The Constant Struggle

E96: Hunker Mode Activated

Happy New Year #Strugglies! A new year is upon us, and for your friendly neighbourhood podcast hosts; Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n), that means fresh new Lighthouse Words!  (or "Words-of-the-Year.") YAY!!!!! Brie's frankly happy to be done with last year's word & Nick's new word has its very own mascot. Intrigued? Take a listen & check in with your trying-to-be-creative-in-this-busy-late-stage-capitalist-nightmare buddies as we update you on the Tank Fillers & of course the Struggles as we head into 2026 with space heaters to reignite the creative fire.
Take a listen & if you feel so inclined, let us know YOUR 2026 #WOTY!
 
We also want to take a moment and remember our dearly departed friend Robert Ariss Hills, whose art is our cover-image and whose humour and kindness we're grateful to remember always. Check back on this episode we recorded with Rob from his hospital room back in 2016.
 
Key Creative Tips:
 
"Pay attention to the world around you, look after yourselves and don't be a ..."
 
Nick's Update:
The Hobbit, amplified.
Brie's Update:
Sweet, sweet winter vacation sleep.
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn

E95: Chill with Moments of Crazy Intensity

So what’s next? That’s the question of the episode in this edition of #StrugglePod. You’ll have to tune in for a bit more context. Co-hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) are entering the dark, chilly, Canadian Winter, putting up their Ws where they can (dress for the job you want!) and bemoaning the struggles (passing out in a high school gymnasium,) along the way. Please enjoy this fun new episode from your favourite struggling siblings.
 
Key Creative Tips:
 
Reading is good. Get out in nature!
 
Nick's Update:
 
Uniqlo (sponsorship please?) & 2 books at the same time.
 
Brie's Update:
 
CoPs, Buffalo & Icarus
 
Special Shout Outs this week:
 
Dillon’s Distillery
Stratford’s Savour and Sip
Beau Chapeau
Mighty Niagara Film Fest 
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn

E94: Party On, Struggle Later

It’s hard for co-hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n), and brand new guest-host Michael Cervix, to get away from the excitement of the Blue Jays yes-anding baseball to chat creative projects, but nevertheless, they persist! Nick’s hunkering down to get some editing done, while squeezing out the last few moments of golf for the year and Brie’s getting more reps in and rehearsing a new show set in 1812 with a brand new cast and a refilled tank.
 
(Apologies for the crappy quality of Brie’s mic. She thought she was using her good one, but turns out, ooops.)
 
Question of the Episode: How are you getting ready for cold-weather creativity? 
 
Key Creative Tips: Get inspired. Watch the Blue Jays. Use it (the moment) or lose it.
 
Nick's Update:
 
Baseball, Bob Dylan & Burning down social media.
 
Brie's Update:
 
So much tank-filling that her car’s starting to demand some time off. 1812 Improv coming JANUARY 2026.
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#PartyOn
 

E93 - Busy Summer Blues

Host Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) reflect after respectively busy summers: one filled with parental obligations and the other with increased tourism volume. But with Back to School season comes a renewed sense of responsibility towards our creative endeavours, and in some cases, brand new projects and directions. Tune in to see where these creative siblings are headed next.
 
Key Creative Tips:
Social Media is dead.
Nick's Update:
Golf! Baseball! Parenting! Editing..?
Brie's Update:
Improv Burnout. (In recovery.)
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.

E92 - Hamilton Fringe Preview: The Cast of What If? Keeps it Tight

Host Nick Watson (@fivestergram) graciously allows his co-host Brie and her cast-mates: Dan Dingwall, Dina Senior & Heather Eyman, on this episode to chat about their upcoming production at the Hamilton Fringe Festival: What If? Improvising Your Alternate Universe. 
The improvised comedy premieres Thursday, July 17th at The Staircase Theatre in Hamilton, upstairs in the Brightroom, and features a number of talented (and some familiar to the podcast) storytellers: Lacie Victoria, Devin Bateson, Peter "Fry" Mitchell, Luz Buchanan, Natasha Boomer, Jo Anne Tacorda, Rhiannon Archer, & Kristi Boulton.
Tune in as the cast dig into the rehearsal process for an improvised Fringe production, shouting out to their absent cast-mates Bradley Doyle, David Lahti & Natasha Bromfield, and share their hopes for the festival which, for many of the cast, will be performing in their first ever Fringe Festival.
Take a listen to this fun group & we hope to see ya'll out there at the Fringe!
Key Creative Tips:
Keep it Tight.
Nick's Update:
No writing, no editing, no golf, only YouTube.
Brie's Update:
Please come to our Fringe show.
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn
 

E91 - The Double Mulligan

Hosts Nick (@fivestergram) & Brie Watson (@briewats0n) are in it pretty deep at the time this episode was recorded. With feelings of stagnation, injury and loss, our two humble hosts are really feeling the name of the podcast. Although recording in the same room for the first time since Covid has added a level of irreverence towards life that might just help them get back on track. The hosts review March and April, check in on their lighthouse words, constant struggles and tank fillers. Will the check in be enough to get back on the creative horse? 
 
Key Creative Tips:
Coffee is good. -Honoré de Balzac
 
Nick’s Update:
Tank Fillers: Visiting the prettiest town in Ontario with family, Marc Maron live.
Struggle: Back on the YouTube, not editing.
 
Brie’s Update:
Tank fillers: Halifax (Travel) / Spontaneity Improv, The Americans (TV Show, Soviet spies, fun disguises,) Joel Plaskett in the vineyard to look forward to…
Struggles: Loss of a friend, Knee Injury, Tuesday Night Nobody
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn

E90 - The Call is Coming from Inside the Brain

Host Nick Watson (@fivestergram) is in a real pickle this episode as he and co-host Brie Watson (@briewats0n) find solutions to the doom scrolling rabbit hole that is US politics on YouTube. (There are two surprisingly easy solutions.) As the hosts review the second month of 2025, they continue to check in on their lighthouse words and constant struggles. It’s not all heavy though, each host brings up a number of tank fillers to help them get through that cold lil’ February. Like Conan hosting the Oscars, there is a beacon of hope! 
 
Key Creative Tips:
“No thank you, not right now.” - thank you Headspace app.
Read short stories, see live theatre, watch good TV & great comedians like Maria Bamford.
 
Nick’s Update:
Tank Filler:  Distractions: Ted Lasso and reading short stories.
Struggle: YouTube doom scrolling
 
Brie’s Update:
Tank fillers: Improv Niagara, Big Chick Energy, live theatre, tap dancing and cancelled plans.
Struggle: Jealousy, the structure to structure and winter driving.
 
RESOURCES:
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn

E89 - The Constant Meh

Hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) discuss their tank-fillers & drainers in the creative department of their ongoing struggle to make literature and comedy, (respectively.) They’re a month into 2025 and are checking in on the progress following their respective Lighthouse words. Are they still being guided in the right direction? Or did the longest January in history have other plans for our noble hosts?  
 
Key Creative Tips:
Build boundaries to keep a creative mindset.
Find inspiration to keep moving forward.
 
Nick’s Update:
Tank Filler:  Chapter-per-week
Struggle: Capitalism
 
Brie’s Update:
Tank fillers: Good improv & Joel Plaskett
Struggle: It’s friggin’ cold!
 
RESOURCES:
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn

E88 - Notebooks and Candles

Hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) kick off the new year by sticking to their new podcasting format, therefore so far crushing this New Year Pod Resolution. They’ve also carefully prepared their 2025 Lighthouse Word, or Word-of-the-Year and strongly recommend you do too!
 
Nick’s Update:
Tank Filler:  Checkmarks
Struggle: The Demons
 
Brie’s Update:
Tank fillers: On holiday, there are too many to list! 
Struggle: Negative self-talk, social media distractions.
 
RESOURCES:
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
#StruggleOn

E87 - New Format on the Block

Hosts Nick Watson (@fivestergram) and Brie Watson (@briewats0n) are back after an unplanned hiatus to chat plans for the podcast going forward including new segments like: what’s filling the tank, what’s draining the bucket and what are we working on as 2024 comes to a close. 
 
Nick's Update: 
Finished “Infinite Jest”
No more contests until his 3 books are edited
Trying out new “Scrivener” software
Brie’s Update
Joined Assembly Improv team: P!sstank
Tuesday Night Improv coming to Spotlight in St. Catharines
Struggles: Balancing resources
 
RESOURCES:
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
Listen to more awesome podcasts on PodCavern.
 
#StruggleOn