In this wide-ranging conversation, I chat with Randall Arsenault — a 20-year veteran of the Toronto Police Service and a rapidly growing social media voice on crime, self-defence and public safety. We discussed the rise of violent crime in Canada, why frontline officers are feeling unprecedented strain and the systemic issues making things worse...from repeat offenders and bail policies to chronic under-resourcing and low morale.

Randall shares candid insights from two decades on the job: what has changed on the streets, how social media has opened up new conversations about safety and why many Canadians feel increasingly vulnerable. The discussion also tackles the controversy around self-defence in Canada, the limits placed on citizens and what realistic solutions might look like.

This was a thoughtful, honest and unsettling look at the state of public safety in Canada and what needs to happen next. I hope you enjoy this episode.

Carl Dixon has lived a life louder than most. From fronting Coney Hatch and touring with legends to surviving a devastating car accident and rebuilding his life piece by piece, Carl shares the lessons he's learned along the way. We talked about music, mindset, work ethic and why he believes your thoughts are the most powerful force in the universe. I hope you enjoy this conversation about resilience, reinvention and the quiet strength of kindness.

My guest this week is Mary Beth West, a PR professional with 30 years of experience helping organizations and leaders tell stories. We chatted about the impending US presidential election, the state of journalism and the battle she is waging to advance ethics, both in the business world and in the PR profession.

Sean Kelly is a Canadian musician living in Toronto. He's played with a long list of bands, including Lee Aaron, Coney Hatch, Nelly Furtado, Helix, Honeymoon Suite and his own band, Crash Kelly, to name just a few. He's also a published author, his most recent book titled, Don't Call it Hair Metal. He's also appeared in several musical productions, including Rock of Ages. Sean also teaches high-school in Toronto. We talked about growing up in northern Ontario, some of the memorable stories from his career, balancing his teaching and music careers and the merits of hard work. Hope you enjoy this episode.

My guest today is Simon Dingley, an accomplished Canadian journalist who told thousands of stories to audiences across the country over 43 years. We talked about memorable moments from his career, the state of journalism today, what makes a great question during an interview, his work on stories including the Montreal Massacre and more. Hope you enjoy this conversation and thanks for listening.

Ted Griffith has more than 40 years of high-level experience in communications and public affairs. He's also a published crime author. His latest book is in the non-fiction realm but is no less scary. It's a deep dive into lies, misinformation and propaganda, why we should fear it and what we can do to protect ourselves.

This week I got to speak with PR industry veteran Bob Pickard. This is his second time on the podcast. We chatted about a long list of topics, including AI's impact on communications, the upcoming US election, the rising importance of China-Western geopolitics and his own experience working in Beijing to name just a few.

Anne Marie Aikins is a long-time communications pro and media relations strategist. She's the kind of communications leader you want to have in your corner both in the good time and the bad. We talked about the state of journalism, media training techniques used by the pros, advice for young people getting into communications and much more.