Shows
The Women Of Ill ReputeMoving DayWell hello. It’s been a while. We are back, but only to say goodbye, then take you with us. After almost three years of being independent podcasters with the Sound Off Network, we are moving over to Substack. Substack is primarily a writers’ platform, but you can host podcasts there too, so we are taking the existing episodes of Women of Ill Repute (all 95 of them!) and putting them up there. You can still listen to us on Apple and Spotify and all the places you already get your pods, but on Substack they will be completely ad free...2024-10-2223 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSummer Throwback: Colin MochrieOur Summer Throwback series continues. Is an ambivert a pervert? No, it’s most of us! Maybe we are all just less funny versions of Colin Mochrie, who reveals he is, of course, an ambivert, someone who feels comfortable in social situations but also really enjoys time alone. You may know Colin as an extrovert, but he’s often really introverted. He says he’s afraid his neighbours might think he’s a dick, when he’s really just shy. Colin is a famous improv guy, he was on the U.K. and U.S. versions of “Whose Line is it Anyway...2024-08-2738 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSummer Throwback: Sheila McCarthyOur Summer Throwback series continues. Even when playing old ladies, she’s beautiful. Sheila McCarthy is one of those people you feel like you’ve known forever. And maybe we have. She’s been in everything, and now stars in Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking”, the Oscar-winning movie based on a true story by Miriam Toews about Mennonite women and girls drugged and then raped by men they know in their Bolivian colony. It’s all about violence and women talking!!!! It’s important, and it works. Sheila talks about learning to say sorry to someone who’s been abused, getting th...2024-08-2038 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSummer Throwback: Rick MercerThis week we go back to Episode 20 and the First Man. Rick Mercer was the first male to appear on our show. We decided to open up the floodgates and talk to anyone fearless and/or funny enough to want to talk to US, and no one fits that bill better than Rick. He’s been called a national treasure, Canada’s beloved comic genius, the scourge of Parliament Hill, and … the nicest man you’d ever want to meet. We love Rick for a million reasons, but especially because he works at the intersection of comedy and journalism. Whether...2024-08-1344 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSummer Throwback: Measha Brueggergosman-LeeIt's August and we are into some Summer Throwbacks! We go back to earlier this year and Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, a diva in the true sense of the word: a famous female opera star, with all the fierce discipline and flair for drama that that entails. But Measha is also a mother, a wife, a memoirist, a 7th generation Canadian descended from Black loyalists, on her way to finishing a Masters degree in practical theology. She does everything wholeheartedly, which is all the more inspiring when you know her experience with cardiovascular disease, undergoing open-heart surgery not once but twice...2024-08-0638 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSarah Burke: Women in MediaSometimes singers sing about singing, writers write about writing, and podcasters podcast about … yes, podcasting. This episode is actually a live off the floor recording of an interview we did with Sarah Burke, the founder of the Women in Media podcast and network. It takes place in Toronto at the Soundwave Summit, a conference and showcase for independent podcasters.Sarah tells us about why and how she started her pod, and then her network, and we all have a good chat about the ups and downs of this strange, still nascent little industry. Podcasting is an opportunity fo...2024-07-1033 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCathal Kelly: French FormulaSo Wendy never reads sports, but always reads Cathal Kelly, the sports writer at the Globe and Mail. He’s funny and fearless and clever, Cathal just happens to have chosen sports as the best vehicle. We pretended we were going to talk about the upcoming Paris Olympics, and we did! (Cathal loves the Olympics, aka 23-year-olds doing crazy, exceptional things, sometimes involving the River Seine)We also talk about his book, a memoir Cathal wrote a couple of years ago, called “Boy Wonders”. The book says intimacy makes him nervous, but it’s so revealing. He tells of...2024-07-0233 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMartha Chaves: Laughing Til You CryWe both feel like we know her, Martha Chaves is after all the funniest Nicaraguan Canadian LGBTQ+ Stand Up Comedian in the World! We know her best from radio shows like “The Debaters”, and “Because News”. She also teaches comedy at Humber and Metropolitan Toronto University, showing the ropes to people just starting out.Martha tells us she’s heard and seen lots of sexism, racism and homophobia over the years in Stand Up, but she just pushes ahead. On her own at 17, (leaving Nicaragua is quite the story!) she figured out how to be positive and stay that...2024-06-2534 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeChelsea Wakelyn: HeartbreakWe love books and authors, we consider a lot of them for our podcast, but Vancouver Island’s Chelsea Wakelyn sent us an intriguing email. So we read her first book and got truly blown away. “What Remains of Elsie Jane” is a quasi-fictional story about losing her beloved partner, father to her kids, to drugs and addiction just as the opioid crisis began sweeping B.C. All while Chelsea was in her 30’s. It sounds like a gut-wrencher. And yes, it’s tragic and raw, but it’s also side-splittingly funny.We talked about being a weirdo, lust, Joan Didion...2024-06-1838 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMelissa Dilkes-Pateras: The Laundry LesbianThere are many pathways to fame and fortune, but being exceptionally good at doing laundry is an unusual one. Enter Melissa Dilkes Pateras, whose knowledge of housecleaning tips and tricks has turned her into an internet sensation. Well, that, and her sly sense of humour and unblinking acknowledgement of her sexuality. A resident of Uxbridge, Ontario, and mother of three, Melissa started making videos during the Covid-19 lockdown to entertain herself, and went viral on Facebook, then TikTok, and ultimately an appearance on the CBS Morning Show. She also found love when she connected with her now wife Tracy...2024-06-1138 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAnn Pornel: Force Of NatureThere’s no getting away from Ann Pornel, not that you would want to. She’s loud, she’s proud, she’s utterly glamorous and funny as hell. Ann’s a sketch comedian and an actress who is best known as the host of The Great Canadian Baking Show. Born in the Philippines, Ann moved with her family to Canada, then came up through the comedy ranks at the University of Toronto (yes, U of T is a hotbed of comedy). She’s written for Baroness Von Sketch and This Hour has 22 Minutes, and was recently recognized as one of Canada’s...2024-06-0439 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeGeorge Stroumboulopoulos: Canada's BoyfriendGeorge Stroumboulopoulos is a man for all seasons. He’s everything: a media personality, broadcaster, former VJ, radio, talk and reality show host, social advocate and one time host of Hockey Night in Canada. Everyone knows George, and George know everyone, but what do we really know about him? He’s 51 and lives in L.A. now, where he does a show for Apple Music. He’s a vegan who embraces a straight edge lifestyle, rides a motorcycle and loves heavy metal.He’s single (we think, but who knows) and has no plans to ever have children...2024-05-2844 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLoreena McKennitt: Celtic QueenWe had to ask about the red hair, does one get ridiculed or admired? Loreena McKennitt has a mass of beautiful red curls but is mostly admired for her music. When Mo thinks of her, she sees mists and magic and fairy tales. Loreena’s sold more than 14 million albums and toured the world with her harp and her beloved band of fellow musicians. She’s a singer, songwriter and composer with a new album full of early Celtic tunes called “The Road Back Home”, and is going on tour where she hopes the audience will sing along with her!...2024-05-2134 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeErika Casupanan “Sole Survivor”“Going to the coconut tree”. You hear it all the time on “Survivor”. What does that mean? Erica Casupanan spills the beans. She is the first Canadian to win “Survivor”, and the first Filipino. Tiny and Asian, she was tired of always being underestimated, so she used it on “Survivor 41”. Erika voted out her rivals, won over everyone else, and surprise, she won! More than a million bucks. A bit more than her previous salary as a communications manager, where she saw power dynamics at play. People are treating her very seriously now.Mo tried to get Wendy to try out...2024-05-1434 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeChef Michael Smith: What's Cooking?Michael Smith is a Celebrity Chef who decided he had a problem with the Celebrity part. He’s kind of a big deal, has published several cookbooks, hosted TV shows on the Canadian Food Network, and wore the chef’s hat at some big-name restaurants around the world. Now, tired of Michelin-priced restaurants, he moved to Prince Edward Island and runs the 5-star “Inn at Bay Fortune”, where the farm is as sumptuous as the food. And there are oysters. Some nights he helps shuck 700 of them.Chef Michael got married, had kids, and embraced his inner tree hug...2024-05-0730 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeRon James: Rocking The BoatRon James says comedy should never be mean, but he sure has a lot of opinions! You should hear what he says about Quebec comedians. Is there a geographic link to comedy, a humour gene unique to Eastern Canada? Ron says he learned the power of laughter at his father’s knee in Glace Bay and then Halifax. That’s why he loves to tour, he says laughs are truly the bottom line.Like so many comedians, Ron got his start at Second City in Toronto. Then he moved toLos Angeles, and hosted a TV show. Alas...2024-04-3033 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJen Gerson: Mouthy BabeJen Gerson of “The Line” readily admits to being a mouthy babe, but only when she writes, she insists she is actually shy. Jen says she’s just opinionated, not trying to change anyone’s mind. She argues that’s not a journalist's job, that only activists try to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”. Well, call us afflicted! Her writing makes us think.Jen has written for The New York Times, The Economist, Macleans, the National Post and The Globe and Mail. Now, she co-hosts “The Line” on Substack with Matt Gurney, and is writing a book about the Sat...2024-04-2340 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMichaela Watkins: Late BloomerYou know you know Michaela Watkins, but you may not know why. Then you remember (or are told) that she’s been in over a hundred sitcoms, dramas and comedies, including a 2 year stint on SNL. And then you remember that you love her, and when you see her latest movie, Suze, you’ll remember why. In Suze, Michaela plays a woman who once wanted more for herself and sets about reclaiming it, with the help of her daughter’s abandoned boyfriend (played by up and coming Canadian actor Charlie Gillespie).Like Suze, Michaela is a woman whose...2024-04-1625 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeRon Sexsmith: Unsung HeroRon Sexsmith says “I’m not really shy, I’m just Canadian”. He’s a singer-songwriter who has never had a top 40 hit, is not rich, but is deeply admired by the people he admires most. Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, and Gordon Lightfoot, are all, were all, huge fans. Sexmsith’s songs, like “Secret Heart”, have been performed by everyone from Rod Stewart to Feist to Nick Lowe.We spoke to him as he was about to headline at Toronto’s storybook Massey Hall. When Ron was a kid and couldn’t afford a ticket, he’d hang outside to see hi...2024-04-0932 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeDianne Whelan: 500 Days in the WildAward-winning director and cinematographer Dianne Whelan does not choose easy topics. She’s made docs about Mount Everest, and the Arctic, but this one, about being the first to tackle the whole Trans Canada Trail, takes the cake. Or in this case, the reheated oatmeal. Dianne has called her new documentary “500 Days in the Wild”, because that was the plan, to travel from St. John’s NL. to Victoria B.C., 24 thousand miles in 500 days. Only it took 6 years.Dianne burnt the original schedule and gave in to a harrowing, grueling, and heart-warming adventure. She began the trek dis...2024-04-0235 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCarol Doda: Topless at the CondorWhat IS the deal with boobs? Our preoccupation with women’s breasts isn’t just sexual, it’s social, historical, political and economic. No one knew that better than Carol Doda, a dancer and cocktail waitress, who, 60 years ago, dared to bare her nipples atop a baby grand piano as it descended from the ceiling of the Condor, a San Francisco nightclub. Somehow, it changed everything. Far from being exploited sex workers, Carol and her colleagues saw themselves as the harbingers of a revolution. Maybe so, but they paid dearly for it, submitting themselves not only to the male gaze...2024-03-2632 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeTassie Cameron: Law and Order TorontoWhen Tassie Cameron first saw the opening credits for Law and Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, complete with the iconic DUN DUN sound effect, she felt a shiver up her spine. It was Cameron who was entrusted with the legendary series’ first foray beyond American borders, serving as show runner and head writer for the Canadian franchise. Tassie says Toronto is a natural fit, with its diverse population, distinct neighbourhoods and yes, rampant crime scene. There are differences, however, in our criminal justice system, and those can pose a challenge, along with the demanding responsibility to get the show right....2024-03-1929 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeTracy Dawson: The Trouble with TracyIt felt like Old Home Week. A few years ago Tracy Dawson was on the CTV comedy show The Dish Show, co-hosted by you know who. Yes, of course, it was Mo. And Tracy is still tempting trouble, mouthing off and cracking jokes, only now she’s in L.A. She’s a comedy writer who’s just written her first book, “ Let Me Be Frank: A Book About Women Who Dressed Like Men To Do Sh**t They Weren’t Supposed To Do”.Tracy got inspired after being told the TV shows she wanted to write for had “no...2024-03-1239 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJohanna Schneller: Star WhispererWhy does the serious man movie always get the nod? On the eve of the Oscars, Johanna Schneller says some things don’t change. Hence Oppenheimer getting the glory and Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie getting snubbed. Wendy and Mo have different thoughts on the movie, but really? Barbie was huge! We talk to Johanna about Girl Power, why we love celebrities, and why Mean Girls may go on forever. But don’t worry, there are lots of reveals about getting famous people to open up.Johanna is one of the top entertainment journalists in the world. We r...2024-03-0541 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeBruce Cockburn: On a Roll38 albums in, most of them gold or platinum, Bruce Cockburn is still Kicking at the Darkness. He’s a legendary singer-songwriter-activist who’s won 13 Juno awards, and is now heading out on tour with his latest, “O Sun, O Moon”, where he sings “In my soul, I’m on a roll”.Now 78, Bruce is still trying to make the world a better place. We talk about the one time “the suits” got a say (Franklin the Turtle lyrics ), about others having hits with his songs (Lovers in a Dangerous Time), and the story behind his signature round glasses!Bru...2024-02-2731 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMeasha Brueggergosman-Lee: Open HeartedMeasha Brueggergosman-Lee is a diva in the true sense of the word: a famous female opera star, with all the fierce discipline and flair for drama that that entails. But Measha is also a mother, a wife, a memoirist, a 7th generation Canadian descended from Black loyalists, on her way to finishing a Masters degree in practical theology. She does everything wholeheartedly, which is all the more inspiring when you know her experience with cardiovascular disease, undergoing open-heart surgery not once but twice. Who better to be our guest this week, as February is not only Black History Month...2024-02-2037 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeDr. Jennifer Gunter: The Gyno GuruIs being a woman just like in the ads? Blood is blue, and we all need supplements that make us smell like a pina colada? Jennifer Gunter is a Canadian gynecologist who also writes for the New York Times, hosts a podcast, and has written several bestselling books: The Vagina bible, The Menopause Manifesto, and now: BLOOD, The Science, Medicine and Mythology of Menstruation. She lives and practices in California, but her new book is the #1 bestseller in Canada.There’s lots of science, as she says, “Come for the sex, stay for the science”, but Gunter is als...2024-02-1340 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAlan Doyle: Happy ManAlan Doyle says the best part of leaving, is coming home. And home is Newfoundland. His elders voted to keep Newfoundland a country, but they lost the 1949 referendum and joined Canada. Alan is the first generation Canadian in his family. We talk about his love of touring, of music, of acting beside Russell Crowe, and partying in pubs. Alan plans to keep performing forever. Why, he asks, would one ever retire?We tried to get him to confess to being secretly unhappy. It didn’t work. His new album is a bit more country, much more intimate, and...2024-02-0634 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMolly McGlynn: Fitting InMolly McGlynn has a lot to distinguish her: an accomplished writer and director, her first feature film Mary Goes Round won multiple awards at all the cool festivals, and she’s written for TV shows like Workin’ Moms, The Wonder Years and Grace and Frankie. Molly’s latest feature film, however, is a semi-autobiographical account of a teenager who discovers she was born wth a rare disorder called MRKH syndrome, which impacts the development of the uterus, cervix and vagina, and is sometimes classified as intersex.Hence, Fitting In, starring dance phenom Maddie Ziegler and Schitt’s Creek actor Emily Hampshir...2024-01-3037 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeEmily O'Brien: Comeback KidWhen she was 26, Emily O’Brien, a promising young woman (as they say) from Hamilton, Ontario made a really bad judgment call, and was sentenced to 4 years in prison for drug smuggling. That could have been the end of her story, as it is for so many, but Emily, given lemons, decided to turn them into lemon (and pepper and dill) flavoured popcorn.While still incarcerated, Emily started Comeback Snacks, a gourmet popcorn business that allowed her to not only reinvent her own life, but those of some of her fellow inmates.Not only does Comeback Snacks of...2024-01-2335 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAndrea Werhun: Modern WhoreAndrea Werhun embraces being called a whore. But she’s really about work, about making money, about boundaries, and yes, having a good time. She’s also an activist who is tired of feeling sex workers should be ashamed. Andrea was an escort and then a stripper for several years. She’s now published a glossy memoir full of naughty pictures and stories and is about to star in a movie about her life. Ok, she’s in her 30’s! Mo and Wendy have issues with creeps, violence, and hygiene, but we sure support rights for all. We talk about gene...2024-01-1642 min
The Women Of Ill ReputePam Anderson: Wild AbandonHappy New Year! According to Hello magazine, this is Pamela Anderson’s year! Or did they mean last year? Either way, we are witnessing a turning point in the life of our favourite Canadian bombshell. Yes, she has moved back to Vancouver Island, and Pamela has not one but two new TV shows, but she’s been making headlines - actual headlines - for daring to go bare. Faced, that is. So we talk about that, and how, despite all the lessons she has supposedly learned, through her activism, her five marriages and two grown children, she still gives hers...2024-01-0926 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeA Year of ReputeJoin Maureen & Wendy for a special year-end episode celebrating the first full year of Women of Ill Repute! In honour of the fine guests who've graced us with their presence on the show, the Women of Ill Repute go through some of their favourite highlights from this year, such as Rick Mercer, Mary Berg, Marilyn Denis, Colin Mochrie and many others.Cozy up by the fire, grab a glass of wine, and come celebrate A Year of Ill Repute!A transcription is available here. We love writing and would love for you to...2023-12-2521 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCat Alvarado: Sex and SensibilityWe’re not saying emotions aren’t real, or valid, but might they also just be … digestive issues? That’s one of Cat Alvarado’s theories. Cat is not a dietician. She’s a comedian, a self-styled Latina misfit, and a former teen bride (which she says may have happened on a sugar high). We talk about getting kicked out of church, reconciling sexuality with spirituality, and the acceptable number of people one can admit to sleeping with.Cat Alvarado has over 2 million views on YouTube’s Reel Rejects, was featured on Buzzfeed’s Tasty Channel, as well as the PBS...2023-12-0537 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeHilary MacMillan: Ahead of the CurveCan you be a vegan, a plus-size designer, and a feminist? Hilary MacMillan says of course! She also says age, size, old viewpoints begone, that Mo and Wendy can wear see-through clothes if they want to. (We don’t) Even the dreaded leopard print. It’s back! We talk about Barbie, cute cows, and super thin models. And we reveal more secrets…check us out!Hilary MacMillan is a Canadian who designs contemporary cruelty-free clothes, which means no fur, no leather, no silk or wool. Her designs are full of stylish alternatives, styles and patterns. And they are av...2023-11-2837 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCarolyn Taylor: Buffoon Makes GoodIt’s real! After a year of trying we finally got Carolyn Taylor to come on the podcast. She was one of the Baronesses on the comedy series Baroness Von Sketch, very funny: perfect! But her excuse for delaying us seemed like a joke. She said she was gonna be busy doing a TV series about choreographing an Olympic level pairs skating routine to Whitney Houston’s hit “I Have Nothing”. Ya, sure. Carolyn’s a comedian, who didn’t know how to skate, let alone how to choreograph a skating routine.Only now, she’s done it. And "I Hav...2023-11-2135 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeDenise Donlon: FirebrandOk, she’s done everything. Much Music rock ‘n roll host/producer, president at SONY Music Canada, honcho at CBC Radio, and all-around do-gooder. Seriously. Through it all, Denise Donlon has tried to use her powers for good. She has fought for women, gay people, for racial diversity, and usually had a lot of fun while she was at it. She spills about CITY-TV, the CBC, and having her heart broken by Leonard Cohen. Not in that way.Denise paved the way for women in corporate leadership at Sony Music, at the CBC, at Much, and is a me...2023-11-1440 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAnn Hood: Fly GirlHard to believe, but there was a time when flying was … glamourous. Not just for passengers, but for the crew, especially the stewardesses, as they were called. They were the goddesses of the air, beautifully groomed, alluring, international jet setters. Of course they also dealt with unwanted advances, brutal hours in high heels, and a constant attention to weight and appearance. It was a simpler time, but a fascinating one, according to Ann Hood, author of Fly Girl: A Memoir. Stewardesses, as alluring as they seemed, were so much more than busty sexpots, which, by the way, is Mo’s st...2023-11-0739 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeNaomi Snieckus: The Rules Of Improv (And Life)Wendy has a problem with rules. But some rules matter. Like the rules of improv. Naomi Snieckus loves those. And so does Maureen. Naomi talks about Improv Rule #1: Yes, And. About the importance of supporting a partner in comedy or drama or a podcast. And yes, in life.Naomi started doing improv at Second City in Toronto, and is now an actor, producer, writer and director.She was on “Mr. D", “Degrassi”, “Pretty Hard Cases”, and voices a ton of cartoons.During “Me Too” she launched The Firecracker Department which supports creative women and non-binary people. She’s also...2023-10-3034 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJeannette Walls: Family and FictionFamily secrets are now the stuff of tell-all memoirs, thanks largely to Jeannette Walls and her book The Glass Castle. Jeannette turned the book world - and the world in general - on its ear with her account of growing up rootless, homeless and in dire poverty. Jeannette has now moved on to fiction. Hang the Moon is her latest, the story of an intrepid young woman who becomes a bootlegger during Prohibition. We talk about memoirs and memories, truth and fiction, and what it’s like to have Woody Harrelson play your father.Jeannette Walls is an Am...2023-10-2442 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeVivek Shraya: How to Succeed as a TV StarVivek Shraya wants to talk about failure. She has a new TV series on CBC called “How to Fail as a Popstar”. Vivek says that failure is what keeps her up at night. Why didn’t she become the next Madonna? Did people think she was too brown? Too queer? Or maybe she was too held down by people’s expectations? Vivek embraces the failure, and argues we need to stop focusing on resilience and allow for disappointment.Meanwhile, Vivek is an associate professor, a filmmaker, the author of several books, a musician, and a huge success. She’s al...2023-10-1741 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJon Dore: Border CrosserJon Dore is a national treasure, or will be when he returns to Canada from Alaska, where he’s been living these past few years. He’s not everyone’s cup of maple syrup, however. His humour lurks on the dark side: domestic arguments, pregnancy, cancer, his own surprise diagnosis of epilepsy. There are few borders Jon won’t cross, literally and figuratively. We talk about lifestyle changes, free speech, love of family and country, and being best friends with an 8 year old.Jon Dore was named Best Newcomer by the Canadian Comedy Awards back in 2013. Ten years later, he won t...2023-10-1039 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJennifer Podemski: The StorytellerGood stories don’t have to be based in truth, but they are all the more compelling when they are. Have you seen Little Bird? You must. The series, available on Crave, tells the story of Esther Rosenblum, born Bezhig Little Bird, a First Nations woman who was adopted into a Jewish family during the Sixties Scoop, when children were forcibly taken from their families.Jennifer herself is half Jewish, half Ojibwa. She’s a brilliant and highly acclaimed actress, writer and producer, but sees herself as a clown, and would have joined Cirque du Soleil if she h...2023-10-0335 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMelissa Bubb-Clarke: BackstageShe has a lot of letters: SVP at MLSE. Melissa Bubb-Clarke has a big job overseeing music and other live events at huge arenas. But what’s really cool is that she gets to see behind the stage and meet the stars! We talk to Melissa about her favourite concerts (like the Tragically Hip), brown M&Ms, and what it’s really like for the Madonnas of the world behind the scenes. We resisted the temptation to grovel for free tickets.As Vice President at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, she oversees the Entertainment portfolio including Live Nation Canada. Meli...2023-09-2637 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSheila McCarthy: Women of Ill Repute TalkingEven when playing old ladies, she’s beautiful. Sheila McCarthy is one of those people you feel like you’ve known forever. And maybe we have. She’s been in everything, and now stars in Sarah Polley’s “Women Talking”, the Oscar-winning movie based on a true story by Miriam Toews about Mennonite women and girls drugged and then raped by men they know in their Bolivian colony. It’s all about violence and women talking!!!! It’s important, and it works. Sheila talks about learning to say sorry to someone who’s been abused, getting the role, and having her feet wa...2023-09-1936 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeColin Mochrie: The AmbivertColin Mochrie: The AmbivertIs an ambivert a pervert? No, it’s most of us! Maybe we are all just less funny versions of Colin Mochrie, who reveals he is, of course, an ambivert, someone who feels comfortable in social situations but also really enjoys time alone. You may know Colin as an extrovert, but he’s often really introverted. He says he’s afraid his neighbours might think he’s a dick, when he’s really just shy.Colin is a famous improv guy, he was on the U.K. and U.S. versions of “Whose Line is it Anyway” for...2023-09-1236 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSamantha Irby: Quietly HostileSamantha Irby is not as hostile as she might like us to think, quietly or otherwise. What she is is brutally and hilariously honest. Fierce and foul-mouthed, Sam joins us to talk about why it’s ok not to like your body … How she’s not responsible for killing Big on And Just Like That, but did help expedite his demise (send your outraged emails to us, not her). Also: how to be a decent stepparent, what she keeps in her purse, and her crazy pandemic Chihuahua. Oh, and the world’s best moisturizer. The New York Times calls Samantha Ir...2023-09-0543 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMary Berg: The Next Big ThingThis is Mary Berg’s moment. If you haven’t noticed, Mary is everywhere these days. She’s already been on our radar as the winner of MasterChef Canada, the host of two cooking shows, the author of three cookbooks and now … the host of The Good Stuff with Mary Berg, a new national daytime talk and lifestyle series replacing the irreplaceable Marilyn Denis on CTV’s fall schedule. Despite her pretty damn adorable appearance, Mary is no lightweight: she learned to cook as the result of a family tragedy. She has degrees in history, English and information science. She worked...2023-08-1538 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSuzanne Boyd: Ageless GlamWhat does it mean to age gracefully? Does it involve defiance or acceptance? For Suzanne Boyd, editor-in-chief of Zoomer magazine, it means making the most and best of the time we have, each according to his or her own preference. There’s a world of opportunity for people over the age of, say, 45? But it’s also OK to wear pyjamas and watch Jeopardy all day, if that fulfills you. Of course it helps if you have Suzanne’s drive, energy and downright gorgeousness. Come meet the woman who says comfort is overrated, and that she’d never be caught d...2023-08-0840 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeZoe Whittall: Lovers And LiarsHave you ever been scammed? Ripped off? Betrayed? Lied to? Ever fallen for a sociopath? Are YOU a sociopath? How would you know if you were? These are the questions we discuss with Zoe Whittall, author of the bestselling novel “The Fake”. Zoe is a Canadian poet, teacher TV writer and novelist. She has won all sorts of awards for her work, including being shortlisted for the Giller Prize, and her 2016 novel, The Best Kind of People, is being developed for film by Sarah Polley. “The Fake” is her fifth novel, and tells the story of a charming con artist w...2023-08-0133 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJohn Moore: The Morning ManJohn Moore is the thinking person’s thinking person. As the affable yet acerbic host of Moore in the Morning on radio station Newstalk 1010, he gets up at an ungodly hour to keep Toronto informed and entertained. John is also a dear and longtime friend to Wendy and Mo, so we put the host in the guest chair to talk about all things to do with friendship: how to make them, how to lose them, what matters in a friend, what doesn’t, friends on social media, and of course friends with benefits. John Sanford Moore (yup, that’s his mi...2023-07-2542 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMellissa Fung: The SurvivorNot a lot of chuckles when you are kidnapped by the Taliban and thrown in a hole. And then you write a book about the girls stolen and raped by Boko Haram. But we laughed anyway. Mellissa Fung talks about her life, her new book, women’s fears, and ultimately finding joy. No one wants to be defined by their worst experience, we talk about learning to be a survivor and not just a victim.Mellissa Fung is a journalist and thinks that matters. While reporting in Afghanistan in 2008, she was kidnapped by the Taliban and kept in...2023-07-1835 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJeanne Beker: Silver liningsJeanne Beker has done it all, most of it on TV. Rock ‘n roll, fashion, and now, breast cancer. Unfortunately, Mo and Wendy know too much about the latter. Jeanne offers lessons on how to be super upbeat. We share tales until we realize we could do a whole show about hair! Mostly we talk about Jeanne’s many closets and her treasured pieces. She also spills about that time in the bathtub with a famous rock star.Jeanne Beker is a journalist, media personality, and fashion entrepreneur. She was a star on The NewMusic, and hosted the...2023-07-1143 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeIvy Le: IndoorswomanThe great outdoors is overrated, says Ivy Le, a comedian and podcaster from Austin, Texas. Ivy, a self-admitted indoorswoman, took on camping, and then hunting, as a sort of exercise in reverse colonialism. Ivy is Asian, you see, as well as a bisexual Buddhist mom with allergies, and she couldn’t see herself, or anyone like her, in a tent in the woods with a gun, ready to butcher and eat whatever she catches. So she set out to see what she was missing, and the result is FOGO - Fear of Going Outside, a hilarious and eye-opening look at...2023-07-0439 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeStephen Marche: SmartypantsStephen Marche: SmartypantsIs the world gonna end? Are computers gonna take over? Stephen Marche says he’s written lots of cataclysmic novels and columns about everything from the end of the monarchy to a new Civil War in the U.S. But he’s in love with Artificial Intelligence, thinks it’s like Hip-Hop; the next era of creativity.Marche admits optimism is kinda weird for him, but he thinks humans will remain in control. Wendy is not so sure. But then she and Mo are control freaks.Stephen Marche has written “The Next Civil War”, “The Unmade Bed...2023-06-2733 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeScarlett Bobo: Activist QueenEveryone loves a drag queen, right? Well they did, thanks to the emergence of Pride, artists like RuPaul, and the success of shows like Canada’s Drag Race, dragging drag out of the back room and into the limelight where the queens love to shine. But lately there’s been a shift in support, with anti-gay protestors storming libraries to decry Drag Queen Story Hour, a program intended to gently and humorously teach children about inclusivity. It coincides with a rise in violence against trans and queer people, and Scarlett Bobo, for one, is not having it. Scarlett, a huge...2023-06-2039 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAmanda Marshall: Dark HorseEveryone asks her the same question: what happened? Amanda Marshall was at the top of her game in the late 90’s, selling millions of albums and sold-out concert halls and then … she disappeared. Except she didn’t really. It was a business decision as much as anything, but now she’s back with a new album and a new sense of purpose, but that same powerful, gut-wrenching voice and that truly amazing cape of hair. We talk musical roots, live performance, being an only child, being mixed race, food and, yes, hair care.Amanda Marshall is a Toronto...2023-06-1338 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeNatalie MacLean: Glass Half FullHow do you remain an expert wine taster while watching your intake? A lot of spitting, obviously, although Natalie MacLean’s career is nothing to spit at. Natalie, who was gifted with an uncanny ability to pair wine with food, built her reputation on a hugely popular newsletter, but then came divorce, depression, defamation and yes, drinking too much. She tells us all about it, as well as what wine to pair with artichokes. Natalie MacLean, named the World's Best Drinks Journalist, has also won four James Beard Foundation Journalism Awards. She’s the bestselling author of Red, White and D...2023-06-0639 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJody Vance: The FighterJody Vance calls herself a Mama Bear. Don’t mess with her. If she wants something, like hosting her own prime-time sportscast, she goes for it. The first woman ever in that role. But when a stalker came after her, then her son, online, she was devastated. Attacking her was one thing, but her kid, no. Mo and I both were told to not engage, it’s the price of doing business. Now Jody has taken the guy to court, he's pled guilty. And she’s still fighting for more tools against the tsunami of online hate, most of it aga...2023-05-3036 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeBrittlestar: Return of the Straight White ManHe's a middle aged white guy, backed by Disney, who makes dad jokes on the internet ... with an edge. Amidst all the hatred on social media, Brittlestar actually makes people feel better, or at least laugh at the things that don't. We had a lot of fun with Stewart Reynolds, which is what his mom calls him when he's in trouble.Brittlestar’s videos are watched by hundreds of thousands and he made the world's most popular branded video on Facebook. In spite of being “The world's favourite internet dad (unproven)”. He has yet to do a daddy...2023-05-2337 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJen Sookfong Lee: SuperfanJen Sookfong Lee makes no apologies: she’s a superfan. That’s the name of her latest book, a deeply personal compilation of essays on how her life has been touched and affected by the likes of Anne of Green Gables, Princess Diana, Amy Tan, sensitive white boys like John Cusack, the Biebers, the Kardashians and, inevitably, Gwyneth. The truth is these icons resonate with all of us, even Wendy, who admits to knowing nothing about pop culture. Jen joins us to talk about all that, being Asian Canadian, a single mother, a more than decent writer, and an admi...2023-05-1638 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeBeverley McLachlin: Full DisclosureBeverley is not retiring. Beverley McLachlin was told in grade 8 that she wasn’t very alert. That she probably wouldn’t amount to much. Ha! She went on to become the chief justice of our Supreme Court, the first woman in that role. All justices are told to step down at 75, so she has now taken up writing thriller novels. Oh, and a bit of lawyering. You should hear what she says about the Notorious RBG , and what might have happened to the “Bev” bra.Beverley McLachlin was born and raised in Pincher Creek, Alberta. She was chief jus...2023-05-0934 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSuzette Mayr: Giller GirlSuzette Mayr thinks happy endings are important, (not that kind of happy ending). She just won the Giller Prize for The Sleeping Car Porter and tells us why it was so important and so difficult to tell the story of being a Black gay man in Canada 100 years ago. Suzette tells us about what it was like for her the first time in a lesbian bar, what happened to Rockhead’s Jazz Bar in Montreal, and why “Rate my Prof” is worse than Yelp.Suzette Mayr is the author of 6 novels and 2 books of poetry. Her latest novel The Sleeping...2023-05-0238 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJonathan Torrens: What Is Normal?What is normal anyway? We may have spent our childhoods trying to fit in, but now being a “normie” is an insult. When Jonathan Torrens moved to L.A., surrounded by buff guys in v-necks, he realized his future was not as a Brad Pitt stud. He says he’s quirky, we think he’s funny. He’s been a white rapper on ‘Trailer Park Boys’, a Quebecker who “Lévesque’s” his hair on ‘Shoresy’, all deeply offensive. Or is it? He says you gotta love to mock. He also got radio Mo to talk about “Dudes, dicks and does”.Jonathan T...2023-04-2538 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLauren Hough: The Hardest ThingLauren Hough is living a remarkable life. Author of a collection of essays called “Leaving Isn’t the Hardest Thing”, Lauren causes us to consider what IS the hardest thing? Growing up in a doomsday sex cult? Joining the Air Force and almost getting court-martialed? Going to jail? Traveling around the country in a van with her dog? Being a 6 foot lesbian? We caught up with Lauren, all jet-lagged from a trip to Paris, to talk about writing, religion and cheese. Caution: some spectacularly colourful language.Lauren Hough defies categorization so we’re not going to even try. Bor...2023-04-1841 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCynthia Loyst & Josie Dye : UnmentionablesWomen talk, they say, but do we really? So much of the female - or even the human - experience is caught up in shame: shame about our bodies, our feelings, our, well, our “unmentionables”. Enter Cynthia Loyst and Josie Dye, two (almost) shameless women who dare to tackle the messy, silly and sexy topics you won’t find anywhere else. Cynthia and Josie’s “Unmentionables” podcast has launched to great acclaim, and we decided to find out if there was anything they WOULDN’T talk about. We discuss weight loss, hemorrhoids, hookups and broken penises. Without shame, mostly.Cynthia L...2023-04-1142 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeBif Naked: Super Beautiful MonsterBif Naked is so many things: rock star, activist, tattooed lady … survivor. How Beth Torbert, the daughter of missionary parents adopted in India, came to be Bif Naked, the artist we know today, is a story of courage and resilience. Born in secrecy, hidden away in a mental hospital, a victim of abuse, addiction and then breast cancer, Bif found her way, and she tells us her story, or stories, because there are many. We talk about mothers, drugs, kindness, creativity, and, of course, tattoos.Bif Naked is immediately recognizable as one of Canada’s most remarkable arti...2023-04-0439 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeRoz Weston: A Little Less BrokenHe says he’s written more books than he’s read, but Roz Weston wrote a bestseller. A Little Bit Broken is a deeply personal memoir about growing up in a small town with a loving family, yet still being compelled to make bad decisions. Addiction, self-harm, promiscuity - all followed Roz from Acton to New York to Toronto, where he eventually found a way to make it better. We talk about the best and worst celebrities to interview, why he’ll never write another book, and how he kept the ending a surprise for the person that mattered most...2023-03-2839 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJessica Holmes: Everything Is Funny EventuallyLaugh? I thought I’d cry. Why do comedy and depression go hand in hand? They often do, and Jessica Holmes says that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We talk about supportive husbands, surly teenagers, hosting corporate events from home, punching up (and down), Celine Dion, joining and leaving the Mormon Church, and just what the hell is normal anyway?Jessica Holmes is a Canadian actress, comedian and speaker. Best know for her time on the Royal Canadian Air Farce, Jessica has also performed Just For Laughs and The Second City. Her impersonations are legendary, and include...2023-03-2141 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeCindy Blackstock: The ChangemakerCindy Blackstock wants to fix things. She has fought for Indigenous kids to be treated with the same respect as everyone else. Which means better care and much more funding. And then we talk about why “Pretend Indians” are so infuriating. Very serious stuff. But change is happening. She radiates with hope, and is proud to be seen as a Woman of Ill Repute! We talk about destroyed childhoods and residential schools. Also, why her Spirit Bear is white, and why Cindy is a much better name than Wendy.Cindy Blackstock was born in 1964 in British Columbia to a Gitxs...2023-03-1434 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeZabrina Douglas: Life Death & LaughterYou think YOU’re busy? Zabrina Douglas is a nurse, a mother of five AND a Juno nominated stand up comic. How does she do it all? With a lot of help from family, but one role informs the others. Not only are kids an endless source of material, but it turns out that humour can be helpful and healing in health care too. Come spend some time with this fun and lovely woman. Topics include crazy Jamaican parents, lying to your kids, and how to roll a bunch of small laughs into a big one. Zabrina Dou...2023-03-0738 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeKathleen Wynne: Love and LeadershipKathleen Wynne got so worked up about the John Tory story (stepping down as Toronto mayor re: affair with staffer 38 years younger) she spilled her guts about an inappropriate affair when she was 21, and he, uh, wasn’t. She just told her kids before it was published. Kathleen tells us why the Tory story matters, and why life in modern politics is so tough on women politicians like Jacinda Ardern and Nicola Sturgeon.She was the first woman to be premier of Ontario, and the first openly gay premier in Canada. Kathleen Wynne was an MPP, served in...2023-02-2841 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAnn Medina: The Badass of BadassesThe Badass of BadassesAnn Medina says “The CBC fired me, and now they’re honouring me?”. Yup, as they should. Medina was a foreign correspondent back when it was “revolutionary” for a woman to be in the field. She tells us how talking to people about their lives was what mattered most, how she never worried about it being a man’s job, about why she got dumped, and how to solve all the problems of journalism today!Ann Medina was a TV reporter for NBC and ABC before coming to the CBC in the 70’s, becomi...2023-02-2136 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeDanielle Martin: The Good DoctorCanada may not have the best health care system on the world, but it’s better than most. That’s largely due to people like Dr. Danielle Martin. Read her bio for all her achievements, but just know that we have a fearless advocate for making things better. Just watch her take down a U.S. Senate Committee. We talk about all the problems: wait times, expensive drugs, and how to find a family doctor (hot tip: July is a good time to find a fresh one). Also, just a reminder to never ask a doctor at a party for...2023-02-1439 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSpaz Williams: Monster MakerAre all geniuses rebels? Steve “Spaz” Williams changed movie history creating the first realistic monsters in James Cameron’s Abyss, Terminator 2, and Jurassic Park. Now the big new doc “Jurassic Punk” reveals how he refused to play the game, got ignored at the Oscars, got pissed in more ways than one, and maybe found contentment. On our podcast we talk about it all as we get a tour of his beautiful house in the Ozarks and pretend we get all the techy bits.Steve “Spaz” Williams grew up inToronto, studied animation at Sheridan College, then moved to California to...2023-02-0734 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJessi Hempel: The Family OutingJessi Hempel was the first in her family to come out. Not long after, her father, sister, brother and mother followed suit, each one coming to terms with their gender, sexuality and secrets from their past. An accomplished writer and podcaster, Jessi decided to tell her family’s story through interviews with them, mixed with her own memories. The result is “The Family Outing: A Memoir”:When people we love go through hard times, we often want to make things better for them. We usually can’t. This is even more true when those people are our parents...2023-01-3141 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAisha Brown: The First Black Woman EverAisha Brown is the first Black Women Ever … to have a comedy special on Crave TV. That was back in 2020, and a lot has changed since then, but maybe not enough. Aisha fights the same demons that many comedians do, be they female, or people of colour, or both. Am I funny enough? Pretty enough? Can I be smart and truthful and still have people like me? We say yes, and also who cares? Topics covered include getting older, social media and penis size, none of which matter as much as you might think.Aisha Brown is a...2023-01-2444 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLana Payne: Tough CookieLana Payne is a firecracker. She’ll answer anything. As the new head of UNIFOR Canada’s biggest private sector union, she talks about dealing with Doug Ford, allegations of corruption, making nice with other unions and the threat of a general strike. All with a big smile on her face. She’s proud of being the first woman in that job and super proud of her union roots in Newfoundland. Maureen is a bit obsessed with Norma Rae. Less so with Jimmy Hoffa.Lana Payne’s dad was a union guy in Newfoundland and Labrador who happily...2023-01-1738 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeRick Mercer: The First ManWell OUR first man anyway. We’ve decided to open up the floodgates and talk to anyone fearless and/or funny enough to want to talk to US, and no one fits that bill better than Rick. He’s been called a national treasure, Canada’s beloved comic genius, the scourge of Parliament Hill, and … the nicest man you’d ever want to meet. We love Rick for a million reasons, but especially because he works at the intersection of comedy and journalism. Whether he’s talking to Americans about Prime Minister Jean Poutine, or trying to convince Stockwell Day to chang...2023-01-1044 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeHoliday Greetings from The Women Of Ill Repute!A quick update & thank you from Maureen and Wendy as we head into the holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices2022-12-2002 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeErin Davis: Joy To The WorldErin Davis makes us think of Christmas. Not only because she was a long time morning host at CHFI, Canada’s biggest holiday music station. Not just because played the Fairy Godmother in one of Ross Petty’s Christmas pantomimes. Not because she’s an accomplished vocalist, a philanthropist, and a podcaster who reads bedtime stories while visions of sugarplums dance in our heads. These are all good reasons, but Erin embodies the festive season because she celebrates family, joy and resilience in her daily life. Nor is she a goody two-shoes. No, wait. She’s good, and she has two s...2022-12-1345 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMayor Jyoti Gondek: Because It MattersIt’s easy to get cynical about politics. But Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek says to heck with that. She’s going all in.And it’s not just the hats. She has 5 cowboy hats and 5 pairs of boots. Calgary is now the 3rd most diverse city in Canada. How does she keep everyone happy? Particularly with some controversial comments from premier Danielle Smith and a horse head dumped in Jyoti’s driveway. We talk about being the first woman and the second POC as Calgary mayor. There may be a focus on her “necklace”. Calgary mayor Jyoti Gon...2022-12-0638 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAllison Dore: Laughing All the WayWomen are not funny, or at least not as funny as men. Men don’t like funny women, they like women who laugh at their jokes, but not their penises. If women are funny, they’re probably lesbians. On and on it goes, despite ample evidence to the contrary. Enter Allison Dore, laughing. Allison is the founder of Howl and Roar Records, a female centric comedy record label that facilitates in the creation and distribution of content, in order to empower artists and help different voices and perspectives be heard. Plus, she’s funny. Allison, Wendy and Mo talk about...2022-11-2944 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLynsey Addario: Love and WarWhy do they do it? It’s easy to have a theory of why war correspondents put their lives on the line. Are they dealing with trauma? Are they addicted to the adrenalin? Maybe. Maybe they just have big hearts. For more than 20 years, photographer Lynsey Addario has been one of very few women covering conflict around the globe. Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan and now Ukraine. For the New York Times, for National Geographic, often at tremendous risk to her own safety. But of course, we can’t resist. We ask her why. Photographer Lynsey Addario has been kidnapp...2022-11-2237 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLouise Penny: Don't Be AfraidThere’s Canadian famous, and then there’s Famous famous. Like author Louise Penny. Luckily, she was Wendy’s best friend in grade 9, so we were able to persuade her to come on the podcast. Maureen, Louise and Wendy talk all about friendship, fame, and facing fear. Too many f’s? Well, that’s her motto: Don’t be Afraid. She’s just published book #18 in her Three Pines Inspector Gamache series. A World of Curiosities. She will be speaking at the Indigo bookstore in Toronto on December 2nd, the same day Prime Video launches the Three Pines series with Alfred Mo...2022-11-1548 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSass Jordan: Bitches BluesShe’s a badass blues woman with the best laugh in this or any other business. Sass Jordan joins us to talk about female rockers (there aren’t that many), great musicians, and how to spot true talent. Not giving a damn about anything except love, family and creativity, and maybe food and drink. What it’s like to be in Dad territory, as in “My dad thinks you’re hot”. Warning: lots of hooting and hollering, giggling and cackling. Born in England, raised in Montreal, Sarah Jordan became Sass because she’s full of it. Named Most Promising V...2022-11-0842 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeSex with SueYou may have had The Talk with one of your parents. You know, the squirmy, uncomfortable and downright incredulous chat about what happens when a man and a woman truly love each other, etc.etc. But for many of us, the fun part of it all came from Sue. Sue Johansen, the feisty, hilarious, and deeply kind creator of Sex with Sue. For decades, on radio and television,in Canada and the U.S., Sue explained how stuff was done, safely and enjoyably. Now filmmaker Lisa Rideout and Sue’s own daughter Jane join us to tell us the dee...2022-11-0136 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeAnn-Marie MacDonald: Mystery and Magyk on the MoorsWe’ve always been here, writes Ann-Marie MacDonald. And so have the moors. She calls her new book the queerest she’s ever written. But what is queer? Isn’t everybody different? Fayne, published by Penguin Random House Canada, is placed in the late 1800’s and is full of love, diversity, and magyk. There’s also a fascination with pudding! The book is huge! So huge, we feared it might be a chore to read. It definitely was not.Maureen was a bit intimidated to talk to her. After all, Ann-Marie MacDonald is a playwright, author, actress, even a tv h...2022-10-2536 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeHow's It Going?So glad you asked! What started as a little podcast hosted by two nervous women with love in their hearts and stars in their eyes … is still a little podcast hosted by two nervous women etc etc. But we’re still here, and it’s going pretty well!Join Wendy and Mo for a look back at the first 12 episodes: hear about the fights, the scandals, the guests we didn’t get, the ones we did that scared or shocked us, and the ones we loved the best (spoiler alert: we love them all). Plus: what we’ve learned...2022-10-1830 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMarilyn Denis: She Likes it On TopBroadcasting is a brutal business, especially for women over fifty who may or may not have gray hair. There is one woman, however, who has been at the top of her game, on both radio and television, and she is, of course, Marilyn Denis. Host of the appropriately named The Marilyn Denis Show on CTV, as well as CHUM-FM’s perpetually top rated radio morning show Marilyn Denis and Jamar, Marilyn is everyone’s best friend. She actually is one of Mo’s, and she joins Mo and Wendy for a free wheeling, no holds barred discussion about being a moth...2022-10-0443 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeHannah Alper: The Kids Are AlrightJust when you’re convinced the world is a dark place with an uncertain future, along comes Hannah Alper. It’s not that Hannah’s a foolish optimist. She is, as Gloria Steinem calls it, a “hopeaholic”. Hannah has been an activist for social and environmental change since she was 9 years old - and that wasn’t that long ago! She’s a motivational speaker, a blogger, an author and budding journalist. She’s also a second year university student, and yes, she assures us that she’s also hanging out and having fun. Just listening to her puts a smile on our fac...2022-09-2043 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMarie Henein: Who Ya Gonna Call?If you are famous and in trouble, she is the one you call. She’s Canada’s pre-eminent criminal defence lawyer. Marie Henein defended Jian Ghomeshi. Was she doing her job or a “traitor to women”? We found her defiant, in love with her job, and surprisingly funny! She dishes on marriage, her favourite tv shows, and the stupidity of trying to find a “work life balance”.Marie Henein is a criminal defence lawyer who’s fought for a lot of infamous Canadians and become famous herself. She’s defended Jian Ghomeshi, and Michael Bryant. Mentored by the recently depa...2022-09-0636 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeBarbie Latza Nadeau: The Godmother Why are we so obsessed with the mob? Can women be just as cutthroat? Is Italian culture too macho? We have all the answers (not!) in our chat from Rome with Barbie Latza Nadeau about her new book “The Godmother”. She tells us about admiring and reviling “Pupetta” , who, ya, shot her husband’s killer and became a mafia icon. Barbie got to interview her just before she died. She spills about Mafia women and refusing to be intimidated after the attack on Salman Rushdie.Barbie Latza Nadeau is the Rome correspondent for the Daily Beast. She also wrote...2022-08-2331 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeLeah McLaren: A Mother Of A StoryGoing There. She moved to London, but boy, she’s still writing. Leah McLaren talks to us about her new book ”Where You End and I Begin”. About her writer mom, family commitments, being weird (aren’t we all?) and “whatever happened to that fucking guy?” Ya, that one, who may have started it all in a barn when her mom was 12.Maureen cracks a few narcissist jokes. Leah is not sure they apply.Leah McLaren is a writer now based in London. She started off as a columnist for the Globe and Mail, where she was like...2022-08-0947 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJen Agg: Is she a Real Bitch?Jen Agg is the owner and power behind Toronto restaurants The Black Hoof (now Bar Vendetta), Rhum Corner, and Grey Gardens. She is both revered and criticized for outspokenness, her work ethic and her honesty with regards to rampant sexism and discrimination in the restaurant industry. She has no time for Michelin stars, and thinks vodka is stupid. Jen also wrote a bestselling memoir called “I Hear She’s a Real Bitch”. Restaurateur Jen Agg talks to us about the trials and tribulations of running her many venues in the midst of rampant misogyny, personal challenges (her belove...2022-07-2646 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJax Irwin: Woman On The StreetYou can take a girl out of the Maritimes, but she’ll still go home to visit. Jax Irwin, morning co-host on Toronto’s Virgin radio, joins us to talk about life and laughter, coming out, her love of family, and playing with the good guys. Plus: bringing your girlfriend home to mom, and where to get an octopus costume.We love writing and would love for you to read what we write. Sign Up for our Substack Newsletter. We also want to thank everyone at Schneider & Pollack Wealth Management for making this podcast possible.2022-07-1239 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJann Arden: Failure, Friendship and other F-words.You think you know Jann Arden: she’s Canada’s cranky songbird, but still comes across as everyone’s best friend. Writer, singer, songwriter, actress, comedian, animal rights activist - Jann’s all that, but still maintains that failure is an integral part of personal success. We talk about mothers, addiction, and the importance of friends. Oh, and Wendy drops the F-bomb. Again.This highly anticipated convo with Jann may not be what you expect: of course she’s funny and foul-mouthed, but also deeply kind and perceptive. Come sit by Jann’s crackling fire and for a laugh and...2022-06-2846 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeJody Wilson-Raybould: Good TroubleFormer Justice minister and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould is not just angry–not just determined to improve the lives of indigenous people. She’s all that, but we discover she’s also a hoot! She dishes on how hugs from prime minister Justin Trudeau made her skin crawl. And she gets personal about her hubby, her sister, not being able to have kids, and trying to function on 3 hours sleep a night. Jody, aka Puglass, is a member of the We Wai Kai Nation and lives in Vancouver and Cape Mudge where she is about to publish a follow up to “I...2022-06-1935 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeMary Walsh: A Fart in the MistIf Mary Walsh isn’t the mother of Canadian comedy, she is certainly its sister. Born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, a founding member of the CODCO comedy troupe, Mary went on to co-create the legendary news satire program This Hour has 22 Minutes. There, she created the infamous character Marg Delahunty, a fearless, sword-wielding warrior princess in cat’s eye glasses who became the scourge of Parliament Hill. A writer, director and novelist, Mary still lives in St. John’s, just down the street from her husband. She spoke to us the day after the 2022 Oscars, when the worl...2022-06-1950 min
The Women Of Ill ReputeHere We GoHowdy! Once upon a time, two lady broadcasters realized they weren’t really ladies, or even broadcasters anymore. So they became podcasters, and part-time cowgirls. Wendy and Mo talk about all the truly strange coincidences in their lives, how they came together, how naive they were thinking a podcast would be easy, and the trials and tribulations of finding, identifying and recruiting other women of ill repute. We also discuss how both our traditional careers came to an untimely end, and ponder the mystery of The Woman with No Pants. It’s all over the place, but so are we...2022-06-1530 min