Nonpartisan Hacks

How does effective chairing turn a room full of strong opinions into real decisions? Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Nanaimo councillor and former Regional District of Nanaimo board chair Tyler Brown to unpack what it really takes to run meetings that work, keep a 19-member board aligned, and steer governance without theatrics, gavels, or power plays. Brown traces how Nanaimo moved from national-news dysfunction to a functional council, why “righting the ship” was only the beginning, and how the real work of a chair happens long before the meeting starts. He breaks down staff–council dynamics, the pressures elected officials actually face, and why healthy governance depends on clarity, preparation, and a steady hand. 🎧 Listen in for: Why meetings fail and the quiet work that prevents them from going sideways How to prepare for decisions when information is incomplete and emotions are high What effective chairs do behind the scenes to keep debates productive How councils can respect staff roles without surrendering decision-making Why public anger escalates and how to set ground rules that protect everyone’s voice Where B.C.’s Local Government Act falls short and why modernization matters for communities 👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform. Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.

What happens when short-term politics collides with long-term obligations? Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with former MLA Adam Olsen to break down what the Cowichan Tribes decision actually means for British Columbia and why the province keeps deferring the same structural problems. The conversation traces the pattern: governments chasing headlines, grant cycles built for ribbon-cutting, and a land system held together by avoidance. Olsen lays out how exclusion shaped B.C.’s foundations, why litigation produces lose-lose outcomes, and what responsible negotiation should look like when title is already established in law. 🎧 Listen in for: How four-year (at most!) political cycles block long-term governance Why B.C.’s funding model for municipalities and First Nations is structurally unsound What the Cowichan ruling clarifies about title and why appeals won’t settle it What a depoliticized, whole-of-government approach to reconciliation requires 👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform. Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.

What’s the difference between shaming people and shaming harmful behaviour? Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood take on one of the trickiest words in modern politics: stigma. From anti-smoking campaigns and seatbelts to vaping, littering, and impaired driving, this episode explores how culture and policy have worked together to steer society, using stigma as a tool for good. And with B.C.’s legislature debating whether schools should promote stigma against drug use, the conversation turns to where compassion ends and accountability begins. 🎧 Listen in for: Why stigma isn’t always the villain it’s made out to be How shaming actions (not people) changed public behaviour... from smoking to drunk driving The fine line between compassion and consequence in addiction policy Bill M 213 and what both sides of the aisle might be missing How governments can use culture—not just legislation—to drive change 👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform. Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.

From street disorder and involuntary care to a record-setting provincial deficit and party leadership reviews, this year’s UBCM had no shortage of debate …or drama. Hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down on the deck (yes, with fingerless gloves) to unpack the biggest stories and sessions from the 2025 Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria. They dig into the shifting tone on addiction and public safety, Premier David Eby’s acknowledgement of policy missteps, and the growing conversation around stability, leadership, and what “compassionate” policy really means. 🎧 Listen in for: The evolving debate on decriminalization, hypoxia and involuntary care B.C.’s record deficit and what it means for services Advocacy wins (and a resolution about resolutions) #bcpoli plot twists, from new party leaders to a mid-speech heckler 👉 Catch this wrap-up episode and revisit our UBCM interviews with Pete Fry, Jeff Ferrier, and Rob Shaw at nonpartisanhacks.com.

What separates functional government from frustrated government? In this special episode recorded amongst the hustle and bustle of the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with political reporter Rob Shaw (CHEK News, Business in Vancouver, Political Capital) to explore what makes governments succeed or stumble. From the tension between local and provincial priorities to the challenge of maintaining trust in an age of cynicism, Shaw shares insights from years of covering B.C. politics and the people behind it. 🎧 Listen in for: What separates a successful government from a face-plant one The shifting tone in B.C. communities and at UBCM How local governments can build leverage and unity The evolving relationship between reporters and power Why authenticity matters more than ever in politics and journalism 👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform. Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.