The Constant Struggle

E65 -2020 Year in Review or Keep Your Horse Moving Forward

Find out about Nick Watson & Brie Watson's creative Year in Review in this host-cast edition of The Constant Struggle Podcast. 
Nick chats about the processes he's put in place to streamline is writing, and how they've been helpful in other areas of his life.
Brie recaptures the year that was and starts 2021 off on the right foot with a new and exciting piece of news.
The episode is sponsored by Improv Niagara and don't forget to check out Apocalypse Chronicles if you're into spooky end-of-the world stories (I mean... now's the time!)
Let us know your goals for 2021 and remember #EatLocalandStruggleOn

E64 - Florian Francois' Hunt for the Great Ping Pong Table

FLORIAN FRANCOIS is a bilingual, dual citizen (France-Canada) actor, producer, writer & improviser. Florian spoke with Nick & Brie from the comfort of his home-recording closet about his journey working in a big marketing firm in Paris to hitchhiking across Canada, ultimately discovering his calling as an actor. We chat networking, collaboration and of course improv! We talk about Florian's main source of work during Covid and his hopes and challenges looking to the future. We discuss the struggles of feeling like an outsider when you're an immigrant in a country, especially in an industry with specific limitations when it comes to the way people speak. What we're left with is a highly quotable and very motivating chat about making the things you want to make.
Be sure to check out Florian's Bell Fibe TV series Rencontres & FOR SURE check out his music video for Le Mec du Grill from his slam poetry / hip hop star days. 
Follow Florian on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & imdb.
#StruggleOn Strugglies! 

E63 - Tuong La's Podwarts School of Podcraft & Poddery

TUONG LA is the creator of Podcavern podcast network. He's a podcaster extraordinaire, improviser, photographer, videographer, editor & new homeowner. Tuong chatted with Nick & Brie over Zoom about how the evolution of his first podcasting project (BroCoolNation) to his current podcast empire; PodCavern. We chat improv; his beginnings at the Improv Embassy in Ottawa, his move to the Making Box in Guelph and his palpable hatred of The Bat. We chat about the struggles of managing creative projects when your team isn't all on the same page, as well as the daunting task of self-promotion. Overall, it's a silly trek filled it LOLS along the way. Oh, and speaking of Trek, it'd be foolish if we didn't mention our own adventure on Tuong's podcast: RANKED: (Top 5 Science Fiction Technology.)
 
Be sure to check out Tuong's Podcavern. Your new favourite podcast may lie within! 
Follow Podcavern's socials on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
Follow Tuong on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
#StruggleOn Strugglies! 

E62 - Ophira Calof: Bubbling Like Champagne

OPHIRA CALOF is a multi-talented, multi-disciplined and multi-disabled comedian and performer based in Toronto, who's past productions "Generally Hospital" and "Literally Titanium" are challenging the status quo of disability and theatre. Ophira chatted with Brie and Nick over Zoom about her introduction to performance by way of opera, her transition to comedy thanks to a "multi-class discount" and her desire to #cripthescript wherever possible, making theatre more inclusive for both performers and patrons. 
Don't miss Ophira's bi-weekly relaxed talk-show Slumber Party on Bad Dog TV.
You can Follow Ophira on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
#StruggleOn

E61 - The Struggly Days of Summer

NEW THEME SONG DAY! This is the first episode to feature our new, original theme song created for us by Dan Dingwall. Brie thinks it's great. But she's a little biased. Let us know what you think!
This episode was recorded in the beginning of Phase 2 of the re-opening period in Ontario, so technically Nick & Brie could have met up in person, but we're finding Zoom is just WAY more convenient! Just one of the many number of things we're learning during the global pandemic that's been having such a huge impact on our lives and the world in which we live. Hurray.
In the meantime, we chat progress. As in, are we making any? Is the art still happening? The answer MAY surprise you. Let's just say, "what's the point of being a comedian when you can't hear people laugh?" 

E60 - Writing in the Time of Covid

***SPOILER ALERT*** If you haven't seen Jojo Rabbit, there's a pretty big spoiler in this episode. Skip ahead when we start talking about (around 28:30) it if you don't want to ruin a major detail about the film. Same with The Lighthouse, although I feel less so, given the nature of the spoiler.
It's Mother's Day in this second socially distanced episode of TCS and the siblings chat about their respective artistic projects. Nick's rebounded and back to editing his horror novel, and Brie found new scheduling techniques to get her back on track editing her original sitcom pilot and is going strong with online improv teaching and performance.
The two take time to address their respective passion-hobbies; golf & gardening - both of which have been affected by closures & that dang polar vortex (which has since gone away, hooray!)
We're chatting writing, journaling, editing & problem solving this episode. Cancelled travel plans, anxiety, alcohol consumption, introverts vs extroverts & all the hard-hitting questions like "Is it actually possible to use the bathroom at Tim Hortons right now?"
All this and more. Just #StruggleOn

E59 - The Socially Distant Struggle

IN THIS EPISODE, Nick and Brie catch up on the artistic struggles they're currently facing now that social distancing is in effect in Ontario to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Are they getting more work done now that they have more time on their hands because they aren't allowed to leave the house? Is the creative process abound with inspiration as this global pandemic permeates all aspects of daily life? Just how many episodes of Better Call Saul can Brie binge-watch? Tune in, find out and #StruggleOn. 

E58 - Nick & Brie's 2019 Review

OK, so we're a little behind. But you know what? Better late than never, that's how the saying goes. In this REVAMPED episode of TCS, Nick & Brie go back to the roots of the podcast and chat sans guest. Why? It's just easier that way. AND we had lots of catching up to do. Mainly, we chatted about our accomplishments (NaNoWriMo) and epic failures (Welland) of 2019 and set our sights on 2020 to face some new fun creative challenges.

E57 - Grace Smith PhD : The Right Things for the Wrong Reasons

GRACE SMITH is a performer, an academic and a damn hard worker. When it comes to the theatre, she's performed it, studied it, written about it and taught it inside and out. She recently performed in her first Fringe Festival tour with her solo show: "Slow Dancing with Mediocre Boys," following the successful run of her ensemble revue "Generally Hospital" at last year's Toronto Fringe. She's fully launched herself into life post-post-grad.
Nick & Brie talk to Grace about education at its many levels - from high school to PhD and stop a few places along the way: horrific childhood bus rides, internal pressures, imposter syndrome, anxiety, loneliness and the struggle of comparison in the age of Instagram. 
All throughout, Grace shows how to check in with yourself to make sure you're on the right track for the right reasons and how to move on with grace (see what I did there?) when what you've been doing no longer lines up with ever-evolving personal goals.
Connect with Grace on social:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tour IG
Join the episode discussion on Facebook.
 
#StruggleOn

E56 - Don't You Forget About Dave (Lahti)

DAVID LAHTI is an actor, sketch comedian and wizard living in the heart of downtown Toronto. He's TCS host Brie's partner in their sketch troupe The Utilidors and a graduate of the Conservatory program at The Second City Training Centre.
Nick & Brie have a delightfully silly chat with Dave about his experience growing up in London, Ontario, his struggles finding a place in academia, his pursuit of acting by collaborating in independent films and how came to find comedy.
You'll laugh a bunch in this episode as Dave delights us with stories and struggles of his creative pursuits.
David Lahti: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The Utilidors: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Join the Episode 56 Discussion on Facebook!
Thanks for listening & #StruggleOn