This is VANCOLOUR

This is VANCOLOUR

byCHEK Podcasts

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This is Vancouver’s bona fide culture and politics podcast. Hosted by Mo Amir, parse through the relevant issues with the city’s most colourful personalities. With its heart on its sleeve and caution thrown to the wind, this is a podcast that is provocative, informative, and sometimes emotional. This is VANCOLOUR

Episodes(40 episodes)

Do you own your face? Deepfakes, AI, and your legal rights (Kyla Lee)
KYLA'S COURT: AI-generated deepfakes are exploding — using real people’s faces, voices, and likeness without consent. But is it actually illegal in Canada? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks legal expert Kyla Lee what rights Canadians really have when it comes to their image. From deepfake pornography to viral impersonations, why hasn’t “Mr. Deepfakes” been charged? What can you do if it happens to you? In the age of artificial intelligence, do you actually own your face?Recorded: April 20, 2026
Published: Apr 24, 2026Duration: 5m 45s
10 years, 18,000 dead: Assessing B.C.'s response to the toxic drug crisis (Guy Felicella)
Ten years after British Columbia declared a toxic drug emergency, more than 18,000 people have died. The crisis isn’t slowing down. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with harm reduction advocate and addiction educator Guy Felicella about what’s gone wrong and what’s still missing. From naloxone distribution to safe supply and decriminalization rollbacks, has government policy helped or made things worse? What would it actually look like to treat this like a true emergency?Recorded: April 20, 2026
Published: Apr 24, 2026Duration: 8m 4s
Is MLB coming to Vancouver? Or is it just a field of dreams? (Justin McElroy)
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim wants to bring Major League Baseball to the 604. Is it a home run or just a field of dreams? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks CBC Vancouver municipal affairs reporter Justin McElroy whether or not Vancouver can realistically land an MLB expansion team. From billion-dollar stadiums to investor interest to pushback from Seattle and Toronto, what (and how money money) would it really take to make Major League Baseball in Vancouver a reality?Recorded: April 20, 2026
Published: Apr 24, 2026Duration: 8m 9s
Should B.C. keep DRIPA? BC Greens leader Emily Lowan defends Indigenous rights
DRIPA — the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act — is at the centre of a political firestorm in British Columbia. The BC NDP want to amend it. The Conservatives want to repeal it. But, the BC Greens are the only party defending DRIPA as is.BC Greens leader Emily Lowan joins This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir to explain why her party is standing firm and responds to criticism that DRIPA goes too far. Has the law been misunderstood? What does it mean for Indigenous rights, resource development, and private property in B.C.?As one of...
Published: Apr 17, 2026Duration: 21m 21s
Should Canada ban social media for kids? (Charis Hogg)
What risks do kids face on social media? With countries around the world moving to ban these platforms for youth — and growing support for a ban in Canada — is this the right solution or an overreach? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks journalist and radio broadcaster Charis Hogg (CFOX, CKNW) about protecting youth from the real harms of social media. Does banning kids from these big tech platforms help or hurt? Recorded: April 6, 2026  
Published: Apr 10, 2026Duration: 8m 26s
Hunting Matthew Nichols: When does true crime go too far?
Why are we increasingly treating real-life tragedies like Netflix content? The independent film Hunting Matthew Nichols explores a decades-long missing persons case in the Vancouver Island town of “Port Rupert”. But its realism and viral marketing are raising uncomfortable questions about our culture. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with director, writer and actor Markian Tarasiuk about a world where it’s getting harder to separate reality from fiction. Has our obsession with true crime gone too far?  Recorded: April 6, 2026
Published: Apr 10, 2026Duration: 6m 18s
AEW’s Kyle O’Reilly on sacrifice, setbacks, and wrestling culture
Professional wrestling is live theatre at its most intense, blurring fiction and reality. The pride of North Delta, B.C., All Elite Wrestling (AEW) star Kyle O’Reilly joins This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir to unpack the reality behind the unreal sport: the sacrifices, setbacks, and mindset required to become one of the best in the world — and how much of the man behind the character shows up in the ring.O’Reilly also reflects on tapping out Jon Moxley, what it meant to wrestle Adam Copeland in Vancouver, and his current road to recovery from injury. He dives...
Published: Apr 10, 2026Duration: 33m 34s
The people in your life are aging you faster! (Tamara Taggart)
Can the people in your life actually make you age faster? New research suggests that “hasslers” — the difficult, stressful people in your life — can increase your risk of chronic disease and accelerate aging. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with broadcasting legend Tamara Taggart about the real health impacts of toxic relationships, why stress from certain people hits harder, and how cutting people off may be just like exercising and eating your vegetables.Recorded: March 30, 2026
Published: Apr 3, 2026Duration: 8m 47s
Self-driving cars are everywhere. Why not in B.C.?
KYLA'S COURT: Self-driving cars are already operating around the world — and even in parts of Canada — so why not in British Columbia? This is VANCOLOUR Mo Amir speaks with lawyer Kyla Lee (Acumen Law) about what’s stopping autonomous vehicles from being legal in B.C., what changes the government would need to make, and what could happen if drivers try to use self-driving features today.Recorded: March 30, 2026
Published: Apr 3, 2026Duration: 5m 20s
Is buying a home in B.C. still worth it in 2026? (Steve Saretsky)
With rents easing and home prices softening across British Columbia, is now the time to buy — or are you better off renting? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with real estate analyst Steve Saretsky (The Loonie Hour; The Saretsky Show) about what’s really happening in the housing market, whether affordability is actually improving, and if homeownership still makes financial sense for first-time home buyers in 2026.Recorded: March 30, 2026
Published: Apr 3, 2026Duration: 9m 4s
Are big grocers scamming the “Buy Canadian” movement?
Canadians want to support local but are they being misled? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has fined Loblaw grocery stores for “maplewashing” twice in 2026, raising questions about misleading “Product of Canada” labels. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with marketing communications expert Bob Stamnes (PS&Co.) about the gap between Canadians’ desire to buy local and the reality of higher prices, how companies capitalize on that tension, and where the line is between branding and deception. Recorded: March 23, 2026  
Published: Mar 28, 2026Duration: 6m 58s
Who is pushing conspiracy theories in Canada?
Conspiracy theories are everywhere online but who’s actually behind them? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with journalist Jen St. Denis (The Tyee) about the nature of Canadian conspiracy content on your social media feeds, who is creating and amplifying it, and whether it’s part of a coordinated effort to push conspiracy narratives. What impact does constant exposure to conspiracy content have on you, even if you don’t believe it? Recorded: March 23, 2026  
Published: Mar 27, 2026Duration: 8m 10s
Why does everyone miss the 1990s? (Fiona Forbes)
THE FORBES REPORT: The 1990s are having a moment! But why is everyone — including Gen Z — so nostalgic for that era? How did we navigate the world before smartphones, social media, and streaming services? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with local legend Fiona Forbes about life in the ’90s and what Vancouver was like back then. What did we have then that we’ve lost now?  Recorded: March 23, 2026
Published: Mar 27, 2026Duration: 7m 34s
Are B.C. family doctors being asked to do too much? (Dr. Maryam Zeineddin)
Family doctors in B.C. are under growing pressure — not just from administrative burdens, but from a system that isn’t equipped to handle the rising demand for mental health care, leaving family doctors to fill the gap. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with Dr. Maryam Zeineddin, founder of Zili Care and former president of BC Family Doctors about how the gap between mental and physical care is affecting patients and what needs to change to ease the strain on primary care.  Recorded: March 16, 2026
Published: Mar 20, 2026Duration: 8m 28s
Is Canada just one big “situationship”? (J.J. McCullough)
THE CRUNCH: From Quebec and Alberta separatism to Indigenous sovereignty, Canada often feels like it’s in a constant state of re-negotiation. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks political commentator and world-famous YouTuber J.J. McCullough whether the country is stuck in a political “situationship” on the verge of a breakup — and why it never quite falls apart.  Recorded: March 16, 2026  
Published: Mar 20, 2026Duration: 7m 23s
Are dating apps fueling toxic dating trends? (Amy Chan)
Ghostlighting, shrekking, sledging — modern dating is getting messier. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with dating expert and author Amy Chan (Un-Single: How to Date Smarter and Create Love That Lasts) about whether dating apps are driving toxic behaviour, what’s behind these trends, and how singles can navigate dating in 2026.  Recorded: March 16, 2026  
Published: Mar 20, 2026Duration: 6m 59s
Are these “miracle drugs” changing how we shop? (Steve Mossop / Leger)
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound are helping millions lose weight and improve metabolic health. But could they also reshape consumer behaviour? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with Leger Executive Vice President Steve Mossop about new data showing how people taking these medications are reshaping spending habits — from the grocery store to other unexpected parts of the economy. If these “miracle drugs” keep growing in popularity, what industries could be affected positively and negatively?Recorded: March 9, 2026
Published: Mar 13, 2026Duration: 9m 43s
Will permanent daylight time improve your sleep? (Adrien Sala / WikiSleep)
B.C. Premier David Eby wants to end the twice-a-year clock change by moving the province to permanent daylight saving time — but will that actually help people sleep better? This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir speaks with WikiSleep founder Adrien Sala about the debate among sleep experts over whether darker winter mornings could leave people feeling more sluggish. Is ending the clock change really the sleep fix many people think it is? Plus, what can you do if you’re already struggling to get a good night’s sleep?Recorded: March 9, 2026  
Published: Mar 13, 2026Duration: 7m 51s
Does Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim have a credibility problem?
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim admitted repeating a false allegation about city councillor Sean Orr after supposedly seeing a photo shown to him — raising questions about accountability and misinformation in local politics. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir breaks down the mayor’s explanation and wonders whether his response truly counts as taking responsibility.Recorded: March 9, 2026
Published: Mar 13, 2026Duration: 2m 32s
Christy Farrell / Julie Kim / Kyla Lee
Why is “female rage” all the rage?From Olympic controversy to pop culture to public safety, are we living in a new era of female disillusionment? After U.S. President Donald Trump’s congratulatory call to the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team sparked backlash, the moment quickly escalated into a broader cultural debate. This is VANCOLOUR host Mo Amir asks 96.9 JACK FM’s Christy Farrell (a lifelong hockey player herself) what the moment revealed about sexism in sport. Then, is “female rage” just a trend, or a deeper cultural shift? Canadian Screen Award–winning comedian Julie Kim, host of...
Published: Mar 6, 2026Duration: 22m 1s