MicCHEK

How does a 24-year-old go from playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs to taking his own clothing line to Paris Fashion Week? We find out in our chat with Victoria's Cameron Ray Lizotte.

He's been pumping out recipes in the Times Colonist since 1997. Twice a week you'll find Eric Akis' creations in the newspaper. You'll also find them taped to fridges, and saved in scrapbooks as home chefs up and down the island follow Eric's creations religiously, cooking up every one of his thousands of recipes. In this episode we learn a bit more about Eric, and how he comes up with so many culinary creations. We also get his Top 10 most popular recipes in the last 25 years. Also, in our Order Up Spotlight, a look at a popular, no-frills breakfast spot in Rock Bay.

We were already fans of Tyler Turner before this conversation, but now we're massive fans. In this episode, Tyler opens up about the skydiving accident that changed his life forever, and how he battled his way to the top of the Paralympic podium and brought a gold medal home to Vancouver Island.

In this episode we chat with a Victoria Dad Coach, yes that's a real thing. He gives us his Top 10 Tips for new parents. We also discuss one of the most unique bakeries we've ever encountered on Vancouver Island.

Vancouver Island is home to more assisted deaths than anywhere else in the world. In this episode, we chat with a Victoria doctor who has dedicated her practice to helping people die with dignity. Our discussion touches on why someone might seek assisted death, how the process works, and what the event itself can look like.

After two years of daily morning dog walks (and weeks of debate and analysis) Joe delivers his Top 10 dog walk locations in Greater Victoria. Also in this episode we'll introduce you to one of the Comox Valley's most popular Latin restaurants.

Talk about hitting a nerve. In a recent opinion piece Geoff Russ outlined why he believes Douglas Street in Victoria is undergoing a sad decline. He suggests it's a graveyard for small business and a hub of poverty and violence. The article has since been shared hundreds of times, producing thousands of comments with many of them supporting Geoff's view. We sat down with Geoff to learn more about his position and why he was inspired to write the piece.

Everyone has their spots for where they like to go for a pint of cold beer including Matt Phillips. Yes, that Matt Phillips, the man who started one of the most well-known and popular breweries on Vancouver Island. The man we have to thank for Blue Buck. In this episode, (13:44) Matt gives us his 10 spots for where he likes to go for a beer in Victoria. We'll also take you to north Nanaimo and introduce you to a little artisan bakery called "Bodhi's" that people have fallen in love with.

It hasn't happened in seven years but in January a baby was born on Pender Island. In most cases when someone goes into labour on a Southern Gulf Island they're transported to Vancouver Island for the delivery but that wasn't an option for Danielle Yole. She had just finished a hike (and a memorable hummus sandwich) when baby Leo decided he was coming into the world. What happened next is a story the Yole family and Pender Island won't forget for a long time.

No, this isn't a conversation about A&W and Yogen Fruz (although we love both). This is a discussion about 10 great spots (many of them local) you'll find inside South Island food courts. Some of the picks you'll find inside local malls, but we were pleasantly surprised to learn there are more food courts in the region than we thought. Also in this episode, we discuss a Parksville restaurant that's becoming known for some of the largest, jaw-dropping caesars you'll find on Vancouver Island.