Introducing Vince Blais: content creator, creative director, music producer, and visionary. Vince has played a large part in equipping me with the tools and mindset necessary to undertake his own podcast journey. This week’s episode I interview my former employer to discuss our experiences and challenges working with each other, the importance of healthy habit forming, the true costs of ambition, and reflect with Vince on the effects of the pandemic.

VINCE BLAIS

IG: https://www.instagram.com/viinceblais/

MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/artist/10gKXDvHvRN9O9VjYbR1zu?si=bQ5CrPT8Sia_iJSyCxtpow&dl_branch=1

ADVENTURES WITHIN MEDIA

WEBSITE: https://www.adventureswithinmedia.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/adventureswithinmedia/

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMHj1-dBCV-HnhccTJchZQ

Meet Tayler Francisco: Social media manager, former teacher, vlogger, and host of the Tiny Moments Podcast. She has been an actual "day one" since we started our journeys as creatives and entrepreneurs virtually at the same time. We sit down with Tayler to talk about her journey to self employment, her own experiences starting a podcast, and her mantra when it comes to manifesting the life you were meant to live. This is as much a podcast as it is a typical phone conversation between two long time friends and creatives. 

WORK WITH TAYLER

WEBSITE: https://www.taylerfrancisco.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/taylerfrancisco/

TINY MOMENTS PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/5H8hSYfJ1KN53Rk04PISh7?si=nqAwAfSNQLGRRvmKIgDimg&dl_branch=1

TINY MOMENTS (IG): https://www.instagram.com/tinymomentspodcast/

We sit down for a deep dive with Rowult Aquino aka Ruth Nostalgia, an emerging rapper/singer/artist from Winnipeg, MB. Touted as somewhat of an enigma on social media, once we beginning asking questions, Ruth reveals he has a lot to say, and even more to ask. We delve into the dissonance once can experience when creating an artistic alter ego. We ponder the secrets and mysteries of the universe and reality. We talk about religion, spirituality, and the importance of mindfulness and being present. As lengthy of an episode as this is, it is every bit worth the ride.

CONNECT WITH RUTH NOSTALGIA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ruthnostalgia/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OeK0WQ7imuqOvcmhAVZCb?p=150

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/ruthnostalgia

Ryan Mendoza and I sit down to have a discussion and hangout producer to producer. Ryan himself is a Winnipeg based musician, singer, producer and beatmaker. We chat about what we love and find challenging about the craft, gush about our favourite artists and inspirations (special shoutout to our other local artists), and take a small dive into toxic masculinity in hip hop -  both its realities and how the culture is progressively moving away from it. Ryan brings an enthusiasm and energy to this week's episode that hasn't been experienced yet on Before Zero. Be sure to give his versatile arsenal a look and a listen.

IG: https://www.instagram.com/ryaanmendoza_/

BUY BEATS FROM RYAN: https://traktrain.com/440beaats

We sit down with Marc Ricafort, a man of many hats - ICU nurse, kickboxer, gamer, vlogger, thrifter, and most recently, a father. We discuss the pandemic unfolding through the perspective of a frontline healthcare provider stationed in the most crucial of settings. Mark also shares his experiences raising his daughter Leia in lockdown, and what he hopes to pass on to her for the future. We also chat about Mark's current hobbies as a youtube content creator, twitch streamer, and thrifter/collector of retro video games and the importance of having hobbies that a nurse can come home to unwind to. 

Meet Alyssa, the creator and mind behind ExpressiveThoughtWpg, a project dedicated to archiving the extraordinary stories and experiences of ordinary people. Alyssa shares with us how her project came to fruition and divulges the challenges, joys, and lessons that the experience has presented her along the way. We discuss aligning yourself with your purpose and passion, the value of being emotionally and physically present as a listener, and the impressions that residents of Winnipeg have left on her heart and soul. 

ExpressiveThoughtWpg: https://www.expressivethoughtwpg.com/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/expressivethought.wpg/

Aaron and I were best of friends in high school, but life does what it does - it pushes us apart and pulls us together. After 15+ years of separation, we have finally reunited and reconnected. We quickly learn a lot has changed since then, both in us and the world. Aaron shares his experiences immersing himself in his Cree and Ojibway heritage and how it has played a large role in his career, lifestyle, and family. Aaron also talks about his most recent newfound passion as a board game hobbyist and YouTuber.

For artists and creatives, the titles and identities we give ourselves determine many elements. 

In the first episode of BEFORE ZERO, Danilo is joined by Jessie Cabrera, a singer-songwriter based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. As self identified artists, musicians, and creatives, Jessie and Danilo delve into the importance of ones own self given identities, the ones given to you by peers and friends, and the ones determined by your audience. We compare and contrast the creative versus the artist, the producer versus the beatmaker, singers versus singer-songwriters, and other identifications within the artistic and creative industries. 

Jessie dives into his own struggles and triumphs forming his identity as an artist and how it has shaped his musical career.

JESSIE CABRERA

IG: https://www.instagram.com/jessiecabrera/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/71l0MMapZOsZC2SvtMpeyT?si=wc1TkyvXSu-b6TDLldFR6Q

The creator and host of Before Zero makes his introduction and intentions known. Danilo shares a bit of his own history as a creative and what led him to the podcast's inception up until its creation. He delves into how his music, a trading card, and a video about made up words all came together inspire its name and concept. Welcome to Before Zero. 

Rhystic's Studies' - "Magic's Best Worst Card" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ndD-QmPJg&t=2s

The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows - "Sonder: the Realization that Everyone has a Story" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkoML0_FiV4&t=5s

Infinityzan - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3pOyLyg5IRpUHICzaxCmRi?si=Z8Y94cJhTraI7Lktymeycg