Danny Adhim comes ready to share his story. A writer, actor and filmmaker Danny draws from his unique perspective to share stories. We cover a LOT in this one: from who should host the Oscars to Danny's survival of sexual assault, depression to dating, and even more.
You can follow Danny on Instagram @dannyshowlive and on Facebook @dannyadhim
Comedian Alex Wood and I talk about addiction, his amazing podcast Alex Wood Quits Everything, and the various ways and reasons we stay sober and keep working on ourselves.
Alex also battles his addictions by channeling that energy into different positive activities, and is building a really great life.
Take out Alex Wood Quits Everything , check out his website http://woodcomedy.com and follow Alex on Instagram @woodcomedy
Jess Beaulieu is a comedian, writer, feminist and activist, so naturally we start this episode talking about the post-Harvey wave that is going through the entertainment industry. We talk power dynamics, how sometimes you just can't win, and if it's possible to separate the art from the artist. (Not for us.)
Jess has created her own place in the industry, she co-produces The Crimson Wave with Natalie Norman every Sunday night at Comedy Bar in Toronto. This feminist, LGBTQ+, no rape jokes show caused quite the controversy in the community when it first started! Their podcast is still available on iTunes and rumour has it it might be coming back.
Follow Jess on social media @msjessbeaulieu, or find out more on her website jessbeaulieu.com
DIGGING IN TO A HOT MESS! Kathleen McGee, comedian and host of the podcast Kathleen McGee is a Hot Mess, and I are doing a crossover episode, and boy are we angry! We recorded this episode right after the Harvey Weinstein story broke, and we talk about being exhausted as women with harassment, stories of harassment, women not being believed - it's a lot to take! We also talk about how no one is a perfect feminist and why we need to recognize our allies. Check out more from Kathleen at her website kathleenmcgee.ca and on social media @kathleen_mcgee.
My best friend Amanda joins me to tell her 20+ year saga of dealing with her sister's drug addiction. It is a story so long and complicated that even this extra long episode couldn't contain it. We share it to educate people on the lengths addicts will go, how sometimes 2 cardiac arrests followed by comas aren't enough to change a person, and the people who get left behind.
Katharine Ferns is a Canadian comedian currently based in the UK. She was in Toronto to perform her one person show In Stitches, and we sat down to talk about creating a show, the Edinburgh Fringe and how telling your darkest secret (to an audience) can help you and other people. Katharine's story is a dark one that she infuses with light, and shows us how comedy helped her to heal.
Mike Wilmot is an internationally known comedian who has also appeared in dozens of movies and tv shows. We talk about how his success is traced back to a series of accidents, the importance of open mikes and continually writing, and why you should be nice. Also the health scare that changed his life. And more.
You can follow Mike on twitter@mikewilmot1 and find out where you can see him near you www.mikewilmot.ca
Wrestler/actor/tv host RJ Skinner and I share a love of television, which I always want to talk about. However, some of his tweets made me realize there was more going on in his brain than just reruns of Maude. So in addition to Bea Arthur and television greats, we also talk about insecurity, about creating things and putting them out in the world, and the surprising inspiration for his villainous wrestling persona. You can follow RJ on Twitter @RJCity1 or on Instagram @rjcity; and check out his web series, The Cynical Crafter on CBC Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZ0tftoH9k
Dan Rodo, aka YouTube star The Danocracy, comes by for an amazing conversation about anxiety, positivity, and working on something until you get good at it.
Click HERE for Dan's YouTube Channel, and follow him on socials @TheDanocracy.
Actor and musician Dayle McLeod is a friend I haven't seen in 7 years. She graciously did my podcast before we even had a chance to catch up, and SHE BROUGHT THE HONESTY. Doyle surprises me with several big reveals about major events in her life, and we talk about how sometimes the worst things that happen to you end up weirdly being blessings. Dayle has an EP out, In Bloom, with a full length album coming out in a few months. You can follow her on Twitter @baby_dayle
Comedian Michelle Shaughnessy joins me for a real trip into the honesty cocoon. We talk about the rocky beginnings of our friendship, dealing with depression, Mean Girls, eating disorders and more. I have a bit of a personal breakthrough in terms of how I deal with an issue with Michelle, and we have some laughs. You can follow Michelle on Twitter and Instagram @michellesfunny or go to her website michellesfunny.com
WHEN SHE WAS 14 JENNIFER MCAULIFFE RAN AWAY...TO MEXICO. Who the hell does that? Why would she not bring that up the first time she was on this show????? We also talk about the crack house she owns in another city. This comedian is ridiculously smart and willing to take risks, and I think her second episode is better than the first.
Follow Jen on Twitter @jenniferjokes or check out her website www.jenniferjokes.com
I didn't have a new interview for this week, so I decided to make a sibling mixtape, with clips from Jon filling in with me on my show Ward and Al on SiriusXM channel 167, and an interview we did with Jeff Sammut, host of Canada Now on SiriusXM, host of The Jeff Sammut Podcast available on iTunes and at jeffsammut.com, and actually he recorded this interview for an episode of The Nightside on Newstalk 1010 here in Toronto.
In these clips we discuss topics as varied as how to catch a comet to space; would Jon survive the post-apocalyptic world?; how Jon thinks I could defeat Isis; are our parents funny?; and MORE.
Comedian, TV writer and actor Jon Dore (aka my brother) is here and willing to be serious for much longer than I expected. An intensely private person, I thought it would be more of a verbal wrestling match, but Jon is always surprising and showed up ready to talk.
You can see more from Jon at www.jondore.com
Writer and podcast host Brent Jensen joins me for a great talk about leaving the safe job for the job you really want, firing people, being a loner, dealing with loss and so much more!
He is the author of No Sleep Til Sudbury, Leftover People: A Journey Through Post-Rock and Roll America, and All My Favourite People are Broken; and the host of the podcast No Sleep Til Sudbury, where guests tell stories from their lives in 8-10 songs. You can follow Brent on Twitter @nosleepsudbury.
Comedian /artist/podcaster Graham Clark (www.grahamclark.com) is one of the nicest guys out there. I managed to grab some time with him while he was in Toronto performing his Fringe show 'Graham Clark's Not Here' (a wonderful show if you get a chance to see it somewhere!). We talk about beards, being positive and his super successful podcast with Dave Shumka "Stop Podcasting Yourself", amongst other things.
Fashion designer Izzy Camilleri joins me to talk about the many MANY obstacles she has overcome in her career, the book that changed her life, and the new direction she is going in now. Her new book Izzy's Eating Plan is about how she came to terms with food, and a simple plan for eating healthy. Please check out her website izzycamilleri.com and see her beautiful designs and collections over the years.
I really hop Izzy will come back on the show, as I really feel there is much more to talk about with her!
Quite some time ago, Courtney Gilmour made a post about a book she said changed her life. Intrigued, I read the book. It changed my life. In this episode we come together and discuss it. The book, you will probably be unsurprised to hear, is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero.
I know, I know, I've mentioned it a lot, but Courtney and I talk specifics about how it has affected us, and improved our lives. And it is not the only thing we talk about!
We also have a very important conversation about how to approach visibly different or impaired people. Even the most well meaning of people can sometimes be accidentally offensive. Oh, and we discuss wether or not God can make hands grow back.
Courtney is a hilarious comedian, you can check her out on YouTube or follow her on Twitter @courtgilmour
In 2015 I had the chance to interview Judy and Dennis Shephard, parents of Matthew Shephard and founders of the Matthew Shephard Foundation. They were in Toronto to receive the International Icon Award from the Inspire Awards, and we talked about how they created a legacy for their son after his brutal murder. This amazing couple tells me about why we all need to support kids, how a hug from Judy can change a kid's life, and how we could all do better. Find out more at www.matthewshepard.org and follow on Twitter and Instagram @mattshepardfdn
Rob Pue is a very funny comedian. He is also an angry man. I've always wondered where that anger comes from, and how he thinks about it and lives with it. So I finally just asked. This conversation was a challenge for both of us, but I think a great conversation comes out of it.
Rob's album Puegilist is available on iTunes, and you can follow him on Twitter @robpue_
Micah Barnes is not only a former Nylon and current world renowned jazz musician, but also just a really fun, lovely human being. In this conversation we find out we have the same drug of choice, and talk the different tools we used to quit doing drugs. Micah talks about his unconventional childhood, being the kind of artist he wants to be, and how being positive can change your life. You can find out more about Micah on his website micahbarnes.com, follow him on Twitter @micahbarnes, or Facebook micahbarnesmusic. His latest album, New York Stories is available anywhere music is sold!
What happens when you have TWO really hard to achieve dreams? Well if you have the drive and focus of Jeff "Boomer" Phillips - you become a firefighter and an actor. Boomer is one of the happiest, hardest working people I know and no matter what the people surrounding him said, he knew if he had the vision he could make it come true. He has a great attitude about failure and learning, and we have a lovely chat. In it he mentions a speech by Arnold Schwartzenegger and here is the link as promised: Speech link. You can follow Boomer on twitter @Boomer_Phillips
Kate Drummond left a secure job and home to take a chance on becoming an actor...in her mid 30's. Against all odds she has carved out a lovely career, after dealing with set backs and self doubt, and continues to chase her truth. She is a truly GOOD human being, always looking to be of service to the world and her fellow man. You can not get to know Kate without completely falling in love with her, so enjoy the fall!
You can follow Kate on Twitter@KateDrummond_
Comedian, motivational speaker, crafty lady and super mom Lori Gibbs joins me for a lovely and often emotional conversation about planting seeds of goodness now that will blossom in your life later, the ripple effect of good deeds, and how to top up your sparkle bank when you just aren't feeling sparkly. Lori is candid about her depression and anxiety, and what it means - both mentally and physically - to lose 120 pounds. You can follow Lori on Twitter @lorigibbs and check out her website lorigibbs.ca
Interior designer, artist, and human ball of joy Tiffany Pratt joins me to talk about personal style, the paper bag on your energy ball, and why she's basically a hokey ass hippy. "If you are not feeling joy, you're not on the path." a great quote from Tiffany in this conversation about giving to the world, and living the life creative.
Tiffany has a beautiful books of DIY projects called This Can Be Beautiful. She can also be seen on the HGTV show Home To Win, or you can check out her website tiffanypratt.com.