The Weird Canadian

The Weird Canadian
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What if the system isn't broken, it's just finished? What comes next, and who's building it? The Weird Canadian is a show about the people answering that question with action. Engineers writing the protocols that route around outdated institutions. Economists rethinking money, work, and ownership for an AI-native world. Policy advocates dragging Canada out of a decade of decline. Founders building tools, communities, and movements that give regular people leverage they've never had. I believe technology, used right, is the most powerful equalizer humanity has ever invented. AI isn't the threat. Concentration is the threat. So this show platforms the people pushing in the opposite direction: open systems, individual sovereignty, distributed power, and a future where being free isn't a luxury. You don't have to agree with me on everything. You just have to be building, creating, or fighting for something real. If your work makes a regular person stronger, smarter, freer, or less dependent on a system that's failing them, this is your audience. Canadian focus, global lens. No fluff, no talking points, no algorithm-chasing. Just the conversations we should be having out loud.

  1. 2D AGO

    The Juggernaut: Thunder Parley on Fixing California's Shadow Budget, Benefit Cliff, and Broken Schools

    Episode Notes Thunder Parley arrived in California at 18 years old with $50 and a one-way ticket. His guidance counselor told him he was too poor to go out of state. Two decades later, he built his career at Google, where colleagues called him "The Juggernaut" — because once he locked onto a broken system, he refused to quit until it was fixed. Now he's running for Governor of California on a single promise: one term, fix the machine, go home. In this episode, we go deep on the three systemic failures Thunder says are destroying California from the inside: the shadow budget hiding 22 taxes in your electricity bill, the benefit cliff that punishes working mothers for getting a raise, and the classroom crisis that is costing an entire generation their economic future. What You'll Learn: •How the benefit cliff works: why a $1/hour raise can cost a California family $22,000 in lost child-care support overnight, and how the MATH Plan (0% tax on the first $98k, flat 4.9% above that ) is designed to eliminate it •The shadow budget: how California pays neighboring states over $150 million per year to take excess solar energy while Californians pay four times the national average for electricity — and how 22 hidden taxes, fees, and social programs are buried in every bill •The LIMIT proposal: why tracking lost instructional minutes caused by classroom evacuations matters more than "social climate dashboards" — and what it means for students from lower-income families •Why Thunder says California spent $24 billion on homelessness over five years while homelessness increased by 30–40%, and what accountability actually looks like •The bureaucratic absurdity of being required to print 500 pages of tax returns and hand-deliver them to the Secretary of State so they could be scanned back into PDFs •Why he only wants one term — and why that is the most radical thing about his campaign Guest Links: •Campaign Website: https://votethunder.com/ •X/Twitter: https://x.com/VoteThunderCA •Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VoteThunderCA Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    1 hr

  2. 4D AGO

    Former CIA Officer Exposes Government Lies and Trillions in Waste

    Episode Notes Are you a victim of the economy, or are you making the wrong trade-offs? Former CIA Political Analyst Robert Choi joins The Weird Canadian to dismantle the "myth of the economic victim" and explain why the system wants you dependent. Robert spent years inside the CIA analyzing how power works, then served as Deputy Chief of HR at New York's MTA during COVID. Now he writes The Choi Report on Substack, applying "institutional realism" to expose the gap between political rhetoric and real-world results. In this episode we discuss: Why nobody takes China seriously as a threat — and why they should What's actually happening with Taiwan right now Why so many former CIA officers are going public after Andrew Bustamante Why failing government programs never die What changes America actually needs and what regular people can do The line between personal agency and a rigged system The first trade-off you need to make tomorrow morning Guest Links: The Choi Report: https://www.choireport.com/ Book: The Art of Public Service (Amazon ) Facebook: The Choi Report Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/hYERaX0R2mE Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    30 min

  3. MAY 13

    The AI-Ready Human: Surviving the 300X Productivity Gap with Paul Slater

    Episode Notes Artificial intelligence is changing the future of work faster than we realize. Are AI skills the only way to save your career, or is AI replacing jobs completely? In this episode of The Weird Canadian, Cody sits down with Paul Slater, a former Microsoft Senior Director and co-founder of BillionMinds. Paul reveals why AI isn't just another software tool, it is a fundamental shift that exposes weak habits and demands a new set of distinctly human capabilities. We dive deep into Paul's "AI-Ready Human" framework, discussing the death of learning by osmosis, navigating the BANI world, and the terrifying 300X productivity gap between those who use artificial intelligence and those who don't. If you want to protect your career and master the future of work, this episode is your survival guide. Key Topics Covered: •Leaving Microsoft to found BillionMinds •The Reverse Flynn Effect and human adaptability •The BANI Framework (Brittle, Anxious, Non-linear, Incomprehensible) •The Magnificent Seven human capabilities AI cannot replace •The 300X productivity gap in the modern workforce Guest Links: •Get the Book (The AI-Ready Human): https://www.paulslater.ai/book •Paul's Website: https://www.paulslater.ai/ •Humanity Working Newsletter: https://www.humanityworking.net/ Watch the Video Version: Prefer to watch? Catch the full video interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjZxGASQjXw Subscribe to The Weird Canadian for more independent business insights and Canadian entrepreneurship! Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    1h 3m

  4. MAY 11

    The $600K AI Scam & The Human Blindspot with Robert Siciliano

    Episode Notes A single phone call cost one victim $600,000. The terrifying part? They thought they were talking to their boss. In this episode of The Weird Canadian, we sit down with Robert Siciliano, a private investigator and cybersecurity expert with over 30 years of experience. Robert reveals exactly how AI voice cloning, deepfakes, and pig butchering scams are bypassing our digital defenses by hacking our human psychology. In this episode, you will learn: •How the $600K pig butchering scam actually works •What the "Human Blindspot" is and why you have one •Why 15 billion passwords are currently on the dark web •The massive threat to the $124 trillion wealth transfer •How to use the "Kitchen Table Effect" to protect your family tonight If you think you're too smart to be scammed, this episode will change your mind. Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wz2nku8hGmE Connect with Robert Siciliano: Protect Now LLC: https://protectnowllc.com/ Safr.Me & Books: https://safr.me/books/ #CyberSecurity #Podcast #TheWeirdCanadian #RobertSiciliano #OnlineSafety #Deepfakes #podmatch Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    49 min

  5. MAY 6

    Joe Zeplin on Small Business Content, AI Tools, and Why It’s Not Too Late to Start

    Episode Notes In this episode of The Weird Canadian Podcast, I sit down with Joe Zeplin to talk about the truth about small business content and why so many business owners still struggle to turn content into consistent growth. We get into Joe’s path from a more traditional corporate environment into creator entrepreneurship, why it is not too late to start, the difference between posting randomly and building a real system, and what small businesses still misunderstand about online visibility. We also talk about the tools Joe actually uses, including Metricool, Blotato, Claude, and Descript. If you are building a business, trying to create better content, or looking for a more honest conversation about what growth online really requires, this episode is for you. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LH4cVs_7Ugo Connect with Joe Zeplin: Website: https://www.joezeplin.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@joezeplin Substack: https://corporateguyturnedyoutuber.substack.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-zeplin Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    1h 15m

  6. MAY 4

    Vibe Coding for Marketing? Ginny Delaitre Says Most Founders Miss This

    Episode Notes In this episode of The Weird Canadian, Cody sits down with Ginny Delaitre, founder of UX Marketing and CEO of VDS Digital Agency, for a conversation about vibe coding, vibe marketing, and why AI still cannot replace the human side of strategy. Ginny explains how AI can help founders and small businesses move faster when building tools, lead magnets, newsletters, and marketing systems, while also warning that speed without strategy can make every brand start to look and sound the same. The conversation explores the difference between execution and judgment, why consistency still matters more than hype, and what founders should actually be doing if they want to use AI well. If you’ve been trying to figure out what AI should do for your business — and what should remain firmly human — this episode will give you a much clearer lens. What you’ll hear in this episode: - why AI still can’t do marketing on its own - how Ginny thinks about vibe coding in practical business terms - why lead magnets are changing - where human strategy still matters most - what small businesses can do right now to stand out Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F_YXK0_Xa1Q Check out Ginny Delaitre’s work: UX Marketing Insights: https://uxmarketing.substack.com UX Marketing HQ: https://uxmarketinghq.com/about What vibe coding has to do with Marketing?: https://uxmarketing.substack.com/p/what-vibe-coding-has-to-do-with-marketing I tested Lovable, Codex, and Claude for vibe coding. Here is what I found.: https://uxmarketing.substack.com/p/lovable-codex-and-claude-my-genuine Mentioned in the episode: Tourism article mentioned by Cody: https://x.com/Weird_Canadian/status/2030643659784290353 Contest details: See the pinned comment on YouTube. Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    51 min

  7. APR 29

    He Turned Star Trek Fandom Into a Movement for the Future of Space

    Episode Notes In this episode of The Weird Canadian, I sit down with Dan Deevy for a long-form conversation about Star Trek, representation, Gaaays In Spaaace, the Galactic Diversity and Inclusion Con, and the future of space. Dan is an entertainment journalist, interviewer, and community builder whose work sits at the intersection of fandom, storytelling, identity, and cultural change. What starts as a conversation about Star Trek quickly opens into something much bigger: how the stories we tell shape who feels welcome in the future, and how science fiction can influence real-world communities, ambitions, and industries. We also talk about Dan’s path into media, the turning points that shaped his work, the emotional impact of building spaces where people feel seen, and the later conversation around AI, creativity, and culture. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dcbd-7Ytu24 Links mentioned in the episode: Dan Deevy: https://www.dandeevy.com/ Gaaays In Spaaace: https://www.gaaaysinspaaace.org/ Galactic D\&I Con coverage: https://blog.trekcore.com/2023/04/galactic-diversity-inclusion-convention-may-2023/ The Debrief feature: https://thedebrief.org/lgbtq-space-industry/ Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    1h 31m

  8. APR 27

    Brimstone: Building a Podcast Empire, AI Warnings, and the Brutal Reality of Entertainment

    Episode Notes What does it take to survive in the entertainment industry for over four decades? This week on The Weird Canadian, Cody sits down with Brimstone—a true Renaissance man who went from child acting on Sesame Street to taking bumps in pro wrestling rings, to building The Grindhouse Radio into a syndicated podcast empire with millions of weekly listeners. Brimstone shares the brutal truth about what it takes to build a lasting legacy. We dive deep into why every creator MUST own their trademark, the looming threat (and opportunity) of AI in entertainment, and the stark difference between a viral social media influencer and a real, grinding entertainer. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a creator, or just someone trying to find your lane, Brimstone's 40 years of experience is the reality check you need. Topics Covered: • The "Expressway of Lanes" career strategy • Why actors don't own their brands (and why you need a trademark) • The AI Arena show and the future of digital likeness • Real entertainers vs. fake social media influencers • A legendary backstage story about Stan Lee Links Mentioned in this Episode: • Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKa8EJlMr-I • Check out Brimstone's Autobiography & Projects: https://www.therealbrimstone.com/ • The Grindhouse Radio: https://www.thegrindhouseradio.com/ • Listen to Dana Pereira's Loreplay Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5iuDw8h8GfBfNOP6tpvwFO • Stan Lee Presents Legacy Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@StanLeeUniverse/podcasts • Brush Brigade Animated Series: https://brushbrigade.com/ • Chris Notarile / Blinky Productions: https://www.youtube.com/user/Blinky500 Stay weird! Support The Weird Canadian by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/the-weird-canadian This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Read transcript

    58 min
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5
out of 5
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About

What if the system isn't broken, it's just finished? What comes next, and who's building it? The Weird Canadian is a show about the people answering that question with action. Engineers writing the protocols that route around outdated institutions. Economists rethinking money, work, and ownership for an AI-native world. Policy advocates dragging Canada out of a decade of decline. Founders building tools, communities, and movements that give regular people leverage they've never had. I believe technology, used right, is the most powerful equalizer humanity has ever invented. AI isn't the threat. Concentration is the threat. So this show platforms the people pushing in the opposite direction: open systems, individual sovereignty, distributed power, and a future where being free isn't a luxury. You don't have to agree with me on everything. You just have to be building, creating, or fighting for something real. If your work makes a regular person stronger, smarter, freer, or less dependent on a system that's failing them, this is your audience. Canadian focus, global lens. No fluff, no talking points, no algorithm-chasing. Just the conversations we should be having out loud.

Information

  • Creator
    The Weird Canadian
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026
  • Show Website
    The Weird Canadian