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PODCAST

Nonpartisan Hacks

Joel Grenz and Sean Wood

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).

government politics

All Episodes

23:59

De-stigmatizing Stigma

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/10/31

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

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47:54

UBCM 2025 Review: The Big Conversations Shaping B.C....

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/10/17

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

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35:20

Authenticity as Currency: Media, Politics, and Trust...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/10/11

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

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32:14

Super Bowl of Advocacy: Making the Ask with Jeff...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/10/03

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

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39:03

Resolutions, Reality, and Running for Mayor with Pete...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/09/29

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

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33:55

The Price of a Door: Market vs. Non-Market Housing

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/09/11

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

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1:04:03

The Next Leader of the BC Green Party with Adam...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/09/04

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

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50:49

Vancouver Island’s Forgotten Corridor with Thomas...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/08/28

What’s next for Vancouver Island’s rail corridor? Is just a relic of the past, or the backbone of its future?In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, hosts Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Thomas Bevan, CEO of the Island Corridor Foundation (ICF), to talk trains, trestles, and the tangled politics of one of Vancouver Island’s most unique public assets. Bevan shares what it’s like to work with every level of government—federal, provincial, regional districts, municipalities, and 14 First

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59:28

Meet me in the Middle: Karin Kirkpatrick on CentreBC

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/08/19

BC’s political landscape seems to change by the week... new parties, shifting allegiances, and plenty of noise. But what about the voters in the middle who just want good government?In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, Parksville councillors Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome Karin Kirkpatrick, leader of CentreBC and former MLA for West Vancouver–Capilano. From her time as Shadow Minister for Housing, Childcare, and Families to her leadership in the non-profit sector, Karin brings a unique

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45:30

So You’re Thinking of Running for Local Government

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/08/01

Thinking about throwing your hat in the ring for local office? Or maybe someone told you you should run? In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what it really takes to run — and serve — in local government.Joel and Sean share candid reflections on why people run, what the job actually involves, and what they wish they knew before signing up. From campaign prep and council dynamics to emotional stamina and reading 2,000-page agendas, this episode is packed with real talk (and a few

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34:03

Make Housing More Affordable (By Taxing It?)

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/07/18

Can provincial housing targets be a smarter way to plan future housing across the province?In this no-guest episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, Joel and Sean unpack a new Parksville resolution headed to the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) that seeks to uplevel how the Province sets housing targets for local governments. It’s a call for smarter, more climate-resilient, infrastructure-ready planning for BC's future. In this show's quote take, we confront the awkward truth: local governments are

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46:05

Zero Percent Problem with Chris Brown from Cross...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/07/03

Is a 0% property tax increase really something to celebrate? Or is it just kicking the financial can down the road? In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, we’re joined by Chris Brown, host of Cross Border Interviews, for a candid conversation about municipal responsibility, political courage, and the dangerous allure of short-term wins. We dig […]

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39:44

From Paralympics to Public Office with Michelle Stilwell

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/06/18

Welcome to Non-Partisan Hacks, where hosts Sean Wood and Joel Grenz, both Parksville city councillors, take you behind the scenes of good governance. This episode is extra special as we welcome our very first guest, Michelle Stilwell—Paralympic champion, former MLA for Parksville-Qualicum, and passionate advocate for inclusive communities. Michelle shares her journey from winning gold […]

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38:46

Horse, Cart, and 2,000 Elected Officials Walk Into a...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/06/06

In this episode of Non-Partisan Hacks, Joel and Sean return from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference in Ottawa. We share what we learned, who we met, and why it matters back home. We cover how FCM gives local governments a collective voice on national issues—from aging infrastructure to housing targets—and why property taxes alone […]

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31:37

Good Government Should Be Boring… So Why Are You...

Nonpartisan Hacks ·

2025/05/22

In our inaugural episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, we dive headfirst into the world of local government — the meetings, the budgets, the sewage (yes, really). Joel Granz and Sean Wood explain why they started this podcast, why politics doesn’t have to be partisan, and why boring government is actually a good thing. We take on regional […]

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15 results

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