Ken Richards has been an employee of Hotel Newfoundland for over fifty years. He began there as a busboy. Today he’s the hotel’s Food and Beverage Outlets Manager. He’s witnessed up-close the way the hospitality industry has evolved over five decades. Ken shares some of his trove of memories with Karl, including the time he cooked for and served President George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st President of the United States.

Edward Hollett has been a communications professional for over four decades. During those years he served as special assistant to premier Clyde Wells, advising on public relations and policy. He’s also an interested observer of all things Newfoundland and Labrador – especially our politics and governance. He regularly gives his opinions on such matters in his newsletter called, Bond Papers, on the Substack platform. In this interview Karl and Edward talk about how Edward got his start in life, what sparked his interest in history and government, and about a piece he wrote on the use of the word “Newfie;”…

Marjorie Doyle is the daughter of one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most famous sons, the cultural icon, Gerald S. Doyle. In this interview Karl chats with Marjorie about her mother, Mary, someone we know much less about. Even her own children didn’t know as much about their mother as they wanted to. The book, “Mary Foley, Mary Doyle” by Marjorie Doyle, recounts a daughter’s effort to piece together a fuller picture of the enigmatic Mary Doyle.

Frank Galgay is an educator, former city councillor and author. He’s written several books about the history of Newfoundland and Labrador and its people. His most recent is about a Newfoundland World War II commando. It’s called, “Joseph Kearney and the Hunt for Rommel.” Galgay chats with Karl about his book, co-authored by Donna Kearney Adams.

George Masswohl is an actor, singer, and tour guide. He first came to Newfoundland in 2016 to play Sweeney Todd for Opera on the Avalon. Most famously he played the mayor in the Toronto production of Come From Away. Then he moved to Newfoundland permanently, and started a tour company called, George’s Tours. He still finds time to sing. Recently with a group called, The Rowdymen.

Charlene Brophy is President and CEO of Fonemed – a company that provides telephone-based health information to clients in several countries. It’s headquartered in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Ms. Brophy began her career providing care to vulnerable seniors. Today she leads a company that’s helping millions (25 million people in North America alone). Many of whom might not otherwise have access to important health information.

Dean MacDonald has had nothing less than an extraordinary career. It began in the early 80s when he was hired by a feisty little company named Avalon Cablevision. From there he went on to work for Ted Rogers and became COO of the Rogers Communications Cable Unit. Subsequently he became CEO of Persona Communications until its sale in 2007. He’s also held positions in our provinces energy sector, and currently is a Director or board member of several companies, not the least of which is Deacon Investments and Deacon Sports and Entertainment.

Lisa Porter is President of Pope Productions, makers of the hit TV show, Hudson and Rex. She’s been involved as a performer, producer, director, and writer in our arts community, as well as TV and feature length films (e.g. Above and Beyond). Lisa is a co-founder of the summertime Newfoundland and Labrador literary festival, Ochrefest.

Andrew Younghusband was born in Australia and grew-up in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. With little formal training, but plenty of perseverance, he made a career for himself in writing and performing. Eventually he gained national recognition for a show on Discovery Channel called, Canada’s Worst Driver.

Marie-Beth Wright spent a career teaching in Newfoundland schools. She’s also researched the early days of Newfoundland and Labrador’s denominational school system in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s a fascinating story of how children (mainly the baby boom generation) were educated in outport communities during the decades between 1940 and 1970. There were no school libraries, no science labs, and supplies were limited. Teachers had to use their ingenuity, be inventive and able to adapt. It’s a story of perseverance, strength, and dedication.