Barney's Tavern

Stephen Carter has spent years in the middle of Alberta's political battles. This time, he's asking Albertans to say "No to the Nine" — and Chris LaBossiere wants to understand exactly what that means.

He joins Chris at Barney's Tavern for an unhurried, sometimes pointed conversation about Alberta's referendum, the questions on the ballot, and the political strategy behind them. Carter explains the thinking behind Alberta's Voice and its campaign, while Chris presses him on what an ordinary voter should make of questions about immigration, public services, and constitutional change.

They don't agree on everything. From the province's intervention in Edmonton's infill rules to the difference between a legitimate grievance and an effective political message, the conversation keeps returning to who benefits, what can actually change, and what leadership is supposed to do. Carter also offers his predictions for Danielle Smith's future and Alberta's next election.

Then the lens widens: Mark Carney, Canada's changing place in the world, the relationship with the United States, and the economic and political pressures reshaping both countries. Two committed Canadians, different instincts, and plenty left to argue about.

A conversation about persuasion, power, and Canada's future.

Barney's Tavern — Interesting Canadians. Unhurried conversations.

Explore the episodes and original songs at https://barneystavern.ca/

Emma May — entrepreneur, lawyer, and former insider in the Alberta Premier's office — joins Chris to talk about building Sophie Grace under relentless pressure, trusting your creative gut, and a candid take on Alberta's referendum from someone who's been in the room.

I've known Emma May a long time — long enough to have watched her move from law, to real estate, to the inner workings of the Alberta Premier's office, and now to building one of the more quietly remarkable companies I know. Sophie Grace makes modular, mix-and-match workwear for professional women, and its customers are the kind of people who lead governments, run trials, and preside over universities — women who, as Emma puts it, are "the executive producer, not the movie star." I wanted Emma at the tavern because she's an entrepreneur in the thick of the scale-up grind, the same as me, and she's fought off a run of challenges most founders never face all at once: a 145% tariff that made her U.S. business impossible overnight, the death of her manufacturer with product half-made on the table, an inventory crunch that landed straight into a port strike. She talks openly about how she got through it — including the "rule of first sale" comeback that rebuilt the U.S. into 60% of her business — and about the personal ground underneath it all: a separation, losing her mother, and finally finding the stability to trust her own vision. We got into the things that make her business unusual — why authenticity beats AI-generated marketing, what Lululemon and Chip Wilson reveal about the war between product innovation and corporate drift, and why she personally messages her best customers just to understand them. And because Emma and I share a political past, I couldn't not ask: as someone who once helped run the Premier's Southern Alberta office, what does she really make of the separation referendum? Her answer is as candid as anything I've put on this show. This one runs from founder resilience to national identity and back again. If you're building something, or just trying to make sense of where this province and this country are headed, it's worth your time.

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Emma May: A Multifaceted Entrepreneur

01:28
Navigating Daily Challenges as an Entrepreneur

03:41
Personal Growth and Business Vision

06:02
Facing Tariffs and Market Challenges

09:08
The Birth of Sophie Grace: Modular Workwear for Women

12:20
Marketing Strategies for a Unique Customer Base

19:27
Motivation Behind the Business: Pride and Customer Satisfaction

31:15
Insights into the Fashion Industry: Challenges and Realities

34:57
Embracing Creativity in Fashion

38:45
The Importance of Brand Identity

41:59
Navigating Corporate Culture and Innovation

44:21
Quality vs. Fast Fashion

47:35
Political Landscape and Leadership

01:03:26
Preparing the Next Generation for Uncertainty

Shawn Kanungu is one of the world's most sought-after voices on innovation and AI. He spent 12 years at Deloitte advising Fortune 500 leaders on disruption before going independent, and is the bestselling author of The Bold Ones — a book McKinsey calls essential reading for decision-makers. Forbes named him the best virtual keynote speaker they'd ever seen.Chris LaBossiere sits down with Shawn to talk about what's actually being disrupted right now, why "high agency" may be the defining trait of this decade, and why the gap between leaders who are all-in on AI and those still dabbling is widening every day. They get into the future of professional services, what it means to raise resilient kids in a comfortable life, and why the real threat of AI isn't to jobs — it's to identity.A candid, wide-ranging conversation about disruption, work, and what comes next.

Vassy Kapelos, a seasoned Canadian journalist, shares her journey from small-town reporting to becoming a top political anchor. She discusses the realities of journalism, the importance of accountability, and her insights on Canada's national identity and media landscape.

Key Topics

• Vassy Kapelos' career progression from small markets to national prominence
• The importance of humility and real-world experience in journalism
• The challenges of accountability journalism in Canada
• The impact of social media and AI on news and misinformation
• Canada's evolving national identity and its global perception

Titles

• From Swift Current to the Prime Minister's Podium: Vassy Kapelos' Journey
• The Art of Asking Tough Questions: Inside Canadian Political Journalism

Sound Bites

• "What was necessary to become a reporter?"
• "Politicians often avoid defending their ideas."
• "Media is being used to project to your base."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Vassy Kapelos

02:38
The Journey to Journalism

05:46
Career Progression in Journalism

10:20
Breaking Big Stories

13:09
The Changing Landscape of Accountability Journalism

19:56
Navigating Objectivity in Journalism

26:09
The Role of Media in Politics

30:27
The Impact of Social Media on News

34:13
Daily News Curation Process

34:41
Navigating the News Cycle

36:33
Celebrating Wins in Media Production

38:04
The Drive for Continuous Improvement

40:05
The Role of Teamwork in Success

41:34
Influence of Family on Career

46:47
Balancing Work and Family Life

48:47
Canada's Identity and Challenges

55:23
Perception of Canada on the Global Stage

01:04:07
BT EXTRO w Music .mp4

Resources

• Vassy Kapelos on Twitter
• CBC News
• Global Edmonton
• Alison Redford Severance Story

Guest Links

• Twitter
• CBC

A profound conversation with retired Canadian Lieutenant General Omer Lavoie about the realities of military service, leadership, sacrifice, and the importance of recognizing true heroism beyond symbols and medals.

Key Topics

• Leadership in combat and law enforcement operations
• The psychological and physical toll of military service
• The process and importance of military honors and recognition

Resources

• Lieutenant General Omer Lavoie's profile
• Canadian Armed Forces
• Operation Medusa - Kandahar
• Juno Beach Centre
• Canadian War Museum - Victoria Cross records
• Law of Armed Conflict - International Committee of the Red Cross
• Canadian Military Justice System

Guest Links

• LinkedIn

Welcome to our first Barney's Tavern podcast with host Chris LaBossiere. In this engaging conversation, his very good friend Todd Babiak shares insights on city branding, leadership, and Canada's global reputation, blending personal stories with professional expertise. Discover how Edmonton's spirit and strategic thinking can shape its future and Canada's place in the world. Todd also shares the experience of writing his latest book and the fun of helping to create the cover of the book too.

Key Topics

• City branding and identity
• Leadership and political cycles
• Canada's global reputation and potential

Resources

• Todd Babiak's Books
• Make Something Edmonton
• Mark Carney's Leadership
• Juno Beach Centre

Guest Links

• Twitter
• Website

Barney's Tavern is a corner booth for people who care about this country. Host Chris LaBossiere sits down with thoughtful, interesting Canadians — and take the time real ideas deserve. Generals. Entrepreneurs. Policymakers. Artists. Creatives. Builders. People shaping Canada in visible and invisible ways. The goal isn't debate. It isn't performance. It's curiosity.

COMING MONDAY, March 23rd at 7:00a MDT

https://barneystavern.ca

A new podcast is on the way- Barney's Tavern. Coming soon!

Barney's Tavern is a corner booth for people who care about this country. Host Chris LaBossiere sits down with thoughtful, interesting Canadians — and take the time real ideas deserve. Generals. Entrepreneurs. Policymakers. Artists. Creatives. Builders. People shaping Canada in visible and invisible ways.

The goal isn't debate. It isn't performance. It's curiosity.