On this episode of Vancouver Overcast , Mike Klassen sits down with Terry Lake—veterinarian, former Kamloops mayor, BC Minister of Health, and, most recently, CEO of the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA). As Terry prepares for retirement, he reflects on his remarkable career in politics, public health, and seniors care advocacy. Mike and Terry dive into key issues facing BC today, including the challenges of an aging population, the ongoing opioid crisis, and the rising concerns around homel...
Jun 24, 2025•58 min•Ep. 23
🎙 Inside Mushroom Studios: Vancouver’s Legendary Recording Space with Valerie Biggin From Heart to Bachman-Turner Overdrive , from Terry Jacks to Skinny Puppy , Mushroom Studios was at the heart of Vancouver’s music scene for decades. In this episode of Vancouver Overcast with Mike Klassen , we dive into the fascinating history of this legendary recording studio with Valerie Biggin , longtime President and Studio Manager of Mushroom Studios and a passionate advocate for preserving its legacy. V...
May 15, 2025•36 min
On Episode 21 we hear from Urban Planner and Development Consultant and founder of Liveable City Planning Ltd Michael Mortensen. Michael is a seasoned urban planner and development strategist, has left an indelible mark on Vancouver’s skyline. He began his own company Livable City Planning Ltd., where he navigates the complexities of both private and public sector developments.
Jul 22, 2024•56 min•Ep. 21
In Episode 20 we're joined by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung . Now in her 2nd term, there are few portfolios Sarah hasn't taken on during her time on Vancouver City Council. Councillor Kirby-Yung is known as a fierce advocate for a livable, vibrant, and culturally rich Vancouver . In this conversation we gain insights into her work on behalf of the city, and what drew her into public life.
Mar 21, 2024•45 min•Ep. 20
City councillors Mike Klassen (Vancouver) and Daniel Fontaine (New Westminster) break down some of the top issues they've been immersed in since being sworn into office late last year. Each discusses how they've adjusted to public life and what their goals are in the 2nd year of their term in office.
Sep 08, 2023•59 min•Ep. 19
Mike speaks with housing policy expert and developer Michael Geller, who brings 5 decades of experience in the housing industry and has been an important voice on the 'missing middle' of housing. The tweet referred to by Michael in the golf club locker room is here: https://twitter.com/michaelgeller/status/1538319049754439680 Avi Barzelai (barzelai.ca) is @EastVanBuilder on Twitter. Avi has been sharing threads on the hard and soft costs of housing. Here is one of those threads: https://twitter....
Jun 24, 2022•55 min
Our podcast guest Daniel Fontaine is a longtime friend with a superlative background in politics and government. He is the Deputy Minster and CEO of Métis Nation British Columbia. Daniel has more than 15 years of senior management experience in public relations and governmental affairs, including serving as Chief of Staff to Mayor of Vancouver, Sam Sullivan, where I had the pleasure to work closely with him. Fontaine was Chief Public Affairs Officer for Mitacs, an influential non-profit organiza...
Jan 14, 2022•37 min
Our podcast guest Daniel Fontaine is a longtime friend with a superlative background in politics and government. He is the Deputy Minster and CEO of Métis Nation British Columbia. Daniel has more than 15 years of senior management experience in public relations and governmental affairs, including serving as Chief of Staff to Mayor of Vancouver, Sam Sullivan, where I had the pleasure to work closely with him. Fontaine was Chief Public Affairs Officer for Mitacs, an influential non-profit organiza...
Jan 02, 2022•42 min
Welcome to Vancouver Overcast with Mike Klassen Episode 15. On this edition we have brought together a group formally known as the Wine Roundtable. As listeners will discover as I introduce them, each of our 4 guests have a strong involvement in British Columbia’s dynamic wine scene.
Dec 09, 2021•48 min
We welcome to the podcast Dr. Sylvain Moreno, Chief Executive Officer and Scientific Director at Digital Health Circle, as well as being a tenured faculty at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology, and Special Advisor to the Office of the VP Research and International. Moreno's research focuses on neurotechnologies and their implications for education and rehabilitation. He is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, and his work has been featured in a variety of med...
Nov 15, 2021•38 min
On Episode 13 of Vancouver Overcast with Mike Klassen the guest is Vince Taylor, president of Pilothouse Project Marketing. Vince brings experience from both the developers and marketers’ side of the table and founded Pilothouse over 20 years ago to meet the new demands of local and international real estate sales and marketing. He has a self-published book out now titled, Beyond the Blindfold, which explores the power of context to unpack echo chambers, examine entrenched views and tackle famil...
Oct 19, 2021•53 min
With the 44th Canadian federal election (#Elxn44) concluded, we bring in the sharp-eyed political perspectives of Vancouver city councillor Lisa Dominato and community leader Rob McDowell to assess what comes next for Metro Vancouver in return for electing so many government (Liberal) seats. Will issues like affordable housing, climate change, the opioid crisis get the attention they deserve? How will the Canadian Green Party reinvent itself and will it affect municipal Greens? And how to politi...
Sep 30, 2021•45 min
Peter Meiszner, a digital strategist who audiences will know from his previous on-air work with Global TV. Peter is a passionate urbanist and the publisher of Urban YVR — a popular architecture website that showcases new housing, office commercial, and industrial developments in Metro Vancouver. Peter has a lot to say about living and working in Vancouver, and why housing here is not targeting those who need it most. His website is https://www.urbanyvr.com and you can find him on Twitter @Peter...
Mar 22, 2021•44 min
Legendary broadcasters JB Shayne and John Tanner join Mike to share a lifetime of reflections on their respective careers which began in the “golden age” of Top 40 radio, leading to album-oriented FM radio, underground early music video programming and pioneering alternative rock music stations. Between funny anecdotes spanning 5 decades, and their overall punk-like irreverence we meet 2 people who helped shape Vancouver’s contributions to pop culture and broadcasting.
Nov 01, 2020•58 min
Margareta Dovgal (@Margare7a) is our guest on episode 9. She’s the Director of Research at Resource Works Society (www.resourceworks.com), a small BC-based non-profit providing information on responsible resource development. She has spent the past 2 weeks in the Bulkley Valley, home of the Wet'suwet'en nation and ground zero for the dispute over the Coastal Gaslink pipeline. From her current base in Smithers, B.C., Margareta shares her insights from her conversations from locals on both sides o...
Feb 23, 2020•55 min
Bob Mackin is a journalist from TheBreaker.news and host of TheBreaker.news podcast with an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which began 10 years ago this month. In this second part of our 2-part conversation, Bob describes the "pressure cooker" days as the Games get underway, and the huge logistical and personal challenges Olympics organizers faced. Finally, we ask the most important question: can or should Vancouver ever invite the world...
Feb 14, 2020•47 min
Bob Mackin is a journalist from TheBreaker.news and host of TheBreaker.news podcast with an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which began 10 years ago this month. Bob takes us on his personal journey reporting on the very beginnings of the dream of hosting an Olympics in Vancouver, to the dousing of the torch. In part one this 2-part conversation, we discuss the amazing years, months and weeks leading up to the Olympic Torch arriving in Van...
Feb 08, 2020•36 min
Podcasters who bring both the experience and the dynamism of this rapidly growing medium are the guests in the first Vancouver Overcast episode of 2020. Joseph (@Planta) and Mo Amir (@vancolour) join Mike in studio to talk about why they run podcasts, and how to keep them compelling for their audiences. Listen, share and give your feedback on this conversation between Mike, Joe and Mo @OvercastYVR (Instagram, Twitter & Facebook).
Jan 27, 2020•1 hr 10 min
Longtime collaborator Daniel Fontaine is my guest on episode 5 of Vancouver Overcast. Daniel brings decades of experience and insight from municipal, provincial and federal politics. He is also starting a new podcast in 2020 with co-host Bill Tieleman called #BCPoliTalk. We break down Top 10 stories of B.C. municipal politics from 2019 and why they matter.
Dec 30, 2019•1 hr 4 min
Architect Arno Matis is bringing new ideas to excite the image of Vancouver as a hub of urban design innovation. In his conversation with host Mike Klassen, Matis speaks to Vancouver's future as a design Mecca and the "missed opportunities" of some our emerging neighbourhoods. Learn more about his work at https://www.arnomatisarchitecture.com. Recorded on 2019-12-08 at Thinking Cap Studios in Vancouver, BC.
Dec 10, 2019•54 min
Aldyen Donnelly is an energy industry consultant and expert on climate policy who has advised major companies, First Nations, and senior government officials in Canada and the USA. She can be found on Twitter @AldyenDonnelly. Visit Nori.com for more about their carbon capture initiative.
Dec 02, 2019•54 min
Executive director of Resource Works Stewart Muir brings a message of hope to those who are anxious about the wedge issues that drive Canadians apart by geography, economic status and age group. A lively discussion from London, UK to our studio in Vancouver, BC, Muir explains why Canada is poised to lead the world in having a sustainable, clean, natural resources economy. Muir also give his take on where the struggling newspaper industry is headed.
Nov 25, 2019•55 min
Host Mike Klassen sits down with George Affleck and Rob McDowell to talk about Vancouver's thorniest political challenges, and who will lead the city into the 21st Century.
Nov 12, 2019•33 min
