Conversations That Matter

Ep 598 - Conservative Party of BC Leadership

Guest: Iain Black

By Stuart McNish

 

In an interview with Vancouver is Awesome in the lead-up to the 2025 federal election, Iain Black stated, “I thought my days as an MLA and Minister were behind me. But witnessing the decline of our community – due to rising affordability issues, increasing crime, and a relentless wave of overdose-related deaths – I could no longer stand idly by.” Despite coming up short in the April federal election for  Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam, Black has retained his passion to answer the call for public service.

 

Black’s resume includes cabinet posts in the BC Liberal government of Gordon Campbell, serving as Minister of Labour, Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, and Minister of Labour and Citizen Services between 2005 and 2011. He left politics to take on the role of President and CEO of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

 

During the early days of the internet explosion in the 1990s, Black spent his professional career in the tech sector. He founded internet companies. Following his eight years at the helm of the Board of Trade, Black returned to the tech sector as President and CEO of Maximizer, a Concord Group company.

 

We invited Iain Black to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his bid to win the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 597 - Believing in Possibility

Joe Roberts, Executive Director of the Push For Change Foundation

By Stuart McNish

 

“There’s more to you than you can see,” said Gus, the man who started the turnaround in Joe Roberts' life. At the time, Joe was living on the streets of Vancouver. He was a drug user, he was struggling with mental health, and he was in and out of the criminal justice system. “I had lost the belief in possibility; I only saw failure ahead of me, until Gus.” From there, the journey to recovery began.

 

Over the course of the next five years, Joe entered rehab. He returned to school and studied business and marketing, where he graduated on the Dean’s list and won the Laurie H. Cameron Memorial Award for academic excellence with a combined GPA of 3.94. It seems improbable, but it wasn’t, because of his faith in God and his renewed belief in a better future.

 

Joe Roberts entered the business world and co-founded Mindware Design Communications in 1997. Then in 2016, Joe walked across Canada pushing a shopping cart, a symbol of homelessness that eventually became an icon for his Push For Change Foundation. His goal: to raise money and awareness about youth homelessness. He walked 24 kilometres a day through all four seasons and more.

 

We invited Joe Roberts to join us for a Conversation That Matters about belief in the possible and the power it has to change your life.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 596 - Conservative Party of BC Leadership Candidate

Peter Milobar

By Stuart McNish

 

He is one of four sitting MLAs running for the leadership of the Conservative Party of BC: Peter Milobar was first elected to the legislature in 2017 as a BC Liberal in the Kamloops-North Thompson riding and is the current Finance Critic for the BC Conservatives. Prior to running provincially, Milobar was a councillor for two terms in Kamloops before winning and sitting as mayor for nine years, from 2008 to 2017.

 

In an interview with Rob Shaw, Milobar said, “I have a demonstrated skill set to deal with diverse views around a large board of elected officials. And then I know how to interstitch all of that with a government bureaucracy. So I think that very much sets me up well for the challenges facing British Columbia.”

 

As he enters the race, 10 people have indicated they want the job. Milobar says, “I bring a level of seriousness to the big issues facing BC. The biggest being the economy and its direct impact on affordability, crime, education and real estate.” As well, Milobar says, “I am uniquely qualified to address reconciliation in BC, and the manner in which Premier Eby and his party are addressing it, is counterproductive.”

 

We invited Conservative Party of BC leadership candidate Peter Milobar to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his vision for the party and the province.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 595 - Drunk: How we Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization

Guest: Dr. Edward Slingland

By Stuart McNish

 

“It is humanity’s oldest indulgence,” says Edward Slingerland, the author of the book “Drunk.” Slingerland posits that drinking intoxicating beverages has shaped human history and played a crucial role in the rise of the first large-scale societies. Drawing on evidence from archaeology, history, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, literature, and genetics, Slingerland uncovers the role alcohol played in enhancing creativity, reducing stress, and building trust.

 

“Why we like to drink is still a bit unclear; was it an evolutionary hijack or did we adapt to consuming fermented beverages? The subtitle of his book is, ‘How we Sipped, Danced and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization,’” Slingerland says. “Humanity’s 10,000-year desire for alcohol is not an evolutionary mistake – it was a crucial element in building civilization.”

 

Slingerland says that alcohol disarms our prefrontal cortex. He says, “It dulls that part of our brain that is always trying to control things, that’s looking for threats, that trying to remain logical. And when the prefrontal cortex is disarmed, we relax with each other, we let go enough to trust and share.” In other words, alcohol has and continues to play an important role in people getting together socially, diplomatically, in business, and romantically.

 

We invited Dr. Edward Slingerland, the author of “Drunk,” to join us for a Conversation That Matters about how responsible consumption of fermented beverages has multiple benefits.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 594 - Why do some children get sick?

Guest: Dr. Stuart Turvey, British Columbia Children’s Hospital

By Stuart McNish

 

“Why do some healthy children succumb to overwhelming bacterial infection while others survive or not become infected at all?” asks Dr. Stuart Turvey of British Columbia Children’s Hospital and the University of BC’s Faculty of Medicine. “Why do some children suffer crippling juvenile arthritis or life-threatening asthma?”

 

For the past 16 years, Turvey and a team of researchers have been asking and answering these questions through the national CHILD Birth Cohort study, starting with a population of children with a defined infectious or inflammatory disease phenotype. 

 

Turvey says, “The knowledge generated by this approach will aid in diagnosis and highlight mechanisms of disease pathogenesis and ultimately identify novel treatments.”

 

We invited Dr Stuart Turvey of BC Children’s Hospital to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the benefits that his research is delivering to children’s health.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 593 - Conservative Party of BC: Running for Leadership

Guest: Yuri Fulmer

By Stuart McNish

 

The race for Conservative Party of BC leader is on. “British Columbia stands at a crossroads,” says Yuri Fulmer, who was the first to put his name forward for the job. “After years of mismanagement and policies that have failed working families, it's time for a new direction,” states his leadership campaign website.

 

Fulmer was born in Australia and moved to BC after a backpacking trip. He says, “I fell in love with the gentle and equitable ethos of Canada.” He stayed and went to work at an A&W. By the time he was 22, he bought his first franchise and started to build a business portfolio. He went on to purchase the Mr Mike’s Steakhouse and Bar.

 

Fulmer’s company byline is “Business Nicely Done.” And it is clear his political lens is business-focused. His political chops are thinner – he ran in the last provincial election in West Vancouver - Sea to Sky, where he lost to the Green Party candidate. “A learning experience to be sure,” says Fulmer.

 

We invited Yuri Fulmer to join us for a Conversation That Matters about his bid to lead the Conservative Party of BC and lead the party into the next provincial election.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 592 - Canadian Dental Plan: Is it Working?

Guest: Dr. Bruce Ward, President of the Canadian Dental Association

By Stuart McNish

 

“The Canadian Dental Care Plan is working – sorta,” says Dr. Bruce Ward, the President of the Canadian Dental Association. Ward goes on to say, “As of the end of 2025, more than 5.5 million people were approved for coverage. However, not all of them have received care.” According to government figures, 3.5 million people have seen a dentist. The number of people approved is growing and is expected to reach 9 million.

 

It’s not free dental care, as was first promoted by the government. “One of the interesting challenges dentists face are patients who are shocked to learn the plan only covers a portion of the cost,” says Ward. “That confusion has led to a number of uncomfortable conversations for dentists who rather than care for a patient are taking valuable time to outline the rules of the plan.”

 

While the program has been embraced by dentists across the country, there have been growing pains. “Not all dentists have signed on because of issues around pre-authorization, fees, and the amount of administrative work,” says Ward. Even with the drawbacks, according to a 2025 survey by the Canadian Dental Association, “patients report satisfaction and positive experiences. The number of Canadians with a dentist, as a result, has increased to 71% [and] up to 63% a year earlier.”

 

We invited Dr. Bruce Ward, President of the Canadian Dental Association, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the Dental Care Plan, how it’s working and if it will stay.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 591 - Save British Columbia’s Restaurants

Guest: Ian Tostenson

By Stuart McNish

 

“Restaurants are at the heart of every community in [British Columbia] and almost 50% of them are struggling,” says Ian Tostenson, the President of the Restaurant and Foodservices Association. “Food, labour, and rent costs are rising and customer traffic is down.” It’s a trend that has been gaining momentum since COVID and the BCGEU strike that closed down liquor stores and pushed many operators to the brink of bankruptcy.

Tostenson says, “The strike was particularly difficult because it came at a time when provincial employment regulations were already forcing restaurant operators to cut back on employment.” According to Douglas Magazine, the industry dropped 10,800 positions between September 2023 and the end of 2024.

“70% of restaurants in the province have seen a drop in customers and profitability is down for a mind numbing 81% of restaurants,” says Tostenson, who is calling on the government to reduce payroll taxes, encourage the federal government to do the same, return all or part of WorkSafeBC’s $2.1 billion surplus to employers, and implement Save BC Restaurants’ main issues. 

We invited Ian Tostenson of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of the province’s food services sector.

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 590 -  The Social Media Warning Paradox

Guest: Iman Goodarzi

By Stuart McNish

“How much time do you spend on social media? Be honest now, because the answer will surprise you,” says Yash Gupta of Lognormal Analytics. “Social media hooks the average person for at least 5 hours a day.” And everything you do is being recorded and analyzed. Algorithms retrieve psychographics from your online purchases, reviews, likes, shares, comments, emails, blog posts, tweets, posts saved, and more – all powered by A.I.

“It’s easy to understand the urge to slap a warning label on social media,” says Iman Goodarzi, a public scholar and PhD candidate in marketing at Concordia University’s John Molson School of Business. “The challenge,” Goodarzi points out, “unlike cigarettes or alcohol – which contain specific chemical payloads – social media is far more complex, coupled with a series of dopamine hits. It is a mirror of society. It’s a dynamic algorithm-driven marketplace and a void all at the same time.”

Goodarzi is responding to calls by the U.S. Surgeon General, the Governor of New York and Quebec’s all-party legislative committee’s report on screen time. In Quebec, the all-party committee recommends: “No screen time for children under two, one hour a day for children two to five, and no more than two hours for children six to 12” – a recommendation that Goodarzi says “is well-meaning but won’t work because it suggests overuse is mainly a youth problem.”

We invited Iman Goodarzi of Concordia University to join us for a Conversation That Matters on practical ways to use, understand, and curtail the mental health threats that social media presents.

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca

Ep 589 -  Taking Care of Men

Guest: Kenton Boston, Canadian Men’s Health Foundation

By Stuart McNish

 

“Health is complex and men’s health is complicated by a variety of factors that include biology, behavioral choices, and peer pressure,” says Kenton Boston, the President of the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation. According to Boston, one of the biggest challenges is a stoic mentality. He says, “‘Suck it up’ is a phrase all too familiar to men and it can lead to severe mental and physical health challenges.”

 

Despite decades of efforts to change the “suck it up” narrative, stereotypes persist. Boston says, “Breaking down resistance to seeking help requires a patient consistent message – a message confirming men and their health matter to the people who love them.”

 

Heart disease, cancer, and a host of other major organ issues are concerns for both women and men. Boston notes, “However, for men, mental health and suicide are two major concerns men tend to face alone.” Stigma, judgement, masculinity norms, denial, and a lack of male-friendly healthcare are cited as reasons why men prefer to keep their mouths shut about their health.

 

We invited Kenton Boston of the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation to join us for a Conversation That Matters about men and their well-being.

 

You can see the interview here https://www.conversationsthatmatter.ca/

Learn More about our guests career at careersthatmatter.ca