Make It with Mike and Kristen

Louisa Horne is the visionary founder of Epilog, a Nova Scotian company dedicated to reimagining funeral services and end-of-life care. Epilog offers a comprehensive range of options, including natural burials, celebrations of life, and support for seniors transitioning from their family homes. Their services extend to organizing moves and facilitating difficult family discussions around advance d...

With a SECRET album release show just around the corner, The Town Heroes take us on a trip down memory lane, starting with the wee corners of where it all began on Cape Breton Island. Loyal to each other, their fans and the music, TTH have continued to “Keep On Keepin’ On” through their lyrical genius and industry respect. Two of the hardest-working fellas in show biz, we learn about the places Mi...

Good Dear, Good is both an ECMA and Music Nova Scotia award-winning rock-pop band based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Their band name inspired by the endearing, commonly-heard Nova Scotian phrase. This rapidly rising band, known for their vibrant sound and inclusive ethos, was born from the camaraderie and shared passion of its members who met at NSCC. Growing up on Cape Breton Island, Tim and Bran dev...

Unlike most approaches to modern medicine, Namit Holey wanted to test his higher education through personal experimentation. His lab? An Ashram in India where he would spend eight months learning about holistic health, the impact of the mind on our well-being and how finding our personalized approaches to life is our greatest defence mechanism. Namit is an accomplished researcher who has discovere...

Mat Elliott, a Halifax-based musician and producer, is gearing up to release his brand-new EP titled "South Endings." His music is a breath of fresh obscure air, offering listeners a unique blend of sounds, styles, harmonies, and unexpected twists. With his inaugural solo project, Mat showcases his incredible talent and creativity. In our chat with him, we discuss how he balances his creative purs...

With its catchy, sing-along chorus, Hockey Fights celebrates the energy of a bringing people together. Lead singer Mike Ryan poured his heart into the song, managing quick turnarounds and making sure the hockey anthem was ready for the play-offs! He also shares stories of idolizing the Inverness Maroons hockey team, how the song turned from folk to fun and how he has his own story of falling in lo...

Donna Leon is a multi-talented journalist, filmmaker, mentor, radio host, and cook, whose remarkable career spans over several decades. With nearly 700 television episodes to her credit, Donna has earned numerous awards for her outstanding work. Born and raised in Cape Breton, she has showcased the beauty and culture of the Maritimes through her television programs, including "The Colours of Celti...

Mike and Kristen are eagerly on their way to the East Coast Music Awards on Prince Edward Island, where they've been nominated for Media Person of the Year. In their latest podcast episode, the couple offers heartfelt shout-outs to everyone who supported their fundraiser, and share updates on exciting events like: The Town Heroes Secret Show on June 22, curated by Curiosity Club, and the grand ope...

Having conquered both the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, Whistler's journey is one of triumph over adversity and the unwavering support of those around him. He regales listeners with tales of meticulous preparation, the invaluable assistance of his devoted wife, his loyal hiking companion "Scooby," and the kindness of trail angels encountered along the way. Surviving a harrowing 67...

With his unique approach to live performance, Rankin MacInnis orchestrates a musical journey that spans 11-weeks over the winter months, bringing together a diverse ensemble of up to a dozen musicians. His commitment to fostering community spirit and highlighting local talent has earned him the prestigious title of Entertainer of the Year at the 2023 Music Nova Scotia Awards. In our conversation,...

Rooted in the concept of living a virtuous life, Stoicism was born from ancient Greek ideologies of being a good person. Stoicism teaches us self-reflection, how to manage emotional reactions to things we cannot control, practicing discipline and living harmoniously with nature. Brandon embodies these qualities and maintains a sense of the Stoic practice through developing daily routines and habit...

Amanda Ring has known since she was a child that she was attuned to the energy around her. Her craft and language around her work has only strengthened with time, and now she’s imparting her knowledge upon others. Her beautiful presence is palpable in this chat where we explore themes of transformation, self-discovery and childhood memories. Amanda offers a balanced perspective of “traditional” me...

We’re back from a week-long adventure in Austin, Texas where we experienced our first South by Southwest (SXSW) festival! We dig into the conference itself – how it started/how it functions, and exchange takeaways in real time. Listen to our debrief of session learnings, who we met, what we ate, how it’s shaped our future strategies, how it was funded, you name it! This was a beautiful, impactful...

Our dear friend, the legendary Nancy Regan has taken over the mic to host this week’s episode of Mike and Kristen! She takes us down memory lane asking how we met, what we love about each other, and how we’ve managed to maintain both collaboration and connection after 13 years of being a couple. We reveal one of our closest secrets – Mexican Superbowl – as one of our key ingredients to longevity....

JT, Jonovision, J-Roc, we know him by many names but he’s consistently known as our favourite Canadian icon. Jonathan Torrens started an acting career at just 15-years-old on Street Cents and we have been celebrating him ever since in shows such as Trailer Park Boys, Moonshine and Vollies. One of the kindest, funniest, most intelligent guests we’ve ever had the privilege of spending time with. We...

Dale Murray has performed with the best – everyone from Matt Mays to Christina Martin, to his famous aunt – Nova Scotia royalty, Anne Murray. His intention is to support others to help them sound and perform to their top potential. A humble approach to the music industry. Dale’s unique spectrum of talent makes him the perfect guest to reflect on the creative process, stories from the road, taking...

Though born and raised in Ontario, Steve Luxton now calls Nova Scotia home. Blame it on meeting a girl and falling in love! We’re happy to have his expertise in the music community, in particular his students at Nova Scotia Community College, who cherish his talent and guidance. We chat about his time spent at esteemed Humber College to running his own studio in Cape Breton. Steve has loads of sto...

For our 100th episode we wanted to share a very special chat with our new friend, Shirley. Shirley reflects on her long and vibrant life, sharing bits of advice on longevity, hard-work, family, friendship and how it all changes with age. This inspiring centenarian found the love of her life in her early school days and shares how much their marriage offered purpose and adventure. Thank you Shirley...

Music has been a part of Mike Morrison’s life since he was just a kid, influenced by the talents of his father. He has played with many bands, including Rock Ranger with the late Jay Smith and now with some of his closest friends in Fire Valley Fire. We talk about musical “feel,” how he doesn’t know the origin story of his band name (LOL) and the release of a brand-new album. Have a listen to this...

There’s nothing like a good break-up to set life on a new path, and that’s exactly what led Jennifer Blair to a glass shop in Toronto. It wasn’t long before she was “secretly” learning the art of glass fusion and has since launched her successful business of turning glass “blobs” into beautiful masterpieces. Learn about the process of glass fusion, how Jen’s family made a major life change during...

Multi award-winning artist, Jah'Mila discovered the Nova Scotia music scene during a visit with her mom, who had moved to eastern Canada to work in nursing. She found friendship, creative collaboration and loads of adoring fans in the place she now calls home. Her father – “Chinna” – played with Bob Marley’s “The Wailers” and was a strong influence on his children’s creative lives. But Jah’Mila ha...

Buckle up for this chat with the incredibly articulate, talented and soft-souled young woman, Sophia Rae. This grade 12 École Secondaire Du Sommet student reflects on her personal experience with trauma and mental health after losing her aunt in the Portapique massacre in 2020. Realizing that other teens were struggling with tools and conversations around mental health, she began offering her own...

A profound conversation with multi-faceted artist Carmel Mikol as we dive into stories from her past. Leaving her patriarchal faith after suffering domestic abuse, Carmel shares details about the Jehovah Witnesses religion and how telling her personal experience through film (Apostate) has been a powerful way of adopting a new identity. We learn about the structure, history and inequities of being...

How do you explain something that doesn’t yet exist on the creative business landscape? This chat will help explain the background, concept and intentions of the “Curiosity Club”. Curiosity Club is a trio of professional artists and entrepreneurs who specialize in facilitating creative experiences. Erin Bulger, Kristen Herrington and Steph McNamara met in 2020 and have been curating one-of-a-kind...

We wrap up 2023 by reflecting on what we’ve learned from guests, career highlights, mental health ups and downs, adventures and the wonderful new friends we’ve made along the way! Our intention was to record a “quick” episode, but it’s the same length as all the rest LOL. We reveal some exciting news about the podcast for 2024, plus our new year’s intentions. Thank you for being here with us! Lots...