Why being "Sikh" has nothing to do with religion (was everything we were taught wrong?) - EP48

Almost shut us down at episode 2 but we made it to 50 - EP50

We had a goal when we started. It was to hit at least 50 episodes. And we're actually here... even though it legit almost got shut down after just TWO episodes. We reflect on the journey here and take a moment to talk about what we've learned, how we've changed, and what's ahead. If you have been following us since then, or any time thereafter, we really appreciate each and every one of you. If there's anything you want to see us discuss, any feedback you have on the show, or even just want to say hello - leave it in the comments!! Or you drop a line in our anonymous box if you're shy. Thanks again to everyone who listens and watches, and we're excited for the next 50 episodes that are to come!

The most unbelievable man in hockey went missing (and was found alive) | Ernie "Punch" McLean - EP49

Ernie "Punch" McLean has to be the most unbelievable person in hockey history. There's so many stories he has and we could get only get through so many. You'd never know he's 93 if you were to meet Ernie. He's got a ton of energy and still sharp as ever. I'm proud to be part of The Ernie Punch McLean Legacy Foundation, as we work towards recognizing Punch with a statue potentially right outside Queen's Park Arena, where he achieved 4 straight championships for the New Westminster Bruins. The Foundation has a simple yet powerful vision: to bring lasting meaning and presence to the stories and memories that connect us. The goal goes beyond the statue itself. The Foundation aims to create a shared space that sparks conversation, remembrance, and pride within the community. Every community deserves a tangible symbol of its spirit, a place where legacy meets inspiration. Community members can support the campaign by signing the public petition and making donations at https://punchlegacy.com. The Foundation is also seeking a major corporate partner to help accelerate the project timeline. More Details: We sat down with Ernie Punch McLean, a true BC hockey legend and one of the most memorable people in Canadian junior hockey. At 93 years old, Punch is still sharp, still mining for gold up north, and has so many stories from a life that sounds like it’s from a movie. He built a junior hockey dynasty with the New Westminster Bruins, leading them to four straight championships in the Western Canada Hockey League (also known as WHL history) and winning back-to-back Memorial Cup titles in 1977 and 1978. Before that he coached the Estevan Bruins and helped set up farm teams like the Chilliwack Bruins. His teams played old school hockey with real hockey toughness, a big aggressive roster that earned them the nickname McBride Street Bullies in the Broad Street Bullies era. He emphasized positional hockey, team culture, hockey leadership, and building a strong farm team system so talent kept flowing through. Punch shares how he got the nickname, his wild hockey referee stories, throwing a garbage can on the ice, and the time he jumped onto the ice to defend a player. He talks about moving the team to Queen's Park Arena in New Westminster, the packed crowds that sometimes pushed the Vancouver Canucks to the third page of the sports section on the local newspapers. We hear about players he developed like Stan Smyl, Barry Beck, and Billy Ranford, plus the Wayne Gretzky story from when he coached a young Gretzky on Team Canada. He brings up insights about hockey scouting, hockey draft secrets, hockey rivalries, and what made the 1970s junior hockey scene so unforgettable. Beyond the rink, Punch opens up about his life as a pilot and construction businessman, surviving a plane crash that cost him his left eye, and his wilderness survival story while working as a gold prospector in BC gold mining. He also reflects on Saskatchewan hockey, the prairie hockey roots with teams like the Humboldt Indians (original name of the Humboldt Broncos), connections to legends like Scotty Munro, Bill Hunter, and Nat Bailey, and run-ins with teams like the Portland Winterhawks and Flin Flon Bombers. We touch on hockey coaching legend tales, hockey coaching tactics, hockey in the 1970s, CHL history, Canadian hockey legends, BC sports history, his BC Sports Hall of Fame induction, and thoughts on the modern game. At 93 years old, Punch still rides the SkyTrain to Canucks and Vancouver Giants games. This man is a BC Sports Hall of Fame and Hockey Hall of Fame name, and if New Westminster ever builds a proper sports Hall of Fame, his should be the first plaque on the wall.

Why being "Sikh" has nothing to do with religion (was everything we were taught wrong?) - EP48

*Watch episode 44 to watch the first conversation we had with Raj* Our first conversation with Raj from @sikhadelic.healing was a unique one to say the least. We weren't sure what kind of response we would get, but we knew we personally learned a lot from it. Just a few months later, we're pleasantly surprised to see how much of a positive response we received, also with a lot of questions. We decided to ask Raj these questions and get his perspective. If you haven't watch the first conversation, we highly recommend you watch it before watching this one. What are your thoughts on what we talked about? More details: We brought Raj from Sikhadelics back for a second conversation after the overwhelming response to our first episode. We get into the comments and questions people had, especially around the topic of psychedelics and Sikhi. Raj clarifies the difference between recreational use and using psilocybin, mushrooms, and cannabis as medicine for trauma healing, anxiety, depression, OCD, and PTSD. We talk about why so many people get triggered by this topic and where that fear comes from. Raj breaks down how everything is mind-altering: sugar addiction, social media addiction, even chai, and why we draw arbitrary lines around what's acceptable. He explains PTSD and how psychedelics, along with psychotherapy, can help people on their healing journey. The conversation goes deep into Sikhi, spirituality, and whether Sikhi is a religion or a spiritual path. Raj explains what dharma actually means. It's not religion, it's a code of discipline that leads to fulfillment. We discuss Gurbani, the teachings of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Gobind Singh, and Guru Tegh Bahadur, and what's written in the Guru Granth Sahib. He shares the story of Guru Tegh Bahadur's ring and the significance of jewelry in Sikhism, along with his thoughts on tattoos in Sikhism. We get into the meat debate and what Guru Nanak Dev Ji actually said about the non vegetarian Sikh debate. Raj explains that everything is living and breaks down why body as temple means something deeper. We talk about gurdwara politics, destination weddings, Sikh weddings, and what Anand Karaj actually means. Raj shares what it means to take Amrit and become Amritdhari, joining the Khalsa. We discuss the kirpan, the five Ks, Shastra Vidya, and the warrior mindset. He explains hukam, oneness, Ik Onkar, and connecting with Waheguru. We cover Paul Stamets' story of stuttering relief through a psychedelic experience, and discuss soma, DMT, ibogaine, and ayahuasca. We talk about meditation as a flow state, different forms of discipline, and how Ayurveda connects to understanding your body. Raj shares thoughts on reincarnation, Hemkund Sahib, water consciousness, and how Sanatan Dharam connects to Sikhi. We discuss Sikh history, ancient texts, faith and spirituality, religious rules vs personal beliefs, Western religion influence, therapeutic use of mind-altering substances, and intentional living. Follow Sikhadelics on Instagram: @sikhadelic.healing and @yothatssikh on Tikok!

Everything wrong with the Super Bowl 60 commercials in one conversation - EP47

This episode we chat about Harmol's trauma (that he was able to move past from) after his team, the Seattle Seahawks, won Superbowl LX. We also go over the commercials, what we liked, what was weird, and what (we thought) was absolutely wrong. What are your thoughts on the halftime show and the Serena Williams commercial? And if your NFL fan, how do you feel about Superbowl LX? Super Bowl 60 is done and the Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl champions. For anyone who's followed this team through the rough years — especially the Seahawks vs Patriots Super Bowl loss in 2014 — this one meant a lot. The Seahawks defense carried them all season, Mike Macdonald's coaching culture was built the right way, and Sam Darnold had a complete turnaround from where his career looked a few years ago. Kenneth Walker MVP conversations were happening for a reason. The general manager Seahawks draft picks and roster decisions over the years finally came together and the redemption arc for trauma healed Seahawks fans is real. The Super Bowl 60 halftime show is up there with the best halftime show ever. Bad Bunny brought Puerto Rican pride to the biggest stage in sports. The Bad Bunny halftime show had Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, the Puerto Rican flag, Latin music Super Bowl energy, and a Canada shoutout that got us. It was a genuinely inclusive halftime show. We compared it to Kendrick Lamar halftime show, Dr. Dre halftime show, Prince halftime show and talked Drake and where he fits. The Turning Point USA halftime counter-programming with Kid Rock was also happening and we got into that too. On the Super Bowl commercials front there was a lot going on. The Ring doorbell ad raised real questions around pet tracking and AI in advertising. The Claude AI Super Bowl ad was well put together — Dr. Dre cleared his music for it which says something — and the ChatGPT ads news around Sam Altman and OpenAI moving toward advertising is worth paying attention to. The Budweiser eagle ad, Pepsi Coca-Cola bear, and the broader Super Bowl ads AI trend show where marketing psychology and emotional advertising are heading. The American commercials vs Canadian feed situation is something we touched on too. The Serena Williams Ozempic ad was the most talked about for us. We went into GLP-1, the Wegovy ad Super Bowl placement, weight loss drugs being pushed through pharmaceutical advertising and healthcare marketing during major sports events, and what that means for sports sponsorships overall. The body image conversation, diet culture, what real healthy eating, fasting and health and fitness actually look like versus what GLP-1 Super Bowl ads are selling — all of it came up. We also got into processed food, junk food, sugar addiction, Europe vs North America food standards, food marketing, and why controversial commercials like these move freely while natural options face more scrutiny. Marketing ethics in 2025 is a conversation worth having. 00:00:00 Intro00:01:44 Sam Darnold redemption and Seahawks culture rebuild00:12:59 Super Bowl LX commercials and what's wrong with them00:15:23 Ring doorbell AI ad and surveillance controversy00:20:22 Claude AI's Super Bowl ad and ChatGPT getting ads00:27:18 Serena Williams GLP-1 (Ozempic) ad backlash 00:32:10 Do GLP-1 (Ozempic) actually work long term?00:41:49 Sugar addiction, processed food, and Europe vs North America00:58:14 Bad Bunny vs Turning Point: The halftime show war01:15:51 The future of the Super Bowl

We need to talk about what Punjabi weddings have become - EP46

Jessie Sohpaul joins us on this one to chat about growing up as an artist, what he's up to these days, and then some chatting about Punjabi wedding traditions. If we forgot to mention one or were wrong about something leave it in the comments!!More Details:We finally got Jessie Sohpaul on the pod. If you know Vancouver's South Asian creative scene, you already know who he is. Jessie is a Punjabi artist and creative director whose work pulls from Sikh heritage, cultural identity in art, and the diaspora identity of growing up Canadian Punjabi in Surrey BC. His graphic design portfolio spans everything from the iconic Canucks Diwali Logo to the Whitecaps Vaisakhi collab, and his Parle-G Cookie Sculpture is one of the most recognizable pieces of South Asian art to come out of this city.We talked about his whole artist journey; how DC Comics inspiration, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Beyblade, Pokemon, Charizard, Yu-Gi-Oh, Powerpuff Girls, and hours on DeviantArt shaped how he sees the world visually. From comic art to UX design to becoming a full creative director, Jessie's creative process has always been rooted in family influence, grandparents stories, and pre-partition memories passed down through generations.The conversation gets into where art actually stands right now. We get into AI art, human art vs AI, authenticity in branding, and why a ChatGPT logo says something about how much you care about your business. We touch on Rothko, impressionist art history, conceptual art, film composition, cinematography, visual communication, and how symbolism in design and Indigenous art shapes connect in ways most people never think about. Minimalism vs maximalism, corporate blandness, capitalism and design, modern architecture critique — it's all connected to why civic pride and public art matter more than people give credit for. Vancouver design, YVR airport design, the Pattullo Bridge, Vancouver bridges, and even the built environment is a reflection of how much a city values creativity.On the culture side, we went deep on Punjabi wedding traditions and Indian wedding traditions: the Anand Karaj, Gurdwara wedding, Sangeet, Haldi Ceremony, Mehndi, Jago, Joota Chhupai, Bhangra, Langar, Receptions, Speeches, Destination Weddings, Rehearsal Culture, Wedding Party Bus Culture, Wedding Games, Wedding Aesthetics, Bridal Fashion, Embroidery and Textiles, Live Wedding Painting, Sherwani vs Western Suit, Hindu Wedding Traditions, Money Traditions, and Cultural Superstitions. There's a lot of tradition vs modernity happening in our community and we don't talk about it enough.Jessie also put us on to the Ghadar Movement and San Francisco South Asian history, and how Paisley Motifs and cultural collaboration show up in his work with the Canucks and Whitecaps. South Vancouver history, Surrey BC culture, and what it meant to grow up Punjabi here runs through everything he makes.You have to make it to make it. That's his final words of wisdom. That's the whole thing with artistic consistency, art education, and art marketing. Just. Don't. Stop.