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This Episode Features:

(07:07) Grant Lawrence, CBC broadcaster, bestselling author, and musician, discusses his upcoming Stories & Songs tour bringing Jill Barber (his wife), Joel Plaskett, Danny Michel, and Desiree Dawson to intimate Vancouver Island venues including Errington, Tofino, and Mayne Island. Lawrence shares his touring philosophy of performing only in meaningful destinations he'd want to visit himself. The former Smugglers frontman reveals exciting news about his 12-year-old son's band Blue Jay Valley becoming Canada's youngest signed band, The Smugglers' 30th anniversary vinyl release with mustard-and-ketchup splattered records, and upcoming boat-access-only concerts through Desolation Sound this July featuring Joel Plaskett and Jill Barber.

(26:55) Diane Moran, visual artist and founder of Mindfulness in May, discusses her annual youth art exhibition empowering students in grades 5-12 across District 69 to express themselves through visual art, photography, and literary submissions. This year's theme explores empathy and kindness during BC Youth Week and National Mental Health Awareness Week. The exhibition takes place at Qualicum Beach Library, details here: https://mindfulmay.artistquarter.com/

Episode Quotes:

"The rule that I created for myself was that I only wanted to do the show in places that I would want to go to, that I would want to spend time in, and nice, smaller places—places that you would go for a weekend or out-of-the-way places that you would want to check out." — Grant Lawrence

"It was basically a piece of cardboard that a person who was homeless might sleep on and they took charcoal and pastel and drew this amazing piece. When I saw this, I thought, how clever, how human, how real?" — Diane Moran

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In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Mayor Nicole Minions of Comox to talk about leadership at the municipal level, and how governing really works when you move from being one vote at the table to chairing the meeting.

Minions reflects on becoming mayor by acclamation in 2022 under extraordinary circumstances, what surprised her most about the role, and why “mayoring” is less about power and more about facilitation, decorum, and trust. From public hearings with hundreds of residents to regional collaboration across the Comox Valley, the conversation digs into the skills that separate functional councils from dysfunctional ones.

Recorded in Sean’s kitchen (fresh bread included) the discussion ranges from core services and infrastructure financing to Bee City designations, asset management, working with opposition MLAs and MPs, and why most of the mayor’s real work happens far from the spotlight.

Episode Highlights:

What actually changes when you become mayor

Why facilitation matters more than force at the council table

How to run public hearings without letting them derail

The difference between core services and the “extra” 10–20% that signals values

Why good governance is often invisible until it fails

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BIG NEWS!: F3 is heading to San Francisco for Super Bowl 50 for Radio Row, fan chats, and food-first storytelling!

BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier’s Southwestern grilled chicken nachos — loaded, spicy, and built for game day: https://bit.ly/S1EP14FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier break down championship weekend as the NFL races toward Super Bowl 50. Seattle dominates San Francisco, Denver advances but loses its quarterback, and the playoff picture shifts fast.

Spotlight team: The Arizona Cardinals.
The hosts dig into one of the league’s oldest franchises, ongoing struggles, Kyler Murray’s future, and what Arizona needs to change to move forward.

On the food side, it’s all about desert heat and borderland flavours. Pick of the Week: Southwestern grilled chicken nachos — loaded, spicy, and built for game day.

Next up:Tthe Tennessee Titans.

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

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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

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In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks: Pulse Edition, hosts Sean Wood and Joel Grenz sit down with former Conservative Party of BC leader and longtime MLA John Rustad for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, governance, and the forces reshaping provincial politics. Rustad reflects on serving under multiple leaders, the rise and collapse of centre-right coalitions, and why he believes conviction matters more than triangulation in today’s polarized political landscape.

From cabinet decision-making and the growing power of the premier’s office, to affordability, productivity, reconciliation, and the hollowing out of the middle class, Rustad offers his unfiltered reflections and thoughts on where he believes British Columbia has gone off track.

Episode Highlights:

Rustad’s leadership takeaways from Campbell to Eby

The fall of the BC Liberals and the rise of the BC Conservatives

Why affordability can’t be fixed without productivity and wage growth

Rustad’s case for “economic reconciliation” and why the current approach is failing

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BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Eastern North Carolina vinegar-style pulled pork: https://bit.ly/S1EP12FootballRecipe

This week on the F3 Podcast, hosts Erin Frazier and Chef Jonathan Frazier of the Comox Valley break down the final week of the NFL regular season, as fantasy football wraps up and playoff scenarios come down to the wire.

Erin reflects on another hard-fought fantasy season that ends in a second-place finish for the second year in a row, after a brutal championship week where everything that could go wrong, did. The duo digs into lessons learned, standout performers like Matthew Stafford and Christian McCaffrey, and what strategy Erin is sticking with heading into next year — including early quarterback picks and the possibility of launching an F3 fantasy league.

With playoff spots still undecided, Jonathan and Erin dive into the most compelling Week 18 matchups, from Seattle’s underrated dominance to fresh Super Bowl contenders emerging as Kansas City and Philadelphia fall out of the picture. Defence takes centre stage as the NFL heads toward a wide-open postseason.

Team of the Week is the Carolina Panthers, as Jonathan breaks down the franchise’s history, key players, and where Panthers fans can find optimism moving forward — minus one very controversial former quarterback.

And of course, it’s time to eat. Jonathan heads south for classic Carolina game-day comfort food, from vinegar-forward barbecue and Carolina-style hot dogs to pimento cheese and fried chicken. The Pick of the Week is Eastern North Carolina vinegar-style pulled pork — slow-cooked, tangy, and built for long Sundays and playoff football.

This Episode Features:
• Fantasy football season recap and second-place heartbreak
• Week 18 NFL chaos and wide-open playoff races
• Team of the Week: Carolina Panthers
• Southern game-day staples and Carolina barbecue traditions

“Second place twice in a row still hurts — especially when it ends with your worst fantasy week of the season.” – Erin Frazier

“Great barbecue isn’t about the sauce — it’s about letting the meat do the talking.” – Chef Jonathan Frazier

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

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#F3Podcast #PulseCommunity #VancouverIsland #FantasyFootball #NFLWeek18 #CarolinaPanthers #GameDayEats #SouthernFood

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