Authenticity as Currency: Media, Politics, and Trust with Rob Shaw at UBCM
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
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Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.
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Super Bowl of Advocacy: Making the Ask with Jeff Ferrier at UBCM
What do speed-dating meetings with ministers, lobbyist myths, and Shania Twain’s brother have in common? Government relations.
In this second of three special episodes recorded live at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with strategist Jeff Ferrier to talk about the “Super Bowl of advocacy.” From how to frame a winning ask in just ten minutes, to why local governments should pick one priority and hammer it relentlessly, the conversation digs into what actually works when trying to get a yes from the Province.
🎧 Listen in for:
Why “making the ask” beats long speeches every time
The difference between advocacy and activism (and why it matters)
How local governments can turn constituents into their biggest asset
The fine line between stupid and clever in lobbying
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Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.
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Resolutions, Reality, and Running for Mayor with Pete Fry at UBCM
What do 275 resolutions, municipal downloading, and a possible mayoral race have in common? Councillor Pete Fry.
This is the first of three special episodes recorded live at the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria. In this installment, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Vancouver Councillor Pete Fry on a patio next to a beautiful but somewhat noisy fountain. Discussion ranges from the reality behind UBCM resolutions, to the mental health toll of public office, to the question on everyone’s mind: will Pete run for mayor in 2026?
And yes, partway through our audio recorder called its own “point of order” when the memory card filled up. We stitched things back together so please consider it a procedural hiccup with all three readings passed.
🎧 Listen in for:
Why UBCM resolutions matter and why fewer might be better
That time Pete Fry was on Jimmy Kimmel
The realities of mental health, online outrage, and finding support in office
Pete’s thoughts on a 2026 mayoral run
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Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and drop us a line.
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The Price of a Door: Market vs. Non-Market Housing
In this milestone 10th episode, Parksville councillors Sean Wood and Joel Grenz break down one of the most talked-about issues in local government: housing.
What’s the difference between market and non-market housing? Why is non-market housing so hard (and slow) to build? Who actually pays for it? And what does the “Vienna Model” have to do with any of this?
From permissive tax exemptions to project delays at BC Housing, this episode pulls back the curtain on how housing decisions actually get made—and who carries the cost. Featuring a fiery quote from Courtenay councillor Wendy Morin and a potential idea for how BC builds homes.
Whether you’re a taxpayer, tenant, policymaker, or just housing-curious, this episode is for you.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
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The Next Leader of the BC Green Party with Adam Bremner-Akins, Dr. Jonathan Kerr, and Emily Lowan
The BC Green Party is about to pick a new leader, and the three candidates joined Joel and Sean on the deck to make their case. Adam Bremner-Akins (political science student and party secretary), Dr. Jonathan Kerr (Comox councillor and family doctor), and Emily Lowan (climate organizer and researcher) sat down for an unfiltered conversation about strategy, ideology, and what it takes to grow beyond two seats.
Should the BC Greens court centrist voters or build a "Fight the Oligarchs" coalition? How would they tackle BC's deficit, and what role government should play in subsidizing the energy transition?
The conversation covers everything from BC's unnamed new dam to healthcare reform, offshore wind farms, and why one candidate thinks we need fewer EVs and more e-bikes. Plus: how to work with existing Green MLAs when you don't have a seat, and whether "crisitunity" is the approach to BC's multiple challenges.
🎧 Listen in for:
Membership growth numbers revealed!
Why healthcare reform could fix BC's budget crisis
Three very different visions for the party's future
How the confidence agreement gets renegotiated this fall
Whether Greens should fight or finesse their way to power
BC Green members vote September 13-23.
👉 Subscribe, rate, and review on your favourite podcast platform.
Find all our episodes at nonpartisanhacks.com and be sure to drop us a line.
Hosted by two Parksville city councillors, Nonpartisan Hacks brings you behind the scenes of how government really works — without the spin, the shouting, or the partisanship.
We dive into the practical, the absurd, and the oddly inspiring world of local government, while mixing in the occasional provincial and federal twist. Expect real talk about decision-making, budgets, bylaws, and political hot potatoes (with a helping of humour and honesty).
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