British Columbia is 95% Crown land.

So what happens when court rulings and government agreements begin reshaping who has authority over it?

In this episode of Ship of Fools, Steven sits down with Warren Mirko, Executive Director of the Public Land Use Society (PLUS), to examine the rapidly evolving legal and political landscape surrounding land governance in BC.

We break down:

• The recent Musqueam land recognition agreement in Metro Vancouver
• The Cowichan Aboriginal title ruling and what the court actually decided
• Whether title can extend into areas with existing private interests
• DRIPA and how it is changing land governance in British Columbia
• Legal uncertainty, Section 35, and constitutional tensions
• What this means for municipalities, property owners, and Crown land users
• Park access, shared-use agreements, and public land transparency

PLUS argues that reconciliation and constitutional clarity must go together — and that ordinary British Columbians deserve transparency in decisions affecting Crown land.

If you live in BC and care about land rights, property rights, public access, or governance reform, this conversation matters.

What does policing in Surrey actually look like in 2026?

In this episode, Sgt. Tige Pollock of the Surrey Police Service joins us for a candid, non-partisan conversation about crime trends, gang activity, homelessness, and the transition from RCMP contract policing to Surrey’s municipal police force.

We discuss what has changed operationally since SPS became the police of jurisdiction, how regional coordination works across the Lower Mainland, and why public perception of crime can differ from what officers see day to day.

This is not a debate episode. It’s a grounded conversation about public safety, jurisdiction, and how policing functions across Surrey, White Rock, and surrounding communities.

If you care about public safety in British Columbia, this episode provides context beyond headlines.

BC politics feels increasingly unstable — but is it chaos or strategy?

Investigative journalist Bob Mackin, publisher of theBreaker.news, joins Ship of Fools for a candid, fact-driven conversation about what’s unfolding in British Columbia politics.

We break down:

• The BC NDP under David Eby
• The BC Conservative leadership race and internal factions
• The rise of CentreBC and vote fragmentation
• Whether opposition chaos ultimately benefits the NDP
• DRIPA, UNDRIP, and legal uncertainty around land and resource projects
• Eby’s positioning in Ottawa and what it means for BC

Is this a power realignment — or just noise?

If you’re following BC politics, the Conservative leadership race, reconciliation policy, or the shifting political landscape in British Columbia, this episode connects the dots.

New episodes weekly.

Manny Sobral returns to the podcast to talk about Rumble at the Rock 2026, one of the most anticipated Olympic-style amateur boxing events in Western Canada, and the continued growth of Buckskin Gloves.

We get into what makes Olympic-style boxing so compelling, how amateur fighters develop through events like this, and why community-driven fight nights matter more than ever.

Rumble at the Rock 2026 features:
• 10 Olympic-style bouts
• Top amateur boxers from Western Canada and Washington State
• A main event featuring Canada’s top-ranked lightweight, Sage Johnson
• Hosted at the River Rock Show Theatre — where every seat feels close to the action

All proceeds support the East Van Boys Club and the Greater Vancouver Boxing Association.

This conversation goes beyond promotion — it’s about the state of amateur boxing, building credible fight events, and supporting the next generation of fighters.

Comedian Simon King joins the Ship of Fools Podcast for a thoughtful conversation about comedy, politics, culture, and what it means to stay human in uncomfortable times.

Simon’s work lives where wit meets wisdom—using humor to explore fear, bigotry, accountability, and the quieter tensions shaping how we talk to one another today. When comedians take on heavy subjects, what’s the real job of the comic: to provoke, to clarify, to challenge, or simply to tell the truth in a way people can actually hear?

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why comedy so often collides with politics and culture

• The difference between outrage culture and genuine accountability

• Whether comedians feel more constrained today—or if that fear is overstated

• How comedy rooms feel right now, and where they may be headed

• Crowd differences across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K.

• What Vancouver and BC mean to Simon as a home base after years on the road

• How the local comedy scene has changed

• Advice for younger comics starting out today

• And the honest question: what keeps you doing this when there are easier ways to be exhausted?

🎭 Learn more about Simon King here.

Ship of Fools Podcast features long-form conversations with creators, thinkers, and cultural voices—where wit meets wisdom.

Follow Ship of Fools Podcast on Spotify for expert conversations on politics, power, and culture.

In this episode of Ship of Fools Podcast, we welcome back Dr. Aaron Hoffman, a political scientist and Professor of Political Science at Simon Fraser University, for a clear-eyed discussion of one of the most unsettling political moments in recent history.

We examine the national controversy surrounding the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by U.S. federal agents and the immediate use of the “domestic terrorism” label — a move that has sparked widespread concern about government power, enforcement culture, and political escalation in the United States.

From immigration enforcement and ICE oversight to tariffs, rare minerals, NATO tensions, and Canada–U.S. relations, Aaron helps separate emotional reaction from political reality.

We also explore whether Donald Trump is reshaping the rules of international politics intentionally — or governing through impulse — and what that means for Canada’s national identity, sovereignty, and future relationship with its closest ally.

This is a grounded, non-sensational conversation focused on understanding power, uncertainty, and how democratic systems respond under stress.

Follow or learn more about Ship of Fools Podcast for long-form conversations that go deeper than headlines and challenge easy narratives.

Canada is experiencing a period of political uncertainty — particularly in British Columbia — and it raises deeper questions about who we are and where we’re headed.

In this episode of Ship of Fools, we’re joined by Dr. Sanjay Jeram, a Political Science professor at Simon Fraser University whose research focuses on nationalism, immigration, political culture, and territorial politics.

We discuss:

• The current uncertainty around BC’s official opposition and leadership

• How Canadian nationalism differs from American nationalism

• Multiculturalism, identity, and political cohesion in Canada

• Parallels and contrasts between Canadian and U.S. politics

• What this moment may signal about Canada’s political future

Following the strong response to our Cowichan Land Case episode, this conversation broadens the lens — moving beyond a single issue to examine Canadian political culture and identity at a national level.

If you’re looking for thoughtful political discussion without partisan noise, this episode provides context and perspective.

Follow Ship of Fools for in-depth conversations on politics, culture, and public life in Canada.

In this episode of Ship of Fools, we speak with Thomas Isaac, Chair of the Aboriginal Law Group at Cassels, to explain the legal foundations and governance implications of the Cowichan Tribes land title case in British Columbia.

This conversation is not about headlines, appeals, or political reaction. It is a clear, structured discussion of how Aboriginal title functions under Canadian law, why courts addressed the concept of defective title, and where responsibility truly lies when unresolved treaties intersect with modern legislation.

We explore the role of UNDRIP and British Columbia’s DRIPA framework, the growing influence of courts in land claims, and why First Nations are not the source of legal uncertainty — but participants responding to decades of governmental inaction.

This episode is designed to provide clarity and context for homeowners, business owners, and anyone trying to understand the long-term legal landscape surrounding land ownership and governance in British Columbia.

Topics Covered:

• How Aboriginal title differs from fee-simple land ownership

• What the Cowichan decision clarified — and what it did not

• Why UNDRIP influences court interpretation without triggering immediate land changes

• DRIPA’s impact on political versus judicial responsibility

• Where accountability properly lies in unresolved land claims

• Why governments must re-engage in meaningful negotiations

🎙️ Ship of Fools — Where Wit Meets Wisdom
Our title is ironic. Our intent is genuine.

Hosted by Steven Malkowich, Ship of Fools features long-form conversations with thoughtful voices exploring law, leadership, culture, and the ideas shaping our world.

👉 Follow the show for fact-based discussions that go beyond surface-level commentary.