Nonpartisan Hacks

Hosted by two Parksville city councillors, Nonpartisan Hacks brings you behind the scenes of how government really works — without the spin, the shouting, or the partisanship.We dive into the practical, the absurd, and the oddly inspiring world of local government, while mixing in the occasional provincial and federal twist. Expect real talk about decision-making, budgets, bylaws, and political hot potatoes (with a helping of humour and honesty).

Nonpartisan Hacks is a government podcast hosted by Joel Grenz and Sean Wood, with 32 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Joel Grenz and Sean Wood hosts Nonpartisan Hacks, a government show with 32 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #27

  When Democracy Becomes Dangerous with Marianne Meed Ward

  May 29, 202631 minS0

  <h2 >What happens when serving your community means risking your personal safety?</h2> <p >In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, recorded live at the AVICC convention in Victoria, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Marianne Meed Ward — Mayor of Burlington, Ontario and co-founder of ElectRespect — to talk about the growing crisis of harassment, abuse, and outright threats facing elected officials at every level of government. Marianne has received death threats, been told by police not to attend her own public meetings, and watched a colleague leave elected life entirely because of the abuse. Rather than stepping back, she help...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #26

  Bring the Bill: Rob Shaw on First Reading, DRIPA, and the Erosion of Debate

  May 1, 202631 minS0

  <h2 >What happens when a government starts blocking bills before anyone gets to read them?</h2> <p >In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood welcome back BC political reporter Rob Shaw — host of Political Capital and co-author of the bestselling A Matter of Confidence — for the "Criterion Edition" of his rant on first reading at the BC Legislature. They unpack what first reading actually does, why the NDP government's growing habit of blocking opposition bills (including a recent Trevor Halford bill on DRIPA) chips away at the institution, and how the same procedural dynamics show up arou...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #25

  So You’re Thinking of Voting in an Election

  Apr 11, 202633 minS0

  <h2 >Nobody teaches you how to vote well. Maybe they should.</h2> <p >You already know how to mark an X on a ballot. But do you know what you're actually voting for?</p> <p >Joel Grenz and Sean Wood — two City of Parksville councillors — break down the overlooked civics of actually choosing who to vote for. From how party slates and vetting work, to why big campaign promises are often a red flag, to the real reason politicians get accused of lying (hint: voters play a role), this is the honest conversation about democratic participation that doesn't happen often enou...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #24

  The Most Expensive Building Material with George Anderson

  Mar 22, 202649 minS0

  <p >In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with George Anderson, MLA for Nanaimo-Lantzville, former Nanaimo city councillor, commercial lawyer, and Parliamentary Secretary for Transit. Anderson shares what it was like being the youngest person at the council table by four decades, how he went from door-knocking to Treasury Board, and what he believes is the most expensive material in home construction today.</p> <p >The conversation spans Anderson’s private member’s bill on building approvals, the mechanics of how private members’ bills actually work, the future of Vancouver Island rail, and why govern...

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #22

  From Council Table to Caucus Room: Peter Milobar’s Governance Playbook

  Feb 21, 202646 minS0

  <h2 >20 Years of Lessons from Local Government to the Legislature</h2> <p >In this episode of Nonpartisan Hacks, Joel Grenz and Sean Wood sit down with Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre and BC Conservative leadership candidate. Milobar's political résumé spans city councillor, three-term mayor, regional district chair, and provincial legislator — what Sean calls "a full political bingo card." The conversation covers what he learned managing a city through the 2008 financial crisis, why infrastructure funding has dried up, and how he got all 10 regional district projects funded when no one else could get one.</p> <p >Milobar also shares cand...

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Nonpartisan Hacks. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.