Better Than Not

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure and privilege to again speak with West Hansen, ultra-marathon kayak-canoeist, extreme expedition leader and Texas Chapter Chair of The Explorers Club. West shared new stories about some the incredible expeditions he's been on and led including: in 2012, the first complete source-to-sea descent of the 4200-mile Amazon River; in 2014, the first to kayak (source-to-sea) the 2200-mile Volga River (Europe’s longest); in 2023, the first (led Arctic Cowboys team) to kayak the full 1600-mile Northwest Passage and for the first-time in one season. West also shared insight on teamwork, technology, climate change, and the future of Arctic exploration, including plans to paddle to the North Pole. For more on West, you can find him at www.westhansen.com.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the distinct pleasure to speak with Mark Lapointe, Director of the Leadership Institute at Northview Community Church. I met Marc while attending the History of Christianity series organized by Northview’s Leadership Institute where he lectured on the Arian Controversy and the Trinity. This was another experience timed perfectly with my journey of faith. Marc talked about his own journey from Roman Catholic roots to becoming the Director of the Leadership Institute. In our conversation, we explored classical theology, the attributes of God, the Trinity, and the importance of church history in understanding orthodox doctrine, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth. For more on Marc, you can find him at www.northview.org.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure and privilege to speak with Pastor Ezra Okoti, Executive Pastor of Multiplication at Northview Community Church in Abbotsford BC. In Ezra’s last visit, he talked about planting a new church in Chilliwack. In this episode, not only has Northview opened the church with Pastor Luke Etelamaki (Ep #84) but Ezra had spoken at the new church. Ezra talked about the experience. This time he also shared insights into spiritual warfare and the profound impact of the Gospel in various cultural contexts. Discover how faith transforms communities and the unseen spiritual battles that influence our lives. For more on Paster Ezra, you can find him at www.northview.org.

Do you have challenges getting the news you want? Then this episode may be for you. Even seemed appropriate to be the first episode done both on rooftop and in the rain. I had the pleasure and privilege to speak with serial entrepreneur Kira Shishkin, founder and president of informed.now and recognized on Forbes 30 Under 30. Kira shared his journey from a traumatic car accident to founding four companies, the fourth of which—informed.now—is a revolutionary news platform, designed to cut through the deluge of available news to get us the news we need. Kira talked about the company, how he founded it and the machinations behind how it works. Learn how Kira and informed.now aims to restore trust in media, simplify news consumption, and empower individuals to think critically in a world overwhelmed by disinformation and advertising. Sign up for informed.now. For more on Kira, you can find him at www.kirashishkin.com.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to speak with musician Bill Bell about his musical life--and what a journey! From his early days in Sudbury playing in garage bands and working in music stores to performing with legends like Alex Lifeson, Jason Mraz and Tom Cochran. Discover Bill’s insights into the music industry, song writing, and the importance of perseverance and “being real” in a career spanning over 45 years and still rocking. Bill shared some of the highs and lows of a life in music including aspects of mental health. He talked about his current projects as the newest member of The Lightfoot Band. You also can see him perform with his trio regularly at Shore Grill & Grotto in Port Credit. For more on Bill, his music and causes, you can find him at www.billbellmusic.com.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure and privilege to speak with historian and author Iain Provan, a retired professor from Regent College who now consults and lectures through his company The Cuckoos Consultancy. I met Iain at his lecture series on the History of Christianity, a course timed perfectly with my journey of faith. Iain shared insights into the importance of understanding history and how entrenched Christianity is in world history that extends into modern day. He explained how historical perspectives shape our current worldview and faith while exploring the profound implications of artificial intelligence and the importance of Christian reflection on big questions. He also spoke on the need for improved education in understanding history and our current technological challenges. Pick up his book Cuckoos In Our Nest. You can find Iain at www.iainprovan.ca.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had occasion to again speak with Jon Balzer, father, entrepreneur and mover. Our first conversation was in audio format, Episode #10 of the podcast. In that episode, Jon told the story of how he and his wife adopted two boys, but he could only go so far with what he could say. In this heartfelt conversation, Jon shared the full story of his and his wife’s extraordinary journey in adopting twin boys after a decade-long wait, highlighting the events, emotional challenges, and profound lessons learned along the way. Discover how perseverance, faith, and an unexpected miracle transformed a family and redefined what it means to be a parent. To know more about Jon, or if you’re looking to move, you can find him at www.fraservalleymovers.ca.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the privilege of a second conversation with investigative journalist and publisher of The Bureau, Sam Cooper. Sam revealed the deeply interconnected issues plaguing Canada—from organized crime and government corruption to land disputes and international influence. Much of what Sam shared in Episode #111 has proven to be accurate. Sam spoke on how these covert threats threaten Canada's sovereignty and on the escalation of organized crime groups including Mexican cartels, Iranian networks, and Chinese triads that operate in Canada. He underscored the importance of citizen awareness and civic engagement in safeguarding Canada's sovereignty encouraging citizens to stay informed, question narratives, and consider how global influences quietly shape our local communities. To know more about Sam, read his book Wilful Blindness and follow his work at www.thebureau.news.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I had the pleasure to speak with Mark Winters, aerospace engineer turned touring musician. Mark shared his extraordinary story of morphing an engineering world into one of music. Mark explained how his innate curiosity, supportive family, and relentless pursuit of learning transformed his life. He gave insight into how his creativity, science, and emotional expression intertwine. If you would like to know more about Mark and his tour schedule (he's coming to BC in April), you can find him at www.markwintersmusic.com.

In this episode of Better Than Not, I again had the pleasure to speak with friend, engineer and innovator, Payman Kianpour. Payman is the founder and president of Kepstrum Inc, a design and thinking company. We explored the nature of problem solving through the idea of definition versus understanding and the importance of setting expectation throughout. Payman highlighted the profound shift from defining a problem to expanding an understanding of that to be solved through questions and mental models. Such an approach transforms perspectives on expectations, results, and human experience. If you would like to know more about Payman, you can find him at www.kepstrum.com.