The Constant Struggle

Cathryn Naiker is a comedy writer, podcaster and stand-up comic. Join us as we explore the journey that took Cathryn from googling “How to Write Comedy?” to becoming a professional TV writer, most recently for the CBC’s upcoming comedy series “Son of a Critch” starring comedian and 22 Minutes veteran Mark Critch. Cathryn gives us some seriously helpful insight in the biggest change she made from w...

In this episode, Nick and Brie celebrate the end of the school year with improviser, producer, and Kindergarten teacher Kirk McCullough. Kirk came into the Toronto improv community as one of the most organized show producers on the scene. One half of the improv duo Cadley Brooper, Kirk produces Duo Derby, one of the only live shows to seemingly seamlessly transition to an ideal online improv exper...

In this episode, Nick and Brie sail the high seas of fun as they welcome podcasters Patrick McDonald & Ryan Middledorf of the Parrothead Podcast to the Struggle Zone. Patrick and Ryan were recently invited to join Radio Margaritaville as hosts of their own show! (Fins up, boys!) So, it goes without saying that the boys discuss Jimmy Buffett a little bit in this episode; their relationships with Bu...

In this episode, Nick and Brie chat with science fiction writer Sean Browning, author of “I don’t Seem So Bright in a Well Lit Room” (Story Well Publishing.) We chat about Sean’s process; how he wrote his book and published it with a publishing house that wouldn’t have existed without him! We learn about how Sean developed his artistry through music, improvisation and sketch comedy, and how that l...

Nick & Brie interview Coko Galore, Artistic & Managing Director of Bad Dog Theatre in Toronto. Though this year's events may have caused the Bad Dog to shut its doors, find out how Coko and her team made a new home for the community with Bad Dog Comedy TV. We ask Coko how she's managed to keep Bad Dog alive and thriving and more inclusive and accessible than ever.  We learn about how Coko found he...

In this episode, Nick & Brie interview stand-up comic Ryan Dillon, who before the lockdown, had big plans for a booked comedy tour of the East Coast of Canada. But when the pandemic hit, all those plans evaporated quickly. We ask Ryan about how a stand-up comic can cope and continue working on his craft in a time where live shows are no longer possible.  We learn about how Ryan got into comedy, ab...

Find out about Nick Watson & Brie Watson's creative Year in Review in this host-cast edition of The Constant Struggle Podcast.  Nick chats about the processes he's put in place to streamline is writing, and how they've been helpful in other areas of his life. Brie recaptures the year that was and starts 2021 off on the right foot with a new and exciting piece of news. The episode is sponsored by I...

FLORIAN FRANCOIS is a bilingual, dual citizen (France-Canada) actor, producer, writer & improviser. Florian spoke with Nick & Brie from the comfort of his home-recording closet about his journey working in a big marketing firm in Paris to hitchhiking across Canada, ultimately discovering his calling as an actor. We chat networking, collaboration and of course improv! We talk about Florian's main s...

TUONG LA is the creator of Podcavern podcast network. He's a podcaster extraordinaire, improviser, photographer, videographer, editor & new homeowner. Tuong chatted with Nick & Brie over Zoom about how the evolution of his first podcasting project (BroCoolNation) to his current podcast empire; PodCavern. We chat improv; his beginnings at the Improv Embassy in Ottawa, his move to the Making Box in...

OPHIRA CALOF is a multi-talented, multi-disciplined and multi-disabled comedian and performer based in Toronto, who's past productions "Generally Hospital" and "Literally Titanium" are challenging the status quo of disability and theatre. Ophira chatted with Brie and Nick over Zoom about her introduction to performance by way of opera, her transition to comedy thanks to a "multi-class discount" an...

NEW THEME SONG DAY! This is the first episode to feature our new, original theme song created for us by Dan Dingwall. Brie thinks it's great. But she's a little biased. Let us know what you think! This episode was recorded in the beginning of Phase 2 of the re-opening period in Ontario, so technically Nick & Brie could have met up in person, but we're finding Zoom is just WAY more convenient! Just...

***SPOILER ALERT*** If you haven't seen Jojo Rabbit, there's a pretty big spoiler in this episode. Skip ahead when we start talking about (around 28:30) it if you don't want to ruin a major detail about the film. Same with The Lighthouse, although I feel less so, given the nature of the spoiler. It's Mother's Day in this second socially distanced episode of TCS and the siblings chat about their re...

IN THIS EPISODE, Nick and Brie catch up on the artistic struggles they're currently facing now that social distancing is in effect in Ontario to help stop the spread of Covid-19. Are they getting more work done now that they have more time on their hands because they aren't allowed to leave the house? Is the creative process abound with inspiration as this global pandemic permeates all aspects of...

OK, so we're a little behind. But you know what? Better late than never, that's how the saying goes. In this REVAMPED episode of TCS, Nick & Brie go back to the roots of the podcast and chat sans guest. Why? It's just easier that way. AND we had lots of catching up to do. Mainly, we chatted about our accomplishments (NaNoWriMo) and epic failures (Welland) of 2019 and set our sights on 2020 to face...

GRACE SMITH is a performer, an academic and a damn hard worker. When it comes to the theatre, she's performed it, studied it, written about it and taught it inside and out. She recently performed in her first Fringe Festival tour with her solo show: "Slow Dancing with Mediocre Boys," following the successful run of her ensemble revue "Generally Hospital" at last year's Toronto Fringe. She's fully...

DAVID LAHTI is an actor, sketch comedian and wizard living in the heart of downtown Toronto. He's TCS host Brie's partner in their sketch troupe The Utilidors and a graduate of the Conservatory program at The Second City Training Centre. Nick & Brie have a delightfully silly chat with Dave about his experience growing up in London, Ontario, his struggles finding a place in academia, his pursuit of...

In Episode #55 of TCS, Brie & Nick chat with Maddox Campbell in Maddox' tent-fort studio in Toronto. MADDOX CAMPBELL (BCS) is an actor, improviser, podcaster, host & so much more. He tells us about his podcasts; Break a Wish , and now-completed Caverns & Comedians , his live shows; Perfect Match & The Know Show, his pub quiz Quizdamonium and his upcoming Toronto Fringe show The Resistance Improvis...

KATE FENTON is an actor, improviser, content creator, mom, among MANY OTHER things; most pertinent to our conversation however, is how, along with some co-conspirators, she created an IPF trailer for a new webseries called "Band Ladies" in which she, and her fellow book club members get fed up with the mundane and start a punk rock band together. We talk to Kate about Band Ladies, her theatre comp...

JOE AMERO is done with punk rock. His path has shifted quite a bit since his days in SOFA; he's now a social worker, a father of two, and a Hamiltonian. More importantly to the podcast, he's an improviser. You can find Joe improvising everywhere in Toronto! He trained at The Second City Training Centre, his troupe Pepperoni Pizza Cats perform monthly at the Social Capital Theatre, and with the Ass...

DEB HOWEY is much more than than the leading lady in Thorold Community Theatre's upcoming production of "Sin, Sex & the CIA," (a farce written by Michael & Susan Parker.) She's a mom of two with a full-time job, and has the know-how to run an entire stage production, on stage and behind-the-scenes. In this episode, Deb talks to Nick & Brie about the process of putting on live theatre productions f...

Nick & Brie talk about their creative goals for the New Year. And about a few of their other goals, side-hustles and hobbies. Get on board, we're READY for 2019!

Our 50th episode (YAY!) has a recurring through-line, the need to treat yourself kindly. Be it with mindfulness, therapy, legal weed or swimming in Lake Erie in October, Nick & Brie talk about the ways to take care of ourselves when we're not feeling our best. We also update everyone on our creative progresses and challenges and take a few fun departures along the way. Like to Golfton-sur-mer!

Nick and Brie catch you up on the artistic goings on of the summer months. For Nick, it's trying to find the time to edit his latest project in between his kids' baseball games and his newfound obsession with golf. Brie's out and about with improv from Toronto to Niagara, with new projects hatching all over the place and old ones finally wrapping up. Thanks for listening & #StruggleOn everybody!

ERICA SHERWOOD is an actor and filmmaker from St. Catharines, Ontario who's latest project FIGHT! premieres next month on Jun 22nd with a fabulous red carpet screening event in the heart of downtown St. Catharines. Erica helped create the film, in which she also stars, produces, creates foley as well as MANY other things. Erica is a strong promoter of Niagara's growing film industry and hopes that...

LACIE WILLIAMSON is a visual artist, comedian and event/community planner galore based in Dunnville, Ontario. Recorded in the back room of Lacie's LVW Creative Barracks, a building she purchased in Dunnville's historic downtown to create a space where she could paint and encourage others to create art, Lacie spoke to Nick & Brie about life as a full-time artist in a town with, shall we say, less t...