It’s not an exaggeration to say Unit B Coworking has played a vital role in the success thus far of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Unit B, a coworking space in downtown Edmonton, has provided a strong home base for our small business, offering not only all of the amenities needed to get work done every day (including a podcast studio!), but also a community of great people.

So it’s truly a pleasure to be able to use the power of the network to let more people know about Unit B, a place that is “focused on helping people pursue their passions and making Edmonton its creative best.”

It started in 2011 in the basement of the McKenney Building at 10187 104 St. by a bunch of business who couldn’t find space, so they created their own. It has since expanded to the main floor. A number of successful businesses — including Kick Point, Berlin Communications, Strong Coffee Marketing, DOSC, Fire and Flower Cannabis, and Punchcard Systems — got their start at Unit B and grew into bigger places.

It is currently the home of such new and established organizations as NewEngage Training, Lex3 Engineering, YEG Live, Fancii, Progress Alberta and Taproot Publishing, and a workplace for a number of freelancers and remote workers .

I could tell you about all the features available here, but you’re better off visiting the website or booking a tour. Instead, let me tell you a story about the kind of serendipity that a place like this makes possible.

Around the time that Unit B was starting in 2011, I was leaving the Edmonton Journal, where I had spent 14 years as a journalist. I wrote this blog post, in which I quoted Robert Krulwich’s foundational commencement speech to Berkeley’s journalism grads:

“Think about NOT waiting your turn. Instead, think about getting together with friends that you admire, or envy. Think about entrepreneuring. Think about NOT waiting for a company to call you up. Think about not giving your heart to a bunch of adults you don’t know. Think about horizontal loyalty. Think about turning to people you already know, who are your friends, or friends of their friends and making something that makes sense to you together, that is as beautiful or as true as you can make it.”

Justin Archer read that post and loved that quote. In 2013, when designer Elizabeth Schowalter started working at Berlin, he asked her to make it one of her first projects. He had 10 copies of her beautiful hand-lettered poster printed and gave them to friends.

One ended up in Unit B co-founder Lisa Hagen’s office, and stayed behind when she moved to New York. Jas Panesar of NewEngage Training came across it and moved it to a more prominent place last fall because it spoke to him, too. And that’s when I came across it, completely unaware of any of this until I saw the print and expressed my surprise and gratitude on Instagram, prompting Justin to explain how it had come to be here.

All this to say that this is the kind of people Unit B attracts, and this is the kind of thing we believe with all our hearts. And if horizontal loyalty appeals to you, then this could be the place for you, too.

Unit B Coworking is a sponsor of the Alberta Podcast Network. If you would like to harness the power of the network to promote your organization, here’s what we offer. Get in touch at hello@albertapodcastnetwork.com.

As we head into the May long weekend, we offer a fine selection of Alberta-made listens for your edification and amusement. You can listen to all of these right here, if you want, or you can put the playlist you fancy right into your podcast-listening app by hitting the “subscribe” button. Here’s how it works.

Arts and entertainment

On the local front, the Northern Nerdcast has a chat with artist Kelly Tindall about his Kickstarter for Strangebeard 2, and Trent Wilkie performs some original flights of fancy on The UnDad. Further afield, I Have Some Notes reworks Godzilla,; The Read-Along wraps up Moonshine and announces the next book to receive the chapter-by-chapter treatment; Putting It Together dissects a sexist song from Forum, with musical accompaniment; and Press Start to Join discusses free games, State of Play, tech news and more.

Edmonton stories

The Well Endowed Podcast has a great interview with Liz O’Neill about her 40 years of service with BCGBigs, and Linda Hoang has an in-depth discussion of social media for non-profits with Kath Oltsher of Zoe’s Animal Rescue on Don’t Call Me A Guru. Tomato Radio talks about Edmonton chefs on TV, farmers’ markets and food events, and Let’s Do Coffee chats with Shannon Neighbour about how she got into the recruitment business. City Hall-wise, don’t miss the latest from Speaking Municipally, which we’ll add to the list when it becomes available, and catch up on City of Champions’ interview with Coun. Ben Henderson.

Calgary stories

Eat More Barbecue learns about the delicious goings-on at the Way Out West Fest, and the Mess Hall Podcast pays a visit to Cinde Little, the Everyday Gluten-free Gourmet. Girl Tries Life gets into personal branding with Avro Creative’s Kristen Dyck. And Not There Yet gets real nerdy about a piece of aviation history with host Terence C. Gannon — not exactly a Calgary story, but it emanates from there!

Sports

In addition to extensive NHL playoffs coverage from The 4th Line and Hockey Feels, you can also dig into a little hockey history and behind-the-scenes chatter with Oilers’ trainer Ken Lowe on City of Champions. Loyal Company of the River Valley looks back at FC Edmonton’s home opener and looks ahead to the next game in Calgary, and 2 and Out talks CFL with Josh Smith from Podskee Wee Wee and 3 Down Nation. Tight Ends has a new episode out, too, which we’ll add to the list when we can — it’s got a whole bunch of sports in it, plus a look back at the Calgary Beer Fest. 

Self-improvement

Luiza Campos of A Branded World drops some knowledge about getting to know your customers, and Victoria Smith of Girl Tries Life encourages you to have an abundance mindset. Modern Manhood shares insights from a recent event on whether men and women can be friends, and Ed talks to an educator who helps prepare teachers for their important work.

Survey time

If you listen to any of these, or if you have ever listened to an Alberta Podcast Network show, please fill out our survey. It won’t take long, and it will help us out enormously. Plus, you can enter yourself in a draw for $100.

Sponsors and partners

Everything we do is possible thanks to the support of these organizations, especially our founding sponsor, ATB Financial.

Here’s what our member podcasts and affiliates have been up to over the past week. You can listen to any of the podcast here on the page, or you can import the list to your podcatcher by hitting the “subscribe” button. Here’s a bit more on how it works.

Self-improvement

EPIC Podcast (Emergency Preparedness in Canada) published five episodes in honour of Emergency Preparedness Week, and every one is a gem. You’ll find them among our other podcasts that aim to instruct or improve your life, including the latest interview with a phenomenal educator on Ed, and a look at the pain of plantar fasciitis on Healthy Lifestyle Design. Also, Cross-polliNation has a new episode optimism, opportunity and emerging markets that we’ll add when we can.

Sports

Soccer-wise, Loyal Company of the River Valley recorded its first ever live show in honour of the kickoff of FC Edmonton’s season, and guest Katie Woodfine of For Kicks provided an update on the Women’s World Cup. We’ve also got hockey talk from The 4th Line Podcast (stick around as always for Nick’s song) and Hockey Feels (stick around for Rachel’s reaction to the Flyers’ coaching announcement). And the 2 and Out CFL Podcast has a chat with Marshall Ferguson of TSN 1150.

Arts and entertainment

Press Start to Join hits Episode 250 with a tribute to Star Wars and an update on free games. You can also get a deep dive into a couple of Aladdin-esque movies with Bollywood is for Lovers; a spoiler-laden nerdout about Avengers: Endgame with Northern Nerdcast; a tribute to the Muppets from Overdue Finds; the final chapter of Moonshine on The Read-Along; and a composer’s eye-view on a pretty little Sondheim song on Putting It Together. Watch for a new Emily Missed Out, too!

Alberta stories

Ryan Hastman hangs up his headphones on The Daveberta Podcast, but not before one more chat with Dave Cournoyer about what’s going on in Alberta politics, ably assisted by Adam Rozenhart. Creative Block also talks about some big changes for host Kyle Marshall and sometime co-host Matt Mort; Eat More Barbecue’s Ryan Sanderson talks to the BBQ-er and podcaster who helped inspire his show; and Mess Hall chows down on Calgary eats with Adam Ruby. Speaking Municipally will drop a new episode today, too, which we’ll add to the list when it comes up.

Many thanks to our sponsors for making it possible for us to gather all of this for you, and to our partners for providing some perks to you, our readers.