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The Pulse

The Pulse

Written by: Dave Graham & Peter McCully
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LISTEN UP! Whether you're a longtime local or just discovering our corner of paradise On Vancouver Island in Parksville Qualicum Beach, Nanoose, Arrowsmith Coombs or Lighthouse Country - tune in to the Pulse. The Pulse Community Podcast tells the stories of the people and places that make our coastal communities unique. SIGN UP! Subscribe now to catch every episode!


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Episodes
  • Duck Paterson Drives an Ambulance to Kyiv & A 9th Trip to Ukraine with Darrell McKay

    Duck Paterson Drives an Ambulance to Kyiv & A 9th Trip to Ukraine with Darrell McKay
    Sep 23 2026
    "Send us a text about this episode!"Why You Should Listen to This Episode: Two Vancouver Island volunteers, two very different ways of showing up for Ukraine. Duck Paterson, a 75-year-old Ladysmith councillor with 38 years on council, explains why he is driving an ambulance from Munich to Kyiv this October, and Darrell McKay returns after eight trips with an update from the ground and the book he wrote about it. Both guests also share exactly how you can help.This Episode Features:(18:41) Darrell McKay, a retired engineer from Campbell River and author of My Time with Heroes, returns to the podcast after eight volunteer trips to Ukraine delivering humanitarian aid. A year on from our last conversation, he describes a country that is exhausted, with empty shelves starting to show in grocery stores, drones getting through in waves, and real fear that Russia will go after heat and water this winter. His fundraising has climbed to about $220,000, now going toward Starlink units, medical supplies and drone technology, and his book has sold close to 750 copies, with every dollar of profit going to Ukraine. Darrell talks about the evacuation crews and small volunteer groups he has worked alongside. He also shares personal news: he is marrying Olga Buhai followed by a visit with her family in Dnipro and Pavlograd. www.facebook.com/wingnutadventures(05:21) Ladysmith councillor Duck Paterson is 75, has stepped away from council after 38 years, and about to trade the council chamber for the driver’s seat of an ambulance. Duck explains how a newspaper story about a Chemainus volunteer led him to sign up with Ukraine Focus to drive a used ambulance roughly 2,000 kilometres from Munich through Prague, Kraków and Lviv to Kyiv. He walks through the logistics, including travelling in small groups so the convoy is a harder target, in ambulances that cost $10,000 to $15,000 each and arrive loaded with medical supplies, generators and 3D printers for prosthetics. Duck is paying his own way, and shares how you can donate through the Ladysmith and District Credit Union or directly to Ukraine Focus. He also looks back on 38 years on council, including the relationship he helped start with Stz’uminus First Nation, and what he hopes to do next. www.facebook.com/duck.patersonEpisode Quotes:“It’s made me tougher and softer all at the same time. It makes me tough knowing sometimes you have to fight the enemy, but it makes me soft seeing the people that are hurting.” - Darrell McKay, Retired Engineer & Author of My Time with Heroes“After 38 years, if I haven’t screwed it up by now, somebody else better take a shot at it.” - Duck Paterson, Ladysmith Councillor & Ukraine Focus Volunteer DriverThe PULSE Community Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Peter McCully and Dave Graham, featuring conversations with musicians, authors, actors, athletes, business leaders and community builders from Vancouver Island, British Columbia and beyond. The PULSE Community Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.LISTEN: We have had the chance to talk to many authors from across Vancouver Island and beyond - explore more stories and interviews on our Vancouver Island Authors page.You’ll find all episodes of The PULSE Podcast on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, TikTok, YouTube, and ThePulseCommunity.ca.Click here to learn how to Support the show.Episode Sponsors: Thrifty Foods, Tablet Pharmacy & Ian Lindsay & AssociatesCheck out Skookum Kid’s Stories on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, and YouTube.Sign up for our weekly newsletter and stay up to date on the latest podcasts, guests and contests.Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.#Ukraine #HumanitarianAid #UkraineFocus #Ladysmith #CampbellRiver #MyTimeWithHeroes #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #VancouverIslandPodcasts #ThePulseCommunityPodcastSupport the show
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    41 mins
  • Dallas Cowboys in Brazil, Week 2 Fantasy Injuries & Smoked Brisket Nachos

    Dallas Cowboys in Brazil, Week 2 Fantasy Injuries & Smoked Brisket Nachos
    Sep 23 2026

    "Send us a text about this episode!"

    BONUS RECIPE: Download Chef Jonathan Frazier's Recipe for Smoked Brisket Nachos: https://bit.ly/S2EP02FootballRecipe

    This week, Jonathan and Erin turn their attention to the Dallas Cowboys, looking at the team's upcoming international matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil, what to watch for in fantasy football, and the food traditions that make Texas a football destination. They start with a look at Week 2 and the fantasy football storylines taking shape as teams settle into the season. With several quarterback injuries already making an impact, they discuss the importance of having depth on the bench, keeping an eye on player news and figuring out whether those early-season picks are paying off. They also take a closer look at the Cowboys, including quarterback Dak Prescott, his fantasy value and the team's ongoing playoff challenges, and discuss the international growth of the NFL and the passion of Brazilian sports fans as Dallas heads to Brazil to face the Ravens.

    Then it's time to talk about food, and Texas brings plenty to the table. From Texas barbecue and smoked brisket to Tex-Mex, queso, Frito pie and chicken-fried steak, Jonathan and Erin explore the flavours and traditions that shape the Lone Star State's food culture, including the influence of immigrant communities like the Czech origins of kolaches. And of course, no F3 episode would be complete without the F3 Food Pick of the Week: this time, Jonathan puts together a Texas-inspired game-day favourite, Smoked Brisket Nachos, loaded with smoked beef brisket, shredded cheese, black beans, pickled jalapeños, red onions, barbecue sauce, sour cream, cilantro and lime.

    In This Episode

    Quarterback injuries and fantasy roster depth

    Evaluating early-season fantasy picks

    Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff

    Dak Prescott's fantasy football outlook

    The Dallas Cowboys and their playoff challenges

    Dallas Cowboys vs. Baltimore Ravens in Brazil

    Texas barbecue and Southern comfort food

    Looking ahead to Week 3 and the Indianapolis Colts

    Special Thanks to Our Sponsor: Thrifty Foods for supporting ThePulseCommunity.ca.

    The F3 Podcast is a weekly Vancouver Island podcast hosted by Erin Haluschak and Chef Jonathan Frazier featuring conversations about NFL Teams and tailgate recipes from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Football & Food Podcast is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

    Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new podcast releases and contests!

    Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: The Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.

    #F3Podcast, #PulseCommunity, #VancouverIslandPodcast, #NFLFootballPodcast, #FantasyFootball, #DallasCowboys, #TexasBBQ

    Support the show
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    18 mins
  • Dr. Jody Carrington - Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting

    Dr. Jody Carrington - Kids These Days: A Game Plan for (Re)Connecting
    Sep 23 2026

    "Send us a text about this episode!"

    Dr. Jody Carrington is a child psychologist who believes the answer for kids lies in the big people who hold them. After 15 years of working with vulnerable children and families, from the Alberta Children’s Hospital to speaking stages across the country, she joins Cindy Thompson with warmth, wit and candour.

    At the heart of her message is the lesson she learned from the families she held at the Alberta Children’s Hospital: we are wired to do hard things, and we handle them so much more easily when we remember we are wired for connection. That is why she rarely treats kids and instead supports the big people who hold them, especially when a child has experienced trauma.

    The Resilience Project is a Vancouver Island podcast hosted by counsellor Cindy Thompson, featuring conversations with authors, health professionals, community leaders and everyday people whose stories of resilience, healing and personal growth offer hope, encouragement and practical life lessons. The Resilience Project is part of The PULSE Podcast Community.

    The PULSE Community Podcasts can be found at: ThePulseCommunity.ca

    Cindy Thompson’s website: cindythompsoncounselling.ca

    You’ll find all episodes of the PULSE Community Podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, TikTok and YouTube.

    Episode Sponsor: Thrifty Foods Parksville

    Check out Skookum Kid’s Stories with downloadable colouring pages on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, iHeart Radio, and YouTube.

    Sign up for our weekly newsletter of new podcast releases and contests!

    Check out the Vancouver Island Podcast Directory: The Vancouver Island Podcast Directory is a free public resource curated by The PULSE Community, helping listeners discover podcasts produced on Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal islands.

    #JodyCarrington #ResilienceProject #VancouverIsland #ParksvilleQualicum #ThePulseCommunityPodcast #CindyThompson #VancouverIslandPodcast

    Support the show
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    43 mins
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