In Episode 71 of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Adven Villa, creator of the Long-Term Podcast, psychology student, street-interview storyteller, and rising Edmonton creative.

This episode dives deep into:

• Growing up in chaos & building discipline from scratch
• How podcasting became a tool for self-improvement
• Imposter syndrome & interviewing older, more experienced guests
• What street interviews taught him about human connection
• The role of vulnerability in long-form conversation
• Balancing school, work, content creation, and personal growth
• How to stay consistent when nobody believes in you
• The psychology behind confidence, community, and storytelling

If you're a podcaster, creator, or anyone on a self-growth journey, this is the episode that reminds you why the long-term mindset matters.

New episodes weekly. Daily clips on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Follow Spare Bedroom Studios — and go support the Long-Term Podcast.

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Edmonton hip-hop veteran Arlo Maverick — a storyteller, mentor, and cultural architect whose 25-year journey mirrors the evolution of Canadian hip-hop itself.

From his early days founding Politic Live to his solo albums Maybe Tomorrow, Soul Merchant, and Blue Collar, Arlo has spent decades building community through music and mentorship. As the current Chair of the Juno Awards’ Rap Advisory Committee, he continues to shape the future of Canadian hip-hop while documenting its past through film and storytelling.

This conversation dives deep into Arlo’s creative evolution — from the grind of early radio shows and family collaborations to finding his voice as a solo artist, filmmaker, and leader in Canada’s music scene. Arlo opens up about perseverance, ego, mentorship, and why documenting your journey matters more than ever.

🎥 Watch, Subscribe & Support the Show:

👉 Subscribe to Spare Bedroom Studios for weekly episodes and behind-the-scenes content.

👉 Follow @spare_bedroom_studios on Instagram for clips and updates.

👉 Drop a comment sharing your favorite moment from Arlo’s story — we read every one.

💬 About Solo Spotlight:

Solo Spotlight features one-on-one, long-form interviews hosted by Ryan MacDougall, highlighting creators, thinkers, and builders with stories worth hearing. Each episode dives beyond headlines to explore the personal journeys, lessons, and philosophies shaping their work.

A year after running for Edmonton city council, Jesse Watson returns to Solo Spotlight to talk about life after the campaign.

He shares what the experience taught him — the scrutiny, the pressure, and how it changed the way he looks at politics and people. Ryan and Jesse get into accountability, trust, and the reality of putting yourself out there in a public way.

If you care about leadership, community, or what it’s really like behind the scenes of local politics, this one’s worth watching.

About the Guest

Jesse Watson is an Edmonton-based entrepreneur and former city council candidate. Known for his transparency and advocacy for practical, community-first politics, Jesse has continued to speak openly about the realities of civic engagement, media scrutiny, and the cost of leadership in the public eye.

#SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #JesseWatson #EdmontonPolitics #RyanMacDougall #LocalVoices #IndependentMedia #CommunityLeadership #CivicEngagement #realconversations

In this episode, Ryan MacDougall sits down with fellow host Joey Stoneburgh—the creator and voice behind Prime Joe Time, the newest series under the Spare Bedroom Studios network.

Joey’s journey has been defined by resilience, discipline, and the pursuit of something real. After more than a decade working in corrections, he’s now using his platform to spotlight the kinds of stories that rarely get told—the working-class wins, the late-night lessons, and the everyday people rebuilding their lives with purpose.

This conversation is about how authenticity builds trust, how purpose shapes people, and how Prime Joe Time became Joey’s way to give others a voice.

Whether you’ve followed Joey’s story from day one or you’re meeting him for the first time, this episode gives you a real look at the next voice of the studio.

🎧 Listen everywhere: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music

📺 Watch all Joey’s episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKaD7O12yUOtmTXXdUgk2Ds4AfiCyFajC&si=tfT6faVVyFE75fo2

#SoloSpotlight #PrimeJoeTime #SpareBedroomStudios #PodcastLaunch #EdmontonCreators #RyanMacDougall #JoeyStoneburgh #Mindset #Leadership #MenTalk #CanadianPodcasts

Before You Vote: Andrew Knack on Edmonton’s Future

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with mayoral candidate Andrew Knack to talk about what’s at stake in Edmonton’s upcoming election — from affordability and housing to safety, transit, and local leadership.

Recorded in Edmonton, this unfiltered conversation offers real context and clarity for voters who want to make an informed choice.

🎙️ Solo Spotlight – Honest conversations with real people shaping our communities. Hosted by Ryan MacDougall, produced by Spare Bedroom Studios.

#SoloSpotlight #EdmontonElection2025 #AndrewKnack #YEGPolitics

If half your commute is just escaping your own neighborhood, this one’s for you.

Jon Morgan (Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi — ih-PEE-koo-kah-nih-bee-OW-tsee) spent 18 years inside ETS (bus → dispatch → LRT control). We get brutally practical about reliable routes, LRT station safety, Southwest choke points (41 Ave, Ellerslie, Heritage Valley), and infill that doesn’t pretend parking and transit don’t exist—plus why Jon’s running independent (serve people, not parties).

Find Jon

Website: https://www.jonmorgan.ca/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonmorganyeg/

Subscribe, then drop your neighborhood + your #1 fix: Add routes? Improve reliability? Twin the choke point? We’ll pull the top answers into a follow-up.

#Edmonton #YEGPolitics #YEGTransit #SouthEdmonton #SoloSpotlight

In this episode, Ryan MacDougall sits down with Troy Pavlek — software developer, civic watchdog, theatre reviewer, and co-host of Speaking Municipally — to unpack Edmonton’s 2025 municipal election and the bigger picture of what’s happening inside City Hall.

Troy shares a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how local politics really work

Connect with our guest:

Twitter / X: @troypavlek

Personal site: tpavlek.me

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/troypavlek/

YouTube: @troypavlek

Follow Spare Bedroom Studios

YouTube: @Sparebedroomstudios

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spare_bedroom_studios

Inquiries: [email protected]

📲 Subscribe to Solo Spotlight for weekly long-form interviews featuring creators, thinkers, and builders reshaping their communities.

#SoloSpotlight #TroyPavlek #EdmontonElection #LocalPolitics #SpareBedroomStudios #SpeakingMunicipally #PodcastInterview #CivicTech #Transparency #CityHall

From the tatami to the coaching floor, Greg Cooper shares the systems that beat motivation, his 24-hour reset when discipline slips, what he’s building at Kodokwai Judo Club, and practical steps for men’s mental health—plus three non-negotiables and the red flags he wants you to avoid.

Topics: judo origins; discipline vs motivation; coaching systems; Kodokwai; MenTELL; mental-health tools; habits & red flags.

Links:

Greg’s IG @coachgreg.cooper;

• Kodokwai Judo Club (Edmonton) — site & details
  • Website: https://www.kodokwaijudo.com/ Kodokwai Judo
  • Club profile (Edmonton Judo): https://edmontonjudo.com/local-clubs/kodokwai-judo-club Edmonton Yudanshakai Judo Society
  • Contact / address (new dojo): https://www.kodokwaijudo.com/contact-us/ Kodokwai Judo
• MenTELL (Men’s Mental Health initiative)
  • Instagram: https://instagram.com/mentell.ca

Spare Bedroom Studios links Solo Spotlight / Spare Bedroom Studios

• Solo Spotlight (Apple Podcasts): https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/solo-spotlight-with-ryan-macdougall/id1842672529 Apple Podcasts
• YouTube (Spare Bedroom Studios channel): https://www.youtube.com/@Sparebedroomstudios music.amazon.es
• Instagram (Spare Bedroom Studios): https://www.instagram.com/spare_bedroom_studios/

Local government isn’t sexy, but it’s where your life actually changes. Colin Reid walks through what he’s hearing at the door (roads, response times, cell coverage), how he prioritizes “two right answers,” and what a councillor really does (liaison, set priorities & funding; admin executes). We also cover signage rules, social media as a civic feedback loop, and why he’s in for the long game.

Topics: outreach mechanics; rural infrastructure; EMS/RCMP response; cell coverage; budgeting & prioritization; council vs. admin; respectful campaigning; 20-year vision.

Links:

Colin Reid – campaign/contact: https://www.votecolinreid.ca/

Credits:

Host – Ryan MacDougall | Guest – Colin Reid | Production – Spare Bedroom Studios (Edmonton, AB)

WATCH MORE OF OUR SOLO SPOTLIGHT SERIES HERE: https://media.rss.com/the-conversationalists-with-ryan-and-rich/feed.xml

#SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #LocalGovernment #MunicipalElection #CivicEngagement #Roads #EMS #RCMP #RuralInfrastructure #PublicService

Uncle Hack @DangerCats69 pulls up to Solo Spotlight and we get into the whole arc—oil patch shifts → sketch grind → “Rules of the Patch” blowing up → sobriety reset → first open mic → building Danger Cats → and the infamous 3-venue fail-safe for canceled shows. If you’re chasing stage time (or just love good chaos), this one’s for you.

Guest:

Uncle Hack — Comedian, Danger Cats

🎟 Tickets/Merch: dangercatshop.com

📲 IG: @unclehacks69

YT - @dangercats69