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This Episode Features:

(17:20) Chelah Horsdal, Emmy-nominated actor best known as Helen Smith in The Man in the High Castle, offers stories from working with legendary actors including Ben Kingsley, Rufus Sewell, John Lithgow, Kris Kristofferson, and Shirley MacLaine. The Salt Spring Island-connected actor discusses her transition into writing and directing, including a deeply personal screenplay inspired by her parents (Valdy is her Dad) meeting in a commune in Sooke where she was born. Chelah addresses important industry issues including pay equity, sexual harassment, and mentoring younger female actors. We continue our chat with Chelah earlier in season two: https://bit.ly/S2EP08PulsePodcast

(06:38) Karen Petraschuk, Parksville Fire Rescue firefighter, shares her selection as one of eight runners for the Wounded Warrior Run across Vancouver Island. The 800-kilometre run raises funds for first responder mental health programs on Vancouver Island. Karen discusses her three years with Parksville Fire Rescue, responding to over 300 emergency calls last year, and why physical activity has helped her through depression, anxiety, and major life events. Details here: https://woundedwarriors.ca/run-bc/

Episode Quotes:

"I hope people see this run as a reminder that strength isn't measured only by endurance or resilience, but also by vulnerability, by our willingness to talk openly about the tough calls, the hard days, and the invisible weight that so many of us carry in silence." - Karen Petraschuk

"One of the greatest actors of a generation gives me a private performance of Shakespeare. So that's Sir Ben Kingsley." - Chelah Horsdal

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Cleveland-Style Beef & Bean Chili:https://bit.ly/S1EP13FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier dive headfirst into NFL Wild Card Weekend, playoff predictions, and a bruised-but-battling Team of the Week: the Cleveland Browns.

With the fantasy football season officially in the books, the focus shifts to real-deal playoff drama. Erin and Jonathan break down key Wild Card matchups, debate who’s primed for a Super Bowl run, and weigh in on just how unpredictable this postseason could become.

The conversation then turns to Cleveland — a franchise defined this season by injuries, coaching shakeups, and unanswered quarterback questions. Jonathan examines what went wrong, what’s next, and why the Browns may still have a path forward if they stabilize leadership and health.

As always, food plays a starring role. From Polish Boys and pierogies to stacked corned beef sandwiches and a hearty Cleveland-style beef and bean chili, Jonathan delivers a cold-weather tailgating menu built for grit, beer, and frozen fingers.

This Episode Features:

(02:20) Wild Card Weekend Begins: Why this is the true holiday season for NFL fans

(06:50) Fantasy Is Done: Post-season relief, reflections, and thoughts for next year

(12:05) Playoff Predictions: Carolina vs. LA, 49ers vs. Eagles, Bills vs. Jaguars, and more
(20:30) Team of the Week: Cleveland Browns — injuries, Watson’s lost season, and coaching fallout
(29:50) Coaching Carousel: Stefanski out, Harbaugh rumors, and league-wide shakeups
(38:35) Taste of Cleveland: Polish Boys, pierogies, corned beef, stadium brats
(45:20)Tailgate Pick: Cleveland-style beef and bean chili — comfort food for cold kickoff days

Quotes from the Episode:

“Fantasy is over, but the stress just shifts — now it’s playoff football.” – Erin Haluschak

“Cold weather demands comfort food, and Cleveland delivers exactly that.” – Jonathan Frazier

Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

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This Episode Features:

(28:48) Ryan McMahon, Ladysmith singer-songwriter, takes listeners through his nearly two-decade music career spanning seven solo albums and tours with Burton Cummings and Tom Cochrane. The Vancouver Island musician discusses his powerful new single “There She Is”, produced at Bryan Adams' Warehouse Studio in Vancouver. From his early days playing the Queens Hotel in Nanaimo to sharing stages with Canadian rock legends, McMahon reflects on learning the craft from influences like Warren Zevon, Elvis Costello, and Vancouver's Odds.

(06:12) Kristen Nickells, Distinguished Toastmaster and past president of Arbutus Toastmasters in Parksville, reveals how the club transforms lives by helping members overcome public speaking fear. Kristen shares the inspiring story of member Molly Hamilton who competed against 33,000 participants placing in the top eight at the 2022 World Championship of Public Speaking in Nashville.

Episode Quotes:

"Toastmasters has a slogan that says Where Leaders Are Made. If you can articulate your thoughts in a speech, if you can craft a speech and deliver it in a way that your audience receives your message and that you're clear and confident, that's a skill that you see in leaders." - Kristen Nickells

"For me, the song is a happy, peaceful exhale. The tune itself is really not just about newfound love with a new person, but it's also about recognizing beauty where maybe I hadn't before—the sunrise over my hometown and the feeling when you first dip your toes into the ocean." - Ryan McMahon

Voice message: Voice message The PULSE and be part of the podcast!

You'll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca

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Episode Sponsors: Tablet Pharmacy, Ian Lindsay & Associates, Windsor Plywood French Creek, Thrifty Foods Parksville

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#RyanMcMahon #VancouverIsland #LadysmithBC #Toastmasters #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CanadianMusic #KristenNickells

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