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
71 episodes
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...
How Chris Cederstrand Turned Tragedy into a Lifetime of Purpose
What does it take to turn 20 seconds of tragedy into a lifetime of purpose? Carlin Lutzer sits down with Chris Cederstrand, a Foothills resident, retired Team Canada sledge hockey athlete, former firefighter, and founder of PX3 Hock...
Part 2: The Case For Separation
What if Alberta’s future isn’t in Canada at all?Carlin Lutzer sits down once again with Tanya Clemens, a passionate advocate for Alberta sovereignty, to unpack the momentum behind the Alberta separation movement. With signatu...
From Council Chambers to the Lacrosse Floor
Carlin Lutzer sits down with Brent Robinson — Former Town of Okotoks Councillor and now Executive Director of the Alberta Lacrosse Association — for a powerful conversation about leadership, community building, and the future of sport in Albert...
Okotoks Shorts: The Heart Behind Okotoks Got Talent
What happens when a town’s biggest hearts meet its biggest talents? In this Okotoks ‘Shorts’ episode, host Carlin Lutzer sits down with Meg Meints from the Okotoks United Way Partnership Committee to spotlight the return of Okotoks ...
From Croatia to Okotoks to the Olympics…Meet Josip Brusic
He moved to Canada at 12 — now he’s moving at 140 km/h toward Olympic glory.Carlin Lutzer chats with skeleton athlete Josip Brusic, whose path to the Olympics is anything but ordinary. Born in Croatia and raised in Canada, Jo...
Okotoks Shorts: Inside Big Rock Figure Skating Club’s Rising Stars
Big dreams don’t need big cities, just early mornings, strong coaches, and belief. In this Okotoks Shorts episode of the Okotoks Podcast, Carlin spotlights three standout young athletes from the Big Rock Figure Skating Club, Londyn,...
How Catriona Le May Doan Redefined Victory After Gold
What does it take to win gold—and still be grounded? Carlin Lutzer sits down with legendary Canadian speed skater and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Catriona Le May Doan. From growing up in Saskatoon to lighting the Oly...
Strong Through Change: The Value of Fitness in the Valleys
Motivation isn’t the problem.If you’ve ever started a “fresh” health kick only to hit a wall, feel guilty over one meal, and wonder why progress never lasts, this episode is for you. Carlin sits down with fitness and nutrition coac...
