Make It with Mike and Kristen

A random encounter with Windsor, Ontario musician Brendan Scott Friel at Togetherland Art Gallery leads to us inviting him over for breakfast and a podcast interview! We chat about his experience touring eastern Canada (surprise, he notices how NICE we all are!), how losing his father inspired his latest album and how Stoicism has shaped some of his life outlooks. A new friend, super kind and cert...

BUCKLE UP! This episode is one to get your popcorn out for as M.E. takes us on a wild adventure of storytelling. From being adopted and finding her biological family later in life, celebrity encounters in NYC and finding real-life inspiration for her new book, “Reverse Ripples”. M.E.’s energy is totally infectious and had us enamored within minutes. A great chat for anyone looking for change in th...

Former podcast guest Steph McNamara and her husband Sean interview us on this week’s episode!! At least for 3 minutes before we kick into host most LOL. Consider it a 4-way chat among friends where we cover everything from business tips to health and wellness. This power-couple is soon opening their first collaborative business called Molly’s Reach in honour of their daughter Molly. This beautiful...

Sara Kelly was born with the entrepreneurial spirit! With years of experience under her belt, she now helps guide other women towards defining their best selves in business and in life. Using a heart-led approach, she provides tips on hard skills and takes you back to “the why” you started this journey in the first place! A great episode for artists and entrepreneurs looking to navigate their way...

Wildfires are raging through the Upper Tantallon region of Nova Scotia. We are currently displaced from our home and wanted to share an update of our experience. Recorded from our cell phone inside the echoey Togetherland hall! We chat about what it was like packing up our house in a matter of minutes, being separated from our cat George and special guest appearance from “Donna”. You’ll see ;)  Us...

This episode is perfect for anyone searching for their best-suited career path, or businesses looking to recruit the ideal employee! Jen manages her business the same way she approaches her life: off the beaten path. She considers not only your hard career skills but prioritizes what excites you, what you value, what you want your lifestyle to look like. We walk through some sample questions and c...

These energetic fellas make up 2/3 of a Halifax band on the rise, Kids Losing Sleep. Having gone through some recent changes in the composition of their band, they feel they’re in a better spot both personally and creatively – “in the flow” as we chat about! We share stories of how life as an artist was impacted by a global lock-down, how finding common values is a priority in the synergy of a gro...

If you ask anyone in Nova Scotia who their entertainment lawyer is, you’re likely going to hear the name of this week’s guest, Matt Gorman. Although his clients are international, he’s always sharing tips, advice and expertise at the local level. Have you seen his freebie talks on Instagram?! We also dive into AI and the ethical nuances and legalities of the ever-changing entertainment industry. F...

You might know Kyle from his early performance days with The Caravan, who made a mark in the Halifax music scene with fast rhymes and good times. One of the hardest working pals we know, he’s always using his voice to amplify social issues, political unrest and even humour. He’s back in action with his new stage name, “Black Rook” and feels he’s truly found his creative voice. We chat about growin...

Rose Morrison’s first band might not look like your average idea of a touring musical group! She was only 12-years-old when she and three other kids formed the Cottars and rose to fame before even graduating high-school. She has played Carnegie Hall, sailed the open seas, collaborated with Glen Hansard (of the movie Once) and after all of that, found her way back to Big Baddeck where she has roote...

Maggie Andrew has always claimed her unique identity, style, and outlook on life. She’s daring and brave and in this week’s episode we learn that these qualities have afforded her some pretty amazing experiences. From moving to Los Angeles to pursue music, to establishing herself in the Halifax scene, she is certainly turning heads and stealing hearts with her melodic and punchy sounds. She’s nomi...

Isla Tompkins has had a special bond with animals since she arrived on planet earth. Her greatest teacher is Jane Goodall and best friends, her rescue animals. We chat about how First Nations communities consider animals part of their family, how climate change is impacting natural habitats and how podcasting has been natural vehicle for Isla to spread her message. She is particularly drawn to mar...

Dillon Garland has accomplished endless film milestones, creating everything from music videos to television to full-length features. He talks about meeting the Town Heroes and how they invited him to NYC for one of his first ever projects, how learning about his own ADHD, anxiety and depression has led to some of his most satisfying creative work, and the importance of discovering your authentic...

Pat Murphy is the heartbeat for so many bands, even he lost count of them all! With musical influences ranging in everything from video game soundtracks to “play with a band” karaoke nights in Montreal, his diverse skills make him a man in demand. We chat about his technique, approach to work-life balance, his idea of making it, and how not wearing a shirt shows off his impeccable abs. Pat is the...

Cape Breton born Wayne Bedecki is a man of many talents! Hockey brought him to Halifax, but music made him stay. He’s recently released a brand-new album with many of the songs reflecting his struggle with addiction. He’s now celebrating 4-years of sobriety and pursuing all kinds of adventurous things like musical theatre and singing scales through straws. Such a positive, kind and humble guy. We...

We reflect on the past 52 weeks of podcasting and all of the ways that this creative project has changed our lives. We chat about how the episodes have evolved, cracking the top 100 art podcasts in the world and give shout-outs to our guests for the magic they have shared with us. Lots of tips for starting your own podcast and lots of love shared for our world-wide listeners. THANK-YOU! Us on the...

You all know the sensational Katie Kelly from CTV News and today we turn the tables and learn all about her life! We chat about what a typical day looks like, manifesting dream jobs and our mutual infatuation with Kurt Browning. Katie is every bit as special and sweet as you would imagine and is in her natural element highlighting the accomplishments of others. She’s a recent Music Nova Scotia awa...

Having spent over 20 years on the road, selling out shows and singing his guts out with The Jimmy Swift Band, Craig Mercer is an accomplished musician and innovator in the music industry. A respected teacher of the business and now a creative industries expert at the Nova Scotia Community College, Craig lends his experience in important ways. We learn how he almost met Iron Maiden on the soccer fi...

Cape Breton born punk-rock-crazy-crowd-pleasing-award-winning music legends join us for a candid chat about what it’s like recording and performing punk-metal mayhem for a career! Coming from small towns didn’t stifle the ambition and creative expression of this (now) Halifax-based band. They bring their authentic personalities to the stage, though they spend most of the time immersed with the cro...

What was your first memory of money? Why do we worry about always having enough? How do you make decisions on where and how much money to spend? We dig into these big questions and the idea that while we may never have been taught about money, we learned about it subconsciously! It’s time to question some of those old beliefs and start living a life of financial freedom. Wendy teaches us the impor...

Have you ever identified your energy deposits and withdrawals? Dr. Ashley Margeson of Cornerstone Naturopathic helps us keep our bank accounts in order! She shares the signs and symptoms of burnout, explains how our hormones change with age and how opinion based social media health advice is only confusing our well-being. Dr. Ashley has her own podcast, “The Superwoman Code” where you can hear tip...

Only in his 30s, Cape Breton born Iain Rankin climbs the political ladder from community MLA to Premier! We chat about the challenges of being in the public eye, his proudest achievements, being a new father to Freya and how his wife Mary earns more money playing the bagpipes than him! Always calm and collected, Iain shows up with honesty and transparency.  Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca Ins...

Having overcome a number of life-changing obstacles and emotional traumas, Chanelle epitomizes what translating your soul onto the canvas truly means. Her self-awareness and creative spirit required a great deal of self-reflection, openness and a little guidance from her dog Maggie, who Chanelle claims saved her life. You’ll learn from this episode how simply being yourself can lead to the most pr...

If you want to hear from two of the hardest working musicians in the industry, look no further! Elyse Aeryn left her corporate career to pursue a dream of writing, singing and sharing the stage with her life-partner Garrett Taylor. Together, they are magic makers! We chat about how growing up in “big-city” Cape Breton influenced their impressive work ethic, local pride and drive to show others tha...

This episode is jam packed with helpful tips and tricks to optimize brain health. Get your pencil ready to take notes! We learn how to stimulate serotonin and dopamine, how the exhale can help us relax and how having a seizure as a little girl led to a lifelong curiosity about holistic health. A wealth of knowledge, Dr. Mal welcomes our endless questions and curiosities!  Us on the web: www.mikean...