Draftful Dodger

In the Season 2 finale of the Draftful Dodger Podcast, host Vova Zeeon sits down with comedy veteran Michael Harrison! Starting out as one of only two comedians in Saskatchewan, Michael worked his way through the Canadian comedy circuit to headlining NYC clubs, performing on cruise ships, TV specials, and international tours. In this deep-dive episode, Michael shares invaluable insights for aspiri...

In this record-breaking episode of the Draftful Dodger Podcast, Vova Zeeon sits down with comedian, actor, and content creator Alex Brovedani (a.k.a. Toronto Batman). What happens when your viral character eclipses your real comedy act? Alex breaks down the highs and lows of overnight internet fame, encounters with legendary filmmakers, the grinding reality of Canadian stand-up, and rebuilding an...

It’s hilarious to be a comedian and not be naturally funny! In this episode of Draftful Dodger, Vova Zeeon sits down with the brilliant Toronto comedian Winny Clarke for a raw, unfiltered, and deeply honest conversation. We dive deep into the chaotic reality of stand-up comedy, the psychological trap of being a "people pleaser" on stage, the mechanics of mastering crowd work, and why con...

In Episode 10 of Season 2, Ukrainian Toronto-based comedian Vova Zeeon sits down with Yukon native George Rivard. With over 13 years on stage, George shares unfiltered insights on mastering stand-up comedy, breaking bad stage habits, and using satire as a lens for social commentary. In this episode, we cover: • [00:02:46] Rookie stage crutches: Why you need to move the mic stand and drop the noteb...

In Season 2, Episode 9 of Draftful Dodger , host Vova Zeeon sits down with comedian Kansei Yasuda —fresh off his breakout performance on Kill Tony at the Comedy Mothership in Austin, Texas. From earning the prestigious Golden Ticket from Tony Hinchcliffe to standing completely alone in a dark back alley minutes after his biggest career break, Kansei opens up about the unfiltered reality behind vir...

What happens when a comedian throws away the rulebook? In this deeply reflective and raw episode of Draftful Dodger, host sits down with Toronto-based alternative comic and writer David Foggia. Moving far beyond the rigid formulas of traditional stand-up, David opens up about his artistic transformation, navigating the chaotic energy of his unhinged alter-ego "Rat Boy," and embracing the...

In Season 2, Episode 7 of Draftful Dodger, host Vova Zeeon sits down with Toronto comedian, bar owner, and vinyl enthusiast Jamal Watson! Jamal opens up about his lifelong passion for physical vinyl records, hunting down rare pressings, and why listening to full albums rewires your brain compared to digital streaming platforms. He also shares the hilarious realities of becoming a new father ("you...

"The challenge is to plate your idea as funny as possible... presentation is really important." This week on Draftful Dodger, host Vova Zeeon welcomes comedian, actor, and Second City mainstage performer Tim Blair! In a candid and detailed conversation on the craft of comedy, Tim breaks down the subtle line between unscripted improv energy and polished stand-up writing. They discuss building chemi...

Crowd, Work and Crowdwork | Why arts and politics are related? | 40 mics in 40 nights. Is it absolute madness, or the only real way to forge a comedian? 🎙️🔥 In this episode of Draftful Dodger , host Vova Zeeon links up with stand-up comedian Ian Dickie to unpack the real machinery behind stand-up comedy. From dissecting crowdwork dynamics and joke construction to surviving comedy during COVID and...

Draftful Dodger • Episode 4: The Stand-Up Samsara (feat. Aubrey Davis) What happens when you lock two comedians in a room and ask them to solve the mysteries of life, death, and the absolute horror of modern bureaucracy? You get this episode. This week, Vova is joined by the absolutely brilliant Aubrey Davis (@aubthorityfigure). We’re diving deep into: The raw reality of women in comedy and the dy...

Welcome to Episode 3 of Draftful Dodger Podcast Season 2! Today, your host Vova Zeeon sits down with Toronto-based stand-up comedian Eddie Tony.  In this episode, we dive deep behind the curtain of the comedy industry. Eddie shares his unique story of moving from Hong Kong to Canada and taking a 2-year college comedy program to secure his permanent residency (talk about hitting two birds with one...

1-2-3, Who Gives a Shit? 🎙️🔥 Season 2, Episode 2 of **Draftful Dodger** is officially here! In this episode, I’m sitting down with the brilliant Toronto-based Irish comedian Darren Bourke to talk about the chaos, the truth, and the deep, existential side of stand-up comedy. We both hold law degrees, but instead of fighting in courtrooms, we’re out here navigating rowdy crowds, bar shifts, and try...

Season 2 is officially live, and we are not holding back. For the premiere, I’m sitting down with Toronto’s own rising star, Matthew Cumming. We didn’t edit a single second of this—because when you’re talking about the grind, the bombs, and the absurdity of stand-up, the truth is way better than the polish. Timestamps: 00:02:13 — Finding your comedic voice: Is it ever finished?00:03:17 — The art o...

Welcome to the Season 1 Finale of the Draftful Dodger Podcast! In this raw, introspective, and completely unscripted stream of consciousness, your host Vova Zeeon dives deep into existential dread, the reality of the Toronto comedy scene, and what it truly means to leave a digital footprint. From analyzing our future as "Homo Millenialis" uncovered by digital archaeologists to facing the notorious...

What happens when you survive your own collapse, drop the physical baggage, but realize your mind is still wearing the old, damaged suit? In this raw, unfiltered episode of Draftful Dodger, Vova Zeeon strips away the sterile comedy formulas to dissect the brutal anatomy of personal transformation. From dropping 42 kg (160kg to 118kg) and facing the ghosts of a heavy past, to a desperate late-night...

"If they hand you a piece of sh*t instead of bread, do you still have to say thank you?"In this raw, stream-of-consciousness episode, Vova Zeeon deconstructs the "Grateful Immigrant" myth. This is not a comedy set—it’s a documentary exposure of the hidden cost of living in the "world's most polite city."After facing xenophobic threats and psychological pressure fr...

In this episode of the Draftful Dodger podcast, Vova Zeeon dives deep into the raw reality of the Toronto immigrant experience and the psychological warfare of the stand-up comedy scene. From navigating a rental market where crack is more affordable than a bedroom to deconstructing why "truth" is the most dangerous weapon a comedian has, Draft 7 is an existential manifesto on why you must be vulne...

Draftful Dodger | Episode #6CreAItivity vs AIrts | Singing Feces | Medieval RentalsIn this episode, Vova returns to the stage after a severe emotional burnout. This is a raw, honest conversation about what happens when you stop playing the role of the "happy comedian" and start documenting reality as it is: from stolen jokes at Toronto open mics to the humiliating "castings" of the rental market....

Episode #5: The Moth Manifesto, Left vs. Right Pants, and the "Kinda Request." "I do comedy because it’s the only way to explain this absurd world — with its people, events, illnesses, violence, life, and death." Recording from the epicenter of a fever dream, Vova Zeeon delivers a raw, unfiltered monologue on the reality of being a comedian and an immigrant in Toronto. Locked in with the flu and a...

Most comedians are terrified of silence. They fill the void with safe jokes, fake brotherhoods, and "hacks" that mean nothing. In this episode, I’m putting the comedy industry on the operating table. From the hollow concept of the "Comedy Brotherhood" to the dangerous obsession with "Safe Spaces" that only results in dull knives and boring art. I’m also dissecting the...

"I’m already fired—or at least, I don’t have a license." In this episode, Vova Zeeon deconstructs the machinery of the Canadian comedy scene and the polite facade of life in Toronto. From "Toaster Comics" who follow a pre-set program to the "Tall Toddlers" running the service industry, this is a 15-minute deep dive into the dark roast of reality. If you're tired o...

Everything in the modern world is an identity crisis. Everyone is desperately trying to figure out who they are: Ukrainian, Canadian, a hero, a victim, or a revolutionary. Me? I’m 100% sure I’m a fucking douchebag. In this episode, I’m exploring why being "an honest douchebag" is the only true form of equality left. If we are all villains in someone else’s story, why are we still wearing superhero...

At 32, life doesn’t have a "Quick-Save" button. This is the first 14-minute "invoice" issued to the city of Toronto. A raw, unedited dive into the "Honey-Voiced" politeness, the fake "Good sets" in the local comedy scene, and the invisible walls that keep us apart. I’m Vova Zeeon, and this is Draftful Dodger. I had to spit it out. In this episode: [0:00] — Welcome: Ukraine to Canada [0:59] — Why "...