Harmonious Gentlemen

This episode was originally recorded and released in September, 2022. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Join the gents in their conversation about morality and ethics. First, they try to define the terms and question where these things come from. Then, they dive into different scenarios challenging their sense of loyalty, honesty, and justice.Thanks to Blindman Brewing, Cilantro and Chive, the King’s University, and Birdy Coffee Co. for sponsoring this episode.Thanks to Phil’s restaurant for the breakfast.Thanks to our listeners and subscribers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

In this episode, the gents are joined by Jon Davies - Clinical Counsellor at Social Shift Therapy and Wellness. They explore pressing topics such as mental health, masculinity, relationships, emotions and feeling, resilience, and influences on boys and men. In addition to providing perspectives on these issues, they explore practical tools for supporting adolescent boys and what it means to be a harmonious man in today’s society..Learn more about the HuMan project and check out Jon’s Therapy and Counselling Collective at www.socialshiftwellness.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

In this episode, the Gents are joined by Mark and Witty Sandle. Dr. Mark Sandle is a professor of History at the King’s University in Edmonton, and Witty works as a Spiritual Director. They discuss the challenge and importance of navigating difference in our lives and relationships. Some look forward, while others look back, for hope and inspiration. What can we do to foster long-lasting, fruitful relationships, when it feels like we aren’t even looking in the same direction? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Dr. Jeffrey Dudiak is Professor of Philosophy at The King’s University in Edmonton, one of Tyler’s favourite teachers of all time, and a great podcast guest. In this episode, the second in what they’re calling, “the King’s Series”, the gents explore the definitions, challenges, and applications of truth and wisdom in today’s world. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Part One of the King’s Series with Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning. In this episode, the gents sit down with Jonathan to talk about justice, mercy, humility, and his role as Program Director for the Micah Centre at the King’s University in Edmonton.Explore Justice and Development through King’s Micah CentreThrough internships, special lectures, experiential learning, relationship building, and more, the Micah Centre at The King’s University explores ways of seeking justice in today’s local and global contexts.The resources and activities of the Micah Centre are open to all students and are designed to expose students to the causes and consequences of poverty, non-sustainable environmental practices, systemic racism and discrimination, and more. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Andrew Wakefield’s 1998 study linking the MMR vaccine to autism sparked one of the most influential—and damaging—public health controversies of our time. In this episode of Harmonious Gentlemen, we unpack how flawed science, media amplification, and misplaced skepticism helped popularize vaccine hesitancy. This is a conversation about evidence, accountability, and why responsible science communication matters now more than ever.NOTES AND RESOURCES:Overviewhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3136032/Wakefield Studyhttps://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(97)11096-0.pdfhttps://share.google/yMcVsIyojuexBD6RgThe Doctor Who Fooled the World - Brian Deerhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7759370/Brian Deer Articleshttps://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7452MMR does not cause Autism Studies and Linkshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC554056/https://www.canvax.ca/sites/default/files/201806/IAC_MMRVaccineDoesNotCauseAutism_2017.pdf (links within)Article with more Linkshttps://www.uchealth.org/today/mmr-vaccines-do-not-cause-autism/Nationwide Study (over 650,000 sample size)https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-2101Article on Vaccine hesitancyhttps://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/1-4-us-adults-mistakenly-believe-mmr-vaccine-causes-autism-survey-reveals This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

‘Twas a cozy night in Lacombe, and the Gents and their families reflected on the year that was while looking ahead to the year that will be. In this short, but special, episode you’ll hear a few additional voices with unique perspectives on what’s truly important. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Why is doing the right thing together so hard? In this episode, we’re joined by Ross Smillie, who brings wisdom and clarity to a conversation about collective action—its promise, its pitfalls, and its unintended consequences. We dig into the Tragedy of the Commons, real-world examples of shared responsibility breaking down, and what this means for everything from environmental issues to social change. A thoughtful, grounded discussion about why cooperation matters—and why it so often fails. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

This episode is a bit different. Recently, the Gents were asked by their friends at Red Hart Brewing to host their famously-fun quiz night. This sounds like a lot of fun, and it was, but it’s difficult as well. With the pressure mounting, the Gents got together to go through their trivia questions in preparation for the great event. They don’t discuss much, and aren’t challenged to be harmonious, but they ask a lot of medium-to-hard questions about people and their accomplishments! If you like trivia, this episode is for you - it’s designed for you to play along. If this isn’t for you, go back 100 episodes or so and find something that piques your interest. There’s gotta be something decent back there! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

As miscellanea means, in the usual sense, “a miscellaneous collection of different things”, a single miscellaneum is logically impossible because variety and diversity (in their usual senses) are attributes of groups of things, not of individual things; for example, a populace can be varied and diverse, but a person cannot be various or diverse. Nevertheless, this is an episode about a miscellaneous collection of different things. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

To put it simply, we’ve been going through some stuff lately, and hope, whatever it is, has been difficult to find. Where does hope come from? What happens when it runs out? How can we turn things around? Can hope exist without a little bit of despair?Want to win a prize pack? Become a subscriber to our Substack and fill out this short (2 minutes) form about hope. It’s the one Chris sent to Tyler and Graham in preparation for the episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

Wiebo Ludwig was a fiercely committed anti-oil and gas activist who moved his family to Trickle Creek in northwestern Alberta to live simply and resist what he saw as the destruction of the land. In the 1990s, his confrontation with the oil industry escalated into a series of controversial events that divided Canadians. Was he a defender of the environment or a dangerous extremist? His story forces us to wrestle with uncomfortable questions: How far should protest go in the face of perceived injustice? When does conviction cross the line into violence? And what do we risk, or gain, when we act on absolute belief? Big thanks to Bailey, who joins the gents to provide personal context and insight throughout the conversation. And shout out to Birdy Coffee for hosting us for the recording and for the wondrous cappuccino. Here are some resources used in the planning of this episode. Check them out to learn more:Wiebo’s War by Canadian Director David YorkSaboteures: Wiebo Ludwig’s War Against Big Oil (Book)https://www.amazon.ca/Saboteurs-Wiebo-Ludwigs-War-Against/dp/1551990539Short Documentary, CBC Big Life with Daniel RichlerEdmonton Journal Articlehttps://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/who-is-wiebo-ludgwig-part-1Edmonton Sun Articleshttps://edmontonsun.com/2013/08/17/weibo-ludwigs-family-admits-to-nothing-apologizes-for-nothing-but-says-acts-of-sabotage-in-alberta-were-justifiedhttps://edmontonsun.com/2012/04/09/dead-at-the-age-of-70CBC Articleshttps://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/wiebo-ludwig-the-making-of-an-eco-warrior-1.1240294https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/convicted-bomber-ludwig-arrested-in-b-c-pipeline-blasts-1.906851https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ludwig-says-whole-community-to-blame-for-shooting-1.181531Miscellaneoushttps://www.pembina.org/reports/beyond-ecoterrorism.pdfhttps://www.dominionpaper.ca/articles/4396.htmlhttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ludwig-found-guiltyhttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ludwig-farm-shootinghttps://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2012/04/11/Wiebo-Ludwig-Obituary/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

The internet has changed the world in so many ways: Politically, socially, and economically. Our lives are very much “online” these days, and there isn’t really anything we can do about it. The internet is extremely powerful, but is it moving civilization forward in a positive way? Is the technology we use every day getting better, providing a more efficient service, or improving our lives? Does the internet open doors or does it have us trapped? It seems like a topic we’ve touched on over the years, but this time we’re diving in a bit deeper - thanks to Cory Doctorow’s concept of “Enshittification”, Yanis Varoufakis’ arguement for “Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism”, and the case study of Charlie Kirk’s killing and the roller coaster of response in the days that followed. It’s not our most cheerful episode, but we’re glad we had the conversation. Let us know what you think using the good ol’ interweb..Thanks as always to our rad sponsors: Blindman Brewing, Cilantro and Chive, The King’s University, and Birdy Coffee Co..See our first real attempt at doing the podcast as a video: Check out the full version of Aesop Rock’s song and music video, Mindful Solutionism: Aesop Rock - Mindful Solutionism (Official Video)Learn more about Cory Doctorow’s Enshittification: How the internet got so bad - YouTubeListen to Yanis Varoufakis explain what a Cloudalist is: Yanis Varoufakis: The new ruling class are not ‘capitalists’ - YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

We (Graham and Tyler) got together to chat about the ongoing teacher strike in Alberta. The intent of this episode is to shed light on current events from the perspective of local educators, ourselves included, and to provide some context for our non-teacher listeners. The topic hits close to home for us, and challenges our ability to remain harmonious, but we try. Our desire is to be honest, transparent, and hopeful throughout - this last part being the most difficult - and we hope the episode is helpful. Thanks to our colleagues who shared their thoughts on short notice.Note: The views expressed in this episode are those of Graham, Tyler, and a handful of other local educators. Their comments are their own and are not a representation of the Alberta Teachers Association, their schools, or their employer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

This episode is about slowing down, reflecting on the past, and looking to the future. We’re on the edge of a new Harmonious season, and, before we dive in, we feel like we need to figure a few things out. Why are we doing the things we are doing? What’s the point? Are we living up to our own expectations? We talk about the podcast, of course, but extend the conversation to relationships, careers, and pursuits beyond this silly hobby we have. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

If you could hang out with anyone for one hour, who would you choose? Is there anyone you would refuse to spend one hour with? What's the most harmonious response to these questions?Thanks to our sponsors: Blindman Brewing (blindmanbrewing.com), Cilantro and Chive (cilantroandchive.ca), and the King's University in Edmonton (kingsu.ca) for being the best. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com

In this episode, the gents discuss anger. From mild annoyance to volcanic rage, how do we harness the potential of these emotional responses and use them harmoniously. Are we too quick to express our displeasure or do we bottle up our feelings and burn up inside? Is anger something we should avoid or embrace?Let us know what you think about this episode. How angry did it make you? What can we do better? What are we doing well? What should we talk about next?Photo by Nik on UnsplashBig thanks to Blindman Brewing, Cilantro and Chive, and the King’s University in Edmonton, for the support. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit harmoniousgentlemen.substack.com