The Constant Struggle

E83 - Korri Birch is Everywhere Improvised All at Once

***DON'T MISS "Good News Toronto" at Montreal Sketchfest FRI MAY 12th!*** 
 
Korri Birch is an actor, improviser, comedian, writer, producer, voice-over artist, puppeteer, teacher and self-proclaimed idiot based in Toronto. In this episode, Brie and Nick chat with Korri about his decision to stop producing, writing, and starring in the award-winning monthly news-themed live comedy show "Good News Toronto" and what's next for this multi-talented, ever-collaborative and exceptionally friendly performer.
It wouldn't be #StrugglePod if we didn't mention some of the difficulties faced by a day-job & the never-ending tasks associated with producing live comedy. 
But overall, Korri isn't one to complain. He's one to create. Enjoy!
Your Creative Tips
Comedy, Writing, Producing, Improv, Acting, Stand-Up Comedy, Touring, Collaboration
MORE KORRI BIRCH
Korri's Website
Korri's Facebook
Korri's Twitter
Korri's Instagram
Everything Improvised Instagram
Brie's Updates
Detroit Women in Comedy Festival (May 19-20)
Hearsay at Hamilton Fringe (July 19-30)
Nick's Updates
Up to book 3 on preliminary edits.
#StruggleOn
 

E82: Own Your Dreams with Belynda Wilson Thomas

Belynda Thomas is an author of novels (Secrets and Silence, Secrets and Sorrow) and children's book (When Can We Get a Puppy,) a blogger, a visual artist, Toastmaster, wife, mother and consultant to Mississauga Writers Group.  In this episode, Nick and Brie chat with Belynda about writing, self-publishing and owning your artistic dreams. 
We chat about the difficulties making the time to practice your art, and how sometimes it becomes necessary to put things on hold as well as the strength in owning your artistic pursuits.
Your Creative Tips
 Writing, Editing, Self-Publishing, Blogging, Writing Challenges, Public Speaking & Parenting.
MORE BELYNDA WILSON THOMAS:
Belynda's Blog
Belynda's LinkedIn
Belynda's Books
Mississauga Writers Group
Brie's Updates: 
Catch Brie in Good News Toronto at Toronto Sketchfest.
Check out her new live shows in Hamilton at the Staircase Comedy Cabaret
Sign up for classes at Improv Niagara.
Nick's Updates:
Editing his short story.
Participating in the Mississauga Writers Group

E81: Two Birds, One Heather - Time Management for the Multitalented

Heather Eyman is a fitness coach and improviser among many other things and in this episode, we see the path Heather took to narrow down on what's important when there isn't enough time to do everything and when you're the kind of person who enjoys the abundance of what life has to offer.
We also ask her advice on how to fix Nick's darn back! Find out what kind of tips she offers Nick, and all of us when it comes to making deposits into your body bank. (That'll make more sense when you listen!)
Your Creative Tips
Health and Wellness, Fitness, Improv, Time Management
MORE HEATHER EYMAN:
Heather on Instagram
Heather's LinkedIn
Heather at Improv Niagara
Heather at Fit Collective
Brie's Updates: 
Fingers crossed for Hearsay at Hamilton Fringe 2023. (Follow @brieanddave)
Nick's Updates:
Stay tuned for book edits and short stories to come!
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
 
 

E80 -Bumps Along the Creative Way

Our first episode in over four months! Why the break? Well you'll just have to listen to the episode and find out. HA! Masters of the tease. 
But really, it's a doozy of an episode where Brie & Nick dig deep into some real talk about physical and mental health, motivation, relocation and the whole thing gets a little vulnerable.
It's not all struggle though. There's life. There's travel. There's a mandatory Maron reference! 
Take a listen & let us know if it resonates with your journey.
 
Your Key Creative Tips
Comedy, Writing, Improv, Stand-Up, Performing, Pain Management, Depression and Anxiety, Goals.
Brie's Update:
Don't miss the remount of End with a Kiss, this December in Hamilton!
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn
 

E79 - Comedian Mary Hynes’ Light, Love and Laughter

Chicago's Mary Hynes is an improviser, actor, instructor, stage manager and tall lady. In this episode, Mary reminds us of the importance of leaning into and really living our core values as performers, and human beings. She offers tremendous insight into navigating the unsure waters of the performance industry, including her signature Lean Back.

Playwriting Right with Playwright Evie Jones

All wordplay aside, this is a delightful and informative episode featuring Genevieve (Evie) Jones, playwright, actor, director and mom of Daphne. Evie’s located in the Niagara Region, and chats with Nick and Brie about starting out her artistic career in Niagara, spreading her wings beyond the peninsula and her parents, and the reason for her epic return.
Evie provides us with some deep insight into how the pandemic has been helpful to herself and many artists in finding focus, and the now existing struggle to maintain that focus as the world opens back up. 
Writers will appreciate learning more about the process of writing and producing live plays in Canada and the evolution of the artist in motherhood. 
 
Your Key Creative Tips:
Writing, Playwriting, Parenting, Theatre, Acting, Directing, Performing Arts in Niagara and Halifax. 
 
Nick's Update: 
Editing
Back pain.
Brie's Update:
Self-tapes galore!
Hamilton Fringe Show = Cast
Teaching a bunch at SC & IN
RESOURCES:
The Mural at E.L. Crossley
Niagara Artists Centre
Mermaid Theatre
Essential Collective Theatre
Suitcase in Point
Camp Cataract
Theatre Aquarius
FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre
Shaw Festival
 
More from Evie Jones
Website: https://genevievejoneswrites.com/ 
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/EvieJones11 
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn

E77: Comedian Rhiannon Archer’s Educational Redemption

Rhiannon Archer is a stand-up comic and instructor, a mom of two little dudes and is currently in school training to become a therapist. In this episode Rhiannon chats with Nick and Brie about her formative years, her ADHD diagnosis, and how it impacted her education and career path and how that path has changed now that better resources are available to assist neurodivergent students.
We dive into Rhiannon’s stand-up comedy career and how she’s been able to keep at it while balancing frustrating hours in the television industry, and now with the demands of school, a part time job, a neurodivergent child and another with Autism, how it will look now that her priorities have shifted. 
An amazing discussion about the impact our teachers have on our lives, how the lens of parenting changes our priorities and how amazing things are possible when we take risks and believe in ourselves. 
Your Key Creative Tips:
Stand-Up Comedy, Parenting, Multi-tasking, ADHD, Neurodivergence, Education.
Nick's Update: 
Submitted his submission to the Toronto Star Short Story competition
Editing his books.
Brie's Update:
Directing End with a Kiss at Hamilton Fringe 2022
Travelling to the East Coast this summer.
Lots of shows at Improv Niagara coming up. 
RESOURCES:
Rhiannon’s Website: http://www.rhiannonarcher.com/
More from Rhiannon Archer
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RhiannonArcher 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhiannonArcher1 
IG: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonarcher/ 
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
 
#StruggleOn

E76: A Circus Performer’s Year Off ft. Wellesley Robertson III

In this episode, Nick and Brie chat with Wellesley Robertson III; a circus-artist, breakdancer, improviser, puppeteer, actor… self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Wellesley has spent the better part of the last decade travelling the world performing with various theatrical productions, seemingly falling into one amazing opportunity after the next. 
Join us on this exciting trip around the world and back as we chat with Wellesley about how he got into performing physical theatre, how he takes advantage of his “working vacations” and certainly, since it is an episode of #StrugglePod after all, some of the challenging elements of his performance career - staying connected to his home base of Toronto, navigating international travel and Covid-19 and other fascinating occurrences on his journey around the world again and again.
Fans of theatre, performing arts, circus, improv and TRAVEL will absolutely adore this episode with the ever-gracious, multi-talented Wellesley Robertson.
 
Your Key Creative Tips:
Performance, Theatre, Touring, Puppetry, Circus, Touring, Unions, Acting.
 
Nick's Update: Editing his Toronto Star Short Story competition submission. 
Brie's Update: We didn’t get into it this episode, so just visit improvniagara.com for more info!
 
RESOURCES:
Robert Lepage: Needles & Opium promo
 
Follow Wellesley Robertson:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wellesley3rd
IG: https://www.instagram.com/wellesley3rd/ 
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn

E75: Staying Inspired with Megan Fraser

Happy New Year Strugglers!
We’re back with another great episode! This time, Nick & Brie chat with Toronto-based special effects make-up artist and instructor Megan Fraser. Megan takes us through her creative journey, starting in Calgary with papier mâché and glue all over her childhood bedroom floor to, probably a fairly similar floor-situation in present day - except with way more silicone fingers.
It wouldn’t be #StrugglePod if we didn’t chat about some of the more challenging elements of Megan’s artistic undertakings. It’s all part of the package to having a thriving career in film and television make-up. Fans of comedy, make-up, politics and puppets will absolutely dig this episode with the immensely talented and creative Meg Fraser. 
Your Key Creative Tips:Make-Up, Special Effects make-up, Comedy, Stand-Up Comedy, Twitter, Satire Writing & Body Art
 
Nick's Update: Working on his Toronto Star Short Story competition submission. Brie's Update: Gearing up to go back to teaching and performing in-person… again…
RESOURCES:
 BOOK: Stats Canada: Satire on a National Scale
More from Megan Fraser: Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
Thanks for listening & #StruggleOn
 

E74: 2021 in Review / Struggle Bus

In this Year in Review episode, Nick and Brie enjoy a host-cast chat about the year that was; what accomplishments we were able to achieve given the colossal mess of a year we all just collectively endured and what struggles (other than the colossal mess) we endured and attempted to overcome.
Thanks for listening this year pals, and feel free to share your wins from 2021 and your goals for 2022!
Your Key Creative Tips:
Writing, Editing, Gamification of work, Planning, Parenting, Improv, Acting, Travel, Pet ownership.
 
Nick's Update: Finished writing third book / NaNoWriMo - back to editing. 
Brie's Update: Burger commercial, so long as she doesn’t get Covid.
 
RESOURCES:
For context, Brie worked as a tour guide at Vimy Ridge and McFarland House.
NaNoWriMo
100 Days of Improv
Watch Ainsi va Manu / Hogtown > Web Series in which Brie performed
Watch Brie’s episode of “An Unexpected Killer” (if you’re in the USA)
Alan Alda: If I Understood You, Would I Have this Look on my Face? 
In the Soil Arts Festival
 
Thinking about starting your own podcast? Click HERE to get one free month of hosting.
#StruggleOn