Motivation Local

Motivation Local S2 Ep08 Season FinaleKyle Hodgman and Kaleb Motz"Punk Rock, Branding, and a New Flag for Medicine Hat"EPISODE SUMMARYTo close out Season 2, Corey sits down with two of Medicine Hat’s most creatively restless minds for the liveliest conversation of the season. Kyle Hodgman is a solopreneur and founder of Middle Name Creative Agency; Kaleb Motz is COO of Imagine Everything. They met on the first day of the Art and Design program at Medicine Hat College, bonded over band shirts, and spent the next five years in a punk band called The Social Threat, touring in a van that kept breaking down, playing shows they had no business playing, and learning most of what they know about business, craft, and collaboration from the experience.That DIY ethos never really left. The conversation moves through how both of them landed in Medicine Hat and chose to stay, the skills the band quietly built that still show up in their work today, and what Kyle has been developing ever since he watched a Roman Mars TED Talk about municipal flag design and couldn’t stop thinking about it: a new flag for Medicine Hat. Not an official submission. Not a committee process. A slow, subversive release into the community - stickers, shirts, lawn flags - to see if it takes root on its own.Three horizontal bands (blue sky, green valley, orange coulees and brick) with two zigzagging lines creating a symbol of interconnection and shelter. The whole design philosophy is right there in the episode: simple on the surface, sophisticated underneath, and open enough for the community to inject its own meaning. By the time you’re hearing this, it’s already out there somewhere in the city. Whether it flies is up to Medicine Hat.

Motivation Local S2 Ep07Brian Konrad"Forty Years of Telling Medicine Hat's Stories"EPISODE SUMMARYIn this warm and wide-ranging conversation, Corey sits down with Brian Konrad — the voice that has been woven into Medicine Hat’s daily rhythm for more than forty years. From his earliest days doing play-by-play for tabletop hockey as a kid, to a career that spanned CHAT and CJCY and took him to some of the city’s most defining moments, Brian has been a narrator, a guide, and in many ways an informal historian of this place.When the local newsroom shuttered in June 2025, Brian joined Bring Back the Porch, a podcast built around the neighbourly conversations that front porches used to hold: unhurried, curious, and rooted in the people and stories that don’t always make the daily news. We talk about how a career in broadcasting shapes your relationship with a community, what it felt like to walk back into the old arena, why the lesson “just be yourself” landed so hard at age 21, and what a healthy local information ecosystem actually needs to survive.It’s a conversation between two people who both understand — from very different sides of the microphone — what it means to keep showing up for your hometown.

In this wide-ranging and genuinely surprising conversation, Corey sits down with Deborah Forbes - artist, educator, writer, school trustee, and executive director of LEARN - to explore a life built entirely at the collision point of curiosity and creativity. Deborah doesn’t operate with a plan. She operates within what she’s come to call chaos theory: one thing bumping into another, order slowly emerging from the jumble, and new possibilities surfacing where you least expect them.From her early years moving between cities - Montreal, Edinburgh, London - chasing art in all its forms, to returning to Medicine Hat when her biological clock went off and Calvin was there, Deborah has spent decades quietly shaping this community’s intellectual and creative life. She talks about her work at Medicine Hat College teaching through questions rather than answers, about LEARN’s intergenerational storytelling program that pairs high school students with seniors living with dementia, about her years as a school trustee finding the outsider voice within a single-voice governance structure, and about two ambitious current projects: a sea jelly exhibition built entirely on interactivity and shadow, and a vision for projections onto the coulees that would let Medicine Hat’s ancient landscape speak its own history.At the heart of it all is a consistent preoccupation: the outsider. The person or group that doesn’t fit the structure, the idea that lives outside the hierarchy, the imagination that persists even when memory fails. Deborah has spent a lifetime finding those edges and working at them - in art, in education, in governance, and in community.

EPISODE SUMMARYIn this rich and warm conversation, Corey sits down with Travis Boser — teacher, theatre director, podcast host, and one of Medicine Hat’s most quietly influential creative community builders. Travis grew up in Sceptre, Saskatchewan, a small town where everyone knew your name and volunteering kept everything running. That small-town ethic, he says, is still the engine behind everything he does.Travis talks about finding his people at Medicine Hat Musical Theatre, where he arrived in 2017 for Sister Act and never really left. He traces the arc of MHMT, from its origins in the 1960s to its current four-shows-a-year season, and reflects on what makes the organization hum: shared vulnerability, a unified goal, and a completely volunteer-driven community that keeps growing. He also opens up about directing Mambo Italiano, a deeply personal production rooted in his own experience as a queer man, and about creating "Canada Out of the Closet", a podcast built on the belief that hearing someone’s story makes it harder to fear them.Throughout, the conversation circles back to belonging — the difference between fitting in and being truly seen. Travis speaks with honesty and gratitude about the teachers and mentors who created safe spaces for him before he even knew he needed them, and about how that experience now shapes the way he shows up for his own students, his cast members, and his community.

EPISODE SUMMARYIn this warm and wide-ranging conversation, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Elizabeth “Liz” McNally — realtor, entrepreneur, and creative force behind Real Estate Collective in Medicine Hat. Like a lot of people who grew up here, Liz once imagined she’d leave. Instead, she stayed and built something that looks a lot like what she originally dreamed of: a business grounded in relationships, creativity, and community pride.They talk about how Liz found her way into real estate almost by accident, how her family’s decades-long investment in Medicine Hat’s older buildings quietly shaped her values, and how creativity became the through-line in everything from home staging to the Sunflower Festival she organized on Aberdeen Street more than twenty years ago. There’s a thread that runs through the whole conversation: that place becomes home not just when you arrive, but when you start contributing to it.Liz also introduces listeners to Agents Without Borders — a cross-border partnership with Desi, a realtor from Burley, Idaho — and explains how that collaboration led to bringing a real estate conference to Medicine Hat during the Balloon Festival. It’s a conversation about what it means to make your community feel like a destination, not just a place you happen to live.

Episode SummaryIn this episode of Motivation Local Season 2, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Colton McKee, a born-and-raised Medicine Hatter who has quietly become one of the city’s most recognizable visual storytellers. Since picking up his first camera in 2013 with inheritance money his mom told him not to spend all in one place, Colton has built a full-time creative career as a photographer, videographer, and drone pilot, documenting Medicine Hat in ways that consistently make locals stop and see their own city differently.What makes Colton’s episode particularly fitting for Season 2 is that his whole practice is about perspective: literally and figuratively. He talks about the shift from shooting constantly to shooting with intent, the tension between client work and personal projects, and what it feels like to fly a drone over the South Saskatchewan and see a city you’ve lived in your whole life suddenly reveal itself. The Covid pandemic video that hit 100,000 views and launched his video career. The crescent moon that rose perfectly through the centre of Finlay Bridge while he happened to be driving by. The back alleys and coulee edges and golden-hour gravel roads that most people never think to point a camera at.This is also a conversation about what it means to build a creative career in a smaller city, and why Colton has never seriously considered leaving. Medicine Hat, in his telling, isn’t a limitation, it’s a canvas with enough nooks and crannies and underrepresented stories to keep him busy for years.

Motivation Local – Season 2Brian Heidinger“Maker, Teacher, and Builder of Community”Episode SummaryIn Episode 2 of Motivation Local Season 2, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Brian Heidinger - a born-and-raised Medicine Hatter, woodshop teacher at Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre, co-founder of the Red Rock Mountain Bike Club, and the maker behind the woodworking side business "August Dawn". Brian’s story is a familiar one in this community: he left for Edmonton and Calgary after high school, convinced the big city was where life happened, then found his way back fourteen years ago when family started to matter more than city lights.What makes Brian’s episode compelling is how naturally his different worlds connect. The same curiosity and willingness to say yes that led him from a marketing diploma to a teaching degree, and from a borrowed school woodshop to a fully equipped home studio, is the same spirit he brings to the mountain bike club he co-runs with Mike Fehr. Whether he’s watching a grade seven kid who learned to ride a two-wheeler the week before find their stride on the trails at Echo Dale, or helping a student build a to-scale cherry wood Jeep from scratch, Brian’s teaching philosophy is consistent: don’t say no to the idea. Figure it out together.This is also an episode about what place makes possible. The Red Rock Mountain Bike Club draws grades 7 to 12, boys and girls, art kids and athletic kids, all riding together on Wednesday nights — something Brian notes would be nearly impossible to organize in a bigger city. The trails at Gas City Campground, Echo Dale, Redcliff, and Elkwater aren’t just backdrops; they’re the point. Medicine Hat’s scale and its outdoor access are quietly central to everything Brian is building.

Motivation Local – Season 2Brenda Mercer“Thriver, Creator, and Keeper of Stories”Episode SummaryIn this rich and deeply personal episode of Motivation Local Season 2, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Brenda Mercer — a proud Indigenous woman, 60s Scoop thriver, beadwork artist, community builder, and keeper of local stories. Brenda has called the Medicine Hat area home for close to 35 years, and her relationship to this land is anything but surface level. She belongs to the local archaeological society, leads guided storytelling tours at the Saamis tepee, sits on the Indigenous advisory committee with Medicine Hat Police, volunteers across a half-dozen community organizations, and this past spring, hand-built her very first tepee — a 31-year dream finally realized.What makes Brenda’s episode distinctive for Season 2 is the way her creativity and community work are inseparable. Beadwork, leatherwork, rattles, gifting earrings to strangers — for Brenda, making things is an act of cultural reclamation and human connection. She speaks candidly about the 60s Scoop and its long shadow, about the healing power of craft and community, and about her vision for Medicine Hat’s future: an interpretive center at the tepee site, indigenous street names woven into the city’s fabric, and a plot of land where people can come, stay, and immerse themselves in living culture.

In this engaging and reflective conversation, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Jace Anderson, Executive Director of Medicine Hat Tourism, to explore the deep connections between community, identity, and place. Jace shares his unique perspective as both a long-time resident and passionate promoter of Medicine Hat, discussing how the city's emerging cultural scene, outdoor lifestyle, and authentic local experiences shape how both residents and visitors experience it. They discuss themes such as pride of place, farm-to-fork food culture, the role of authentic storytelling in tourism, and the importance of allowing communities to shape their own narratives. Jace also touches on partnerships with Indigenous communities and the idea of leading from behind to foster trust and genuine connection. The episode weaves together personal stories, reflections on Medicine Hat's growth, and forward-looking insights on how communities can embrace their uniqueness while inviting others to share in it.

Detailed Timestamps

00:00 - 02:19 — Opening and Introduction

Introduction of guest Jace Anderson and his role in promoting Medicine Hat through tourism.

02:20 - 06:50 — Understanding Medicine Hat’s Identity Through Tourism - Jace reflects on his 11+ years leading Medicine Hat Tourism. Discussion of research and brand pillars: "Emerging Culture and Creativity" and how others perceive the city.

06:51 - 10:10 — Locals vs. Visitor Perspective - The value of stepping away and returning with fresh eyes. Visitors remind residents of the beauty and uniqueness they often take for granted.

10:11 - 13:18 — Jace’s Journey to Medicine Hat (Vancouver Island roots) - How he came to Medicine Hat after high school and fell in love with the openness and sunshine. Contrasts between coastal rain and prairie blue skies.

13:19 - 20:00 — Hub and Spoke: Exploring Beyond the City - Medicine Hat as a base for exploring SE Alberta. Local experiences (trails, Cypress Hills, Red Rock Coulee) that attract visitors naturally.

20:01 - 26:25 — Building for Locals First, Visitors Second - Authenticity matters: most attractions originated for locals (Jazz Fest, trails, golf, etc.). As locals engage, visitors begin to seek the same experiences.

26:26 - 32:05 — The Power of Farm-to-Fork and Local Food - Farm to Fork initiative: celebrating SE Alberta food producers. Launching and expanding the "Savour Alberta South" campaign to connect regional communities.

32:06 - 37:01 — The Role of Storytelling in Destination Building - Moving beyond traditional marketing into narrative building. Using stories and human emotion to connect with audiences rather than pure promotion.

37:02 - 42:16 — Indigenous Connections and Leading from Behind - Partnership with Indigenous Tourism Alberta and supporting elders/community-driven projects. Jace's philosophy on offering value first and creating authentic partnerships.

42:17 - 50:08 — Experimentation, False Starts and Authentic Growth - Importance of trial and error (Dinner in the Kiln as an example). Medicine Hat’s openness to new ideas and the value of learning through doing.

50:09 - 56:57 — Downtown Challenges and Opportunities - Jace shares his dream of seeing a vibrant downtown hotel and pedestrian-friendly spaces. Discussing events like Midnight Madness and everyday opportunities for community connection.

56:58 - 01:03:08 — Highway 3 Ale Trail and Regional Collaboration - Expanding promotional efforts across Highway 3. Regional marketing as a way to elevate Medicine Hat and SE Alberta collectively.

01:03:09 - 01:04:34 — Final Thoughts and Reflections - Jace on the importance of having local stories, visitors sharing the experiences, and balancing authenticity with tourism growth. Corey and Jace wrap up with gratitude for the insightful conversation.

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, host Corey Sadlemyer sits down with Luke to explore how his sense of identity has been shaped by place, people, and pivotal moments. Luke reflects on growing up in Medicine Hat, leaving for opportunities elsewhere, and eventually returning with fresh perspective. The conversation touches on the complexities of hometown nostalgia, the push-pull dynamic between staying and leaving, and the profound role that mentors, educators, and the wider community play in shaping one’s sense of self. Luke shares vulnerable moments about navigating adulthood, rekindling connections, and how finding belonging isn’t always about geography, but about the relationships and memories that anchor us. This episode offers listeners a heartfelt lens into what it means to come home, redefine success, and find your footing as both the same and a new person.

00:00:00:18 – 00:03:58:16 — Introduction: Framing Place and Identity.

00:03:58:16 – 00:09:36:09 — Luke’s Early Career and The Decision to Leave Luke reflects on his early work experiences and why he felt a need to move away. He discusses leaving Medicine Hat for new opportunities and how career aspirations pushed him outward.

00:09:36:11 – 00:10:47:01 — The Tension of Leaving and Growing Luke shares how difficult it can be to leave behind comfort and familiarity. He talks about the uncertainty and growth that happens when you step away from home.

00:10:47:04 – 00:13:54:09 — Missing Connection and the Pull of Home Luke explains how leaving made him appreciate his hometown more. He discusses feelings of disconnection in larger cities and how that sparked a deeper connection to Medicine Hat.

00:13:54:11 – 00:15:09:02 — Exploring Belonging and Identity The conversation shifts to how identity changes when you move. Luke reflects on balancing new experiences with hometown roots.

00:15:09:04 – 00:22:18:13 — Coming Back: Transition and Rebuilding Community Luke describes his return to Medicine Hat. It wasn’t seamless — reconnecting with the community and re-establishing old relationships took time and patience.

00:22:18:14 – 00:30:38:17 — Rediscovering Familiar Places Through New Eyes Luke shares how coming back made him see the city differently. He discusses how perspectives shift as you grow and mature and how he has found deeper appreciation for community life.

00:30:38:18 – 00:38:14:20 — Deep Connections: Mentors, Coaches and Community Builders Luke reflects on the lasting impact of mentors, teachers, and coaches who shaped him growing up. He credits them for instilling values and influencing his return.

00:38:14:21 – 00:45:26:14 — Reconciling Personal Growth with Familiar Surroundings As an adult, Luke describes the challenges of re-entering the same community while having grown in different ways. He explores how he adapted and built new relationships.

00:45:26:15 – 00:54:07:03 — Changing Definitions of Success and Contentment Luke discusses how his definition of success has evolved. He emphasizes quality of life, relationships, and connection over ambition and material goals.

00:54:07:05 – 01:02:50:02 — Advice to Young People: Embrace Both Leaving and Returning Offering words of wisdom, Luke encourages younger listeners to experience life elsewhere, but also to value the option of coming home. Both pathways have lessons to offer.

01:02:50:03 – 01:11:43:06 — Building a Future in Medicine Hat: Staying by Choice, Not Default Luke talks about making a conscious decision to stay in Medicine Hat this time around. He explores how staying doesn’t have to mean settling and how home can still push you forward.

01:11:43:07 – 01:20:00:00 — Closing Reflections