Iban Anglada is my friend from Barcelona. We attended Athol Murray College of Notre Dame in Wilcox, Saskatchewan, and we hadn't seen or spoken to each other since 1994. Growing up in Barcelona, one wouldn't expect him to be a lifelong hockey fan and player, but he somehow managed it, and that's what brought him to Canada.

He was a great guy to know. We lived in the same dorm, but he had a knack of making friends from all over the school. I was very happy to see that he hasn't changed at all! 

We talk about what it was like growing up in Barcelona, his travels and work career, our shared friendships, and how we hope to see each other again really soon. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

(Theme music is courtesy Brent Tyler.)

Ted Uchacz is a good friend of my university and tree planting days. He's made a career in nursing, but his passion lies within the arts.

He is an accomplished sculptor, working in the mediums of clay and metal, usually at the same time. He often uses reclaimed metals to create his works, including his latest series using discarded discer blades from local farm machinery.

Having been juried by the Saskatchewan Craft Council, you can find his works at the SCC Fine Crafts Boutique in Saskatoon and the Traditions Handcraft Gallery in Regina, and elsewhere.

Ted's a great guy and I really enjoyed catching up with him. Check us out or, better yet, check out his art on the following websites or on Instagram.

https://teduchacz.art

https://saskcraftcouncil.org/project/ted-uchacz/

https://www.instagram.com/teduchacz/

(Theme music courtesy of Brent Tyler)

Michael Couros is a good friend of mine I met through the insane world of political social media. He's a political commentator, a part-time radio show host on CKOM and CJME, a one-time ring announcer for the Sask Rush lacrosse team, and a man with a knack of pissing off the right people.

We discuss his recent (and wise) exit from Twitter, the current political divisions in Canada, and how the ancients understood us better than we understand ourselves.

(Theme music courtesy Brent Tyler)

Andrea with the Bangs is a vintage fashionista and a fascinating interviewer. Her YouTube channel and She Wonders Why podcast features conversations with some of the leading personalities who are exploring the interactions between religion, psychology and culture. We namedrop a number of these people, including Jonathan Pageau, Paul VanderKlay, Benjamin Boyce, Sean Carroll, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick (host of Amon Sul and The Lord of Spirits podcasts, among others) and the incredible Neil DeGraide of Dirt Poor Robins.

We also talk about reading the Bible in a Year, raising kids, the role of the feminine in both myth and culture, and how to produce a viral YouTube video (hint: make an ambiguous statement on Jordan Peterson).

She's always been a fun and engaging conversationalist, and this discussion is no exception. It was a blast!

https://www.youtube.com/c/AndreawiththeBangs

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/she-wonders-why-by-andrea-with-the-bangs/id1456695004

Theme music provided courtesy of Brent Tyler:

https://www.youtube.com/user/brentylermusic

https://brenttyler.bandcamp.com/album/love-myself

Billie Rae Busby is one of my favourite artists. Her hard-edge painting technique has created some incredible striking abstract images of the prairie skies and mountain views that surround her home of Calgary. In addition to her work being featured in galleries and exhibitions across Canada, she has been commissioned to produce works of art for the public, including public murals and street installations, as well as a specially created carpet installation at Canada House, home of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom.

Billie and I talk about our shared experiences from our time at the University of Saskatchewan, her transition from a marketing and communications professional into a full-time artist, as well as the role of producing her art has contributed to her mental wellness.

Follow her on Instagram (@br_busby).

You can also purchase available art pieces from her website:

www.billieraebusby.com/home

James Hancock is the host and co-founder Wrong Reel, the most bitchin' film podcast you can find online, where he covers everything from Jean-Luc Goddard to Jean-Luc Picard. In addition, his YouTube channel, Geekin' with James Hancock, offers reviews on movies and shows, and features original productions, including audio versions of Lovercraft and Poe short stories, as well as short films sure to delight the typical film nerd.

James is also one of my favourite people I've ever met online, and he was gracious enough to provide a glimpse into his life and work. We discuss film, books and the like, and throw a few shout-outs to some of his fantastic Wrong Reel co-contributors.

You can find him at @wrongreel or @gknout, on all podcast distributors, at the Wrong Reel home page, and his YouTube channel

https://wrongreel.com

https://www.youtube.com/c/geekinnyc

Connie Herman is a parenting coach, the coordinator for Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program in Saskatchewan, and the founder of Parenting Potential. She's also a friend of mine who happens to be doing great things in ensuring parents have the proper tools to help raise their own kids.

As parents, we're blessed with the most wonderful creatures the world can provide. Unfortunately, Mother Nature does not bless us with an instruction manual on how to care or these creatures. People like Connie are an amazing resource for parents as well as for other parent coaches. The success of her program, Nobody's Perfect, has recently been recognized by the World Health Organization for their work in parental mental health, positive parenting, and support for early learning. Connie was also instrumental in getting this program online during the COVID pandemic, to great success.

After we catch up on old times, Connie and talk about some of the tools parents can use to help their kids, such as stress recognition and emotional regulation, modelling behaviour, and the role of fathers.

Visit Parenting Potential at the website https://parentingpotential.ca or through Facebook.

Visit Nobody's Perfect Parenting at https://nobodysperfect.ca/home/

Theme song, "I'm Not Satisfied," is provided courtesy of Brent Tyler.

Ludovic Piejos is a bon vivant. Working in finance during the daytime, he's been involved with more extracurricular activities than pretty much anyone I've know.

We met in our local Toastmasters club, where I got to learn about his upbringing in France. He also served us crepes. Since then, instructs newbies on French pastries and Caribbean cuisine at The Local Kitchen restaurant, he dances salsa competitively and teaches Latin dance, trains for fitness at a kickboxing school, and he's a runner. He's also one of the friendliest, most social people I know.

We talk about his various activities, about his family, and dealing with stress and anxiety during COVID. He's just such a pleasure talking with him.

Theme song, "I'm Not Satisfied", provided courtesy of Brent Tyler.

Hannah Rajput is the local champion for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library here in Saskatoon. Dolly's Library was established in 1995 as a book-gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income.

Hannah was recently inspired by Dolly Parton to bring this wonderful service to Saskatoon.

During our conversation, I get to learn more about Dolly's Library, how a young woman was able to get it started in my own community in such a short period of time, and how giving books to young kids can change not only their educational future, but to bring families together.

Sign your child up to get books every month, or donate to Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Saskatoon on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/imaginationlibrarysaskatoon

You can also donate to the Saskatoon affiliate for Dolly's Library through Read Saskatoon's website and receive a CRA tax receipt. Make sure to indicate your donation goes to Dolly's Library. https://www.readsaskatoon.com/donate.html

As well, for the month of March 2021, donate to the Kinsmen Foundation and write "Rob Huck" in the message box, and the Kinsmen Club of Saskatoon will match all donations up to $500 to be sent directly to Dolly's Library in Saskatoon. (Donors will get a CRA tax receipt.) https://saskatooncommunityfoundation.ca/funds/kinsmen-club-of-saskatoon-foundation/

Paije McGrath is an environmental engineer and business consultant who has a confession: she built her dream home, but the path she took was far from dreamy. In her recently published book, "Dream Home Confessions," she relives the years, money, sweat, anxiety and fortitude she somehow found in finally creating a vacation home. The book is both a how-to guide as well as a soul-baring memoir of an effort taken to create a work of sustainable beauty, to secure a long-term base for her family to thrive, and to undergo a personal transformation.

Paije and I start off talking about our shared history together, first as friends and then as family. Then we move into the crazy wonderful world of custom home building. We pass on some lessons that others seeking a similar dream should take to heart, and we have more than a few laughs along the way.

Visit www.dreamhomeconfessions.com to learn more.

Her book is available on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08R5HGS4N/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_985QB9VK60B8766F66GK 

You can also rent this wonderful home by visiting their AirBnB site:

https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/37830510?locale=en&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1614563697_NTc2NDdiZWJjOGM1&source_impression_id=p3_1614563700_b4KQVXIwPpkUd9fE&guests=1&adults=1