Hi, I'm Joel
I design systems, both technical and human. CTO at Agility CMS, building AI-native content infrastructure for 21+ years without a dollar of VC. Football coach, theatre performer, small town Ontario dad. Here's my story. Want me at your event? Let's talk.
Day One: Edinburgh, Arthur's Seat, and the Closes off the Royal Mile
The first day of the Scotland expedition. Seven of us, two guides, a National Geographic photographer, a hike up Arthur's Seat, and the quiet closes hiding just off a very crowded Royal Mile.
Read more→
Scotland, Day One: Edinburgh Before the Group
Arrived in Edinburgh at 8am on almost no sleep. A walk to the Botanic Gardens, a lovely brunch, and a few hours to myself before the group meets at noon.
Read more→
Trilliums on the Hog's Back
Fifteen kilometers on the Green A loop in Northumberland Forest. Three laps of the Hog's Back to prep my legs for Scotland. And the trilliums everywhere, just doing their thing.
Read more→
A Dad's Cut: Harry's Sophomore Season at Guelph
Filming every game on a Sony a6700, watching my son catch two touchdowns in a near-impossible comeback against undefeated Laurier, and figuring out what it means to be useful as a football dad.
Read more→
Worse Than Smoking? Claude Code Remote Control
Over the weekend I replaced doom scrolling with Claude Code remote control. This might be the new smoking for the age of AI.
Read more→
Sodden at Orono Crown Lands
A short rainy hike at a new spot, a small wardrobe lesson learned, and a very kind barista who pretended not to notice.
Read more→
Back from the Agility CMS Mexico Retreat
A week in Mexico with the Agility CMS team. Strategy resets with the exec team, leadership training with our Senior Managers, dine-arounds with the full crew, and an epic excursion to Tulum, sea turtles, and a cenote.
Read more→
What's In My Bag
Packing for a work retreat in Mexico. Everything I need to be productive, sleep well, stay healthy, and have a little fun, all in a carry-on.
Read more→
Sam Altman: When People Tell You Who They Are
Sam Altman published a personal treatise after someone threw Molotov cocktails at his house. His candidness about his own flaws and his vision for AI democratization deserve both respect and scrutiny.
Read more→
What It Means to Be Canadian Right Now
A couple of days in Ottawa reminded me of something I learned in grade 7 and have been thinking about ever since — Canada as a mosaic, not a melting pot. We are so wildly different from coast to coast, and somehow that's exactly the point.
Read more→