Keziah and I had only been in touch for a few months kicking some ideas around about how to elevate Black voices in the music industry when I resigned from my role at SiriusXM. While it feels like we were meant to connect and had some great conversations about the…
My guest is Aliya Jasmine, a well known television host, producer, and environmental journalist (M.A., F.R.C.G.S.) who you may have first discovered on MTV in Canada, just like I did! Her award-winning work has been part of both national and local network coverage with NBC News, NBCUniversal, CTV Bell Media,…
Laura Simpson is the CEO and co-founder (along with artist, Dan Mangan) of Side Door; a dedicated team of artists and technologists committed to building a more efficient, fair and decentralized global ecosystem for the performing arts. The Canadian tech start-up which was founded in 2017 has a mission: We…
Although I celebrate women all year long on this podcast, I'm always up for celebrating Women's History Month and International Women's Day. This week also marks the one-year anniversary of this podcast. I'll revisit some of the inspiring conversations I’ve had over the last year; call it a best-of if…
Melani Mariani is a radio announcer based in Toronto, currently hosting Middays at Indie88 (88.1 CIND FM). She is a former host for 102.1 The Edge in Toronto where she quite literally "worked her way up the ladder" from receptionist to morning show. In this episode of the Women in…
Kathleen Newman-Bremang is a writer, editor and producer who recently became the Global Deputy Director at Unbothered; Refinery29’s sub-brand made for and by Black women. Through Unbothered, she oversees content across the UK, U.S., and Canada, and writes about pop culture, race, feminism and the intersection of all three, while…
Well, no big deal. My next guest is Jann Arden; a multi-platinum award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, author, broadcaster, podcast host, and author with three decades of incredible work in music and comedy. As a good friend of mine noted, she is considered a 'Canadian treasure' by many. She is set…
Teri Hart is my first guest of 2022 and I really appreciate how candid she was about all sorts of difficult subjects; like losing jobs and why she decided to share her painful experience about trying to get pregnant. One of Canada’s most recognized and sought-after media personalities, Teri Hart…
Where do I start with this amazing human? Allison Dore is the FOUNDER and CEO of Howl & Roar Records; a female-centric comedy record label that empowers artists and facilitates the creation of content. Understanding the difficulties artists face with distribution and navigating the many paths content can take, Howl…
Earning her second Canadian Screen Award (Best Local Newscast) in 2021, Lindsay Dunn has become one of Canada’s most respected talents. Honing her reporting skills for the better part of the last two decades, Dunn grew up in Regina and spent much of her childhood dreaming about reporting on the…
Erin Benjamin is President & CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) and has been since its creation in 2014. Erin has worked in the music industry for over 25 years - first as a touring and recording artist, and then as Executive Director of both Folk Music Ontario…
Lindsay Duncan says she is a photographer, "of people and the things they make - musicians, writers, artists...I view my position as a photographer as a liaison between the public and the artists’ private moments; a position that requires artists to trust my intent and respect their work." I am…
Julie Adam was formerly the Senior Vice President of News & Entertainment at Rogers Sports & Media, responsible for driving the strategy and overseeing the management and development of Rogers Sports & Media’s News & Entertainment brands including, Citytv, CityNews, 98.1 CHFI, KiSS 92.5, Pacific Content, FX/FXX, OMNI Television, and…
Ishkōdé Records is a new Indigenous women-owned label created to foster and amplify Indigenous voices. Ishkōdé Records arrives to advocate for Indigenous artists, songs and stories in the commercial music landscape. Led by artists, organizers and activists Anishinaabekwe ShoShona Kish (Digging Roots) and solo artist Amanda Rheaume, Citizen of the…
Joss Richard is an AAPI Emmy Award winning Producer, born and raised in Toronto where she worked as a Television Producer before moving to Los Angeles. At the age of 28, Joss has been formally recognized by the Daytime Emmy Awards and worked at Netflix, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The…
My guest for this episode is Alysha Newman; the current Commonwealth Games champion in the women’s pole vault (she set a Games record at the 2018 competition with a 4.75m jump). She represented Canada at both the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games, also placing fifth at the 2019 World Championships.…
Jacie deHoop is a co-founder, and head of partnerships and revenue at The GIST. She led the company’s revenue strategy and monetization through partners like the NBA, FanDuel and Red Bull. Jacie and her team were named to Forbes 30 Under 30 Media 2020 and have been accelerated through programs…
Michelle Szeto is Vice President of the Management Division at Paquin Entertainment Group in Nashville. I first met Michelle with one of her longtime clients, Donovan Woods at a Juno Awards Gala broadcast. Since, we've worked on a few projects together in my work at SiriusXM. Michelle got her first…
Born in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and raised in Oakville, Ontario, Evanka Osmak is best known for her work at Rogers Sportsnet in Toronto. A career in sports television was not part of her initial plan, though... She graduated with a Civil Engineering degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. At…
Lately, you've heard many guests that are TV & Radio personalities; the faces associated with certain brands and platforms. Let's head behind-the-scenes for this episode to speak to Melissa Bubb-Clarke. As Vice President of Music & Live Events at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), she oversees the Entertainment portfolio…
Shannon Burns is a an announcer and entertainment contributor based in Toronto. She is currently the Midday Host on Virgin Radio Eastern Canada, but at the time of this recording she was hosting the evening show on CHUM 104.5 and iHeartRadio Nights on 15 stations across Canada. She enjoys connecting…
Kayla Grey is an award-winning broadcaster. She's an anchor for TSN’s SPORTSCENTRE and a reporter for the network’s coverage of the Toronto Raptors. When she made her debut on SC in 2018, Grey became the first Black woman to host a flagship sports highlight program in Canada. This year, aside…
iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ is, among many other things, an artist – a creator and communicator of music and of movement, of pictures, poetry and prose. And through it all, she’s a teller of stories that have impacted our past and will inform our future. You may know her best for…
Jax Irwin is Co-Host of Virgin Mornings on 99.9 Virgin Radio. She is an East Coaster who has been on air across Canada; from British Columbia to Nova Scotia, before calling Toronto home for the past 6 years. Using her platform on radio, television and social media, she is passionate…