The Constant Struggle

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

E55 - Maddox Campbell: Blanket Fort Enthusiast

In Episode #55 of TCS, Brie & Nick chat with Maddox Campbell in Maddox' tent-fort studio in Toronto. MADDOX CAMPBELL (BCS) is an actor, improviser, podcaster, host & so much more. He tells us about his podcasts; Break a Wish, and now-completed Caverns & Comedians, his live shows; Perfect Match & The Know Show, his pub quiz Quizdamonium and his upcoming Toronto Fringe show The Resistance Improvised. He also tells us about the super cool shoot he did a few years back with METRIC. Maddox also opens up about his struggles being recognized as an actor and performer, when for so many of his projects his performing has to take a back-seat for the sake of the production. Join us on this super fun adventure with this VERY busy creator. Oh, and also...
Follow Maddox on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Follow Break a Wish on Facebook & Twitter and at the Sonar Network.
Keep an eye out for The Resistance Improvised at Toronto Fringe this summer.
Thanks so much for listening & #StruggleOn!

E54 - Blow That S*#% Up with Kate Fenton

KATE FENTON is an actor, improviser, content creator, mom, among MANY OTHER things; most pertinent to our conversation however, is how, along with some co-conspirators, she created an IPF trailer for a new webseries called "Band Ladies" in which she, and her fellow book club members get fed up with the mundane and start a punk rock band together.
We talk to Kate about Band Ladies, her theatre company, improv (of course), being a mom and how important it is to appreciate the art you create, even if sometimes, its monetary value only amounts to peanuts.
Kate is a dedicated, hardworking, lovely human being, and we hope her webseries gets made because it sounds like a lot of fun! In the meantime, you can help by watching the trailer for Band Ladies TODAY, liking and sharing it with everyone you know!
BAND LADIES IPF TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOEC708NA2M
Band Ladies Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Kate's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Website
Thanks so much for listening & #StruggleOn everybody! 

E53 - Improv is the New Punk with Joe Amero

JOE AMERO is done with punk rock. His path has shifted quite a bit since his days in SOFA; he's now a social worker, a father of two, and a Hamiltonian. More importantly to the podcast, he's an improviser. You can find Joe improvising everywhere in Toronto! He trained at The Second City Training Centre, his troupe Pepperoni Pizza Cats perform monthly at the Social Capital Theatre, and with the Assembly, and he's now a Featured Player at the Bad Dog Comedy Theatre. 
We talk to Joe about improv. About his love of improv, who he was before finding improv, and how much of an impact improv has had on his life. That's right, this is an improv episode. Buckle up.
Truly, Joe is an absolute delight of a human being, an incredibly funny guy and a tremendous improviser. It was wonderful to catch up with him in his basement in Hamilton, and we think that'll be obvious in this wonderful earhole adventure.
Follow Joe on the social networks below:
Joe's Website.
Joe on Facebook.
Joe on Twitter.
Joe on Instagram.
Pepperoni Pizza Cats on Facebook - Twitter - Instagram
Now #StruggleOn!
 

E52 - Deb Howey, Leading Lady

DEB HOWEY is much more than than the leading lady in Thorold Community Theatre's upcoming production of "Sin, Sex & the CIA," (a farce written by Michael & Susan Parker.) She's a mom of two with a full-time job, and has the know-how to run an entire stage production, on stage and behind-the-scenes.
In this episode, Deb talks to Nick & Brie about the process of putting on live theatre productions for the Thorold Community Theatre; the difficulties involved when all participants are volunteers, and the joys that arise out of these community-building endeavours. 
She also gets us ready for TCT's next production and it sounds like a hoot! Sin, Sex & the CIA opens March 29th 2019 at the Trinity United Church in Thorold, ON & runs:
Friday, March 29 @ 8:00 p.m.Saturday, March 30 @ 8:00 p.m.Sunday, March 31 @ 2:00 p.m.Friday, April 5 @ 8:00 p.m.Saturday, April 6 @ 8:00 p.m.Sunday, April 7 @ 2:00 p.m.Friday, April 12 @ 8:00 p.m.Saturday, April 13 @ 8:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available online soon, by clicking HERE!
Become a Fan of the Thorold Community Centre on Facebook.
Volunteer your awesome skills for TCT by clicking HERE!
Thanks for listening & #StruggleOn.

E51 - Happy Twenty Nine-Tea!

Nick & Brie talk about their creative goals for the New Year. And about a few of their other goals, side-hustles and hobbies. Get on board, we're READY for 2019!

E50 - Be Kind to Yourself

Our 50th episode (YAY!) has a recurring through-line, the need to treat yourself kindly. Be it with mindfulness, therapy, legal weed or swimming in Lake Erie in October, Nick & Brie talk about the ways to take care of ourselves when we're not feeling our best. We also update everyone on our creative progresses and challenges and take a few fun departures along the way. Like to Golfton-sur-mer!

E49 - There's Always Struggles

Nick and Brie catch you up on the artistic goings on of the summer months. For Nick, it's trying to find the time to edit his latest project in between his kids' baseball games and his newfound obsession with golf. Brie's out and about with improv from Toronto to Niagara, with new projects hatching all over the place and old ones finally wrapping up. Thanks for listening & #StruggleOn everybody!