A Very Cool Free Event Series That Feels Like a Secret: The Phil Lind Initiative

You know those things in Vancouver that somehow exist right under your nose, yet no one seems to be talking about them? Like a cheap, decent rental? Or the ability to turn left on Main Street without waiting three light-cycles? The Phil Lind Initiative is one of those things.

For months, UBC has been hosting some of the most thought-provoking, funniest voices in American culture for free as part of the Lind speaker series (yes, free—you just have to register, and you can grab a max of two tickets). Yet the Chan Shun Concert Hall wasn’t even full when comedian and actor Ramy Youssef took the stage.

Who Is Phil Lind and What’s This Initiative About?

If you’re wondering (no judgment—I was, too), Philip B. Lind was a dedicated philanthropist who received the Order of Canada. He passed away in 2023, but not before founding this speaker series in 2015. Hosted by UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, the Initiative brings in prominent U.S. scholars, writers and creatives—past guests have included everyone from political writers Ta-Nehisi Coates and Roxane Gay to Grammy-award winning musician Jon Batiste and critically-acclaimed gender-fluid drag queen Sasha Velour. And thanks to a $1 million gift from his family to extend the program until 2027, you can make sure you’re front row for the next batch of all-star speakers.

A Free Ticket to the Big Conversations

This March (2025), I finally checked it out, opting for the Ramy Youssef talk—and I was not disappointed. I arrived just late enough to miss prime orchestra seating, but there truly isn’t a bad seat in the house. A giant overhead screen projects the conversation, and yes, you can buy drinks and snacks in the lobby (important!).

A Cozy “Living Room” (with a Few Hundred People)

Youssef sat on a comfy sofa, chatting with Ravi Nandan (A24’s head of TV and non-fiction) about what it means to be American. That’s a loaded question any day, but especially in a climate where even Canada isn’t safe from “51st state” jokes (thanks, Trump). Yet it didn’t feel like a dry panel or a TED Talk: more like hanging out in your friend’s living room, if your friend is both wildly funny and incredibly insightful.

Youssef cracked jokes about Canada’s land acknowledgments, code-switching and growing up as an Arab Muslim in post-9/11 New Jersey. “I felt like I was in a surveillance state,” he admitted. The material could be heavy, but Youssef’s knack for comedy made it all feel oddly hopeful.

Never-Before-Seen Clips and That SNL Moment

The highlights? Two never-before-seen clips from Youssef’s upcoming Amazon cartoon, #1 Happy Family USA, about code-switching and the immigrant experience. We also got a clip from his Hulu show, Ramy, featuring a bizarre dream cameo by Osama bin Laden. And of course, we couldn’t skip his recent SNL hosting gig—especially that moment he ended his monologue with “Free Palestine.” Lorne Michaels apparently knew beforehand, quelling the internet’s biggest conspiracy theories.

A Q&A That’s Actually Kinda Cool

Instead of awkward hand-raising, you submit questions via Slido. Only a few got answered before the clock hit 8 P.M.—one about his SNL experience, another about where he got his glasses. (Answer: “Japan.”) The questions could be seen and upvoted too (see image below), adding another fun interactive element to the talk.

Final Thoughts: Why Isn’t This Bigger?

After 90 minutes of hilarious, meaningful conversation, I left with one question: Why aren’t more people doing this? This was only the third talk in this year’s series, with Ziwe up next on March 13 (she’ll be an iconic guest, obviously).

The only real downside? Trekking to UBC. But honestly? Worth it. Like I said, tickets are free (register early!), the insights priceless, and there’s wine.

UPDATE: I tried to grab a ticket for Ziwe—sold out! Guess you can’t keep a secret this good for long.