Episodes

  • Kelly Ziegner, CEO of United Way Middlesex Elgin joins me to tell us how financial stress is affecting our most vulnerable - well beyond their wallets.

    Kelly Ziegner, CEO of United Way Middlesex Elgin joins me to tell us how financial stress is affecting our most vulnerable - well beyond their wallets.
    Oct 15 2025
    Kelly Ziegner, CEO of United Way Middlesex Elgin joins me to tell us how financial stress is affecting our most vulnerable - well beyond their wallets. She’s here today to tell us about an alarming, Canada wide survey that has just been completed by Léger & United Way Centraide and was released today. It shows how many Canadians are just one unexpected event away from a financial crisis away.
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    17 mins
  • Staff Sergeant Anderson and Constable Piening from the London Police Service join us to talk about a topic Londoners can't seem to get enough of and about a program that LPS offers that might surprise you.

    Staff Sergeant Anderson and Constable Piening from the London Police Service join us to talk about a topic Londoners can't seem to get enough of and about a program that LPS offers that might surprise you.
    Oct 3 2025
    We have 2 guests today. Both of them are long time veterans with our London Police Service and they are here to tell us about the work that they do in their current divisions. One topic is a favourite one for Londoners to talk and - sometimes - complain about. The other is a program that might be news to you. There are multiple career paths that a member of the London Police Service can take - it’s one of the exciting parts of what is a really difficult job. Mike's career path is a good example of this. Like most officers, Staff Sergeant Mike Anderson started working in Uniformed Patrol before being transferred to the Major Crime Section. Mike worked in Major Crime for 4.5 years before being promoted to Sergeant. He returned to Uniform Patrol for about 12 months when he then moved back to Major Crime, this time serving as a Detective for 4 years. Recently he recieved a promotion to Staff Sergeant and, earlier this year, Mike was transferred to the Traffic and Safety Division where he now supervises a Sergeant and 15 Constables as they work to keep London roads safe for all of us. Also joining us in this episode is Constable Julia Piening, a 20 year veteran with our London Police Service. Julia teaches part time at Fanshawe College, speaks French and Spanish and has two, as she refers to them as, “wonderful kids” - and I’m sure they are! She also tells me that she owes a lot of her grit and perseverance to her mom. Like Mike, Julia started in Uniform Patrol. She has served as the Missing Person Coordinator, she’s worked on a joint project with Guns and Drugs and in Corporate Services for Special Projects, Julia has also served in the Forensic Digital Evidence Unit, as a School Resource Officer. These days, Julia is member of the Community Services Division where she coordinates a program called “Project BUILDS”, a project designed to build trust and create positive connections between police and the London's youth and all residents. In this role, she facilitates a program called “Youth In Policing Initiative”, or “YIPI” for short and that's what she tells us about in this episode.
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    24 mins
  • Grraham Henderson, CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce, joins us to talk about how investing in music, arts and culture is not just good for the soul, it's good for the local economy too.

    Grraham Henderson, CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce, joins us to talk about how investing in music, arts and culture is not just good for the soul, it's good for the local economy too.
    Sep 19 2025
    Graham Henderson, CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce joins me to discuss how big investments in Music Arts and Culture can make our local economy stronger while at the same time making London a great place to live. He’s studied this for years and has "walked his talk". In Toronto, he developed a Music Arts and Culture Strategy that has been implemented in large Cities around the world. He argues that London needs to do more so we get more, and he explains why he thinks city council is not doing enough to get us where we need to be.
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    20 mins
  • Jay Menard, the immediate past chair of the committee that provides advice to council about accessibility issues, joins me to discuss the plan to make the Medway Valley pathway system more accessible and how a portion of the plan is at risk - right now..

    Jay Menard, the immediate past chair of the committee that provides advice to council about accessibility issues, joins me to discuss the plan to make the Medway Valley pathway system more accessible and how a portion of the plan is at risk - right now..
    Aug 25 2025
    Presently, a small but important portion of the Medway Trail system is in question. Residents from the Attawandaron Neighbourhood (a neighbourhood in Northwest London, just off Wonderland Road) attended a planning committee meeting last week and lobbied for the Type 3 trail (an accessible trail) that is planned for the City property behind their homes and abutting Medway Valley be stopped. Remarkably the planning committee agreed with them and voted unanimously (5 - 0) to pause construction and possibly cancel the pathway altogether. the recommendation goes to council on Tuesday, August 26th for debate and decision. Although the neighbours had the opportunity to share their perspective with the Planning and Environment Committee, no one was able to provide the decades long history of this project or express their concerns from an accessibility lens. Jay Menard, the immediate past chair of the council appointed committee set up to provide them with advice about accessibility issues, joins me on the podcast with the hope that his perspective is heard before city council makes their final decision.
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    35 mins
  • Jim Graham joins me to discuss all things London Airshow

    Jim Graham joins me to discuss all things London Airshow
    Aug 21 2025
    Jim Graham is a business owner, community volunteer, commercial pilot and he is the founding and immediate past chair of the board of directors for Airshow London which was established as a not for profit organization in 2015. You'll learn some interesting history, fun facts, how they kept the show going during the pandemic, what in store this year as they celebrate their 10th Anniversary.
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    28 mins
  • The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 3: Carol Dyck Talks Climate Change and What London City Council Is (and Isn't) Doing About It

    The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 3: Carol Dyck Talks Climate Change and What London City Council Is (and Isn't) Doing About It
    Aug 15 2025
    36 mins
  • The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 2: London Cares and the Homelessness Crisis

    The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 2: London Cares and the Homelessness Crisis
    Aug 2 2025
    Chris Moss, the Executive Director of London Cares joins us to share information about the organization she leads and how London Cares works with other Community Partners to address London's Homelessness Crisis. Listen for "Housing is Healthcare". Please reach out and let me know what you think: TheMattBrownPodcast@gmail.com Thanks for listening!
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    24 mins
  • The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 1 (Final)

    The Matt Brown Podcast, Episode 1 (Final)
    Jul 16 2025
    Hello, London. This is the final version of episode 1 of The Matt Brown Podcast. The first version was a beta, a combination of this podcast and the test interview that I did with Mario Circelli as part of my training for "Newsmakers", a 30 minute news program that I am hosting for Rogers TV beginning this fall. This version has theme music and better sound. Also, Thank you to The Bicycle Cafe for coming on board as the podcast's first sponsor. Thank you and Congratulations on your decision Andrew McClenaghan!
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    34 mins