers a delightful mix of adventure and relaxation that makes it a must-visit destination.

Chief Constable Ian Lawson started his policing career in the RCMP back in 1988.  He's spent most of his RCMP career on Vancouver Island and after 32 years' service he accepted the Chief Constable position in Central Saanich.  Ian was the Primary Investigator on the BC Rail corruption scandal where Bribery and Fraud charges were pursued.  One of Ian's favourite career moves was to become the Detachment Commander in Shawnigan Lake, a position he relates closely to his current job in Central Saanich.  Recruiting new officers to Central Saanich has been a challenge for the past number of years but they've been able to secure 2 or 3 seats for recruits to attend the JIBC this year and next.  Central Saanich has not signed on to the integrated K-9 service but does have several opportunities for his members to work in other integrated units.Ian tells a story about how repeat criminals on court conditions used to be held in custody and how now it's frustrating to see the Bail Reform Act not being applied correctly.  Chief Lawson mentioned his concerns about hospital wait times and ability to respond to crime on the water.  We get Ian to chat about Regionalization/Amalgamation/Integration from his perspective.  https://www.cspolice.ca/Episode 3: Superintendent Todd Preston – Westshore Detachment    12 Sep 2025Episode 4: Chief Dean Duthie – Saanich Police Department                  19 Sep 2025Episode 5: Chief Del Manak – Victoria Police Department                       26 Sep 2025Sound editing done by Todd Mason.More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU): - Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union - Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/ - Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/ - Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/ - Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

Sarah Boon joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about allowing elements of a memoir to reveal themselves, radical acceptance of what we need as a writer and what we can feasibly accomplish with the resources we have, getting to know who we are as creatives, publishing with an academic press and the peer review process, navigating refusals, struggling with narrative arc, her experience as a woman and a scientist doing research in remote locations, breaking away from science writing to write a science memoir, living with bipolar II and anxiety, the effect of mental illness on creative process, being gentler with ourselves, pivoting from working alone to sharing a personal story, and her new memoir Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist.   Also in this episode: -writing groups -living with an invisible illness -discovering the trajectory for your book   Books mentioned in this episode: The Solitude of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich The Only Woman in the Room  Eileen Pollack  Mean and Lowly Things: Survival: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo by Kate Jackson   Sarah Boon, PhD, has published essays, book reviews, and author interviews for the LA Review of Books, Hippocampus, The Rumpus, Brevity Blog, Science, Nature and other outlets. Her first book, Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist, came out with University of Alberta Press in June of 2025. She lives on southern Vancouver Island with her husband and dog, and is working on her next book.   Connect with Sarah: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjQHnRpPTG/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/snowhydro.bsky.social FB: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.boon.31 www.melt-down.ca www.watershednotes.ca Get the book:  For Canadians: https://www.indiebookstores.ca/book/9781772127911/ For Americans: https://bookshop.org/p/books/meltdown-the-making-and-breaking-of-a-field-scientist-sarah-boon/21630061?ean=9781772127911   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers

The Green Impact Report Quick take: Most commercial buildings are controlled by 200 global logos—and the way they're financed makes decarbonization almost impossible. Christopher and his team at Audette are flipping that script, proving sustainability and ROI can—and must—go hand in hand. Meet Your Fellow Sustainability Champion Christopher Naismith grew up on Vancouver Island surrounded by forests and ocean. After starting as a civil engineer, a career pivot led him into construction, building science, and eventually founding Audette, a fintech company redefining how real estate owners invest in decarbonization. Today, his platform models over 30,000 commercial buildings, helping some of the world's largest portfolios cut emissions and boost asset value.

ABOUT THIS EPISODE: In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Shari Green. Shari is the author of Song of Freedom Song of Dreams, which is a finalist for the 2025 Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. On the episode Shari talks about why she loves writing novels-in-verse. She also talks about the way protest music inspired her book. To find out more about Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/song-of-freedom-song-of-dreams/ Find the classical playlist to pair with Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sharigreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/playlist-1.pdf Find the modern playlist to pair with Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sharigreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/playlist-2.pdf To view the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes shortlists: bcyukonbookprizes.com/2025/04/10/bc-…sts-announced/ ABOUT SHARI GREEN: Shari Green is the author of several novels in verse, including the ALA Schneider Family Book Award winner, Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess. Her books have been included on international “best of” lists and nominated for multiple state and provincial readers'-choice programs. Shari is also a poet, musician, and former nurse. She can often be found wandering the beaches or forest trails near her home on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. ABOUT MEGAN COLE: Megan Cole the Interim Executive Director for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com ABOUT THE PODCAST: Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen. Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

Chief Constable Julie Chanin is the first ever female Chief of any police department in Greater Victoria.  Julie started her policing career in January 2000 as part of the millennial troop at the RCMP Training Depot in Regina.  Julie's RCMP career was spent on Vancouver Island, first in Port McNeil for 5 years and then to the Westshore for another 7 years before making the transition to Oak Bay.  Julie served as Union President in Oak Bay before taking the Deputy Chief job and ultimately the Chief Constable's position in 2024.Chief Chanin is obviously very committed to her community and her people and it was a pleasure to have her kick-off our Area Chiefs Series.Episode 2: Chief Ian Lawson – Central Saanich Police Service                     05 SepEpisode 3: Superintendent Todd Preston – Westshore Detachment           12 SepEpisode 4: Chief Dean Duthie – Saanich Police Department                          19 SepEpisode 5: Chief Del Manak – Victoria Police Department                               26 Sephttps://oakbaypolice.org/careers/Sound editing done by Todd Mason.More about the Victoria City Police Union (VCPU): - Tweet us at https://twitter.com/VicPD_Union - Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/vicpd_union/ - Find us on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/truebluevictoria/ - Visit our website for information at https://truebluevic.ca/ - Email us at media@vcpu.ca for any media inquiries or requests to be on the True Blue Podcast

On this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY, Feliks Banel speaks with Justin McElroy, municipal affairs reporter for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - the CBC - in Vancouver, British Columbia. McElroy recently led a public process over the airwaves to identify a symbol that best represents the province of British Columbia. Through a bracket and more than 500,000 votes during several weeks in July and August 2025, the effort generated interest and debate from Vancouver Island to the BC interior, and a single "best symbol" ultimately emerged victorious. CBC website with information about the symbol: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/orcas-british-columbia-best-symbol-1.7609551 CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms.

Blackberry season is here, and in this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Jonathan and William dive into everything blackberry. From their wild abundance along Vancouver Island's trails and hedgerows to their starring role in jams, desserts, sauces, and even cocktails, blackberries are a true taste of late summer. We explore the history of this hardy berry in the Valley, the challenges and opportunities they bring for farmers and foragers, and how they've become a staple in local kitchens. Jonathan shares culinary tips for bringing out their sweet-tart flavor in both savory and sweet dishes, while William looks at their nutritional benefits, their cultural role in the region, and, true to form, may wander off on a few entertaining tangents along the way. Whether you love a simple blackberry pie, a tangy BBQ glaze, or just eating them fresh off the vine, this episode will leave you inspired to celebrate one of nature's most generous gifts. Listen in and discover why blackberries might just be the jewel of our local harvest

This week, the Maier's return home from their trip to Vancouver Island! Topics include: travelling anxiety, Whistler, gondolas, food tour, Ferry's, Kingfisher Resort, Whale watching, breweries, nature hikes, S.O.W., and Island memories. Reach Us:  @kmaemaier  @chrismaierbc  @hwywhoney  hwywhoney@gmail.com

Canadian dairy farmers may be doing the same thing - milking cows - as U.S. farmers, but they're maneuvering through a completely different marketing system. Pam Jahnke finds out more about the quota system in Canada from Ben Cuthbert of Silver Maple Holsteins on Vancouver Island, BC. Cuthbert is currently facing a record drought impacting available feed, and in turn feed costs. While costs may go up, because of his quota, Cuthbert cannot increase production to offset those expenses. While Canada may be parched, Wisconsin has ample soil moisture and surprising comfortable and cool temperatures. Stu Muck says that some of the early readings this morning in the north have temps as low as 43 degrees when they wake up. It's probably one of the most important tools farms have to keep the harvest rolling, but it's also probably one of the most overlooked tools. Tires. Almost every machine you rely on has them, but chances are you haven't checked their conditions or settings for a while. Ben Jarboe brushes up on what to do preharvest with Niles Davis, the owner of Nihles farm tire out of Platteville. He stresses checking wear, and addressing tire pressures before you start putting loads on the frame.Another preharvest idea farmers should consider is inviting local emergency responders and firefighters to your operation. Ryan Ripp is a farmer and chief of the Dane Fire Department. He says farms need to remember that few responders have farm experience, and may not recognize the equipment you're using. That could be life threatening if they respond to your call but don't know how to help. Cattle are the topic of conversation today with John Heinberg, market advisor with Total Farm Marketing in West Bend. He tells Pam Jahnke that the cattle market dipped momentarily when it learned that a woman in Maryland was a victim of the New World Screw Worm. Apparently she became infected while visiting Central America. It re-energized the anxiety over that pest possibly making it into the U.S. Heinberg says the latest numbers bear out that the cattle herd in Texas is shrinking. He also notes that more cattle are moving north into states like Iowa where the weather and feed sources may be more favorable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small Cap Breaking News You Can't Miss! Here's a quick rundown of the latest updates from standout small-cap companies making big moves today.Focus Graphite (TSXV: FMS) Focus achieved its first aerospace validation with graphite from its Lac Knife project used in a successful hypersonic rocket launch by Pluto Aerospace. The test proved the material's ability to withstand extreme heat (over 3,000°C), opening doors to defense and aerospace applications. Future launches will test graphene-based coatings for UAVs and radar-suppression, diversifying the project's potential far beyond batteries.Goliath Resources (TSXV: GOT) At its Surebet Discovery in BC's Golden Triangle, Goliath drilled 10.62 g/t gold over 22.82 meters, with visible gold in 95% of holes. The project now spans 1.8 km² and remains wide open. With 9 rigs turning and over 60,000 meters planned, Surebet is emerging as one of the region's most important high-grade gold discoveries since Eskay Creek.Nova Pacific (CSE: NVPC) Nova reported its best drill results yet from the Lara VMS Project on Vancouver Island, including 11 meters at 5.1 g/t gold equivalent. These results strengthen the case for a resource estimate by year-end and highlight Lara's potential as a multi-metal VMS district-scale opportunity in a mining-friendly jurisdiction.EMP Metals (CSE: EMPS) EMP filed a new NI 43-101 resource estimate for its lithium brine projects in Saskatchewan, boosting total resources by 78.5%. The company now boasts over 2 million tonnes LCE across its Viewfield and Mansur projects. With production validated from its first horizontal well and a growing land package, EMP is positioning as a domestic lithium leader in North America.Draganfly (CSE: DPRO; NASDAQ: DPRO) With Canada's $2 billion aid package to Ukraine, drones are at the forefront — and Draganfly is ready to deliver. The UAV maker's platforms support intelligence, logistics, demining, and counter-drone operations, aligning directly with Canada's defense priorities. With decades of experience, Draganfly is well placed to benefit from NATO-aligned demand for interoperable defense technology.Follow AGORACOM for more breaking small-cap news and don't miss our latest updates on the AGORACOM Small Cap Podcast!

Living with an autoimmune condition can make exercise feel overwhelming—but the right Pilates workout for beginners can actually bring relief and healing. In this empowering interview, Pilates instructor Rachel Robertson explains how gentle, beginner-friendly Pilates supports women with autoimmune conditions by improving core stability, calming the nervous system, and reducing joint stress—without pushing your body into burnout. We cover: Why a pilates workout for beginners is one of the safest and most effective ways to start moving with autoimmunity How breath, alignment, and gentle core work reduce pain and inflammation. Practical modifications for days of fatigue, flares, or joint instability Mat vs. reformer Pilates for autoimmune bodies—and how to start at home.  Using Pilates to regulate the nervous system and increase energy naturally Creating a sustainable weekly movement plan that works with your healing journey.  Timestamps 00:00 Rachel's journey & beginner Pilates philosophy 06:15 Why Pilates is ideal for autoimmune beginners 14:20 Gentle core work without triggering symptoms 21:05 Modifications for joint issues & flare days 29:40 Breathwork for stress and pain relief 36:10 Building a safe weekly routine 42:55 Quick at-home beginner sequence (guided) 49:00 Listener Q&A + resources Try This Beginner Sequence (no equipment needed): Seated diaphragmatic breathing – 2 minutes Pelvic clocks – 6 each direction Heel slides – 8 per side Supported bridge with breath – 6 slow reps Mermaid stretch – 3 each side For over a decade, Rachel Robertson has helped others overcome physical limitations by blending the science of kinesiology with the artistry of Pilates. Specializing in injury recovery, she bridges the gap between rehabilitation and a confident return to movement—whether for work, play, or athletic performance. Rachel earned her Kinesiology degree from the University of Western Ontario in 2009 and quickly immersed herself in the Pilates world. She is a recognized member of the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists (BCAK). With an athletic background in figure skating and competitive coaching, Rachel's passion for movement extends beyond the studio. She represented Team Canada at the World Kettlebell Championships in 2015 and 2017, earning two gold medals in Seoul. Her achievements led to recognition as Nanaimo's Female Athlete of the Year in 2018 and a finalist for Vancouver Island's Top 20 Under 40 Business and Community Awards. In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Rachel has spent the past five years organizing Fitness in the Park, a Rotary-led community event promoting health and fitness, which was named Kinesiology Event of the Year in 2023. Today, Rachel continues to empower individuals through Pilates, personal training, and intentional movement, helping them rebuild strength, confidence, and trust in their bodies. She also educates fellow kinesiologists through webinars and workshops, equipping them with the tools to support others in their recovery and movement journeys. YouTube - Online Library of Mat Pilates Workouts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHLQU2Z6w_-C3FyRf7d9yi8wb3d5tdI5L https://returntoform.ca/- Rachel's website http://autoimmunerehab.com- website for this podcast.  

The Wesley Ridge and Mount Underwood fires had the province's attention this summer - an unusual situation for the island. But the people who study fire and climate aren't surprised, and say it will only become more common. On this week's episode we hear about the changing history of wildfire on Vancouver Island, and about one of the mitigation projects underway to try and prepare. Hear about how what's growing in our forests may change, and ways you can help with mitigation.

This summer is on track to being the second-worst wildfire season in Canadian history. It started earlier than usual with emergencies declared in the spring in Manitoba and Saskatchewan and is hitting locales that aren't typically fire-prone like Vancouver Island and Atlantic Canada. Meanwhile, fires from neighbouring provinces gave parts of southern Ontario some of the worst air quality in the world.So what does this mean for the Canadian summers of our childhood, spent mostly carefree and outdoors? What needs to be done for us to adapt to the prospect of more fires and heat to come — especially for kids growing up in this new reality? Denise Balkissoon, executive editor of The Narwhal, joins us to talk about how to navigate the ambient dread of our country's changing climate.Denise published a piece today about this in the Narwhal, which you can read here: www.thenarwhal.ca/seasonal-depression-summer-climate-change/For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts

Whether you're planning a cruise stop, a weekend getaway, or a longer Vancouver Island itinerary, this guide answers the top questions travelers ask before visiting Victoria. Victoria, British Columbia, may be Canada's most charming capital — a place where British heritage meets Pacific Northwest beauty. In this episode of the Sunshine Travelers Podcast, we share how we explored Victoria in just a day and a half, from Butchart Gardens and the Malahat Skywalk to floatplanes, seafood, and strolling the vibrant Inner Harbour. Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure. What You'll Discover in This Episode How to get to Victoria from Vancouver — flights, ferries, and floatplanes Where to stay in Victoria Do you need a car in Victoria? Our tips for driving, parking, and shuttles How many days to spend in Victoria The top things to do in Victoria Where to eat in Victoria Resources & Links Harbor View Hotels: Delta Hotels by Marriott Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort The Fairmont Empress Hotel & Q Bar Inn at Laurel Point Hotel Grand Pacific Coast Victoria Hotel & Marina by APA Victoria Regent Waterfront Hotel & Suites Other Points of Interest and Links Butchart Gardens Malahat Skywalk Harbour Air Seaplanes Tip: we rented the car from Budget through Expedia and picked up at the Victoria airport and dropped the car off at the Budget office downtown within walking distance from HarbourAir More Resources & Links Want curated travel deals every week? Subscribe to Travel Deal Insiders — the best travel deals sent straight to your inbox. Get Our Ultimate Packing Guide for Traveling Smart and Packing Light + Access to Exclusive Weekly Content here. Don't waste your precious vacation time with Jet Lag, get Flykitt and watch Jet Lag disappear! Protect your privacy, boost your security, and keep your browsing data safe with Express VPN. Plus, get 3 months free with a yearly plan. Follow Sunshine Travelers Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Read more about this and other travel destinations on our BLOG Follow our travels on TikTok @sunshinetravelerspodcast Follow us on X @sunshinetrvlrs Connect with us on LinkedIn @sunshinetravelerspodcast Get travel tips and follow our travels on Instagram: @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads @sunshinetravelerspodcast Connect with us on Threads See our travel videos on YouTube @sunshinetravelerspodcast Save our travel ideas on Pinterest @sunshinetravelerspodcast Music: This Acoustic Happy Music by Dmitrii Kolesnikov from Pixabay

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is telling Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to work with Prime Minister Mark Carney on a “Team Canada” approach to U.S. tariffs. Meanwhile, a transgender festival on Vancouver Island was cancelled after anti-Israel activists demanded organizers take a stance on Gaza. And the Air Canada strike is set to continue despite the Liberal government declaring it illegal. Tune in to the Daily Brief with Isaac Lamoureux and Geoff Knight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie O'Connor-Clarke and Alexandre Gangué-Ruzic break down matchweek 19 of the 2025 Canadian Premier League season -- including a nine-goal thriller at ATCO Field, Forge beating Atletico Ottawa, and Halifax and Pacific both left searching for answers after a 2-2 draw on Vancouver Island.

Conservatives say the justice system favours non citizens, China increases tariffs on canola, and the Alberta Next panels see increased media bias. Also, a court decision gives Aboriginal title to a large section of Richmond BC to a Vancouver Island band. Hosts: Shane and Patrick Duration: 1:11:58 For detailed show notes visit westerncontext.ca.

Air Canada expected to start grounding flights in preparation for a potential work stoppage this weekend. 20-year-old Newfoundland man charged for allegedly setting multiple fires in downtown St. John's. Drought on Vancouver Island testing fire crews in new ways. California Governor Gavin Newsom is poised to follow through on his threat of tit-for-tat gerrymandering. More than 100 humanitarian groups pen letter accusing Israel of weaponizing aid to Gaza. Trump Administration cuts could affect NOAA and the US National Weather Service during hurricane season.

Canada continues to suffer with wildfires and the lack of rain. Pam Jahnke visits with one of the hosts during their Canadian Rockies Farm Tour, Bob Wilson. Wilson started out as a beef producers but exited that industry when Mad Cow Disease closed many beef markets for Canadian producers. Now he's raising 50 bison on his Morning Star Bison Ranch on Vancouver Island, BC. He says that the water holding capacity of the soil he's using is a limiting factor on how many animals he can raise. As you would expect, everything he needs as a producer costs more just to get it to the island.Hot and sticky again today with rain building in the weekend forecast. That's Stu Muck's fair-time forecast.Now is the time when farms start gathering a lot of data. Monitoring fields, crops produced, inputs used - they pull it all together. More and more farms are looking for data points from their conservation practices as well. Ben Jarboe visits with Kim Meyer, an agronomist who is also the Program Manager for the Dane County Demo Farms. She says these farms are run cooperatively focused on decreasing soil erosion and keeping water in the area clean. She says the funding they have came from the NRCS. It's designed to last for just 5 years, so she's hoping funding will continue.Dairy's been challenged this week with projections of more milk coming to the market then currently needed. Matt Tranel, dairy analyst with EverAg in Platteville tells Pam Jahnke where the "choke" points are, and what industry processing partners are saying.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Wilson didn't start out as a bison producer. The owner/operator of Morning Star Bison in Nanaimo, BC started in beef - until Mad Cow Disease decimated the Canadian market and forced him to rethink his ranching plans. Today Wilson has a herd of 50 bison on roughly 200 acres he's carved from timber land. He's had to really carefully manage his animals and checkbook with a historical drought impacting pastures. There's also the escalating costs of trying to market his bison meat. He says he does find good consumer response on Vancouver Island, but has to rely on off-island opportunities for bulk sales. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small Cap Breaking News You Can't Miss! Here's a quick rundown of the latest updates from standout small-cap companies making big moves today.HPQ Silicon (TSX-V: HPQ) HPQ Silicon has begun production of its first HPQ ENDURA+ 18650 and 21700 battery cells, featuring proprietary silicon-based anode technology developed with Novacium SAS. Independent testing by Tsinghua University validated their high performance, with the 21700 model delivering 6,000 mAh and ~1,000 charge cycles. Technical datasheets are now available, signaling market readiness and opening doors for global OEM partnerships.Waste Energy Corp (OTCQB: WAST) Waste Energy posted its first-ever operating profit in Q2 2025, alongside two straight quarters of revenue growth. The company turns plastic and tire waste into fuels, adds blockchain-powered carbon credit technology, and benefits from a “free or better” feedstock model. With expanded assets, debt reduction, and a strategic site in Midland, Texas, WAST is positioned for scalable growth in the clean-tech sector.Renforth Resources (CSE: RFR) Renforth has confirmed a third nickel-bearing polymetallic zone at its Malartic Metals Package in Quebec, while securing early permits to advance its Parbec gold project—located next to Agnico Eagle's Canadian Malartic Mine. The company now controls three critical minerals zones, a copper discovery, and a permitted gold project, with a maiden resource for its Victoria zone expected this fall.Nova Pacific Metals (CSE: NVPC) Nova Pacific reported high-grade drill results from its Lara VMS Project on Vancouver Island, including 6.05 m at 4.0 g/t AuEq and 10 m at 2.5 g/t AuEq. The program is verifying a large historical dataset and could fast-track a resource estimate by Q4 2025. Assays from 16 more holes are pending, with potential for additional stacked VMS lenses to be discovered.Viscount Mining (TSXV: VML) Viscount's first deep hole at its Passiflora target in Colorado intersected 843.9 m of continuous copper-gold mineralization averaging 0.214% CuEq, including higher-grade sections. The system is open in all directions, with grades comparable to the early stages of world-class porphyry discoveries. An expanded drill program is planned to define scale and depth potential.Follow AGORACOM for more breaking small-cap news and updates — and don't miss our latest interviews on the AGORACOM Small Cap Podcast!

Send us a textJoin our Catholic family of 10 on a faith-filled 3,500km road trip across Western Canada! With rosaries in hand, we packed one van with love, prayer, and snacks for a 14-day adventure from Saskatchewan's prairies to Vancouver Island's breathtaking coastlines. Share in the joy, chaos, and blessings as we explore Canmore, Banff, Yoho National Park, and more, all while growing closer to God. From praying the Rosary on the road to marveling at orcas on the ferry, beachcombing at Rathtrevor Beach, and hiking Hornby Island's cliffs, this journey celebrates Catholic family life. Despite a sketchy motel and tummy troubles, our faith kept us strong. Subscribe for more Catholic family adventures and share your faithful travel stories below!Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

There's a good reason why I asked hoofcare professional Nicole Jory to contribute her online course Hoof Care Fundamentals to Outside the Box Equine - she knows her stuff! Nicole is my main hoofcare support for my herd and has been an invaluable resource for myself and my equine community for over a decade and I'm so pleased to be able to introduce you all to her in this episode!  We cover a lot of territory in one hour: from trimming, to the three main issues she sees with hooves and how to help, to feeding for hoof health, to how to read a hay analysis. Nicole is a wealth of up-to-date information and is one of my favourite humans to geek out with. This chat is a goodie with lots of gems!  Born and raised on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, Nicole Jory been a lifetime horse owner and equine nerd. She's spent years learning the intricacies of their health, with a special focus on their hooves. She became a Hoof Care Professional in 2002, and for over 2 decades has worked with countless equines and their owners, specializing in a holistic approach to hoof care. She is passionate about empowering equine owners to take an active role in the well-being of their equine partners.  Find her online course Hoof Care Fundamentals at https://outsidetheboxequine.com/hoof-course/ Follow Nicole on IG @the.hoof.fairy or on FB at Nicole Jory - Hoof Care Practitioner

The Mount Underwood fire burning south of Port Alberni on Vancouver Island has forced the evacuation of up to 300 people from a campground. CBC's Maryse Zeidler gives the latest on the rapidly-growing fire. Meanwhile, the wildfire burning west of Osoyoos Lake in the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen continues to burn, but the B.C. Wildfire Service says the blaze is now considered held. CBC's Tiffany Goodwein takes us live near the site of the fire.

In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, hosts Chef Jonathan Frazier and William McStringer explore the vibrant food culture of Vancouver Island through the lens of community and collaboration. Jonathan, in his role as president of the North Vancouver Island Culinary Association (NVICA), discusses the association's mission to unite chefs, cooks, culinary students, and food producers in advancing the culinary arts across the region. The conversation dives into how NVICA promotes professional growth, champions local products, and supports signature events like Food Day Canada. From organizing skill-building workshops to creating mentorship opportunities for emerging talent, the association plays a pivotal role in both preserving culinary traditions and encouraging innovation in the kitchen. As always, the Edible Valley Podcast serves as a storytelling hub, giving voice to farmers, fishers, food artisans, and restaurateurs whose work defines Vancouver Island's unique food identity. Jonathan and William share how these stories inspire greater community engagement and how listeners can get involved—whether by joining NVICA, attending local food festivals, or simply supporting island-grown products. This episode is a celebration of connection, passion, and the shared commitment to keeping Vancouver Island's culinary culture thriving for generations to come. #EdibleValley, #NVICA, #FoodDayCanada, #CulinaryCommunity, #CF, #ChefFrazier, #WACS, #WorldChefs, #CulinaryFederation, #ChefLife, #CulinaryArts, #SupportLocal, #FarmToTable, #Foodie, #Podcast, #NewPodcast, #ListenNow, #ChefsOfInstagram, #EatLocal, #LocalFoodLove, #Gastronomy

In this episode of the IC-DISC show, I sit down with Ronak Shah to discuss his transition from a corporate career at Intel to entering the scrap metal business, to founding a successful scrap metal business in New Caney, Texas. We talk about the motivation behind his career shift and the mentors who guided him along the way. Ronak opens up about the challenges he faced while transitioning from a large corporate environment to a smaller, more hands-on business. We also explore Ronak's decision to sell his business and the unexpected opportunities that arose from that choice. He reflects on the experiences gained throughout his career, emphasizing the importance of taking calculated risks and adapting to change. His story offers insights into the value of connecting past experiences to current ventures, even when the path isn't always straightforward. Finally, we discuss navigating today's fast-paced digital world and the importance of maintaining a low profile on social media. Ronak's journey highlights the balance between professional growth and personal fulfillment, making this episode a thoughtful exploration of entrepreneurship and resilience.     SHOW HIGHLIGHTS I explore Ronak's remarkable transition from a corporate role at Intel to establishing a successful scrap industry business in New Caney, Texas, emphasizing his desire for more tangible work and the influence of key mentors. The episode delves into Ronak's career progression at Schnitzer Steel and Alter Trading, where he gained critical insights in non-ferrous recovery and learned the importance of agile, smaller teams in driving technological advancements. Through journaling and introspection, Ronak clarifies his professional desires, leading to the creation of Levitated Metal and reflecting on personal challenges, including his late wife's battle with cancer. We discuss the financial strategies Ronak utilized in his entrepreneurial ventures, such as leveraging IC-DISC tax advantages and aligning financial decisions with personal values. The conversation highlights Ronak's leadership insights, his decision to pursue a smaller business for personal fulfillment, and the impact of selling his business on both his professional and personal life. Ronak shares reflections on his entrepreneurial journey, touching on the lessons learned from his career, the importance of taking risks, and the role of hindsight in connecting the dots of his experiences. The episode concludes with a discussion on navigating the complexities of the modern digital landscape and the importance of maintaining a low profile in a rapidly changing social media environment.   Contact Details LinkedIn - Ronak Shah (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronakshahpdx/) LINKSShow Notes Be a Guest About IC-DISC Alliance About Levitated Metals Ronak ShahAbout Ronak TRANSCRIPT (AI transcript provided as supporting material and may contain errors) Dave: Hi Ronak, how are you today? Roank: Good David, Nice to see you again. Dave: Likewise, and where are you calling into from? Where are you in the world at the moment? Roank: I'm at my factory in New Caney, Texas, just a little bit northeast of Houston Great. Dave: Now are you a native Houstonian. Roank: I'm not, so I moved out here in 2019 to build this factory and start this business. I think I've been to Houston once in the prior year to visit for the first time and never before, other than perhaps through the airport. So, I didn't know a lot about Houston. I'm not saying that I know a lot about Houston now, but it's been a great place to build a business. It's been a fine place for my kids to grow up. Dave: It's been good it's been a fine place for my kids to grow up. It's still good. Yeah, it's. Uh, it's kind of a, it's kind of a hidden gem in a lot of ways. Uh, you know houston is, it's got a lot going for it that if your only experience is just driving through town or going through the airport, you know, I mean you hear traffic, humidity, heat, urbanl and you're just kind of like, you know, yeah, it doesn't sound like my kind of place. Roank: Yeah, well, it would be a lot more believable if you did not have a Breckenridge background behind you. Dave: True, yeah, that is the Breckenridge background for sure. So where did you grow up then, if you didn't grow up in Houston? Roank: I grew up in upstate New York so my dad was one of the many immigrants that came over in the late 60s, early 70s. They were looking for people with medical training and background. So he came over from India, lived in New York. I was born in New York City but very soon after grew up in the middle of the Finger Lakes. We moved to Syracuse when I was in middle school and then I went to Boston for undergraduate and I bounced kind of between Boston and London and back to Boston, then to Portland, oregon, which is where I came into the scrap industry and lived for some time in St Louis. I lived there for about nine years and from St Louis to here. Dave: Okay. So what made you get into the scrap business if you didn't have a family history in it? Roank: Yeah, it was just very random, my interest in the scrap industry. I think, the truth of the answer is probably the more interesting one. So after mba I was working, I was an operations guy and I was working at intel corporation in portland, near portland oregon, and loved being in portland. It's a fine place to live. But intel was, I mean, a huge company, right, 80 000 people, and just like the process of making something that was about this big, the the size of the core diet, multiprocessor, microprocessor this wasn't sufficiently interesting to me and I was too far from it, as well as my chain organization. Yeah. It didn't feel tangible enough, and so that was one part of it. But then the other part of it as well was you know I was there as a worker bee, you know, in a reasonably senior job for someone of my age, but then, you know, in a reasonably senior job for someone of my age, but then you know intel was having difficulty. So they bring in bane and company to kind of work on strategy or whatever and so two of the guys that I went to school with that, I knew well, were like literally working literally seven layers in the organization above me, and I'm like what? and so I just hit that, I tapped out, I extracted, I was like this is just some horse crap. I, this isn't the place for me. I need to go somewhere where I'm, you know, in a, in a smaller pod, where I can really touch and feel a thing. And so I just started throwing resumes out and wound up at Schnitzer Steel. Now really, yeah, and oh really. Yeah, and it was great. It was a time of transition for Schnitzer. I don't know if it was a great transition time for Schnitzer. They were transitioning from an older style scrap company to a more professional slash corporate company of the style that it is today. So they had parts of the parts of their business were both things and for sure I liked the old thing a lot and just tons of fun being in places like Boston and Portland scrapyard when they were building big mega shredders and new factories and driving the continuous improvement process there and trying to get metrics around things. It was really a good time. I enjoyed a lot of it. I came to Alter Trading in 2010 and that was wonderful right, I owe so much of my career everything I learned everything to the team at Alter, to Jay Rabinovitz and Rob and Michael Goldstein. I learned a lot there. I did a lot of really fun stuff for them that helped transform the company into the highly successful privately owned scrap company it is today. Dave: Like on the technology side, correct yeah. Roank: So I built a few factories, non-ferrous recovery plants to process not steel non-ferrous portions of the shredder and extract more metals out of stuff that would otherwise have gone to the landfill. And it was you know, exciting to do that, and it wasn't just building the factories but really growing out the entirety of the division that became, you know, a kind of center of excellence around that function, and it's an area that you know Alter remains very strong in today. Dave: Okay, well, I am excited to get into the next part of your story. So you're living in St Louis, working at Alter, being involved in some cool stuff and forward thinking technology. So how did from there? How do you end up starting a company in New Caney, texas? Roank: Yeah, so it's no reason not to be as open and honest about it as possible. So Alter was amazing. For the first six or seven years I was there, the job was like a nine and a half out of 10. I remember I was in New York going to make this time up sometime in 2013 or something like that. I've been there for three years and the Powerball was like some huge number, like a billion dollars, and so me and some buddies that were in finance, we all bought Powerball tickets and we talked about what we would do if we won the money, and I remember I determined to say I don't know if I would necessarily quit my job, right, like I really love what I do. I still think about that today. Dave: Did any of them have the same thought? Roank: No, they thought I was just completely crazy and they weren't necessarily wrong. I think I think perhaps again I loved it, but the point of it is I really enjoyed it. It was fulfilling, I had impact, things were changing. All of that when I struggled is as that phase of what Alter needed ended and I needed to move and assist alter with other things, primarily helping them grow a tier of management that had come from the art management level into being the next business leaders of the company. Just, you know, it's kind of standard transition planning type stuff and succession planning. I struggled with doing that successfully, a role that perhaps would have been viable or successful or satisfactory for me to do had it occurred during a standard line management. You know, hierarchical management structure was hard for me to find value in fulfillment, in and I would say success in doing. Yeah, as a matrix manager, you know, as a, as a guide, as a internal consultant. I just didn't love it. I hate to put it that way. I just sure, sure and at the same time, alter was going through a certain amount of a a ton of growth, right, a lot of growth that I participated in through acquisition and internal growth as well disbanded organic growth. But it was going through a lot of growth and so the company that felt small and familial at 40 yards suddenly felt just large and 70 for me. Dave: Too much like it felt too much like Intel. Roank: Nowhere near that level. There's nothing like that. It remains a really effective, well-directed company today. But, it felt different for me and I also realized that I wasn't good at that bigger company stuff. You know, my way of thinking about things didn't scale successfully to that level. I would not be the right guy at that level and this is an unfortunate thing to say. But I chose to. I did not want to change. You know, I thought about so. My boss for many years there was Jay Rabinowitz, who was, until he retired recently, the CEO of Alter Trade. He was fascinating. His ability to grow into the mindset required, the management rank that he was in at the time, or growing into, was phenomenal. And so a guy that if you only knew him 30 years ago was a rough and tumble scrap guy was and you've seen him on podcasts and things like that. It became and presents fully as and fills the shoes of a methodical, thoughtful, mature and a CEO who does a great job of leading A 1,200, 1,500 person organization. You would have never thought that if you only knew him 25 years ago perhaps, but his ability to grow was really phenomenal. For, by choice or by capability or whatever it was, I did not have or want that and so I wanted something dramatically smaller. Dave: Okay. Roank: And so I spent a bunch of time not just thinking about it but literally journaling about it. Because when you just think about these type of problems in your mind like hey, what do I want to do professionally? Yeah, you can just ping pong in your brain. And what I found helped me through the process was writing it down. And if you remember, back in high school, your English teacher would tell you to you know write a draft of the story, or an outline, and then a draft and then the final essay. I mean, I don't know about you, but I would never do any of that crap. But I did this time and I found that, like the first draft was, you know, just vomit on a page of orally thought out concepts and beliefs. And so I wrote it again and it was clear. And I wrote it again, it was clear. It helped me really understand what I liked and didn't like and what I wanted and didn't want from the next phase. And it was a time when, you know, my kids were just about to graduate middle school. If I was ever going to leave St Louis, this was the time to do it. It was not going to be easy. It was not easy for them to leave St Louis, but that's when. That's how I made that choice. I was uncertain as to what I would do. Right, I was out there both looking at shredder yards to buy as well as businesses. To start, I looked at a wire chopping plant. I ultimately built a heavy media plant. I did look at and made successful offers on a couple of different shredders, but none of that actually panned out and in the end I raised a bunch of money, moved out to Houston, built this thing. Dave: That is a great story and your kids ended up adjusting okay to, because I believe you live in one of the really nice master plan communities around Houston. Roank: Yeah, and they've adjusted well. I think my son is glad that we moved down here. My daughter is a little bit on the fence, but she was younger when we moved. Both my wife my late wife and I in many ways would have probably preferred where we lived in. Dave: St Louis, it was a small town in Kirkwood. Roank: You're familiar with it, but here it's been great. The Woodlands is a, you know, magical little bubble of a place to live. It's got everything you need. It's 25 minutes to the factory. All of it has been, from that perspective, just fine. When my wife got cancer, we were right here at MD Anderson. You know a lot of that stuff worked out. Dave: That is great. So tell me what your business premise was for Levitated Metal. So maybe give just a little background. What does the company do? Roank: Sure, so we're a heavy media flotation platform. What we do is we buy a thing called Sorba and we make aluminum Twitch. But stepping back from that to people that don't know what any of those words mean, our suppliers are the largest scrap metal processors in the region. Right, the states who will buy something like an old 2008 ford 500 sedan that's at the end of its life, yeah, shred it into fist size and smaller pieces, extract all the steel out with a magnet and then extract all the other metals like aluminum from the engine, copper, brass zinc, die, cast through other technologies. That aluminum, copper, brass zinc all is mixed up together in little pieces in a giant pile and that product is called a made up word Zorba by the industry. They make lots of it inside of houston. probably 15 million pounds to 18 million pounds of it is made every month right I buy that it's useless the way it is because you can't melt it, because it's got too many different types of metals in it and it doesn't make a useful alloy. But if you can get the aluminum out, that aluminum is super valuable because that aluminum you know used to be the engine block of a old car. It's a pretty tight chemistry match to the alloy required for the engine block of a ford f-150 a 2005. So through a density flotation process using water and ferrosilicon, we can change the density of that water so we can actually float the aluminum out. Dave: Hence the name levitated. Roank: Yeah, it's not a novel technology. I buy the equipment from some dude in Italy. There are well over 100 of these kind of plants in the world, maybe a little less than a dozen when levitators started up in the united states and a very what it sounds like a simple process is a royal pain in the rear. That actually managed because it's a very analog system with all sorts of weird chemistry and other things involved and a challenging plant to rot. But you know, we do a pretty decent job of it. Dave: Now, why did you pick New Caney, texas? I've been to St Louis, in fact, I was just there last month. They appear to have plenty of land around that place, you know, especially across the river in uh, is that illinois? That's just east so why? Didn't you just buy some land and do it up there? Roank: so where these plants, where the competitive plants exist, are relatively close to where their consumers, the aluminum smelters that would buy the recycled aluminum, are, and that's generally already in that area. So there are plenty of plants in that area. Dave: Okay. Roank: Down here in Houston. What was the case when I chose to move down here it became very quickly not the case, because two other people also built plants was that there was a large market in Mexico that did not have access to this type of material because there were no media plants in Texas or along the Mexican border. And aluminum manufacture in Mexico was growing incredibly well, much like the rest of their economy, and so what I saw was a consumer need right mexican heavy media plants, a set of suppliers in the texas area that did not have a domestic buyer for their zorba and so good supplier footprint and, at the time, a relative lack of competition. But I didn't realize. So, like two months after the financial raise was done and everything like that was, there were in fact, two more plants that were in the process of being built. They both started, you know, six to 12 months after mine did not so far away. There's one up near dallas, there's one up in arkansas so it became a little bit more competitive, though in truth that has not really changed the calculus on anything in a great way. It hasn't really improved the deal too much. Dave: Okay, and it was you started with, just a green field, right? Roank: Yeah, it was some trees and dirt and 10 acres. It was some trees and dirt and 10 acres and I started with dirt work and stormwater and concrete and buildings and equipment and built the whole thing. Dave: What year did you? Roank: start COVID 2020. Oh, it was the heck of a time. Dave: That was the construction was during COVID yeah. And when did you open? Roank: Then we started processing. At the end of December we shipped our first 2020 and we started shipping material in full January 2021. Dave: Oh wow, that really was in the midst of COVID. It was Most of it wasn't? Roank: that big a deal. There was some delay in equipment delivery because it came from Italy, and so if anybody had a rougher time COVID wise, it was Italy. So it came from Italy, and so if anybody had a rougher time COVID-wise, it was Italy. So it came from Italy but that might have only cost us a couple months. What was really frustrating and challenging and ultimately we were able to get through it was simply the difficulty of bringing process experts from Europe to the US during the COVID timeline. You know, like I can't tell you how many voicemails I left at the US embassy in Milan to sorry the US consulate in Milan to try to, you know, accelerate the review of the visa for the texts to come in from Italy, but I can tell you how many times somebody probably listened to it with zero, so just a royal pain in the rear. You know, just because the pain in the rear to get that all done, it got done. But those were challenging times. Dave: So started January of 2021 and, uh, at the time, had you given any thought to how long you might want to, that you and your investor group might want to run the business or own the business? Did you have any thought when you started it about what I honestly thought? I? Roank: would run it and own it for like nearly 10, 15 years years and grow it over time and continue to be in the space, et cetera, et cetera. It was meant to be a longer term cashflow, not one necessarily built on an exit strategy of selling at some point in the future. That was the original intent. Dave: How did that-year plan end up working out for you? Roank: Well, it turned out to be much shorter than that. So, as it turned out, in 2023, we had an unsolicited offer from Murfrees Industries to purchase the business assets. Dave: Wow, just two years later. Roank: Yeah, two years of operation later. Yeah, and for a number of reasons, it was the right choice for me and my investors to do the sale and it's been absolutely phenomenally good, I think, for both sides. The transaction itself, you know, from my perspective, great because you know it was an accelerated exit, but an exit nevertheless, and it still gives me the opportunity to continue to do the same job in the same office every day that I really enjoy doing that. I find great fulfillment and mental stimulation and sense of purpose in without the undeniable and underestimated stress of being a business owner. Dave: Yeah. Roank: So that's been absolutely great. It occurred at a time when my wife was battling cancer and took a lot of stress off. Taking that business stress off the table Sure Just made it easier to get through that entire process. Yeah, and it's just been a good. I think it's been fun for everybody. You know Adam and Michael Mervis were the you know fourth generation. Perhaps Adam and Michael Mervis we're the fourth generation perhaps owners of Mervis Industries enjoy having the levitated team in their company. We enjoy being part of it. Both of us have to do better together. It's been really just great. Dave: That is awesome, because not all transactions work out that well. Roank: Yeah, I'm sure there's some number out there that I would have sold the company at, knowing full well that I would not have wanted to work there afterwards. I'm sure there is, but I'm glad I didn't have to. Dave: Because you were I'm guessing you were the. Were you a minority shareholder? Did your? I was a minority shareholder. Roank: Oh, you were the majority, okay. Dave: So it was ultimately your call Correct and your but the the deal clicked, checked all the boxes and and were your investors disappointed that they were going to lose their cash flowing business. Roank: No, they were very pleased with the cash they got all up front. They were fine. That is great. Coincidentally, I did this math when we were doing the sale. I think that the net result of it was the same. Dave: IRR or plus or minus one within 1% of the IRR. Roank: That was in the financial presentation for the business itself. Really, yeah, very unexpected. Yeah, again, nothing more than a coincidence yeah what do you, what do you enjoy most? enjoy the most about the business is building and growing things. What I have realized is that is not sufficient to be a great leader. Right, there's building and growing things. A great leader right, there's building and growing things. But there's also all the other things that a leader should gain and find value in a business that I'm just not personally built to enjoy nearly as much. Right, I enjoy growing the skillset for the people that work for me. I enjoy seeing them be successful, but I don't think I enjoy it as much as I really should, or that a leader really should. In many ways, I think what I've discovered is I almost enjoy being an individual contributor more than. I enjoy being a leader and in in many ways, that's why I enjoy being at such a small company. Right, yeah, here the leadership I have to do is very direct. It's in the office, with people that are no more than 15 feet away from me right now. It's a very old style of working. You, you know, I have one remote employee and thank God she is very self-directed and capable and intelligent and proactive about reaching out to me, because otherwise she would be really disappointed and I would suck at that job. And so when we talk about you know what do we like about the job? I enjoy the improving of things. I enjoy the new thing to be done. That is not as much of it's not that much of running a business as you would want it to be. Sure, it's not like about a small business, though are just the variety of stuff I get to do I wear slightly fewer hats now than I did before the acquisition, but I was the CFO. I was, unfortunately, the lead IT guy, even though portions of these functions were outsourced as well. I sold all the metals. Having never sold a pound of metal in my life prior to levitated metals, I sold all the amount and then I was the president. I was the lead on any plant improvement projects of great size that we had again support throughout the organization on all these little pieces. But that's a lot of little hats to wear okay, okay. That a bigger company would have a head underneath every one of those hats. Sure, so I enjoy being able to do the breadth of those activities. I think it's rare that people can do the breadth of those activities. You and I talk about ICDIS stuff all the time and I would wager at a level that maybe less than five company owners that you interact with are able to discuss the situation. Is that probably correct, or am I? I think it's probably less than three yeah. Dave: And I can't think of who the other two are, so you might be in a class of your own. Roank: Yeah, I enjoy that thing right when I think about things that I would have been in a different life. Perhaps tax accountant could be one of those. But man, this is a very different life than tax accountant. Dave: Yeah for sure I think you made the right call. Well, as we're kind of rounding the home stretch, I've just got a few more questions. One is when you were leaving Intel, if you had a time machine, or maybe right after you left Intel and you had a time machine that you could go back and have a conversation with the younger Ronak 20 years ago, what might you have told yourself? What advice might you have had? Roank: or wisdom that you might've wanted to share. I don't think I would've shared anything. Dave: No, wouldn't want to, but I would've wanted that. Roank: With the exception my wife's death, there is not a single thing that I would have changed that is a you're. Dave: I asked that question on my guest and you're probably the only one who's ever answered it that way. Roank: So I would say, yeah, what type of things do people say? Oh, you know the number one, because I'm not just saying that because I don't want to watch other podcasts, I just yeah, well, no, I can give give you the rundown. Dave: The most common answer is they wish they would have taken a risk sooner. They wish they would have started their company sooner. They wish they'd been more willing to take a chance. Now, granted, many of my guests are self-made first-generation entrepreneurs like you know, are, you know, self-made first generation entrepreneurs like you are meaning? You know they formed the company, but some of them may have worked at other companies. In hindsight they realize, oh, I should have done this five years sooner, you know it. Just, it would have only been better if I'd done it five years. That's kind of. The most common answer is just, they wish they'd played it less safe. You know, they wish they'd taken, you know, more risks in college. They wish they. That's kind of the most. But that one is consistent with what most people say near the end of their life they don't regret the things they did, they regret the things they didn't do. So that tends to be the answer. But that, to me, is a really good. That's a really good answer for somebody who's pretty content with where their life is. Roank: Yeah, other than you know your wife, obviously, and I see what everybody else describes, but I feel that everything I did, I was learning something that became foundationally valuable. Dave: Yeah. Roank: You know there was a period of time I got laid off from Schnitzer in early 2009. And I didn't start up at Alter Trading until, you know, about a year later. But I did some consulting in the middle for a wonderful company, Steel Pacific Recycling in Vancouver Island, Victoria, British Columbia, and I was there for three months and it was a magical time because we were there in the wintertime. The whole family moved up. My kids were very young. We had an apartment right in Victoria. I rode a bicycle to work to the scrapyard. But I did a bunch of really interesting financial cost accounting structure set up that helped them understand their business better and those were super useful skills when I had to do a chart of accounts setup for levitated metals. We were able to slice and dice our financials. You know extremely well and I don't know if I would have used an erp system nearly as well as I do here had I not had all those little formative experience things in the end I think for me at least. I don't feel like I had a lot of wasted years throughout any of that time I learned steve jobs, as you say. Dave: Steve jobs has the saying that you can only connect the dots when you look backwards, that at the time you can't. It's not like you had some grand plan, I'm guessing you know when you left intel. It just you know. Because steve talks about. He took this calligraphy class that he audited in college and, uh, you know, and that influenced everything at apple design and fonts and and other stuff that it only makes sense looking back so that's. Roank: That's interesting. Yeah, I can. I can see that, and it is hard to connect the dots until yeah until you look back so. Dave: So here's kind of a fun one. I think you've been a like me, you're a. Well, I consider myself a naturalized texan. My wife's a native texan, so, uh, you know, if you you know. So you're also a non-native texan, but I think you've been here long enough for this question. Tex-mex or barbecue. Roank: Barbecue makes me fall asleep. I'm not saying Tex-Mex, I've always loved Tex-Mex. So yeah, we've got some great barbecue. Actually, right near the plant Rusty Buckle is some great barbecue. Near my house is Corkscrew, which just got a Michelin star, which. Dave: Oh nice. Roank: Yeah, which I still struggle to understand how that all plays out. But Texas I guess you get a star. But I love me some Lupe Torquillo yeah yeah, I am with you. Dave: Well, is there anything I didn't ask you or we didn't talk about that you wish we had or we should have? Roank: No, but I'll do you a favor and I'll plug a little bit the IC disc. I know that's not the goal of this podcast, but it is why we know each other. Yeah, so I'll tell this story if I may. Yeah, absolutely, the IC disc and levitated metals. Yeah absolutely, yeah, absolutely, disc and levitated metals. So I called you on my birthday, three months before I, a little bit before I sold the company, and I had talked to you many times previous to that about setting up an icy disc. We, like many scrap companies, are well suited to the icyDIS because the profile of our sales are high margin exports and lower margin domestic sales, and the value of, as a pass-through entity, being able to translate ordinary income into dividend income, has great benefits to the investors of a company. I think there's probably some advantages, even if you're a C-corp, but you can detail that kind of At most. I think there's probably some advantages, even if you're a C-corp, but you can detail that kind of stuff out. I don't really know. Dave: Sure. What was? Roank: interesting when we talked about it is I was in the process of selling the company and when you sell a company that's done a bunch of bonus depreciation because it built a big factory, there's always depreciation recapture that shows up as ordinary income at the time of the sale and so whatever normal ordinary income there would have been that year it was going to be much, much higher because we would have clawed back a ton of depreciation. I put a recapture on depreciation. It's ordinary income. We, like many scrap companies again, have an IC discable kind of amount of headroom of income translation from ordinary income to dividend income Well in excess of the ordinary income we normally make in any particular year, and so, like most scrap companies, there should be no reason to pay ordinary income tax. Dave: Right. Roank: Again, most scrap companies that are Nazi corpse or whatever. But in the year of the sale, all that extra headroom suddenly became valuable because I was going to have this abnormal ordinary income from the depreciation recapture, and so what would have been X million dollars of ordinary income that would have turned to dividend income wound up being something like 2.5, x, yeah, all of which I was able to use because I had so much ordinary income, yeah. And your shareholders as well. Yes, absolutely yes, I and my shareholders. And that was phenomenal. And then on top of it, I think I got to. The ICDIS lets you defer some of that dividend income into the following year. So just sat there in our bank accounts making 5% or whatever we chose to do with that money for another year more than a year, excuse me. Just truly phenomenal. The impact of the ICDIS in my space. Not an easy thing to kind of think through. You and I were just spitballing stuff. We popped it up as an option. You had to go back and think about it, but it looks like it works. And I don't know if you have done it before. Dave: No, yeah, it was just such a unique fact and it was mostly because of how new the business was. Right, if the business had been open for 10 years, we would have started the IC desk probably in year four or five it was coming, and then you would have been using it and then you would have had that transaction, the depreciation recapture, and it would have given you a bigger benefit. It would have happened anyway. It was just your circumstances were so unique is how it all fell out, and I doubt we'll ever see that. That circumstances, because it's so rare to start a business and sell it so quickly, you know I think the takeaway of it is the one. Roank: So one of the takeaways I have from this is I should have started the ICS earlier, because of the bonus depreciation as a startup of the company and the complete depreciation of the entire factory. In the first year, I and investors had a ton of NOL and net operating losses that were just going to take a while to turn into a cumulative net gain and before that happened we sold the company. I was planning on doing an IC disc in 2024, I think was my expected timeline, which is when we would have clicked over to a game and then suddenly there would have been income that I wanted to translate over into dividend income. But I really should have just done it before into dividend income but I really should have just done it before. Dave: So the question I should have asked you was if you could go back in time two years and do anything different. Give any advice to yourself. What would it have been? I mean, it's a joke, right? You would have said start the ICDISC sooner. Roank: The real advice I would have given would have been understand how your NOLs work so that you can do a donor advice fund for the ordinary income you thought you were going to. But outside of that, in truth it's a minor esoteric thing that doesn't really matter. Dave: And so, since you brought it up I rarely talk about this. Since you brought it up, just a couple quick questions. One, because the cpa firm you use actually has some icdisk expertise and you know you could have used them. So do you recall what aspect of our I remind you. Roank: Yeah, because you're, I see this guy. Okay, and the thing that I was talking about felt esoteric enough that I didn't want to click just on a cheap bastard. I didn't want to click over, you know. CPA for billable hours while they tried to figure it out and roll me in a show or something like that. That's not how I want to play now, but the truth is I just needed something done quick and fast because every day that I waited to do the icy disc was another day of revenues that I couldn't utilize. And the second reason is, you know there's a time there's time it takes to create an icy disc and set it up and all that kind of stuff. You have that down to a science and had a method to kind of quickly get me rolling on it. While you and I both know you made a bunch of money on that transaction for a couple of years of work on it, it was completely worth it to me and a very satisfying business and personal relationship that tested both of our intellectual capabilities to kind of put together and work on. I enjoyed doing it right, like when we talk about what we enjoy and work. Dave: Yeah, that was a fun thing it was, yeah, no, it was for me too, because so yeah, so few of my clients, you know, know, have that much interest, you know, getting into the weeds there, and it caused me to think of some things I hadn't thought about in this. And again, since you brought it up, in the experience, you know, the team was the responsiveness Good, I mean, was the? Is the experience been positive? Oh yeah, it's been great, yeah what about coordinating with your CPA firm, because sometimes a CPA firm who has an ICDIS practice will sometimes say things like yeah, but it'll be more seamless if it's all under one umbrella right. Umbrella right, I mean, it's the. Did you get the sense that? That it created a lot of of extra work by the cpa firm, or that balls got dropped because you didn't have one entity doing it all? Roank: I don't think I got that sense, because the cpa firm is made up of multiple people too. That, oh, it's a good point, right? I mean, it's not like the ICDISC person is the CPA that you're working with, right? Dave: You know, I hadn't thought about that, and you're right, and there's some level of communication that is required regardless. Roank: Yeah, and that. Dave: IC-DISC practice, if I recall, for that particular firm. I think it's out of a different office. Roank: Anyway, I don't think, even if they were next to each other right which are of course not next to each other because they all work remote Even if they were next to each other, still two people having to talk, and so there's still coordination that has to happen, and you know what you're talking about. In the end. There is enough esoterica on optimizing the ICDISC usage, that especially trying to maximize the ICDISC capability that I don't think others really understand and not all of them need to understand it. But what I mean by that is for many companies they can just use the stupid simple approach for doing ICDISC and it'll still let them translate all the income they have right. In my particular case, it was important to look at the transaction by transaction optimization capability of the ICDISC in order to fully utilize and maximize the amount of income I could translate to dividend income. I use shared logic as my ERP system. There is literally an ICDISC button that creates the report that you care about. Dave: Right, and so that's one of the benefits of not to interrupt you, but people ask me because, like my, our IC disc business is almost impossible to sell. In fact your CPA firm even talked to me a few years ago about buying the ICDIS practice. The problem is we're not very sellable. We have a huge, we have a concentration risk because it's all tied to one part of the tax code. So they wanted to discount that, or they would have wanted if the conversation on that far. And the second problem is I'm a craftsman, I have the primary relationship with all of the clients. So they would have made me stay around for three or five years and I'm like you know and it would have been tied to some kind of an earn out because they're going to say well, what if the IC just goes away next year? You know we want you to basically keep some of that risk. So I don't know what got me off on this tangent of that risk. Roank: So I don't know what got me off on this tangent. I hear you, and I've thought about that question on your behalf as well, because from my perspective I think your job is kind of interesting and fun. Right, you get to visit a lot of different scrap yards, talk to a bunch of different scrap dudes about a thing you're very knowledgeable about that you know really could trans dramatically improve their financial position, and yet it's still a tough sell. Right, it should be like selling. You know it's not like selling ice cream to eskimos, and yet sometimes it probably feels that way. It is that way, yeah, yeah, and also the question of how to. Because you have a couple of people, I think that work for you, right, at least? Dave: one, yeah, yeah, there's a whole team, yeah. Roank: And so, yes, if IC-DISC went away, it would be I don't know what else you guys do, but pretty close to the end of the company and that's a rough gig. And you know, the low-grade communist in me certainly is shocked, shocked by all the awesome and incredible tax code optimization tools that exist for business owners tools that exist for business owners. Dave: I mean between the IC-DISC, new market tax credits opportunity zones right Bonus appreciation just it's Cost segregation, research-. Roank: Absolutely phenomenal, right, I am now a W2 employee like a putz, you know it's just phenomenal. But if that went away then, yeah, this does die. It's a really difficult thing to try to sell, right. It's the type of thing that, I don't know, if you can't keep some level of skin in the game or risk on it. It feels like the type of thing that if you have the right person in the organization that could be the face, should be kind of employee acquired in some capacity. Dave: Well, and that opportunity exists Some of my partners, I mean I have a standing offer to basically sell my part of the business and in many ways are you familiar with the inside. Roank: I am the. Dave: There's a deep dive of tax yeah, yeah, the structure for us I've already looked at it just doesn't. It doesn't really, it's not not the right fit, but yeah, I thought this thing. You know the funny thing about the disc it's been around since 1972, but it's been quote going, going away since 1973. So I've been doing this 20 years, and I thought I might have five years before this went away or there was a change. But the key, though, is that and that's true the concentration risk is there, but on the flip side, there's also a premium. You get a specialization premium that comes along with it. It's the reason if you look at a lawyer, the more specialized they are, the higher their billing rate, and so there's a premium that comes with that specialization. I know what I was going to say, and then I doubled down further where we have a concentration of risk within the scrap metal industry. But the benefit of that, though, is that when I show up to a scrap metal conference, I'm the only one there talking about IC disc, and I'm the one that well, a scrap guy introduced us. I mean, in fact, I won't mention him by name, but I call him my best unpaid salesman. He's referred as multiple clients. For a variety of reasons, they don't use us, but he's still a big fan of uh, of the work we do. So, yeah, and then the. Finally, there's this concept that has not caught on with a lot of americans. But there's this concept of saving Like you don't have to spend all your income in any given year, so there is this concept of you can make money, put it away and then, if the business goes away, you have this thing called like a nest egg, or you know. So People should think about it, yeah, but yeah my clients, my clients who I have a relationship with, that's. Oftentimes they'll ask me hey, dave, I'm a little worried about you, like as a friend, what happens if the IC disc goes away and I'm like I'll just spend more time there? That's what will happen. Roank: If it makes you feel better, I don't worry about you. I just think it's a very interesting company sale situation. I just think it's a very interesting company sale situation. Yeah, and you know, when you look at the environment today, you could be a tweet away from getting doged. Yeah, yeah, exactly yeah. So one of the you know, keep your head down and stay quiet, kind of things which appears to be the standard business approach to today's situation. Dave: It does seem to be. Roank: Well, hey Ronak. Dave: I can't believe how fast the time has floated. This has been a blast. I really appreciate it and I hope you have a great afternoon. Thank you, it's good to talk to you. Special Guest: Ronak Shah.

Trek has just launched a versatile trail platform in its new Fuel. Riders here at CCM have been fans of the previous Fuel EX and the Slash enduro bikes. The new Fuel, which actually comes in three configurations, has elements of both of the preceding models as well as the 27.5” Remedy. In this episode of the Canadian Cycling Magazine Podcast, MTB editor Terry McKall speaks with three folks from Trek about the new Fuels. Ross Rushin, Trek mountain bike marketing manager, Dylan Howes, Trek mountain bike senior engineer and Trek marketing manager for Canada Taylor Cook get into the details about the expansive system for talking on all kinds of trails.The discussion turns to the project both McKall, and CCM photo editor and MTB tester Matt Stetson have been working on: a comparison between the Fuel LX model and EX one. McKall took the longer travel bike out on the trails of Vancouver Island, while Stetson played on routes in Ontario. You can check the video with McKall and Stetson's insights, after you listen to the pod.Trek offers three versions of the Fuel: EX, MX and LX. The Fuel EX and LX models both run 29” wheels. The former has a 150-mm fork and 145 mm of travel. On the LX, there's 160 mm of travel working with a 170-mm fork. Finally, the MX is a mullet bike (29” front, 27.5” rear wheel) sporting a 160-mm fork and 150 mm of rear wheel travel. To add to the lineup, there's also the new Fuel+ eMTB, which replaces the EXe. It is similarly available in EX, MX and LX versions with a new motor and battery. Find out more details about all those bikes.McKall and his guests discuss how Trek came to develop the new Fuel system and what changes designers had to make to the frame so that it could work with such a wide range of forks and travel options. They give you more information about what's required to convert from one platform to the other. Also, Howes and Rushin talk about how riding has evolved and how those changes have affected the design of the new Fuel system.

Jim and Evelyn Bruton, courtesy of Elanie Bruton. This is an edited version of a conversation with a  lighthouse keeper's daughter in British Columbia, Canada, first heard in episode 104 of Light Hearted. Jim Bruton was born in Wales in 1926, but his family relocated to British Columbia in Canada when he was just one year old. He started working in the logging industry as a boy. In a light keeping career spanning several decades, he served at light stations around Vancouver Island: Lennard Island, Discovery Island, and Chrome Island. Sheringham Point Lighthouse, BC. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. iThe Brutons eventually had four children, three girls and a boy. The family moved to Sheringham Point, a mainland lightstation in Shirley on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, in 1968. They lived there for nearly two decades, until 1986, when Jim Bruton retired. Our guest today, Elanie Bruton, lived at the light stations with her family until she was 18. She remains an active volunteer of the Sheringham Point Lighthouse Preservation Society, which now owns the lighthouse and surrounding land.

Hundreds of homes on Vancouver Island are subject to an evacuation order due to a wildfire. New data looks into what professions may be driven to substance abuse. Israel's defence minister calls for the Israli takeover of Gaza. Health Canada recalling several brands of baby nest beds. Canadian teen Victoria Mboko has scored a stunning upset at the Canadian Open tennis tournament.

Officials on Vancouver Island are hoping a change of weather will help them fight an out of control wildfire burning north of Nanaimo. Evacuation orders have been issued for hundreds of properties. The B.C. wildfire service says efforts are focused on protecting homes and keeping people safe.Also: Where's the beef? Its one of the busiest grilling weekends of the year...But price conscious cooks might want to serve chicken burgers this year, because the price of beef is surging faster than inflation.And: Canadian travelers are choosing Toronto over Tampa - and Calgary over California. Canada is having a strong summer tourist season, partly thanks to a rise in staycations. And the federal government is hoping some new measures will help bring more international tourists here too.Plus: Summer McIntosh wins more gold medals, A First Nation in Saskatchewan celebrates a multi-million dollar settlement with Ottawa, and more.

For the latest and most important news of the day | https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca To watch daily news videos, follow us on YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@CdnPress The Canadian Press on X (formerly Twitter) | https://twitter.com/CdnPressNews The Canadian Press on LinkedIn | https://linkedin.com/showcase/98791543

My guest today is Daniel Waite Penny, a journalist and cultural critic whose recent work investigates the connection between masculinity and the climate crisis. He's the creator of NonToxic, a podcast exploring men and sustainability, and co-creator of Carbon Bros, an investigative series made in collaboration with Drilled.Here's an overview of the series:You've heard it from cable news pundits, Democratic strategists, and your favorite YouTuber: young men swung the last U.S. election for Trump. Understanding what's driving “the manosphere” and how to reach the young men in its grips is on everyone's mind right now, but we're zooming in on a different corner of it: the intersection between male grievance culture and climate denial. Why are men less likely than women to believe in climate change, or take personal or political actions against it? What does their reluctance to deal with the climate crisis have to do with men's shift to the right in general? And what can be done to reverse it?Daniel and I first connected years ago when he interviewed me about the mythopoetic men's movement.In our conversation today , we return to the themes of men, meaning, and the cultural forces shaping our times. We trace the strategic targeting of men by fossil fuel interests, the rise of the manosphere, and the appeal of dominance-based narratives offered by figures like Trump and Tate.The Mythic Masculine is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.We ask why so many men resist climate action, and how the deeper hunger for belonging, nobility, and story has been misdirected. We explore the absence of an inspiring masculine vision within progressive politics, and what might be possible if men were invited into a role of protection and stewardship.Would love to hear your comments below!For men who wish to join me in-person, I have one more Awakening the Wild Erotic weekend Aug 22-24 on Vancouver Island. Otherwise, men from all over the world can take the Deep Masculine journey.ADDITIONAL EPISODES: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themythicmasculine.substack.com/subscribe

Pete Woodland is an incredible bowyer based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, nestled in a Douglas fir forest on the Saanich Peninsula. Pete was spellbound by the first primitive bow he ever saw: a Pacific yew flatbow carved by master bowyer Andreas Uetendorfer, a family friend who spent much of his life in Haida Gwaii, a legendary archipelago off the coast of Northern British Columbia. Pete has since become a master bowyer in his own right, selling his bows under the brand name of Heritage Bows and offering intimate bow carving workshops. In addition to his passion for bow carving and archery, Pete is obsessed with bonsai, the Japanese art of growing miniature trees, and has dozens of bonsai trees growing on his property.  Please enjoy this episode of Project Quiver on Salish Wolf with Pete Woodland.          Episode Links: http://heritagebows.com/ https://www.instagram.com/heritagebows/ Project Quiver at Anchor Point ExpeditionsSummary:In this conversation, Pete Woodland and I delve into the intricate world of bow making, sharing our experiences, techniques, and the cultural significance behind the craft. We discuss various bow styles, materials, and the creative process involved in crafting bows. We explore the multifaceted world of archery, discussing its therapeutic benefits, the meditative aspects of shooting, and the intricate physics behind bow making. We also delve into the artistry of woodworking, Pete's passion for bonsai, and the importance of community and collaboration among bow makers. Show Notes:TakeawaysThe journey of bow making is filled with unexpected experiences.Different bow styles and techniques can enhance performance.The creative process is as important as the final product.Materials used in bow making significantly impact performance.Cultural influences shape the design and function of bows.Workshops provide an opportunity for community engagement.Social media plays a crucial role in promoting bow making.Personal stories and connections enrich the bow making experience.Experimentation is key to evolving as a bow maker.Understanding the relationship between bow making and the ecosystem is vital. Archery serves as a powerful therapeutic tool for many, including those with PTSD.Shooting a bow can be a form of meditation, providing mental clarity and focus.The physics of archery involves fascinating concepts like the Archer's Paradox.Crafting bows is an art that combines woodworking skills with creativity.Bonsai cultivation reflects a deep appreciation for nature and ancient trees.Collaboration among bow makers fosters innovation and community.Exploring different bow styles can enhance one's skills and understanding of archery.The journey of bow making is intertwined with personal growth and exploration.Archery can be a healing practice, promoting mindfulness and relaxation.Engaging in hands-on crafts like bow making is essential for personal fulfillment. Chapters:00:00 The Journey of Bow Making Begins03:54 Exploring Bow Styles and Techniques06:49 The Influence of Wood on Bow Design09:36 Innovations in Bow Making12:28 Cultural Significance of Bow Styles15:25 Personal Experiences in Bow Making18:12 The Evolution of Bow Making Skills21:04 The Future of Bow Making25:57 The Journey of Bow Making30:16 Workshops and Community Engagement34:43 The Art of Bow Making vs. Custom Orders37:40 Archery as Meditation and Empowerment44:00 Balancing Life: From Bow Making to Landscaping46:06 The Passion for Bonsai and Nature47:47 The Essence of Bonsai50:12 Artistry in Bow Making51:30 Collaboration and Community in Craftsmanship52:03 The Connection Between Hunting and Bonsai53:23 Exploring Leather Work in Bow Making55:39 Sourcing Materials for Crafting57:16 Innovations in Bow Styles01:00:47 The Journey of Bow Making Across Cultures01:04:13 The Vision for Future Projects01:06:00 The Therapeutic Aspects of Archery

Today we're venturing off the beaten path—way off—to a remote corner of Vancouver Island, where Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge invites you to disconnect from the world and reconnect with something deeper. Set between ancient rainforest and the icy waters of Clayoquot Sound, this lodge pairs rugged adventure with refined luxury in a way that few places on Earth can. Think heli-accessed sea caves, Michelin Key dining in the wilderness, and the possibility of spotting a black bear before breakfast. Joining me is General Manager Sarah Cruse. We talk about everything from the ancient trees, to paddle boarding adventures, the healing power of nature, and more.  So zip up your boots and enjoy this wild and wonderful episode of Luxury Travel Insider. Looking to book a luxury hotel? Get special perks and support the podcast by booking here: https://www.virtuoso.com/advisor/sarahgroen/travel/luxury-hotels If you want our expert guidance and help planning a luxury trip with experiences you can't find online, tell us more here and we'll reach out: https://bellandblytravel.com/book-a-trip/   Learn more at www.luxtravelinsider.com   Connect with me on Social: Instagram LinkedIn  

Every once in a while, frustrated ferry users bring up the idea of a “fixed link” - a bridge or tunnel that would permanently connect Vancouver Island to the rest of B.C. It came up this week as discussions drag on about the new ships that BC Ferries has ordered from a shipyard in China. So on this week's episode: what would it take to build a bridge or tunnel?

Tonight's guest, Sean, has always been into cars. Wrenching on them is a favorite pastime of his. Well, one day, while he was exploring a forest on Vancouver Island, close to where he lived at the time. To his surprise, he came upon an old, abandoned Buick, that was just sitting in the woods. After taking a look at it, he saw that it had parts on it he could use, so he decided to come back and salvage those parts, at a later time. Unfortunately, when he did go back to get them, something made its presence known to him that made him decide that he didn't need the parts that bad, after all. On tonight's show, Sean will be telling us about what happened that day. We hope you tune in and listen to him do that.MY NEW DOGMAN PODCAST!My new podcast is called "Dogman Tales.” It features fictional stories about Dogmen and people who have experiences with them. The podcast is only available for listening in podcast format. It is NOT available on YouTube. If you'd like to listen to it, you can find the show wherever you listen to podcasts. Dogman Tales is available for listening on every podcast app out there. If you don't have a go-to podcast app, here's a link to the Dogman Tales Podcast Page, on Spreaker...https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dogman-tales--6640134Premium memberships are now available! If you'd like to listen to the show without ads and have full access to premium content, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com/Podcast to learn how to become a premium member.If you've had a Dogman encounter and need help or would like to be a guest on the show, please go to https://DogmanEncounters.com and submit a report. I'd love to hear from you.If you'd like to help support the show, by buying your own Dogman Encounters t-shirt, sweatshirt, tank top, or coffee mug, please visit the Dogman Encounters Show Store, by going to https://Dogman-Encounters.MyShopify.comIf you've had a Sasquatch sighting and would like to be a guest on My Bigfoot Sighting, please go to https://MyBigfootSighting.com and submit a report.I produce 4 other shows that are available on your favorite podcast app. If you haven't checked them out, here are links to all 4 channels on the Spreaker App...Dogman Tales...  https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dogman-tales--6640134My Bigfoot Sighting...  https://spreaker.page.link/xT7zh6zWsnCDaoVa7 Bigfoot Eyewitness Radio...  https://spreaker.page.link/WbtSccQm92TKBskT8 My Paranormal Experience https://www.spreaker.com/show/my-paranormal-experience Thanks for listening!

Send us a textGary reports in from Duncan, Vancouver Island, bringing you music and chat from British Columbia and well beyond.PlaylistJohn Dew with The Ruins of Gylen Castle from Na CaismeachdanAndrew Carlisle with Mrs John MacColl, Inverarary Castle and Dr MacPhail's Reel from the MacLean MacLeod Memorial Piping Contest 2025.Brighde Chaimbeul with A'Chailleach from Sunwise Derek Midgley with MacLean of Pennycross, Mrs Donald MacPherson and Arnish Light from the MacLean MacLeod Memorial Piping Contest 2025.Stuart Liddell with Troy's Wedding Waltz from Mid West Highland Arts Fund Winter Storm 2006Ossian with Troy's Wedding from Borders LinksJohn Dew Pre-Order the New AlbumJohn Dew Pre-Order the Single Red CastleJohn Dew link to BandcampBrighde Chaimbeul new album SunwiseSupport the show

Whether you're jetting off to a sunny beach in the Caribbean, exploring the misty cliffs of Ireland, or exploring the rugged Pacific Northwest coastline, coastal travel style is a category all its own. Not all Coasts are Tropical, How to Match Your Coastal Style to Your DestinationAt 1923 Main Street®, we know that packing for the coast isn't just about tossing in a swimsuit and calling it a day. It's about curating a wardrobe that reflects your destination's climate, culture and vibe—without sacrificing comfort or style.Let's break it down: how coastal style differs from your typical city vacation (or even a Disney getaway), and how to build your perfect shoreline look, from fabrics and colors to layering pieces and graphic tees.City vs. Coast: It's a Vibe ShiftWhen you're packing for a city trip or a Disney vacation, you're often focused on versatility, movement and weather changes over long walking days. Maybe denim, athleisure and structured pieces come to mind so you can layer for days exploring art museums, park hopping, or indulging in foodie adventures.But when it comes to the coast, your suitcase needs to shift gears.Coastal travel style is about ease, texture and embracing the natural environment around you. Whether it's breezy and balmy or misty and moody, coastal destinations call for styles that move with the wind and echo the tones of the sea, sand or cliffs. The Staples of Coastal Travel Style1. Light, Breathable FabricsTropical coasts (like the Caribbean or Florida Keys): For warm weather tropical coasts, linen shirts, cotton sundresses, gauzy kaftans and soft-wash t-shirts are all great options. You want breathability and pieces that look better a little rumpled from the sandy beach, sea breeze or salty air.Cooler coasts (like the Pacific Northwest or the Irish coastline): Layering becomes key in these types of environments. Look for organic cottons, waffle-knit thermals and cozy hoodies. Lightweight waterproof jackets are also a must-have, or at least a consideration depending on where and when you're traveling.2. Soft, Coastal ColorsCoastal destinations are nature's own neutral color palette. Your wardrobe should reflect the coastal colors of your region. Consider the following:Beachy tropical coasts: Go for whites, sands, sea-glass blues, coral and palm green.Northern or rustic coastlines: Think misty greys, deep ocean navy, sage, foggy lavender and stormy teal.Our 1923 Main Street® coastal collection of graphic tees and hoodies often draws from these palettes, with colors designed to complement ocean horizons and shoreline sunsets of all shapes and sizes.3. Comfortable LayersWeather on the coast (any coast) can change with the wind (and often does). Be prepared for the inevitable and always bring:A light sweatshirt or hoodie (especially one of our super-soft, travel-ready 1923 Main Street® designs)A long-sleeve tee for layering on cooler morningsA light scarf or wrap that can double as a beach blanket or an impromptu windbreakerDestination-Specific Coastal StyleTropical or Warm Weather Beaches For warm weather beaches, like the Bahamas, Florida, California, Maui, the South of France and so on, consider the following must-haves.Pack: Swimwear, linen cover-ups, wide-brim hats, flip flops or espadrillesStyle tip: Go with relaxed fits and graphic t-shirts with a vintage surf vibe or palm-print accents.Pacific Northwest Whether it's the Oregon Coast or Vancouver Island, you'll want to pack for a whole different style of coastline.Pack: Waterproof hiking boots, thermal leggings, cozy fleece-lined hoodies and even knit hats, in some casesStyle tip: Layer a classic 1923 Main Street® hoodie over a graphic tee for coastal walks or campfire eveningsUK or Scandinavian CoastlinesThe natural beauty and rugged terrain of these northern coasts beg for a little unique style of their own. Consider the following:Pack: A windproof trench or raincoat, wool socks, breathable base layers and sturdy walking shoesStyle tip: Moody coastal vibes are perfect for darker-toned sweatshirts and subtle, literary-inspired travel graphicsOne Last Pro Tip: Dress with the Daydream in MindCoastal vacations aren't just a break from the norm—they're a mood. So your wardrobe should feel like vacation, even if you're just grabbing coffee before a morning paddle or reading by the dunes.That's why our 1923 Main Street® travel-themed shirts and sweatshirts are made to carry the feeling of travel with you, from beachside to boardwalk. Designed with premium, lightweight fabrics and custom graphics inspired by wanderlust, they're just as perfect for morning flights as they are for sunrise or sunset strolls.Wherever your next coastal adventure takes you, let your style flow with the tides—effortless, elevated and endlessly inspired by the shoreline.Check out our latest coastal-inspired travel gear to bring that breezy vibe wherever you go.Shop at 1923 Main StreetThank you for listening to the Travel Style Podcast at 1923MainStreet.com.Shop unique and original travel inspired and subtle Disney travel clothing, including t-shirts, sweatshirt, hoodies and more at 1923 Main Street.Follow along on X, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook.Thank you for listening and always remember to roam freely and wear boldly.Mike Belobradic and Amelia Belobradic--Media provided by Jamendo

In this edition of the Fix My Room series, I spoke with Kayla, who lives on beautiful Vancouver Island in a post-and-beam home full of character and full of wide open spaces. Her main question was what to do with the big, undefined area between her staircase and the main living space. It's not a hallway, not quite a room, and right now it's mostly being used by her young kids as a runway! Together, we walked through the space and explored ideas for how to make it more functional and intentional, without blocking movement or creating clutter. Want to finally define your style? Grab your free worksheet and uncover your personal aesthetic!

Being a Volkswagen Bus enthusiast is a challenge—but being a classic VW Bus guy in Canada is a whole different story. With harsh winters, salted roads, and constant snow and ice, early VW Buses are rare survivors in the north. But every now and then, someone gets lucky. In this episode, we sit down with AJ Welsh, a true OG in the Canadian air-cooled VW scene and a proud member of the Four Stack Mafia. AJ shares the incredible story behind his 1967 VW Bus, which became so iconic it was featured on a Canadian postcard and postage stamp. If you've ever seen a Volkswagen Bus on Canadian mail, chances are—it was his. We also dive into the wild backstory of his latest project, a 1955 VW Kombi Bus with suicide doors and retro 1980s scallop paint. First spotted on Vancouver Island in 1987, the Bus went from a local treasure to a touring band's rig, before AJ finally tracked it down decades later. AJ also tells us how the Four Stack Mafia got started and gives a preview of their epic Niagara Falls VW Campout, a pre-show event leading into the Niagara Falls VW Show & Social. If you're into air-cooled Volkswagens, Split-Window Buses, and vintage VW culture in Canada, this is an episode you don't want to miss.   www.letstalkdubs.com www.vwtrendsmagazine.com www.rosswulf.com use code LTD10 for 10% off https://www.youtube.com/@the_Wagen https://www.youtube.com/@letstalkdubspodcast Buy ICON Pistons here Watch Bullrun here!

Join Justin as he chats with author and poet David Day about the historical origins of King Arthur, decoding Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the controversy surrounding his works on J.R.R. Tolkien, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and more!David Day bio:“David Day was born and raised in Victoria on Vancouver Island, Canada. His father worked as chief fireman for area military bases.Day was editor of his high school's newspaper, and also contributed high school sports columns to the Victoria Daily Times, graduating from Victoria High School in 1966. After finishing high school, Day worked as a logger for five years on Vancouver Island before graduating in 1976 from the University of Victoria.Day has published over 46 books of poetry, natural history, ecology, mythology, fantasy and children's literature. Day has been a columnist for Punch. He is best known for his books on the life and works of J. R. R. Tolkien.In 2015, Day received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Victoria.”Intro and outro theme created by Wyrm. Support Wyrm by visiting the Serpents Sword Records bandcamp page (linked below):https://serpentsswordrecords.bandcamp.com/Monsters, Madness and Magic Official Website. Monsters, Madness and Magic on Linktree.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Instagram.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Facebook.Monsters, Madness and Magic on Twitter.

In the final chapter, you'll learn about what happened to the whales that escaped from Pedder Bay, and the legacy of both the orcas and the humans involved in the capture of these whales on Vancouver Island in 1970. 

Tonight's guest, Allan Ross, has been tracking Sasquatch, on Vancouver Island, for the past 45 years. Allan had his first Sasquatch-related experience when he was 15 or 16 years old and that experience really set the hook in him. Allan was deer hunting for the first time, when he had the experience and since then, he's been fascinated by them. On tonight's show, not only is Allan going to share experiences he's had with them over the years, he's also going to share some of the knowledge he's amassed about them over the years.If you'd like to visit the Vancouver Island Sasquatch Headquarters Facebook Page, please go to…https://www.facebook.com/groups/6337158072977982/If you've had a Bigfoot sighting and would like to be a guest on the show, please go to BigfootEyewitness.com and let me know.If you'd like to help support the show, by buying your own Bigfoot Eyewitness t-shirt or sweatshirt, please visit the Bigfoot Eyewitness Show Store, by going to https://Dogman-Encounters.MyShopify.comI produce 4 other shows that are available on your favorite podcast app. If you haven't checked them out, here are links to all 4 channels on the Spreaker App...My Bigfoot Sighting https://www.spreaker.com/show/my-bigfoot-sighting Dogman Tales https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/dogman-tales--6640134Dogman Encounters https://www.spreaker.com/show/dogman-encounters-radio_2 My Paranormal Experience https://www.spreaker.com/show/my-paranormal-experience Thanks, as always, for listening!

In this penultimate chapter, orca researcher Graeme Ellis provides clues on who let the whales out. Also, the fate of the prized Chimo the white whale and her aggressive cousin Nootka. 

#275 In this episode, I'm joined by the incredibly insightful Ann Chisolm — a nutrition coach, gym owner, and trail runner who knows what it means to lead with purpose. We unpack everything from personal discipline to practical financial systems, offering a roadmap for creating a business that fuels your life… not the other way around. Here's what we cover: Why having passions outside of work helps you perform better in your business How to use time blocking and time audits to create more freedom (not less) The cash flow systems that make profitability feel inevitable Ann's must-read book list for business and life How to know when it's time to hire your next team member If you've been feeling stuck, scattered, or unsure of your next step, this conversation is the reset you didn't know you needed. Connect with Ann: Instagram: @ann.chisholm13 Ann's full bio: Ann is a dynamic fitness and nutrition leader, part-owner of Tropos Fitness Club, and founder of Fettle + Food in Victoria, BC. As a certified personal trainer and registered natural nutrition clinical practitioner, she empowers adults to achieve strength, health, and confidence through personalized coaching. A former university basketball player and now ultra-marathon trail runner, Ann brings her passion for pushing physical limits to her work, inspiring clients to embrace challenge and resilience. Hailing from Canada's East Coast, Ann's journey from marketing and advertising to fitness and nutrition reflects her commitment to transformative change. Now rooted on Vancouver Island with her husband and 3-year-old daughter, she thrives in the outdoors, drawn to the mountains and fuelled by a love for travel. Ann's approach blends nutrition with community-driven fitness, building a movement of unstoppable individuals.

Get ready for an inspiring journey into the heart of adventure and purpose on this episode of The Outdoor Adventure Lifestyle Podcast! Host Rick Saez sits down with legendary polar explorer, speaker, and activist Sunniva Sorby. From her early days trading a computer programming job in Norway for a wild leap into outdoor leadership, to groundbreaking expeditions across Antarctica and the Arctic, Sunniva shares how embracing risk and finding her "tribe" at A16 shaped her life's trajectory. Facebook   Twitter   Instagram Love the show? Subscribe,  rate, review, and share! Sign up for my Newsletter  HERE I'd love to hear your feedback about the show! You can contact me here:  rick@ricksaez.com   From Boardroom to Blizzard: What Adventure Taught Me About Showing Up What Happened: I used to be a computer programmer in Norway. Yep—cubicles, keypads, and killer boredom. Until one day, I stumbled on a pamphlet during a visit to my mom in Montreal. It was for an outdoor leadership school in Alberta. A few weeks later, I'd quit my job, ditched the keyboard, and traded banking spreadsheets for snowshoes. That decision launched a life of adventure I never imagined—from working at A16, where I found my first “tribe,” to skiing across Antarctica, and even tracking a polar bear named Violet in the Arctic wilds. But here's what really shifted everything. After one particularly brutal expedition where I was sick, exhausted, and convinced I couldn't take one more step, I realized something that changed me forever: Strength isn't about pushing through until you collapse. It's about listening to your body, honoring your limits, and knowing when to ask for help. That moment stripped away my ego—and gave me something far more valuable: clarity. Principle: Too many of us think success means crossing the finish line—no matter the cost. But the truth is, the finish line isn't what matters most. It's who we become along the way. And if you're only measuring strength by how much you can endure, you're missing the deeper lesson adventure teaches: real courage is found in slowing down, tuning in, and showing up—again and again, even when it's hard. Transition: The problem is, most people wait for the "right time" to go after what they want. But that moment doesn't come with a red carpet. It often shows up disguised as fear, discomfort, or a tiny whisper that says: “There's more out there for you.” If you've ever felt stuck in your head, waiting for certainty before taking the next step—you're not alone. It's not that you're lazy or lacking discipline. You've just never been shown a different way to move forward that honors your humanity and your ambition. That's Why: That's why we recorded this episode. To remind you that the wild isn't just out there—it's in you. Whether you're chasing polar bears or your next big idea, your journey doesn't have to look like anyone else's. But it does have to start with one thing: action. Call to Action: Feel stuck in your own head and unsure how to take the next step? That uncertainty isn't a dead-end—it's your invitation. Tune in to this episode and learn how outdoor adventure teaches us to push past fear and step into purpose, one moment (and one polar bear) at a time.

This week, we're stepping off the garden path and into the wild. James Armitage, editor of The Plant Review, joins Gareth Richards to reflect on how a little wilderness can bring balance, biodiversity, and unexpected beauty, to even the most cultivated spaces. We begin with a tribute to the intrepid botanist John Watson, whose plant-hunting adventures in South America unearthed a treasure trove of wild flora. Plantsman Robert Rolfe shares stories of Watson's passion and the remarkable plants he helped bring into cultivation. Then, it's over to the Garry oak meadows of Vancouver Island, where nurserywoman Amy Sanderson and writer Eric Hsu are rethinking everything we thought we knew about camassias – revealing their surprising resilience in dry climates. Finally, we ascend to the Himalayas with botanist Richard Moore to meet the hardy Roscoea – a plant both wild and wonderful, whose taxonomic tale is as twisty as its mountain roots. All this, plus a call to action: find out how you can help protect community growing spaces by supporting the RHS-backed Space to Grow amendment in Parliament. Hosts: Gareth Richards & James Armitage Contributors: Robert Rolfe, Amy Sanderson, Eric Hsu, Richard Moore Links: RHS Horticultural bursaries Subscribe to The Plant Review Space to Grow amendment for the government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill Use this template to send to your MP find your MP's email address here Saving allotments and community gardens

⁠⁠⁠⁠Get ad-free episodes, early release, and bonus shows Next up in our Haunting of Canada series is the place Brennan has called home for the last 18 years: Vancouver Island! We explore stories of trash mountain's angry spirit, where the party goes to die, absolute madness in the woods outside Port Renfrew, and a history of sasquatch encounters. Paul also is forced to learn more about Skibidi Toilet than he ever thought possible. Because science Full shownotes @ GhostStoryGuys.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices