The Todd Donald Show

Waterloo Region podcaster Ryan Leacock comes with a background in film and design, and has already made a splash in the creative chatting with creatives show scene, ‘Creative People Podcast’, local to WR, and spread out to reach and connect with creatives worldwide. Add the fact that we’re both 35 and I’d say we’re twins, but if THAT’S the case, then where’s MY hair, God? Starting off with a personal diary at the beginning, like always, but a bit more this time.. I bring you into my chat with Ryan, intending once again on the personal life story, but ultimately relating on the internal and external struggles of making things, putting them out into the world, and continuing through all challenges to DO THE THING. The most helpful and important tool of all is knowing the fact that you are not alone. Ryan being the lovely person he is, served up allot of wisdom on this, so listen and take notes! I on the other hand simply yes-and’ed his gospel, and laid farts. But this is what. I. do. best. Please listen to Ryan’s amazing podcast, available everywhere (hit up the links below-on podcast descriptions that is), follow the social media, and BE SURE to get in on the merch production by ordering that tasty stuff!

Guelph, Ontario’s Laura Bailey is a multi-hyphenate - Singer, Songwriter, Vocal teacher, Improviser and more.. Come to think of it, I think many artists/performers lean towards more than one passion for passion sake. Laura is one of those few that combines all of those things into show-stopping shows, such as the positive message-infused, hilarious, and highly acclaimed ‘CLITORIA: A Sex-Positive Superhero!’. Where does it begin for Laura, and where does it stop? With Corona-Virus constantly topping the charts, it seems like it’s the right time for this ridonkulously gifted woman to focus on something that she’s described as unique to what she’s done so far as a songwriter. We discuss that, in fact, we go all over the map from Laura’s childhood-era musical development and how all things SHOW have played the noteworthy roles they have in Laura’s life, up to and including now! I’d like to add that Laura Bailey is not only a fantastic artist and performer, like, we all KNOW THAT (you should at least), but what a warm and lovely guest also. Yay! New friends! Call to awesomeness AND action!: CLITORIA: A Sex-Positive Superhero! the Soundtrack is now available for purchase on bandcamp! All proceeds are going to Black Lives Matter Guelph. Click this: bailey-s2s.bandcamp.com

Actor, Singer & more… Lindsey Alley was the child who was delivered the WOW experience from movie musicals and stage musicals, brought to her by parents who worked in what we now refer to as ‘essential services’. A natural and exceptional performer early on, Lindsey was getting cast in big stage productions halfway to 10 years old. She also spent her entire childhood-to-adolescance transition and experience, as a staple cast-member on Disney’s sensational and later iconized All new Mickey Mouse Club (1989-1996), and never lost the talent or the passion and ambition!

Rob Szabo, Toronto singer/songwriter, music producer (multi-Juno nominated), podcaster and so much more.. Is also one of my good friends, whom after many years of working in music, and wanting to - has now done so - and launched (in February) his own podcast; And Sometimes... Why? with Rob Szabo. It's a wonderful show, equally full of curiosity and keen interest, in warm conversations. Rob returns to the show after a year or two to chat about whatever. I could have leant into his life story, but we split the atom as we tend to, on the finer intellectual ground of being in the interviewer shoes, and more present life stuff. You can always peak into our life stories in fragments over many episodes in a row of each of our shows, just sayin', don't be shy. Nonetheless, it's with a lot of love and joy that I present Rob Szabo and I's discussion, with some of Rob's beautiful solo-artist original music weaved in. Please follow the links below to find Rob's music, music Rob's produced, as well as the podcast And Sometimes... Why?

Mary-Catherine Pazzano, Waterloo region jazz singer, vocal teacher, recording artist, classic movie buff and more, finally returns to the podcast, again? This will be Mary’s third time appearing and performing, for moi; the second time for this podcast specifically, and I couldn’t be more honoured. She’s a classically trained jazz singer (what!?), quite a fantastic piano player although she might dispute that, and continues to sport a splendid group of songs in an album called “You’re Gonna Hear From Me” available in links, hint. So why have this wonderful human back on, again, if we’ve already talked about her music, teaching life and the world of jazz music? Well, firstly because I believe we’ve become friends over time, and she’s wicked awesome company to chat with.. and if that wasn’t good enough, this time, we spend ample time nerding out over b&w movies and taking a look at her personal and musical upbringing. She even recorded some musical performances for the episode, that she would have otherwise performed in-person!, but.. you know..

Katy Topham, Kitchener/Waterloo (Singer/songwriter) is one of those longtime friends, where you can instantly tell i’m not just comfortable with, but comfortable with enough to interject with bullshit, but who thrives on it and bullshits back with me. We had a fantastic conversation of course, we talked about her music, her long period of distance with music and the hard times and other times, that shaped and evolved her into the strong and amazing woman she is today. We talk about her recent marriage and her and her husband Ryan’s more recent child-having! And it’s all very in, and out, of sequence, of those things. We also have our long-standing friendship and co-worker-ship that in itself has some stories to tell and laugh about. Plus, I insert (near the top of the episode), Katy’s newest single “I Just Don’t Feel Like Lovin’ You”, which is freakin’ fantastic!! One more thing, sunshine and warmth, so exotic and grand! I’ve been in the arctic too long.

Austin Gray (Singer/Songwriter) from Utah, is formerly from several different places, most importantly PureVolume.com, THE music/social networking website of 2004. Austin’s taken his love of music and DIY recording all around the states, in various formations, bands and projects, to ultimately wind-up in the midwest U.S. of A. where we catch up over coffee on Zoom, and chat about many things, including his FANTASTIC new song “Lost Time”. One of many great things in the ‘silver linings playbook’ of this awful covid-time, is the excuse to reach out to far away friends, especially when everyone you know is far away. I can’t believe how many different apps we’ve used over the years to stay in touch. We take a look into Austin’s beginnings and his approach to music. Due to unforseen choppy-ness in the Zoom connection, we resolved to continue the chat another time soon. Check out Austin’s southern rock meets brit-rock sound in the single, available digitally everywhere!

JP Sunga (a brilliant KW Singer/Songwriter) is one sweet guy, a devoted husband, a devoted papa, and after a fair amount of time and distance from his art, a re-devoted singer/songwriter. Why did art mean so much to JP in the first place? What role did his family play in the early days of growing up/learning how and becoming musical, and what does he bring to his own role in family life and going forward? Having been at this and super-talented since the 90s, it's time for this splendid individual to shine bright like... a shiny rock or stone! It's time for JP to spread... his... peanut butter!!! JK on those puns! Point being that JP and I will be talking about his lovely album project; with a single having been dropped on JAN 1, and another on the way! PS: JP and his family are down-the-street neighbours : ). Featuring music by JP Sunga; the new song "For Your Sympathy" featuring Mark Pelli, available tomorrow (May 29th) just visit the destinations listed below!

Milo Axelrod (Graphic Designer & podcaster), the voice of this very podcast, took a couple of hours to chat with me on zoom from their place in Hudson Valley, New York. We spent ample time talking about Milo's warm and gentle voice, what's going on with the podcast "Describing a Rock", other creative projects, growing up feeling socially distanced and of course, what pop culture is keeping us entertained and enthralled during this time of isolation. Be sure to enjoy us goofing off. especially in the middle where I play a bit of music by the amazing Podington Bear in the spirit of lampooning DAR.

Peach Guevara (Singer/Songwriter) has lived parts of her life in Ontario and British Columbia, and last year has brought her residence and musical gift into Montreal, Quebec. I ended up finding (and falling in love with) her first album “Nude” at the end of 2019. It’s beautifully melodic, yet fierce, with a reckless abandon and a rawness becoming quite rare. We chatted about our lives once, as well as our several commonalities… over the phone, and it’s been months of high time that we finally chatted in the form of a podcast. Between our misfit youths, misfit nows, a delightfully macabre sense-of-humour, general artistic outlooks and lasting love for humanity I feel like I’ve found a truly kindred spirit in Peach Guevara. I only hope my friend and I will someday meet in person! PS: Yes, I’m looking angrily at you, Covid-19.