Dr. Ian MacNairn is an emergency medicine physician and anthropologist whose career has been shaped by resilience, responsibility, and a deep belief in treating people as kin — not cases.

In 2006, Ian was the victim of a hit-and-run accident that changed the trajectory of his life. Recovery led him into ultra-marathon running, graduate studies, a PhD in anthropology, and eventually into emergency medicine — carrying with him a perspective that blends Western medicine with Indigenous knowledge, cultural humility, and lived experience.

Recently, Ian returned from Gaza, where he provided emergency medical care during a humanitarian crisis. In this episode, we talk about the realities of practicing medicine in a conflict zone, the mental and emotional toll of frontline work, and how endurance — physical and psychological — has shaped the way he shows up for patients and communities.

Follow Solo Spotlight for long-form conversations with people who have lived the story — not just talked about it.

#SoloSpotlight #EmergencyMedicine #HumanitarianWork #Resilience #LongFormPodcast #SpareBedroomStudios #MentalHealth #MedicineAndCulture #FrontlineStories

This week on Solo Spotlight, I’m joined by KYTE — an independent hip-hop artist from northern Alberta — for a real conversation about building music when nobody’s handing you a shortcut.

We get into discipline, self-belief, staying consistent, how he approaches writing and recording, and what the “long game” actually looks like as an indie artist.

Drop a comment: What matters more for an artist — talent or consistency?

Follow KYTE:

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

Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/49rST9N1Av8WCg8Dc6c5LL?si=1eW8JopFRsW5Ok9MqG-dPw

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

Spotify/Audio: https://open.spotify.com/show/7seh7SHxLvn3mznXV0rrlz

#SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #KYTE #KyteMusic #KyteMusic_ #CanadianHipHop #AlbertaHipHop #IndependentArtist #HipHopPodcast #RapperInterview #MusicPodcast #IndieArtist #Songwriting #CreativeProcess #ArtistJourney

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with independent reggae artist Caleb Hart for a focused conversation on longevity, discipline, and building a sustainable creative career outside the traditional music industry.

Caleb shares his journey as a fully independent artist — from touring and live performance to adapting his hustle in the modern streaming era. Throughout the conversation, he breaks down the difference between short-term attention and long-term artistry, the role of feedback in growth, and how artists can stay grounded while navigating criticism, pressure, and changing industry expectations.

This episode explores what it really means to build something over time — not just in music, but in any creative or entrepreneurial path. From finding balance between craft and accessibility to understanding the value of small wins, this conversation offers practical insight for artists, creators, and anyone working to build something on their own terms.

Subscribe to Spare Bedroom Studios for more long-form conversations with artists, creatives, and builders from all walks of life.

New episodes of Solo Spotlight drop EVERY WEEK!

🔗 Support the Guest — Caleb Hart

If you enjoyed this conversation and want to support Caleb Hart, check out his music and ongoing projects below. Supporting independent artists directly helps them continue creating, touring, and building sustainable careers on their own terms.

🎶 Listen to Caleb Hart’s music: Available on all major streaming platforms

🌍 Follow Caleb Hart on youtube: @IAmCalebHart

🌍 Follow Caleb Hart on social media: Iamcalebhart

Stress, hormones, fertility, burnout… and the stories we tell ourselves about all of it. In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Sabrina Souto, an acupuncturist and comprehensive health practitioner who helps people untangle their nervous system, belief systems, and biology the right way.

Sabrina has spent years working with stress, hormonal issues, fertility and cancer support, blending Traditional Chinese Medicine with a grounded, education-first approach. This isn’t fluffy “holistic” word salad — we get into what actually happens in a session, why “natural” isn’t always better, and how your identity and beliefs can quietly shape your health.

If you’ve ever felt burnt out, stuck in patterns your body can’t explain, or you’re curious about fertility and hormones without the usual fear-mongering, this episode is for you.

Katanya Timinsky returns to Solo Spotlight for a deeper look into her evolution as a storyteller and the creation of her long-form interview series, The Ethos of Humanity.

Our first conversation explored her humanitarian photography in Ukraine and how she learned to hold space for voices affected by conflict. In this follow-up episode, we shift into the present: Katanya has launched her own talk show and has already recorded multiple emotional, philosophy-driven conversations that explore human identity, emotional labor, lived experience, and the art of connection.

Whether you’re a creator, host, filmmaker, listener, or someone who appreciates authentic dialogue, this episode offers a meaningful look at what it takes to tell human stories with intention, empathy, and trust.

Follow Katanya & Ethos of Humanity

-YouTube: @EthosofHumanity

-Instagram: https://instagram.com/EthosOfHumanity

-TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EthosOfHumanity

-Facebook: https://facebook.com/EthosOfHumanity

-Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/EthosOfHumanity

Daily clips • Weekly episodes • Community conversations • Behind-the-mic storytelling.

Like, share, comment and subscribe to help us reach more people and keep amplifying meaningful stories. Becoming part of the audience is the single best way to support the work we put into storytelling, research, production and editing.

Edmonton’s got talent — and Vintage $oul is proof. In this episode, we sit down with the Edmonton-born artist to talk about conscious, self-aware, old-school leaning hip-hop, why he wants listeners to take a hard look at their lives, and how his music pulls from real experiences like homelessness, family history, and survival-mode independence.

We also get into the behind-the-scenes reality of being an artist here: being picky with the craft (sometimes to the point of five masters on one song), switching producers, stepping away from “flex” music into meaning-first records, and the financial grind of trying to travel, perform, and keep creating.

And then there’s River City Radio / North Web Media — something he built to create a bigger platform for local hip-hop, with the goal of helping unify the Edmonton scene.

If you’re an artist, a music fan, or just someone trying to figure life out without pretending everything’s fine — this one’s for you.

Join us for a powerful conversation with Tea Fannie, one of Alberta’s most unique and compelling hip-hop voices. From growing up across Canada as a military kid, to discovering poetry, to finally stepping into the spotlight as a rapper and songwriter, Tea breaks down the real story behind her creative evolution.

We dive into the making of her debut full-length album “It’s All Love”, how she found confidence through vulnerability, and what it means to build a career in the Prairie hip-hop scene. This episode is equal parts artistic inspiration and human storytelling — a must-watch for creatives, music lovers, and anyone chasing a dream.

Follow Tea Fannie:

Instagram — @iamteafannie

Music — It’s All Love (Streaming everywhere)

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Instagram — @spare_bedroom_studios

TikTok — @sparebedroomstudios

YouTube — Spare Bedroom Studios

🎙️ Solo Spotlight is where real people tell real stories — unfiltered, honest, and driven by connection.

In Solo Spotlight Episode 72, Ryan sits down with Edmonton storyteller and creator Lincoln Ho — the mind behind @yegventures

For more than a decade, Lincoln has been documenting Edmonton’s history, culture, food scene, architecture, and hidden corners. This episode dives into how he built YEG Ventures, why he documents the world the way he does, and the ethics and discipline behind being a trusted voice in a growing city.

If you love Edmonton, storytelling, or hearing from someone who’s stayed committed to their craft for years, this episode is worth every minute.

Tap in, subscribe, and join the conversation.

#SoloSpotlight #YEGCreators #YEGVentures #EdmontonPodcast #YEGLocal #ContentCreators #DigitalStorytelling #YEGFood #YEGCommunity #CanadianPodcasts #CreatorEconomy #EdmontonCulture #YEGInfluencers #DocumentaryStyle #StorytellingPodcast

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.