Solo Spotlight with Ryan MacDougall

What did you expect would come more naturally by now?

In this solo episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall reflects on the everyday parts of adulthood he thought he would have figured out: getting back to people, following through on plans, and enjoying a day off without feeling like he should be doing more.

He brings research on adulthood, intentions, and leisure into a discussion about the expectations we place on ourselves. Why can deciding to change feel like you’ve already handled the problem? What might a specific “if–then” plan help with? And when you feel guilty about how you spent your time, can you name what you actually regret?

The question he leaves with listeners: what’s something you thought you would have figured out by now, and what would figuring it out look like in everyday life?

Hosted by Ryan MacDougall. Produced and published by Spare Bedroom Studios.

Colin Dingelstad started pursuing an MMA championship at 28, with limited combat-sport experience and a documentary crew following the attempt.

In episode 105 of Solo Spotlight, Colin joins Ryan MacDougall to discuss IMPOSSIBLE, his ambition to become UFC lightweight champion, and what that commitment has required so far.

Colin shares how fatherhood changed his priorities, why he chose MMA, and how he is funding the project while searching for the right coaches. The conversation also explores injury, rejection, the pressure of being filmed, and the tension between pursuing a dream for his son and spending time away from family.

What does he hope his son learns from the experience? And can the documentary succeed even if the championship never happens?

Follow the project and watch the trailer: IMPOSSIBLE documentary

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Edmonton creator Kempes Pandey, better known as @itsjustkempes, joins Ryan for a conversation about how he went from being terrified to post content to becoming one of Edmonton’s increasingly recognizable online creators.

They discuss overcoming embarrassment, rejection, going viral, dealing with criticism, the pressure of having an online persona, creator burnout, credibility, controversial content, collaborations and what Kempes wants to build next.

Kempes also explains why connecting people around Edmonton has become a bigger part of what he wants his platform to accomplish.

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More than twenty years after their paths first crossed in Edmonton’s music scene, Arlo Maverick, Kreesha Turner and Habe Kitine come together to tell the story of Music for Mavericks.

What began as a record label became something much bigger — a collective, a support system, a place for mentorship and artist development, and a community of people trying to create opportunities for themselves and each other.

Arlo reflects on the responsibility that came with helping develop artists, why Music for Mavericks tried to establish a higher professional standard in Edmonton’s hip-hop, R&B and reggae scenes, and why knowing when to step aside can sometimes be one of the most important parts of mentorship.

Kreesha looks back at the systems, relationships and opportunities that helped take her from Edmonton’s underground scene into national radio and the major-label industry. She also opens up about fame, the financial reality behind visible success, and why she has always viewed interaction with the people who support her as part of the job.

Habe fills in a chapter of his story that largely disappeared from public view. He discusses losing his friend Theo Gully while his own career was gaining momentum, stepping away from music, turning grief into songwriting and eventually finding his way back on his own timeline.

The three also revisit old performances, the Music for Mavericks “boot camp,” the people behind the scenes who rarely received recognition, and what it feels like to look back at the younger versions of themselves more than two decades later.

As Arlo puts it:

“If your city’s dead, then make it live.”

This conversation was recorded on location at Electric Treehouse Rehearsal Space & Studio in Edmonton ahead of the E-LYMPIA celebration of Music for Mavericks.

🎙️ Solo Spotlight — Episode 103 Hosted by Ryan MacDougall

Edmonton hip-hop artist Twig joins Ryan MacDougall for Episode 102 of Solo Spotlight.

Twig discusses the anxiety he experienced during his first performances, learning how to build confidence onstage and finding his identity within Edmonton’s music scene.

He also reflects on stepping away from music, returning during a difficult period in his life and receiving support from ILLiam and Whole Heart Entertainment. Twig opens up about the years he feels he lost to drinking, the pressure of returning to rap at 30 and balancing a full-time job with his creative ambitions.

The conversation also covers his upcoming album, Branching Out, which faced a bizarre series of distribution issues after being placed on the wrong Spotify artist profile and later flagged for possible AI use.

This episode is about rebuilding, creative community and realizing that starting again does not mean starting from nothing.

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A year after his first appearance on Solo Spotlight, Mark Wvlker returns to reflect on everything that's changed.

When Mark first joined the podcast, we talked about rebuilding his identity as an artist, finding his authentic voice, and taking the first steps toward a new chapter in his career. Since then, he's released new music, toured Western Canada, launched merchandise, and continued building his brand as an independent artist.

In this conversation, Mark shares what he learned from life on the road, earning respect in Edmonton's music scene, balancing creativity with family life, and why staying true to yourself matters more than chasing trends or numbers.

Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, creator, or simply working toward something meaningful, this episode offers an honest look at the patience, persistence, and resilience required to build something that lasts.

Connect with Mark Wvlker

Instagram: @wvlkerwvlker

Facebook: Wvlker Mark

Listen to Mark's music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and wherever you stream music.

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This week on Solo Spotlight, Ryan is joined by Mary Tibbetts — keynote speaker, corporate wellness strategist, entrepreneur, founder, and MS advocate.

Mary’s story is one of ambition, business success, burnout, a life-changing multiple sclerosis diagnosis, and rebuilding life with more purpose, boundaries, and intention.

Before becoming a speaker and advocate, Mary built an award-winning flower shop from the ground up, despite never having made a flower arrangement before opening the doors. Over the years, the business grew, scaled through COVID, earned major contracts, and became a huge part of her identity.

But behind the success, Mary was pushing herself past her limits. Long hours, stress, pressure, and ignoring the warning signs eventually led to seizures, a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, and a moment where she had to completely rethink her life.

In this conversation, Mary opens up about what success really cost her, the danger of always pushing through, learning to listen to her body, and how her diagnosis eventually led her to create MS Nation Community Foundation — a nonprofit supporting individuals and families living with MS.

This episode is about entrepreneurship, burnout, invisible illness, leadership, boundaries, community, and what it really means to rebuild when the old version of your life no longer works.

Learn more about Mary Tibbetts, her speaking work, and her corporate wellness programs at:

https://marytibbettsspeaks.com/

Learn more about MS Nation Community Foundation and the work they are doing to support individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis:

https://msnation.ca/

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Ryan MacDougall sits down with Edmonton rap duo Dogboys for a raw conversation about brotherhood, sobriety, faith, family loyalty, and building an independent music career from the ground up.

Dogboys open up about how music brought them closer as brothers, the making of their album When It’s Finally Dark, their early influences, finding their sound, and what it means to create dark, aggressive music with real emotion behind it.

They also talk about navigating the Edmonton music scene, live show chaos, performing for small crowds with full energy, why fans bark at their shows instead of clapping, and their long-term dream of building something bigger than music.

This episode goes beyond the image and into the story behind the duo: recovery, creative growth, loyalty, faith, independence, and the grind of building your own lane.

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with Martin Brooker, a retired Commodore from the Royal Australian Navy, leadership speaker, coach, and advisor, for a conversation about what real leadership looks like when the stakes are high.

Martin joined the Navy at just 15 years old and went on to serve for 37 years, leading people through complex, high-pressure environments. But this conversation goes beyond military rank and career accomplishments. It explores the human side of leadership: earning trust, managing pressure, admitting mistakes, asking better questions, and learning how to lead with self-awareness.

Ryan and Martin discuss the difference between authority and actual leadership, why technical skill alone is not enough, how leaders build trust with their teams, what happens when personal struggles affect the way someone leads, and why leadership starts with confronting yourself before expecting others to follow.

Martin also shares lessons from stepping into leadership with a crew that had returned from war, the concept of the “accidental leader,” and why the standard you walk past is the standard you accept.

This episode is for anyone interested in leadership, team culture, personal responsibility, military experience, emotional intelligence, or becoming the kind of person others can actually trust under pressure.

Learn more about Martin Brooker: martinbrooker.com

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On this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan is joined by David Graham, founder and Chief Exploration Officer of EDGE3, Master Certified Coach, Royal Roads faculty member, TEDx speaker, and program director at Ivey Business School for Executive Education.

David shares his journey from acting and cruise directing to marketing and executive coaching. The conversation explores burnout, career change, the difference between coaching and advice, and why time in nature can help people find clarity.

David also discusses his TEDx talk, Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office, and explains why leaders often do not need more information — they need more space.

Follow Solo Spotlight for more conversations with people sharing the stories, lessons, and turning points that shaped who they are.

If this episode gave you something to think about, leave a rating, share it with someone who could use more clarity, and check out the full video version on Spare Bedroom Studios.