Top 10 Podcast Moments! 🤯
Reflecting on 200 episodes and 5 years of the Bigger Than Me Podcast.
When I started this podcast, I didn’t know what I was doing—but I knew why I was doing it.
I was curious. Frustrated. Restless. I wanted to understand how we got here—politically, socially, culturally—and whether we could do better. Not with headlines or hot takes, but with honest conversation. I never expected to do 200 episodes. And I definitely didn’t expect some of those episodes to hit me as hard as they did.
This isn’t a “best of” list. These are the 10 moments that stayed with me. The ones that unsettled me, humbled me, challenged me—or all three.
#10 — David Suzuki: The Cliff Is Behind Us
This wasn’t the usual climate chat. Suzuki didn’t predict disaster—he said it already happened.
The metaphor he used—Wile E. Coyote suspended mid-air, just realizing he's gone over the edge—was brutal and honest. But what struck me most wasn’t the science. It was the emotion. Suzuki sounded heartbroken.
And I realized: if someone who’s spent a lifetime studying the environment feels this hopeless, how much longer can we keep pretending everything’s fine?
#9 — Tara Henley: A Love Letter Disguised as Criticism
Tara didn’t leave the CBC to burn bridges. She left because she still cared.
That’s what made her words so powerful—this wasn’t a hit piece. It was grief. The kind you feel when something you loved stops being what it once was.
Her message? If we want public institutions to survive, we have to talk about where they’ve gone wrong. Silence won’t save them. Honesty might.
#8 — Holly Doan: Just the Facts, No Frills
In a media landscape where performance often trumps reporting, Holly reminded me what old-school journalism looks like.
She doesn’t chase headlines—she chases receipts. No spin, no tribalism, no viral gimmicks. Just facts.
It made me reflect on how rare that’s become. And how badly we need it.
#7 — Candice Malcolm: Disagreement Done Right
This one got messy—and that’s exactly why it mattered.
We talked about history, power, pain, and the stories Canada tells itself. We didn’t agree. But we didn’t shut each other down either.
In a world addicted to outrage, this conversation felt like an act of defiance. Not because it was comfortable—but because it wasn’t.
#6 — John Rustad: Say It With Your Chest
Most politicians dance. Rustad didn’t. I asked if he would fire BC’s top doctor. He answered without hesitation.
Whether you agreed with him or not, you knew where he stood—and more importantly, why. That level of clarity, conviction, and consequence? That’s rare. And it reminded me that hard questions deserve real answers.
#5 — Kris Sims: The Carbon Tax Isn’t Just Policy
Kris doesn’t just talk about numbers. She talks about people. When we discussed carbon taxes, the issue wasn’t abstract—it was about families struggling to heat their homes.
I left that conversation thinking less about policy debates and more about the quiet burden everyday people carry when government forgets who it’s supposed to serve.
#4 — Aiemann Zahabi: Mindset Is Everything
Aiemann talked about fighting. But what hit hardest was what he said about the mind.
He wasn’t afraid to admit he needed help—that he brought in a mindset coach not because he was weak, but because he wanted to stay sharp under pressure.
His honesty reminded me: greatness isn’t just what you do—it’s how you prepare for the moments that test you.
#3 — Chief Clarence Louie: No Fluff. No Excuses.
Clarence doesn’t do slogans. He does reality. He laid it out plainly: if we want sovereignty, we need self-reliance. That means jobs. Businesses. Infrastructure.
Every program we believe in—education, health, culture—has to be funded. And the money doesn’t fall from the sky. It comes from economic development.
It was one of the most unapologetically practical—and inspiring—conversations I’ve had.
#2 — Brent Butt: Jokes With a Purpose
This wasn’t just fun (though it was). Brent reminded me that humor is serious business.
Not because it avoids hard topics—but because it helps us survive them. He showed that sometimes a good laugh is the most honest way to tell the truth.
In a world that often feels heavy, Brent gave me permission to lighten up without losing depth.
#1 — Premier David Eby: Leadership Without the Script
This wasn’t just a high-profile interview—it was a moment of reflection. Eby didn’t come to spin. He came to talk.
We spoke about trust, failure, and the weight of governing in uncertain times. He admitted when things hadn’t gone as planned. And he talked about trying again. That humility? You don’t see it often from someone with that much power.
That’s why it’s number one.
Why These Moments Matter
These episodes didn’t go viral. Some sparked backlash. Others sparked growth. But every one of them reminded me why I started this podcast:
Not to impress. Not to perform. But to learn.
Thanks for being part of the journey. Here’s to the next 200.