Blackout Podcast
Israel Ekanem
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Blackout Podcast: Intimate Conversations With Amazing People Who Do Amazing Things.
It is about unfiltered truth.
A space to talk openly about life, art, mental health, family, beginnings, endings and everything in between.
Available episodes
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Oldest first
3 days ago
Asia - YouTube Personality
Asia Outten is a creative Youtuber and Youtube personality. She has generated 20,000+ views on her Youtube Channel Xoxo Love, Asia and loves creating binge-worthy Youtube content that is enjoyable to her viewers.
While being a content creator comes with its challenges, Asia remains determined to grow her channel and her subscriber count daily.
She has long dreamed of bringing her magnetic personality to the screen.
Find out more @xoxloveasia
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Nov 13, 2022
Keonté Beals - CEO KBeals Entertainment
Keonté Beals is an accomplished singer/songwriter, musician (piano), producer, author and entrepreneur. Keonté triumphs among the East Coast music scene as a multi-talented, award-winning R&B/Pop artist.
Born and raised in North Preston, Keonté started singing at the age of six. In 2016, Keonté released “Man Down” from his self-titled EP ‘Keonté,’ followed by a second single “4 Ever” in 2017. Keonté, is a natural-born entertainer who has collected accolades from Music Nova Scotia, African Nova Scotian Music Association (including Artist of the Year 2020), Coast Halifax, East Coast Music Association; Challenge AIDS and Malaria in Africa and recognised with an MLA Rising Star award.
In 2020, CBC radio produced a special “Keonte Beals: Christmas in North Preston” which was rated the number one story in Canada and earned a feature in “Being Black in Canada”. Keonté released a Christmas EP stemming from the special, entitled “December”, which was very well received. 2020 also saw the birth of KBeals Entertainment (kebe.ca) where Keonte launched his first full-length album under his company.
Keonte is the co-author and illustrator of his first children’s book with his younger brother Antonio, “I am Perfectly Me”. This book expresses historical pride within the African Nova Scotian community and celebrates diversity. Keonte provides rich and inclusive book presentations within schools all across Nova Scotia - even adding in a few song performances throughout the hour-long sessions with the kids.
Keonte propelled the project ‘KING’ in 2020 under his own company name, which received the ANSMA song of the year for 2021. Keonte received acclaimed ECMA status in 2021 for R&B album of the year for ‘KING’, and also collected three Music Nova Scotia awards: R&B Solo recording, African Nova Scotian Artist of the Year & Inspirational recording of the year.
Keonté is set to release his 3rd album in 2023.
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Oct 31, 2022
Jennifer O'Neil - REALTOR® / Shelter Movers Volunteer Services Manager
Jennifer was born in Montreal but raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia makes the East Coast where she calls home.
With entrepreneurial parents, exposure to commercial and residential real estate at an early age meant that a career in Real Estate was inevitable. Homeownership and investment in real estate have been goals throughout her life and continue to be passions that drive her.
When searching for a brokerage to align herself with, Jennifer looked for a level of professionalism and high standards that matched her processes and a strong sense of community to allow her to give back in her profession as much as she does in her personal life.
Volunteering with Shelter Movers Nova Scotia, a volunteer-powered non-profit organization providing free moving and storage services to people and families fleeing violence and abuse, as a Manager of Volunteer Services, keeps her busy when not spending time with her family.
Real Estate was a natural fit for Jennifer, having worked in corporate leadership and management roles for over a decade in addition to 30 years of authentic relationship-building. Jennifer carries the value of hard work, integrity, and passion in everything she does.
Find out more @jennifer.evrealestate
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Oct 17, 2022
Kaytee Mullins - Entrepreneur/Owner of The Change Room
Kaytee Mullins is a young entrepreneur from Cape Breton, who moved to Halifax in 2016 for College but fell in love with the City and now calls it home.
Before starting The Change Room, Kaytee completed programs in American Sign Language and Veterinary Medicine, and although she loved both, neither were the right fit. Having always dreamed of being her own boss and after countless jobs in retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries that left her unhappy, she took the leap, after the business she worked at closed down. With the pandemic just starting, she started on a wild journey, trying to navigate the entrepreneurial space and start a business in a world where businesses were shutting down every day.
Starting The Change Room, not only gave her the freedom to make her own schedule, which allows time to visit her family in Cape Breton (and snuggle with her cat), it also gave her a sense of purpose. Helping the environment, reducing waste, saving people money, and finding really cool pieces, are just some of the reasons running this business is fulfilling for her.
When she's not thrifting and sourcing colourful clothes, she likes to listen to podcasts, crochet, explore new places, and spend way too long on the phone with her Mom and Niece.
Kaytee hopes that if there's anybody out there who feels stuck in what they're doing that they too, find something their passionate about because life is too short to do anything that steals your joy.
Find out more @thechange.room
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Oct 3, 2022
Mukisa Kakembo - Legal Advocate / Entrepreneur
Mukisa is Ugandan Nova Scotian. She is a graduate of the Schulich School of Law, passionate about racial justice and women’s empowerment.
During her articling year, Mukisa gained a range of experience in prison law, personal injury law, and litigation. She works with the Elizabeth Fry Society and advocates for fairness and positive change in the Justice system.
Mukisa is a Co-Founder of Fem Entity, the source for self-care and empowering your divine feminine energy. Check out their new podcast “The Queens Mentality” & follow her side hustles @FemEntity and online shop @Lvl.Up.Ns
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Sep 19, 2022
Tobi Martin Flemming - Director/Designer
Tobi has been in the arts for most of her life. She began as a competitive dancer in jazz, acrobatic arts and ballet and during this time fell in love with performance and choreography and the art of moving bodies around a stage in a way that created a visual story.
When her sister Nikki began crafting novels and later screenplays, she’d indulge in planning out how they’d come to life on the screen. She attended York University as a Dance major and then finished her Fine Arts degree at Dalhousie as a Theatre major and found her way to stage management on a number of productions in the HRM.
She enjoys photography as a hobby and as a sometimes career and crafting stories in a single frame or capturing people in candid moments.
Tobi is the Director of A Walk In The Sun, a short film created through AFCOOP’s Film5 program. She brings a lifetime of love and passion for the arts to all her projects.
Find out more @tobilaurenphotography
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Sep 12, 2022
Nikki Martin - Writer/Yoga Teacher
Nikki Martin is a Novelist and full-time Yoga Teacher. She has released the first two novels in her Sci-fi/fantasy series Awake While Dreaming and loves crafting character-driven narratives that transport her readers to far off worlds and places.
While being firmly rooted in the modern-day conflicts and struggles that face humanity, her stories always have an element of hope and magic.
She has long dreamed of bringing her stories and voice to the screen.
Find out more @nikki_possibilities
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Sep 5, 2022
Sehmat Suri - Media Strategist / Content Creator
Sehmat Suri is a media strategist, model, actor, and content creator in Halifax, who started her social media journey in 2017.
Her move into the creative community has brought her a bunch of cool connections and tons of interesting work with Canadian and international brands like Sport Chek and TRESemmé, and she’s currently one of the hosts on Eastlink’s Ocean Playground.
She dabbles in lifestyle, comedy, and social justice content, and loves to hop on a plane any time her marketing agency 9-5 job allows.
Find out more @itssemiprecious
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Aug 1, 2022
Mukisa Kakembo & Irene Saliendra - Founders of Fem Entity
We are Mukisa and Irene - the Founders of Fem Entity.
Two women who met at Dalhousie University, just starting their professional careers while working on campus for Student Leadership & Engagement. There was an instant connection between the Pieces/Taurus duo towards giving empowering opportunities to the public.
We share a passion for self-care, wellness, female empowerment, spirituality and community building - so we decided to turn our passions into a business!
We invite everyone and anyone to join us on this journey of self-discovery!
Find out more @fem.entity
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Jul 18, 2022
DJ SHENY - Canada Afrobeats DJ/Creative
Being in love with music his whole life, DJ Sheny is a versatile afrobeats disc jockey with years of experience in the entertainment industry. His passion for disc jockey initially started as a thing of leisure while in university, where he played at numerous friendly gatherings (a.k.a house parties). He has since then, grown into playing at concerts, weddings, and other private events, as well as clubs across Canada.
Pursuing his passion for music, he furthered his craft and rapidly grew to become one of the few faces of Afrobeats music both here in Nova Scotia as well as Canada-wide. He has also been awarded and recognized on several occasions for his musical talent, including a feature in the 'Top 20 Canadian DJs You Should Know' 2020 article by Shifter Magazine as well as recently being recognized by the 'Canadian Black Entertainment' community organization during Black Music Month, 2022.
He is often commended for the impact he has on any event he plays at, and for his amazing ability to keep the crowd energized and ready for more!
Check him out @dj_sheny
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Jul 11, 2022
Bevie YHZ - YouTuber
Bevie (she/her) is a local Halifax YouTuber, who explores the city and records her walks. Her channel started back in October 2020 with only an iPhone 6S and a borrowed Osmo 2 Gimbal.
Since then, as her channel grew, she was able to invest in better equipment. She currently records in 4K with her DJI Pocket 2 camera and uses her Samsung Galaxy S20 with an Osmo 2 Gimbal for her livestreams. Bevie has covered in her videos the majority of the HRM, with the waterfront being the most popular among her viewers.
Her knowledge of the city, as well as her unique sense of humour, has gained her a following. Although she isn’t a tour guide, her unique view of her city is entertaining, yet informative. On her channel’s 1 st anniversary.
Bevie travelled to Toronto, to meet up with her fellow “WalkTubers” who have helped her with her channel. She collaborated with them and did a livestream with them.
Check out her YouTube Channel
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Jul 4, 2022
Bronwyn Bridges - PragmaClin
Bronwyn was born and raised in Summerside, PEI. She then completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology degree from StFX before continuing her studies at Memorial University.
Bronwyn began in the Masters of Pharmacy program before her project became very successful and she transferred into the PhD Pharmacy Program. Bronwyn is now the co-founder and CEO of PragmaClin Research Inc. who has developed a remote patient monitoring system for Parkinson’s Disease.
She enjoys finding ways to give back to the community and even runs a photography business in her spare time!
Learn more @pragmaclin
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Jun 27, 2022
Nick Ogden - Real Estate Agent
Nick takes pride in his attention to detail and client relationships in an effort to make sure every “i is dotted and every “t” is crossed! He is an intersectional thinker where he strives to create safe and welcoming spaces for everyone in conversation and community.
Although Nick was originally born in Massachusetts, he grew up in Clayton Park, Halifax where he watched his community rapidly change year after year. Since 2013, Nick pursued post-secondary education in Audio Engineering and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management at Dalhousie University. Although his interest in real estate was piqued at a young age, he found it aligned with his passion for business as an adult and has since owned and managed income properties since 2018.
Where Nick is starting his career with experience on the other side of the license, he comes with an intimate understanding of the budgetary constraints of a first-time home buyer.
Nick will be sure to use his personal experiences to create…
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Mar 28, 2022
Stephanie Joline - Writer/ Director
Stephanie Joline is an Indigenous writer, director, and producer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her Indigenous roots come from her mother who is Inuit from Labrador; her father is French Acadian from the South shore of Nova Scotia. Equally adept at film and television, Stephanie’s stories provoke conversation, break boundaries, and are deeply rooted in inclusivity and feminism.
Her feature films include Night Blooms (starring Jessica Clement and Nick Stahl), a coming-of-age story set in the 1990s; and Play Your Gender, a documentary that pulls back the curtain on gender bias in the music industry, featuring interviews with Patty Schemel, Melissa Auf Der Maur, and Sara Quin.
Stephanie has also directed for television and streaming platforms (Stream Me 2020, Amazon Prime; Farm Crime 2020 CBC Gem; Spirit Talker 2019, APTN). In 2020 she was awarded the Irving Avrich Award from TIFF recognizing rising Canadian talent. The following year she was long-listed for the DGC Discovery Award, a…
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Feb 27, 2022
Ashley Hickey - Founder/ CTO, Enzebra Studios
A trailblazer of innovation, Ashley Hickey is the Founder and Chief Technical Officer of Enzebra Studios.
Prior to establishing her own development company, Ashley enjoyed a career with several national and international organizations in industries ranging from web development to television to health care. An expert in design, user interface, branding, and business analysis, Ashely now draws from her extensive experience developing solutions for some of the largest names in business to provide customized results for her clients in a wide range of fields.
Mrs Hickey prides herself in always exceeding client expectations while holding her organization to the highest ethical standards. As a woman thriving in a traditionally male-dominated field, Ashley enjoys making time for lectures and speaking engagements to inspire others, especially women and girls curious about joining the technology sector.
She balances her hectic schedule with her other passion as a wife and mother to two young…
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Feb 6, 2022
Titilayo Odediran - Makeup Artist/ Content Creator
Titilayo Odediran is a Nigerian living in Canada.
She moved to Canada as a teenager and spent most of her free time indoors learning about makeup on YouTube, little did she know this will turn out to be a great passion for her.
Makeup means different things to everyone but for her, it is a way to escape from my busy life to a different world where she gets to tell stories. In the past, she worked on telling stories about great and influential Black Historians whose actions shaped the world.
She hopes that one day, people of all ages will read her story as well.
When she's not doing makeup and/or creating content, she's working and/or schooling.
Find out more @facesbytiti
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Jan 23, 2022
Stuart Cochrane - Blue Collar Barbershop
Stu was born in Halifax, raised in Dartmouth, and has been back in Halifax for about a decade now.
He loves to play music, cook and is very into powerlifting and CrossFit.
He got into barbering seven years ago and has owned Blue Collar barbershop for over three years now. The shop started with just Stu and his apprentice but has grown to four full-time barbers and a new apprentice on staff.
Find out more @bluecollarhalifax
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Jan 10, 2022
Kylee Nunn - Ex Freelance Photographer
Kylee Nunn is an ex freelance photographer turned social services student who is passionate about community, reimagining justice, and accessibility to wellness. Kylee recently made the move from city living to a life nearly off-grid as she focuses on family, investing in her education, and building her future.
Find out more @subpersonality
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Dec 26, 2021
Brad Rowe - Navigator - Healthy Minds Coop
Brad joined the Healthy Minds Coop in 2012 as Navigator, Facilitator Men’s Mental Health Peer Support
Group since 2019.
He sits on several quality teams within the NSH Central Zone. He is a member of the Department of Health and
NSH provincial working groups, and is the vice-chair of the Halifax Police Diversity Working group
Personal engagement, Active self-management and mindfulness practice are some of the key factors he
attributes to attaining and sustaining positive wellness with living with multiple chronic health
conditions.
Find out more @healthymindscoop
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Dec 19, 2021
Irene Saliendra - Creative Entrepreneur
Irene Saliendra is an Entrepreneur, a Model, a Creative and on top of that she sells IT Services.
She finds a steady balance between being logical and analytical at work, and modeling creative concepts around the HRM. Through her work in IT, she gains a different insight into the world of technology, and by being she's able to express herself through her own forms of artistry.
Her newest venture is called Fem Entity, which focuses on exploring the ways to empower your feminine energy to unlock your truest potential - with a website, online courses and podcasts coming soon!
Find out more @fem.entity
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Dec 12, 2021
Andrew Keyes - Brand Ambassador, Agua Santa Mezcal
Andrew started off his hospitality journey growing up in his grandparents’ butcher shop, cutting off pig ears at the age of 8. From there he became a line cook and went to culinary school. shortly after graduating, Andrew went to New York to cook with the best.
With 6 years of cooking under his belt, he decided to switch to bartending. With the knowledge that some of the best bartenders lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he moved to Halifax 3 years ago.
He is now the Maritimes Brand Ambassador of Agua Santa Mezcal.
Andrew joined us on this episode to talk about his recent travels across Atlantic Canada, doing pop-ups at different bars. While training jiujitsu at welcoming gyms in other Atlantic Canada provinces.
Andrew was also excited to share his most recent experience travelling to PEI and working at Chef Micheal Smiths restaurant, the inn at bay fortune. This is where Andrew got his inspiration for the cocktail he made for this podcast.
Check him out @mezcalkeyes
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Dec 5, 2021
Abady Alzahrani - Founder, House of Eights Dance Studio
Abady (he/him) is an artist, entrepreneur, and dance educator in Halifax, Nova Scotia, committed to serving underrepresented communities of dancers, dance educators, and creators.
He is the owner of House of Eights Dance Studio, a drop-in dance studio in downtown Halifax.
Find out more @houseofeights
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Dec 5, 2021
Kevin Beal - Record Label Owner/Vinyl Enthusiast/ DJ
Long time vinyl collector, co-organizer of the Halifax record Fair(largest record fair in Atlantic Canada), and president of Black Buffalo Records.
Kevin Beal is an entrepreneur dedicated to the Hip Hop culture. Kevin, his partner Kumud, and three cats operate and run a successful independent record label out of the comfort of their apartment in Halifax Nova Scotia.
This long-time vinyl collector has boasted to have had over 20,000 pieces in his collection at one point. The collection has slimmed down quite a bit but is very impressive.
Under the handle DJ Black Buffalo, Kevin takes a break and enjoys spinning his vinyl collection at various events.
Find out more @blackbuffalorecords
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Sep 6, 2021
Taylor Linloff - Filmmaker/Autism Advocate
Taylor Linloff is an autistic advocate and a filmmaker in Port Hawkesbury looking to share the stories of other autistic people in rural parts of the province.
Linloff is in production for a film, A Strong Name Documentary, where those stories will be shared. Linloff’s already interviewed a few autistic people from around the province, but they’re still looking for others, including those from the Black and Indigenous communities.
Linloff started working on the documentary only a couple of years after their own diagnosis. Linloff got what is called a late-life diagnosis of autism at the age of 24 after they experienced a mental health crisis. They say the diagnosis was a relief.
Find out more @aspirationalautistic
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Aug 23, 2021
Martina Kelades - Soulpreneur
Martina Kelades is a trainer, speaker, writer, and podcast host at Life Out Loud Podcast.
She is also the Founder of Life Out Loud - Mental Health Consulting & Creatives - a business that incorporates creative platforms, consultation, and training to encourage personal and organizational wellness.
Through her work, Martina focuses on intentional living and expanding courageous conversations related to mental health and wellness.
Check her out @lady_kelady
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Aug 16, 2021
Julia Everhair - Hairdresser
Julia always wanted to be a hairdresser but was always told that there are better jobs. But she felt that she had to prove that it is really great job.
She has faced a lot of obstacles in her journey. But the love for the work allows her to grow in every way.
After getting a Master's in Sociology she went back to pursue hairdressing. This has led her to fashion and art shows locally and in New York and London. She has competed and won many hair competitions and has been a competition judge.
Julia's work has been published in magazines and on social media.
Julia believes in the mantra: "Follow your dreams and don't let anyone dim your fire!"
Find out more @juliaeverhair
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Aug 9, 2021
Dylan Kennedy - Environmental Advocate
After running for Councillor of District 8 on a platform to combat Housing, Police Reform, The Environment, Racism, Infrastructure, Human Trafficking, Partnerships, and Contracts, Dylan Kennedy (he/him) decided to do positive work with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB).
Dylan is also the drag queen Megan Scenes and works at Menz and Mollyz.
Check him out @kingoftheeverything
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Aug 2, 2021
Joyce Liu - Founder, Lumi Studios
Lumi Studios is founded by Joyce Liu, a Chinese immigrant, woman entrepreneur.
Joyce grew up in Shenyang, China, and moved to Halifax in 2012. In 2016, Joyce graduated from the Urban Planning program at Dalhousie University. In 2017, Her interests in Photography, Video Production, and Communications Strategy grew when she found herself part of the PLANifax team.
She founded Lumi Studios and decided to serve her community in Halifax and Nova Scotia by creating engaging and inclusive content to help serve businesses and beyond. Through the lens of her camera, Joyce spent the last three years creating content that tells the stories of people and events that engage humans, arts, and culture in Halifax.
Her firm today offers Intersectionality Consulting services that target inclusion in media content and communications. In addition to Lumi’s work, Joyce is active in the Chinese Community and across Nova Scotia, contributing to the livelihood of immigrants and refugees calling Nova Scot…
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Jul 26, 2021
Quentrel Provo - Mr Stop The Violence
Quentrel Provo is a singer, songwriter and a known activist as the Founder/ CEO of Stop the Violence Brand and Movement which he started after the tragic killing death of his close cousin Kaylin Diggs in August 2012. He took his hurt, pain, anger and frustration and turned it into something positive to create change and make a difference.
In April 2015 he started the Stop the Violence Clothing Brand the first brand of its kind in Canada geared towards spreading a message of love and standing against violence. Through his work he’s become the face of Stop the Violence in Nova Scotia and over the years he’s had the opportunity to meet some prominent figures such as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Former Governor Generals of Canada His Excellency David Johnston and Her Honor Michaëlle Jean, Former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia John Grant, US Consul General Steven Giegerich and many more.
In June 2016 he made history in Canada as June 10th was declared “Stop the Violence Day…
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Jul 19, 2021
Danielle Bird - Intuitive & Mental Health Advocate
Danielle Bird is an Intuitive and Mental Health Advocate.
After overcoming decades worth of morphing diagnoses & mental challenges (anxiety, depression, eating disorders, social anxiety, complex PTSD, self-harm, etc.), she now teaches & inspires others to remember how powerful they truly are when it comes to healing and transformation.
She recently graduated from MSVU with a Bachelor of Honours in Psychology & Neuroscience.
She is a FUTURE licensed therapist and practicing astrologist/intuitive. Y
You can find more about her on her Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Podcast ~ all linked below:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birddaniellee/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI0diwHvWVOIb_HRwPLPkBw
Podcast: https://birddaniellee.podbean.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@birddaniellee
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Jul 12, 2021
Marc Devault - Devo FX
After 20 years in the Military and tours including Afghanistan, Marc retired and moved to Nova Scotia to start Devo FX. A Special Effects makeup Studio that specializes in all sorts of effects.
Devo FX makes hairpieces, Prosthetic makeup, Dental appliances, Sculpting and moulding, Animatronics, Creature design from start to finish!
Though, self-taught, Marc was lucky to be part of many projects from cool short films all the way to working on a full Blockbuster movie, Xmen: Apocalypse.
Now after 10 years of Movie and TV experience, he spends time more teaching his craft and helping Veterans with PTSD with our program “Sculpting for Veterans”.”
Marc's creature for the film Lord of Chaos is spectacular and the man himself is a dream to talk to. One-Eyed Bear is currently working on a documentary on Marc and I can't wait to see it.
Check him out at @devofx
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Jul 5, 2021
Pasha Ebrahimi - Film, TV, and Theatre Actor - Writer
Pasha Ebrahimi is a film and theatre professional with roots in the Maritime provinces. He is known for his work on such East Coast film and television productions as Hobo with a Shotgun, Trailer Park Boys, Pure, Call Me Fitz, Sex and Violence, and many more.
His career trajectory propelled him from the East Coast to the West Coast as he earned roles on prominent shows such as Supergirl, Six, Supernatural, Shadow Hunters: The Mortal Instruments, and The Good Doctor, acting alongside industry staples such as Teri Hatcher, Richard Brake, Rutger Hauer, and Henry Thomas.
Pasha's dedication to his craft and his ability to develop nuanced performances have earned him numerous film festival nominations including three ACTRA nominations: once for Best Actor (Lord of Chaos) and twice for Best Supporting Actor (Sex and Violence).
He is represented by Trina Allen at Play Management
You can find an up-to-date list of Pasha's released roles on his IMDB page:
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Jun 28, 2021
Mariah Pelley Smith - Director, Mariah International Business & Vitality
Mariah Pelley Smith is the director of Mariah International Business & Vitality.
A multi-passionate entrepreneur that has merged her love for health and business. She believes the capacity of one's nervous system has a direct relationship to your success.
She provides a spectrum of services that range from Business Consulting/Coaching, Graphic Design, Videography, Event Planning, Kundalini Yoga Classes, Reiki Sessions & Intuitive Programs.
Learn more @mariah.pelleysmith
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Jun 21, 2021
Amie Cunningham & Johnston Foster - Thief&Bandit
Johnston Foster and Amie Cunningham are a husband and wife team that run Thief&Bandit, a sustainably made slow fashion brand of hand printed garments and accessories located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Amie is the founder and creative director of Thief&Bandit and Johnston heads the screen printing department of the business. Johnston also works as an artist that creates sculpture out of found material that can be viewed at the Thief&Bandit showroom as well as various private and public collections throughout North America and Europe.
They met in NYC in 2002 while in grad school and married in 2007. They live in Bedford, Nova Scotia with their three boys, Wolfgang, Dutch and Viggo.
Learn more @thiefandbandit
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Jun 14, 2021
Amie Cunningham - Owner/Creative Director, Thief&Bandit
Amie Cunningham is the owner/creative director of Thief&Bandit (est. 2009) a sustainably made slow fashion brand of hand printed garments and accessories located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.
She received an MFA from Parsons School of Design in Painting and Sculpture in 2004 and began Thief&Bandit in 2009.
She resides in Bedford, Nova Scotia with her husband Johnston Foster and her three children, Wolfgang, Dutch and Viggo.
Learn more @thiefandbandit
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Jun 7, 2021
Johnston Foster - Artist
Originally from Virginia, Foster has been exploring the medium of sculpture and showing his work internationally for nearly twenty-five years.
An avid collector and scavenger, his sculpture is dominated by the use of found object assemblage.
He studied sculpture at Virginia Commonwealth University (BFA), Hunter College (MFA), and the Skowhegan School Art. Johnston is also the head screen printer for Thief&Bandit, a sustainably made clothing line his wife Amie Cunningham founded in 2009.
He resides in Halifax, Nova Scotia with Amie and their three sons Wolfgang, Dutch, and Viggo.
Check his work out @johnstonfosterart
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May 31, 2021
Megan Reed - Artist
Megan Reed is a multifaceted artist living in Halifax. She thrives on seeking new creative ventures in music and film, building a career in the digital media industry. You can find her on either side of the camera — producing social media content and artistic content for creative clients or modeling with Halifax agency Soli Productions Models.
Her music ranges from her solo RnB creations like her single Promiseland, to a new hush heavy metal project, with the odd upbeat pop track and features like her collaboration on Butterfly Music’s 2019 single Against the Grain.
In the spirit of transformation and new ventures, you can find Megan’s music under her stage name Megan St. Rose.
@mgn.svg
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May 24, 2021
Ann Helga - Musician + Author (Happy Life Depot)
Ann Helga Denny is a Haligonian of Icelandic Canadian descent. She is a singer/songwriter and classically trained vocalist known locally for her interpretations of French 20th century songs. She also loves to sing songs in Icelandic, either traditional folk tunes, or melodies of her own devising. At Halifax’s new Mosaic and Evergreen festivals last fall, Ann Helga offered a hybrid of original music in Icelandic, French, and English, improvised to beats made by local hip hop producers. The development of Ann’s extremely powerful and expressive vocal style comes from hybrid training in a variety of Western music genres. Her operatic studies since the age of 12 and includes private coaching from numerous teachers across Canada.
Ann’s original musical output is a hybrid of adult contemporary jazz, soul, funk, pop, and indie. Growing up in London Ontario, in the orbit of influential Canadian artist and musician Greg Curnoe, Ann then became part of the Toronto indie rock world of the…
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May 17, 2021
Templeton Sawyer — Leadership Coach
Templeton Sawyer is a Youth Advocate who believes in helping people and empowering people for success. His passion for volunteering in the community is defined as a person of willingness.
He has 11yrs of volunteer experience in leading different organizations such as MSVUSU Students Union, Youth Empowerment Program, Junior Achievements, Heartwood Youth Development Centre, etc.
Mr. Sawyer is currently completing his Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing, minoring in Non-profit leadership at Mount Saint Vincent University.
Passionate is one word to describe Mr. Sawyer as a man of excellence.
Check him out @tylersawyer2425
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May 10, 2021
Advocates Of Truth - Artistes
The band is called Advocates of Truth.
They are brother duo Rajab Ally and Gallyna, who are multilingual; mixing the languages like French, English, and Swahili in their songs to interact with audiences from around the nation. Together they emerge HIP HOP, Dancehall, Afro-pop, and R&B vibes, creating an Afro-Fusion genre. Two players were added to the group Shadrack Kayombo (guitarist) and Andrew Dhams(drummer)
Advocates of Truth currently won the 2020 Emerging Artist of the year award at the African Nova Scotian Music Association Awards. They are currently working on a project that they will be releasing in the Summer.
Learn more about them @advocatesofficial.1
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May 3, 2021
April Baird - Artist
April is an artist and graphic designer living in Halifax. She went to college for Animation and Graphic Design. After graduating, she started to work as a graphic designer by day and an artist by night.
She started selling her illustration work at local conventions and craft fairs and has been doing so for 10 years. Her illustration work is a mix of cute and fun images, fantasy drawings, and fanart. She uses all sorts of mediums for her work, but mainly focuses on using her XP-pen tablet and watercolors.
You can find her work online at @aprilmdesigns
You can also find her online store at www.aprilmdesigns.com
Or at the local comic shop Cape and Cowls Collectibles in Sackville.
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Apr 26, 2021
Alexa Cude - Photographer
Alexa Cude started photographing at the age of 9 and hasn’t stopped since.
To make it official, Alexa completed a BFA at NSCAD University in 2013 with a major in photography and a minor in fine art.
Since graduating, Alexa has been working as a freelance photographer on projects across Canada.
When she’s not working on client projects, you’ll still find Alexa working with her camera, chasing landscapes from coast to coast and sharing those adventures on Instagram.
Learn more about Alexa @seriouslyalexa
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Apr 19, 2021
Julie Arab - Actress/Foodie
Julie Arab is an actress, comedian, rapper, foodie, and YouTuber that loves making funny content for the world to be entertained by.
Even though she seems like she has it all figured out, she used to struggle with her own demons and has masked her eating disorder with comedy.
She talks about how she survived addiction, and how to help others that may be struggling with mental health.
She is also known as Slim Julie Shady when she raps on stage because of her love for the artist Eminem. If you're a real Slim Shady fan, you'll want to have a listen to this interview.
Check her out @juliehfx
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Apr 12, 2021
Olivia Doughart aka Liv Kate - Model/Acupuncturist
Olivia Doughart aka Liv Kate is a multi-time internationally published model and a registered acupuncturist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
During the week, she works in a collaborative clinic with other healthcare professionals. Treating various conditions from physical body pain to anxiety and depression.
Outside of the clinic, she works as a freelance model, doing a variety of styles. She's best known as being Halifax's Spiderwoman.
With a passion for art and creative expression along with helping others, she finds having these two careers extremely fulfilling.
Check her out at:
@livkatemodels
@oliviadoughartacupuncture
Photo: Mosy Photography @mosy.ca
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Apr 5, 2021
Abigail Lower - Artist
Abigail is a British artist who settled in the Maritimes 13 years ago with her husband and three children.
She grew up endlessly drawing but abandoned art in her teens and didn’t return to it until she was 35.
In the last 7 years, she has focused on working with charcoal and drawing wild animals.
This practice has played a significant role in her recovery from depression.
Check her out @abigail_lower_
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Mar 29, 2021
Lizane Tan - Designer
Lizane Tan is a graphic designer, illustrator and letterer with a background in Graphic and Fashion Design from NSCAD University.
Growing up in the bustling city of Manila, Philippines then moving to Halifax’s serene coasts nourished her interest in the world and the different ways we all move through life. Intuition and a genuine curiosity for people, places and things are what fuel her design process.
She has worked in branding, advertising and editorial design settings and finds great joy in helping people tell their stories visually.
Now based in Montréal, she brings playful problem solving, international work experience and a collaborative approach to every project.
When she is not at her desk, you can find her practising yoga, working as a flight attendant in the winters or taking long walks outdoors.
Check her out @lizanecrna
Photo: Luke Clarridge
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Mar 22, 2021
Liam McVarnock - Personal Trainer
On July 31st, Liam and his team attempted to run from the lighthouse in Peggys Cove, to the church memorial in Portapique.
The goal, was for Liam to cover 176kms on his feet in less than 24hrs. It was ambitious, to say the least.
Over the course of the run, the team managed to raise 4X their goal and forged some lifetime memories along the way.
The money went to an incredible cause which is youth mentorship programs across Nova Scotia, delivered by Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Check him out @liammcvarnock
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Mar 15, 2021
Megan Wennberg - Documentary Filmmaker
Megan Wennberg is a documentary filmmaker based in Dartmouth.
Her first feature documentary Drag Kids follows four pre-teen Drag Queens as they prepare for the biggest show of their lives at Montreal Pride. Drag Kids premiered at Hot Docs in 2019 and went on to win awards at film festivals around the world.
Megan's most recent film The Killing of Phillip Boudreau, a one-hour documentary for CBC about a vigilante killing in Cape Breton in 2013, premiered to rave reviews on CBC Gem.
In addition to work, Megan also loves cats. And horses. Animals generally. Also, travel, but this is trickier these days.
Check her work out at IFFR
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Mar 7, 2021
Dryden Mortimer - Artist Manager / Screenwriter
(Andrew) Dryden "Morty" Mortimer is a Screenwriter and Artist Manager from Whitney Pier, NS. He currently resides in Maitland, NS where he works from home to prepare stories for screen and artists for stages.
Dryden has been working in the entertainment industry since graduating from high school in 2009. He is a graduate of NSI's Features First Program, Screen Nova Scotia's Screenwriter Internship Program, AFCOOP's Film 5 Program, and a dropout of CBU's Business Program.
His goal for the near future is to start an independent record label and continue writing and pitching screenplays. He currently works as an Artist Manager for the buzzing Nova Scotia hip hop dup Atay & JAX.
Links to his projects are updated at stupidbaby.org
@drydenmortimer
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Feb 28, 2021
Masuma Khan - Community Organizer and Artist
General Khan is a local artist and community organizer, born and raised in Kjipuktuk, Mi'kma'ki (Halifax, Nova Scotia).
For General Khan, poetry is an expression that is tied to her cultural practice as a Pashtun woman. She is currently working on her first album Wrath of Khan, to be released in Spring 2021.
General Khan is currently the Center for Art Tapes (CFAT) artist in residence.
Her art style is influenced by her lived experiences such as white supremacy, colonialism, displacement, racism, islamophobia disability justice, and more.
Check her out @iamgeneralkhan
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Feb 21, 2021
Chaz Samuel and Shayna Cort - Founders No Days Off Apparel Inc.
NO DAYS OFF APPAREL INC. embodies the definition of determination and intends to ignite the spark of self-motivation we all possess deep within. NO DAYS OFF™ is unique in that, its meaning can be specified to every individual. That is, regardless of age, gender, or race, any goal is attainable through hard work, determination, and grit.
Co-founder, Chaz Samuel has always been an avid lover of basketball. After attending college, he decided to pursue his passion for business. With basketball on the back burner, Chaz focused less on his workouts and struggled to balance fitness and academia. 2 years of weight insecurity led to one summer decision to return to his first love and begin working out on the court again.
He developed the NO DAYS OFF™ mindset that fueled his motivation to achieve both his fitness and academic goals simultaneously. It wasn’t long before a young basketball athlete thirsty for knowledge and skill joined Chaz that summer. Then another, and another and a…
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Feb 14, 2021
Otni and Norah - Managers & Content Creators
An interesting mash-up of two very powerful women who are not afraid to speak their truth and encourage women of all races, shapes and sizes to live their most authentic selves, and ignore societal pressures because YOLO.
Check out their podcast @likechalkncheese
Otni - @justotni
Norah - @ruenorah
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Feb 7, 2021
Stu Cochrane - Barber/Shop Owner
Stu is a barber and the owner of the Blue Collar Barbershop.
He discovered music at the age of 11 and started playing the guitar at 13.
After going through barbering apprenticeship in 2014, he decided to open the Blue Collar Barbershop in May of 2018.
He currently lives in Halifax with his wife Megan, their cats and dog.
Check him out @bluecollarhalifax
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Jan 31, 2021
Terri Lynn Kearsey - TV Producer | Host | AD | PM
Terri Lynn Kearsey has worked in the TV industry for over 10 years; from presenting in front of the camera to coordinating behind it.
She moved to NS from NL in 2010 to attend NSCC and graduated from the Radio & Television Arts program with a specialization in Television Production. She spent two seasons on The Curse of Oak Island as Segment/Research Producer.
She worked as a production coordinator, production manager and recently 2nd assistant
director for national and international shows. As the producer and host of the Atlantic Journal, she showcased a wide variety of events and interviewed people from the Atlantic provinces.
The job she was destined for as her family “jokes” she hasn’t stopped talking since the age of five!
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Jan 24, 2021
Sinead Dubeau - Photographer
Sinead Dubeau is a portrait and wedding photographer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia whose work has been published both locally and internationally.
Along with running her own photography business, Sinead also mentors other photographers in the industry.
Her true to life, colourful, film-inspired style is the perfect way to complement your wedding or portrait session, and she aims to capture timeless images that you will treasure for years to come.
Check her out @sineaddubeau
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Jan 17, 2021
PINEO & LOEB - DJs/Producers
PINEO & LOEB are an award-winning Canadian electronic music duo, creating and playing uplifting, funky and high-energy songs. Together they blur genre boundaries uniting electronic, dance, hip-hop, rock fans and more.
With chart-topping remixes, collaborations and support from BBC Radio 1, Virgin and CBC Radio, PINEO & LOEB hit a balance of pure party fun and artistic ambition. Their music can also be heard on multiple major network television series (Netflix, Fox, etc.).
Their DJ sets and shape-shifting live shows feature an array of guest performers, from hype MC's to Celtic Fiddlers and everything in between. Notable festival performances include Bamboo Bass, Valhalla Sound Circus, Future Forest, Conexion Beach Festival, Curiosity, and Evolve to name a few. PINEO & LOEB recently released “Body Right” with fellow Canadian, Rumpus on Mixfeed / Suitor Records and it has just passed the half a million mark.
When things return to normal, they plan to continue touring extensively a…
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Jan 10, 2021
Ashley Palmer - Artist
Ashley Palmer is a digital illustrator, crafting enthusiast and overall art lover.
She was born in Kentville, raised in Truro, and now resides in Halifax, NS. She is a mom to a 4-year-old girl named Lennan who inspires her to create every day.
Currently, her artistic endeavours are considered a side project and hobby as she works full time in the financial world. Ashley plans to continue to hone in on her digital skills and pursue them on a more serious level when time permits.
If you’d like to follow her creative journeys, you can find her on Instagram:
@ashleypalmerrr
@homedrawngoods
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Jan 3, 2021
Wendy Friedman - Entrepreneur/ Buyer
Wendy Friedman has owned Biscuit General Store, a clothing and gift store, since 1996.
After being accepted to Parsons and FIT at 17, but with not a cent to her name, Wendy had to learn the fashion business on the job, from the ground up. She worked as a store manager, showroom sales rep, fashion show producer, then designer and production manager before returning to her true love; creating and editing a retail environment.
The store launched an in-house brand, Bonanza by Biscuit, in 2012.
In 2014, Wendy followed another passion and opened The Independent Mercantile Co. on Gottingen Street, in the North End neighbourhood she has called home for over 20 years.
This shop offers a curated selection of home décor, barware, gifts and cooking inspirations. Her interests include travel, hosting, art, culture and community.
Check her out @biscuitgeneral
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Dec 27, 2020
Chilly - Online Sex Worker
Chilly is a Halifax-based online sex worker and OnlyFans aficionado.
She has been in the industry for over three years, dabbling in just about everything, from bespoke adult content to virtual domination.
Chilly uses her social platforms to advocate for sex worker rights and sex-positivity.
Check her out @chillychick_
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Dec 20, 2020
Julie Hollenbach - Artist
Julie Hollenbach is a queer woman of German ancestry born on unceded Syilx territory, now living and working in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Julie is an artist, writer, curator, and educator. She holds a PhD from Queen’s University in Art History for her research on craft as a social practice.
I always learn something new every time we chat and this time was no different.
Check her out @j.hollenbacchanal
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Dec 13, 2020
Keats Conlon - Singer - Songwriter
An upcoming Canadian singer/songwriter with a folk-pop flavour, Keats Conlon takes after her poet namesake, painting pictures in thin air and spilling her heart to any audience she encounters.
She has lived and played in multiple cities across Canada, recently released her FACTOR funded EP “Pastel Portraits”, and has collaborated in bands and projects with a variety of talented Canadian artists.
Alternately sweet and devastating, delicate and playful, prepare for visceral songs that you won't want to end.
Check her out @keatsconlon
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Dec 6, 2020
Hasmeet Singh Chandok (Maritime Bhangra Group) - Joyful Activist
Hasmeet Singh Chandok is an IT professional in the morning and a multi-faceted creative soul by the evening, who believes in the power of Joyful Activism. He has been involved in founding and running social enterprises for the last 15 years. He has been communicating his ideas to the world through dance and public speaking.
Presently he, along with his team, is working on an art-based activism organization namely “Maritime Bhangra Group” based out of Halifax and Toronto.
Check him out @singhsvoyage
www.singhsvoyage.com
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Nov 29, 2020
Shanii22 – Rapper & Artist
Shanii22 is a Syrian-Lebanese breakthrough artist in the local and international music industry.
Now based out of Halifax Shanii22 brings a cluster of combatting personalities with a diverse take on music.
His multicultural upbringing is truly translated through his music, aiming to combine different hip-hop cultures from across the globe while shedding light on their unique qualities.
Check him out @shanii22
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Nov 22, 2020
Tasha Tonks - Tattoo Artist & Owner of Three of Swords Tattoo Parlour
Tasha Tonks is a tattoo artist and the owner of Three of Swords Tattoo Parlour.
After extensive travel throughout Canada and the US Tasha has settled down in her hometown on Halifax, NS.
She opened Three of Swords Tattoo Parlour, a safe space open to anyone with a love for traditional tattoos.
Check her out @tashaterror
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Nov 15, 2020
Lyris - Artist
Lyris is an emerging R&B artist born and raised in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia whose roots stretch to the South American country, Guyana.
Lyris is a multi-faceted artist with her years of experience in modeling, acting, and of course, singing. Her many talents have opened up a plethora of opportunities for her in various art forms, including her most recent musical theatre production, The Color Purple at Neptune Theatre.
Since deciding to focus on writing original music and her artistic development, Lyris aims to show the diversity in her sound by writing songs with an infusion of Caribbean and Afrobeat sounds.
Check her out @llyrisd
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Nov 8, 2020
Dena Williams - Creative Entrepreneur
Dena Williams is a Culture Curator, Events Manager, and Artist Manager for Eriana Willis and Lyris Daye. Although born & raised in Halifax, Dena wears her roots to Preston, Nova Scotia with pride.
A Current social work student at Dalhousie, she uses the skills learned in her program to advocate for Arts and Culturein Nova Scotia. With her developing work in social justice, Dena has made it her mission to create opportunities for the development and advancement of creatives in the BIPOC community.
In 2018, she began working with Youth Art Connection and has hit the ground running by lending a hand in promoting & organizing many events, including Salt Yard Sessions, Taco & Tunes @ The Local, In the Dead of Winter Festival, and Emerge Festival.
Dena is currently developing her community passion project which is intended to bring historically neglected communities together through art and creating a safe space for art to be celebrated. Through this project, Dena aims to bring light and…
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Nov 1, 2020
Melanie Adolph - Mental Health Advocate
Melanie Adolph is a mom, student, and a mental health advocate living in Halifax, having moved there 7 years ago from Alberta. She went from working with individuals that were differently-abled to going back to school full time and focusing her attention on her kids while bringing community awareness to mental health topics that she personally has experience with.
Melanie feels that sometimes social media only shows the positive which can have a negative effect on people’s mental health. She strives to be raw and transparent, sharing difficult and joyous moments in her personal life in the hopes that it can help others who may be also going through a difficult time.
She regularly lists local resources for mental health in her community that people can utilize if they find themselves struggling and encourages others to advocate for themselves and to ask for help.
Her show, Say It Again Louder begins November 5, 2020 and she shares a new episode every Thursday.
Check her out @aga…
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Oct 26, 2020
Ariel Gough - Social Entrepreneur
Ariel Gough is a social entrepreneur, policy advisor, and TEDx speaker. Originally from Upper Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia,
Ariel was a policy to the federal minister of Families, Children, and Social Development where she worked on Canada’s first National Poverty Reduction Strategy and Early Learning and Childcare Framework.
She is the co-founder of Bailly Cosmetics Inc., a Halifax-based fragrance company that supports girls’ education in Uganda, and was awarded the CANIE Youth Impact Icon Award for the Atlantic region by the Innovators & Entrepreneurs Foundation.
Check her out @arielgough
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Oct 19, 2020
Mya Malek - UCW World Wrestling Champion
Mya Malek is a professional female wrestler that came into the local wrestling scene as the underdog. Even though she's smaller than her opponents, her resilience and passion give her a fighting chance in the ring.
With only a few matches under her belt, she still managed to win the UCW Atlantic Canadian champion title with her luchador style wrestling.
She is far from her hometown of Beirut Lebanon, but her career is only just beginning in the Maritimes.
Check her out @mya_malek
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Oct 12, 2020
Sarah Hellingwerf - Artist/DJ
Growing up Sarah went through an emo phase, but never actually grew out of it. Wanting to bring the nostalgic feel to everyone else who enjoys this niche genre of music she decided to start what is now called “East Coast Emo Night”.
Happening in bars around the east coast like Halifax, Saint John, and PEI, she has everyone dancing to bands such as My Chemical Romance, Blink-182, and Panic! At The Disco.
When she’s not working on her playlist or busy at her day job as a dental hygienist, you can also find her working for The East, a magazine geared toward promoting and reviewing the East Coast music scene.
Trying to bring inclusivity and fun into the maritime music scene is her goal.
Check her out @shellingwolf
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Oct 5, 2020
Andrew Keyes - Maritimes Brand Ambassador Agua Santa Mezcal
Andrew started off my hospitality journey growing up in my grandparents' butcher shop, cutting off pig ears at the age of 8. From there he became a line cook and went to culinary school. shortly after graduating,
Andrew went to New York to cook with the best.
With 6 years of cooking under his belt, he decided to switch to bartending. With the knowledge that some of the best bartenders lived in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he moved to Halifax 3 years ago.
He is now the Maritimes Brand Ambassador of Agua Santa Mezcal.
Check him out @nuggetkeyes
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Sep 28, 2020
Kiki Mufassa Mononoke – Artist
Kiki Saint is born and raised in Haiti. At a very young age, he loved everything art. Books such as TinTin and Asterix were his childhood favorites. However, his culture wouldn’t allow it, his parents; nay, his whole bloodline has never supported him in his artistic endeavors.
Nevertheless, he is a tenacious one and for the past 27 years, he has been nothing but an artist. The artworks showcased in this here podcast however were about the five year bit in his life where he couldn’t draw at all. He was in Montreal, stuck and depressed... they are a remnant of that era.
Check him out @kiki.mufassa.mononoke
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Sep 21, 2020
Serena Haines - Somatic Sex Educator, Pleasure and Intimacy Coach
Serena Haines is a Halifax based Somatic Sex Educator and Pleasure and Intimacy Coach. She has been helping with people with Sex and Intimacy Coaching through BodyWork, personal coaching sessions, workshops and educational events, and private events for over 3 years.
With a background in Psychology at the Memorial University of Newfoundland, Serena has also trained through the Institute for Somatic Sex Education in BC, Canada as well as in Sexology through SexologyU in the United States. She is currently enrolled in yet another Sex Coaching Certification and a relational certificate through Uof T.
Serena's mission is to bring awareness to the importance of sexual health as much as we have awareness around mental and physical health. “Our sex energy is our life energy and is meant to be expressed and cultivated without shame, taboo, or stigma...and a lot of fun!”
Serena combines a sense of fun and relaxation to sensuality and sex helping you find your peak potential for pleasure…
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Sep 14, 2020
Taylor Olson - Actor / Filmmaker
Bone Cage is Taylor Olson's feature film directorial debut based on the Governor-General award-winning play by Catherine Banks. An actor/ writer/ filmmaker based in K'Jipuktuk/ Halifax, he is a four-time ACTRA Maritimes nominee, four-time Screen NS nominee, a TNS Robert Merritt nominee, and winner of the David Renton Award for acting at FIN: Atlantic International Film Festival in 2018.
He has directed/ and or written short films such as Hustle & Heart, Cut, Masc, The Date, Grace, and Inceldom or, why are the angry men angry, and won prizes at a number of film festivals as well as CBC's Short Film Face Off. On stage, Taylor has worked with theatres across the province, including Neptune Theatre in Controlled Damage by Andrea Scott (2020). Taylor looks forward to sharing Bone Cage and its important and timely environmental topics with you.
Check him out @olsontaylorbuddy
@bonecagefilm
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Sep 7, 2020
Nick Iwaskow - Designer
Nick Iwaskow is a designer based out of eastern Canada, specializing in video, stage, interactive media and motion graphics design. He has worked internationally for the past 7 years delivering bespoke visual experiences to a range of clientele - from world tours, international festivals and nightclubs to installations for theatre, weddings, corporate functions and more.
Check him out at www.waskoav.com
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Aug 31, 2020
Musemo Handahu - Lifestyle Content Creator
Musemo Handahu is a multi-faceted creative based in Halifax, Nova Scotia Canada and the cool-girl behind Lion Hunter, a lifestyle blog. Luckily, no lions were harmed in the making of this blog. Musemo’s last name means lion hunter which sets the tone for her life – constantly hunting for the majestic in herself and the world around her.
With an eye for the cool and buzz-worthy style, Musemo creates lifestyle content for the millennial woman who loves to travel, takes risks with her style, always willing to try something new and seeks out goodness, above all else!
On top of curating Lion Hunter, Musemo is part of the Creator Network for CBC, producing content for web and television. She is an on-call Style Expert for CTV and Global TV for seasonal and award season style segments. To contribute to her community and share her experience, Musemo speaks on business panels and schools. In April 2019 she added TEDx Speaker to her list of achievements.
Check her out @misslionhunter
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Aug 24, 2020
Meaghan Lawlor - Makeup Artist
Meghan is a Makeup Artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is mostly focused on Bridal and Beauty makeup.
Makeup Artistry has been her passion for many years and she is happy to help so many wonderful women look and feel great.
She specializes in weddings, prom, and beauty makeup as well as teaching how to enhance your natural beauty.
Check her out @meghanlawlormakeup
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Aug 17, 2020
Katherine Gillis - Photographer
Never in her wildest dreams did Katherine believe she would be capturing the love between two people as part of her everyday life.
Katherine is your typical office obsessed, Friends binging, Netflix lover, with a passion for photography. What started as a way for her to capture photos of family and friends, quickly turned into what it is today. Katherine has spent countless hours learning, practising, educating, and investing in both her self and my business.
Having a Commerce Degree, she felt as though this was the ideal opportunity to put forward both her business education and her creative passion. Katherine always wanted a career where she felt like she was helping someone and photography brings that feeling.
During the day Katherine works as a Residential Real Estate Appraiser and in the evenings, she spends her time editing photos, working on her business, cuddling her fur babies, pretending to get in shape at the gym, working on personal development, and capturing the memo…
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Aug 10, 2020
Laura Goode - Face Forge
Laura Goode lives n Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. She took Makeup Artistry & Design at Compu College. Ever since she could hold a pencil she loved to draw. She would draw houses on hills or imitate cartoons. She learned how to draw anime until she discovered Caricatures on a family vacation in Quebec.
She found Caricature Artists very fascinating, how they would make people laugh by enhancing features and how quickly they produced them. As soon as she came back home she taught herself how to draw them. She would practice on family friends and also search for pictures of famous people. When she became comfortable, she would draw them on the streets locally. She came up with the name Face Forge as she sees herself forging faces in a creative way. Every once in a while she would paint a Caricature or a piece out of the ordinary.
When she isn't working or drawing she enjoys drives along the coastline getting lost (on purpose) and exploring local areas. Recently a friend of hers noticed her p…
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Aug 3, 2020
Chris Geworsky - Photographer
It was the late 1990s and the first roll of film the then, teenage Chris shot was a complete disaster. What made him determined to keep picking up the camera was the idea of composing people and things in that little rectangular viewfinder in a way that could tell a story, communicate a message, explore and express ideas, and impact other people. It was that intrigue that fuelled his desire to become a photographer.
Chris formally studied at both NSCAD University and NSCC’s photography departments followed by work as a production assistant for commercial shooters in Halifax, Toronto and New York.
In 2007, he started working under his own name, taking on advertising, editorial, fashion, corporate and private work.
He strongly believes that personal work helps strengthen creative and conceptual thinking and is an invaluable and inseparable part of who he is as a photographer.
Check him out @chris_geworsky
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Jul 27, 2020
Kaidain Ivy - Designer
Kaidain Ivy works as a fairy godmother turning something seemingly nothing and turning it into a ball gown. She creates entire outfits from scratch or by repurposing found items such as bedsheets and curtains.
Kaidáin Ivy was created to take an idea, a dream, a concept that was impossibly unreal, and make it real.
There should be beauty and magic in everyday real life. Everyone deserves to feel as beautiful and fantastical as a little girl twirling around in her favourite princess dress. Everyone deserves to feel beautiful and magical. Everyone deserves hope.
Kaidain Ivy's collections were created as a means of coping with diagnosed PTSD. She turns the ugly in this world into art. Her collections often feature several transformations and reveal garments as nothing is ever what it seems and there are always enough shoes for every Cinderella.
Believe in everyday magic; the beauty will not fade at midnight.
Check her out at @kaidainivy
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Jul 20, 2020
Stories By Sheril - Photographer, Chef
His Instagram handle might be more familiar to you than his name, Sheril.
He is originally from Kerala, the southernmost part of India but now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A self-taught freelance photographer and a cook who finished his culinary management diploma from George Brown College, Toronto, ON.
He works at The Bicycle Thief restaurant in Halifax Harbourfront.
He is a creator who tries hard to create and standout from the rest of the herd. He creates for his happiness, to express. feelings, from pain to joy. He likes to speak through my frames and the colours in it.
Staying creative is what he lives for and the air which he loves to inhale.
Sheril believes that being creative is challenging. But he also asks, what is life without a bit of a challenge?
Check him out @stories_by_sheril
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Jul 13, 2020
Lindsay - Founder & Happiness Enabler
Lindsay spends her days doing her best to gently encourage others to meditate, be kind & live a life in service.
A former chemical engineer turned happiness enabler & mental illness speaker, Lindsay loves chatting with folks about what they’re doing to elevate their quality of life! She founded The Floatation Centre Health & Wellness in 2015 and has been sharing the benefits of floatation therapy, meditation and mindfulness far & wide since. Self-proclaimed as a goofy, open book who laughs a little too loudly,
Lindsay continues to bumble her way through this whole entrepreneurship gig while finding harmony in her own self-care & health sovereignty.
Check her out @lindsayfloats
@thefloatcentre
Photos: Meghan Tansey-Whitton
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Jul 6, 2020
Fotto - Artist
Jae Thompson's artist Fotto shares his love for music and plans for the future.
Fotto is currently in the studio working on a banger.
Check him out at @officialjaethompson
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Jun 29, 2020
Lil E - Artist
Jae Thompson's artist Lil E shares his love for music and plans for the future.
Lil E is currently in the studio working on a banger.
Check him out at @officialjaethompson
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Jun 22, 2020
KD - Artist
Jae Thompson's artist KD shares his love for music and plans for the future.
KD is currently in the studio working on a banger.
Check him out at @officialjaethompson
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Jun 15, 2020
PDK - Artist
Jae Thompson's artist PDK shares his love for music and plans for the future.
PDK is currently in the studio working on a banger.
Check him out at @officialjaethompson
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Jun 8, 2020
Romeo - Artist
Jae Thompson's artist Romeo shares his love for music and plans for the future.
Romeo is currently in the studio working on a banger.
Check him out at @officialjaethompson
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Jun 1, 2020
Kid Coffin - Artist
Kid Coffin is a young artist from Halifax Nova Scotia. He has been performing for years and has a provocative sound with complex lyrics that will make you change the way you think.
He has worked with multiple underground artists and is a figure in the Battle Rap scene in Halifax. Wordplay, punchlines, and meaningful messages encompass what Kid Coffin brings.
A new sound, with every song telling a story. Kid Coffin has multiple releases on all streaming platforms but is currently working on his debut album. Kid Coffin is a must-see in the Halifax scene.
Check him out @kidcoffinofficial
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May 25, 2020
Boma Nnaji - Visual Artist
Boma is a Halifax based visual artist. He is landscape and figure painter.
As an artist growing up in the Golden age of Hip-hop his style is heavily influenced by graffiti art.
He is passionate about sharing cultural themes that are rarely discussed in the media through his art.
He is currently working on a series centered around the subject of African hair.
Check him out @bomatheartist
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May 18, 2020
Shannon Ellis -Artist
Shannon Ellis is an artist, crow whisperer and nerd hailing from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Her artistic focus varies from traditional mediums and landscapes to repurposing vintage thrift store paintings, fan art and cosplay photography.
With a background in animation and a huge love of nature, her unique vibrant style is sure to make you smile.
Shannon is also on the steering committee for Creative Kick- Halifax’s monthly meetup for the creatively driven.
Check her out @sarradis
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May 11, 2020
Kat Smutz - Author
Kat Smutz grew up in the Southern Appalachian Mountain, in a small North Georgia town. A love of history grew out of listening to her parents’ stories of growing up in an isolated region of the Smoky Mountains. She began writing in high school, an obsession that eventually led to a career in journalism with detours into engineering, law enforcement and teaching.
In 2009, Smutz retired to work on publishing some of the sixty-plus manuscripts she had written over the years. Her first three books were non-fiction works on the American Civil War, a subject she knows well after more than forty years as a civil war researcher.
Her first historical fiction, Silent Tears, is the story of an abused wife learning to stand on her own in a Victorian society that allowed women few rights.
Her next book, as yet untitled, is about a young woman who becomes separated from her family when the American Civil War erupts. She takes on the guise of a boy and earns her way by spying while she tries to…
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May 4, 2020
Sandrella Mohanna - Actor
Sandrella Mohanna is an actor, improviser, and aspiring screenwriter from Halifax, NS.
Sandrella has also spent several years competing with the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation
both at the provincial and national levels. Her last competitive year was in 2016, where she took
home two second-place trophies and one third-place trophy. She has also spent time on the
other side of the stage as a bodybuilding judge.
Sandrella is a first-generation Lebanese-Canadian whose mother tongue is Arabic. A lover of
languages and culture, she holds a BA in French and Spanish from Dalhousie University, and
has lived and travelled abroad extensively.
Between cuddling with her cats and fielding questions about the authenticity of her curly hair,
Sandrella can be found lifting heavy things at the gym and spending time with her husband and
daughter.
Sandrella can also be found working on her craft through various workshops and classes
offered locally through Neptune Theatre and AFCOOP. She is also a fu…
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Apr 27, 2020
Dylan Thompson-MacKay - Elwood Pens
Dylan Thompson-MacKay is a Nova Scotian Entrepreneur from Pictou County who makes handcrafted wooden pens and pencils.
His business is named Elwood Pens and is promoting other people to Write Their Own Story.
It began in a family members garage in 2014 and eventually moved to a full woodworking studio on Argyle Street in Halifax by June of 2018.
Now, Dylan is operating from home back in New Glasgow and will be expanding into other products soon. Dylan’s hope is to help employ as many people in Atlantic Canada as possible.
Check him out @elwoodpens
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Apr 20, 2020
Mia Cathleen - Singer, Songwriter, Visual Artist
Mia Cathleen is a Mi’kmaq singer/songwriter and visual artist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She’s been writing music since high school, but only recently began to perform after releasing her debut, self-written, recorded, and produced the album “Know Me.”
Her style and sound centre around her lyricism, which can be dark, romantic, or playful, but is always poetic, and her chord progressions, which feature a fun mash-up of unique rhythms and scales. While she is best described as a folk singer, Mia aims to add nuance to her style by drawing inspiration from a wide variety of artists and genres, from 90s metal and grunge to jazz and rap.
Mia is currently in the midst of recording her second album, which she hopes to release sometime next year.
Check her out @kloqoejk
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Apr 13, 2020
Colin MacDonald - Filmmaker
Colin MacDonald is a filmmaker with over ten years of experience in the screen industry. He has produced award-winning short films and music videos, Presents (2019), Skyline (2017), If We're Divine (2013) and Presence (2013). His work has been screened internationally at film festivals, featured exclusively on Revolver Magazine and aired nationally on the CBC.
Colin's passion lies documentary and narrative films that have a strong focus on character and story and that strive for innovative ways of evoking emotion in the audience.
Check him out @onstreampro
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Apr 6, 2020
Atay & JAX - An Unlikely Pair
Atay & JAX is the result of a child’s Christmas wish bringing their favourite meme page to life. Although they “spit fire bars” they also don’t take themselves too seriously and walk the line between comedy, pop, punk, and hip-hop. They are leading a movement of young-adult fans who aren’t quite ready to grow up.
Atay & JAX is a new Nova Scotian hip hop group compiled of Adam "Atay" Taylor of Spryfield and Jaxon "JAX" Booth of Lunenburg. In 2019 the duo began collaborating in the studio to create "Honey" a 9 song LP that served as JAX's debut album and served up a mellow, alternative hip-hop sound with comedic undertones and small-town stories. Atay engineered, mixed, mastered, and featured on the record.
The intention was never to present as a duo, but when the album launched, the chemistry in their performances was undeniable, and the fans demanded to hear more. Atay & JAX quickly developed a reputation for their gritty, high energy, punk-esque live performances. Footage…
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Mar 30, 2020
Monique Gracie - Tranquility Spa
Monique Gracie is the proud owner of Tranquility Spa, located on the Waverley Road, in Dartmouth! She is a Master Esthetician who has been in the industry for 17 years. In September 2014, she made the important decision to go back to school and complete a two-year Business Administration program, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship, as she knew she wanted to open her own business and become her own boss. She graduated, with honours, in June 2016, and got her foot in the door with Spa Management.
In June 2018, she enrolled in the CEED program (Center for Entrepreneurship and Education Development), and completed their 40-week program, graduating in June 2019. She opened Tranquility Spa, to the public, on December 8, 2018, and offers a full range of Esthetic services, including but not limited to, manicures, pedicures, facials, dermaplaning, full body waxing, and eyebrow & eyelash tinting.
She is also certified with the Dermalogica skincare line, and has been using their product…
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Mar 23, 2020
Iain MacLeod - Writer, Filmmaker, Film Educator
Iain MacLeod is a writer, filmmaker and film educator originally from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Educated at York University and the Canadian Film Centre, Iain started his career in the Nova Scotia film industry writing and directing short films before transitioning to television where he wrote on CBC's Street Cents, and for six seasons on the Showcase, cult hit Trailer Park Boys.
Iain has written and directed two feature films, Your Money or Your Wife and You Ruined Our Life, and co-written three others, Beat Down, Relative Happiness and Hopeless Romantic as well as story editing multiple projects. He also recently earned a Master of Education degree from Mount Saint Vincent University in Lifelong Learning and is the programs coordinator at the Atlantic Filmmakers Co-operative (AFCOOP) in Halifax, working on various film education initiatives, including teaching and mentoring emerging screenwriters.
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Mar 16, 2020
Kat Cochrane - One Block Barbershop
Kat Cochrane is a hairstylist from Halifax, Nova Scotia who recently took over ownership of One Block Barbershop on Gottingen Street.
They have been in the industry for eight years and I still love it. Not to mention the love for guests, the amazing team and the community.
Check out @obb4e
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Mar 9, 2020
Brittany Pickrem - Branding Expert
Brittany Pickrem is the owner of her self-named, boutique brand and design company that is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Since 2007 Brittany has been providing sophisticated visual brand and graphic design solutions for community leaders, and change-makers across the globe.
In Halifax, she has provided her brand expertise to the Halifax Jazz Festival, as well as the IWK Children’s Hospital and Foundation.
Internationally, she has worked with Lionsgate Entertainment and has helped to build brands for several entrepreneurs.
It’s Brittany’s passion to help her customers create outstanding brand experiences both online and in person.
Check her out @brandingbypickrem
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Mar 2, 2020
Ed Boulter & Nicole Johnson - Forget Cancer
Nicole Johnson is a Canadian Fashion Designer who has been in the fashion industry for over 20 years. Johnson is from the local community of East Preston in Halifax, NS. Johnson has served her community in many facets and seeks to be an agent of change for young people with an entrepreneurial spirit. Johnson uses her skills and talents in her role as Creative Director for the show FORGET CANCER.
Ed Boulter - A Cancer Survivor and a Photographer, Ed has found a way to combine the nasty business that is Cancer and the extraordinary that is art and combine those to worlds into something fun called FORGET CANCER. What started as Ed and one subject on a beach has grown into Ed leading a group of talented, generous and amazing people. Now Ed and the team give people the ROCK STAR treatment on these Photoshoots. They have so much fun sitting through hair, make-up and wardrobe that they literally "FORGET CANCER" for the day!
Check them out @edb_creative
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Feb 24, 2020
Vanessa Furlong - Circus And Physical Theatre Artist
Vanessa, co-founder of LEGacy Circus, is a circus and physical theatre artist based in Halifax Nova Scotia.
She specializes in clown and acrobatic stilt movement, as well as duo aerial dance. Vanessa received a degree in theatre and music performance from Bishops University and has developed a unique approach to adaptive and mindful coaching and performance for the last two decades.
Influenced by her work with non-verbal communicators, she was drawn to how this affected her own approach to teaching, creating, and performing.
Check her out @vanessa_bobessa
Photo: Rachel Mcgrath
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Feb 17, 2020
Marc Tetreault - Producer
Marc is an independent producer and writer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is a producer and co-owner of Shut Up & Colour Pictures Inc with his partner Jason Levangie.
At S&C Marc has produced countless music videos, including the Prism Prize winner "Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E." by Rich Aucoin, a handful of short films including “Benjanmin” (TIFF ’16) and “I Am Coming to Paris to Kill You” (CUFF ’16).
In 2013 Marc premiered his Spanish-language feature film "Saudade" which in 2015 sold to Starz in the US. In 2014 Marc was accepted and completed the Canadian Film Centre's Cineplex Entertainment Film Program Producer's Lab where he spent six months developing feature and television projects with experienced producer mentors from all over the world.
Out of that program, Marc developed and produced the feature film “Suck It Up” by director Jordan Canning, which premiered at Slamdance 2017. In 2016 Marc was co-Producer of festival darling and multiple Canadian Screen Awa…
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Feb 10, 2020
Jandera Simmonds - Singer, Songwriter, Poet
Jandera Simmonds is a local African Nova Scotian Singer-songwriter and Poet as well as an early child educator.
She has been making up songs and writing poetry for as long as she can remember. Earliest songs date back to 4 years old earliest poems date back to around age 7. Started performing different bars an establishment's about 5 years ago. Started working at different daycares in schools 7 years ago.
Jandera has faced many trials and tribulations along the way including dealing with anxiety, grief, racism and much more. She tries her best to be honest and authentic with her audience as well as write about the things that she knows been through or has experienced.
Check her out @pinkplay7
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Feb 3, 2020
Gabriela Piccott - Learning Consultant & Online Course Creator
Energetic and enthusiastic Learning and Development professional consultant. Gaby has over 15 years of experience in HR and Training & Development. Gaby has shared her enthusiasm, knowledge and experience mainly with manufacturing, non-profit and IT companies. For that reason, she created her training company Connect the Dots Training where she focuses on designing and delivering online and instructor-led training to front line employees, managers and executives.
As a learner explorer and long-life learner, Gaby believes that the ability to learn is the one skill that every person needs in the digital age. Gaby loves to connect with people and share knowledge with them, for that reason she decided to host a networking event for local entrepreneurs and newcomers, LinkedIn Local in Halifax.
Check her out on LinkedIn
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Jan 27, 2020
Nasser Ayad - 2d Animator, Illustrator & Graphic Designer.
Nasser Ayad is a French-Algerian 2d animator, illustrator, and graphic designer.
He has been living in Halifax for a few years now, working as an animator, as well as pursuing his own projects as an independent director.
Most recently he has both created and directed music videos for French artist, demi portion and the international artist Cesaria Evora. He has also done graphic work for Deepak Chopra, Eckhart Tolle, and Neale Donald Walsch.
Check him out @nasserayadart
Super Heros (Music Video) - Demi Portion
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Jan 20, 2020
Kyla Nicolle - Model & Makeup Artist
Kyla Nicolle is a model & makeup artist currently residing in Halifax, NS. She attended the Advanced Makeup Program at Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver BC, before making her way back home to Halifax to continue her makeup career in Film & Television.
When she's not on set you can typically find her at home cuddling her cat, reading up on various topics of interests or out dancing with her pals.
Check her out @kyla_saysmeow
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Jan 13, 2020
Sam Horak - Writer, Producer
Sam Horak is a writer, producer and theatre creator. Past highlights include The Coast’s ‘Best of’ bronze winner, Sissydude, a dandy rock musical (Co-producer, director and dramaturge) and Halifax Fringe award-winning Sit on My Face (Co-writer, producer and director).
For the past few years, Horak has been busy writing two full-length scripts. Her first, Kitchen, a show about artists working in the restaurant industry, was workshopped last year through PARC with direction by Laura Vingoe-Cram. Her second features her love of feminist punk rock and the Riot Grrrl movement.
Horak hopes to continue exploring the producing and writing side of storytelling while maintaining her strong interest in feminist narratives.
Check her out @samaraiswordz
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Jan 6, 2020
Rockmen Parris - Positive Disruptor
Rockmen is an entrepreneur with a passion for life. He's a positive disruptor giving a voice to the voiceless!
He is a radically opened minded truth seeker on the hunt for the truth! His purpose is to make it better for the next generation! His most important duty is to be an honest person, and be the best father he can!
He values principles, knowledge, and skills, a position title means nothing to him, it's just a title!
He knows how powerful knowledge can be, and that we all have the ability to be more knowledgeable! He knows that smiles are contagious, so he is going to laugh along the way too!
Check him out @rockmenparris
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Dec 30, 2019
Kristen Harrington - Artist & Designer & Michael S. Ryan - Musician
Though born and raised in a small farming community in rural Nova Scotia, Kristen Herrington has called Halifax home for more than a decade. She is a prolific abstract painter and designer, with a particular interest in collaborative works. She studied -what she calls- the artist’s “thing” for her Master’s thesis as an avenue to explore the relationship between the creative individual working in a capitalist society. Through this research, Kristen discovered her own “thing” and has been working on that artistic evolution for the past 6 years.
She identifies as a “fluid-artist”, capturing life’s overlooked moments or ideas on her canvasses. Additionally, she uses digital images of her work to make fabrics for items such as yoga mats, leggings and furniture reupholstery. Her work has been showcased in galleries and shops throughout the province and other parts of Canada.
Michael S. Ryan is the solo project of singer, multi-instrumentalist and frontman for the award-wi…
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Dec 23, 2019
Christie Taylor - Artist
Christie is an illustrator and she enjoys drawing in her sketchbook.
In this episode, we talk about her art, inspiration and many more.
Check her out @cirsteh
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Dec 16, 2019
Nadia Katherine & Alli Brown - Mystic Moon Tattoos
Nadia Katherine is a tattoo artist in Dartmouth, and co-owner of her new studio, Mystic Moon Tattoos.
Nadia did her first self-taught tattoos 11 years ago, and gained a formal apprenticeship 3 and a half years ago and has continued to hone her skills since.
When she’s not tattooing she spends much of her time engaged in some of her other passions, yoga and pole fitness.
Nadia’s goal is to keep improving her tattooing ability and she plans to begin a second career in fitness and movement.
Alli Brown is a tattoo artist in Dartmouth, NS. She is the co-owner of her recently established studio, Mystic Moon Tattoos, alongside Nadia Katherine.
Alli has been interested in tattooing since she was very young. She has always been inclined to draw and explore her artistic talent, so tattooing seemed like a natural fit for her. She started her journey as a tattoo artist at Gunners Tattoo Shop in 2017, where she learned everything she knows about tattooing from her mentors, Derek Hill a…
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Dec 9, 2019
Tofunmi Adesanya - Fashion Entrepreneur
Tofunmi Adesanya is a Nigerian born, self-taught and upcoming fashion entrepreneur. She is a lover of culture and aims to preserve the African culture through her pieces.
Her love for fashion was born out of a fascination with her grandmother’s sewing machine when she was younger.
She hopes to go to fashion school to acquire some formal education in fashion design.
In this episode, we talk about her love for fashion, her first runway show and plans for Tofunmi Adesanya, her label.
Check her out @desolaa_a
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Dec 2, 2019
Andrea Lussing - Strategic Intervention Life Coach & EFT Practitioner
Andréa Lussing is a Strategic Intervention life coach and Emotional Freedom Technique (tapping) practitioner based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In her coaching practice, she specializes in helping women overcome binge eating and overeating so they can create peace with food and self.
She also holds the larger goal of bringing emotional, physical, and mental peace to people everywhere through the use of EFT.
In her downtime, she enjoys cooking vegan food, spending time with her family, and soaking in the beauty of nature.
In this episode, we talk about her experience in EFT and her future plans for her practice.
Check her out @andrealussing.coaching
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Nov 25, 2019
Alexa Goodman - Scientist, Environmentalist & Founder, Stop Trashing It
Originally from Montreal, Alexa moved to Nova Scotia 6 years ago for her BSc in Marine Biology and Environmental Sustainability and Society (ESS) at Dalhousie University and fell in love with the Maritimes ever since.
Continuing her education at Dalhousie, Alexa just completed her Master of Marine Management, where her research focused on managing abandoned, lost, and discarded lobster fishing gear in the Bay of Fundy.
Her research was inspired by her time working on-board haddock trawlers on George’s Bank in the summer of 2017, where she had first learnt about ghost gear from fishermen.
She also runs a nonprofit she founded called Stop Trashing It, which motivates people to change their single-use waste habits.
On her downtime, you are likely to find her outdoors, probably by the coast doing a shoreline cleanup, or scuba diving, which is her lifelong passion.
As a Sustainable Oceans Alliance Youth Leader, Alexa continues to inspire and motivate others to take action in doing be…
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Nov 18, 2019
Travis Lindsay - Comedian
Travis Lindsay is the most prolific writer in East Coast Comedy.
His great mix of jokes and storytelling has been captivating audiences since the early age of 16
He made his TV debut this past fall on CBC at the Halifax Comedyfest and in 2019 he releases his debut album titled The Kid is Alright.
I had a wonderful time chatting with Travis and learned so much. I can't wait to check out his album when it is released.
Check him out @thetravislindsay
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Nov 11, 2019
Jae "More Than Kings" Thompson - Artist, Producer, Entrepreneur
Jae Thompson is committed to doing all he can to end the violence in this city of Halifax, especially in Spryfield.
"Just anybody getting shot in front of their family, or shot in front of friends … that's an awful thing," he said. "Bullets don't have no names on it. A stray bullet can hit a child that's four or five." That was a quote from Jae after a young man (just 21) Donald Stevenson was shot and killed in front of his family!
He is using his music to create the change he wants to see and in this episode, we talk about the violence, what he is doing about it, Jae Thompson Music Group, White Boy and his squad More Than Kings.
Listen to his song "Dreams" about violence. I can't wait to work on the short film "Dreams" with Jae.
Check him out @mtk_kxngjthxmpsxn
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Nov 4, 2019
Letitia Fraser - Artist
Letitia Fraser is a figurative artist born and raised in Halifax Nova Scotia. Letitia is a proud descendant of North Preston. Coming from a long line of Artists. Her artistic interest was shown early in life. Her interest matured during her high school years driving her desire to continue to NSCAD, where she is a recent graduate.
Her artwork has been featured in exhibits at the Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia, the Freedom Festival Art Exhibit coordinated by the African Nova Scotian Music Association; and several exhibits by the Black Artist Network of Nova Scotia (2014-2017). In 2011 she illustrated images for “The Journey Continues; An Atlantic Canada Black experience.” Written by Craig M. Smith.
In 2018 Letitia had the opportunity to have her artwork published alongside other women in Understorey Magazines 12th issue dedicated to African Nova Scotian Women. She was recently given the Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund Scholarship and the 2018 RBC Emerging Artist Award from No…
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Oct 28, 2019
Trevor Murphy - Publicist, Artist
An award-winning publicist, radio host, industry professional, and musician, Trevor Murphy has been a devoted member of the East Coast's music community for well over a decade.
Champion of the underdog, curator of Atlantic Canadian culture, and general man-about-town, Trevor also owns and operates Acadian Embassy Records - a boutique record that label delves into deeper exploration of the Nova Scotian Acadian identity using music as a platform through which to discuss and promote shifts in the culture, community, and history.
Check him out @hfxisburning
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Oct 21, 2019
Tara Thorne - Writer, Editor, Broadcaster
Tara Thorne is a writer, editor, and broadcaster in Halifax.
She appears weekly on CBC Radio in Halifax, Saint John, and Moncton and was on staff at The Coast for 19 years.
She also leads the rock band Dance Movie and does Instagram stories of her cat.
In this episode, we talk about her music, writing and a whole lot more.
Check her out @thorneyhfx
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Oct 14, 2019
Dr J - Fine Art Photographer
Dr J got involved in imagery and the many facets of its construction from an early age. From the mid-'80s
on photography has been a part of his life in one form or another. From schooling in Photography to
eventually teaching classes in the fundamentals of Darkroom Technology. Dr J has always strived to
understand and show the textures of life around him and the people in it.
Current projects underway are focused on people and the aesthetic form and mood while also tapping
into the darkness that he likes so much. Hoping this will also aid in his growth as an individual and be a
catalyst for those that work with him to tackle their own stories with another layer of understanding.
His work has been published in several imagery-based magazines in the United
States and in Europe as well as local newspaper articles.
More information can be found on my website SuterPhotoworks
Check him out @drjpermanent
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Oct 7, 2019
Shea - Artist, Producer, Founder
Shea Malcolmson is an award-winning producer/songwriter who has musical achievements ranging from over 250k streams on Spotify for his latest album Altaer and his most recent single Blessed receiving over 120k plays alone, and added on Northern Bars and New Music Canada Spotify playlists. He has performed in over 10 countries worldwide for acts ranging from the Cancer Bats all the way to classic hip-hop acts like Pete Rock.
At one point he was a member of Living Proof, a boom-bap rap group with one of the members of Digable Planets (Doodlebug). The Living Proof album was released on URBNET Records. Fast forward a few years and Shea Malcolmson, dropped the rap name, dropped 80 lbs and became an advocate for mental health in music and overcoming addiction. After also shedding the rap name (Abstract Artform), Shea broke out of the box he had created himself (bridging old school and new school hip-hop) and he began to make new music with a new sense of self, and a new outlook on the music…
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Sep 30, 2019
Shelley Thompson - Actress, Writer, Director
An award-winning performer and 12 season veteran of the hit Canadian series Trailer Park Boys (Barb Lahey), Thompson trained at the UK’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Canadian Film Centre (2015), and was one of the eight Women In the Director’s Chair - Story & Leadership program (2016/17).
She has played roles at the UK’s Royal National Theatre, in London’s West End and British regional Theatres; at the Shaw Festival and across Canada at major theatres. Recent on-screen work Includes Web series like the groundbreaking Tokens (2019); recent television includes the Trailer Park animation and Diggstown (2019). Film work, including working with Jim Henson on Labyrinth, also includes recent award-winning performances in Michael Melski’s The Child Remains and Splinters by Thom Fitzgerald.
Thompson has begun a transition to writer/director, with her short films included in festivals across North America and Europe. Her short Pearls played at over 30 festivals worldwide, winni…
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Sep 23, 2019
Andrea Tsang Jackson - Artist, Designer, Quilt Maker
Andrea Tsang Jackson is an artist and designer based in Halifax, Canada.
After working in various design fields and settings ranging from architecture to museums, the quilting medium called to her as a way to explore place, belonging, and agency. She considers geometry, colour, and narrative to be her raw materials that she moulds into quilts.
Quilts have become a conduit for her to teach design principles and techniques to an audience of engaged creatives.
Patchwork Lab: Gemology, her first book, is an extension of her geometrical works from 2016.
Andrea holds a Master of Architecture from McGill University and a Master of Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Check her out @3rdstoryworkshop
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Sep 16, 2019
AJ Simmonds - Networking Consultant
AJ Simmonds is from North Preston. He graduated from Auburn Drive high school in 2012. Played on the men’s basketball team at Acadia University for five years and graduated in 2017 with a degree in sociology.
He is currently working at the Halifax partnership coordinating a volunteer networking program, connecting recent graduates and newcomers to Halifax with business and community leaders in their industry.
AJ is also involved with numerous community initiatives targeted to help African Nova Scotian youth.
Check him out @ajsimmonds04
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Sep 9, 2019
Katherine Taylor - Letterpress Printer and Bookbinder
Katherine Victoria Taylor (BFA, NSCAD University) is a bookbinder and letterpress printer in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
She has apprenticed with master bookbinder and conservator Joe Landry, award-winning printer and publisher Andrew Steeves of Gaspereau Press, and is currently mentored by Vandercook maintenance expert Paul Moxon. Katherine is the organizer of the Letterpress Gang at NSCAD and has a passion for sharing her love of bookbinding and printing with the community.
It is her desire to use the power of the press to help amplify the voices of marginalized people. Katherine now teaches a variety of letterpress and bookbinding classes and has worked with notable clients such as The Book of Negroes mini-series, The Curse of Oak Island, University of Kings’ College and Saint Mary’s University.
Check her out @kvtprints
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Sep 2, 2019
Jeff Cusick - Entrepreneur
Jeff Cusick, owner/operator of 902 Lit Clothing Co. based out of Halifax, NS is a father, husband, entrepreneur and creative.
In this episode, we talk about his family, friends, support & the future of 902 Lit.
Check him out @902_lit_clothing
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Aug 26, 2019
Lara Lewis - Theatre Artist
Lara Lewis is a theatre artist. A writer, director and actor.
In this episode, we talk all about her experience in theatre and how that went to her working with the Halifax Fringe Festival.
She has had a number of plays in the Halifax Fringe and this year is no different.
I had a wonderful time with Lara and can't wait to watch her play.
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Aug 19, 2019
Ossama Nasrallah - Future Prime Minister
Born in Kuwait and coming from Lebanon, Ossama Nasrallah is the former President & CEO of Saint Mary's University Students' Association and the Co-owner of The Harbour Watercraft. Ossama moved to Halifax in 2014 ago to study at Saint Mary's University and he is happy to call Halifax home today.
Ossama is engaged in many societies and organizations such as Habitat for Humanity where he travelled the last 4 years to the United States to build houses for people in need, Enactus Saint Mary's where a 135 members worked to tackle food waste in Nova Scotia and with the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations where he advocated on behalf of the NS students to the Federal Government.
Ossama received the "Future Prime Minister" award from the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, the "Platinum M" which is the highest award granted to those graduating who have given outstanding contributions in extra-curricular activities in the area of student affairs during their stay at Saint Ma…
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Aug 12, 2019
Oshé - Style Blogger
Oshe {'Oh-Shay'} is a professional cool girl, online influencer, graduated business student and blogger on the side!
She loves everything fashion, lifestyle, luxe & beauty related!
Check out her blog www.osheorifa.com and Instagram @osheorifa to get inspired with style.
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Aug 5, 2019
Jessica Murphy - Makeup Artist
Jennifer Murphy is a professional makeup artist working in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In 2011 she enrolled at The Blanche MacDonald Centre in Vancouver to complete their Global Makeup Program. The yearlong program was very thorough and covered every module from beauty makeup, airbrushing, all the way to special FXs and prosthetics. She finished the program with honours and made her way back to the east coast of Canada, the place she calls home.
In 2013, she began working for MAC Cosmetics and couldn’t imagine a more wonderful opportunity! Working with amazing people and wonderful clients, her hands-on experience at MAC enabled her to meet the varied needs of her clients. The magic of a busy retail setting is that you encounter every different type of person, personality, skin tone, age, and lifestyle. It certainly helped her master her art and confirmed her passion for this industry.
She believes that continual learning and staying with new trends in the industry helps create beautif…
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Jul 29, 2019
Mike Swiech - Photographer
Mike Swiech is a Haligonian transplant from Ontario. He moved here with his then-wife and daughter back in 2013. He is an internationally published photographer. He is a self-taught photographer that has honed his craft by learning from his mistakes and keeps on improving. His passion right now is empowering women to showcase their beauty from within with emotionally charged images via boudoir and emotive portraits. His motto that he strives to ensure his clients adapt is "Embrace your imperfections". He tells his clients that no one is perfect and everyone has some form of imperfection but rather than try to hide or mask it, you should rather embrace it.
He currently is pursuing a 35mm film project that he hopes to release some time in 2020 and have his first gallery exhibition from this project.
He is most proud of his daughter and the woman that she has become and no award or publication can touch that.
If you want to follow his work you can do so via these soc…
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Jul 15, 2019
Justin Gaudreault
Justin Gaudreault is a multi-talented recording artist, award-winning audio engineer and overall
creative powerhouse hailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Having expertise in audio editing,
music composition and mixing for film, augmented and virtual reality. Justin’s commitment to
excellence and passion for his craft have allowed him to carve out a lane all his own.
Not one to settle for mediocrity, after graduating with his Audio Engineering degree in 2012, Justin
received the Daniel Gaynor Spirit Award, which is the highest form of recognition at the Centre for
Arts and Technology. Shortly thereafter in 2013, Justin was nominated for the National Association
of Career Colleges Graduate of the Year award, which recognizes a new graduate currently
working in the field with outstanding success and work ethic. Justin’s achievements were also
recognized the following year by the City of Halifax when he received the HRM Volunteer of the
Year Award.
In addition to academic and c…
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Jul 8, 2019
Sam Hatfield - Shotgun Vintage
Born and raised in Cape Sable Island, Nova Scotia. Sam had a resume of working with people who have disabilities before changing her career path to pursue the Fashion Industry. She quickly got a Corporate retail job and worked her way up to Visual Merchandiser. After working in retail for a number of years and seeing all the waste that it produces, she decided that it was time to build a brand for herself that she believed in.
Shotgun Vintage was born in April 2018 as an Instagram page. It started as thrifting and selling vintage clothing but after pulling out an old sewing machine to make easy modifications — it soon grew to be a reworking obsession. Completely self-taught on the sewing machine, Sam started to quickly receive a lot of traction through the Maritimes through Instagram. This approach allowed her to be more connected with the customer than it would as a normal web store.
She worked her full-time job and simultaneously worked on Shotgun during nights and weekends for e…
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Jul 1, 2019
Bradley Daye
Bradley Daye is a co-founder of Placemaking 4G a new generation for recruitment in Atlantic Canada.
Bradley is a community leader, a sports enthusiast and member of the African Nova Scotian community with a deeply rooted history in NS. Those roots are what keeps him grounded and provide the motivation behind the work he does now.
As the Grandson of Delmore Buddy Daye, community development is always top of mind, he is an empathetic leader with a successful background in professional sports and business development, he continues to give back through youth football in the north end of Halifax where everything started for him.
Through his community and business involvement, he has established a deep-rooted network of community members and leaders and has the knowledge and experience to evaluate and address community needs.
Check him out @all.daye
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Jun 24, 2019
Jessica Uhlman - Dancing Flame Of Song
Born and raised on the beautiful South Shore of Nova Scotia, Jessica May's curiosity and desire to "experience it all" has led her into many distant lands, highs/lows, hobbies, friendships, spiritual practices, experiments, etc.
Endowed with her 5 senses (and learning to trust her 6th sense too), she is pretty much a 'dancing flame of song' that longs to Know and be Known, and grow beyond the perceived restraints that try and keep her from exploring all of Life.
Jessica thinks "titles and labels" are helpful and very useful at times, but often they leave one feeling boxed-in and truly unknown beyond the surface of our skin or skill-sets. Because she believes we are all so much more than these headlines we take for ourselves and give to each other, she is much more interested in what comprises one with strength of character and integrity, what makes a heart skip a beat or burst into laughter, what brings one to a state of wonder and awe, and how one approaches the pains of one's o…
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Jun 17, 2019
Troy Merrick - Wrestler
Troy Merrick is a professional wrestler living in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
He's been in that industry for 13 years and has wrestled throughout Canada, The United States, and the UK.
In recent years, Troy has been dealing with a worsening depressive state and paranoia, but actively tries to promote health and wellness, as well as a positive mental attitude.
Check him out @troymerrick902
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Jun 10, 2019
Jessica Lynn Wiebe - Interdisciplinary Artist
Jessica Lynn Wiebe is a Halifax based interdisciplinary artist.
A former artillery soldier in the Canadian military, her artwork investigates the mechanisms of war, including the complex politics around gender, economy, the architecture of war, and the human condition.
Through the use of various media, she makes work that creates dialogue by engaging and challenging deeply held beliefs and emotions about the military and war.
Currently, she is a participant of the Canadian Forces Artist Program (CFAP) 2018-2019 through the Canadian War Museum (CWM) in Ottawa.
Check her out at @jessicalynnwiebe
You can always watch this episode on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any episode.
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Jun 3, 2019
Keonté Beals - Singer & Songwriter
Keonté Beals, 22 years old is a multi-award winning artist including awards such as Music Nova Scotia’s Inspirational Recording of the Year 2016, multiple ANSMA awards & 2 ECMA nominations.
Born and raised in North Preston Nova Scotia, Keonté started singing, dancing & performing at the age of 7. Since finding a passion in entertainment, at the age of 16 Keonté had his first solo in his home church Saint Thomas Baptist Church in North Preston, NS. This particular solo opened up many opportunities to sing at other churches and charity events all around Halifax.
These opportunities generated great buzz about the young singer.
Keonté's style and energy have often been compared to Anthony Hamilton and Michael Jackson. This soul singer’s voice breaks generation boundaries!
With his smooth R&B vocals, high energy moves & killer band he consistently leaves audiences filled with high energy and electrifying vibes.
Keonté is currently working on his first full-length album set to…
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May 27, 2019
Kylee Nunn and Tyler Simmons - Photographer & Public Speaker
Kylee is a freelance editorial, portrait, and events photographer, as well as a barista working and living in Halifax. Although she is proudly from Cape Breton Island, Halifax has become a second home and Kylee hopes to continue growing with the entrepreneurial community here.
Professionally she most enjoys working with local businesses and entrepreneurs who need polished image content for their branding.
In her personal time, she also creates art using conceptual imagery, and often using self-portraiture, to communicate on themes of mental health, spirituality, and ecofeminism.
She believes in art practice as a methodology of healing and as a way of connecting to our deeper selves, one another, and the earth.
Tyler Simmonds speaks openly about his experience living with mental illness, reminding people that recovery is possible and emphasizing the importance of talking to getting well. Now a motivational speaker, his is clearly a message that resonates with many.
In 2016, the H…
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May 20, 2019
Jon Mann - Writer & Director
Jon Mann is a graduate of Acadia University (POLS, 2011) and the New York Film Academy (Screenwriting, 2013). In 2012, he wrote the documentary *Drink ‘Em Dry* which premiered at Harvard Law School, making Jon the youngest person in the school's history to present written work (at age 22).
After Harvard, the film Drink 'Em Dry is now in universities and colleges in North and South America, Europe, and Australia. Drink ‘Em Dry was also nominated for Best Canadian Documentary at the Canadian Labour International Film Festival (2012).
In 2014, Jon completed his first feature-length documentary, *Project Power*, which follows the social movement against the sale of NB Power to Hydro-Quebec in 2010. In 2015 Jon co-wrote and directed the short-film *Rearview* which racked up wins and nominations at film festivals worldwide.
In 2017, Jon and production partner Rob Ramsay's project *Wolfville* won the* 2018* *National Screen Institute's Totally Television* program. Filming for the short…
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May 13, 2019
Jackie Torrens - Actor, Writer & Film Director
Jackie Torrens is a Halifax-based actor, writer and film director. She and producer Jessica Brown have, under their company Peep Media, completed four documentary films for CBC, the Documentary Channel and Bravo which include Edge of East, My Week on Welfare, Small Town Show Biz and Bernie Langille Wants to Know Who Killed Bernie Langille, which premiered last spring at Hot Docs.
Jackie has also done two documentary films for Telltale Productions, Free Reins and the feature-length Radical Age. Torrens’ radio documentaries include The Poet Laureate of Youth Now, which received an Atlantic Journalism Award and Camp Mini Ha Ha, which received a CBC Award of Excellence.
As an actor, she was nominated for a Canadian Screen Best Actress Award for her work in Thom Fitzgerald’s mini-series Sex & Violence. In January, she played Hamlet at Neptune Theatre, produced by Below The Salt Theatre.
Her film, Bernie Langille Wants to Know Who Killed Bernie Langille just won Best Short Film Award…
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May 6, 2019
Jessy-Jean Kafka - Artist
Born on the West Coast and living on the East, Jessy-Jean Kafka hopes to share her passion and love for creatures with the world. Having a passion for horror movies, it inspired a lot of spooky and grotesque art. Though her creativity and humour landed her the most recent position in Vandal Doughnut's design team.
An alumnus of NSCAD University, Jessy-Jean Kafka has graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Minor in Illustration. Digital Media is her primary medium, she hopes to fully establish herself as a Halifax creative.
Check her out @wyrmskin
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Apr 29, 2019
William Yijie - Entrepreneur
William loves business, marketing and telling stories.
In this week's episode, he shares his reasons for deciding to study in Halifax, starting www.halifax.business and a lot more.
I had a wonderful time getting to know William a lot better.
Check him out @williamwzc
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Apr 22, 2019
Jonathan Hilder - Cyclist
Jon is a Haligonian and a proud father of two girls. His work for the Nova Scotia Health Authority (IT Division) keeps him busy but he always makes time for cycling as an avid cyclist.
Jon loves his long rides. The longest solo ride was 250km this past summer and he will be working on a 300 km ride this September.
He loves being part of getting new folks on bicycles and believes that as a country we need to try harder in looking at alternate avenues of transportation and the bicycle is one. "Hell of a way to make an impact".
I had a wonderful time with Jon and I'm sure you'll enjoy this episode.
Check him out @jjdh_hfx
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Apr 15, 2019
Brent McCombs - Photographer
Born in Ontario and trained in Los Angeles, Brent worked internationally as a fashion photographer for eight years creating campaigns for clients in London, Paris, New York, Vancouver and New Delhi before meeting a lovely girl from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, settling down and refocusing on portrait, wedding and local commercial photography.
In addition to his primary commercial work, Brent has also dabbled in landscape, wildlife and sports photography, seeking a broad range of photographic experiences.
Highlights of his career so far include two expeditions to Antarctica, shooting fashion runway shows in New York City, photographing the Brier and World Hockey Championships, finding himself less than 5 meters from a huge polar bear in Svalbard, Norway, barely surviving being charged by a walrus on the Arctic ice pack, doing the only fashion editorial ever done after dark in Pere Lachaise Cemetery in Paris and photographing his own wedding. Brent is also the first Atlantic Canadian to…
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Apr 8, 2019
Earl Donald - Artiste
A new act on the streets of Toronto, Earl Donald is the recording project of multi-instrumentalist/producer James Cuvilier. Cuvilier introduced this new project with the release of the EP Where You Know Yourself in the fall of 2018. On WYKY, Cuvilier explores a laid-back minimalist electronic sound featuring melodic vocals and swirling synth lines.
Cuvilier began writing early song ideas that would later become the basis of Earl Donald following a relocation to Toronto in 2017. Both the excitement of city life and the feeling of isolation in a modern metropolis play heavily into the sound and quality of Cuvilier’s music.
Originally from Edmonton, Cuvilier played in the local indie and punk scene for years. In his most recent project, MoonMuseum, Cuvilier opened for the likes of Teen Daze, Beach Season, and Old Man Canyon, and toured extensively across Western Canada.
Check him out @earldonaldmusic
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Apr 2, 2019
Chris Henningsen - Inventor
Chris Henningsen is an inventor that believes that we all have a part to play in the healing of the planet. He is passionate about building things, figuring how things work out and making them better.
He got a patent which he talks about in this episode. We also talk about Elon Musk, time travel and how he is like Leonard da Vinci. This was a fun episode.
Enjoy.
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Mar 26, 2019
Nicole Steeves - Writer, Director, Actor
Nicole Steeves is an award-winning Writer/Director/Actor.
She has written and directed six short films and two feature films. Her first feature, Head Space was made possible through the 1K WAVE ATLANTIC program created by WIFT-AT and Ingrid Veninger of pUNK Films. Her most recent feature, Aliens with Knives (Co-Directed with Struan Sutherland) was created in partnership with Cinema 902 and Eastlink Television and is currently in its award-winning festival run.
Nicole is one of the five winners of the 2017 national screenwriting competition From Our Dark Side. She was also the winner of the 2015 WIFT Pitch Competition for her project Getaway and is an alumnus of the Women in the Director’s Chair mentoring program.
Along with co-writer Struan Sutherland and producer Andre Pettigrew, Nicole became one of the CineCoup Top 15 finalists in Canada with their concept for Namas-DIE. Gnaw, a short film created for Cinecoup was picked by Telefilms Not Short On Talent Program and screened at…
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Mar 19, 2019
Ruth Marsh
Ruth Marsh is a Canadian multidisciplinary artist of settler ancestry based out of Kjipuktuk,(Halifax, NS, Canada) whose practice employs an absurdist approach which seeks to queer the intersections between DIY culture, art practice and science fact/fiction/fabulation to address memory, healing, cybernetic enhancement and responsive mutation both in bodies and environments. She approaches her practice from a perspective which is part mad scientist and part devoted repair technician. Through processes which are inherently labour intensive, repetitive and painstaking; she is interested in playfully exploring the ways in which modalities of labour can translate into a study of enacted care and hopeful mourning.
I had a blast talking to Ruth.
Check her out at ruth_marsh_art
Photo: Liz Lott
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Mar 12, 2019
Ashley Avery - Poet, Activist, Writer
Ashley Avery is a feminist writer, poet and advocate living in KJIPUKTUK (Halifax).
She holds a BA in Women’s Studies from MSVU and previously completed a Diploma in Social Service Work in Toronto. She is a former member of the Hali Slam team and a competitor at the 2017 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word. Her visual poetry installation titled “Elements of Rape Culture” was featured at the Mount Saint Vincent community art gallery and in 2018 she was commissioned to collaborate with a lucky director (read: myself) on a docupoem titled “How Will You Honour Your Land?” for the Lunenburg Documentary Film Festival.
Ashley has performed her poetry at numerous protests and community events across Nova Scotia. She uses spoken word as a form of activism to bring injustice to centre stage and speak truth to power. She is the former women and youth services coordinator at a local non-profit serving criminalized women. She is now the access to justice coordinator at the newly formed Acc…
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Mar 5, 2019
Bahia
Bahia is an energy intuitive and Shamanic Practitioner who trusts in the synchronicities of life and believes there are no accidents.
A quote of hers I love: "Do not fear exploring the depths of your soul. You are here to remember your sacred wisdom and share your personal medicine with the world. You are going to shed old patterns and beliefs you have outgrown. Be Brave. Be Bold. Be Kind. Be You. You are on your path to becoming your true authentic self."
In this episode, we talk about it all, her journey so far and the discoveries she has made along the way.
On Sunday, March 10, 2019, in collaboration with Lulu Lemon and Flo Meditation, Bahia will lead a 100-person meditation session.
Check her out @bebelove1975
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Feb 26, 2019
Trevor Gould
Trevor Gould is an experienced powwow dancer and singer, who has been performing for more than 20 years. He has spoken to audiences about Mi'kmaw culture. He is also known for singing, dancing and drumming. He was in the musical "DRUM!" for ten years. He presently sings with the Eastern Eagle Singers from Indian Brook, Nova Scotia.
When Trevor Gould saw the call for submission for AFCOOP's Languages of Nova Scotia, he submitted his film, Apija’simk. An idea he shared with his friend has now been made into a film that has been screened all over Nova Scotia. Apija’simk is now being submitted to festivals and with the rich subject matter and characters, the film is sure to screen in many with awards to boot.
Check Trevor out @trevg23
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Feb 19, 2019
Regine Tiu
Regine Tiu is a media art scholar with the Centre for Art Tapes. Her first exhibit *Not Your Jolie Poupée* as part of CFAT's scholarship presentation *A Different Place.*
In this episode, we talk about her art, creative process, the story behind her installation and a whole lot more.
With Becka Barker as a mentor on the project, Regine explores being objectified in her exhibit.
"Art can manifest in so many different ways, and have so many different articulations," says Regine Tiu. "There is no quote-unquote fine art."
Check her out at:
@matchafiend
Check out A Different Place at:
6086 Quinpool Rd Halifax, NS B3L 1A1
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Feb 12, 2019
Kreations By Kemmy
Kemmy turns shoes into works of art. His Custom Sneakers have been worn by people from all works of life include the Olympian, Jill Saulnier. In this episode we talk about it all from his shoe designs and art to his plans to design shoes, to his approach to working with clients, cutting hair and more.
Check him out @kreationsbykemmy
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Feb 6, 2019
Stephanie Clattenburg - Pt. 2
Stephanie Clattenburg is a writer, director, camera operator, drummer, storyteller yet a quick search of her name on Google pops up articles like: "Snoop Dogg's sexist comments about camerawoman 'creepy and awkward'". This happened a few years ago during the shooting of Trailer Park Boys in Truro, Nova Scotia.
In this episode, we talk about that incident, about her filmmaking, her interesting Instagram stories and how she still looks the same ten years after.
Enjoy.
Check her out @stephclattenburg
Image by @samsonphotography
You can also watch this episode on our YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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Feb 5, 2019
Stephanie Clattenburg - Pt 1
Stephanie Clattenburg is a writer, director, camera operator, drummer, storyteller yet a quick search of her name on Google pops up articles like: "Snoop Dogg's sexist comments about camerawoman 'creepy and awkward'". This happened a few years ago during the shooting of Trailer Park Boys in Truro, Nova Scotia.
In this episode, we talk about that incident, about her filmmaking, her interesting Instagram stories and how she still looks the same ten years after.
Enjoy.
Check her out @stephclattenburg
Image by @samsonphotography
You can also watch this episode on our YouTube Channel. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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Jan 29, 2019
CasSea Creations and Cosplay
Cassie makes magic happen with latex and foam and wigs and many more. In this episode, we talk about her work and plans she has for upcoming projects. We also talk about social media and mental health.
Check her out @cassea64
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Jan 21, 2019
Lucia Dodaro - Arcadia
Lucia Dodaro, the director of Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia" talks about the show, Lord Byron and shares a passphrase that will give a lucky listener tickets to the closing show of the play.
Check her out @howlingshoopuf
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Jan 21, 2019
Hermione - Arcadia
Hermione, the stage manager of Arcadia shares her experience preparing for the play. She also talks about handling people making comments about her name and more.
She also shares the passphrase that gives a lucky listener two tickets to see the play.
Check her out @hermionetamlin
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Jan 16, 2019
Emmanuel "Mister 365" Nwogbo Part II
We continue our chat with Emmanuel "Mister 365" Nwogbo about James Bond, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, CGI, design and race. Check him out @nigerianexpert
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Jan 15, 2019
Emmanuel "Mister 365" Nwogbo Part I
Emmanuel set out to create one character from the Bond films every day for a year! The project is done now and he is prepping for his new project while he exhibits his Bond Project.
In this podcast, we talk about James Bond, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, CGI, design and race. Check him out @nigerianexpert
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Jan 8, 2019
EPDMC
EPDMC shares his creative process, his music journey so far and talks about his hit single, Blessed. There's also the story about a haunted house!
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Jan 1, 2019
Renée The Style Coach
Renée is the owner and stylist behind The Style Coach personal styling service based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In this episode we talk about style, dressing for the season and how to keep a balanced life while building a business.
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