Tad Milmine is a police officer in Calgary, Alberta, and is the founder of www.bullyingendshere.ca He began going and speaking to kids after being profoundly affected by the suicide of teen Jamie Hubley - a boy he had never met, but whose story he could relate to. Tad goes to schools all over Canada to share his difficult childhood and let kids know there is support out there. He has written a book about his life, called Bullying Ends Here: My Life, a great read about overcoming hardship and being a positive and productive adult. This is the fifth time I have interviewed Tad, and he just gets more interesting. You can follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Avi Federgreen is an independent film producer and distributor, who just produced his 50th film. He is also refreshingly honest and candid about the struggles in his life including a childhood spent being bullied, a suicide attempt and lifelong depression. It is an amazing conversation.
A couple of years ago Avi decided to expand into music as well, starting the indie label Indiecan Records to help up and coming musicians get a boost in the industry.
To find out more about Avi and his films check out his website federgreenentertainment.com and follow him on Twitter.
HE'S BACK! Jay Brody is here and has even more amazing stories to tell! Well, first we actually dig in with me a bit; on the day we recorded this episode I was a little bit blue about love and Jay counsels me out of it.
We talk about Jay's new old relationship, growing up with a father addicted to drugs, and coming to terms with a new step dad.
You can hear Jay on his podcast The Dumb Show with Roddy Colmer, and follow him on Twitter @thejaybrody
Author. Comedian. Brick wall. Ward Anderson and I talk together for 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and yet he's a hard guy to get to know. We talk about how walls get built up in a life, and how hard it can be to tear them down. And why it might be worth it. You can hear Ward on Ward and Al, SiriusXM 167, Monday to Friday, 1-4pm ET. You can buy his novels here and here, and follow him on Twitter here.
Comedian Dave Hemstad and I have our first real conversation! Is he an Alpha Male? Is American college like it seems in the movies? DO WE BOTH ALMOST CRY IN THIS INTERVIEW? Listen to find out!
You can learn more about Dave at his website www.davehemstad.com and you can follow him on Twitter@davehemstad
Arthur Simeon is not only a hilarious comedian (you can buy his album Born & Raised here), but he is also one of my favourite people to talk to. In this episode we talk about moving to another country alone when you are 17, why you should be suspicious of your charity, the catholic church, and why his mom sometimes needs him to be "a little LESS Arthur". Check him out on all the social meeds @ArthurSimeon.
Motivational speaker, author, and comedian - does happily married, mother of 3 Kate Davis have it all? Well, probably not. But she has figured a few things out: why you need to work on yourself, getting over your ego, and having a good time.
She cowrites and costars in the web series Best Before, and you can follow her on Twitter @katedaviscomic or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=636525650.
Host, band member, and all round music expert Gina K. joins me to talk about changing your life, energy in the universe, and so much more! Gina hosts her own podcast Radio Somewhere, where she talks a lot about the Canadian music scene, but also anything that she finds interesting. You can check out her band Altered By Mom, or follow her on Twitter @gnakennedy and follow her podcast @somewhereradio
Comedian Shawn Hogan also happens to be my roommate! We happened to get really into self improvement and designing your life around the same time, and so have a lot to talk about when it comes to changing your life. Shawn in particular has done a lot of work on himself in the last few years. We talk about admitting to yourself when you have a problem, learning to ask for help, how to gather the tools you need to become the person you want to be. We also talk about how you will FOR SURE fall down. You just gotta make sure you get back up again.
You can follow Shawn on Twitter @shogancomedy
Arlene Bynon is the host of The Arlene Bynon Show from 4-6pm ET on SiriusXM channel 167, Canada Talks, and then from 6-7pm she hosts #Politics. As a well known journalist, Arlene has done it all in the broadcast world - including hosting and producing her own award winning television show - but always seems to find her way home to radio. Not surprising since she has one of the best voices in the business. We talk about some of her most memorable interviews, standing your ground in the broadcasting world, and doing what you love. We discuss one interview that had always stayed with her, and could remember the name of the book written about it - that book is On South Mountain by David Cruise and Alison Griffiths. It is a very disturbing true story.
I discovered through this conversation that Arlene and I have much more in common than I thought, and that the woman who presents us with stories of what's happening in the world has stories of her own to tell. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook @ArleneBynonShow
This episode starts with the legend of how I met comedian Matt Davis, but then shifts to more honest topics of conversation. Matt is one of the smartest people I know, and knows too much about too much, so clearly he's going to have to come back next time he's in town. We talk life with chronic pain, religions, philosophies, the mystery of why Pythagorus avoided beans, and so much more! Matt has technically been homeless for a year as he's been travelling the world telling jokes with nothing but a carry on bag. You can see more about his travels at his website World In Jest and you can follow him on twitter @MattDavis or find him on Facebook @ComedianMattDavis
Steph Tolev is an award winning comedian, all round hilarious human being, and one hundred percent firecracker. We talk about dating - why it's awful, why we like dating alcoholics, etc - moving to a new country, being a single woman of a certain age, and so much more! I tell the story of one time when I went to this really intense church.
You can find out more about Steph at her website: http://stephtolevishilarious.com and follow her on Twitter @stephtolev.
Meet human ball of joy Sandra Battaglini! We talk about how to protect yourself from the black plague, mind/body connections, yoga, western medicine, chakras, and naturally- Donald Trump. I also mention a book called "My life after hate" and get the author's name wrong- it's actually Arno Michaels. (Williams is close though, kinda?)
You can follow Sandra on Twitter @sandrabatt and check out her youtube page Sandra Battaglini.
"It's not NOT Dickens." Welcome to the crazy life of Jennifer McAuliffe, who had a childhood so different from mine I almost can't wrap my mind around it. First things first, follow her on Twitter @jenniferjokes, because she is CRUSHING IT. Then listen in to the first of her episodes, cause there will be more. We talk giving up LITERALLY EVERYTHING to meet your goals, getting down to work, going to university when you haven't graduated from high school, being driven, AND SO MUCH MORE. This is the longest episode so far and yet it is still too short, because this girl has packed more adventure into her short life so far than you can imagine.
It's Christmas Day! This episode is a day early, and a bit different than usual. Bryn Pottie, one of the most hilarious and talented writers out there, joins me to "grump about things that make us grumpy" (his words), talk Christmas, how to disengage from - or more positively engage with - the news in 2017, and we settle the age old question...Who is more famous, Prometheus or Sisyphus?!? Bryn also reads his original, erotic Christmas story. This episode is a bit less diggy and a bit more silly, but we cover all manner of topics: ghosts- yes or no?; Bryn's favourite Christmas; should we have the internet? Bryn is a bit of a social media enigma, but I recommend you look for his Buzzfeed community posts, and his articles on thetrashcan.co
Swimming in cheese with dragons flying over head - does that sound like Heaven or Hell? Baltimore comedian Mike Storck is talking codependency, figuring your shit out, and so much more! Learn more about Mike at his website, or follow him on Instagram.
Have you ever wondered what I smell like? Well comedian, actor, writer Rhiannon Archer goes in to a lengthy description in this episode. We also talk about how finding out you are (unexpectedly) pregnant can change everything; why the stand up comedy scene in Canada is different; weddings; why people go to hell; and so much more. You should read her blog The Oblivious Child and follow her on Twitter.
Erin Keaney is the first person to tell me I have resting bitch face, and you can hear her do it! This actor, comedian, writer, single mom, human figuring it out - is a joy to talk too. This is actually only the second conversation we have ever had, and I knew minutes into our first one that I wanted her to do this show. Her video Muffin Top Rap has over 400k views on youtube, and you can follow her on Twitter here.
Welcome to the honesty cocoon! Jay Brody, cocreator and cohost of The Dumb Show, and I have one heck of a conversation that is definitely just the beginning of Jay Brody being a guest on this show. Before we even start digging in we talk smoking and why Dom Cluse is the worst, we talk about traditional family expectations, the woman who changed the way Jay sees women, "friend zoning" and so much more! Follow Jay on Twitter, check out The Dumb Show, and listen to Laugh League with Jay and Roddy Colmer on SiriusXM channel 168, Canada Laughs.
This fiery comedian is one of my favourite people to talk to. For someone so lovely and positive, this guy loves ranting and being mad and it is SO entertaining. You can find out everything about him at nathanmacintosh.com, including his podcast "Positive Anger", his album "I Wasn't Talking", and his show dates all over Canada and the US.
Daniel Pillai is the host of F'D With Daniel and Date with Daniel, available on his youtube page Daniel Pillai. He is a host, interviewer, and complete joy. We had a very honest conversation, where Daniel shares his story of overcoming a difficult and abusive childhood, in order to grow into a positive adult who is true to himself. We talk forgiveness, positivity, and cheese. All the best stuff! You can follow Daniel on Twitter, Instagram or check out his website.
Internationally known singer Simone Denny joins me to talk choosing your art over money, surviving cancer, and being a positive person. Her latest album, the soul inspired "The Stereo Dynamite Sessions Vol. 1" is nothing short of amazing. You can follow Simone on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Illvibe is a rapper, video producer, and entrepreneur. He has been seen on "Canada's Smartest Person", and was runner up to Drake for "Toronto's Best Rapper". His latest mixtape is called "Love Letters & Hatemail and is available on his website http://www.illvibemusic.com. He is a frequent guest host on my SiriusXM radio show "Ward and Al", and one of my favourite people to have a conversation with. We talk about families, inner drive, "West World", and so much more! You can follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. If you are a musician looking for a video or lyric video, check out http://lyricvids.com.
Johnny Fiasco is the movie critic on my radio show, Ward and Al, on SiriusXM channel 167. Known as 'The Narcoleptic Movie Guy' he is one of the most unique people I know. We talk about how his love of movies started, life getting in the way of dreams, and who needs therapy. Warning: I say 'interesting' even more than usual in this one, just know that I'm working on that! Follow Johnny on Twitter
Christina Walkinshaw is a writer and comedian. Her blog, which started as a week on Tinder and 2 years later is still going strong, is EXTREMELY popular. We talk creative challenges, slut shaming, and most importantly - farts. From her pathological positivity to her lack of showering, this is a woman in a million.