Their Life Story

This weeks guest is Nathan Cullen. Nathan spent 15 years working as a Member of Parliament for the N.D.P.  He represented the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley. It's an area that he loves and has worked hard to protect. Some of Nathan's greatest political achievements so far have been to push back 'open net fish farms' , protect the Sacred Headwaters of The Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers (from Shell who would have liked the exploit the area for it's rich deposits of coal bed methane) and helped to stop the controversial Enbridge "Northern Gateway" Pipeline that would have put the local environment and Indigenous people's at risk. Nathan grew up in Toronto and took "International Development Studies and Environmental Studies' in University. He then went on to work with different NGO's all over the world from Central America, South America and Africa .  Nathan talks about his experiences working in groups to effect change, why he almost quit being a politician, how it's easy for politicians to loose their integrity, working to get child soldiers out of Sierra Leone after the blood diamond conflict, the need for reconciliation in Canada, when to get out of the way, knowing when to stop talking and much more.

This weeks guest is retired Physician Lothar Schaefer.  Lothar was born in the Northwest Territories where he had an Igloo to play in as a child. He would later go back there to work and solidify his love of the outdoors. Wanting to do his part for the Climate crisis Lothar swore off flight trave. He and his girlfriend Debbie decided to do a trip of the americas on  recumbent bicycles. The trip ended up taking over four years to complete and went from the west coast of Canada to the east, down through the eastern seaboard, back across the southern states, into Mexico and Central America, then to the tip of south America going down the west coast and back up on the east.In this episode we talk about going through Patagonia, the Andes, the jungle, the challenges you face on a trip like that, the people they met, what it's like being in a relationship on a challenging adventure and the effects of climate change that they saw first hand. Lothar is a great role model for adventures and environmentalists. This is a great listen to get you inspired to go on your own adventures, do your own exploration and have your own personal growth.

Éadin O'Mahony is a scientist, conservationist and an activist. She is currently taking her Masters in Marine Biology through St. Andrews University in Scotland. For her masters research project she is using drones to hover above whales as they breathe and collect their snot on a petri dish to see what she can learn from their DNA.  During her undergraduate degree she would do field work during the summer months. Her travels have taken her to South Africa to reintroduce elephants and rhino's into game reserves, Ecuador to assess plant diversity in the territory of an Amazonian tribe to ward off pressures from the oil companies and to Japan to study squid sleep behaviour. Raised near the sea in Ireland Éadin formed a strong connection to the ocean that led her want to spend the rest of her life protecting it.

Patty Slimmon is a good friend of mine. I sat down with him a couple months back to discuss his path in life and his experiences. Originally from Brandon, Manitoba Patty moved to Revelstoke for a winter soon after graduating high school. He then moved to Whistler, where he spent the next six winters, before gradually tiring of it and eventually deciding to go back to school to study engineering. Patty and I talk about how he got into snowboarding in Manitoba, growing up with a Veterinarian for a Dad and sometimes having strange animals like Cows in the house  as well as some shocking stories working with his Dad. He also talks about his grandpa, who worked as a spy for M16 in India, recalling how a local legend built a snowboard park just outside his home town, his first job, his first time getting drunk and leaving home for the first time on a greyhound bus. Pat also talks about his Dad passing when he was 14, getting arrested in Whistler, answers some questions from best friend Craig McMorris and shares some amazing stories about the wild turkeys they had living with them and the adventures of his cat.

In this week's episode I had the pleasure of talking to professional snowboarder Austin Sweetin. Austin has a contagious stoke for life and you can't help but feel uplifted just by talking to him! He's a great person and I'm honoured to call him a friend. In this episode we talk about growing up in Seattle skateboarding, getting sponsored at an early age, a big night that led him to quit drinking for a year, how he uses to his stoke to change his perspective and motivate himself and falling in love with Vancouver Island.

In this episode professional snowboarder Robin Van Gyn talks about her life and the lessons she's learned. From childhood memories exploring the west coast of Vancouver Island by sailboat to snowboard guiding in Argentina, Robin reflects on what the mountains have taught her and the secret stresses of snowboarding. 

My guest Sarah Robinson is the owner of Rainwatch Advising, where she gives workshops on Indigenous/Canadian histories and advises on Indigenous affairs.  Sarah is soon to be an Indigenous Rights lawyer and is currently finishing her law degree at UVic. In this episode we talk about what is was like for her growing up as an Aboriginal person, how her Mom and uncles were separated and taken to Residential Schools, dealing with cancer, mental health, racism and her path in life so far. We also look at what Indigenous Peoples have gone through in the past and how to move forward and accept eachother.

In this episode I talk to the extremely kind and humble Peter Devries. Pete is a professional surfer from Tofino B.C. and was one of the people to really legitimize Canadian surfing.  He's recognized around the world for his talent. In this episode we talk about how he got his surfing to where it is today, who influenced him, his family life, what it was like for him competing early on in his career and why he chose the non-competitive route.

Sarah is a professional illustrator from London, England. Her artwork can be found on snowboards, event posters, T-shirts, restaurant walls, surfboard fins, back packs, goggles, food packaging, signs and more! Sarah is extremely nice and warm hearted! 




An environmentalist and conservationist before all else, Sarah takes me through her life in England, art school, travels, first career as a scuba diving instructor, learning to snowboard and how she ended up on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Zoe is the owner of Zoe's Bakery and Cafe in Ucluelet B.C.  She is a master baker, pasty chef and environmental steward. Zoe and I talk about a lot of different things including the following; her journey to becoming a baker, composting, picking up trash on remote beaches with Surfrider to getting through the Covid era with her mental health intact. Zoe is an exceptional human being and it was a pleasure to gain a little more insight into her life story.