The Okotoks Podcast
The Okotoks Podcast is your ultimate guide to life in Okotoks! Hosted by Carlin Lutzer, a professional realtor and proud Okotokian, this podcast brings you stories, insights, and conversations about what makes this town just south of Calgary such a special place to live. Whether you’ve called Okotoks home for years or you’re just getting to know the community, this podcast is your connection to everything happening in town.
From local businesses and real estate trends to community events and hidden gems, The Okotoks Podcast celebrates the people, places, and experiences that define life here. We talk about what it truly means to be an Okotokian, cheering for the Dawgs and Okotoks Oilers, sharing firsthand perspectives from those who shape the town’s unique identity.
And, of course, we can’t talk about Okotoks without mentioning the legendary Big Rock, an iconic landmark that serves as a symbol of our strong, growing community.
Join Carlin Lutzer as he explores the heart and soul of Okotoks, bringing you engaging interviews, local insights, and everything you need to stay connected to the place we proudly call home. Whether you’re looking for the latest news, local recommendations, or just a reason to love Okotoks even more, this podcast has something for you!
Episodes
79 episodes
When the Cleats Come Off: Ricky Sanchez’s Next Chapter
Ricky Sanchez came to Okotoks from Mexico City at just 15 years old with very little English, a love for baseball and a dream he was determined to pursue.In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Ricky shares the story of leaving his famil...
A Taste of Italy in Okotoks: The Family Behind Amedeo’s
In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Amedeo, the owner and executive chef behind Amedeo’s Italian Restaurant.Born in Calabria, Italy, Amedeo shares his journey from culinary school in Italy to working as an execu...
Data Centres In Alberta: Are the Benefits Worth the Cost?
Are data centres a major economic opportunity for Alberta—or do the demands on electricity, water and local infrastructure outweigh the benefits?In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, Carlin sits down with Jasona Rondeau to explore Albe...
High River Unfiltered with Mayor Craig Snodgrass
What happens when you sit down with a mayor who doesn't speak in political talking points?In this episode of The Okotoks Podcast, I sit down with Mayor Craig Snodgrass for one of the most open and candi...
5 Questions 5 Minutes Part 2
In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer is joined once again by Brent Robinson, Executive Director of Lacrosse Alberta, and Curtis Armstrong, Publisher of The Western Wheel, for another round of fast-...
Too Much Too Fast? Part 2 The Future of Okotoks Growth
Since our first conversation on growth in Okotoks, a lot has happened.If you'd like to share your thoughts with Town Council, please take a few minutes to reach out. Visit the link below and select "Mayor & Council" from the drop-do...
What's Next for the Okotoks Air Ranch Airport?
What happens to a community when a beloved local landmark is given a second life? For years, many Okotokians worried that the Okotoks Air Ranch Airport (CFX2) might disappear into yet another housing development. Carlin ...
The Check-In That Could Save a Life
What does it really take for a man to admit he's not okay…and what can a community like Okotoks do to make that conversation easier? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Melanie Taylor, therapist and owner of Connected Therapy Services in O...
Coal Mining Risk or Opportunity?
What does responsible mining actually look like and is it even possible on Alberta's eastern slopes? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Amanda Desjardins, a professional mining consultant who has called Okotoks home for 14 years and whose...
Why Are Insurance Rates So High In Alberta?
Why are Albertans paying so much more for insurance, and is there any relief in sight? Carlin Lutzer sits down with local insurance broker Brayden Vellenoweth to unpack the complex forces driving insurance costs across Albert...
Inside 20 Years of Okotoks Dawgs Baseball
What does it truly mean when a sports team becomes so woven into a community that you simply cannot imagine summer without it? Carlin Lutzer sits down with William Gardner, longtime volunteer executive and community ambassador of th...
Golf in the Foothills: with PGA Pro David Robinson
What does it really take to fall in love with golf and what makes Okotoks one of the best places in Alberta to play it? This episode dives into the fairways, Foothills, and philosophy of the game with David Robinson, head profession...
Too Much, Too Fast? The Future of Okotoks Growth
Okotoks is growing fast, but is it growing wisely? In this episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin Lutzer sits down with Foothills County resident Paul Howarth to discuss the pressures, concerns, and civic responsibilities surroundin...
Data Centers for Dummies
What does it really mean when we talk about "the cloud"… and what does that have to do with life in Alberta? This episode pulls back the curtain on one of the most talked-about yet least-understood topics shaping communities across ...
Growing Pains or Growing Smart? What Okotoks' Future Really Looks Like
What does it actually take to grow a town without losing its soul? That question sits at the heart of this episode, one of the timeliest and revealing conversations Carlin Lutzer has brought to the community. In this epi...
Dog Park Etiquette
The dog park should be fun, not a free for all. Carlin Lutzer welcomes Sam Burnett from Sheep River Dog Rescue for a practical and honest conversation about dog park etiquette, dog behaviour, and responsible ownership. S...
Kelly Hrudey
What does it take to face the world's brightest spotlight while quietly fighting battles no one can see? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Canadian hockey icon Kelly Hrudey, former NHL goaltender for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles K...
Okotoks Shorts: Adanac Liquidation: Okotoks' Best-Kept Furniture Secret
What does it really mean to support local… and what happens when a business puts community savings above corporate margins? Carlin Lutzer is joined by Ian McAteer, co-owner of Adanac Liquidation, for a conversation that will complet...
Oko-Talks | 5 Questions, 5 Minutes
What does healthy community conversation actually look like and why has Okotoks been missing it? This episode of the Okotoks Podcast marks both a milestone and a new beginning: the podcast's one-year anniversary and the debut ...
Plan Your Dig and Dig Your Plan: Click Before You Dig
Every spring, shovels go into the ground across Okotoks for fences, decks, trees, gardens, you name it. But how many homeowners know what's buried beneath their feet? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Mike Sullivan, President of Utility ...
D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club
Some places in a community carry more than just a purpose…they carry a story. This episode pulls back the curtain on one of those places: D'Arcy Ranch Golf Club, a 35-year Okotoks landmark that was built, by design, to belong to eve...
Your Home. Your Rights. Alberta's Castle Law Debate
What does it really mean to own the land beneath your feet? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Cory Morgan, a Western Standard columnist and passionate Alberta advocate, for a wide-ranging conversation that hits close to home for anyone w...
Brewing Community in Okotoks | The Hubtown Brewing Story
What does it take to build not just a business, but a genuine gathering place that a whole town rallies around? This episode takes us into the heart of downtown Okotoks for a conversation with Lisa Watts, co-founder of Hubtown Brewi...
How Okotoks' Western Wheel Became One of Canada's Best Newspapers
What does it take to keep a small-town newspaper not just alive, but thriving in the digital age? Carlin Lutzer dives into that very question with Curtis Armstrong, the new publisher of the Western Wheel, Okotoks' beloved weekly new...
Why Every Okotoks Business Owner Needs the Chamber of Commerce
What does it take to build a thriving local economy from the inside out? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Dawn LeMaistre, Executive Director of the Okotoks and District Chamber of Commerce, for an eye-opening conversation about the powe...
