Eat This! Drink That!

Podcaster, journalist and outdoor enthusiast Meg Carney joins me to talk about the importance of fresh air experiences. A contributor to Field and Stream magazine Meg love to hike, climb, paddle and speaks often about gear. We discuss longevity, durability, and dependability of kit as well as the impact of choices when we should be leaving no trace.

Mark Sherry has pivoted and his latest development is an app that compares prices across grocery stores. Do you have time to look at flyers and take your list to two or three stores to save a buck? What if an algorithm can do it for you in mere moments. Would it change your shopping behaviour? Maybe.Have a listen and find out about GOFER and how it may cut your costs and suggest which provisioner is your best deal.

Rachelle Rocha, ever the innovator, is always looking for ways to improve your Quality of Life. She and her co-owner see "food as medicine" and everything they do supports that belief. Not only is Seasons a pharmacy, but it is also a food store and more. Because of the amount of floor space devoted to the Culinaria, and kitchen, Seasons qualified to sell beer, wine, cider, and perry. It is the first to do this in the category of services they offer. It makes them a true destination for shoppers who understand the philosophy of their store and intentions.

Come along for a conversation with Jason Goossen. Jason and his family currently operate 3 unique stays on their Okanagan property that will delight you. No sound of traffic, a brook, a farm, an orchard, sage fragranced air, and sweeping views will bring down your tension.It truly is a delight that delivers glamping plus!

What a great organization! Deb Pella Keen speaks about the founder and his motivation to promote real Canadian maple trees.Our laneways, farm driveways, and even cities have to actively plant native species. Invasives and aggressives - like the European or Norway Maple - are not the leaf of our flag.Listen along and discover how you can support and even participate in protecting our heritage.

This is not my usual direction. Sure, I've covered some hard topics, but speaking about killers is way off my map. I hesitated for some years to read Michael Arntfield's "Murder City" but there it was on my shelf... it was only a matter of time before I read it from cover to cover. The next step - naturally - was inviting Michael to this program, When you listen along you will see the linkage to questions about quality of life. I post this caution: listen only if you are ready for some content that may disturb you: London, Ontario never was safe. What other horrors exist in this great country? Recent events again highlight that there are some we have to fear. Perhaps by asking difficult questions we as a nation can avoid a future that includes serial killers, missing children and women, and tragedies of mass shootings. Where is the justice for those who have had their future stolen?

A blast from the past: This episode originally was broadcast some years ago. I felt it was time to revisit the interview with rancher Dylan Biggs.Dylan kindly shares knowledge of the landscape and the reasons why where he is is ideal for raising cattle.From the saddle he knows and understands the animals and environment. One day I hope to visit and learn even more about TK Ranch.

So many older adults have either no portraits nor recent photos. These are not just for their lives but perhaps for their obituary. Why should they not have a professional image for sharing now and then.This is a rerelease of an interview with Peter Istvan who started capturing images of his parents and the neighbours who lived in the same residence. He now has taken it to the next level.Peter has gone from working in health care in Parry Sound, but began considering what he would do in his "golden" years. Fully kitted out with great lighting and quality techniques/technology Peter's images are more than just keepsakes. Come along and listen to his motivation in what he does with his camera, how he builds rapport, and the results he achieves.

This is a rerelease of a conversation with Bill Steer.With his books, articles, podcasts, and presence on CBC Back Roads Bill Steer is the embodiment of outdoor awareness. His work includes the collaborative creation of the Canadian Ecology Centre near Mattawa. It is his decades of getting kids (and adults) outside and in touch with the landscape and history of Northern Ontario that is an amazing legacy. To think that Champlain and so many other explorers portaged and canoed the waterways of the region is so experiential and immersive. Come along for a conversation I wanted to have with Bill for years... I am so glad it finally happened.

This is a rerelease of a program I recorded with Sam Hauck in early 2025. What a great person to talk to about the BC wine world. Sam has been all across this province, and knows the people and the properties in detail. He is a contributor to MyVanCity on bottles and uses social media to share his experiences. From Lillooet to Osoyoos and Cawston to Cowichan Sam has a passion that goes back to the 1980s and even brought about a relocation to the heart of the Okanagan to be closer to the vineyards and folk who bring joy to our tables, enhance our enjoyment of life, and lift our pleasure in sharing food.

This is a rerelease of a program recorded in 2025. It is worth sharing not just as the original broadcast. Camp Maple Leaf sites are across Canada. Many thanks to National Program Director, April Young for her time. She shares the value the summer programs bring to not just military families and their children, but to others who can benefit from confidence and skills.Besides, who doesn't want to go to camp, to learn to swim, to fish, to sit around a fire at day's end, and to watch the night sky.Children in military families are often uprooted from their communities and connections; their schooling interrupted and safety net disappears. "... Frequent relocations inherent in military life can challenge their ability to develop lasting friendships."Yes, they have been around since 1955 but I bet you may never have heard of Camp Maple Leaf. This is an opportunity to learn about what they nurture and grow.Here is their mission statement:"We give children of Canadian Military families and chi

Come along to Government Street and make Emily Carr's home in Victoria a destination. She was born there. She lived there until her late teens and again in her 20s. She taught art classes at her dining room table. Her paintings capture the spirit of the west coast, its forests, its shorelines, and even the dynamics of trees moving in the wind. Emily Carr paintings today can fetch over $3 million and are sought by museums and collectors worldwide. Do read her books, and consider touring and taking an art class at this wonderful place in Canadian history.

Many thanks to Doug Bell for sharing his passion for fruit wines. Our conversation on where the winery is, its history, the products available, and even plans for the future... is all here. You will find that there are great stories in the journey and what they offer. You will learn how the project got its name, and know that over a million visitors have been welcomed. Maybe Prince George BC is your next destination?

This is a rerelease of a recording made some time ago and was only shared on radio. Here it is now ready to listen anytime you are ready. North Bay's John Sallie has some thoughts to share on life and what matters. Is it what you need, want desire? No, he says we don't need to clutch things . This episode explores what motivates us as we pass through the decades.His sixth decade is affording him the liberty to do more of what pleases him; that means more time devoted to writing. "It all goes by so fast so live for today."

Vancouver Island is the home to many vineyards. The climate favours varieties like Pinot Gris but there is much experimentation. Tricia and Steve arrived after detailed investigation of potential in the Okanagan, Italy and their home state of California. They have transformed a lavender farm into what is now Cobble Hill Winery. An east and south facing slope in the front is like a big advertisement with new rows of Chenin Blanc. Not far from Cowichan Bay it is a pretty corner of the world. Come along for the listen and find out how delighted they are to be here, growing grapes, and making wine.

Thanks to my guest Melissa Valliant, Communications Director at Beyond Plastics, for coming to talk about plastics and plastic pollution. We learn plastics are everywhere, including in us. If you want to know more about "The Problem with Plastic" by Judith Enck you might find a copy in your local library... This is not a story of despair. The subtitle is "How we can save ourselves and our planet before it's too late," so there is a sense of hopefulness as well as ways we can wean ourselves from dependency and addiction to this growing problem.

Western Engineering student Ribal Zebian has some ideas about what we build, where we build, and how we build, homes.Rising cost of materials and labour are just part of the equation. Zebian proposes modular units, built in climate controlled factories as a solution. He is willing to live for a year in one of his prototypes.Come along for a conversation about his journey and what he proposes for Canadians.

What can you write about when your heart is touched? Something like The Victoria Hand Project has such value... it says so much about both the generosity of, and the importance of, addressing a pressing need. Loss of a hand can happen in so many different ways: infection, industrial injury... and the cruelty of landmines.Come along to University of Victoria and find out how they are responding to this challenge.

I interviewed Holland Marshall the first time for a print story. His interest in specifically homelessness, addiction and the way society responds to these challenges brings us back together. This time our conversation covers some new ground based on his recent observations specifically in Sudbury. But don't mistake this for a uniquely Sudbury story. Those living "rough" have a perennial Canadian problem once the temperature drops: cold and frostbite. Warming using open flame in highly flammable tents or cardboard shelters is no solution. It can, and has, resulted in fires and death. Growing numbers of individuals living outside over the last decade - and especially during COVID - has exacerbated the outcomes no one would wish on anyone.

Want to know more about the Villa Eyrie? Of course you do. Located near the summit of the Malahat Pass this romantic resort is a perfect escape. Really only half an hour outside of Victoria the drive alone is worth it. The dining room has a view like no other. The rooms so comfortable... and well kitted out for cocooning and relaxation. Samantha Johnson is the Assistant General Manager and she has her fingers on the pulse of the property. Her she speaks about what makes Villa Eyrie a destination whether for breakfast/brunch, lunch/dinner or an overnight stay.