The New Exchange with Ken Grand-Pierre

One of the most beautiful lessons we can learn in this life is how having clarity on what matters to us can set forth a path for us to walk through. I feel lucky that I’ve met people who’ve echoed that with their actions, and today’s guest does that in spades. Jess DiPierro Obert is an investigative photojournalist, filmmaker, producer, and visual artist whose work has focused on people who’ve had their human rights violated, particularly in the areas of physical violence, sexual assault, and mental health struggles.

It might sound gauche to say it this way, but a major aspect that stands out to me about Jess’s work is the dignity she’s always able to capture. Many of her subjects have been people who’ve gone through difficulties in life, but from Jess’s lens, it’s always clear that a person is more than their worst day (or series of worst days). No, they’re a human being first and foremost, and this bonus episode is about exploring Jess’s ethos towards her work, along with the extensive work she’s done in my family’s home county of Haiti.

For a lot of people, the idea of reaching superstardom and holding on to it is a focal life goal. But what happens when you reach that and realize that actually, there’s much more to life?

That’s where the story starts with Béatrice Martin (aka Cœur de pirate), a celebrated singer-songwriter from Montreal who’s had a career that feels uniquely reflective of her growth. That growth has come about from Béatrice asking the hard questions within her songs, such as “who am I?” “what am I going through?” and “where am I going?” Her latest album, Cavale, is no exception to that, and yet it also feels like a revitalized stage of Béatrice’s career. Musically, it’s as dynamic as its author, and this episode is all about exploring how Beatrice continues to nurture that dynamism.

Being able to give someone their flowers isn’t new to me (especially on this podcast), but I do think the way it happens in this episode is particularly unique. You see, today’s guest, Kimbra, is an old friend who’s gone on to inspire me immensely. A large part of it is due to how, for Kimbra, there is no delineation between artist and human. She’s the kind of artist who lives and breathes her art, all while staying true to her ideas, her vision, and what matters to her. But what’s really impressive about that is how she does this in a way that’s devoid of ego, where the question of “how can my art be of service to people?” remains at the focal point of everything that she does. This approach and perspective towards creativity didn’t happen overnight, and this episode is very much an exploration of this journey. Welcome to season 11 of The New Exchange podcast.
It might be hackneyed for me to say this, but with the world being in such dire straits right now, it does mean a lot to have you check this out.

Be sure to check out and follow Kimbra’s Substack so you stay up to date with her upcoming projects. Also, be sure to follow EXOTECH on Instagram so you hear about their next show.

This might just be the most timely episode we’ve ever released on this feed. The current state of the world continues to be this perpetual sh*t cycle of…well….sh*t, and with that, it’s easier than ever to fall into despair. But it’s usually in those moments where life feels its heaviest, that we’re reminded of what really matters, which is simply each other. This last episode of In The Long Run is about community, how we can cultivate it, foster it, and truly take stock of the need to be there for one another. If you’ve made a drinking game out of the amount of times we’ve said the word “community” across this series….well, firstly, we’re very impressed and secondly, sorry but not-sorry about that. This episode description is running the risk of sounding like one of Dumbledores speeches, but Katie and I do hope that hearing this chat reminds you how us having one another (in the form of our friends, family, co-workers, hell even the strangers on the train) is a beautiful thing, and yeah man, we’ll see ya on the other side.

Oh, and one more thing, season 11 of my podcast, The New Exchange, kicks off next week on March 31st. Be sure to subscribe to this feed so you don’t miss out, and also remember to give Katie a follow on Instagram so you don’t miss out on her work and future projects.

This is episode 5 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria.

You know the end of Ferris Bueller when he looks straight at you and says, “You’re still here?” That’s kind of how it feels writing this. Not that we don’t want you to stay (please stay), but this is Part 2, so ideally, you’ve listened to Part 1. If not, and you’re listening backwards… bold choice. We respect that kind of independence at The New Exchange. Carry on, dear listener.

This episode continues my conversation with Katie about aging, the emotions, the overthinking, all of it. And like always, there are plenty of laughs along the way. I think you’re going to love it.

This is episode 4 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria.

Katie shouting, “What the f%£k is creatine?” pretty much sums this episode up. This two-parter on aging feels like the heart of the series. In this first part, Katie reflects on how her views and feelings of life have shifted over time. We talk about the usual stuff (ya know, run clubs, consumerism, community, etc.) but as the conversation unfolds, it becomes something else entirely. Something I feel immense gratitude towards this talk, is how in real-time I was reminded of how getting to evolve in life is such a powerful gift (along with once again: getting to laugh with your friends).

This is episode 3 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria. 

Happy International Women’s Day! To celebrate, we’ve made a special new episode of Creative Maintenance, with an interview featuring my co-host, Laura Harvey, interviewing Neesha Hothi. Neesha is a CEO in PR and marketing with her independent company, Neesh Communications. For over a decade, she’s worked vigorously hard to become a leading voice in Canada’s entertainment industry, with a speciality in cultural storytelling. Neesha is the kind of executive who wears confidence like a coat that was custom-made for her. However, the best part about this episode is how she shares the journey of how she got to this point and how reaching this place was fueled by a necessity to be true to oneself over anything else.

Creative Maintenance will be back for a second season later this year. Be sure to subscribe to this podcast feed so you don’t miss out and to follow Creative Maintenance on Instagram @creativemainpod

What if the trick to falling back in love with your craft was falling back in love with yourself? That’s not the question that Charlotte OC set out to ask herself, but it’s the answer she’s clearly been met with; the songs off her latest EP being the proof. That EP is called ‘Seriously Love, Go Home’ and though I’ve told you the end of the movie, the journey is what needs to be explored. 

Musically, Charlotte’s never sounded better; her trademark effortless cool is in full display, with vocals that would be right at home in your nearest arena. This is the story of how this music almost never saw the light of day, and the relentless badassery of Charlotte OC.

Also, this is a great time to let you know that season 11 of The New Exchange will be starting on March 31st.

There’s a hauntingly familiar way in which loneliness can creep in when you’re surrounded by people. It can feel like such a small thing, but it will gnaw away at you until it’s the dominant thought in your mind. This is a feeling that Katie and I have chatted about in private many times throughout the years, and on this episode, we tackle it head-on. How do you make sense of that specific sense of isolation when surrounded by friends while you’re also doing what you love? Fair warning to you, this definitely isn’t a podcast where we solve the grand mysteries of loneliness, but hopefully, hearing us chat about it will help ya feel less alone.

This is episode 2 of 5 (Intro song is Fa Fa Fire by Andreas Dahlback, from Epidemic Sound). Artwork photo by Katie Dadarria.

This is another episode that feels unintentionally timely. We all crave escapism, but to many of us, it increasingly feels like the escapism available to us can leave us feeling more detached than intended. Enter in Brooklyn R&B duo Bathe, a group that’s made it their mission to make music that acts as “a balm for the anxieties of modern life.” Take it from this music lover, the ways in which their album Inner Voice(s) has become a refuge for me is something I’m perpetually grateful for & it’s a privilege getting to introduce you to these guys.

That said, to just call them R&B would be unfair, and even their self-embraced descriptor of alt-R&B feels too small. What Bathe excel at is bringing you soundscapes that feel intimate, familiar, and fresh all at once. Across this episode, we go into their origin story, along with the whys, and hows of how they go about doing what they do best.