In the midst of a provincial election, we reflect on our just-published interview with NDP candidate Bowinn Ma as well as on our own potential as political pundits. In the usual rigidly logical progressIon, that leads to talking about Thompson Rivers University, the Canucks, giant light bulbs, Facebook Marketplace, and plaza dancing. You probably saw that all coming, but you’ll find it a worthwhile trip. This episode is also on YouTube with bonus content—dance, PJ, dance!

Faithful listeners will know that PJ has been a longtime fan of Bowinn Ma, the NDP MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale. In episode 95, we chat with Bowinn about her start in politics, what drives the work she does as an MLA, ranked choice voting, what her future plans may be, and how life would be on a Social Democratic island. Although we think she has a good shot, she is not, for now, planning to rule the world, but is definitely up as incumbent in the upcoming election. As a bonus you get to hear how she’d run her own private island, if she had one. It’s a good personal look at a modern politician that’s sure to take some of the edge off PJ’s political cynicism. The Dogs want to volunteer!

Episode 94 celebrates Shed Dog KJ McNulty winning a Jessie Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role (Small Theatre) for his performance in The Father! Almost as exciting, we confirm his house has no water pressure reducing valve! Our little doggie heads almost explode over both of these facts, a month and a half later. We then note the Catholics love their C-words, what with communion, confirmation, confession, and many many more, so we try to keep our wafers off the floor while discussing that one. Also in this episode we spend very enjoyable time going through listener mail, and hearing RJ’s Hierarchy of Turn Signal Motivations, which will no doubt also win an award at some point. Did we mention KJ won an award? It’s all very heady stuff, so get set up and get listening!

The celebrated Shed Dogs wax by turns rhapsodic and caustic as we explore a 1972 time capsule home (great bones!) being prepared for sale, and debate whether or not KJ knows what plumbing he has installed, himself, in his own house. We get to go through a lot of fun Listener Mail, and take a quick look at our COVID vigilance—are we being true to Dr. Henry? Is she being true to us? On top of all that poetry, PJ offers another half-baked money making scheme for some not very serious consideration. And finally, just what is a Karen, anyway?

As a younger man, famous actor and Shed Dog KJ McNulty took steps to acquire the professional skills required to become an actor, as we all do when deciding to embark on other, less adrenalin-charged careers: he went to school. In this episode we hear a bit about what that entailed and how it came about. And so we have exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, but not the denouement yet, ladies and gentlemen, not (dramatic pause) yet. Bonus: where to hear Bob Ezrin expound on Alice Cooper and Lou Reed Berlin.

We have offered any number of inane money-making ideas in the past but in this one episode RJ offers real advice on funeral and probate costs that could save you thousands of dollars. Seriously. We also seek suggestions for a new name for our province and we discover that maybe producing a podcast doesn’t have to be this complicated. There is some reflection on evolution, the news we see, and politics, as well as some more politics. All in all, a meaty and informative episode that’s filling yet tasty. Bonus: it’s your turn to go inside the log!

In our 90th episode, we shine our strange light on quadrophonic, direct-to-disk, AND 8-track sound systems. There’s a Twitter recommendation, and unlike the squirrels themselves, we fall all over ourselves raving about their navigation of a supreme obstacle course. The episode is rounded out by an homage to salad spinners and a salute to Mongolia’s fine COVID-19 work. This episode will have you emptying out your storage looking for lost treasures for sure. And RJ, careful with that spatula!

Finding themselves once again in the Shed, the Dogs soon find themselves concerned with how not to walk the dog. We then soothe, nay, assuage ourselves by reading Listener Mail, a sure-fire picker-upper in these gloomy days, and the magic of rambling works again as we end up reflecting on bad 70’s cartoons we have seen. If you’d like to animate a pleasant distraction, this is a great place to start!

We cover how negative oil prices can even exist, consider whether to go back to work as high priced COBOL consultants, and speculate about what’s happening with all the traffic. I mean that's our regular fare, right? Then, in a burst of inspiration, RJ asks KJ about his experiences as a young Catholic in a small town. We learn a lot, have some fun, and understand more about where we’re from. I mean where else will you hear about throwing devil's horns during a funeral service?

Shed hunting dogs are those that hunt for shed antlers with AR-15s. Just wanted to clear up the title and artwork. Also, please help us get “I Think We’re Alone Now” out of our head, it’s a real earworm, which is, as you know, a loan translation from the German Ohrwurm. We do discuss how we’re feeling about the world’s new lifestyle, but also hear stories of COVID-19 entrepreneurs big and small, KJ’s bread making, RJ’s drinking bird, and PJ’s road trip. We manage to find disagreement within a topic we all agree on in the banning of assault weapons, but then get to revel in a lot of Listener Mail. You don’t need a better weapon to kill an hour than this episode!

This power packed episode sees your favourite Shed Dogs lurching grimly from politics to the pandemic until suddenly RJ lights up the day with...collector cards?! Not only do you get away from humdrum topics of the day but you can get involved and even (hold onto yourself here) win a prize! A real prize with actual monetary value, brought forward intact from the late ‘80s! If that’s not a pleasant distraction we don’t know what is, and you can thank us later. Enjoy your gum! Bonus: KJ’s opportunity to become a town crier (true story).

Like the rest of the world, we’re preoccupied with the pandemic, though mostly its lesser aspects, like driving behaviours, checkout rules, and where all the flour and yeast went. But we also care about which is our favourite Beatles album, RJ’s adventures in home handiness, and KJ’s cookie making prowess. We inexplicably both lament and are amused by the loss of the Land O'Lakes mascot and we look at the BC College of Physician's take on the old “one issue per visit” problem at doctors’ offices. The whole episode is a pestled prescription for wellness, so get yourself some!

This is our final pre-pandemic Shed session. It was recorded in late February, when our biggest worry was when Art Jenkins down the street was going to return the torque wrench. This week we hold forth on Lyft, Uber, cellphone costs, teen-made cabins, kids these days, more Ticketmaster evil, the emergency goalie from Toronto, and a recommended podcast that’s almost as good as the Shed Dogs! As a bonus we have a surprise guest drop by for ten minutes, more shuttle tales, and some dire political prognostication. It’s a sweet and sour episode for sure!

This episode hearkens back to a time before the Distancing, before remoting in, before video Dogs, when shares in Zoom were still affordable. We were all in the same room on February 24, talking about our medical experiences, PJ’s bittersweet Twitter life, politics north and south of the 49th, and even Art. You can be in that room with us...but you can’t see us in there. RIP Peter Tork.

The Dogs held back some footage from the special March 26 remote, and here it is. Just like last time we are again only 1/3 in the Shed, as we continue to be physically distant but spiritually close. Like everyone we have lots of COVID-19 related thoughts, from struggling businesses to supply chains to how we’re feeling. If we talk about art again, it’ll be a relief, right? Good. We also get to remember mercury thermometers (and how to dispose of them) and get a report on the Museum of Vancouver (hint: probably don’t dress up much for that visit—our kind of place!)

The Dogs are not—repeat!—NOT in the Shed this week! Except one of them. In this special and atypically timely episode (recorded just three days before we’re posting it) the dogs get together via videoconference and chat about tons of listener mail, our positive feels for how Canada is handling the pandemic, tumbleweeds, morning glory, Sons of the Pioneers, and a Shuttle creep.

Episode 80, recorded well before The Great Lockdown, encapsulates three world views around how well recycling is working. As usual RJ defends the most upbeat view, and the show note links support it—have a look as good news is hard to come by in these difficult days. There’s lots of other content here, too, in particular coronavision recommendations, medium rare whale meat, plus the usual modicum of laughs—enlightenment and fun will both be found. A great way to fill the hour from a social distance!

The dogs spend some time discussing COVID-19, because they believe you haven’t heard enough on the topic. Just a sec… ah… AHCHOO! Excuse us, we’ll be sure to sneeze into our elbows next time. Please, have another nacho. Other topics: Lynn Beyak goes toxic on residential schools, fun jokes for strangers, The Masked Singer, PJ is run ragged chasing the shuttlecock, and a shuttle tale or two to round out another eclectic podcast. Enjoy the show!

We’re sure you’ve often wondered, “What do guys like these watch, anyway?” This episode is where you find out, along with some other stuff, why songs and albums are often labeled “(ASCAP)” or “(BMI)”, the slack way to plug radiator leaks, and what’s going on with traffic fatalities in Oslo. It’s another eclectic mix of whatever flashes across our mental news ticker, in other words. Play along!

KJ walks us through the highs and lows of a 42 year relationship with his ‘64 International Harvester Travelall, with more than half-a-million miles (pause and take that in) of friendly waves, hard work, satisfaction, and frustration, all coloured green. Along the way we talk about seeing Lucy’s outstanding performance in “Dissolve”, greet some new listeners, and enjoy a Tale and some Listener Mail. It’s a safe, comfortable, and unique ride on the audio highway; come along, bring your friends, we have lots of room!