Shows
The FEEDSnap Election / Minimizing the Blues / Metrolinx Barrie Service / Consumer Protection Legal Clinic / KUUMBA / Bent Fork ImprovOntario, we are going to the polls in just under a month. Ann Rohmer is with political analyst and host of the "3 Minute Interview", Stephen LeDrew to better understand the what, why, when and where of this snap election.Blue Monday is now in the rearview mirror, but its root cause is still with us. Shaliza Bacchus spoke with Rebecca Shields, CEO of the York Region in South Simcoe Canadian Mental Health Association, about a brand new program launched to minimize the blues.A transportation link to the GO train is certainly welcome in smaller communities in the GTA, but...2025-02-0155 min
Canadianish Comedians!Brett MacNeil - Episode 023Taylor Swift’s long-lost twin Brett MacNeil is a fabulous Toronto-based stand-up comedian hailing from the small town of Sydney, Nova Scotia. He recently completed his Master of Business Administration at the University of Fredericton, where he and his teammates dedicated their final graduation project to designing an app meant to help make the Toronto stand-up comedy scene a little more inclusive. We made a few references that were incorrect, but that's what life is all about... we do comedy people. ✌️2024-02-0150 min
Canadianish Comedians!Precious Chong - Episode 022Precious Chong is an award winning actress, writer and comedian living in Toronto. Her most recent credits include ‘Murdoch Mysteries’, Syfy’s ‘Chucky’ and CBC Gem’s ‘Homeschooled’. Other film and television credits include USA Network’s, “Falling Water” as well as the Hallmark Christmas movie “Love You Like Christmas” and “Northern Lights of Christmas”. Her web sketch series “Sex and the Single Parent” with fellow comedian Melissa Story (nominated for a 2015 CCA for Best Web Series and Best Female Performance in a web series) has over two million hits on Funny or Die and their weekly podcast “Story wi...2024-01-0252 min
Canadianish Comedians!Episode 021 Kyle BrownniggKyle Brownrigg is an undeniable presence in Canadian comedy. In 2019 he was a finalist in SiriusXM's Top Comic Competition, one of JFL42's New Faces, was selected for the prestigious Just for Laughs Homegrown show, and as a result he was awarded the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Breakout Artist. In May 2022 Brownrigg released his debut Just for Laughs comedy special 'Introducing Lyle' on Crave which was one of the highest trending comedy specials of the year. Kyle can be seen on many television series such as Roast Battle Canada, The Standup Show with Jon Do...2023-10-0155 min
Canadianish Comedians!Janelle Niles - Episode 020Janelle Niles is a Black - Mi’kmaq woman from Sipekne'katik, Nova Scotia. Janelle’s comedy career began in Ottawa, Ontario and soon to follow with her indigenous comedy show called Got Land? which expresses solidarity through humour. Janelle had the opportunity to perform on Just For Laughs, JFL42, Toronto in 2022 with Got Land? You can watch Janelle on CBC Gem’s New Wave Of Stand-up Season 2 (Canada Only). Janelle has also performed with Crack up Comedy Festival and Arctic Comedy Festival alongside her peers. Catch her appearance on Episode 1 of CTV’s Ba...2023-09-161h 05
Canadianish Comedians!Keesha Brownie - Episode 019 Keesha Brownie is an energetic, multi-faceted performer. She crafts her comedic recipe with a background in theatre, sketch, and music. Making observations about her Jamaican roots and Canadian upbringing, she punctuates punchlines with act-outs, parody songs, and sometimes even backup dancers. Behind that dynamic stage presence lies a fierce work ethic and an entrepreneurial mind. Brownie is a Second City alumni, independent show producer, and she keeps her fingers on the pulse by frequenting open mics all over Toronto. Brownie earned a Canadian Comedy Award nomination for Best Female Stand-Up in 2015. From there, sh...2023-08-0754 min
Canadianish Comedians!Mickey Dykeman - Episode 018We caught up with Mickey at their home in Toronto. Their bio reads as follows: The human equivalent of a golden retriever, Mickey Dykeman is a high energy, punch up comic. Through personal storytelling and silly word play Mickey's stand up covers topics such as relationships, religion and the Queer experience. They also do freelance script and screenplay writing, primarily comedy. They are a regular comic at the Comedy Lab and the booker and host for Black Sheep Comedy. You can follow Mickey on INSTAGRAM2023-07-1051 min
Canadianish Comedians!Kelly Zemnickis - Episode 017Kelly Zemnickis got her start in comedy at 17, cleaning toilets at a local Toronto comedy club. She eventually worked her way up to running the technical side of things, but it was only at the age of 37 when she took the mic for the very first time. In the 6 years since her first set, Kelly has shared the stage with comedians such as Kevin Farley and has been featured at the Burbank Comedy Festival (2020- best of the fest selection), Boston Comedy Festival, North Carolina Comedy Festival and L.A's Laugh Riot Grrl Festival. She ha...2023-06-2156 min
Canadianish Comedians!Stephanie Herrera - Episode 016Stephanie Herrera is an Honours Graduate of the York University Theatre Playwright program and is currently a Writer’s Guild of Canada member, and award winner, writing for TV and Film, as well as for Kids Animation. Stephanie has written, directed, produced and performed in over 10 original dinner theatre shows that have toured Ontario. Her slate of work also contains dozens of sketch and comedy shows, including the Toronto Fringe Festival. She founded Durham Improv, where she produced hundreds of live comedy shows, two seasons of “Stephanie’s Comedy Chat” on Rogers TV, which inspired her to pu...2023-05-2440 min
Canadianish Comedians!Jane Luk - Episode 015Jane Luk is an actor, improvisor, and writer. Jane’s favourite stage credits include years of Improv shows at Bad Dog Theatre, Second City, The Social Capital as well as many stages across Canada. Jane will also be joining the cast of Les Belles Soeurs in Stratford, August 2023, playing Gabrielle Jodoin (one of the sisters). Selected film and TV appearances include Handmaid’s Tale, Murdoch Mysteries, Kim’s Convenience, Anne With an E, The Clark Sisters, Saw lll, World Improv Championships (Just For Laughs Fest) as well as a few Hallmark holiday movies. S...2023-05-0750 min
Canadianish Comedians!Joanne O'Sullivan - Episode 014Joanne has worked in the live Canadian arts scene for over 20 years, across many genres, including performing stand-up from Vancouver to Toronto. She has written and performed in three solo shows and her third, She Grew Funny, premiered to sold-out audiences at the Toronto Fringe Festival, where it was the Factory Theatre Studio Patron’s Pick and one of Now Magazine’s Outstanding New Plays. As a Screenwriter, Joanne’s selected credits include writing for CBC’s popular news parody show, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and as a contributing writer for the Baroness von Sketch Show. J...2023-04-2439 min
Canadianish Comedians!Jackie Hoffart - Episode 013Jackie Hoffart is a short film maker, comedy producer & host, comedian, and writer who lives on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples, also known as Vancouver. Jackie served twice as a JUDGE for the JUNO Comedy Album of the Year category. They created a Telus STORYHIVE-funded docu-series called “YVR Funny” featuring 8 Vancouver comedians performing standup and giving intimate interviews. The first season of YVR Funny is now live on YouTube and the second season is in production. You can find everything on Jackie’s website, https://www.jackiehoff...2023-04-0558 min
Canadianish Comedians!Celeste Lampa - Episode 012Celeste Lampa hails from Edmonton, AB and has become a favourite in Western Canada’s comedy scene. Her material stems from being a first generation Filipino-Canadian, a mom, a wife; and being tired. Her talent has led her to work with some of today’s best comics. She has performed all across Canada and the United States, and has been featured at the SheDot Comedy Festival in Toronto and The Grindstone Comedy Festival in Edmonton. WATCH FOR CELESTE coming to Toronto with her SWEET & SALTY Tour with Crystal Ferrier! Follow...2023-03-2745 min
Canadianish Comedians!Stephanie Haller - Episode 011Steph Haller is a Toronto based actor and improvisor. She is a graduate of the Second City Sketch Conservatory and has studied extensively with Bad Dog Comedy Theatre and The Assembly. In 2022, Steph completed a 30 show tour of her 50-minute improv show “Too Much Information Improvised” with her improv partner (and ex-lover) Paddy. Steph loves big feelings, tarot cards and reminiscing (so we asked her about all of it). When she is not performing, you can find Steph knitting socks, and singing Harry Styles songs to her cats (yeah, we asked her...2023-03-0653 min
Canadianish Comedians!Zabrina Douglas - Episode 010Born and raised in Brampton, Zabrina Douglas is a comedian that draws from her experience as a Nurse, a mother, and the daughter of 2 Jamaican parents. "She's one of the most exuberant and cheerful stand-ups working in the city. She can turn a whole show around by kicking up the energy in the room." Steve Fisher --Torontoist.com. Zabrina has been a regular and headlined Kenny Robinson's legendary "Nubian Disciples All Black Comedy Revue". She Created and Produces her Critically acclaimed show "Things Black Girls Say". The album of the same title received a...2023-02-1849 min
Canadianish Comedians!Chandra Pepper - Episode 009We spoke with the delightfully funny Chandra Pepper! Chandra is an accomplished actress, writer, director, and teacher of theatre & meditation. She is passionate about living in a world full of connection and respect and theatre is the gateway drug to all that fun stuff! She has an imaginary friend named Fred and her letters to him are soon to be a book. We talked to her about life, comedy, and Fred.2023-01-291h 05
Canadianish Comedians!Lisa Merchant - Episode 008Lisa Merchant is a highly sought-after improvisation instructor/facilitator/performer. She has been studying, performing and teaching the art of improvisation for 35 years. Currently a professor at Humber College in the Faculty of Media & Creative Arts - teaching Improvisation for the Comedy Program. Lisa is faculty at SoCap Theatre in Toronto and a 29 year Senior Faculty member at The Second City Training Centre and corporate facilitator with The Second City Works division and privately. She is a multiple nominee and winner of 4 Canadian Comedy Awards, 3 for Best Female Improvisor. Lisa was a cast...2023-01-1556 min
Canadianish Comedians!Al Val Comedy - Episode 007Since coming out as transgender, Al Val has enjoyed nothing short of a meteoric rise in the Canadian comedy scene. Val has made multiple appearances at the Halifax Comedy Festival, the prestigious Just For Laughs Festival, in Vancouver and Toronto, and has taped stand-up sets for CBC Gem, Crave TV, CTV, and "JFL Originals". Al Val is in season three of a show called "Drag Heals", in which she and a handful of other entertainers go through this intense workshop and build a short one-person show based on their stories. It's very raw and emoti...2023-01-0159 min
Canadianish Comedians!Angela Maiorano Thurston - Episode 006Angela Maiorano-Thurston was born into a loud Italian family. Since birth she knew she had a voice that needed to be heard. Yes, her voice is a little unusual and squeaky at times, but you always know its Angela's distinctive trademark. While studying Improv at the famous Second City in Toronto during the 90's she made quite an impact, and it started the beginning of her Comedy career. Angela has become a seasoned Stand up Performer, while touring in North America. She has appeared in countless television commercials, movies for film and T.V. This...2022-12-2558 min
Canadianish Comedians!Cathy Gatlin - Episode 005Cathy Gatlin is the improv instructor for Improv4Health. Over the last 22 years she has taken classes at Second City, Bad Dog Theatre (formerly Theatresports) and most recently at the Kate Ashby Academy. She was also in the improv troupe “Born a Swirly” performing throughout the city of Toronto. Her passion is building community, as well as strengthening confidence in kids and adults. She volunteers to teach improv at St. Joseph’s hospital in Toronto, in the In-Patient Children’s mental health unit. Teaching at St. Joe’s has helped her...2022-12-0548 min
Canadianish Comedians!Crystal Ferrier - Episode 004Crystal Ferrier has performed all over the world from Canada, to NewYork, to India. The only Indian woman to headline Kenny Robinson’s Nubian Disciples of Pryor, an addition to Kevin Hart’s LOL network, and a part of Roast Battle Canada Season 2, she is one to watch out for. By day, this SuperWoman is a Behavioural Therapist. By night, she is an actress, comedian, writer and producer. Also a mother of 2, this funny mummy's real-life, raw comedic personality is unforgettable and will captivate anyone who falls in her company. Don't forg...2022-11-2036 min
Canadianish Comedians!Jessie Olsen - Episode 003Jessie Olsen is a loud and bold Toronto stand-up comedian who hosts comedy shows all over the City. Living her best life - sexually, physically, emotionally, and mentally - Jessie is empowering other women to do the same. She’s passionate about living authentically as a curvy body-positive, sex-positive, feminist babe. She feels the world would be a better place if more women embraced pleasure and allowed themselves to feel more! In the fall of 2020, she started hosting her own podcast called Your Place or Mine, sharing a combination of comedy talk...2022-10-2932 min
Canadianish Comedians!Jan Caruana - Episode 002Jan’s career has been interesting and varied. She is a multiple Canadian Comedy Award winner and has performed across North America in a variety of comedy shows. A mainstay of many Toronto stages, Jan co-wrote and performed in the Second City Toronto’s critically and audience acclaimed revues The Meme-ing of Life and We Can Be Heroes (named one of NOW Magazines Top Ten Shows of 2013). Jan was a member of the cast of “One Night Only”, a fully improvised two-act musical at Factory Theatre and was part of the Off-Broadway workshop production in 2018. She was al...2022-10-2128 min
Canadianish Comedians!Episode 1 Meagan McConnellWe had technical difficulties right out of the gate, including Laura blatantly NOT listening and being distracted. This has been a problem of hers since grade 1 🙄 We spoke to the absolutely lovely Meagan McConnell (that’s 2 C’s 2 N’s 2 L’s and don’t you forget it!) as she takes us through her comedic journey through life.2022-10-0741 min