This episode I speak with Babur Ilchi. He's a photographer, a podcaster, and most importantly an Uyghur. His people are under oppression by China and through their colonial actions, Babur believes his people are subject to a genocide. Our discussion highlights his roots in his culture and country. His work to highlight all the suffering of the Uyghur people. And he apparently likes pineapple on pizza. I mean... talk about controversy. If you're interested in learning more about the Uyghur peoples, check out his podcast Tarim Talks Podcast. 
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Thanks, as always, to the Alberta Podcast Network for your support. 

Alex Williams

I met Alex a few months ago in our Podcast Brunch Club. He asked to interview me, and I asked to interview him in turn. He allowed me to appropriate his warm up routine for interviewing - a process that I think has really helped me to connect with my guests (for my other podcast) and which I am truly grateful. He’s also got a sandwich named after him. Which is pretty cool. However, he hates peanut butter so... I'm not sure we can still be friends. Look for him and his podcast My Wax Museum. I don’t know when OUR talk comes out - but you’ll just have to subscribe to his podcast to keep listening for that. Shameless plug. Here’s my chat with Alex and for now, the conclusion of this season of Perspectives YYC. 

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This episode is brought to you by the Alberta Podcast Network - locally grown, community supported. The APN exists to provide support and community to local podcast initiatives here in Alberta. 

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This episode's sponsor are CPA Alberta - Chartered Professional Accountants are here to help you navigate your personal or business financial planning during the COVID pandemic; and The Calgary Foundation -  The Foundation facilitates collaborative philanthropy by making powerful connections between donors and community organizations for the long-term benefit of Calgary and area. In 2019-20,  Calgary Foundation saw $35.4 million in new contributions, had an asset base of $1.0 billion and granted $54.9 million to 996 charitable organizations.
It is the strategic partnerships with our generous fundholders and effective nonprofits that enable us to do great work and build a vibrant community. The strength and value of a community foundation is reflected in a strong and sustainable charitable sector.

Caine Chow and I sat down last February to focus on her journey finding her authentic self. Her discovery of Womanhood. Her unique perspective both as a Calgarian, 2nd generation Chinese Canadian, and her own life experiences help me frame some of the questions about a world that I'm foreign to. Our first talk focused largely on her entrepreneurial energy in building Kokedama but also hinted at how much of that was tied into her being true to her emerging self. As we discuss, a "self" that has likely been present since her birth.
Thanks to Caine for the time and as a caveat, the episode has been delayed through all of these world (and personal) changes so if you want to keep or catch up with Caine and where she is now, check her out on her instagram @thetransplanter
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This episode is brought to you by the Alberta Podcast Network - locally grown, community supported. The APN exists to provide support and community to local podcast initiatives here in Alberta. 

This episode's APN referral is to Repodcasting - a project by cousins Lucia and Janet who ask what movies could have been with different casting choices and production events. You can check their conversations out on any streaming platform or head to albertapodcastnetwork.com for their work and the ever-growing pantheon of Alberta podcasting content.
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This episode's sponsor is CPA Alberta - Chartered Professional Accountants are here to help you navigate your personal or business financial planning during the COVID pandemic. 

Sasha Ivanovic. Programmer, Teacher, Creative

Two years ago I met a very fascinating man who was really into computers. He showed up at an art show I put on and we struck up a conversation about technology and art. I then found out he was teaching at U of C and he gave me the opportunity to work with his students on building an art app. While it didn’t conclude in anything market ready, we’ve since kept in touch about that next opportunity to bring technology and creativity together. 

Sasha Ivanov talks to me about the tech world of today and his field of evolutionary computing. Warning - if you’re frightened of AI, algorithms, and computers in general, this will probably not assay any of your fears. But if we can get more people like Sasha running the show, I’m sure we can delay our inveitblae robot overlords for some time and keep making amazing interactive and expansive art together.

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This episode is brought to you by the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The APN is a project created by Karen Unland to provide support and community to local podcast initiatives here in Alberta. 

Podcasts like Candian Podcast Award Winner Cross Pollination. A podcast focused on that buzz word it’s impact. What happens when you combine different fields, knowledge, and talents to create something new? Listen to Cross Pollination to find out.  Click on the Business and Marketing section on the Alberta podcast network homepage albertapodcastnetwork.com

On this episode I sit down with Alice Lam, an incredible entrepreneur and Calgarian motivated by culture and community building. We met through mutual friends Caleb and Kitty, owner and operators of Sought and Found Coffee Roasters in Crescent Heights. They told me of this mystical woman landlord who built night markets and backyard community parties and was scouring the city for like minded people to help stimulate arts and culture, even offering contacts through her property management career to access spaces for shows and events. I have since learned that her connection to the city is one that defines her. Everything she does is underlined by an innate desire to push calgary forward into the collaborative environment we all desire. Hear her vision for the city we live in, where she comes from and how her life has shaped her vision of what Calgary can be.
Whether it’s working to develop neighbourhoods, building artists spaces, creating neighbourhood events, inventing a volunteer app (www.vollyapp.com), apparently writing children’s fiction, administrating for the women’s march, advocating for the Chinese Canadian community, and the myriad other pieces of her resume… I think we can all agree on one thing: There cannot possibly be a way that this woman sleeps!
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This episode is brought to you by the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The APN is a project created by Karen Unland to provide support and community to local podcast initiatives here in Alberta. Podcasts like my new collaboration with Kyle Marshall: Kyle and Dave vs the Machine. 
Kyle, a foolish genius with a heart of gold, has created a machine that is hell bent on world destruction, unless we comply with its demand to watch movies and review them. Movies from a specific year. In the order in which they premiered each week.

Our first season is 1999. 

If you’re interested in flashing back to an era before Y2K but full of ominous writing and bleak outlooks and doomsday itself… look no further than The Machine forcing us to watch Message in a Bottle. 

Seriously. We had to watch that piece of shit. And talk about it. On record. Find us on your podcast streaming platform. We’re apparently on instagram and twitter and stuff @kdvtm or find us on the Alberta podcast network homepage. www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

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Our main sponsor for this episode is the ATB Finacial Entrepreneur Centre. 

Daniel had a dream to start his own electronic bike business in Alberta. Even though he had initial success on his own, he was having trouble finding a bank to help him. Then he saw the literal sign when he spotted ATB’s Entrepreneur Centre. With ATB’s help, he was able to expand his product line and e-store, and now has a successful online business. His story shows that when banking isn’t a barrier, great things can happen.
To hear more about Daniel’s journey, visit atb.com/daniel, or visit atbentrepreneurcentre.com to learn how ATB can help you and your business.

This week a Photography double header: I chat with marketing director, photographer and friend, Evelyn Drake. The Camera Store is putting on a 2 day show. He Said/She Said and The Camera Store Staff Exhibition. I got to take a quick peek at how the show came together and what makes the store, its employees, and its role in Calgary so unique. The Opening Night is Feb 7, from 6-10. The headliners Julian and Bianca Ferreira are doing a talk Feb 8 at 10 am. And then the gallery closes in the afternoon on the 8th. Don't miss this. It will be a great opportunity to see the creativity and passion behind the counters that makes the space so unique.

Thanks to Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB Financial. They've provided me great support and connection to other Albertan podcasters like It's a Conspiracy Theory. Andrew, Charlie, and Greg post their investigative conversations delving into the REAL matters at hand. And for other great podcasting content check out the APN at www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

The APN is proudly powered by ATB Financial and The Branch, their clubhouse, arts venue, and financial institution for creatives and cultural workers here in Alberta. Here in Calgary, they have an amazing location right on Stephen Ave on 1 st sw, looking up at the Calgary Tower. They are also sponsoring my favourite local art month Exposure Photography Festival right here in Calgary. Imagine, a whole month of incredible photography, exhibitions, talks, meet and greets, and hopefully generally warmer weather. If you don’t know about it, you need to check out The Fence. ATB is everywhere art is in the city and I’ve become grateful for all their tireless efforts to keep creativity growing here in the city. 

For more info check out atb.com/thebranch

This week a Photography double header: I chat with friend, photographer, and professional Risk Manager, Curtis Desniatyk. Or Dez for short. He's put together a yearly show in collaboration with Mount Royal University and the Exposure Photography Festival, here in Calgary, Alberta. This year's show - Intersections - focuses on "street" photography - or, as I learned in our chat, more about the intersection of photography and humanity and culture. Curtis is always looking to connect his audience with other people and what better way of showing this than using the Main Hall of the University to get the word out.
selected artists: Curtis (Dez) Desiatnyk, Jeremy Fokkens, Asim Overstands, Zach Polis, Cary Schatz and Anne Tapler White.
The opening is Feb 6, 3pm at MRU. Artists will be in attendance with some presentations. But the work itself will remain up for a year! So definitely make some time to check it out. I know I can't wait to see it.

Thanks to Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB Financial. They've provided me great support and connection to other Albertan podcasters like PopCycle. Check out Eric and Chris's conversations and other great podcasting content at www.albertapodcastnetwork.com

The APN is proudly powered by ATB Financial and The Branch, their clubhouse, arts venue, and financial institution for creatives and cultural workers here in Alberta. Here in Calgary, they have an amazing location right on Stephen Ave on 1 st sw, looking up at the Calgary Tower. They are also sponsoring my favourite local art month Exposure Photography Festival right here in Calgary. Imagine, a whole month of incredible photography, exhibitions, talks, meet and greets, and hopefully generally warmer weather. If you don’t know about it, you need to check out The Fence. ATB is everywhere art is in the city and I’ve become grateful for all their tireless efforts to keep creativity growing here in the city. 

For more info check out atb.com/thebranch

A little while ago I had the pleasure of sitting down with my friend Caine Chow. Caine used to have a tiny  hidden shop called Kokedama Atelier at the back of a men’s store called Stuff4Him. I was amazed when I saw these weird tiny trees and plants growing out of… moss balls. Fanstatic art. And such an eccentric and positive person. Male presenting at the time. My wife and I have had the pleasure of befriending Caine as a entrepreneur, artist, parent, and recently a transitioning female.

In this episode Caine and I sit down to discuss her life leading up to today. The parallels between pushing out of the corporate world and her movement to find her own identity were fascinating and I am planning to continue our conversation. 

Check her work out @kokedama.ca

Last year I was accepted into the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB Financial. The founder Karen Unland has partnered with ATB Financial to bring local Albertan podcasts to bring to you local Albertans by connecting local sponsors from Alberta to us. 

Sponsors like the TELUS World of Science Edmonton, home of the Canadian debut of Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes. This special exhibition runs until February 17 in Edmonton. It will feature more than 300 artifacts, costumes, props and interactive elements to bring the Marvel Universe to life.  Imagine traveling through the mysterious mirror dimension of Doctor Strange, digitally transforming into Iron Man, and posing for selfies with Black Panther, Spider-Man, and other iconic Marvel characters

Visit telusworldofscienceedmonton.ca to buy tickets and check on special hotel deals if, like me, you’re not in Edmonton. Hey Marvel fans, this is the only place in Canada right now where you can see this exhibition. 

Speaking of local podcasts. Karen herself has a great podcast where she sits down with her daughter to learn about what being a teen actually is about. Need some teen-spraining to catch you up on recent things? Press play on their conversations on “That’s a Thing?” 

You can find their informational sessions on any podcasting platform or through the APN website www.albertapodcastnetowrk.com.  They’re in the Movies and Pop Culture section. Just scroll to the bottom!

A quick sponsor note. Many of you know of my recent health issues. I mean who gets diagnosed with Epilepsy at age 41? #notbitter. And I’ve been very vocal of my amazement of the awesomeness of Alberta Health Services. But outside of particular chronic or major emergency issues and the speed in which their system integrates everything (at least compared to the Toronto I left 7 years ago) their amazing general services (shout out to 811! Nurses rock!) have been a key part when Helen and I worried our son Emerson was sick. As he grows older he’s learning to have great confidence in our  health system. They have a quick 30 second spot they’d like to  hear.]

After a few weeks to collect myself I’m here to get the Perspectives mojo back.

To start off, this episode is a conversation I had with Phillip David this past September. I had learned that my friend was moving away from Calgary and I wanted to know why. I first met Phillip probably in 2013 when he answered a Kijiji ad to buy a tripod from me! Ha. Down in the lobby of my condo. We exchanged socials and moved from there. He’s shown his work in both Perspectives art shows and in our magazine. He was a professional online poker player, as you’ll notice in our talk and has his take on both the art life, how it relates through his structured gambling experience, and his own insight into the Calgary art scened and why he was on his way back to Saskachetwan. Check out his work on instagram @innercitystreetcorner 

Thank you to the Alberta Podcast Network for your support. Built by Karen Unland and powered by ATB Financial, the APN is an initiative to push Alberta run podcasts to the next level. Podcasts like Calgary-run “Eat more Barbecue” created by Ryan Sanderson. If you’re into meat and fire and things of that nature, check out https://eatmorebarbecue.ca or look at all our other friends at the Alberta Podcast Network on albertapodcastnetwork.com

A quick moment to thank ATB Financial. I’ve experienced first hand their direct support for Alberta entrepreneurs and local culture. ATB has recently built creative centres known as The Branch. One in Downtown Edmonton and one right here in Calgary on Stephen Avenue. ATB Branch for Arts and Culture understands artists don’t live by the rules of standard pay schedules. It’s a creative space for creative professionals and just one more way ATB will always be more than a bank. Visit atb.com/thebranch to find out how ATB’s Branch for Arts and Culture can support your career in the arts.

Last month I sat down with friend and talented photographer Alvin Paringit to get caught up on a busy year and discuss the "street photography" scene, inspiration, and the idea of photography itself. For others. For our selves. The role of the subjects, particularly in the public street photo scene. And to generally discuss both of our artistic existential struggles. He let me put a mic on him. This was the result.
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Perspectives YYC is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. The APN, created by Karen Unland, supports and grows local Alberta podcasts. Podcasts like my good friend Kyle Marshall’s Putting It Together. Kyle’s got a number of podcasts and is a prominent supporter of podcasting here in Calgary. This show is his expression of his love of Stephen Sondheim’s work as a musical composer. Each episode explores a different angle and perspective on a huge body of work. Conversations with industry professionals to get both a performer and audience’s view of the power of musical theatre. You can find Putting It Together on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or follow Kyle on social media @thekylemarshall