Art Pays Me

Youth and Community Advocate DeRico Symonds and I discuss police violence against Black people in North America, the significance of protest and some of the challenges that community advocates and activists face. I also ask DeRico about his background and what motivates him as a voice in the Halifax Black Community.

DeRico online:

• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website
• ACCE

Matt Dowling, Founder of Freelancer Club shares his creative journey, how he's grown a business that advocates for creative freelancers and how a negative experience with a photography client motivated him to start this business. We talk about the business model of Freelancer Club, why it's different from other freelance marketplaces, where business and creativity come together and what the education system can do to support the creative industry. We also talked about how creative freelancers are vulnerable to exploitation, why Freelancer Club won't post non-paying jobs and how his #nofreework campaign influenced government legislation in the UK.

The Freelancer Club

• Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Facebook

Multi-media Artist, Jordan Baraniecki talks about how the pandemic has effected his practice, why it's similar to the artist residency he did in Poland and why his newest project is his most dangerous. He also talks about his, time at NSCAD University, his acceptance into Emily Carr University and why he's more excited than nervous about the challenges the Corona Virus has created for him and his cohort.

Jordan Online

• Website
• Instagram

I interviewed multihyphenate artist Romana about her new music and the diverse creative interests she's simultaneously pursuing. She opens up about how the COVD-19 pandemic has effected her practice what it's like pursuing a creative career as the daughter of South Asian immigrants and why she left a successful corporate job to be a full-time artist. We also talk about why age ain't nothin but a number for this Aaliyah fan.

Romana on Instagram

On this episode I share my thoughts on the first four episodes of basketball documentary, The Last Dance. I talk about my relationship with basketball, why I think Michael Jordan was successful and why this documentary has me contemplating a question that I think all creative entrepreneurs should ask themselves.

This week I have Leather Designer and Maker Tabitha from Tabitha + Co. I asked her what it means to produce mindfully made products and what implications that has on society – particularly during a pandemic. We talked about the importance of craft, why she decided to start a business in her 40s after being a mom and having a career, how having a mentor helped her to take that step and how important an online storefront is in these trying times. Tabitha's work was recently seen in British Vogue and British GQ and we talked about how she was able to get them to notice her from all the way over here in Nova Scotia. Before the show starts, I acknowledge tragic the event that happened in Nova Scotia this past week and why I think male fragility is a threat to society.

Tabitha Online:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Pinterest

Album Reviewer, and Twitch Streamer Luke James and I talked about coping with life and creativity during COVID-19. Luke breaks down his process for reviewing music, why he interacts with people in the comments, pushing through fear of failure and balancing creative output with self-care, family time and mental health. We also got into Luke's experience as a rapper, his early days as an online content creator, and had some deep discussions on cancel culture, family life and why he's decided to spread autism awareness after his middle son's diagnosis.

Luke Online:

• YouTube
• Twitch

On this week's episode, I spoke with Writer, Editor and Podcaster Kyle Carpenter. We talk about his popular website and podcast Clients From Hell. Kyle shares why he left academia for a new path, his standup comedy hobby and our opinions on what makes someone an artist.

Kyle Online:

• Kcarcfh
• LinkedIn
• Clients From Hell Website

On this week's episode I hit 50 episodes and one year of doing this podcast! It's been a fun journey and I've learned a lot from the guests so far. Thank you for all for listening, commenting on social media and for leaving kind ratings and reviews. It means a lot to me. On this episode, I talk about why I'll be doing more solo episodes in the future, adjustments I'm making to my Instagram strategy, insight into some products I'm dropping and how I'm climbing out of my Corona funk thanks to some inspiring actions from local creatives.

On this short solo episode, I share my thoughts on the creative industry and where my creative energy is focused during the COVID-19 epidemic.