The Just Drew Podcast

What does it really take to build a creative career when you’re starting in a small town and staying true to your values?

In this episode of The Just Drew Podcast, filmmaker Zach Hiebert joins the show to talk about growing up on a farm in Port Rowan, breaking into wedding filmmaking, and building a full-time creative career outside major city hubs.

Now based in Kitchener, Zach is focused on pushing into the luxury wedding market, while staying grounded in his Christian faith, a core part of his identity that shapes his worldview and work ethic. Despite Drew not being religious, the conversation becomes a powerful example of how mutual respect, shared passion, and honest dialogue can exist across very different belief systems.

We talk about:

• Growing up rural and building creative momentum

• Turning videography into a sustainable full-time career

• Filmmaking vs. videography and why the distinction matters

• Faith, values, and navigating the creative industry

• Scaling into higher-end wedding filmmaking

If you’re a filmmaker, freelancer, or creative trying to build something meaningful from outside the mainstream, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen on Spotify

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube

Hannah Dolson returns to the podcast — singer, performer, barista, theatre kid at heart, and one of the most versatile artists in Norfolk County. This time she’s here to talk about her role in Nice Work If You Can Get It, the prohibition-era comedy musical now running at the Simcoe Little Theatre until December 7th.

In this episode we get into

• What it really feels like to direct a full production and why “the buck stops with you”

• How she transforms into a 1930s bootlegger and slips in and out of wild accents

• The behind-the-scenes chaos of sound checks, live audiences, and unexpected laughter

• Why performing onstage is somehow less stressful than directing

• Life with her hairless cat, Buddy, and the surprisingly intense grooming routines

• Theatre culture in Norfolk and why the local arts scene hits different

If you’re into theatre, local stories, comedy, jazz-era vibes, or just great conversation with a brilliant human who shows up everywhere in Norfolk’s arts community — this episode is for you.

From punk bands and cruise ships to jazz education and a full Charlie Brown Christmas tour — Hamilton musician Glenn Paul has lived one of the wildest music journeys you’ll ever hear.In this episode, Glenn breaks down how he went from high-school punk shows to studying jazz, touring the world by sea, and building a full-time creative career back in his hometown. We also dive into the rise of AI music, absurd cruise ship stories, and why live performance will always matter.In this episode we discuss:Growing up in Hamilton’s punk & post-rock sceneSwitching paths and learning jazz from scratchPlaying drums on cruise ships & traveling to 17+ countriesThe wild “pepper spray biking” storyThe return to Hamilton and building a teaching careerCreating the Charlie Brown Christmas jazz tourAI music, uncanny valley, and Spotify’s AI bandsCruise ship disasters & behind-the-scenes storiesPandemic life, teaching on Zoom & cultural shiftsLive music, rhythm patterns & how genres evolveHamilton venues, nostalgia & growing up in the cityFollow Glenn Hall:Instagram: @glennpaul.musicCharlie Brown Christmas Shows: Lighthouse Festival Theatre, Port Dover — Dec 13Follow The Just Drew Podcast:Instagram: @thejustdrewpodcastTikTok: @the.just.drew.podYouTube: @TheJustDrewPodcast

Jess didn’t plan to become Norfolk County’s most talked about baker...it just kind of happened.

From her days as a sous chef at The Combine to waking up at 4 AM to bake bread, Jess shares how The Bread Shed became a small-town phenomenon built on passion, persistence, and connection.

In this episode, Drew and Jess dive into the messy, magical journey of chasing creativity through flour, family, and the unknowns of entrepreneurship - one loaf at a time.

🎧 Topics We Cover:

• How a sous-chef job at The Combine changed everything

• Baking through burnout — and finding peace in the process

• What it’s really like to start a business from home

• The moment she “manifested” The Bread Shed

• Balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship

• Why community feedback matters more than perfection

• Lessons learned from 4 AM mornings and hundreds of loaves

Follow Jess & The Bread Shed:

📸 Instagram: @thebreadshednorfolk

Follow The Just Drew Podcast:

🎙️ Instagram: @thejustdrewpodcast

👕 Merch: www.justdrewpodcast.com

📺 Watch full episodes on YouTube

This week, Top Chef Canada contestant and Food and Drink Ambassador of Norfolk County Jason Mayo joins Drew for a deep dive into what makes Norfolk County so special — the pride, the people, and the local traditions that keep small-town culture alive.

We talk about:

• ​🎡 The wild energy of Young Canada Day and why the community fought to keep it alive
• ​👕 The connection between local pride and The Folk brand
• ​🍽️ Why atmosphere and service matter more than food when it comes to great restaurants
• ​🌾 The beauty of true farm-to-table living in rural Ontario
• ​💬 The fine line between growth and keeping Norfolk’s soul intact

Jason’s passion for this county runs deep — from his stories about teaching and food to his love of community events that bring people together. It’s real, it’s local, and it’s very Folk.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

From renting VHS camcorders in small-town Ontario to directing documentaries for CNN, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic, Dean Rainey has lived the filmmaker’s grind on a global scale. In this episode, Dean sits down with Drew to share his journey through Hong Kong’s TV scene, building a career in Norfolk County, and why he believes you don’t need film school to make it in the industry.

We also dive into:

• The making of his feature documentary Why Can’t We Talk About This?

• Lessons learned from shooting across Asia and North America

• The realities of film school vs. real-world sets

• Nostalgic VHS days, wild wedding stories, and the evolution of storytelling

Whether you’re an aspiring creative, a film buff, or just love hearing how small-town kids carve global paths, this conversation is packed with honesty, laughs, and lessons.

Author Nick Baeta joins the podcast to share the story behind his debut novel, The Atlantean Chronicles: A Fight for Survival. After a battle with chronic illness left him isolated and searching for purpose, Nick turned to writing as therapy—transforming pain into creativity. We dive into his journey from hospital stays to international book sales, the inspirations behind his Atlantis-infused adventure, and how martial arts, conspiracy theories, and late-night rabbit holes all shaped his storytelling.

I’m joined by Mac Buchwald — a teacher, musician, actor, and lifelong lover of stories. We dive into his journey from local theatre stages to the classroom, and how literature shaped his outlook on life. Mac shares his thoughts on Mary Shelley and why the poets of the past were the rockstars of their time. We talk about the power of words, the role of education in today’s world, and what it means to pass on creative passion to the next generation.

🎭 Community theatre

📚 Teaching with meaning

⚡ Literary legacies

🧠 Finding identity in stories

Whether you’re an educator, artist, or someone who just loves a good book — this one’s for you.

What’s it really like seeing Formula 1 in person? In this episode, I sit down with my brother Hayden Walmsley.

We get into the wild world of F1 fan culture, Max Verstappen’s insane driving style, the Red Bull double team controversy, and what it’s like being surrounded by 300,000 diehard fans. Plus, some classic sibling banter on current cinema, gaming and why grilled cheese should never be made with mayo.

In this episode:

• What Formula 1 feels like in real life

• How much it actually costs to attend a Grand Prix

• The smartest (and dumbest) spots to sit at the track

• Why Verstappen drives like a cracked-out gamer

• The Red Bull “double-team” advantage

• His Airbnb horror story in Montreal

• Designing the Neurospicy shirt

• Cinema & gaming

What happens when a film-obsessed photographer from Norfolk County DMs a Juno-winning musician...with nothing but passion and a camera?

In this episode, Jonah Atkins shares how a single message led to touring with Dan Mangan, why film photography still hits harder than digital, and what actually makes a good photo (hint: it’s not the gear).

We get deep into colour grading, creative burnout, awkward portrait poses, and how to carve out a lane in a noisy, over-filtered industry. If you’re a creative, filmmaker, photographer or just someone who’s trying to turn their passion into a career. This one’s for you.

🎞️ Topics Include:

• Why film feels different

• Touring with Dan Mangan

• Creative ruts and switching it up

• Gear myths and artistic honesty

• Color grading horror stories

Follow Jonah on Instagram → @jonah.atkins_

Follow the show @thejustdrewpodcast

New episodes weekly.