The Conversation Lab

Understanding an Official Community Plan (OCP)If you've ever wondered whether your children or grandchildren will be able to afford to live in your community, worried about housing, transportation, water, wildfire risk, climate change, traffic congestion, environmental protection, or simply what future generations will inherit, then you already have a stake in this conversation.While this episode focuses on Bowen Island where I live, the questions being discussed are the same ones facing communities across British Columbia and Canada. How do we grow? What should we protect? What infrastructure will we need? And how do we balance housing, environment, economy, and quality of life?In this episode, we talk with Mayor Andrew Leonard, Daniel Martin (Manager of Planning and Development), and James Crandles (OCP Steering Committee Co-Chair) to unpack Bowen Island's proposed Official Community Plan and the current phase of public engagement.Together they explore:• What an Official Community Plan (OCP) is — and what it isn't• Why Bowen's OCP is being updated now• The guiding frameworks shaping the draft• Housing diversity and infrastructure planning• Biodiversity, stewardship, and climate resilience• Transportation, community vitality, and circular economy principles• Land use maps, conservation areas, and development permit areas• How residents can participate meaningfully during this phase of engagementWhether you live on Bowen Island or in a growing community elsewhere, this conversation is about understanding the choices, trade-offs, and opportunities that shape the places we call home.You can learn more at bowenislandmunicipality.ca.

AI systems carry embedded worldviews. This isn’t a metaphor—it’s architecture. They inherit Western epistemologies, English-language biases, individualistic assumptions, capitalist logics, hetero-normative defaults, racialized categories, settler-colonial knowledge priorities, Silicon Valley’s belief in optimization and speed, and a particular moral grammar about what counts as “rational,” “true,” or “good.”This is a converstion with Farhan Samir that began in November as we graduated from UBC. Talking with him I felt something familiar—something that sits at the centre of my own work on conversation, polarization, and the power of language. Our conversaion reminds me how much complexity lies beneath even the simplest act of interpretation, and how rarely we pay attention to it.

Dr Jonathan Eaton is the lead author of a new study that takes a deep dive into how Vancouver residents think about disaster preparedness. He talks about how disaster preparedness is about more than seismic retrofits, sandbags, or evacuation routes - It's about people, about how we understand risk and what we value, and how our sense of place, memory, and community shape the choices we make before the ground starts shaking.

Two years ago, I underwent open-heart surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. What stayed with me, beyond the procedure itself, was the extraordinary level of care I received—from the cardiac team, nurses, and support staff. It felt deeply human, attentive, and intentional.When I later circled back to thank them, many of those I spoke with credited their approach to the teachings of Jean Watson. I was curious who was this person shaping how care is felt in a clinical setting?Jean Watson is a nurse, scholar, and founder of the Watson Caring Science Institute. Her work has transformed how we think about healing—not just as a physical process, but as something deeply relational and grounded in compassion. So, I reached out to her. I wanted to understand more about what it means to truly care, and what lessons her work might offer not just to those in healthcare, but to all of us—especially in these divided and uncertain times.

In this episode of Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones, we sit down with Liz Stewart, a Defend Our Homes organizer with Neighbours United in British Columbia. Liz shares how deep canvassing, a powerful tool rooted in empathy and storytelling, is helping bridge divides in forestry towns where proposed biodiversity legislation is sparking debate.With curiosity and care, Liz opens up about what it means to meet people where they’re, the emotional weight of conversations across difference, and the quiet power of asking why. From growing up in resource-rich Manitoba to confronting her own assumptions, Liz’s journey reveals how vulnerability and respect can shift hearts and minds, one door and one conversation at a time. This isn’t just a conversation about forests. It’s a conversation about how we talk to each other and what’s possible when we truly listen.

Andy Hoffman is a distinguished professor at the University of Michigan, holding joint appointments at the Ross School of Business and the School for Environment and Sustainability. His work bridges two often disparate worlds—business and environmental stewardship—challenging the status quo by advocating for a new kind of capitalism, one rooted in moral purpose and long-term societal impact. His latest book, Business School and the Noble Purpose of the Market, offers a provocative vision for how business education must evolve in response to the existential challenges of our time. In this conversation, we explore not only the key themes of his new book but also his thoughts on capitalism, corporate responsibility, the intersection of business and policy, and how future business leaders can navigate a world increasingly shaped by social and environmental crises. I hope you can join us.

Ian Williams is a poet, novelist, and essayist whose work explores themes of race, identity, and social complexity. Born in Trinidad and raised in Canada, Williams has developed a distinctive voice that combines lyrical sensitivity with sharp cultural insight. His debut novel, Reproduction, won the 2019 Giller Prize and was celebrated for its inventive structure and moving exploration of familial bonds across race and class. I was particularly looking forward to our discussion to talk about his work, his latest book and about his PhD research which focused on the nuanced dimensions of tone and voice in print, examining how people’s identities and intentions are subtly encoded in their written words, particularly through everyday typing and texting. As you might imagine we talked about the transformative power of open, authentic conversations in fostering trust and understanding amid societal polarization. I hope you can join us.

barbara findlay is an old white cisgender queer lawyer with disabilities who was raised working-class and christian on the prairies. In this episode, we explore barbara's extensive career and contributions to social justice, her involvement in fighting against oppression, and her continuous advocacy work. The conversation touches on significant topics such as the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, the current wave of transphobia, and the profound impact of language on perception and interaction. barbara shares her experiences and strategies in dealing with these issues, offering valuable insights into the complexities of social justice advocacy.

Corey Nathan is the Executive Producer and Host of the Talkin Politics & Religion Without Killing Each Other podcast. In this podcast, we discuss the importance of words and conversations in various aspects of life.Corey Nathan shares his background as a stockbroker and theatre conservatory student, as well as his experiences as an entrepreneur and podcast producer. We emphasize the need to build bridges and have meaningful conversations with people who have different beliefs and perspectives. The conversation delves into the topics of cancel culture and identity politics, with Corey Nathan highlighting the problem of forming judgments based on limited information. They discuss the academic and sociological work being done to understand these phenomena and encourage a more intelligent and inclusive approach. Note: Corey quotes his grandfather and mentions horses behind.

Bowen Island is a small island and municipality at the entrance to Howe Sound. It's connected to Vancouver and the rest of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia by a short ferry ride. Bowen Island residents are passionate about many things and its one of the many reasons I enjoy living here.Just over a year ago, we elected a new municipal council and in this podcast our Mayor (Andrew Leonard) talks about the challenges and opportunities on Bowen Island. Relevant because where most big cities are overwhelming, small municipalities like ours bring all of our community together to practice our version of participatory democracy. Our conversation covers a range of topics including the challenges living on a rural island in the shadow of Metro Vancouver, housing infrastructure, and grant funding. We also discuss Bowen Island's short-term rental policy and the possibility of establishing a tourism tax. The conversation highlights the need for public engagement and encourages residents to participate in the budget process and the development of a new official community plan. I think you'll enjoy how Andrew upacks how our community comes together in different ways.

Nick Enfield is Professor of Linguistics a the University of Sydney and a co-director of the Sydney Centre for Language Research. His recent books include Languave versus Reality, Concequences of Language, and How We Talk. In this podcast Nick discusses the importance of language and its impact on conversations. He emphasizes the need to understand language in its broader context, including its cultural and societal implications. He challenges the idea that language is simply a tool for describing reality, arguing that it is a choice individuals make to frame their experiences and perspectives. Enfield also highlights the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world and the importance of recognizing linguistic diversity.

Held is a partnership of facilitators, culture creators, and practitioners building a world liberated from oppressive systems, dynamics, and relationships. In this episode, one of their founders, Vanessa Faloye explains how with the help of co-founders, Alex and Pria, how they hold people, organizations and movements to build relational skills and cultural practices rooted in collective liberation. Our conversation highlights the need for improved communication and understanding about important social issues. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, challenging oppressive systems, and creating spaces for dialogue and growth. The work of the Held Collective aims to foster collective liberation and create a world where everyone can experience freedom, safety, and dignity

Naomi Oreskes is a Professor of the History of Science and the author or co-author of 9 books, 150 articles, essays and opinion pieces. In this episode we talk about the latest book that she worked on with Eric Conway, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market. If you want to know why we are so polarized and have so many differeing beliefs you shouldn't miss this episode and I think you'll love the book.

In this episode of Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones, Jason talks about the interconnectedness of environmental history, capitalism, and social theory and how it impacts our current social dynamic. He highlights the urgency of the planetary crisis, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. Moore emphasizes the need to understand history to address this present moment effectively. We talk about the impact of ideologies on various global issues, such as gender, race, religion, and culture. Jason explains that capitalist ideologies instrumentalize the world and perpetuate a binary mode of thought. Our conversation touches on the role of technology, capitalism, and power in shaping the current state of the world.

Tzeporah Berman, an environmental activist and campaigner, talks about her work at Stand.earth and her role in campaigns to stop fracking, protect forests, and clean up the fashion industry. She emphasizes the need to replace fossil fuels and prevent their overproduction, as they contribute to climate change. Berman reflects on her journey as an activist and the challenges of finding common ground with different stakeholders.Our conversation explores the importance of understanding different perspectives and managing emotions during challenging dialogues. Tzeporah shares her approach of finding common ground and understanding the lived experiences of others. Our discussion also addresses issues of inclusivity, systemic biases, and the need for individuals to actively engage in unlearning and understanding complex issues to drive positive social change.

In this episode Wendy and I talk about the concept of paradox and its relevance to organizational dynamics and personal decision-making. We talk about the importance of recognizing that beliefs and values are shaped by historical context and influence our perception of the world. They emphasize the need to focus on what is right and find transformative moments to navigate the future differently. Wediscuss the importance of addressing significant issues through dialogue and understanding rather than perpetuating polarization. They advocate for a "both-and" approach that respects and listens to different perspectives. The concept of paradox is recognized and accepted in academic and professional circles, with more people using it to describe complex challenges. Embracing paradox has led to positive outcomes, such as opening up new strategic possibilities and fostering productive conversations.

This episode includes two conversations with Connie Zweig. One in August 2023 on Zoom and the other on the phone in the summer of 2017. Connie's work deals with the hidden power of the dark side of human nature and we talk about how the shadow affects us.

Connie is a retired Jungian psychologist and therapist, a writer, Climate Reality Project Leader, and Citizens Climate Lobbyist. We talk about her new book Meeting the Shadow on the Spirtual Path, some of the things religion and politics have in common and how our shadow can influcence our conversations.

Bob Joseph has spent more than twenty years training corporations and government organizations to work effectively and respectfully with Indigenous communities through his business, Indigenous Corporate Training. He has been an associate professor at Royal Roads University and a guest lecturer at other academic institutions. He is the author of Canadian best seller, 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act and Indigenous Relations: Insights, Tims & Suggestions. In this episode we talk about the pathway to Reconciliation and Bob provides his own personal insight of how to navigate difficult conversation.Please have a look at our show notes with the transcript of this episode for more information.

I've started a new series here and I'm calling it Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones. Its part of my disertation research project with the University of British Columbia as I explore the power of the words we use in a polarzed world with experts who research, study how to navigate difficult conversations.In this episode, we're joined by Teun van Dijk. Teun is a Dutch linguist who studies language structure, development, and use. He has made significant contributions to discourse analysis, and he is an expert at how language both reflects and constructs the social world. We talk about his earlier work as well as how discourse has been used to manipulate public opinion and reinforce power relationships. we also bump into pre-modernism and populist movements and their impact.The interview concludes with advice on navigating difficult conversations and touches on debates within social movements.Teun was a professor of discourse studies at the University of Amsterdam until 2004 and now teaches at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona. He is the Founding Director of the Centre of Discourse Studies.

In this episode we catch up with Jessie Sutherland. Jessie developed Intercultural Strategies and the Belonging Matters framework to provide the knowledge, processes and tools that can bridge the gap between people with lived experience and system influencers in order to create lasting and sustainable personal and community change. We talked about many things but I'm still thinking about naming the system that we've been born into and the habits we have developed and the inviation to change them.

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, filmmaker, and author. I had the opportunity to speak with her a few years ago when she wrote No Is Not Enough. While this conversation was a few books ago, when I went back to listen to it I found it eerily relevant as she discusses the political climate and the rise of Trump as a brand. She highlights the dangers of equating wealth with wisdom and the role of billionaires in policymaking. Naomi also discusses the need for an alternative vision and transformative change to address the underlying crises of inequality, climate change, and white supremacy. A suitable and timely addition to this podcast series about the cause and effect of polarization and how the words we use open up or shut down our conversations.

If there was ever a time we needed some radical democracy its now!In this episode of The Conversation Lab, Stuart Poyntz and Joanna Ashworth talk about the CERi-Participedia Summer School and how they have brought together leading experts, researchers, graduate students, community leaders, activists and change makers to talk about what it means to radically re-imagine, research and practice democracy in our communities and in every day life.

Barry Rooke is the Executive Director of the National Campus and Community Radio Association. He works with 126 radio stations across Canada. In this episode of The Conversation Lab we talk about the differences between campus, community, and commercial radio statiions, the regulatory and financial landscape, changing technologies (including AI), the impact of consolidation in the private sector and why campus and community radio stations - wheather over the air or onlne, are more important than ever.

Jeff Fitzpatrick describes the opportunities and the challenges that a new regional park presents for visitors from mainland communities to Bowen Island. As a long time resident of Bowen David Hocking helps us understand more about the history of nature and conservation in the small village and community of Bowen Island; the threats from logging and development, and the several failed attempts that have carved the path along the way to the Cape Roger Curtis Park that Metro hopes to develop on the island.

This is a conversation from the Victoria Forum. A collaboration between the Senate of Canada and the University of Victoria. I was asked to moderate this plenary session, "Bridging Environmental Divides: Shifting our relationship with the natural world from extractive to regenerative." This conversation analyzes our quest to shift our relationship with the natural world from extractive to regenerative by bridging environmental divides and exploring the many conversational ecosystems that come along with them. Our panel consists of Balgis Osman Elisha, Senator Rosa Galvez, Wendy Smith, and Kresse Wesling.You can watch all of the sessions from this 3 day event at thevictoriaforum.caHeartfelt thanks to Saul Klein, Natalie Slawinski, and the organizers for permission to bring this to our campus and community radio stations.

This is an interview with Ann Mortifee shortly after the introduction her 6th musical,The Mysteries. After many years its a wonderful catch-up about her work and life and what inspires her.

Bowen Island is one of the many (21) municipalities that make up Metro Vancouver. A short bus and ferry ride away former mayor Bob Turner talks about the municipal election,the politics of a small island, the Howe Sound Biosphere and more importantly how local communities provide hope.

Dr. Janis Fook talks about her career, her books, essays, and gives us some ideas of how we can use critical reflection to change our conversations. We talk about her analysis of power, notions of discourse, language, identity, and difference.

Chief Robert Joseph & David Patterson talk about Reconciliation and why it matters.

This is a short story/trailer for the conversation lab podcast.

Dr. Tero Mustonen, is a passionate defender of a traditional worldview and cosmology of his people, as a Finn and head of the village of Selkie in North Karelia, Finland. This is an earlier conversation about the Snow-change cooperative in an interesting backdrop of our current landscape.

Gregory Ould and his son Ben are the co-founders of the Blanket BC Society - an award winning non-profit organization that collects and distributes blankets and warm clothing to shelter programs, families in need, emergency services, and indigenous communities. In this eposode we talk about the heart warming history of Blanket BC and how it got started, some of the issues that keep the team up at night, and how we can help support thier latest fund raising drive.

Jeff Fitzpatrick talks about the importance of regional parks and how they support healthy communities. He also discusses the many complex issues of developing one with a focus on Metro's latest at Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island.

A fun conversation with the author about broadcasting, the Olympics, business and bees.

Sara Harris is a Canadian scientist, and professor in the department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, and the associate dean academic in the Faculty of Science at the University of British Columbia. We talk about our climate and how we educate as well as discuss it.

Jen Lyle is the CEO of the Alzheimer's Society of B.C. We talk about dementia, why its more than a health care issue, and how each of us can help the 76,000 Canadians that are diagnosed with it annually.

Tom Lavin is a Chicago-born musician, record producer and founding member of The Powder Blues Band. As they get ready to play a fund raiser for Co-op Radio May 15th, Tom talks about life on the road, his family, books, business and love of music!

David Ng is a PhD student at The Social Justice Institute at UBC. He is a queer, feminist, media artist, and co-founder of Love Intersections, a media arts organization of queer artists of colour. We talk about his current research and artistic practices that grapple with queer, racialized, and diasporic identity, and how intersectional identities can be expressed through media arts.

This conversation is about OYA Media's first production about Mr Jane and Finch, Winston Larose. A short documentary about a long standing community activist who ran for city Councilor in Toronto. A wonderful man, disturbing politics and racism.

Jason W. Moore is an environmental historian and historical geographer at Binghamton University. He is a professor of sociology and author of a number of foundational books and essays on environmental history, capitalism an social theory. This conversation was recorded in 2017 and it seems even more relevant today.

The most pressing environmental problem we face today is not climate change. It is pollution in the public square, where a smog of adversarial rhetoric, propaganda and polarization stifles discussion and debate, creating resistance to change and thwarting our ability to solve our collective problems. James Hoggan talks about his book and what he has learned from a career in public relations and activism. Note: This conversation was recorded in 2017.

Marc Serpa Francoeur and Robinder Uppal are documentary film makers and join us to talk about how No Visible Trauma came about, how it influenced their lives as they talk about about police brutality in Calgary.

We discuss the environment and the work being done by My Sea To Sky in Howe Sound British Columbia. We also talk about Cop 26, Wood Fiber LNG, how climate change and racial injustice share the same roots, and how we can make a difference!

What about the future is an observational documentary that chronicles a group of youth environmental activists who organized a climate strike in Vancouver. This is a conversation with the Directors - Jaime Leigh Gianopoulos, Claudio Cruz; the Producer - Jen Muaranetz, and Naia Lee who was a "Sustainabiliteen" when this documentary was filmed.

Kent & Robin talk about their documentary that speaks to the issues of Filipino workers in Canada, the sacrifices they and their families make, and how communities near and far support them.

One of my most confronting moments with Roy Scranton and one of my best with Al Gore. Our world may be doomed however there is always hope.

Shannon Walsh is a filmmaker, writer and Professor in the Department of Theater and Film at the University of British Columbia. Shannon talks about The Gig is Up is a new documentary she directed about the gig economy and those people most impacted by it.

Marion Crowe talks about the Soar Above Stigma campaign to champion messages of kindness, acceptance and compassion for indigenous communities.

John Su and Adrian Beaverbones are the co founders of Indigenous Innovations. They are committed to helping First nation communities maximize their health benefits in Edmonton and Vancouver. John talks about their friendship and their work.