The Rocky Talky Podcast

I always wanted to know Dylan Hudecki during high school, but it never happened. He was in bands, confidant, and impossibly laidback. Whereas I myself, was faking asthma attacks in gym class (skins vs shirts), failing math, and pretending to like rap music and sports. Thankfully some things change AND come full circle…. This past week, Dylan and I finally connected for episode 26, and I am really...

There is a fire and fight in Colin MacDonald’s voice, and when you hear it….you immediately know it’s he and his cohorts, The Trews. They have a sound that belongs solely to them, and them alone. At their core…they are a rock n’ roll band, but in chatting with Colin, I quickly discovered a poetic, introspective, and soft underbelly living within him, and it was a special thing to uncover and witne...

Pasta Mercato is perfect. A little shop set apart, with a very clear vision and devotion to Italian food. They know who they are, and they are good at what they do. We chat with Chef/Co-owner Roman Kremnev and discuss his super focused operation that specializes in beautifully crafted pasta, focaccia, baked goods, and an imported goods section that’ll make the big stores blush. When you’re done li...

Dan Hosh is a precious soul that I’ve been trying to connect with for almost two years. After many near misses, and shifting timelines…we finally had the chance to sit together, and pour over the mathematics and culture of music production. 
Dan is a Toronto based record producer, songwriter & engineer. For the last twelve years, Dan has been busy crafting records for City & Colour, Arkells, The G...

As soon as Tasha Van Dinther from Thuya Studio walked in with flowers and said hello…I knew immediately our time together would be special. There is a serious ease, and availability in Tasha, and it made for a truly genuine and memorable conversation. We went off script, got real, and tumbled along a multitude of topics…landing somewhere between love & loss, art, David Bowie, and the wonder of egg...

Jason Thorne can consume data and multitask like no other….and he seems to do it with a comfortable ease. With a staff of 800 people, Jason and his department are responsible for the imagineering and execution of most planning projects within Hamilton. If you see a project breaking ground…chances are it has passed through Jason’s busy hands. The following is a conversation with a highly motivated...

My guest has a WAY cooler job than you, and me……… Michael Walsh is an Eisner award winning Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, Ontario. In 2013 Michael co-created the IMAGE comic book series COMEBACK (soon to be a major motion picture) . After this, Michael launched a follow-up to the hit television series the X-FILES for IDW. Since then he has worked primarily with MARVEL COMICS o...

Talk to Dre Bucci of ANDIAMO long enough, you’ll quickly realize that he is more than just a guy that cuts hair. Dre is a Barber in pursuit of authentic hospitality, and he has a serious penchant for the kind of details that has set his operation apart from the rest. We hear his story, discuss the merits of the Sicilian/Hamilton cannoli, and share in our mutual love for the exquisite art of SERVIC...

This picture screams a thousand words….and yet, it still doesn’t come close. Claire & Ken Dam have traversed a human journey unlike anything I’ve heard of, and I am still remarked as I write this synopsis. This interview is perhaps the most beautifully raw, honest, and human recollection of experiences I’ve been allowed to be a part of so far. We were complete strangers when I pressed “record”, an...

Salar Madadi makes beautiful things. When he introduced us to POKEH, we fell in love with his Hawaiian food, and the poke bowl suddenly became the peoples power lunch. He continues with MAI PAI TIKI BAR, where the Detroit style pizza is making believers all over again. Salar is a serious treasure and culinary bright light, though I’m not sure he’s even aware of it. My job during this interview is...

I will never forget my conversation with Tom Wilson. An hour of recollections from a surreal life purified by pain, discovery, healing, and ultimately…..the redeeming power of art. Tom is the genuine article: a local god, an elder-statesman of every troubadour, poet, and trouble maker alike. Thank you Mr. Wilson, I will hear your thunder voice in my mind for the rest of my life. “It’s just a matte...

If you’re “bigger” than the average bloke, you know how much it sucks to wear ill-fitting clothing. You feel exposed, unattractive, and constantly fight with the fleshy bits that give you away. Cue Adam Greenberg of ONE BONE apparel in Montreal. He and his partners know the pain of being big too, AND they knew how to do something about it. Take a listen to Adam’s story, and learn how he’s helped b...

When most retire and find their way to the easy chair, Bob Russell of Collective Arts Brewing went hard the other way. This sixty-something maverick has managed to build more than just a brewery. Mr. Russell has helped create a community & culture of collaboration, craft beer, visual arts, and music. We wanna be like Bob.

Amy Forsyth has pulled off the impossible. She is a working actor, split between New York & L.A., and has managed to avoid the proverbial “day job”. We discuss her upcoming album, and ponder the joys and challenges of being a creative, the pursuit of good art, and share a mutual love affair with musical theatre. I made a fast friend in Amy…I think you will too.

Despite a drug smuggling bust, and subsequent jail time….this episode is NOT a cautionary tale. It is, in fact a story of redemption, re-invention, and a master class in the art of “the comeback”.

Crafting tasty songs with the perfect amount of hook, melody, and restraint…Aaron Brown and Brad Barnham of Family Of Things, prove that a “super group” only needs two people.

Ryan Furlong of FENIAN FILMS discusses the labour of love that is filmmaking….and that it takes a village (and patience) to make a project come to life.

When a sleepy little town like Dundas, Ontario gives birth to a sonic boom….you call it THE DIRTY NIL. Power trio frontman, Luke Bentham graciously sits down with us, and speaks into the past, present, and future of the Nil. Rock n’ Roll is alive and well.

“I’ve gotta get the creator of the giant mallard duck on my podcast”, I said. “It’ll be a whimsical romp into the mind of a colourful artist known and loved by Hamiltonians”, I said. LOL. This episode defied my expectations and made me pivot in a big way. Lewis Mallard may make you smile and wave…but behind the colourful costume, and orange tights, there is a very human story full of love, courage...

When you come across a naturally gifted teacher & communicator, you shut up and listen. It’s really easy to do if you allow yourself to be the student, and let the teacher, teach. This is what this episode is all about. Dr. Michael Atkinson has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Calgary. He is currently the Professor of Physical Cultural Studies in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the Universi...

This is a deep dive into what it takes to conceptualize, write, produce, and star in a sketch comedy series, that has made its way onto television. Mike Mitchell, Tyler Shazma, Ashley Sloggett, and Brandon MacIntosh (the brain trust behind the series “This Is The Thing”) recount for us what it takes to chase your dreams in the big bad city of Hamilton, Ontario.

Chef Matt Kershaw, and business dynamo Erin Dunham sip on some wine, discuss dinner party strategies, and tell the story of how one little restaurant in Burlington, Ontario gave way to a dynamic culinary empire.

My guest is a force. Barber, owner of Glass Box Barber Shop, and educator...Peter Gosling has built an impressive platform. He has a lot to say, and has been a rallying point and voice for small business fighting to survive COVID-19. Politicians and policy makers...have a listen.

Pastor Rachel Shuttlesworth weighs in on the current state of creative culture in Church, and tackles the really big question: why do so many successful artists leave church to find a platform and success?

Lori Farnsworth-Wiegand fearlessly lays bare the harrowing and surreal experiences of living ”morbidly obese”. From tipping the scales at 210 lbs by the age of five, to successfully undergoing bariatric surgery....we get a raw and honest glimpse into the challenging reality of being overweight. This one hits uncomfortably close to home.