Jann Arden is joined by actor, writer, and producer, Allan Hawco! Allan speaks about how growing up in Newfoundland has impacted his work in the television industry. They discuss the unique storytelling aspects of Canadian content, the role of comedy in shaping cultural narratives, and the challenges of navigating the Canadian star system. Allan shares insights on mentorship, the impact of family on career decisions, and the importance of embracing failure as part of the creative process. He champions embracing risk and failure in the creative process, laughs about the absurdity of failure, and the fascinating nature of intellectual property.

More About Allan Hawco:

Allan Hawco is an acclaimed Canadian actor, writer, and executive producer known for his work across film, television, and theatre. He divides his time between Newfoundland, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Hawco is best known as the creator and star of the hit CBC series Republic of Doyle. He is also an executive producer of Canada’s most-watched original comedy, Son of a Critch (CBC / CW / Paramount+) currently in its 4th season. 

He currently serves as co-creator, co-showrunner, executive producer, and co-lead of the CBC drama Saint-Pierre, which debuted in 2025 and continues to be CBC’s #1 most-watched drama series. His additional credits include Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Frontier, Departure, Moonshine, Sullivan’s Crossing, and Youngblood.

https://hawcoproductions.com/

https://mediacentre.cbc.ca/program/saint-pierre

https://gem.cbc.ca/murdoch-mysteries/s07

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction to Alan Hawco

(03:11) The Art of Storytelling in Canadian Entertainment

(06:13) Growing Up in Newfoundland: A Unique Perspective

(09:04) Navigating the Canadian Star System

(12:04) The Role of Comedy in Canadian Culture

(14:54) Mentorship and Influence in the Industry

(18:00) The Impact of Family on Career Choices

(21:12) Embracing Failure and Learning from It

(24:27) Embracing Risk and Failure

(28:06) The Creative Process and Intellectual Property

(30:15) Navigating the Arts and Career Choices

(32:13) Legacy and Personal Impact

(38:17) Mental Health and Self-Care

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