Podcasts about Vancouver Island

For White Cane week in February, this year we have a discussion with Elizabeth Lalonde about the recent completion of her Masters Thesis: --An Interpretive Analysis of the Effectiveness of Non-traditional or ‘Structured Discovery' Blindness Rehabilitation in Canada from the Perspective of Blind Service Recipients and teachers This week on Outlook we're speaking with Elizabeth about building confidence as a blind traveler and the difference between route training and the “structured discovery method” we've often spoke about on this show and of which Lalonde teaches at The Pacific Training Centre for the Blind, which she founded and runs on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada. She tells us: Structure discovery, it can include routes. Sometimes that's the best way to get somewhere is you wanna learn the route. So it doesn't mean that it excludes more traditional forms of rehabilitation. It just means that it opens the door for other ways of perceiving your environment, learning to perceive your environment in a more holistic way." Elizabeth shares her lived experience of blindness growing up and connecting with an opportunity to “learn blindness skills” training which led her to want to bring the same sort of rehab program to others closer to home. She tells us about the non visual skills they offer at the PTCB and the “Blind People In Charge” program she launched with the help of a grant from the provincial B.C. government. Elizabeth recognises with non visual learning: “When you have sight, you just tend to use it, (you can't help it) so it can distract you from using your other senses to get around and to do things.” We talk about the hesitancy, whether new to blindness or not, for many of us to be afraid of wearing things like sleep shades to remove the distraction of any level of seeing when we're learning how to explore our environment, with all our senses and perceptions, during blindness rehab. We reflect on the types of messages on blindness and early O and M instruction we were given and training we were taught, we highlight the common sense and lived experience in the expression “the blind leading the blind” as sister/co-host Kerry relates that back to her most recent memory of the community and confidence-building that can come from traveling in a group of blind people, and we examine ways of adapting “structure discovery” for the individual and their specific intersectionalities and unique learning styles, Regular Outlook co-host Barry says: “We're getting taught static navigation for a dynamic world,” when it comes to how blind people receive orientation and mobility instruction. This conversational, truly from an international perspective along with our focus on Canada (with the thesis we're featuring for its historical significance to blindness rehabilitation anywhere) episode provides a fairly comprehensive bunch of topics that return, always, to the subject of Elizabeth Lalonde's thesis and our lived experiences with it. We at Outlook want to thank Elizabeth Lalonde for her hard work on presenting us all with a wider window on the landscape of blindness skills training here in Canada, on some more particulars around this thesis, and by doing this on completion of a Master's degree in Community Development from the University of Victoria. Your work on this topic will be an important study and resource of rehabilitation for the blind in Canada and beyond. Through multiple modalities: including literature study and interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA, a qualitative methodology) ) with interviews she conducted with both students and teachers of the “structure discovery model”, Elizabeth paints a clearer picture of the landscape of Canada's attitudes and offerings of blindness skills training. To learn more, check out the contents of Elizabeth's thesis at this link: https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/items/28e4e9ee-884b-44f7-9111-9ff43af95eea

Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman, creators of NBC's Dark Skies, join Podcast UFO to discuss the strange real-life event that sparked their new investigative podcast, Sound, Light & Frequency. They share how their personal interest in UFOs began (including Bryce's childhood discovery of the McMinnville “Trent Farm” photos, and Brent's startling “aliens are real” disclosure from a Reagan-era family friend), plus Brent's more recent UFO-style sighting during the Perseid meteor shower on Vancouver Island, tiny star-like lights moving erratically and seeming to drop into the ocean. The conversation turns to why witnesses stay silent, including stories Bryce heard from strangers after Dark Skies aired, schoolyard sightings with dozens of witnesses that never made the news, followed by families insisting: “don't ever talk about it.” From there, Bryce and Brent explain the premise of Sound, Light & Frequency: an active investigation into whether Hollywood has been part of a long “chicken-and-egg” feedback loop with UFO culture, did filmmakers invent ideas that later entered ufology, or were real narratives quietly fed into film and TV? They preview their central claim: a mysterious “Man in Black”-type figure crashed their Dark Skies premiere party in the 1990s, claimed ties to the Office of Naval Intelligence, and allegedly offered a “deal” connected to a slow-drip disclosure program, truth inserted into fiction. They won't fully reveal the details here (they insist listeners start with Episode 1), but they confirm follow-up meetings occurred and that the encounter never stopped haunting them. They also reveal how Dark Skies was sold with an elaborate “top secret” style series bible mapping a multi-season timeline, then the eerie twist: the exact “cover of fiction to tell truth” concept they pitched to networks later appeared to boomerang back on them in real life. The episode closes with their plan to examine iconic UFO films and series (Close Encounters, Contact, The Abyss, The X-Files, V, and more), vet tips from insiders, and look for patterns, without claiming they already have the answers.SHOW NOTESTHIS WEEK'S BLOG BY CHARLES LEAR: MR X

This week we chat with Andrew (he/him) about the journey of Twist of Fate Cocktails, an all-inclusive event bartending service on Vancouver Island. We He chat about crafting cocktails from scratch, their commitment to sustainability, and adapting in unprecedented times.We also touch on the importance of non-alcoholic options in today's event landscape and shares memorable experiences from various events.Want to learn more about Twist of Fate and what their team can do for your day? Visit their website or give them a follow on Instagram!Send a textSupport the show

In this episode, we sit down with Aleks Petakov of Small Town Monsters to explore years of boots-on-the-ground Bigfoot investigations stretching from the remote coastline of Alaska to the dense forests of Kentucky and beyond. Aleks shares what it is really like to spend extended time in isolated wilderness where help is miles away and unusual activity unfolds long after midnight.On Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, Aleks recounts late-night wood knocks cutting through the rainforest, rocks striking shoreline waters in the early morning hours, and heavy stomping sounds moving near camp. He describes the discovery of a primate-like handprint on a remote cabin, large impressions pressed deep into moss, and a strange rock-scraping sound heard from across a creek that has never been fully explained.The conversation moves to a cold November night in Kentucky, where a distinct wood knock was followed by a large thermal heat signature on a hillside that disappeared within minutes. Aleks reflects on the challenge of documenting fleeting moments like these, the weight of credible eyewitness testimony, and what long-term fieldwork teaches you about patience, risk, and uncertainty.We also discuss his upcoming Journey to Ape Island project on Vancouver Island, an area layered with Indigenous history, generations of Sasquatch lore, and some of the most rugged terrain in North America.Join us for a grounded, field-driven conversation that brings you into the reality of modern Bigfoot investigation and leaves you thinking long after the episode ends.ResourcesAlaskan Coastal Sasquatch Documentaryhttps://youtu.be/kjLLHL7GouQ?si=ZWykQHuUk-jAlTaNSmall Town Monsters 2026 Kickstarter (UFOs, Dogman & Bigfoot)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/minervamonster/small-town-monsters-2026-ufos-dogman-and-bigfoot

The CRCNA is navigating a pastoral shortage, smaller candidate pools, and congregations that have been through enough upheaval that calling a new pastor straight away isn't always the right first move. This episode introduces the STM — the Specialized Transitional Minister — through two men who have made it their life's work: Roger Sparks and Harv Roosma. They want you to know something upfront: having an STM doesn't mean your church is a problem church. Roger came to the work through a painful door. After 34 years in Medicine Hat, Rock Valley, and Laverne, he'd watched churches go through messy separations as a synodical deputy — and gone through one himself. Harv arrived differently: a teacher turned pastor who spent 20 years on Vancouver Island before sensing that the churches he served had deeper needs he wasn't equipped to meet. Pastor-Church Relations pointed him toward STM in 2018. He's been doing it ever since. The structure is practical — a year-long commitment, first six months learning the church, second six months preparing the way for the next pastor. A priority list of 14-15 items gets narrowed to three or four. The training through the Interim Ministry Network is serious: church DNA, change dynamics, appreciative inquiry, moving a congregation from scarcity thinking to abundance thinking. But the phrase that captures the spirit of the whole thing is Harv's: we go in pre-fired. Your time is limited anyway. There's no fear. The job is to uncover what needs to be uncovered and love people well on the way out. **Timestamps:** - 0:00 — Intro - 1:08 — Roger Sparks: 34 years in Medicine Hat, Rock Valley, and Laverne - 3:00 — What drew Roger to STM: synodical deputy work and a painful church split - 5:19 — Harv Roosma: teacher to pastor, Vancouver Island to the Midwest - 7:41 — What led Harv to STM: sensing needs he didn't have tools to address - 8:02 — Jason: STMs aren't just for "problem churches" - 9:10 — The pastoral shortage and STM demand in the CRC - 12:08 — What a one-year STM commitment looks like - 13:22 — The 6-month model: learning the church, then preparing for the next pastor - 15:10 — The priority list: narrowing 14-15 items to 3-4 per church - 16:54 — When a church closes: walking a congregation through its death - 17:25 — STM training: the Interim Ministry Network - 19:09 — Tools: appreciative inquiry, asset mapping, scarcity to abundance thinking - 19:59 — The skills of the STM: avoiding triangulation, practicing differentiation - 21:37 — Annual conference and peer Zoom groups - 23:50 — The license to ask hard questions: what the STM invitation actually means - 25:44 — "We go in pre-fired" - 26:42 — Conversations that don't stay at surface level - 27:05 — The bittersweet: friendships formed and goodbyes Join and support us on Substack: https://themessyreformation.com/ Intro music by Matt Krotzer

From his humble beginnings in sketch comedy with the Toronto branch of Second City to his rise to fame in SCTV and Hollywood film classics like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Uncle Buck, John Candy captivated audiences with his self-deprecating humour, emotional warmth, and gift for improvisation. Now, for the first time since Candy's tragic death, bestselling biographer Paul Myers tells the full story of the man behind the laughs. Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with many of Candy's closest friends and colleagues, including Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Tom Hanks, Ron Howard, Steve Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Martin Short, and many more, John Candy: A Life in Comedy celebrates the comedian's unparalleled talent, infectious charm, and generosity of spirit. Through ups and downs, successes and failures, and struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, Candy faced the world with a big smile and a warm demeanor that earned him the love and adoration of fans around the world. I had the distinct pleasure of working with John on commercials, then going back to Second City and watching the whole gang make fun of the commercial. Hosting the second city talent when they hit Vancouver and shooting a TV pilot called Terry and the Tiger, where we took John salmon fishing on Vancouver Island.  Later that night,  he and hockey legend  Tiger Williams closed down all the bars. They still talk about it in Campbell River.

The province recently announced new funding to support families of children with disabilities. It means some children who live with conditions such as Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol syndrome will get support they've never had before - but it also means some families of children with autism will lose that funding. We'll hear from two Vancouver Island parents with two different perspectives on the news. Here's the province's website with information about the new program, and the transition away from the autism funding.

Further reading: Parallels for cetacean trap feeding and tread-water feeding in the historical record across two millennia Haggling over the Hafgufa Many renditions of the hafgufa/aspidochelone: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Back in the olden days, as much as 1700 years ago and probably more, up through the 14th century or so, various manuscripts about the natural world talked about a sea monster most people today have never heard of. In ancient Greek it was called aspidochelone, contracted to aspido in some translations, while in Old Norse it was called the hafgufa. But it seemed to be the same type of monster no matter who was writing about it. The animal was a fish, but it was enormous, big enough that it was sometimes mistaken for an island. When its jaws were open they were said to be as wide as the entrance to a fjord. A fjord is an inlet from the sea originally formed by glaciers scraping away at rocks, and then when the glaciers melted the sea filled the bottom of what was then a steep valley. I'm pretty sure the old stories were exaggerating about the sea monster's mouth size. The sea monster ate little fish, but it caught them in a strange way. It would open its mouth very wide at the surface of the water and exude a smell that attracted fish, or in one account it would regurgitate a little food to attract the fish. Once there were lots of little fish within its huge mouth, it would close it jaws quickly and swallow them all. Generally, any sea monster that's said to be mistaken for an island was inspired by whales, or sometimes by sea turtles. The hafgufa is actually included in an Old Norse poem that lists types of whales, and the aspidochelone was considered to be a type of whale even though the second part of its name refers to a sea turtle. So whatever this sea monster was, we can safely agree that it wasn't a fish, it was a whale. Up until just a few centuries ago people thought whales were fish because of their shape, but we know now that they're mammals adapted to marine life. But the hafgufa's behavior is really weird and doesn't seem like something a whale would do. We've talked about skim feeding before, where a baleen whale cruises along at the surface with its mouth held open, until it's gathered enough food in its mouth and can swallow it all at once. But whales aren't known to hold their mouths open at the surface of the water and just sit there while fish swim in. At least, they weren't known to do this until 2011. In 2011, marine biologists studying humpback whales off Canada's Vancouver Island in North America observed some of the whales catching herring and other small fish in an unusual way. The whales would remain stationary in the water, tails straight down with the head sticking up partly out of the water. A whale opened its mouth very wide and didn't move until there were a lot of fish in its mouth, which it then swallowed. Soon after, another team of marine biologists studying Bryde's whales in the Gulf of Thailand in South Asia observed the same activity when the whales were feeding on anchovies at the surface of the water. The term for this activity is called trap feeding or tread-water feeding, and at first the scientists thought it was a response to polluted water that had caused the fish to stay closer to the surface. But once the two teams of scientists compared notes, they realized that it didn't appear to have anything to do with pollution. Instead, it's probably a way to gather food in a low-energy way, especially when there isn't a big concentration of fish in any particular spot, and when researchers remembered the story of the hafgufa, they realized they'd found the solution to that mystery sea monster. The only question was whether the accounts were accurate that the hafgufa emitted a smell or regurgitated food to attract fish. Further observation answered that question too, and it turns out that yes, the old stories were at least partially right. The smell has been compared to rotten cabbage, but it isn't emitted by the whale on purpose. It's a smell released when phytoplankton is eaten in large numbers, whether by fish or whales or something else, and it does attract other animals. As for the regurgitation, this is always something that happens to some degree when a baleen whale feeds. The whale fills its mouth with water that contains the fish and other small animals it eats, and it presses its huge tongue upwards to force the water through its baleen, which acts as a sieve. Whatever's left in its mouth after the water is expelled, it swallows. But baleen is tough and fish are small and delicate in comparison. Often, fish and other small animals get squished to death against the baleen, and parts of them are expelled with the water. This creates a sort of yucky slurry that could be interpreted as a whale regurgitating food to attract more fish. The scientists think that fish are mainly attracted not to any smell or potential food in the water, but to the supposed shelter offered by the whale's giant mouth. It appears that trap feeding is a fairly rare behavior in whales, but one that's been around a lot longer than the last few years. It's also possible that because whaling drove many species nearly to extinction and whale numbers are only just starting to recover, until recently whales didn't need to use this feeding strategy. It seems to be used when a preferred food is widely scattered so that chasing after the fish isn't worth the energy cost, and that's more likely to happen when there are a lot of whales around. It's amazing that this type of feeding strategy has been identified in two different species of whale, and it's even more amazing that it matches up so well with ancient accounts. It's easy to assume that in the olden days, people were kind of stupid, but people back then were just as intelligent as people now. They just didn't have our technology and modern knowledge. They were often extremely observant, though, and luckily for us, sometimes they were able to write their observations down in books that we can still read. Thanks for your support, and thanks for listening!

On a stormy night in November 1980, 32-year-old Granger Taylor left a hand-written note for his family saying he was going on a journey “aboard an alien spaceship” and then vanished without a trace. A self-taught mechanical genius from Vancouver Island, Granger had spent years rebuilding old engines, trains, and even a World War II aircraft in his backyard. But in the months leading up to his disappearance, his obsession with space and extraterrestrial life took a strange and tragic turn.Decades later, pieces of his truck were found high in the forest near Mount Prevost, apparently destroyed by an explosion. But his body was never formally identified, and questions still swirl around whether Granger died that night or went somewhere else entirely.In this haunting episode of Mysteries at Bedtime, we explore the life and mind of Granger Taylor, the cultural impact of his disappearance, and the enduring theories: Was it suicide? A delusion? Or did he really make contact with something beyond Earth?Become a Patreon or Apple + subscriber now for ealry and ad free access from as little as $1.69 a week. All the details hereSubscribe to Crime at Bedtimes Youtube channel HERE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meer oder Berge? Diese ewige Frage diskutieren wir in dieser Folge. Es geht um Sehnsucht, Heimatgefühl, die Unendlichkeit und die Lust, sich immer wieder neu überraschen zu lassen. Obendrauf nennen wir euch unsere Traumunterkünfte an genau diesen Orten (u. a. Irland, Borkum, Bretagne). Wir nehmen euch mit ins Saarland zur Saarschleife und: Wir skizzieren unsere Traum-Route durch Westkanada - von Vancouver Island bis nach Jasper und Banff. Dann wären da noch der Superbowl, ein Fotokurs für Reisende und: diese kleinen Rituale, die jede und jeder hat, wenn es losgeht auf den nächsten großen Trip: ein letzter Blick auf den Reisepass, ein Ginger Ale im Flieger und plötzlich ist sie da: diese Vorfreude, dieses Gefühl von Aufbruch. Kommt mit auf eine kleine Reise im Kopf. In eine Folge, die zeigt, wie nah das Wochenende und die weite Welt manchmal beieinanderliegen.–Unseren neuen Podcast-Feed “UNTER FREUNDEN” findet ihr überall, wo es Podcasts gibt.Unsere Werbepartner findet ihr hier.Kommt zu einer unserer LIVE-Shows:24.2.2026 Hamburg26.2.2026 München11.4.2026 Mannheim (SWR Podcastfestival)Tickets gibt es HIER.Foto-Credit: Thomas Rabsch (Instagram)Mehr Reisen Reisen gibt es hier.Noch mehr Reisen Reisen gibt es in unserem Newsletter-Magazin.–SaarschleifeEine der eindrucksvollsten Flussschleifen Deutschlands, eingebettet in bewaldete Höhenzüge. Besonders schön auf den Traumschleifen-Wanderwegen mit weiten Blicken über die Saar.https://www.instagram.com/urlaub.saarland/Schloss SaareckHistorisches Schloss mit parkähnlicher Anlage nahe der Saarschleife. Klassische Eleganz und viel Ruhe für ein stilvolles Wanderwochenende.https://www.instagram.com/schlosssaareck/SaarschleifenlodgeModerne Lodges mitten im Grünen, klare Architektur, viel Holz und Naturgefühl. Komfort und Rückzug direkt am Wandergebiet.https://www.instagram.com/saarschleifenlodge/Boathouse GuesthouseCharmantes Gästehaus direkt an der Küste von Achill Island mit weitem Atlantikblick und entspannter Atmosphäre.https://www.instagram.com/boathouseachill/BakkeiModernes Boutiquehotel auf Borkum mit klarer Gestaltung und viel Nordsee-Licht. Perfekt für eine kurze Auszeit am Meer.https://www.instagram.com/bakkei_borkum/Les 46Kleines Gästehaus in der Bretagne nahe Benodet, stilvoll und ruhig gelegen - ideal für Tage am Atlantik.https://www.instagram.com/les46benodet/Vancouver IslandWild und weit mit Pazifikküste, Regenwäldern und Tierbeobachtungen - perfekter Start für eine Westkanada-Reise.https://www.instagram.com/supernaturalbcJasper National ParkTeil der Rocky Mountains mit Gletschern, Seen und weiten Landschaften. Einer der spektakulärsten Nationalparks Kanadas.https://www.instagram.com/jaspernationalpark/Banff National ParkBerühmt für türkisfarbene Seen und dramatische Bergkulissen - ein Klassiker in den kanadischen Rockies.https://www.instagram.com/banffofficial/Okanagan ValleyWarme Region mit Seen, Weinbergen und fast mediterranem Flair - ein entspannter Kontrast zu den Bergen.https://www.instagram.com/okanaganvalley/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#775 What started as a simple farm-stand cookie idea turned into a viral, must-visit attraction on Vancouver Island—and it all runs on creativity, community, and trust! In this episode, host Britlyn Williams sits down with Helen McArthur — aka the “Crazy Cookie Lady” — founder of The Crazy Cookie House, a wildly creative, honesty-based cookie farm stand in a rural community on Vancouver Island, Canada. Helen shares how a simple love of baking and a small driveway stand in 2022 quickly evolved into a full-on local attraction (complete with a whimsical cookie garden), thanks to a prime trail-side location, word-of-mouth, and a viral TikTok moment that put her business on the map. You'll hear practical lessons on pricing with confidence, keeping a clear product focus, using creativity to stand out in a crowded market, and why her “always with kindness” approach — and honor-system payments — builds real trust and community connection! What we discuss with Helen: + From hobby to booming cookie business + The story behind the Crazy Cookie House + Trail-side location advantage + Viral TikTok growth moment + Creativity as a competitive edge + Pricing products with confidence + Honor-system payments & trust + Community partnerships with schools + Selling out as a business model + Building joy through customer experience Thank you, Helen! Check out The Crazy Cookie House at CrazyCookie.ca. Watch the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠video podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ of this episode! To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's podcast, join us as we travel to Verona to speak with Alessandro Pasqua, family member and president of Pasqua, USA, as the family celebrates its 100th year of making wine in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Bernard Retornaz, executive advisor at Louis Latour, expresses his deep appreciation for Burgundy's winemaking heritage, which continues to shape the success of Louis Latour and build a legacy in the world of fine wine. In July 2025, Bernard retired as president and now acts as an executive advisor to the board and Louis Latour's brand ambassador. Then, we head to the South Okanagan to reconnect with Michael Kullman, winemaker and general manager of Osoyoos Larose, to discuss the Le Grand Vin 2022 and Petales 2022. We also catch up with Dan Wright, winemaker at Unsworth Vineyards, and Chris Turyk, sales and marketing director at Unsworth Vineyards in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, to talk about their exciting new facility, explore the unique characteristics of the terroir, and learn how Unsworth practices regenerative and sustainable farming in Cowichan.

Tired of yoga marketing that feels pushy and inauthentic? In this episode, Nyk Danu returns to share her feminine approach to marketing that prioritizes relationships over hustle. If you're a yoga teacher struggling with traditional business tactics that feel "gross" or slimy, this conversation is for you. Nyk reframes common marketing terms from "crushing it" to "overcoming objections" into heart-centered practices that align with your values. In this episode, you'll learn: How to apply feminine energy principles to yoga marketing without sacrificing results Why "overcoming objections" is like unwanted advances (and what to do instead) The seasonal approach to business that replaces constant hustle with sustainable growth How to reframe aggressive marketing "bro" language The circular economy mindset that transforms how yoga teachers think about money When to use masculine energy in your marketing (and when to lean into the feminine)  If you're a yoga teacher who wants to grow your business using an anti-hustle marketing approach that feels sustainable and genuine, this episode is for you. Meet Nyk Danu: Nyk Danu is a certified Yoga Therapist, Yin Yoga Teacher Trainer, Yoga business mentor, and host of A Yin Yoga podcast. Nyk lives in the magical city of Victoria on the enchanted Vancouver Island off the west coast of Canada she teaches Therapeutic Yoga to MisFits. Gen Xers (and sometimes Y) who don't feel at home in mainstream Yoga circles: the rebels, underdogs, introverts, neurodiverse, geeks, and bookworms. Nyk has been practicing Yoga since 1998 and teaching since 2004. She has well over 2000 hours of Yoga Teacher Training, including 500 hours with Paul Grilley and an 800-hour  Yoga Therapy certification. Her passion for Yin Yoga sparked a deep resonance and curiosity for Traditional Chinese Medicine. This then drew her to study 2300 hours of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Pacific Rim College. Nyk has since combined her Yoga Therapy Training, Yin Yoga Training, and Traditional Chinese Medicine knowledge to create a unique Therapeutic Yin Yoga teacher training program that has gotten rave reviews. Nyk has been helping Yoga teachers flourish in their Yoga Businesses since 2014 both through her one-on-one business mentorship sessions and through her signature group Program: Marketing with Heart Episode Links: Want to support my work? Leave a tip: https://jerrettdigital.thrivecart.com/podcast-tip-jar/  Scroll back to Episode 25: Commitment and Community: The Power of Registered Yoga Series With Nyk Danu Check out our top resources for building your yoga business: https://allmatstaken.com/resources Connect with Adrianne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allmatstaken/  Follow Adrianne on Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/allmatstaken/  Watch Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f8iGvTpG_IM  Follow Nyk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nykdanuyoga/ https://www.instagram.com/yinyogapodcast/  Visit Nyk's Website: https://nykdanu.com/  Learn More About Nyk's 100-Hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training Certification: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/  Listen to The Yin Yoga Podcast: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yin-yoga-teacher-training/yin-yoga-podcast/ Take Nyk's Free So You Think You Can Niche Workshop: https://nykdanu.com/teachers/yoga-business-mentorship/workshops/niche-workshop/   About The Show: All Mats Taken is the yoga business podcast helping yoga teachers grow sustainable teaching practices. Host Adrianne Jerrett explores yoga marketing strategies, business growth tactics, and how to build a yoga business aligned with your values and yogic philosophy...without the burnout. Whether you're struggling to fill classes, price your offerings, or create a teaching lifestyle you actually love, this podcast gives you actionable insights from experts who've been there. New episodes fortnightly.

Vancouver Island is the home to many vineyards. The climate favours varieties like Pinot Gris but there is much experimentation. Tricia and Steve arrived after detailed investigation of potential in the Okanagan, Italy and their home state of California. They have transformed a lavender farm into what is now Cobble Hill Winery. An east and south facing slope in the front is like a big advertisement with new rows of Chenin Blanc. Not far from Cowichan Bay it is a pretty corner of the world. Come along for the listen and find out how delighted they are to be here, growing grapes, and making wine.

From Salt Spring Island to Small-Town Retail: Angela Donnelly on Running Raise the Root Organic MarketAngela Donnelly, founder of Raise the Root Organic Market in Caledon, Ontario, shares her journey from working on her parents' mobile produce truck on Salt Spring Island to opening her own natural foods store. Angela talks about learning the produce business at Vancouver's terminal markets, the transition from hippie back-to-the-landers to strategic retailer, and the harsh realities of competing against grocery giants in 2025.Find Raise the Root here: https://www.raisetheroot.ca/You can find Angela on Linkedin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angela-donnelly-3a73123a/Thank you to Haddas and Rebecca at Ontario Made for connecting us. Thank you to LGDF Wholesale for sponsoring this episode. You can find them at https://www.lgdfwholesale.com/   

This week on No Simple Road, we head north of the border to connect with Dylan Stone and Jesse Cobb from The Unfaithful Servants, the genre-bending roots outfit straight out of Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Blending folk, bluegrass, old-time, and a healthy dose of irreverent spirit, this band brings a sound that's as playful as it is deeply rooted. Aaron, Mel, and Apple sit down with the crew to talk about the origin of the band, the stories behind the songs, and what it means to build a musical life on an island where community and creativity go hand in hand. We dig into their songwriting process, the push and pull between tradition and experimentation, and how humor and honesty shape their approach to roots music. The conversation flows through touring life in Western Canada, the power of DIY scenes, and the importance of staying connected to the people who show up — night after night — to share the experience. The Unfaithful Servants reflect on how place influences sound, how collaboration fuels longevity, and why music is still one of the most powerful tools we have for connection. This episode is full of laughter, insight, and that unmistakable feeling you get when musicians are creating from a place of truth rather than trend. If you love roots music with edge, folk and bluegrass with personality, and discovering bands who are carving their own path, this one is for you. For tour info music and more head over to: www.unfaithfulservants.com Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nosimpleroad.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for merch, past episodes, and community updates. Support us on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/nosimpleroad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Leave a 5-star review & share this episode with a fellow music lover! -FREE SHIPPING from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shop Tour Bus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use The PROMO CODE: nosimpleroad INTRO MUSIC PROVIDED BY - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Young & Sick⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MUSIC IN THE COMMERCIALS BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CIRCLES AROUND THE SUN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OUTRO MUSIC BY AND USED WITH PERMISSION OF: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CHILLDREN OF INDIGO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ No Simple Road is part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OSIRIS MEDIA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Osiris Media is the leading storyteller in music, combining the intimacy of podcasts with the power of music.

Jan 22, 2026 - Thomas SewidThomas Sewid is a respected Indigenous researcher, storyteller, and Sasquatch investigator from Vancouver Island, widely known for his deep cultural knowledge and lived experiences connected to the land. As a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, Thomas approaches the Sasquatch phenomenon through an Indigenous lens, sharing traditional teachings, oral histories, and firsthand encounters that have been passed down for generations. His perspective challenges modern assumptions, emphasizing that Sasquatch is not merely a mystery, but an acknowledged part of Indigenous knowledge and worldview.Through interviews, investigations, and public discussions, Thomas Sewid bridges the gap between ancient wisdom and contemporary paranormal research. He is recognized for speaking openly about encounters, cultural protocols, and the importance of respecting both the land and the beings said to inhabit it. Grounded, thoughtful, and deeply connected to his heritage, Thomas continues to educate audiences around the world, offering a powerful and authentic voice in the ongoing conversation surrounding Sasquatch and the unexplained.https://sasquatchisland.comSpaced Out Radio is your nightly source for alternative information, starting at 9pm Pacific, 12am Eastern.  We broadcast LIVE every night. -------------------------------------------------------You can now join the Space Traveler's Club;Join us at  https://www.patreon.com/sor_space_travelers_club  --------------------------------------------------------Grab Our Latest Spaced Out Radio Gear At:http://spacedoutradio.com/shop  It's a great way to support our show!--------------------------------------------------------OUR LINKS:TWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/spacedoutradio   FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/spacedoutradioshow  SPACED OUT RADIO - INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/spacedoutradioshow  DAVE SCOTT - INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/davescottsor   TWITCH: https://www.twitch.com/spacedoutradioshow  WEBSITE: http://www.spacedoutradio.comGUEST IDEAS OR QUESTIONS FOR SOR?Contact Klaus at bookings@spacedoutradio.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spaced-out-radio--1657874/support.

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadert speaks with Kamloops, BC author Katie Welch about her novel, Ladder to Heaven (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025).  In 2045 an earthquake ravages the Pacific Coast of North America and the world shifts. Suddenly people and animals can understand each other, while the chaos of climate change combines with the destruction of the earthquake in terrifying ways. Inland, where she should be safe, Del Samara finds her life spiralling out of control. Struggling with addiction and with her ranch in ashes around her, Del decides her family would be better off without her. Leaving her daughters behind, she retreats to her father's fishing cabin with her dog, Manx. When she emerges three years later, she finds the world since the earthquake has become a very different place and she begins a dangerous journey to Vancouver Island to find her family and, perhaps, find peace. Katie Welch lives in Kamloops and on Cortes Island, BC. Her debut novel, Mad Honey, was nominated for the 2023 OLA Evergreen Prize. She is a two-time alumnus of the Banff Centre and was a finalist for the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize. Find her online here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadert speaks with Kamloops, BC author Katie Welch about her novel, Ladder to Heaven (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025).  In 2045 an earthquake ravages the Pacific Coast of North America and the world shifts. Suddenly people and animals can understand each other, while the chaos of climate change combines with the destruction of the earthquake in terrifying ways. Inland, where she should be safe, Del Samara finds her life spiralling out of control. Struggling with addiction and with her ranch in ashes around her, Del decides her family would be better off without her. Leaving her daughters behind, she retreats to her father's fishing cabin with her dog, Manx. When she emerges three years later, she finds the world since the earthquake has become a very different place and she begins a dangerous journey to Vancouver Island to find her family and, perhaps, find peace. Katie Welch lives in Kamloops and on Cortes Island, BC. Her debut novel, Mad Honey, was nominated for the 2023 OLA Evergreen Prize. She is a two-time alumnus of the Banff Centre and was a finalist for the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize. Find her online here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Kevin McLachlan was born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon and began performing at a very young age. After perfecting the fake cry to get his older brother in trouble, and practicing his fight moves against imaginary armies, he soon started pursuing it in a more formal setting and began getting involved in high school musicals. A proud graduate of Whitehorse's MAD (Music, Art, and Drama) program and a former member of the Yukon's longest running Vaudeville Show "Frantic Follies", he left Whitehorse and studied Music Theatre Performance at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario where he received his bachelor's degree in Music Theatre Performance with honours.Since then Kevin has been performing across Canada in various musicals, plays, and touring shows. Kevin spent three seasons at the Charlottetown Festival as part of the Confederation Centre of the Arts Young Company, and two seasons on Vancouver Island performing at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. He also completed a season at the Stratford Festival, and is currently in his 6th season at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-lake Ontario.​Maybe one day he'll even have a permanent address.Yukon born, Calvin Laveck is an enthusiastic vaudeville performer who graduated from the Music Theatre Department at Sheridan College. Stage credits include: Spring Awakening, Chicago, Merrily We Roll Along (Sheridan Theatre); Leading Singer (Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines); Dogtown (Nakai); Million Dollar Quartet (Magnus Theatre); Once (Neptune Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Million Dollar Quartet (Sudbury Theatre Centre)

This week Lighthouse Brewing in Esquimalt announced it's shutting down operations and selling its brand - saying it costs more to brew beer than they can bring in by selling it. On this week's episode we hear from co-owner Ben Thomas about the difficult decision, and how the BCGEU strike was the breaking point. Plus, we talk to Chris Bjerrisgaard of Sidney's Small Gods Brewing about how they're managing to stay afloat as beer sales decline across the country. While you're here, check out this previous episode of This is Vancouver Island, about how two local breweries are expanding into non-alcoholic drinks to adapt.

Welcome to a new edition of This is Vancouver Island! Starting today, we'll bring you a weekly dose of B.C. politics with our political insiders. Hear former Green Party MLA Adam Olsen, former BC Liberal and BC United staffer Andrew Reeve, and former NDP cabinet minister Elizabeth Cull weigh in on the week's top stories with CBC host Gregor Craigie. This week: the end of decriminalization, Prime Minister Carney's meeting in Prince Rupert with Coastal First Nations, and post-secondary institutions (like North Island College) worry about further cuts.

Food Trends 2026: From Awareness to Action explores how the conversations of 2025 are turning into everyday habits in the year ahead. In this episode of The Edible Valley Podcast, Chef Jonathan Frazier is joined by special co-host Erin Haluschak to look at what's shaping how we cook, eat, and gather on Vancouver Island—from functional, fiber-forward foods and mushrooms for health and longevity, to elevated comfort cooking, global flavours through a local lens, and practical sustainability that actually works in real life. With farms, fisheries, and forests close to home, many of these trends are already part of Island life, making 2026 less about hype and more about intention, skill, and connection around the table.   #EdibleValleyPodcast, #FoodTrends2026, #VancouverIslandFood, #LocalFoodMovement, #IslandEats, #FarmToTable, #FoodCulture, #SustainableEating, #FunctionalFood, #ComfortFood, #GlobalFlavours, #LocalFirst, #ChefLife, #HomeCooking, #FoodCommunity

Cooking Issues opens the new year with Dave and Joe in-studio, plus Nastassia and Jack in LA and Quinn on Vancouver Island. Dave recaps a rough holiday detour: adopting a young cat that immediately got seriously sick, turning New Year's into emergency vet care and force-feeding. Jack reports from a cross-country drive to clear out storage, including a stop at Richmond's Gwar Bar, inspiring instant talk of a future show takeover. Dave also offers Patreon listeners first dibs on hauling away a free six-burner Wolf commercial gas range from the Lower East Side.The crew swaps holiday cooking notes (Quinn's turkey biryani, a red wine pork stew), then veers into gear and technique: Dave experiments with Ray-Ban Meta glasses for POV kitchen content, discusses his new Bosch oven and stone/pizza setup logic, and takes a caller question on keeping orange oil in syrup—recommending gum arabic plus xanthan while explaining why “clear” emulsions are hard. Quick hits include a shout-out to Alba in LA, a party etiquette rant about grabbing a legend's guitar, and Dave's non-alcoholic bitterness hacks for diet soda (wormwood/gentian infusions). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Vancouver Island newcomer is launching choirs for the joyful but tone-deaf, when your appliances are most likely to die, a look back at some hilariously wrong predictions from the 1950s, the Simpsons' predictions for 2026, and the new Girl Scout cookie hitting shelves this year — plus the latest news and sports. 

This week on the show, we sit down with the legend Spencer O'Brien, fresh off her Natural Selection Tour win. Spencer continues to inspire, time and time again. Based between Vancouver Island and Whistler, she's spent years riding and competing at the absolute highest level, X Games medals, Olympian, 100-foot park jumps, the US Open Snowboarding Championships, the streets… you name it, she's done it. From a Burton kid, to Nike, and now riding for Vancouver-based Arc'teryx, Spencer has grown into one of the true greats of the sport. This conversation goes well beyond podiums and contest wins. Huge thanks to Spence for the honesty, perspective, and inspiration. Enjoy the show! To support the show visit - www.patreon.com/c/airtimepodcast Presented by Monster Energy Supported by Arc'teryx, Baldface Lodge, Vans Snow, Gibbons Whistler, The Source Board Shop

Wedding vows, thoughts of home and New Year wishes, from Sweden to Vancouver Island to Rostrevor, County Down, with Conall Hamill, Lani O'Hanlon, Neil Hegarty, Mattie Brennan, Denis Tuohy and Enda Wyley

There were the legacy breweries - the big boys of the business - then came the micros, and here we are talking with Dan van Netten about his nano-brewery on Vancouver Island.He really isn't new to the industry nor to brewing; I am told he began his journey in high school with first batches of beer and wine.Howl is located on Lyle Street in Esquimalt in a historic building that once was a green grocer/convenience store from 1909. It was known as a neighbourhood candy store for years.Come along for a conversation that explores how Dan got into beer, what he produces now, and his aspirations for a tasting room.

Episode 248 — Food Trends 2025 (Revisit) You may remember this episode from when it first aired, but it's worth another listen. In Episode 248 of The Edible Valley Podcast, we explored the food trends shaping 2025 — a year defined by awareness, reflection, and big conversations about how we eat. This episode dives into sustainability, food systems, and gut health as they moved into the mainstream, along with the growing influence of global flavours and technology on home kitchens and restaurants alike. It was a moment when food culture started asking deeper questions — not just what we eat, but why. Looking back, many of the ideas discussed here still resonate, especially on Vancouver Island, where local farms, fisheries, and producers were already living these trends day to day. What felt like emerging ideas at the time have since become part of everyday food conversations. Whether you're hearing this episode again or discovering it for the first time, Episode 248 captures an important snapshot of where food culture stood in 2025 — and why those conversations mattered then, and still do now.

Maybe it was talking about Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, or possibly giggling about potential Pope names. Maybe it was going back to the halcyon days of KJ's time on Stargate or his trip to see his Texan cousins as they visited Vancouver Island. Maybe it was the warm flush of joy that getting Listener Mail always brings. We don't really know just what it was, but KJ's revelation that his (t)rusty 1964 International TravelAll has finally, after 47 years in his service, crossed the toll-free bridge to the Great Garage in the Sky brought back a lot of memories and feelings that the Shed isn't often witness to. Mostly pretty great memories and feelings, I'll add. Share them with us. We know of at least one faithful listener who had a similar road trip with a very faithful Toyota. Listen in and think about cars, or even Dogs.Links: Shed Dogs; anachronism; how to make corn fritters; Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation; Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell; KJ's appearance on Dial the Gate; Dr. Warner at work; the Double Decker Hamburger Hut on Vancouver Island; the 1964 International Travelall; KJ's truck spotted by a blogger; disaster preparation kits; digitizing LPs.Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.

1913.  Over a decade of consistent economic growth comes to an end, souring relations between Ottawa and the provinces, and forcing the military occupation of the Vancouver Island coal district. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-nations-of-canada--4572969/support.

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 happened this week when stormy weather led to nearly a hundred sailing cancellations just before Christmas. It also came up this summer, as discussions dragged on about the new ships that B.C. Ferries ordered from a shipyard in China. So this week, a repeat of our July 17 episode: do we need a bridge or tunnel? What it take to build one?

Feliks Banel's guests on this LIVE BROADCAST of CASCADE OF HISTORY include Moira Nadal of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation with this year's winners of Sivinski Preservation Grants; Derek Nguyen of the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma with details about this year's model train exhibit; Malcolm Crockett of Crofton, BC on the history of that Vancouver Island community and his new book; Kerry Tymchuk, Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society on this year's holiday exhibit of Meier & Frank department store Santaland decor and a look ahead at next year's Highway 101 centennial exhibit; lost & found sound from World War II with Chris Byrd, who hears his father Clifford Byrd - a B-17 gunner - on a recording from a radio show broadcast from London on Christmas Day 1943. More info about the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation Sivinski Fund: https://preservewa.org/programs/grants/valerie-sivinski-fund/ More info about the Washington State History Museum Model Train Show: https://www.washingtonhistory.org/exhibit/trainfestival-29/ More info Malcolm Crockett's book about growing up in Crofton, BC; https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-backup-a-setup-and-more-malcolm-crockett/1148702514 More info about Oregon Historical Society's Meier & Frank Santaland: https://www.ohs.org/museum/exhibits/meier-and-frank-santaland.cfm Links to more information about most topics discussed on the show are available at the CASCADE OF HISTORY Facebook page: www.facebook.com/groups/cascadeofhistory This LIVE broadcast of CASCADE OF HISTORY was originally presented at 8pm Pacific Time on Sunday, December 21, 2025 via SPACE 101.1 FM and gallantly streaming live via www.space101fm.org from historic Magnuson Park - formerly Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.

In this episode Katrin Tomanek describes how she moved from climbing to kayaking and developed a style of multiimodal trips that combine sea kayaking and cycling to minimize driving. She shares how she learned skills, used careful planning and spreadsheets, and progressed from local trips to big expeditions. Katrin recounts standout journeys including a foggy, remote Lost Coast outing, a 52‑day mostly-solo paddle through the Inside Passage, and a counterclockwise circumnavigation of Vancouver Island that finished with a bike ride across the island. She discusses navigation in fog, wildlife encounters, food and gear choices, and how solo days and unexpected social connections shaped her experience. Enjoy today's discussion of learning  and discovery! Connect: Blog: Wildly Inside: A Visual Journey Through the Inside Passage by Susan Conrad Katrin's planning spreadsheet

Welcome to a new episode of The XLNT Show, where Danny and Parker sit down with producer, vocalist, and performer Whipped Cream for one of the most honest and inspiring conversations we've had on the channel.Caroline walks us through her full journey: from growing up as a competitive figure skater, to a brutal ankle injury that changed everything, to discovering electronic music at a small festival stage and deciding to bet her entire future on making music. With no mentors, no local scene, and no roadmap, she moved back into her parents' basement, taught herself Ableton from YouTube, and slowly built the Whipped Cream project from the ground up.They discuss:How a serious figure skating injury pushed her toward a completely new lifeThe tiny side-stage set at Sasquatch Festival that flipped a switch and made her decide, “I need to make music”Learning production in isolation on Vancouver Island, with no female producers around and no real industry connectionsGetting obsessed with Baaur, trap, and Jersey Club, and how chopping samples shaped her early soundEvolving from mid-tempo into techno, cinematic dance, and vocal-driven records while keeping everything authenticDiscovering her singing voice in the studio, using lyrics from her notes app, and treating vocals like another instrumentThe reality of being a woman in EDM: assumptions about ghost production, image policing, and double standardsHer philosophy on collaboration, credits, ghost producing, and why she doesn't demonize help behind the scenesDesigning full show concepts like “Someone You Can Count On,” building characters, stage design, and world-buildingTrying to balance big long-term vision with the practical need to “focus on what's working” right nowThe episode opens up into a larger conversation about identity, resilience, and longevity in dance music: why she refuses to be boxed in, how she handles criticism and rumors, and why her real goal is to impact people emotionally—on stage and in their headphones.⭐️ SUPPORT THE POD ⭐️➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/thexlntshow⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⭐️ #1 Sample & Preset Packs [Use code “THEXLNTSHOW” for 10% off your next purchase] ⭐️➡️ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bit.ly/XLNTSOUNDPACKS

The wonderful British actor Freddie Highmore, star of Finding Neverland and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory joins Tanya Rose to share his travel secrets this week. In this episode, Freddie divulges his love for Vancouver and British Columbia, after spending 12 years in the province filming both Bates Motel and The Good Doctor. Plus, Freddie discusses his experience filming with tigers in Cambodia and reveals why thought he was “born to be Spanish” after a childhood trip to Barcelona… Don't forget to follow @travelsecretsthepodcast and remember, you can watch all of our episodes on YouTube. Places mentioned: Provence, France Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Athens, Greece Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada Pluvio, Vancouver Sunshine Coast, Vancouver, Canada Cambodia Whistler, Vancouver, Canada Scandinave Spa, Whistler, Canada Cantina, Sifnos, Greece Kavos Sunrise, Kavos, Greece Vinales, Cuba Barcelona, Spain Madrid, Spain Hotel Sardinero Madrid, Spain Córdoba, Madrid, Spain Abadía Retuerta Hotel, Duelo Valley, Spain Chapters 00:00 Intro 06:06 Secret 1: Number 1 travel destination everybody should go to 11:28 Secret 2: Most unexpected travel experience 14:24 Secret 3: Most Over or Underrated travel experience 18:07 Secret 4: Best Food & Drink while travelling 20:17 Secret 5: Number 1 travel tip 24:16 Secret 6: Poignant memory from a trip 30:10 Secret 7: Special travel photograph 31:17 Outro

In der letzten Folge vor der Winterpause nehmen Jenny und Malte euch mit ans Ende der Welt – ins Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino auf Vancouver Island. Ein ikonisches Hideaway, das direkt auf den Felsen der Pazifikküste thront und Natur, Gemütlichkeit und kanadische Herzlichkeit perfekt verbindet.

We just spent 3 months living in our brand-new truck + trailer build… and it did not go how we expected.

Jenny Palmer is a Vancouver-born artist and potter based on Vancouver Island. An Emily Carr graduate (BFA, 2008) in Photography, Jenny spent years working her way through breweries and children's art studios before running a home-based childcare program. In 2019, she discovered clay and began exploring pottery as a creative outlet in the evenings. When Covid hit, the world slowed down and that pause helped push Jenny to grow her late night pottery hobby into something bigger. Working from her cozy home studio, she creates vibrant, textural, functional stoneware that brings color, warmth, and joy to everyday life, reflecting her love of process, play, and the beauty of handmade craft. https://ThePottersCast.com/1184

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Thomas Sewid, a renowned Sasquatch investigator and proud member of the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation from northeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. With decades spent as a commercial fisherman navigating the rugged, isolated waters of the Broughton Archipelago, Thomas has forged a unique bond with the wild—leading to multiple personal encounters with the elusive Sasquatch, known in his tribal traditions as Dzoonakwa, a revered crest symbolizing strength and mystery.Thomas is the driving force behind the thriving Sasquatch Island community—a vibrant Facebook group and YouTube channel where he shares Indigenous perspectives on Bigfoot, blending ancient oral histories from Potlatch ceremonies with modern research. As a half-Cree descendant and former Chairman of Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia, he draws on his deep cultural roots and bushman expertise to educate enthusiasts worldwide. From guiding immersive Sasquatch expeditions along coastal beaches and estuaries to authoring Sasquatch Island Magazine—a treasure trove of factual research, eyewitness accounts, and referenced lore—Thomas challenges us to rethink the "wild man" not as a monster, but as a migratory guardian of the Pacific Northwest.Join us as Thomas recounts spine-tingling close encounters, reveals ethical ways to connect with these relict hominoids. Connect with Thomas Sewid:  - Facebook: Sasquatch Island Group  - Website: sasquatchisland.com  - Email: tom.sewid@gmail.com- YouTube: ​⁠ We are thrilled to announce the official launch of Let's Get Freaky merchandise! Our collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. Explore the full range at http://tee.pub/lic/aQprv54kktw.Do you have a paranormal or extraordinary experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us to be a guest on the Let's Get Freaky podcast. Email us at letsgetfreakypodcast@mail.com or reach out via social media on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, or YouTube at @tcletsgetfreakypodcast. Connect with us at https://linktr.ee/letsgetfreaky.Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Burnout shows up quietly, and in this conversation, I think you will hear just how deeply it can shape a life. When I sat down with Kassandra Hamilton, she opened up about building a meaningful career in global and Indigenous health while struggling with exhaustion, anxiety, and the pressure to look like everything was fine. Her turning point came when she finally stopped long enough to ask what she truly needed. Kassandra talks about people pleasing, giving her power away, and the inside out process she now teaches to help others realign their lives. We walk through the RAIN method, the importance of boundaries, and the small daily choices that help you rebuild trust in yourself. My hope is that you walk away feeling grounded, encouraged, and ready to take one step toward a more aligned and Unstoppable life. Highlights: 01:12 – Learn how early purpose can quietly shape the path you follow. 02:51 – See how a wider view of global health reveals what truly drives burnout. 06:56 – Understand how systems and technology can add pressure when they overlook human needs. 12:50 – Learn how hidden emotions can surface when you slow down and pay attention. 17:37 – Explore how reclaiming your power shifts the way you respond to stress. 24:23 – Discover how emotional regulation tools help you move through difficult moments. 41:18 – Learn how small, steady changes rebuild energy and direction. 47:36 – Understand why real burnout recovery starts with alignment, not escape. About the Guest: Kassandra Hamilton is an alignment life coach, bestselling author in 3 categories, musician, healer, and facilitator.  She is dedicated to helping others find inner alignment and live from the inside out, rather than in a burnout state or in autopilot mode. After completing a degree in biology and international development, and then completing a Masters of Science, she wanted to pursue a career in medicine.  She has always wanted to be of service to others, and as a child she literally had dreams of holding her hands towards people and visualizing light being sent to them. only way it made sense in terms of a traditional career trajectory while she was in school was to pursue medicine.  After completing her Masters degree, she decided to work alongside doctors to see what their day to day was like and how they were creating a positive impact in their communities.  What she actually saw was a lot of burnout, paperwork, and dissatisfied lives of people that were once passionate about medicine. She was working for Doctors of BC in Vancouver, with a high end office and apartment, when she collapsed one day in her apartment from an overwhelming sense of anxiety, burnout and grief.  She had lost her dog, her boyfriend, and both her grandparents all within three months.  On top of that, she was in a career that looked good on paper, but wasn't actually fulfilling her purpose of being of service to others. She no longer wanted to pursue medicine and didn't know how she got to a dead end if she had followed all the “right” steps according to society's blueprint for success. She spent the next few years really learning about her inner world and what her purpose in life was. She became dedicated to her own healing and coping with anxiety and burnout.  For the next decade, she began working with First Nations across Canada. She witnessed and learned about the importance of looking at the whole person, from a spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical lens.  Everything seemed to be connected.  As someone with a science background, she had always been fascinated with the intricacies and magical elements of everything that comes together in one singular cell.  Our emotions are energy in motion, and if they don't move through, they get stuck.  We decide if we allow our emotions to flow or not.  Kassandra also realized how powerful our minds are.  With one thought, we create a story.  That story becomes our reality.  With all of these realizations, she came to understand that we are literally magicians of our own realities. Kassandra has learned and experienced, time and time again, that health and happiness stems from our internal world first and is a combination of our mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional realms.  Once we deal with our inner worlds and live in state of awareness over how we are operating in the world, we can project that version of ourselves out into the world to create positive change.  In a world that constantly pulls us outward - with notifications, expectations, distractions “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” is about bringing us back home to ourselves.  Through deeply personal storytelling, scientific insights, and soul-centres practiced, Kassandra invites readers to reconnect with their inner compass.  This is a guidebook for anyone longing to move from autopilot to alignment and discovering what it truly means to live with intention, purpose, and clarity. Because the answers aren't out there, they HAVE to start from within.  We weren't meant to just get through the day. It is exhausting trying to fix and control everything “OUT THERE.” And the thing is, we have no control over what's happening out there anyways, We were meant to thrive and share our gifts with the world.  This is how positive ripple effects are made.  This is Kassandra plans to leave the world a better place, and support others to do the same.   With the external chaos, political mess, climate change, and growing tensions worldwide, She decided it was time to start creating some positive changes. She now has started a coaching practice committed to sharing her work with others, and her book compliments her work, outlining a 4-phase approach to moving from anxiety, fear, burnout, to living in alignment and inner power.  After a very successful book tour showcasing her bestseller (in 3 categories) “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” – she is going on tour.  But this isn't just any book tour – it is centred around creating community connections.  She will be doing wellness workshops and talks in local libraries, bookstores, and wellness venues around burnout prevention, boundaries, resilience, and authentic leadership, leveraging my book as a tool for this. She is currently in the planning stages and open to support in making this happen. Kassandra is dedicated to sharing stories that inspire personal development and growth. She brings a unique perspective to storytelling, blending data-driven insights with narrative. With years of experience in health information management projects with First Nations communities in Canada, she has become fascinated with the power of sharing compelling stories through complex qualitative data.  Her book is titled “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” and is now available on Amazon and 50+ more platforms. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, dancing, hiking, paddleboarding, and putting on community events that promote inner healing and connection.  She also provides sound healing sessions, Ayurvedic Head Massage, and Bio-Energy Healing sessions at a local wellness establishment in her community.  She volunteers at Connective Society as a restorative justice mentor for youth who are struggling with a lack of leadership or role models in their life. Lastly, Kassandra is a singer/songwriter and a musician.  You can find her playing at local open mics, hosting backyard community jam sessions, or at gigs around Vancouver Island. She put out an EP under the artist name “Kazz” in 2018 called “Reflections” and has released 4 singles under this title since.  This year (2025), she started a new collaborative label with her partner who is a music producer, and they have released two songs under the artist name “Cyphyr & Myraky.” Her mission is this: So many people believe the answers are "out there" and feel helpless in the current state of the world environmentally, politically, economically etc. Instead of feeling helpless, paralyzed by fear, or living under the influence of external circumstance and chaos, we can create real change by first realigning from the inside out to reconnect with our inner power and creativity. Imagine a world where people took responsibility for their life, knew their purpose, and felt like they were living life in full alignment with this.  Imagine what our communities would look like then? Above all else, Kassandra wants to inspire others to create positive ripple effects out into the world.  Ways to connect with Kassandra**:** Instagram: @kassandra hamilton  Facebook: Coaching with Kassandra TikTok: coachingwithkassandra LinkedIn: Kassandra Hamilton Website: www.kassandrahamilton.com Linktree with all my info: https://linktr.ee/kassandra.hamilton Spotify: Under name "Kazz": https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gpUecr9VkVJMmVIyp1NFt?si=byM7VdL9QDeezl5-666XKQ&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=9a801d5edc774e1d Under name "Cyphyr & Myraky" - new collaborative label https://open.spotify.com/artist/3xUxZGxTseXQB2G9PVolMn?si=In3BLhX3SMK_c-3ukTlCfQ&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=d369f571e6384062 Amazon Link to Book: https://a.co/d/2yWISSu Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDKW9ZNrsvA Rogers TV Community News Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0eOnQ2DAdg Nanaimo News Bulletin Story: https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/local-news/nanaimo-health-and-life-coachs-new-book-guides-inner-alignment-8182386 About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:21 Well, hi everyone. I want to welcome you to another episode of unstoppable mindset. We're really glad that you're here with us today. Our guest today is Kassandra Hamilton, from up in British Columbia, way, and she has, I think, a lot to talk about. She's a coach. She talks about burnout and but also about her many talents. She sings, she's a musician, and on top of everything else, she's an author, and she just wrote a book that has just come out. So we've got lots to talk about, or she has lots to talk about, and we'll talk about it with her. So, Kassandra, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Kassandra Hamilton  02:08 Thanks for having me, Michael. I'm really grateful to be here today. Michael Hingson  02:12 Well, I'm excited. There's obviously a lot to talk about, I think so. Tell us a little bit about the early Cassandra growing up, and all the usual things. You know, you got to start at the beginning somewhere, Kassandra Hamilton  02:22 absolutely, yeah, so as a kid, I mean, I've always been curious. My mom used to get very puzzled by me as a child, because I would always ask, like, who is God and how is the world made? And I just had all these questions. And it just never really stopped. When I was six, I had a vision of helping people and healing them with my hands, and I just saw this light between my hands and other people, and it was this recurring dream I kept having, and I didn't understand it in the practical sense. So I pursued a very traditional, you know, career in medicine, because that's what made sense to me, and the social conditions that we had in front of us, and that didn't really pan out for me. I just it wasn't resonating. I felt like the system was very rigid. And I just have always been fascinated with more of a holistic picture of someone you know, like their physical, emotional, spiritual selves, and so the just focusing on the physical alone just wasn't cutting it for me. I knew there was so much more, and I was so curious about all of that. So yeah, I've gone through different sort of journeys on my path, and come back to a place of really wanting to be of service and share some of the tools and strategies that I've learned along the way. Michael Hingson  03:47 Well, you started down the road of going into medicine, didn't you? Mm, hmm. And what was your master's in? Because I know you had your your master's degree, and then you started working with doctors. What did you get your master's degree in? Kassandra Hamilton  04:02 Yeah, so I completed a master's of science because it was in the stream of global health. And so I was really fascinated by the multifaceted aspect of that. And not just looking at physical impact in the world. We looked at, you know, political and economic, geographic indicators of health really gave me that sort of overall vision of what health looks like from from that bird's eye view. And then I wanted to pursue medicine after that, because, again, I wanted to be of service to others, but I ended up working with doctors to see if that's actually what I wanted to do, and I just saw the amount of burnout that doctors were experiencing and how 80% of their workload was paperwork. Michael Hingson  04:56 And so what did. You do. Kassandra Hamilton  05:02 So I left that work. I was there for two years, and it just I wasn't buying it. So I left. I started my own company as a consultant, and realized that a lot of the issues I was seeing abroad, I actually we had a lot of gaps here in Canada, especially with our indigenous communities, the disparities there were just huge, and so I focused my energy for the last decade on working with indigenous communities and unlearning a lot of sort of colonial ways of doing things and really integrating the holistic health model that is presented from from that culture that I was working with, and it's really, really been transformative and instrumental in the way that I approach health now, Michael Hingson  05:51 well, I'm curious about something sort of off the wall. I appreciate what you're saying about paperwork, and I'm sure there are all sorts of legalistic reasons why there has to be so much paperwork and so on in the medical world, especially when everybody's so concerned about things like malpractice and all that. But do you think any of that has gotten any better? Or how has it changed as we are progressing more to a paperless or different kind of charting system where everything is done from a computer terminal. I'm spoiled. My doctors are with Kaiser Permanente, and everything is all done on wireless, or at least on non paper chart. Types of things that they're just typing into the computer, actually, as as we're communicating and we're talking and I'm in visiting and so on, but everything is all done online. What do you think about that? Does that help any Kassandra Hamilton  06:53 so very great question. So when we're talking about accessibility, I'm going to say no, not for indigenous communities, at least here in Canada, I'll speak from my experience, but things have gone digital, and actually what I was doing was working as a digital health consultant to bridge health gaps in digital systems. Because what was happening and what still happens is there's systems that are quite siloed, and so a lot of health centers that are remote will be using paper still, or they'll be using system for that and another system for this. And so there's no wrap around, diligence around the client. And so there is this huge accessibility issue, which is what I've been working on for the last 10 years. Michael Hingson  07:41 Well, do you think that as well? Hopefully you'll see more paperless kinds of things go into play. But do you think in areas where the paper quantity has decreased, in the online or digital chart systems have come into play. Does that help burn out at all? Do you think again? Kassandra Hamilton  08:08 You know what? It really depends. Like you're you're only as good as your as your system allows, and so if you haven't allowed for inclusivity, and for example, a lot of the work that was funded in the first couple years that I was doing, there was no due diligence to figure out whether or not these remote areas even had internet. So without internet, they were pumping money into all of these systems that were super high tech, not culturally appropriate. A lot of elders don't even own a computer, let alone a smartphone or anything like that, or have service. So it was there was a huge disconnect there, and so part of the work I've been doing is a lot of advocacy and helping government agencies understand the connecting pieces that are are instrumental in the success of digital health implementation. Yeah, well, Michael Hingson  09:09 you know here, I know a fair amount about the whole digital chart system, because my sister in law was a critical care unit nurse at Kaiser, and then she managed several wards, and then she was tasked to be the head nurse for on the profit side, to help bring digital charts into Kaiser and and so I heard a lot about it from her and especially all the doctors who opposed it, just because they didn't want any change. They wanted to just do things the way that they had always done them. Yeah. And so the result is that they kind of got dragged kicking and screaming into it a little bit. But now I hear people mostly praising the whole system because it makes their job a lot easier. On the other hand, the other thing that happens, though, is they the system crams more patients into a doctor's appointment schedule every day, and so I'm not sure they're always seeing as much of patients as they should of any given patient, but I guess they have more doctors that specialize in different things. So no matter what happens, the doctors can all see whatever there is to see, because everything is in the chart, right? Kassandra Hamilton  10:41 And so Absolutely, in theory, and in urban areas where that works, you know, the digital systems are set up properly, absolutely. But in terms of going back to your question about burnout, if there's one nurse for one community, and she's a chart in five different, you know, systems that it's actually going to add to her burnout at the end of the day. Yeah? Michael Hingson  11:04 Well, yeah, and I appreciate that. I mean, so clearly, there's still quite a disparity, but it does, it does sound like in areas where they're able to truly bring digital charts and capturing information digitally into the system where, where that does exist, it can make people's lives, doctors, lives and so on, a little bit easier, and maybe contribute a little bit less to burnout. Kassandra Hamilton  11:34 Yeah, absolutely. And of course, that's the hope, and that's you know, why we continue to do the work to bring it into this, especially with AI too, like bringing more efficiency into the workplace, and it's all part of it. So yes, absolutely there's, there's definitely some, some hope, and some, you know, leaner, leaner ways of doing things for a lot of people. So yeah, yeah. Michael Hingson  12:01 I'll hope it will continue to get better, and that the influence will expand so that the more rural areas and so on will be able to get the kinds of things that the more urban areas have. Now I live in an area that's fairly urban, but we don't have a Kaiser hospital up here. We have clinics, but we don't have a hospital. And apparently there's now, finally some movement toward making that happen. But it's interesting, where we used to live, in Northern California. We lived in a very what was, although we weren't, but was a rich County, and there were 200,000 people or so in the county, and there was a Kaiser hospital in the county. There was a Kaiser hospital about 30 miles away in San Francisco, and there were Kaiser hospitals going north, 1520, miles further north, in Petaluma. So there are a lot of hospitals, but we are in an area where there are over 400,000 people now, and there isn't a Kaiser hospital here, and that just has always seemed kind of strange to me. And the response is, well, the doctors don't want to move up here. I mean, there are all sorts of different reasons that are given, but it just seems strange. So if you really need to go to the hospital, they do have contracts that sort of work sometimes, or you have to go about 50 miles to get to the nearest actual Kaiser hospital, right? So it's strange. Kassandra Hamilton  13:38 It is strange. And there's a lot of things. Who knows who made the last call on decision? Right? So, right, yeah. Michael Hingson  13:48 Well, again, so the rumor goes they're going to be building a hospital here, and I think that will be a good thing. So we'll see. We'll see how it goes. But you experienced burnout, Kassandra Hamilton  14:00 didn't you? I did? Yes, I tell us about that, if you would. Yeah, absolutely so when I was 27 and I went, that was Michael Hingson  14:13 last year, right? Kassandra Hamilton  14:14 Yes, thank you. It was 10 years ago, but on the outside, I was thriving. Michael, I was like, working for doctors of BC, I had an apartment on the ninth floor. I had an ocean view. I had the apartment downtown. I was, you know, dating. I was like, doing all these things. I was achieving, pushing and showing up. And inside I was running on empty, and I was very disconnected from my purpose, from myself, and that breakdown became eventually a breakthrough, but in the process, you know, I lost all my grandparents and my dog, and I didn't have tools for dealing with my anxiety. Yeah, and social media sort of just amplified that sort of comparative feeling, and I just started to slow down and like really realign, and I realized how many people were living on autopilot and surviving instead of thriving. And that's really when I wanted to become committed to helping others reclaim their purpose and their authenticity, and not just bounce back from burnout, but like rise into something greater, and like reconnect with themselves and their why of their purpose of being here. You know, Michael Hingson  15:33 yeah, because you you thought you were thriving, but you really weren't. Yeah, exactly which is, which is unfortunate, but still, those kinds of things happen. So what did you So, how did you go from experiencing burnout to moving forward and realigning? What? What did you learn? How did you discover it and what actually happened. Kassandra Hamilton  16:01 So I, you know, I, for a long time, went through my own inward journey. And I, you know, I went to counseling, I sought other ways of healing, through energy work, I tried all the different tools and modalities, and I realized over time, it meant flipping the script, and most of us live from the outside in, and we're chasing expectations and people pleasing, letting circumstances dictate our worth, and living from the inside out to me meant connecting with who I was and my values and and the truth of finding my like finding my purpose, and letting that be the driver, and that means having boundaries. It means speaking up when you're when you're scared or you have fear. I know you've done a lot of work with fear and how to leverage that for a more positive outcome, rather than letting it stop you. So in my life, that shift has really helped me stop outsourcing my power and allowed me to show up authentically in my work and my relationships and creativity, and that's where my freedom and vitality really lives, and I really want to share that with others. Michael Hingson  17:12 That's interesting. Way that you put it, you're outsourcing your power. What do you mean by that? Kassandra Hamilton  17:18 I was giving my power away. I was waiting for someone else to approve of something that I did. I was showcasing my, you know, achievements, and that was how I attached value to my identity and who I was. Michael Hingson  17:34 And of course, what that really meant is that you, as you said, it was all about people pleasing and so on. And how did you change all that? Kassandra Hamilton  17:43 It wasn't overnight, I'll bet it wasn't, yeah, and so I changed all that by getting curious and by going inside. And I have a four step process that I share in this book that I've now written. And the first step is to observe yourself, like, how are you showing up? What kind of patterns are coming up for you? And then starting to understand, like, why, where did those come from? And then starting to re tune that part of yourself, like, Okay, so that's how I'm showing up. How do I want to show up? And how can I change my patterns, and how I react to things, to do that, and that's how you start to, sort of like flip the narrative and limp from the inside out. Michael Hingson  18:26 How do people do that? Because we're, because we're, I think we're really trained to behave that way. We're we're trained to as, as you would put it, all too often, give your power away or outsource your power. And how do we change that mentality? Kassandra Hamilton  18:48 Yeah, well, we have to first observe ourselves. We have to look at, you know, how are boundaries being used in your life? Or are they even there? Are you showing up for yourself as much as you're showing up for other people? Are you being authentic in what really is, in alignment with your own values? Are you living on purpose? So these things are what we look at, and then I have tools and frameworks and questions to help people really start to observe themselves from an outside perspective and ask themselves, Is this really how I want to be living right now? Is this allowing me to live the life that I want? Michael Hingson  19:34 Yeah, and is it, is it helping me grow Exactly? And that's that's a lot of the issue that that we face. I know, in my my book live like a guide dog that wrote was published last year. We we talk a lot about the fact that people need to learn, or hopefully will learn, how to be much more introspective and. And analyze what they do every day, and really put that analysis to work, to to learn. What am I afraid of? What is going on? Why am I worried about this? Because I don't have any control over it and and people just don't grow up feeling that way, because we don't really teach people how to learn to control fear and how to be introspective, which is part of the problem, of course, right? Kassandra Hamilton  20:27 Or even how to manage our emotions, right? Like emotion is energy in motion, and if we do not allow it to move through us, it gets stuck, and it shows up in our bodies as a physical ailment, yeah. And that's the mind, body, spirit connection. That's why physical, mental, emotional health is so important to look at as as a whole, not just in silo. Michael Hingson  20:51 So how do you how do you teach people to take a different view than what we typically learned how to do well? Kassandra Hamilton  21:01 So once we've observed what people what people are, how they're operating, we then start to understand where it comes from. So a lot of people are programmed either by society or early childhood experiences, and then they are just operating on autopilot from those patterns. But they don't know that. So once you start like, awareness is everything, and once you see something, you can't unsee it. So at that point, it's like, okay, how can we move from this place to where you want to be? And so I have a lot of tools for understanding and processing your emotions in real time. I have tools for understanding and managing nervous like your nervous system, I look at it from a science and health background as well as a spiritual background. So it's like blending the tool to and understanding that healing isn't just physical and mindfulness and slowing down and journaling and just taking the time to actually try and understand yourself. Michael Hingson  22:03 So how has all of this changed how you live your life? Kassandra Hamilton  22:08 Well, I since I started operating in a different way, I bought a house. I bought another house, about another house, I, you know, wrote a book. I changed careers. I am coaching people now I'm just like really living in my element, in my my full purpose, which is have this written on my wall that I want to help others rediscover their magic, so we can all fly together. So it's really about spreading positive ripple effects in the world, you know, but starting at home and in our communities. And I believe that that inside out ripple effect is so much more powerful than anything we can do out there, Michael Hingson  22:56 just so that we get it out there. What's the title of the book? Kassandra Hamilton  22:59 It's called the magic of realigning from the inside out. Michael Hingson  23:04 Since we, we talked about it, I figured we better get the title out there. Yeah, thank you. And there is a picture of the book cover and so on in the show notes. But I just wanted to make sure that you, you did tell people the title. Well, tell me, is there an incident or a moment where you realize that your work could really create change in someone's life? Kassandra Hamilton  23:32 Yeah, you know, that's an interesting question. I've been asked that a few times, and the answer is that I just have a very strong morning practice where I journal. And throughout that journaling the last few years, I realized my process of integrating all of these tools and what it's done for me, and it just became like again, me observing myself through the pages and recognizing that I you know, it was my responsibility to share this, this work that I had done with other people, and not from a place of of ego, but really from that place of wanting to share stories and experiences in hopes that it will inspire others to, you know, take the time to Get curious and courageous about their own lives. Michael Hingson  24:22 Did you have any kind of an aha moment or a moment with anyone besides yourself that really caused you to realize, Oh, I'm really making a difference here. I'm really able to do this, and it makes a lot of sense to do what I'm doing. Kassandra Hamilton  24:38 Well, it's so funny, because informally, all of my friends will come to me for, you know, advice or coaching or reframing or whatever, and then eventually I was like, Man, I should get paid. And Michael Hingson  24:53 they're not your friends anymore, because now you're charging them, right? Kassandra Hamilton  24:58 So it's something that I've. Always really wanted to do, and I've always been fascinated by people and how their brains work, and what their resistance to change is, including my own. And yeah, I guess I just sort of had this moment a few years ago when I was like, I want to really focus my time on and energy to help other people have these moments of insight, or aha moments, or realizing they can pivot and actually start creating what they want in their lives. Michael Hingson  25:29 So what kind of tools do you use in your coaching process to help people do that? Kassandra Hamilton  25:34 Yeah, I lean on a lot of work from Gabor Mate and Deepak Chopra. I use tools that I've learned through Tara Brock. So my favorite tool, actually, that I, that I use, and I, I encourage people to try, is rain. And so if I could leave one sort of tool for people here today, it would be rain. And rain stands for recognize, acknowledge or accept, investigate, and then nourish. And so anytime people are in an activated emotional state or a negative emotion, they can sit away from their current situations, whether it's you go to the bathroom, or you sit alone for a few moments and you just recognize, okay, what is it that I'm feeling anxiety? Alright, we've named it. I recognize it. I'm accepting and acknowledging that I feel anxious. And then I is investigating, why do I feel anxious? What is the reason I feel anxious? And once you have figured out why, you can start to comfort yourself from a place of compassion, like it's okay to feel this way, you know Michael, like emotions are just children that want to be seen and heard, and the more you shove them down, the more chaos ensues. So when you comfort those emotions and you understand them, they move through you, naturally, emotion energy in motion. That's how we can assist ourselves in getting better at letting the emotions move through us. Michael Hingson  27:08 Yeah, and something that comes to mind along that that same line is the whole issue that you've already talked about, some which is talking about what what you feel, whoever you are, and be willing to express emotions, be willing to be honest with yourself and with other people. And again, I just think that we so often are taught not to do that. It's so unfortunate. Kassandra Hamilton  27:36 Absolutely, absolutely, we're not taught about anything. And I have a long list for the education curriculum, let me tell you, yeah, boundaries, you know, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, yeah, reframing, Like there's just so many things, so many things. Michael Hingson  28:03 So you've, you've helped a lot of people, primarily, who do you do you coach? Who are your your typical clients? Or does it matter? Kassandra Hamilton  28:14 So I typically coach people between ages 25 to 40, but I actually recently had a senior reach out to me after she found an article in the paper, and so I'm not excluding people from who I work with, but generally speaking, that's sort of the age range is 25 to 45 people who maybe have reached a, you know, the career they thought they were always going to do and get there, and they're like, this, isn't it? This isn't it for me, I'm burnt out. I'm tired. It's not what I thought it was going to be. Or maybe they're in a relationship and they're stuck and feeling burnt out from that. So yeah, that's the age group that I work in. Because regardless of what issue you're working on, career, relationship, sense of self, these tools will help you pivot to really realign with your purpose. Michael Hingson  29:03 So how do you help people go from being stuck to realigning and empowered Kassandra Hamilton  29:10 through my four step process? So I don't want to give too much away, but people will just need to read the book to find out. Michael Hingson  29:19 Well, if you can describe maybe a little bit in general, just enough to Yeah. Kassandra Hamilton  29:24 So just like I was saying before, like first getting really clear on how people are operating, so that's the observed part, and then starting to understand themselves through the different patterns that are coming up on a weekly, daily basis. So it's a lot of investigating and getting data in the first couple weeks, and then after that, we start to understand how to rewire things through different tools that I introduce, and we do it in small, manageable steps. My coaching programs are either six weeks or two. 12 weeks long. And throughout that process, we try things, and everyone's different. So some tools stick, you know, more than others, and that's okay. I just have a the approach that I've moved them through, and by the end, people are having amazing experiences and feeling like it's life changing. And I have, you know, a lot of people reaching out with testimonials that I just, you know, really helped fuel me to continue this work. Michael Hingson  30:26 Have you done this at all with children? I Kassandra Hamilton  30:30 haven't, but it's so interesting that you asked that because I really love working with youth. I work in a restorative justice volunteer program here in my community, and it's all about providing mentorship and being a role model for for youth that have maybe lost their way. And that's definitely an area I'm curious about. It's funny that you mentioned that. Michael Hingson  30:55 Well, it just, you know, the the reality is that the earlier we can get people to think about this and change and go more toward the kind of processes that you promote, the better it would be. But I also realize that that's a it's a little bit different process with with youth, I'm sure, than it is with older, older people, adults and so on. But I was just curious if you had done any, or if you have any plans to maybe open any kind of programs more for youth to help them the same way, because clearly there are a lot of stuck youth out there. Kassandra Hamilton  31:37 Yeah, very much so. And to be honest, like with the amount of technology and information overload and state of the world, like the amount of overwhelm and anxiety among youth right now is just through the charts, yeah, yeah. So definitely something that's been on my mind, and I I'm very curious as to what sparked you to ask that, because it's definitely something I've been exploring so Michael Hingson  32:02 well, it just popped into my head that that's an interesting thing to think about. And I would also think that the earlier we can and in this case, you can, reach children, the more open they probably are to listening to suggestions if you can establish a rapport with them. The reality is that that at a younger age, they're not as locked in to ways of doing things as they might be later on, my wife was my late wife was a teacher for 10 years, then she loved teaching second and third graders, and she said even by the time you're getting to fourth graders, they're starting to be a little bit more rigid in their mindsets. And so the result was that it was harder sometimes to reach them. And I think that's true, and I and I know that everything I've ever read or heard younger the child, the more open they are, and the more they're able to learn. Like younger children are better able to learn more than one language and so on. And the earlier you can get to children, probably the better it would be all the way around. Kassandra Hamilton  33:19 Absolutely, absolutely, yeah, yeah, definitely, an avian Avenue. I've been curious and exploring myself. So, yeah, Michael Hingson  33:28 I wonder, I wonder what the techniques would be, because I'm sure that the techniques are going to be a little bit different than than what you face with older people, Kassandra Hamilton  33:37 not necessarily like I think at any age, it's good to learn about boundaries and why they're important and understanding what we think they are versus what they actually are. And same with, you know, seeking validation outside of ourselves. Like I don't think, I don't think it's quite I think it might be a little bit more stuck when we're older, but I don't think it's very different. Yeah, I guess it just depends. Just depends. Michael Hingson  34:07 Well, you talk a lot about boundaries, authenticity, authenticity and purpose. How does all that really go into your whole coaching program? Kassandra Hamilton  34:22 Sorry? In what sense, like, can you ask that it may be a different a different way? Michael Hingson  34:29 Well, um, you talk, you've you've mentioned boundaries a number of times, and authenticity and so on. So I'm just curious, how do they fit into what you do and what you want people to do okay? Kassandra Hamilton  34:41 So people will come to me and they're, you know, feeling burnt out. They're constantly on. They're juggling family relationships, digital overload. They don't have space to breathe, let alone, you know, connect with themselves. And underneath that, there's often a lot of people pleasing or fear. Not being enough or living by other people's expectations, and so so many of them are feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, lack of worth when they come to me and they're just like, I don't know what else to do. And often, a misconception about burnout is that you need to work harder for things to get better, or you just need a small break to reset, and then you're fine. But if we don't change anything in that, in the mind, in the mindset, then people are just going to go back to the way, the way they were. Michael Hingson  35:33 How would you really define burnout? Kassandra Hamilton  35:38 I would define burnout as people feeling helpless, feeling like they're living on autopilot, exhaustion, feeling like there's just so much to manage and they don't have the time or the energy again, feeling like they can't or don't know about boundaries, and yeah, they're unfulfilled. They're not feeling like themselves. And so what I would suggest for anyone who's feeling that way is one of the things you can do is just just pause, create a moment of space for yourself, even if it's just five minutes a day, ask yourself what you really need, and it sounds simple, but most of us are so disconnected or needs that we don't even ask the question. But that pauses our power. It can be the doorway to listening to yourself again, and from there, you can start making choices that really align with what you actually want? Michael Hingson  36:43 One of the things that I suggest, and we do it in live like a guide dog, and I suggest it to people whenever we get in these discussions, is, no matter what you say about not having time, you absolutely have time, especially worst case at the end of the day, when you're starting to fall asleep, take the time to analyze yourself, take the time to become more introspective, because you have that time because you're in bed for heaven's sake. So you're really not supposed to be doing anything else, or shouldn't, but it's a great time to start to think about yourself, and I think that's a great time to deal with all the things that you're talking about here as well. Kassandra Hamilton  37:20 Oh yeah, absolutely, yeah. And people have time for what they prioritize. That's that's the truth. And whether that's something people want to accept, it's absolutely the truth. You will make time for the things that are important to you. Michael Hingson  37:35 Yeah, well, and that's what it really comes down to does, isn't it that you're always going to make time for the things that you find are important to you, and the reality is that you'll be able to progress when you discover that some of the things that are important to you are the kinds of things that we're talking about here that will avoid burnout or get you away From that absolutely we just have to really neck us back to boundaries and authenticity and purpose. It just gets back to knowing what you really need, and ultimately, no one can know that better than you about yourself. Kassandra Hamilton  38:16 Absolutely, we have to reconnect to what matters and build the life that gives energy instead of only draining it. Michael Hingson  38:23 Yeah, and we can, we can do that, but we do need to take the time to make that happen, and that's why I really suggest do it at the end of the day. It's quiet and or you can make it quiet, and you can really learn by doing that you don't have to watch TV until an hour after you've fallen asleep, and then you wake up and discover the TV's on. You can take the time to become a little bit more introspective and learn more about yourself that way. And that's exactly what will happen if you really think about it Kassandra Hamilton  38:55 100% and you know, at my book launch, people were asking, like, how did you write a book, and it was like, it's not it's not hard in the sense that it's hard, it's hard because you have to show up every day. But that consistency, whether it's five minutes or an hour, like the consistency is everything. So showing up for yourself in small ways or whatever feels manageable at first, will naturally give you more energy to wake up early and give yourself more time. You know, it's just happens that way. Michael Hingson  39:25 Yeah, yeah. Well, I agree. What's your favorite tool that you use with clients? Kassandra Hamilton  39:31 So it would be the one I shared with you earlier rain. It has been very instrumental for people in transforming how long it takes them to go from from a place of fear or anxiety or resentment to just processing it and being neutral. And it's amazing. Michael Hingson  39:53 And again, just to reiterate, it rain stands for, Kassandra Hamilton  39:57 recognize, accept or acknowledge. Manage, investigate and nourish, Michael Hingson  40:05 that's cheating. You get both both spellings of rain in there. That's that works, but it makes perfect sense and and I'm assuming that you've felt you've had pretty good success with people. Have you had anyone that just resists, even though they come to you and they say, Oh, I'm burned out and all that, but you start to work with them and they just resist? Or do you find that you're able to usually break through? Kassandra Hamilton  40:35 So it's funny, because a lot of people that come to me are very resistant to it, because of the nature of burnout, where people feel like don't have the time or the energy right at the beginning, a lot of people are very resistant, and they say so in their testimonials. No, at first I felt resistant, but then I didn't know that these things were actually going to give me exactly what I what I needed. So I've worked with a couple nurses. I worked with a woman who was managing, like, working four jobs, and she was super burnt out. But eventually, probably by like two or three weeks in, people are starting to feel the differences, and they're, they're all in. So yeah, it does take a bit to get them there, but once they're there, they're they're flying so, Michael Hingson  41:22 yeah, oh, that's that is so really cool, because you're able to break through and get people to do exactly what we've been talking about, which is so important to do, Kassandra Hamilton  41:34 yeah, yeah. And you know the moments for me that just feel like, Oh, this is the work I meant to do, is seeing someone go from that place of burnout or defeat because they're working a job they don't enjoy to starting their own business that's leveraging their creativity and their passion, or they've repaired a relationship, or they're finally feeling confident in themselves like there's No better gift to me than to see that change in somebody. Michael Hingson  42:06 What are some of the most common struggles that you see in people? I know we've probably talked a lot about it, but you know, it's good to summarize. But what are some of the kind of the most common struggles that you find in people? And why do you think that people are experiencing so much burnout? And I'm assuming that those two are related, Kassandra Hamilton  42:27 yeah, yeah. So, okay, so if we were talking about career, people that are managing a career that is very demanding, and that is all they do, and they have no energy for time like for things outside of work. What they say is that they're feeling numb, or they're living on autopilot, or they don't recognize themselves anymore. Another shared that she was really scared of leaving because of a financial aspect. And so I think at that point, you just start to flip the narrative and ask, well, what are you sacrificing by staying right? So like, maybe we need to get a part time job while we're exploring our creativity and building a new business for ourselves, but it's 100% possible, and these programs are not meant to make these drastic changes overnight. They're small, incremental, consistent changes that over time bring you to a place of alignment with what you actually want to create in life. Do you Michael Hingson  43:34 find that there are some people who feel I can't stay here, I've got to leave or this boss isn't good, or whatever, when, in reality, it's it's something different, and that a mindset shift makes them discover that they really are in a good well, they're in a good position, or they have a good career, or whatever, but their perspective has just been off. Kassandra Hamilton  43:56 Yeah, absolutely. So someone said something to me the other day that it stuck with me at the time, but it was something like, If you can't, if you can't get out of it, you better get into it. Yeah, that's a good point. It's like, yeah, sometimes it's just with how you're showing up for yourself and for the people around you. And that's the shift that needs to happen. So it's not necessarily about leaving a job. Thank you for bringing that up. It is about changing your life from the inside, and a huge part of that is mindset and the energy that you're bringing to a situation. Because how you do one thing is how you do everything. So, yeah, Michael Hingson  44:41 it's it's like, well, one of the things that I constantly tell people is there are a lot of times that something occurs to you or that you're involved with you have no control over, because you're not the one that that did it, or you're not the one that directly made this happen. And but you always have the choice of how you deal with whatever happens. So even if you don't have any direct influence over something occurring, you have always the opportunity to determine how you're going to deal with it. And that's always something that I think is so important for people to analyze and think about. But I think all too many people don't Kassandra Hamilton  45:21 absolutely the power is in our pause. And that's something I tell people all the time, the power is in your pause. Slow down, take a second, don't respond right away. And then come from a place of power, and you know that it changes everything. Michael Hingson  45:38 Well, the reality is that the more of that that you do, the more you pause, the more you think about it. The fact is, the quicker, over time, you'll be able to make a decision, because you're teaching yourself how to do that Kassandra Hamilton  45:54 truly. Yep. Michael Hingson  45:56 And so for a while, you may not be able to or you you are not confident enough to be able to make a decision right away, which is fine, you should pause. But the fact of the matter is, I think what I really describe it as, and I think it's so true, is you need to learn to listen to your inner voice, because your inner voice is going to tell you what you need to do. And you just need to really learn to focus on that, but we don't. We always say, Oh, that's too easy. That can't be the right answer when it really is. Kassandra Hamilton  46:26 It really is. And so again, that pause is also about space, right? So when I feel triggered by something, I will take the space to let myself come back down from that and then ask myself what I really want, or again, coming back to boundaries, if someone asks me if I want to do something, and I'm a very social person, and I love connection, so right away, I want to say yes, I'll, you know, do that thing with you. Now I have a really beautiful way to still show that it's like something I want to partake in, but honor myself as well. By saying I love this idea, I need a little bit of time to figure out if I can fully commit to this, and I'll get back to you at this time so it shows integrity, not only to myself, but to to that person as well, and showing up in a way that it like, if I have capacity to do that, then I will, yeah. Michael Hingson  47:25 Well, if somebody listening to this kind of feels unfulfilled or stuck exhausted, what's the very first step that you would suggest that they take? Kassandra Hamilton  47:37 Just like I was saying, just take a pause. Michael Hingson  47:40 I knew you were going to Kassandra Hamilton  47:41 say that create a moment of space. Ask yourself, what's really going on and what you really want, and then ask yourself if your actions are all the choices that you're about to make align with that, yeah. Michael Hingson  47:56 And the reason I asked the question was, was really just to get you to reiterate that and to get people to hear it again, because we have to really come together in our own minds and decide what we want to do, and we shouldn't have knee jerk reactions. There's no need to do that, if we think about it and really take the time to ponder what makes the most sense to do. Can we'll get the right answers if we work at it Kassandra Hamilton  48:22 100% you just have to put in a little bit of curiosity and time to figure it out. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Michael Hingson  48:33 What do you think is one of the greatest misunderstandings about burnout and what is the truth that you really wish more people knew? Kassandra Hamilton  48:46 People think burnout is just about being tired or needing a vacation, but it's so much deeper than that. And you know, it's a sign that we've been living out of alignment with ourselves, and that rest alone isn't going to fix it real, real recovery is is coming from changing the way that we live and setting boundaries and reconnecting with what matters and building a life that gives energy instead of strain. Michael Hingson  49:16 Yeah, again, it gets back to that authenticity thing. Kassandra Hamilton  49:19 Yep, that thing, yeah. Michael Hingson  49:26 What are some of the biggest transformations that you've seen from your clients that you're really pleased about? Kassandra Hamilton  49:33 I've seen clients go from anxious and depleted to, like I said, starting businesses that they love. And that wasn't even something that we worked on together, it was like just a few tweaks, you know, simple but not easy, shifts that they made. And then I get emails or comments about how they're starting businesses that they love, and they're full time booked in that so like that. That's been a big transformation. Question for a few of my clients. One woman was trying to find a relationship, and she had tried everything, and from all different angles, and it wasn't working, and truthfully, she needed to come back to herself and align with herself, and when she did that, you know, nine months later, she found the love of her life, and one client said she stopped feeling numb for the first time in years. Another shared that she actually laughed and felt joy again. And these transformations are powerful because they're not just surface change or changes. They're they're life changing shifts in how people see themselves and what they what they feel like they can create in the world. Michael Hingson  50:46 And ultimately, isn't most of this transformation or shift really a change in one's mindset. Kassandra Hamilton  50:54 Yes, it is mindset, and it is also taking the time, taking the time, having the courage and having awareness of how we are operating in our daily lives, and why, yeah, and then shifting that. Michael Hingson  51:12 Well, tell us all about the book. When did it launch, and what's happened, and what do you see coming down the line for it and so on? Yes, I know you have a lot to talk about, so tell us. Kassandra Hamilton  51:27 So the magic of realigning from the inside out is very much in line with what I coach about, which is about bringing us back home to ourselves. And I share a lot of personal storytelling and scientific connections and soulful practices that I've tried that have worked really well for me, and I really invite readers to reconnect with with themselves. So it's sort of like a guidebook like the first the first half of the book is a lot of stories, the second half is more tools and strategies. And overall, it's the idea that, you know, the answers aren't out there. They have to start within. And we weren't meant to just get through the day. It's exhausting to try to fix and control everything out there. The thing is, we have no control over what's happening out there anyways, and so we have our one wild and precious life, and it's like, what are we going to do with that, especially in a world that's constantly pulling us outward with notifications and expectations and distractions? Yeah, I really believe this is how we show up to make a positive difference in the world by working on ourselves and spreading that upward. Michael Hingson  52:40 So when did the book launch? Kassandra Hamilton  52:43 August 21 was my book launch here on Vancouver Island, and I'm actually organizing a little book tour. Yeah, across the province here. So yeah, that's stay tuned. It'll be next month. I think so. Michael Hingson  53:01 Have you had any kind of book tours, or what kind of publicity Have you had so far for the book? Kassandra Hamilton  53:06 So I was working with a publicist, which was very new to me, and I was able to connect with some press. So a couple newspapers came to my book launch. There was, I think it was like 50 people that showed up, and the mayor came to give a speech, and he wants to meet with me for lunch next week and talk more about what I could do with the book, which is great, because I really think I can use it as a tool for helping in my own community and maybe even offering organizations some opportunities to explore strategies to get their their employees out of burnout. Yeah? So that's kind of what's happened so far, and a lot of bookstores have taken it up. So I've got all the local bookstores here. Have it. It's not available on Amazon, yeah, and it's actually a bestseller. I reached bestseller status in three categories. What categories, personal development, personal growth, and I think anxiety was the third one I have to look back at it. Michael Hingson  54:14 Well, definitely congratulations are in order for doing that. Though. Thank you. Thank you. So that's that is definitely kind of cool to to have that kind of situation and that kind of status happening with the book. It makes it very exciting and certainly gratifying in so many ways. When did you start coaching? Did you when did you actually start your company? Kassandra Hamilton  54:37 So I started coaching. Let's see two, two, no, a year and a half ago. So honestly, formally, not that long, but it's already just something I'm so passionate about and getting more and more positive feedback on. So yeah, I guess in the grand scheme of things, I'm just getting started. Michael Hingson  54:59 Well, that's fair. That's fine. Yeah, we, we think you're going to go far at least. I think you're going to go quite a, quite a distance with all of this. Do you just coach people directly, one on one? Do you do virtual coaching? Do you coach outside of British Columbia and all that? Kassandra Hamilton  55:18 Yeah, you know, I mostly work virtually, because then I can be accessible to more people. So that's how I actually prefer to work, is virtually, but I'm open to, you know, meeting people where they're at and however they want to communicate. So I've been doing phone calls with with one person and then zoom with another, and if people do want to do in person, I'm open to it. It's just a little bit more restrictive in terms of reach. But I'm also going to be doing some wellness workshops and talks around these tools and strategies I've learned, and using my book as a tool as I go through the province next month. So it's not just going to be about the book. It's going to be presenting and giving workshops and talks around this work, and then presenting my book as a tool to use in in helping people get back to a place of alignment and energy again. Michael Hingson  56:20 Well, on your on your website, we haven't talked about that yet, but on your website, do you have any videos of talks or anything like that that you've done? Kassandra Hamilton  56:31 Not of any talks. I think my first one, to be honest with you, is, was at the book launch, but it went so well that I'm just sort of, I'm I'm adding fuel to that fire, you know, and I'm just gonna keep going, yeah. So I haven't done any talks beyond that one yet, but I have some testimonials and things on my website. So those are the videos that are there. Michael Hingson  56:55 Well, for people who are listening to this today, who feel like they want to do. So, how can they reach out to you and connect with you, and what? What happens? Kassandra Hamilton  57:05 Yeah, so the best way is to reach out to me through my website or my I have a link tree link that I think I might have sent you, Michael, but it has all my different links for working on with coaching or reaching out in different ways and contact information. So link tree, Instagram are my main ones, but also obviously email and my website. So what is your website? It's www, dot Kassandra with a K Hamilton, which is my last name.com, Michael Hingson  57:40 so that's easy. Www, dot Kassandra Hamilton com, Kassandra Hamilton  57:44 yeah, and on Instagram, it's at Kassandra with a K underscore Hamilton, so Michael Hingson  57:50 Okay, yeah, have you? Have you done much with LinkedIn? Kassandra Hamilton  57:55 I have, yeah, I also have LinkedIn, yep. And I have Tiktok, and I have Facebook, Michael Hingson  58:00 all the things, all the different suspects, all the usual suspects, yes, yeah. Well, that is, you know, that is really pretty cool. I hope that people will reach out, because you've off, you've clearly offered a lot of very useful and relevant information. And I think that it's extremely important that people take it to heart, and I hope that maybe we're going to be able to have contributed to your getting some more people in the business too. Kassandra Hamilton  58:30 I really appreciate that, Michael and I know you've done so much work with people as well, and inspired others, you know, astronomically. So I really appreciate and feel grateful for the time that you've given me today. Michael Hingson  58:46 Well, this has been a lot of fun, and we'll have to do it again. You'll have to come on and some point in the future and let us know how things are going and how the book is doing, and how everything else is happening. But I, but I really do value the fact that you've spent so much time with us today. Kassandra Hamilton  59:03 Thank you so much. At least we're in the Michael Hingson  59:06 same time zone. That helps. Yes, that's true. Well, Kassandra, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you out there for listening to us and being with us and watching us, whichever you do. I'd love to hear from you as well. I'd like to get your thoughts and your opinions. Please reach out to me. At Michael H i, that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, I'd like to get your thoughts. Like to know what you thought of today's episode, wherever you are experiencing the podcast, please give us a five star review. We value your reviews highly, and we would really appreciate you giving us reviews of this episode and the podcast in general, and for anyone out there, including you, Kassandra, who might know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable. Mindset and tell their own story. Please reach out. Let

Elaine and Cam, the founders behind Not Too Sweet Drinks, join Phil and Kenny to share their journey of creating a sparkling beverage brand that's actually not too sweet. Recording from Phil's car during CHFA prep with special guests Lara and Christine from Munching on Molecules, this episode captures the authentic story of Vancouver Island entrepreneurs who are redefining the sparkling drink category.From their backgrounds in engineering and graphic design to launching a beverage company during a pandemic, Elaine and Cam discuss the challenges of building distribution across BC, managing cash flow with direct store delivery, and staying focused on sustainable growth. They open up about their mentorship with industry veteran Greg Tolazzi, the decision to stay local rather than rush into broader retail expansion, and why they're committed to keeping manufacturing on the island.With products ranging from lychee to ginger beer, Not Too Sweet has built a loyal following through farmers markets, independent retailers, and word-of-mouth. This conversation covers the realities of beverage entrepreneurship, the importance of community support, and why sometimes the best growth strategy is knowing when not to scale too fast.Find Not Too Sweet at @not2sweetdrinks on Instagram or visit www.not2sweetdrinks.cathank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/ 

Joining me is Shay Brown, co‑founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, freedom‑lover and business strategist extraordinaire. We dig into how she's built a purpose‑driven, multi‑6‑figure business without burning out; how she works roughly 25–30 hours a week; and how you can choose the right business model for your season too.Whether you're curious about whether to do a course, a membership or high‑ticket ‘done‑with‑you', this chat is for you.What you'll learn:Why your business model should start with “What does your niche want?” The trap of low‑ticket courses vs the power of high‑ticket offersThe “trash - trim - transfer” framework: how to reclaim time and scale your businessHow to map your energetics + lifestyle to your business modelBoundary setting, rhythms and the beautiful reality of working 25 hours a week on purposeTimestampsIntro 0:00Interview 2:05Wrap-up 41:27ABOUT SHAY:Shay is the Co-Founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, a purpose-driven business coaching company that empowers women to build successful service-based online businesses – specifically in graphic design, branding & website design, digital & content marketing, social media management, public relations, and business operations. Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Shay's holistic business coaching style blends her expertise in sales, operations, and financial management with a compassionate focus on mindset development. Over the past 10 years, she has helped grow Bucketlist Bombshells to generate over $6 million in revenue and serve over 10,000 women worldwide, achieving recognition in Forbes, BBC and CNBC. When she's not coaching women inside their business programs Bucketlist Bombshells Launch Camp™, She's Fully Booked® and Scale With Purpose Mastermind™, you can find her co-hosting their top-charting podcast, The Freedom Filled Life™ Podcast, inspiring entrepreneurial women. Shay now enjoys a balanced life with a part-time 4-day workweek, allowing her to travel, pursue her hobbies, and focus on her personal wellness!CONNECT WITH SHAY:Your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/seriouslyinbusinessGet booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/shesfullybookedHit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/mastermindTune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/podcast/Connect with Shay directly in the DMs here: https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistbombshells/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DxQeWzmH_nQRead on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep242/WORK WITH JACQUI:// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub// Design Studio: If you're after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith explores the challenges of balancing mental load and domestic labor, particularly for women in medicine. She is joined by Dr. Pip Houghton, a family physician, facilitator, and advocate for women's wellness. Dr. Houghton shares her expertise in mental health and her personal journey with the Fair Play Method, offering practical strategies for creating more equitable and joyful lives at home and at work. Together, they discuss how open communication, trust, and small changes can lead to big results for busy professionals and families. Listeners will gain valuable insights into sharing responsibilities, building supportive partnerships, and lightening the mental load—making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking balance and sustainability in their personal and professional lives. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: The Fair Play Method Empowers Equitable Domestic Labor Pip Houghton shares how the Fair Play Method helps families clearly define, distribute, and take ownership of household tasks. This system reduces mental load, prevents resentment, and creates more space for joy, self-care, and professional fulfillment—especially for women physicians. Open Communication and Trust Are Essential Successful implementation of Fair Play and equitable labor requires honest conversations and mutual trust between partners. Letting go of micromanagement and allowing each person to fully own their responsibilities is key to reducing stress and building a supportive partnership. Small Changes Lead to Big Results Pip emphasizes starting with one small task—like managing garbage or backpacks—to build momentum and confidence. Gradually, these small wins can transform household dynamics, involve children in responsibilities, and even improve teamwork in professional settings. Meet Dr. Pip Houghton: Dr Phillippa "Pip" Houghton is a family physician on Vancouver Island providing addiction, mental health and primary care to adults and youth in her community. Dr Pip completed a B.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria (2011), medical school at The University of Wollongong (2015) and family practice residency through the University of British Columbia in 2019. In addition to her formal education, Dr Pip is particularly supporting families in navigating the many challenges that we all face when it comes to balancing the demands of the three P's (partner, professional, parent). Dr Pip has pursued additional education in the areas of perinatal Mental Health, digital health and wellness and most recently as a Fair Play Facilitator. In addition to her assigned roles, Dr Pip is also a mother to three boys, wife to an amazing husband, house hippo owner, new-ish CrossFit enthusiast, creative writer, book club enthusiast and cut-flower garden newbie. Connect with Dr. Pip Houghton:

Discover an incredible story of survival and thriving on the Heal Yourself podcast as I interview 84-year-old John A. Brink, who went from surviving Nazi-occupied Holland to becoming a CEO, philanthropist and the oldest competitive bodybuilder in North America. John reveals his secrets to health, longevity and a powerful mindset, including the daily routines and diet that keep him thriving and why he considers his late-in-life ADHD diagnosis a "superpower." This is a must-listen for inspiration on resilience, health and aging without fear.Time Stamps 11:04 A Daily Gratitude Mindset: John starts every day at 5:30 AM by going outside and declaring, "I'm in paradise." He emphasizes that counting his blessings and maintaining a positive, grateful attitude is a critical part of his mental and emotional wellness.13:55 A Life-Threatening Wake-Up Call: A severe case of diverticulitis in 2008 became a major turning point for his health. The condition breached, causing toxins to spread and his doctor later told him he "came this close" to death. He took this as a "message" to get serious about his health.15:17 Proactive Diet Transformation: Following his health crisis, John became more proactive, adopting his wife's more vegetarian-focused lifestyle and moving from an "80/20" to a "90/10" approach to healthy eating.15:41 Embracing Fitness in His Late 60s: John became serious about personal fitness. He hired a trainer and began working out 3-4 times a week, proving it's never too late to start. This new passion eventually led him to bodybuilding.23:34 Finding His "Superpower" in ADHD: At age 62, John discovered a book called "Driven to Distraction" and realized he had ADHD. Instead of seeing it as a liability (which had caused him to fail school), he reframed it as his "superpower," crediting it for his strategic thinking and success.26:34 The Importance of Downtime: John schedules downtime and flies to Vancouver Island every Friday afternoon to spend the weekend relaxing with his wife and their seven horses, emphasizing that recovery is crucial.31:52 Overcoming Addiction: John shares that in 1992, his wife "hit him with a 2x4 across the head" (metaphorically) and "dumped him" as a wake-up call. This event prompted him to stop drinking, smoking and taking prescribed Xanax all within one week.36:48 John's tip for healthy ageing is to understand your body and have a good mindset.John's Bio Born in 1940 in Nazi-occupied Holland, John A. Brink survived war, hunger, and hardship before emigrating to Canada in 1965 with just $25.47. He founded Brink Forest Products in 1975, now North America's leading value-added wood manufacturer. At 84, he leads the Brink Group of Companies and hosts ON THE BRINK, a top 1% global podcast. A fierce advocate for ADHD awareness, John is also a philanthropist, pledging $1M to the College of New Caledonia. His achievements earned him the Order of B.C., an Honorary Doctorate, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. Connect with John www.johnabrink.comwww.facebook.com/johnbrinkceoWho am I?Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She's also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins.With over 20 years' experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.www.sarahdawkins.com#ageingwell #ageisjustanumber #oldage #agingwell #agingsecrets #agingtruths #agingreversal #agingsmart #livingyourbestlife #livingyourdream #livingyourbest

Send us a textMahaya is an experienced healer specializing in transformational modalities such as yoga, body work, breath work, and the unique relational practice known as "circling." Based on Vancouver Island, Canada, Mahaya's journey in the healing arts began in her twenties as she sought relief from a personal life of suffering. For more than two decades, Mahaya has embraced a wide range of disciplines, including spiritual community living and exploration of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. Now, she creates spaces of intimacy and connection to aid others on their self-discovery paths.Visit Mahaya here: https://www.mahayahealingarts.com/Key Takeaways:Mahaya's journey highlights an evolution from personal suffering to becoming a healer through exploration of various modalities such as yoga and breath work.The practice of circling emphasizes authentic relating, creating a safe space for individuals to understand how they connect with others.The pandemic brought Mahaya face-to-face with authentic relating online, catalyzing her growth and reducing her social anxiety.Mahaya's work now integrates presence and mindfulness into everyday life, transforming professional interactions into an extension of her mindfulness practice.Her story is a powerful testament to the potential for healing and transformation when individuals are open to exploring diverse methodologies.Thanks for listening to this episode. Check out:

Energy healer and spiritual teacher Cheryl Stelte joins Rich to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel stuck even when life looks “successful” on the outside. From her Vancouver Island spiritual awakening to her Azarius Energy Healing method and “receive what's offered” practice, Cheryl explains how early-rooted wounds, especially around the throat chakra, block fulfillment—and how to release them. You'll hear practical tools, powerful stories, and a life-changing exercise to make better decisions now by asking what will matter on your deathbed. Sponsored by Harford County Health Department Guest Bio:  Cheryl Stelte is a spiritual coach, author, and founder of Star of Divine Light, known for her Azarius Energy Healing system and chakra readings. Drawing from her own transformation—from divorce and depression to deep spiritual work—she helps purpose-driven leaders clear subconscious blocks, reclaim their voice, and step into authentic, soul-aligned success.  Main Topics: ·         The Vancouver Island moment: a direct experience of divine connection that redirected Cheryl's life and work. ·         Why success ≠ fulfillment: the “plateau” where nothing works like it used to—because deeper wounds are surfacing to be healed. ·         Root → Throat: how early conditioning (even in the womb) creates a throat-chakra bottleneck that stifles voice, visibility, and receiving. ·         The receive practice: hand on heart, “Thank you, I receive that,” breathe it in—rewiring overgiving and people-pleasing. ·         AzariusSend us a textJoin us in spreading holiday cheer and making a child's Christmas magical! Agape Projects is hosting a special fundraising drive for our annual Toy Run, aiming to brighten the lives of children in need. Your generous contribution will help us bring joy and laughter to little hearts this holiday season. Together, let's make a difference and create unforgettable memories for the children in our community.

IMMERSIVE - Hornby Island, British Columbia - A White Sand + Warm Clear Water Paradise

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer “Boiler” Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described “pro-yapper”, improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker.  Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail—journeys that brought him face-to-face with some incredible wildlife, from bears to whales to the elusive sea wolf.  We also dive into his recent hike on the PCT—how he broke the record for pies per mile, the notoriety that earned him on trail, navigating people's perceptions as a plus-sized hiker, how his trek deepened his connection to his queer identity, and, of course, his unapologetic hatred for gear talk (which I make him do). We wrap the show with news on New Zealand's most famous thru-hike getting a whole lot pricier, tackle the age-old question of which liquids we'd want to dispense from our fingers, we do the  Triple Crown of tummy aches, and hear a listener's compelling pitch for taking this circus to the Pacific Northwest. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Spencer “Boiler” Dunn Spencer's Instagram Spencer's Youtube Spencer's Substack Time stamps & Questions 00:03:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:06:25 - Introducing Boiler 00:08:50 - How did you get your trail name? 00:10:20 - What's your outdoors origin story? 00:12:30 - What is Parks Canada? 00:15:40 - What's the difference between national parks in the US and Canada? 00:17:10 - What is the outdoors culture like in Canada? 00:20:15 - Is there a community around the Bruce Trail? 00:23:10 - Do you think there's a hunger for more long trails in Canada? 00:25:00 - How did you end up on the PCT? 00:26:00 - What gear did you start with? 00:32:00 - Discussion about Boiler's PCT hike 00:32:53 - Tell us about making pies on the PCT 00:41:55 - What was your favorite town? 00:43:20 - More pie talk 00:45:38 - Discussion about being a fatter hiker 00:56:50 - Do you have any advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? 00:58:45 - Discussion about differences between men and women on the trail 01:01:10 - Did you have any uncomfortable situations on trail? 01:06:50 - Do you feel more or less of a stigma in Canada? 01:09:12 - Life on trail as a BNOT 01:12:01 - Did you ever put yourself in a situation for the story? 01:14:17 - Discussion about being a BNOT 01:15:30 - Tell us about your hiking on Vancouver Island 01:24:55 - Discussion about campsites on Vancouver Island 01:26:45 - Tell us about seeing wolves 01:32:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: The West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Trail 01:35:05 - How do the 3 trails compare to each other? 01:40:25 - Differences between Americans and Canadians 02:04:00 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Hardest Thru Hike in the World is About to Get a Lot More Expensive by Lisa Slutsken QOTD:  If you could dispense different liquids from each finger on one hand, which liquids would you choose? Triple Crown of tummy aches Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.