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Interview with Marian van der Zon
Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, June 13, 2010 - 6:00 pm
 
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Islands of Resistance coverI grew up with a romantic view of radio pirates; ordinary people using public airwaves to build communities from locations offshore, from basement studios and from mobile transmitters in the backs of vans. As passionate as I am about radio, I never knew pirate radio had a Canadian scene.

Then I found out my good friend Bob Goyetche was a host on CNOT (a Montreal-based pirate radio station) in the early 90s. And then I met Marian van der Zon at the Radio Without Boundaries conference in Toronto last year. At the time, she was editing a book about the Canadian pirate radio scene. That book, Islands of Resistance: Pirate Radio in Canada, is now available.

John Meadows interviewed Bob Goyetche about his experiences in pirate radio and has published the discussion on his On the Log Podcast. Click here to listen to Rebel Radio.

Also, check out this story about an Ottawa boy who set up his own pirate radio station this past winter. And I thought the younger generation didn’t care about radio anymore!

Interview with Andrea Ross
Electric Sky, Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, May 2, 2010 - 6:53 pm
 
icon for podpress  Interview with Andrea Ross [10:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’ve often heard people say they’re fighting or they’ve beaten cancer. It was a shift in my thinking when, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, my wife talked about healing and being a survivor.

Six months, three surgeries and six rounds of chemotherapy later, I understand.

You can follow Andrea’s incredibly inspiring online breast cancer journal at WeCanRebuildHer.com. The site features regular blog posts from everyone in our family as well as audio podcasts that document various stages of our journey, and videos that celebrate life and fun during a stressful time.

Andrea and I also collaborated on the children’s book podcast JustOneMoreBook.com, now on hiatus.

Hey! Electric Sky is five years old!!!

Interview with Dewitt Jones
Podcasts, Portrait

Monday, August 24, 2009 - 10:34 am
 
icon for podpress  Interview with Dewitt Jones [9:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

One of my favourite lessons taught by Dewitt Jones is to study your tools and how to use them so you can capture the extraordinary no matter which tool happens to be in your hand at the time.  Dewitt knows this well.  His extraordinary photographs have graced pages and covers of National Geographic magazine for seventeen years.

I had the privilege to meet and speak with Dewitt at a small private event designed to create a space for conversation.  The conversations hinged on creativity, curiosity and the extraordinary.

Interview with Hugh Brewster
Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, August 16, 2009 - 9:45 pm
 
icon for podpress  Interview with Hugh Brewster [10:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

A new all-ages book by historian and author, Hugh Brewster, explores the valour and determination of the Canadian forces as one problem after another stacked against them for the raid on German forces at Dieppe.  His book includes details on the planning and execution of the raid, as well as the incredible stories of survival of Canadian soldiers that became German prisoners — several of whom escaped through (patiently) hand dug tunnels.

Relevant books by Hugh Brewster:

Listen to more with Hugh Brewster on JustOneMoreBook.com.

Photo of Hugh Brewster from HughBrewster.com.

The Leadership Summit 2009: Leaders and Followers
Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, August 9, 2009 - 9:55 pm
 
icon for podpress  Leaders and Followers [9:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We tend to be myopic when we face challenges — it’s much more comfortable to focus inwards.  Leaders are no exception.  So, when leaders talk about thinking out of the box, they should be first in line.

This concept has been embraced by Bill Hybels who founded The Leadership Summit fifteen years ago.  While the event has faith-based overtones, the concepts that are discussed are relevant to leaders of any community.  In fact, this year’s program included Chip and Dan HeathDavid Gergen, Bono and Tony Blair.

  • Show ID and Intro
  • Taber Bucknell
  • James Drew
  • Gina
  • Pastor Dave Kornelsen
  • Julie Osborne
  • …and several anonymous contributors

Relevant links:

Special thanks to Lois Warren for all of her logistical help.

Stephen Gritt on Art Restoration and Conservation
Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, April 27, 2008 - 10:01 pm
 
icon for podpress  Stephen Gritt on Art Restoration and Conservation [10:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Stephen GrittIt’s amazing who you can meet in a park during your child’s soccer game. I was introduced to Stephen Gritt on one such occasion last summer by someone who knew that Stephen would make a great guest for Electric Sky. They were right.

Outtakes from this interview can be found at MarkBlevis.com.

Jennifer Barnaby and Cakes for a Cause
Podcasts, Portrait

Monday, April 21, 2008 - 10:52 pm
 
icon for podpress  Jennifer Barnaby and Cakes for a Cause [9:56m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jennifer BarnabyDuring the annual Great Glebe Garage Sale (a huge community garage sale in Ottawa), my family stumbed on Jennifer Barnaby, a Cordon Bleu Chef who was serving baked goods she’d made while her husband, Jim, brewed up espresso and handled the transactions. Every single cent collected from the sales went directly to charity. They didn’t even recover their expenses.

That’s how I met Jim and Jennifer. I had one of their espressos and a piece of the most incredible cake I have ever had to kick off my garage sale spree. It might have been 9:30am.

Brad Blanton and Radical Honesty
Podcasts, Portrait

Sunday, April 13, 2008 - 5:00 pm
 
icon for podpress  Brad Blanton and Radical Honesty [10:21m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Brad BlantonI’ve wanted to produce a documentary on honesty for almost three years. In preparation, I gathered some street audio on honesty and dishonesty, definitions of the ideas and self-analysis (unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced some of this audio). I also conducted an incredibly insightful interview with Brad Blanton whose book Radical Honesty: How to Transform Your Life by Telling the Truth I was reading at the time.

When I conducted this interview in 2005, Dr. Blanton was preparing to pursue a political career as an independent, green candidate on a platform of honesty.

I still have designs on producing a documentary on honesty. At the same time, I can’t keep this interview to myself any longer.