🎙 Welcome to Shane Hewitt & the Nightshift 🎙

Noah’s dodging family time like a ninja, Tony’s living the spa life, and Shane’s heading north for Easter—yep, it’s Good News Tuesday on The Nightshift.

This week’s dose of joy includes:

• 💨 Noah’s great escape from weekend obligations
• 💆‍♂️ Tony’s unexpected love for pampering
• 🚗 Shane’s heartfelt story about heading to Northern Alberta for the holiday
• 😄 Plus: Why sharing good news actually boosts your brain’s dopamine
  
  

It’s fun, feel-good, and full of real-life wins. Share it with someone who could use a laugh (or a yogurt tube at midnight).

👉 Follow for your weekly hit of good vibes and Canadian charm.
Originally aired on 2025-04-15

🎙 Welcome to Shane Hewitt & the Nightshift 🎙

Shane Hewitt and the Nightshift crew discuss the upcoming NHL playoffs, focusing on the excitement surrounding Canadian teams like the Ottawa Senators and the challenges faced by others, such as the Vancouver Canucks. They playfully discuss betting strategies (or lack thereof). Sticking with sports, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s massive $500 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, is something most fans are celebrating.

Liberal Party staffers distributed pins at a conservative event with divisive slogans like "Make Canada Great Again" and "Lock Justin Up." Shane talks about the implications of this deliberate disinformation campaign and its impact on the Canadian election. 

Bill King, is a musician, 30 year concert photographer, journalist and broadcaster. He joins the Nightshift to talk about how his childhood perception of the sea was shaped by religious tales of judgment and peril, contrasting sharply with the idyllic imagery often presented. A subsequent 64-day cruise offered a personal reckoning with this perception. While initially feeling confined, Bill became a captivated observer, documenting their journey through photography and literature. This experience transformed his fear of the sea into a deep appreciation for its beauty, mystery, and the rich literary history associated with it. Check out his book: 64 Days At Sea: A Musicians Log - https://www.amazon.com.au/64-Days-Sea-Musicians-Log/dp/1777971446

Season 1 Radio Episode 179
Original Broadcast Date: 2025-04-14

Financial advisor Anita Bruinsma joins Shane Hewitt to discuss strategies for overcoming debt. She highlights the common feeling of paralysis among clients struggling with credit card, car loan, and mortgage debt, unsure how to balance debt repayment with saving and investing. Bruinsma advocates for creating a detailed debt repayment plan to regain control and visualize progress, illustrating this with a personal anecdote of meticulous budgeting. The conversation emphasizes the importance of mindful spending, avoiding both overspending and self-deprivation, and incorporating small pleasures into the repayment process. She also cautions against the misuse of HELOCs for large, unplanned purchases due to fluctuating interest rates. She suggests tracking interest payments to maintain motivation, viewing interest savings as a form of progress even with slow debt reduction. Finally, we explore alternative payment methods for expenses like insurance, weighing the benefits of lump-sum payments against potential credit card interest charges. The core message is the importance of proactive planning, conscious spending, and creative motivational techniques for successful debt management. Get Clarity on your money: https://www.clarityonyourmoney.com/ 

Greg Layson, digital and mobile editor at Automotive News Canada, joins Shane Hewitt and discusses the current state of the Canadian auto industry, particularly concerning the impact of tariffs and the shift towards electric vehicles. Lason highlights the uncertainty caused by fluctuating government policies, leading to hesitancy in investment and production planning. He uses the example of GM's Ingersoll plant layoffs, explaining that while initially attributed to overstocked inventory of electric commercial vans, the prolonged shutdown increases the risk of permanent closure due to the ongoing tariff situation. Layson emphasizes Canada's strengths: a skilled workforce, a robust supply chain, and abundant critical minerals for electric vehicle production. While acknowledging the loss of past automotive jobs due to factors like NAFTA and cheaper labor costs in Mexico, he believes Canada retains advantages in quality and healthcare benefits, making it a competitive location despite the lack of new large-scale plant announcements. Find more from Greg Layson - https://www.autonews.com/

Shane Hewitt is joined by Handy Andy Baryer joins the Nightshift, and discuss the pervasive issue of screen addiction and excessive phone use. Andy recounts his frustration with people using their phones in a sauna, highlighting the hygiene concerns. They debate the responsibility for this addiction – whether it lies with tech companies or individual users – and offer strategies for curbing phone overuse, including establishing designated phone usage times and utilizing smart home devices strategically. The conversation then turns to digital privacy while traveling internationally. Andy advises Canadians traveling to the US to be aware that border agents can access their phones' contents and suggests using hidden app folders to protect sensitive information. They discuss similar concerns regarding data privacy in other countries like China.  Finally, they address the alarming issue of individuals renting out their ride-sharing accounts on Facebook, creating safety risks for users due to a lack of enforcement by Facebook/Meta due to their reliance on automated systems for fraud detection. The episode concludes with a brief mention of upcoming segments on spring planting and the federal election. You can find the DIY Tech Guy: https://www.handyandymedia.com/ 

Law, technology, and business expert, Daniel Tsai, is on Shane Hewitt and the Nightshift to talk about and discusses a Lyft passenger who received a transcript of her conversation from her ride. Tsai explains that Lyft claims this was due to a pilot program testing AI for safety purposes and potentially advertising. While Lyft stated it was a pilot program rolled out in some US states, where drivers could optionally record rides, this incident involved the passenger receiving the recording without knowledge or consent. Tsai explains the legal nuances: in Canada, one-party consent for recording conversations is allowed, unlike in some US states. However, even if legal, the lack of consent creates a negative customer experience. The discussion also touches upon the comparison to cameras in taxis, where signage usually informs passengers of recording, and the differences in employee/contractor status between traditional taxi drivers and ride-sharing drivers.

Shane Hewitt and Lori Williams (an associate professor at Mount Royal University), agree that significant differences exist between the eastern and western regions of Canada, stemming from variations in political culture and economic policies. While acknowledging shared Canadian values, they highlight Western frustration regarding feeling ignored and disadvantaged by Eastern-centric policies, citing examples like the disproportionate impact of emissions caps on the oil and gas industry and the historical perception of Western provinces as politically insignificant. Although Western separatism sentiment exists, Williams believes the dominant feeling is one of anger and frustration rather than outright secession. She suggests that addressing these concerns through meaningful dialogue and acknowledging the historical grievances is crucial for fostering national unity and building a more inclusive Canada. The conversation emphasizes the need for both federal and provincial governments to collaborate, including Indigenous communities, to address Western concerns and capitalize on the current opportunity to strengthen national unity.

Military expert and a senior fellow at MLI, Richard Shimooka joins Shane Hewitt to highlight Canada's struggles with defense procurement. The process is far more complex than civilian purchasing, demanding cutting-edge technology to counter evolving threats, a process Canada excelled at historically but now struggles with due to a focus on political risk aversion and industrial benefits. This has resulted in lengthy, costly processes that hinder military readiness and morale. Shimooka advocates for a more proactive approach, including strategic partnerships and calculated risks to strengthen domestic supply chains and technological capabilities, and emphasizes empowering skilled professionals within the Department of National Defence to improve efficiency and innovation.

🎙 Welcome to Shane Hewitt & the Nightshift 🎙

Shane starts a happy Friday by sharing personal anecdotes about camping and his own dog, Harlow, a Great Dane, leading to a discussion about the human-animal bond and the potential for pet ownership to lead to social isolation. We play you some audio we have found from across the interwebs that are good examples of canine communication, and dogs' ability to understand human language.

Think your dog can understand words? This scientist says you might be right. New study on soundboard-trained dogs offers insights on their word comprehension levels. Federico Rossano, an associate professor in the department of cognitive sciences at the University of California, San Diego, joins Shane Hewitt to discuss his research findings suggesting that dogs in the study were able to understand certain words, contributing to the possibility of an enhanced bond between dogs and their owners. Lots more research to do on this topic, but for now, assume that Rover knows your secrets.

The Friday Round Up begins with a birthday celebration for two panelists, Jimmy Zoubris and Andrew Caddell, who share the same birthday. Onto more serious stuff the conversation shifts to the Ingersoll GM plant layoffs, and the primary cause as well as the long-term implications of this event, including the potential for higher car prices and the impact on the US economy. The discussion then moves to the federal election campaign, focusing on Prime Minister’s campaign strategy, which includes strategically timed absences from the campaign trail. The importance of the upcoming election is highlighted, with discussion around generational shifts in political leadership and the key issues at stake, such as tariffs and Canadian nationalism. The panelists also analyze the NDP's current standing and the potential for leadership changes within the party.

Steve Stebbing joins Shane Hewitt and the Nightshift for another edition of What The Heck Are We Watching? 

At the movies, 

The Amateur is about a CIA agent/decoder whose supervisors refuse to take action after his wife is killed in a London terrorist attack, he takes matters into his own hands. In Drop, A widowed mother's first date in years takes a terrifying turn when she's bombarded with anonymous threatening messages on her phone during their upscale dinner, leaving her questioning if her charming date is behind the harassment. Sacramento, follows an energetic and free-spirited young man that convinces his long-time friend, who's settled into domestic life, to go on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

Streaming

Not Just A Goof, is a documentary exploring the untold story of A Goofy Movie (1995). It follows a young creative team tackling their first Disney feature, its initial disappointment, and its surprising resurgence decades later.

Sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia -- "Black Mirror” is back for a 7th season of stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.

Season 4 of Hacks continues to explore the dark mentorship that forms between Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas comedian, and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.

Music journalist Eric Alper joins the Nightshift to celebrate Record Store Day, celebrated annually on the second Saturday of April, and will take place on April 12th, 2025, in Canada. This year's event features Big Wreck as ambassadors, releasing a special anniversary edition of their Albatross album on vinyl. Numerous other exclusive vinyl releases from artists like Bran Van 3000, Pocket Dwellers, Wang Chung, Harem Scarem, and Bif Naked will also be available at participating independent record stores across the country. The day is a celebration of vinyl culture and independent music retailers. For a list of appearances, performances and signings check out http://ThatEricAlper.com 

Shane Hewitt is joined by Erica and Mike from Camper Express, a camper rental company launched in 2020. They discuss the rise in domestic Canadian camping due initially to the pandemic and lately a desire to support local businesses. Canadians are increasingly exploring provincial parks instead of traveling internationally. They discuss the joys and challenges of camping, from the simplicity of tent trailers to the complexities of larger RVs. Erica highlights the relaxing and restorative nature of camping, emphasizing the connection with nature and escape from city life. Mike adds that camping provides a good reset from stress. For more on Camper Express's services https://www.camperexpressinc.com/

Dating and relationship expert Jen Kirsch joins Shane Hewitt and the Nightshift for Date Night to discuss "micro-cheating," the subtle behaviors that fall short of a full-blown affair but can still damage a relationship. Examples include excessive social media interaction with a coworker (liking photos, sending DMs), or lingering conversations. Jen says that while the definition is evolving, the core issue is secrecy and a violation of unspoken or explicit relationship boundaries. The rise of remote work has exacerbated the problem, as digital interactions offer more opportunities for these behaviors. Whether or not an action constitutes microcheating depends entirely on the couple's agreement and comfort level; it's not about right or wrong, but about individual preferences and whether the behavior undermines the primary relationship.