The Okotoks Podcast

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You go into Costco for a rotisserie chicken and come out with a jacket, a case of popcorn, and three things you didn’t know you needed. Sound familiar?

Tina Chow, the Costco Queen behind Costco Lovers Canada, returns to The Okotoks Podcast for a fun conversation about why we love Costco—and what drives us crazy.

We compare favourite finds, talk about American products we wish we could get in Canada, and share a few shopping pet peeves. From people blocking the entrance to the crowds around the samples, there’s plenty for fellow Costco shoppers to relate to.

Tina also shares some funny moments behind her videos, her love for the Okotoks warehouse, and the Canadian businesses getting their products onto Costco’s shelves. Plus, I tell her about returning a hot tub after two and a half years—and feeling a little judged in the returns line!

There are laughs, shopping tips, and a reminder to appreciate the staff who deal with all of us every day.

Follow Tina at Costco Lovers Canada, formerly YYC Costco Lovers.

🎙️ The Okotoks Podcast with Carlin Lutzer

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Not all wounds are visible. Not all wounds are military.

On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, I sit down with Canadian Armed Forces veteran Scott Casey, Founder of The Rolling Barrage and Director of The Rolling Barrage PTSD Foundation.

Scott shares how the loss of friends to suicide led him to create a coast-to-coast motorcycle ride that brings veterans, first responders and civilian riders together. Through shared experiences, conversations and friendships, The Rolling Barrage is building a community where people can find connection and support.

We talk about the challenges of living with PTSD, the people who make this ride possible, and a powerful story about a former paramedic named Mark finding his way back into community—at his own pace.

Scott also shares what it means to ride into Okotoks and see Veterans Way lined with people welcoming and supporting the riders. Hearing the emotion in his voice reminds us that showing up can mean more than we realize.

Want to get involved?

You don’t need to be a veteran or ride a motorcycle to support this amazing organization. There are opportunities to volunteer, donate, become a sponsor, contribute auction items, or help welcome the riders into your community. Riders can join for one leg, several days, or the entire coast-to-coast journey, known as “The Full Pull.”

Explore the options and reach out to their team:

🌐 Website: https://therollingbarrage.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
🤝 Contact form: https://therollingbarrage.com/contact/

Thank you, Scott, and to all the volunteers, sponsors and supporters helping make this work possible.

Listen, share, and help spread the word.

—Carlin Lutzer
The Okotoks Podcast

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A 12-year-old racks up strikeouts at the Little League World Series, and suddenly universities start calling. That’s where Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson’s story begins and it only gets wilder from there. We sit down and walk through the real steps between early hype and a career that leads all the way to the San Francisco Giants, with Okotoks playing a huge role in the middle.

We talk about growing up in White Rock, BC, crossing the border for travel ball, and why the Okotoks Dawgs academy mattered so much for a Canadian pitcher who needed a serious schedule, elite coaching, and a development-first environment. Matt shares what made those years special, what it felt like to rejoin friends on the Dawgs summer club, and why having coaches who actually care can separate one program from the rest.

Then we get into the pro side: the Cape Cod League as a scouting proving ground, the MLB Draft reality when it drags into later rounds, and what happens the minute you’re drafted, from medical tests to learning your way through the farm system. Matt also opens up about being traded, why he saw it coming, and how a 2 a.m. move that forced him to switch locker rooms ended up creating a clearer opportunity. We finish with his best advice for young baseball players: stop chasing early results, build a strong mental game, and remember you have time.

If you’re into Canadian baseball, pitcher development, the Okotoks Dawgs pipeline, or what it really takes to reach MLB, this conversation delivers. Subscribe, share it with a baseball fan, and leave a review so more people find these stories.

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Who’s Really Winning? The Hidden Cost of Sports Betting
With Dr. Carrie Shaw | The Okotoks Podcast

You can hardly watch a game anymore without seeing an invitation to place a bet. But behind the promotions and promises of a big win, what are the real costs?

This week on The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Dr. Carrie Shaw, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Alberta and a research chair with the Alberta Gambling Research Institute.

Together, they explore sports betting, gambling addiction, and how something that starts as entertainment can affect finances, relationships and mental health. Carrie brings a research perspective to the beliefs that keep people betting, the warning signs worth recognizing, and why these conversations matter for families and communities.

Whether you place the occasional bet, have concerns about someone you love, or are wondering how gambling became such a big part of watching sports, this conversation is worth hearing.

Need support?

If gambling is affecting you or someone you care about, 211 Alberta can connect you with gambling support programs, counselling and community resources.

• Call 2-1-1.
• Text INFO to 211.
• Visit https://ab.211.ca for resources and live chat.

211 Alberta is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You don’t have to navigate this alone.

Listen to The Okotoks Podcast on your favourite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. Please share this episode with someone who could benefit from the conversation.

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Is the Alberta real estate market finally starting to turn a corner? Are better days ahead for buyers and sellers, or should we be preparing for more uncertainty?

On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, I sit down with Anne-Marie Lurie, Chief Economist with the Calgary Real Estate Board (CREB), to talk about what's really happening in the real estate market across Calgary, Okotoks, and the surrounding communities.

We discuss the changing market, housing inventory, affordability, interest rates, and how the economy is influencing both buyers and sellers.

With so many mixed messages about where real estate is heading, I wanted to get some perspective from someone who studies the numbers every day.

Whether you're thinking about buying a home, selling your property, or just curious about what the next year might look like, this is a conversation worth listening to.

Are better days ahead for Alberta real estate? I'd love to hear what you think.

Please leave a comment below, and if you're enjoying The Okotoks Podcast, be sure to like, follow, subscribe, and share. Your support helps us continue bringing these conversations to our community.

The Okotoks Podcast. Local conversations that matter.

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Curtis Armstrong is back, and we’re welcoming a new panelist, Emma Calver from Okotoks, for another episode of 5 Questions, 5 Minutes (5Q5M) on The Okotoks Podcast.

This week, we’re covering everything from professional sports to some of the biggest issues facing Alberta and our community.

We kick things off with Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s comments about getting paid for past performance and the growing influence of sports betting on professional sports.

We then turn our attention to Alberta’s upcoming referendum, the opportunities and concerns surrounding AI data centres, and whether these massive projects will actually benefit Albertans.

We also lighten things up by sharing some of our favourite local businesses in Okotoks before tackling one final question:

What is the single biggest issue facing Okotoks today?

Five questions, different perspectives, and plenty of opinions. We don’t always agree, but that’s what makes these conversations interesting.

Join us for another episode of 5Q5M on The Okotoks Podcast.

Have an opinion on any of these topics? We’d love to hear it! Leave a comment and let us know where you stand.

Don’t forget to like, follow, subscribe and share The Okotoks Podcast.

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Alberta’s referendum debate has been dominated by one issue: independence.

But there are nine questions on the ballot.

With all the talk of “Yes to the Nine” and “No to the Nine,” I realized something: had I actually taken the time to look closely at each question on its own?

So I invited Paul Howarth back to The Okotoks Podcast.

There’s a reason I keep asking Paul back. I respect his opinion, but we don’t always agree. And I think we need more conversations where two people can disagree, ask questions, challenge each other and still listen.

In this episode, we work our way through the referendum questions and try to separate them from the larger independence debate.

Should your position on Alberta independence determine how you vote on every other question?

Are some of the questions straightforward?

Are others more complicated than they first appear?

And, frankly, do we completely understand what some of these questions would actually mean in practice?

At times, Paul and I find ourselves agreeing. At other times, we don’t. And on a few questions, we’re both left scratching our heads.

This isn’t an episode telling you how to vote.

It’s an attempt to slow the conversation down, get beyond the slogans, and actually talk about what Albertans are being asked to decide.

No to the Nine? Yes to the Nine? Or maybe nine questions deserve nine separate answers.

Listen to the full conversation and decide for yourself.

If you enjoy conversations like this, please follow The Okotoks Podcast, share the episode, and join the conversation.

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Why Stay? Why Go? | Keith Wilson & Paul Howarth

Alberta is facing a question that is creating passionate debate across the province: Should Alberta stay in Canada, or is it time to go?

In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Keith Wilson and Paul Howarth sit down for a respectful, candid conversation about Alberta’s future.

Keith makes the case for why Albertans should have the opportunity to consider a future outside of Canada, while Paul offers the opposing perspective and makes the case for staying.

The conversation explores Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa, the economy, energy, equalization, pensions, trade, national unity, and what separation could mean for future generations.

But this episode is about more than deciding who is right.

At a time when Alberta, and Canada as a whole, can feel deeply divided, conversations like this matter. We need to be able to disagree, challenge one another, listen to the other side, and still treat each other with respect.

Please listen right to the end. The way Keith and Paul finish this conversation may be one of the most important parts of the entire episode. It demonstrates what healthy political discourse can look like, even when two people strongly disagree about something as significant as the future of Alberta.

Listen to both sides. Ask questions. Get informed. And make up your own mind.

This is “Why Stay? Why Go?” with Keith Wilson and Paul Howarth on The Okotoks Podcast.

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What does it take to bring live music to the Foothills?

This week on The Okotoks Podcast, I’m joined by Kevin Levacque, who organizes the Travellers Concert Series, and recording artist Meera Sylvain. Kevin shares what goes into bringing performers to our region, while Meera talks about her music and the path that led her to the stage.

We also hear Meera perform. Listen to the end for more of her music and details about where you can see her live.

For upcoming concerts and series information, visit http://www.travellersconcertseries.ca

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Politics can divide friends, families and entire communities. Is there a way to disagree without giving up on each other?

On this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Brandi Weston, a University of Calgary researcher whose work examines populism and Take Back Alberta. Brandi began studying political division after watching relationships fracture during COVID. Her research led her to ask why people join movements, how those movements gain influence, and whose voices get heard along the way.

Carlin and Brandi discuss Take Back Alberta’s role in getting people politically involved, Alberta’s frustration with Ottawa, and the tension between party members’ priorities and a premier’s responsibility to the whole province. They also explore pluralism, anti-liberalism, distrust of the media, and what “faith, family and freedom” mean in a society where people hold different beliefs.

They don’t agree on everything. But this conversation is a chance to hear a different perspective, challenge an idea, and perhaps leave with a better understanding of the person across the table.