The Honourable and The Hack

The Truth About Our Government & Mountain Climbing: Senator Wells Speaks | H&H Ep. 23

Senator David Wells joins The Honourable & The Hack for a wide-ranging conversation about politics, public service, Newfoundland and Labrador, and one very unexpected passion: mountain climbing.In this episode, Senator Wells talks about what senators actually do, how the Senate appointment process worked in his case, and what it was like being in Ottawa during the Mike Duffy scandal. He also reflects on his roots in Newfoundland and Labrador’s fishing industry, his path through Conservative politics, and his views on the future of NL energy.But one of the most memorable parts of the conversation comes near the end, when Senator Wells shares stories from his climbing adventures — including Mount Kilimanjaro, the Andes, and Mount Elbrus in southern Russia, widely recognized as Europe’s highest peak. From extreme conditions to the mental battle of reaching the summit, it is a side of Senator Wells many viewers may not know.From the fishery to federal politics — and from the Senate floor to some of the world’s most challenging climbs — this is a conversation about ambition, endurance, public life, and Newfoundland grit.Have a question for a future episode?Email us: honourableandthehack@gmail.comStay Connected:YouTube: @TheHonourableandtheHackSpotify: The Honourable & The HackApple Podcasts: The Honourable & The HackFacebook: The Honourable & The HackDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and their guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer, organization, or institution. This content is intended for discussion and commentary and should not be considered professional, legal, or political advice. Some discussion in this episode includes speculation and forward-looking commentary based on publicly available information and personal experience.

Captain Canada on Mark Carney's First Move as Prime Minister | H&H Ep. 22

Every generation has one politician who was born for exactly the moment the country needed them. Brian Tobin — "Captain Canada" himself — is one of those politicians. And in Episode 22 of The Honourable and The Hack, he's not holding back.Former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador. Former federal cabinet minister. Federal leadership candidate. A man who has been in the rooms where power is won, exercised, and defended — and someone who has been watching Canada's relationship with the United States since before most people were paying attention. This is not a civics class. This is how power actually works.In this episode, we cover:✅ The Carney government's first fiscal update — what it signals and what it doesn't say✅ The US-Canada trade war: Canada's real leverage and why Trump needs us more than he'll admit✅ Why re-engaging China isn't a political stunt — and what Brian Tobin knows that the headlines miss✅ The political art of pushing back without making noise✅ Lessons from Joey Smallwood, Don Jameson, and Beaton Tulk — the politicians who shaped a generation✅ The Rooms: the story behind Newfoundland's greatest cultural landmark, and the woman who made it happen✅ Social media, political courage, and why the smartest move is often not to listenThe Honourable and The Hack is where insider experience meets real journalism. No spin. No talking points. Just how power actually works in this country. 📩 Got a question for a future mailbag episode? Send it to: honourableandthehack@gmail.com We’re building toward a full mailbag episode this spring — and we need your questions. 🔗 Stay Connected 🎥 Watch on YouTube:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@TheHonourableandTheHack🎧 Listen on Spotify:👉 https://open.spotify.com/show/13uw982Y8Br4CvTs🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts:👉 https://podcasts.apple.com📘 Follow on Facebook:👉 https://www.facebook.com/TheHonourableAndTheHack Disclaimer:The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and their guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer, organization, or institution. This content is intended for discussion and commentary and should not be considered professional, legal, or political advice. Some discussion in this episode includes speculation and forward-looking commentary based on publicly available information and personal experience.

Budget 2026: What They're NOT Telling You About NL's Finances | H&H Ep. 21

Every spring, the government of Newfoundland and Labrador tables a budget. The public sees the highlights. What they don't see is everything that happens behind the lock-up door — and what the numbers actually mean once you know how to read them. Andrew Parsons has been on the inside — as a cabinet minister who helped build budgets. Alex Bill has been on the outside — as a journalist locked in a room with binders, no phone, and a deadline. In Episode 21, they bring both perspectives to NL's Budget 2026 for an analysis you won't hear anywhere else. In this episode: • What a budget lock-up actually is — and why it exists • The experience from both sides of the table: cabinet minister vs. journalist • A breakdown of the key numbers in NL's Budget 2026 • What the government is prioritizing — and what they're not saying out loud • The deficit, debt servicing, and what it means for the province's financial future • What insiders watch for that the public never notices • The political strategy behind how budgets are presented and messaged • Andrew's honest take on what he would have done differently Whether you're a political junkie, a concerned taxpayer, or just someone who wants to understand where the money goes — this is the episode that actually explains it. Mailbag: honourableandthehack@gmail.com Stay Connected: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHonourableandTheHack Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7LkQE67ItNWoKWlcBbhQmy Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-honourable-and-the-hack/id1864962121 Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and their guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer, organization, or institution. This content is intended for discussion and commentary and should not be considered professional, legal, or political advice. Some discussion in this episode includes speculation and forward-looking commentary based on publicly available information and personal experience.

From the Chicken Shack to the Blue Jays - Greg Roberts | H&H Ep. 20

He went from a gas station in rural Newfoundland to 300+ restaurants, a Blue Jays concession at Rogers Centre, and a 289-page report on one of the most consequential financial deals in NL history. Greg Roberts — the man behind Mary Brown's and Fat Bastard Burrito — joins Andrew Parsons and Alex Bill for a conversation you won't find anywhere else.Greg Roberts is arguably one of the most successful private business leaders in Newfoundland and Labrador history. In this episode, he pulls back the curtain on the real story — from leveraging his family home to acquire the Mary Brown's parent company, to keeping employee turnover at 35% in an industry that averages over 100%.In this episode:• The origin story: From Cards Harbour to a CA firm to a gas station in rural NL• Why he leveraged everything — including a second mortgage on the family home — to acquire the Mary Brown's parent company• 300+ Canadian restaurants, Fat Bastard Burrito, and expansion into five countries• How the Toronto Blue Jays partnership changed Mary Brown's national profile — and what he learned the hard way about the World Series• The behavioural science philosophy behind industry-low employee turnover (35% vs. the 85–125% industry average)• Why 90% of Mary Brown's franchisees are new Canadians — and why he says that's one of the brand's greatest strengths• The Mary Brown Centre, the Raptors, and why sports sponsorships are central to the brand's strategy• Greg's unfiltered, numbers-driven take on the Churchill Falls / Gull Island negotiations with Hydro Quebec — and why he wrote a 289-page financial analysis on the deal• Why he believes the 2041 deadline makes this the defining economic issue of our generation in NL• The Hurricane Fiona benefit concert and what Greg does quietly that he never talks aboutWhether you're a business leader, a political observer, or just a Newfoundlander who wants the real deal — this one's essential listening. Mailbag: honourableandthehack@gmail.comStay Connected:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHonourableandTheHackSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7LkQE67ItNWoKWlcBbhQmyApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-honourable-and-the-hack/id1864962121Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and their guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer, organization, or institution. This content is intended for discussion and commentary and should not be considered professional, legal, or political advice. Some discussion in this episode includes speculation and forward-looking commentary based on publicly available information and personal experience.

From Schitt’s Creek to Son of a Critch with Andrew Barnsley | H&H Ep 19

What does it take to help build one of the biggest comedy success stories Canada has ever produced?In this episode of The Honourable & The Hack, Andrew Parsons and Alex Bill sit down with Andrew Barnsley — Emmy and Golden Globe-winning producer, CEO of Project 10 Productions, and one of the producers behind Schitt’s Creek and Son of a Critch.Barnsley takes us inside the real business of television: how producers find ideas, build projects, raise financing, assemble talent, and turn creative concepts into shows that can reach audiences around the world. He shares the story of his first big break, the call that helped lead him to Schitt’s Creek, and the slow-build journey that turned it from a smart Canadian comedy into a global hit.The conversation also dives into Son of a Critch, Barnsley’s deep personal ties to Newfoundland and Labrador, and why the province has the potential to become a much bigger force in film and television production. From tax credits and infrastructure to talent, training, and access, this is a fascinating look at the creative and economic side of the screen industry.If you love Schitt’s Creek, care about Canadian storytelling, or want a behind-the-scenes look at how hit television really gets made, this is an episode you will want to watch.If you enjoy conversations that mix politics, culture, business, and real stories from accomplished guests, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe.Mailbag: honourableandthehack@gmail.comDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and their guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any employer, organization, or institution. This content is intended for discussion and commentary and should not be considered professional, legal, or political advice. Some discussion in this episode includes speculation and forward-looking commentary based on publicly available information and personal experience.