Awesome People by lisa - Awesome People

  My next guest is Janine Vangool of Uppercase Magazine. I first met Janine at Art Central where we both had Studio & Galleries. This was a fantastic place in downtown Calgary with three floors of creativity!! This is where Uppercase Magazine started. Janine actually started her career at a very young age….I used to make pretend notebooks, put them in my carrying cases that I made for them. I then had people sign out books from my library and my magazine was called “Kraft.” “Fortunately people like what I do”Janine has been publishing books since 2007. Her first book was the Shatner Show. 76 illustrations about William Shatner. Seriously!! Uppercase Magazine was started just before Janine was pregnant in 2009….Finley was born in 2010 and Uppercase was well on its way. Luckily Janine has an amazing husband, Glen Dresser, who became a stay at home Dad. And so Uppercase became a family affair. “Is Glen your rock?” I asked Janine, “I wouldn't use that description. I'm the rock, Uppercase is the rock, we tend the rock. His involvement is part time. Or we try…” Glen is a writer and board game designer. His board game Palooka Precinct was 2017 Winner of the Ion Award for best strategy game at the Salt Con board game convention. Cool!!! Janine is building a book and magazine empire!! Or at least a little cool niche empire. It’s full of tangible wonderful books and magazines that will make you feel good all over. My favourite is the Encyclopedia of Inspiration! We had a whole conversation about artistic fear and how to manage it, I'm sure you will love it! Please welcome Janine Vangool to Awesome People. _________________________________ I hope you enjoyed this interview with another amazing community hero! My goal is to change the way art is sold and experienced. ________________________________ Music for the Podcast provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.  Permalink

My next guest is the one and only Cindy Hardie. Cindy was a sailing coach and was born and raised in Saskatchewan. What! How does this happen? I look up to Cindy immensely. She is the kind of woman that inspires all those around her. She is strong, kind, smart, thoughtful, and her knowledge of who she is and the world she belongs to is solid. Cindy comes from a family of 8 kids, so her parents kept them busy! Sports weekends, summer camps etc. Sailing was one of those projects. She was 12 years old when she embarked on her first sailing trip at buffalo pound lake in Saskatchewan. That was the beginning of her sailing career. “Wow, I wanna do this!” Saskatchewan has a provincial sailing team, so while at UofS she of course joined the team. This was the beginning of an incredible journey that lead her to the Olympics. This was also, one of her tipping points. “There’s always one step forward” Cindy has three girls that are not athletic….a shock to say the least to her and her husband. But they managed and have three amazing little artists. “We are just around to find out how cool they really are.” This interview is full of inspiration. Cindy is a natural coach in the world, in her home and in her message. Or should I say messages…. “Don't give up and trust your instincts” “There's very little I’m going to close the door on.” “What works for me? Does it feel good? Keep going. Is it not working let that go.” The one thing she could pass on: “I never want to stand certain on what I know to be true. Each step of your life gets challenged and changes. Be open to that and don’t see it as a failure or a bad thing. Let those changes occur and accept them.” ______________________________ I hope you enjoyed this interview with another amazing community hero! If you’d like to receive this in your mailbox 2 days before everyone else does, please join our Community on Patreon. A platform that puts the power of art in the hands of the artist and the community that supports that artist. ___________________________________ My goal is to change the way art is sold and experienced. Click here to find out more. Music for the Podcast provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.   Permalink

I can't think of a better way to start the year than with this interview. Around Boek has been in my life for about 20 years. I have seen him in many incarnations from youth social worker to massage therapist but always with the common thread of authenticity and kindness. Around is a mad dancer and a medicine man. He is someone who has always coloured outside the lines and I’m sure this is why I’ve always been drawn to him. As you can tell from his name, Arnoud is Dutch and with many Europeans, he speaks more than one language. Six to be exact. Dutch, English, French, Spanish, American sign language and Papiamento. His family eventually emigrated to Canada and settled in Kelowna where they were hoping it would be a great place to raise a family. Arnoud wasn’t so sure….. He did, however, get involved in boy scouts and was able to explore the Canadian Shield and have loads of involvement in the outdoors. This, of course, got him into climbing and hiking. In 1996 while climbing in Vernon BC, Arnoud slipped on the path. He fell 5 stories, hit a bolder, bounced and fell another 10 and a half stories….. He was in 37 pieces and was 18 years old….”the surgical team told me I will never walk again, never stand again. Never dance again.” Arnoud had just started university and just came out as a gay man. He was now this active ADD child stuck in a wheelchair, paralyzed from the waist down. This was one of those moments in someone’s life...that make or break moment. He suddenly had a lot of time on his hands. “This time helped me process my place in the world and how i fit.“ “I had started down that path of ok my life now is in a wheelchair. But there was another part of me that said, what if it’s not.” Today Arnoud is a Mad Dancer!! He has a holistic approach to life that has not come easy but is at the core of who he is. “I was meant to be here today.” - Arnoud Boek _________________________________ I hope you enjoyed this interview with another amazing community hero! If you’d like to receive this in your mailbox 2 days before everyone else does, please join our Community on Patreon. A platform that puts the power of art in the hands of the artist and the community that supports that artist. ___________________________________ My goal is to change the way art is sold and experienced. Click here to find out more. Music for the Podcast provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

In this Podcast I’m bringing back James Demers to talk about Trans 101. A topic that I think is very important. The similarities and struggles that this community is facing is very close to home. I grew up in the 80’s and our biggest issues were basic human rights, to get married, to have children etc. It was a long hard road. Many people had their lives threatened and lost their jobs, including myself. It may seem like some things haven't changed but bullying is still, unbelievably a huge problem. Same-sex marriage was recongnized in 2005 and for me it was a huge turning point. The 80’s were hard in a lot of ways and the similarities I see within the trans community now, are bothersome. Lack of understanding, inappropriate language, discrimination and safety. Never mind the whole bathroom thing. So this interview seems ultra important right now. The thing that really bothers me is that I am ignorant to a lot of things that I feel I should know. So bringing James on board to give us this educational talk feels like the right thing to do. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. My biggest burning question is, of course “Are trans people Aliens?” apparently not but...there are similarities. I hope this Podcast is as helpful to you as it was to me. Enjoy. - lisa _________________________________ I hope you enjoyed this interview with another amazing community hero! If you’d like to receive this in your mailbox 2 days before everyone else does, please join our Community on Patreon. A platform that puts the power of art in the hands of the artist and the community that supports that artist. ___________________________________ My goal is to change the way art is sold and experienced. Click here to find out more. Music for the Podcast provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

Today’s guest is the one and only, Lorrie Murphy. Now when I say the one and only, I really mean the one and only!! The night before our interview we had the Money Pennies Reunion. A celebration of Lorrie’s restaurant and bar called Money Pennies. She often called this place a people bar because everyone was welcome from all walks of life no matter who you were. The Reunion, a 350 ticketed event, sold out in 2 days!! There is a reason for this. Money Pennies was the hub in calgary for the gay and lesbian community for over a decade. But it wasn’t just Money Pennies. Lorrie started in the restaurant and bar industry in 1974 and started her legacy back then. Initially Lorrie was going to be a school teacher because she wanted to help people. But that day, at that moment, when she was about to sign on the dotted line to enrol in college, she stopped…….something came over her. She new then and there something wasn't right and that she could help more people in another industry and in another way. The universe spoke and she listened. Who is Lorrie - I’m wonderful, dynamic, innovative, motivated, fantastic, fun loving, elegant and nice…. I worked with Lorrie for 4 years as a server and bartender. It was shortly after I moved to calgary in 2003 and It was the best decision I could have made. Lorrie has a way of making people feel welcome and at home. She invites you into her circle and that circle becomes a gathering place of wonderful people who all want to be involved. Which is why her legacy is so important.   Lorrie Murphy is a community hero who has touched an incredible amount of people. She has left a mark on this city that is the stuff of legends. I personally look up to her as a benchmark of the kind of person I want to become. During the reunion I took a bunch of videos asking people what Money Pennies and Lorrie meant to them. Here is my YouTube Channel to check them out.  Lorrie and her partner Michelle have continued their adventures in touching peoples lives. They now run a Bed and Breakfast in Campbell River, BC. Its called...Money Pennies!! Check it out if your on the island!! They score a 9.5 on trip advisor... Welcome Lorrie Murphy, to Awesome People. ________________________ Words of wisdom from Lorrie “Listen to the universe it will take you where you need to be and give you what you need to have.” - Lorrie Murphy “Speak what you want, believe that you can have it and know there is a path for you. Because you can take all the stops that you want but your still gonna end up there. But you're gonna go thru the hard steps...and you're gonna sit back and say ‘well why didn’t i do that in the first place” - Lorrie Murphy. ________________________________ Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

This next interview is super fun!! It gives me great pleasure to bring to you Jan Little and Jenny Long, artists and co-owners of LittleLong Studios. These two crazy ladies just opened their doors a few months ago and are quickly becoming a cultural hub in Penticton. There used to be lineups to get into the bar down the street and now there’s lineups to get into LittleLong!Jenny and Jan are the Yin and Yang of Artists. Opposite in so many ways but together create something that on their own wouldn't be the same. LittleLong Studios is what Jenny calls her Dream Space. It’s been in the works for a very long time and has now accumulated to this moment. Jenny wasn't always a painter, which blows my mind! She started off as a little girl, at her princess desk, drawing. Painting came to her later while in 3rd year college and she has never looked back. “I fell in love with colour!” “The more I give to the canvas the more I’m gonna get from it.”  - Jenny Long Jenny Long is inspirational. You can't help but feel uplifted and suddenly have a desire to paint once you’ve been in her presence! Which is perfect since she offers painting classes and….something that we are privileged to know before the rest of the world….Jenny is in the process of filming a Bob Ross type video series….but less dry and way more energetic and fun!! “Wouldn't it be fun if….” Jan Little is more than an incredible painter. “I often strives to be a real grownup painter...but I think my mother in law is disappointed in my work…..” we burst out laughing at this point. Jan’s work is beyond beautiful and fun!   Jan is a nerd, lived in New York for a year and has a thing for Patrick Swayze….but don't tell anyone.... She made the decision to go to Emily Carr because “I was bad a sports and academics were boring….” She kept trying the route of a real job or career so she wouldn't have to starve….but then realized “Artists make money!” Yup it’s true folks, that whole starving artist thing is a myth. Once Jan realized this, the decision to become a painter was a no brainer! I ask both these girls what their worst jobs were….which gets us talking about wasabi shots and that time Jan lived in her parents basement…..and then...Patrick Swayze came up...again. And of course, I always ask that question, the one I love “If you could pass on one thing, what would it be?” “Fall in love with what you are doing. Forget about what you're doing later or tomorrow, just be in the moment….” - Jenny Long “Just be nice to people, because you just never know….” - Jan Little Welcome Jan and Jenny to Awesome People!! Permalink

Laurel Burnham is a force to be reckoned with; A feminist, Activist, and what she likes to call a Cultural Entrepreneur. Laurel is the Vice President of the Penticton Arts Council and Head of the Arts Rising Organizing Committee. I interviewed Laurel for Captain Awesome this month to discuss Arts Rising and the Up Rising of a Community. It’s a fantastic interview on this four day Arts Festival. If you haven't had a chance to listen it’s the Podcast just before this one! "I Broke my own mould."This interview is all Laurel and the community hero that she is. We delve into feminism, talk about being a bag lady, and touch on some of her heroes like: Marrion Woodman Sonia Johnson Elisabet Sahtouris Bert Beadle One of the things we touched on was Horizontal Violence. The blood running in the gutters of the women's movement that she experienced. “Remnants of the slave mind - It’s easier to attack your own kind than it is to see that the masters are manipulating it.” Oooo that’s heavy…but this interview is far from heavy. In fact I think it might become a highlight for many! “It’s a nerves game.” Laurel is a Cosmic Warrior Women. She has a gift for organizing people which is how she got started in organizing markets. This all started about 30 years ago on Canada Day….how perfect! “Doing markets means being cognizant of energy itself. It’s all about relationships, people want to know that you’re going to deliver.” Laurel is an outlier….there is no doubt in my mind that whatever she touches, an amazing evolutionary experience will happen. I’m very blessed to be a part of Arts Rising this year and experience first hand what this woman can do. “We need to really begin to understand that we have the capacity to have a different world, this means we need to know how to celebrate together, where everybody is welcome and everybody is included. The theme of Arts Rising is Chrystalis, the story of the butterfly. Elisabet Sahtouris is an evolutionary biologist and has studied the butterfly for a very very long time. I’ve linked up her site for you for further research. I also got Laurel to tell me the story of the transformation of this amazing creature, which she does with great enthusiasm. And then we got into a conversation about Archaebacteria...yes we really do... but enough! Let’s get on with this fantastic interview. Please welcome Laurel Burnham. Permalink

Vaelei Walkden-Brown is our next guest. She is the Executive Director of the Penticton & District Arts Council, one of the driving forces behind Arts Rising. This is something she is very proud of and you can hear the enthusiasm in her voice. "Arts Rising is about us as a community evolving together. A Positive Image of Unity and Harmony and Celebration. "Vaelei’s roots are Polynesian, Australian Feminists and Edmontonian Rocker. OMG Yup, she is one of the most balanced people I know. Love exudes from her when you’re around her, you can feel how strong she is and when you watch her take on a project the badass Rocker Chick comes out! Look out world this girl is gonna get shit done! We talk about the Arts Council, Arts Rising and all the details, getting into the nitty gritty of it all. What's really interesting is that half the board is new and under 30. This is HUGE for a town that has been governed by retirees for so long, showing that we are in the midst of big change. Penticton is an influx on a massive scale and it's happening fast. Arts Rising is the beginning of this beautiful change. A change that I think we all want to see. A balanced community that is about inclusion and acceptance for all. Amongst all this Arts Rising stuff I did manage to squeeze in my favourite question. “If you could pass on one thing, what would that be?” Vaelei’s answer is beautiful, “You need to love yourself. Shame doesn't have a place in our hearts.” Well said Vaelei and Thank You. Vaelei was in Australia just a few years ago and when her parents said they were buying a home in Penticton Vaelei said ok, I'm coming home! We’re so happy she made this decision. Our little town is growing up and we need some strong women to make sure it's on the right track! Please welcome to Awesome People, Vaelei Walkden-Brown. Permalink

This month I’m going to shake things up!! Here in Penticton we are on the verge of a new consciousness….well actually I think the whole planet is. We just finished the multi sport championships (formally Ironman) and now we are gearing into art…. From September 21st-24th we are hosting, for the first time in Penticton History, “Arts Rising”. A multi disciplinary Arts and Cultural Event. This is beyond exciting for me. Penticton is known as a sleepy little town full of retirees….but not any more….. There has been incredible growth in Penticton in the last couple of years and that means incredible people are moving here. I've met loads of people recently; a full roster of musicians, writers, visual artists, film artists, playwrights, poets and designers, bursting at the seams of this once sleepy little town. Two people that stick out like a sore thumb are Vaelei Walkden-Brown and Laurel Burnham. Vaelei is the Executive Director of the Penticton Arts Council and Laurel is the Vice President of the Penticton Arts Council and Head of the Arts Rising Organizing Committee. These 2 crazy incredible women are at the helm of this amazing new era. I interviewed Laurel to discuss in depth why this event is so important. She is a plethora of info, consciousness rising thoughts and just plain crazy in the most brilliant kind of way. Here is the link for more info on this incredible Arts Rising Consciousness Inspiring Event. https://www.artsrising.ca/ Permalink

My next guest is is a community activist like nobodies business!!! She is inspiring to say the least….please welcome Mariegold Randy. By trade Mariegold is a Heavy Equipment Mechanic. She decided this was her career when she was in social work school……..which sounds crazy but makes sense. Mariegold is part of the sisterhood of the Abbey of the Long Cedar Canoe Society. They are a Vancouver sect of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. WHAT! This sisterhood came out of San Francisco when gay men were dying of HIV and aids and were not receiving the care they needed. A group of men, dressed as nuns, came swooping in to take care of their brothers, hence the sisterhood was born. Another Part of Mariegolds volunteering is around PrEP. ( Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, is a way for people who do not have HIV but who are at substantial risk of getting it to prevent HIV infection by taking a pill every day. She also is involved with Vancouver shoreline cleanup, and Car Free Vancouver. But wait there's more!!! Mariegold also knits. NOT for HERSELF....she knits bundles of socks, toques, mitts and scarves and then in the middle of the night, particularly on cold nights she passes them out to those in need. Being a Trades Woman Mariegold also goes to schools and expos to teach and educate young women wanting to go into the trades. She was recently helping out a fellow colleague, Kate Braid with the release of her new book, Swinging a Hammer in a Man's World. A must read for any woman wanting to go into the trades. Fffeewww.....that's a lot to keep up to! Mariegold is our COMMUNITY HERO for a reason!! So without further ado...welcome Mariegold to Awesome People! Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

Karate, Beatniks & John NevilleJames is a funny guy….he can be serious as well but for most of this interview he makes me laugh out loud!! James is an actor, both stage and film, a stand up comic and a Poet. In fact I had James recite five poems for this interview and I've interspersed them throughout our chat. James has worked with John Candy, Donald H. Ford and met the late Karen Hazzard who, referred him to his Toronto agent Edward G Agency. James was also guest on CBC's S&M Comic Book. That being Sexton and Malone, two comedians from the famous Canadian comedy troupe CODCO out of Newfoundland. Some of whom moved on to become this hour has 22 minutes. James was Nominated for the prestigious Chalmers Award in 1973 for the production of his play Treasure Island. He was greatly influenced by the late John Neville, who at the time was the artistic director at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton. And Sensei Mas Tsuruoka, the father of Canadian Karate, whom he studied under. This is a complex man and a fantastic interview. James is my hero. He was almost famous...lost it all….lived on the streets...and thankfully found his way back. James resides today in Penticton BC. His main source of expression today is social activism, comedy writing, and my favourite, Poetry. Please welcome, the famous and my hero, James Iwasik. Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

My next guest is a molecular scientist, a cancer thriver, a Mindfulness coach, and an author. Welcome to Awesome People Mehrnaz Massoudi.I met Mehrnaz at the beach one day...she was just getting off her paddle board and I thought to myself, I’ve always wanted to try paddle boarding, I'm gonna got talk to that women! She was welcoming and open and very happy to talk about one of her life passions, paddle boarding.Mehrnaz was born and raised in Iran. Fell in love while still in Iran...which shouldn't seem like a big deal, but it was during the Iranian revolution and the young man was Baha'i. At that time it was illegal to for a Muslim woman to marry a Baha'i man….we talk about their escape, what that was like and the effects of Mr. Bush. We also talk about how to pronounce Iran...not Iran.Mehrnaz was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and then shortly after that her and her partner split. They had 2 daughters so this was not an easy time for Mehrnaz. In fact it was one of the darkest times of her life.This interview is so inspirational...and not in a fluffy kind of way. As a mindfulness coach Mehrnaz speaks the truth without sugar coating. One of my favourite sayings is “Spiritual bypass shit!”When a person is in the thick of grief or in a dark place, sometimes you have to just go right through it….well actually you have to ALWAYS go right through it. Life isn't always fluffy and dark times are a part of it. We talk in depth about this but don't worry, it isn't heavy or boring!! There is tons of laughter!Mehrnaz has also written a memoir and it will be published in 2019. “Never without love.”This is also a Persian expression that means,  “It doesn't matter where you are or what you have been through love can always take care of us. In the darkest time of life we can still find a flicker of light in our heart-always with love. “Mehrnaz has a great message to us all, she is a beautiful human and a great teacher. If you're looking for more in your life and don't know where to begin you can start here.Here are links to her website and Facebook Page.Welcome Mehrnaz to Awesome People!__________________Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

Say no to striving - you don’t need it.We’ve all heard claims that happiness is the key to success, or health or a good sex life or whatever. Many books I’ve seen over the years have talked about what to do so you can be happy. In short, the philosophy is that A+B = happiness. In the absence of another approach, I believed this one. After years of diligent effort and certainty that this was the way to go, I realized it wasn’t working, but I didn’t know why. I questioned my approach - maybe I was doing something wrong. No, I was doing all the right stuff. Then I questioned my commitment - maybe I didn’t truly believe I could be happy. No, I was happier while conditions were right, and then things would change and I’d be unhappy again. Constantly trying to get the conditions right fed my desire for control, but it didn’t make me happier.I now have some experience which confirms that A+B does not = happiness. That’s just not how it works. Why?  Because true happiness is not an outcome, it’s the source. By its very nature, it is not quantifiable or achievable. So, if that’s true, then how do you get from stressed out and dissatisfied to a state of happiness?  My answer: Stop striving!  How do you do that?  Follow the link below to read more.Every month on the 5th we publish a longer form article, do a podcast on it and I illustrate it! It's amazing!! Just click here for the full post on AwesomePoeplebylisa.com !! Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him atTwitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.Permalink

This next interview is so great in so many ways!! Claire Keys is our next guest. She is fun, inspiring and has the best accent. Born and raised in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, Claire grew up in and out of convent/boarding schools at the age of two. They were Catholic of course and run by very strict nuns! YIKES!!Her parents divorced when she was 13 yrs old but she new as long as she could be with her mum, all would be ok. And it was!!!“Our Mum was the glue and the bond of our family and that’s why we all did so well.”Her mum was 83 yrs old when she passed and was in Canada for well over 20 years with four of her five girls.“We were all quite different but we are all really, really close.”This is a true life story that love conquers all, the power of healing and the belief in oneself.We jump right into the middle of this interview. Names and people make sense as you listen. The whole thing becomes utterly fascinating, Claire is a real life heroin. She calls herself “two ton tessie” because; as you will find out, when she was in her mid 30’s she was close to 200 pounds! Losing the weight was not easy and we talk to great lengths about self worth and the positive messages we can say to ourselves.Claire is the Owner & Operator of Teas & Weaves. A joint love of Claire's; Tea and her husband Fritz, weaves... or rugs. It’s a lovely shop where you can stroll up to the bar, just like in a winery, order a tea then browse the store to the look and feel of fancy rugs. A weird and magical combination!I love this interview. It's inspiring, humbling and romantic.Please welcome to Awesome People, Claire Keys._____________________Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.  Permalink

Todays podcast is the first in the Captain Awesome addition to Awesome People. Every month we pick a topic, we blog about it, and then I illustrate it. Today’s topic, how to be less busy and more fulfilled. Please head to the website for the full longish form blog post and the Captain Awesome illustration. Both are amazing...you’ll love it!! Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him atTwitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

This interview is a must for anyone searching for an unconventional lifestyle. My next guest, David Wourms is the go-to guy for living an alternative life. He is homeless, (he still has an address in Alberta; the government requires this), but lives out of Airbnb and house-sitting gigs. He is also the primary parent of his daughter, and has been since she was 4 years old.As a woman and someone who grew up in a multiple parent divorce situation, I’ve always been curious as to how a single dad (or mom) would or could do it differently. Well, I found out that the possibilities are many. As you will hear.David wanted to instill in his daughter a core value of independance and security, and that he did. “Independence gives you security. And If you don't need anything or anyone then you're not desperate for a relationship and [are] able to spend time with yourself and others.”One of the things I loved was that he would write letters to his daughter, not to mail them but to have a conversation. He would pick a topic, something he did when he was her age, or something that she was leaning toward. He would write about it, and then they would sit and have a conversation. No filters - complete transparency.As a result of this and many other cool things, like texting each other when they are both home, she grew up to be as he had hoped - independant, honest, kind, smart and secure within her being.This interview is inspiring and has a sense of wanderlust. They departed on a one-year epic journey across Canada 4 days after his daughter graduated high school. Planes, trains, boats and buses. An incredible trip, before she started college, that they will both cherish. And, in case it has crossed your mind, they haven't had an argument in years!“The day to day life we had was not filled with conflict. Because we had a good understanding of each other there was never a need to "fight over the milk" so to speak. So although we had issues I don't remember the day-to-day fighting like what was in my house growing up, there wasn't a day that someone wasn't fighting with someone else.”I met up with David in Vancouver. He had decided Vancouver was a place to stay for a couple months, and I was on my sister's couch - the timing was perfect! I had been trying to get him to do an interview for months! Now was my chance. We sat at a restaurant in Yaletown and did the interview right then and there. It took a server half an hour to notice we were there, which was hilarious, but we got privacy!Since we were sitting on a patio the noise level was quite high, but David, being a computer geek, did a little magical editing for me and was able to take out most of the annoying noise and save our interview. Thank you David!!So without further ado, David Wourms, my alternative go-to guy! Music provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.Permalink

Have you have wondered where I got the amazing music for the intro to Awesome People? Well wonder no longer. My next interview is with Jarred Nicklen, singer, songwriter, and the man behind the music for Awesome People.Jarred grew up in Saskatchewan on a farm but, fortunately for him, did very little farming. He was drawn to music at a young age,  and he knew he was destined to be a musician.He works with many musicians today including:Jason HastieAaron PollockElijah LucianAlex HughesCrystal Mcgrath, who is the Gurl in their band Boy and Gurl.Jarred is kind and incredibly sweet. We’ve been friends for years now and I’m honestly not being biased when I say he is one of my favorite musicians. Honestly! He is just that good.One of my favorite songs from Jarred and his band Boy&Gurl, is Loss. ( you can google - Boy&Gurl, Loss Video - to find it )During our interview it seemed helicopters continuously flew over our heads…..but they couldn't find us (thank goodness), and we managed to finish the interview. Unfortunately, I was unable to edit this out, but to make up for the racket Jarred wrote an incredible instrumental piece just for this interview! ( It’s tacked onto the end )So without further ado, Jarred Nicklen!Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him atTwitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc. Permalink

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to Awesome People Jacq Kemp, Winemaker at Moraine Winery and winner of many awards…..Moraine Estate Winery produces one of my favorite wines….a Malbec that is spectacular AND they are located on the Naramata Bench just 7.2 K from my home. How lucky am I!!?Jacq Kemp is the winemaker for Moraine Estate Winery and is the focus of this incredible podcast. Meeting Jacq this past summer was a gift. Not only was I introduced to a wine that has become my absolute favorite but Jacq is incredibly knowledgable and luckily for me and you, loves to teach….This podcast is full of….and I mean full of all things wine. My learning curve was like that of a rock climber...straight up and steep. The process of dirt to vine to the bottle is humbling to say the least. The work involved is beyond what I thought and one must have an incredible passion to want to work so hard…..Jacq is that person.Now before you start thinking i'm being biased here are a list of awards that Moraine Winery has won...and this is just the past 2 years….2016 Gewurztraminer - Double Gold in the all Canadian Wine Competition.2016 Gewurztraminer - Bronze in the International FIngers Competition.2016 Cliff Hanger Red - Silver in the International FIngers Competition.2016 Riesling - Gold in the International FIngers Competition.2015 Pinot Noir - Double Gold in the International Pinot Noir Competition.2015 Red Mountain - Bronze in the BC Wine Awards2015 Cliffhanger White - Silver BC Wine Awards2015 Syrah - Bronze BC Wine Awards2015 Viognier - Silver all Canadian Wine Championship and the BC Wine Awards2015 Malbec - Bronze all Canadian Wine Championship and the BC Wine AwardsJacq grew up in England, Brussels and New Zealand so her accent is spectacular! There are many great things about this interview but having her pronounce Deck is definitely a highlight. But it's not just the wine and all it's glory that impressed me so much….or her accent…. It was Jacq herself…..“Talking about what you're doing wrong is super important. It helps you move a step forward towards right.” This honesty exudes from her and is by far one of the features that made this interview so enjoyable. It's an incredible way to live one's life…..a humbling life lesson we can all strive for.The Canadian wine industry is at an exciting time in the world. We are just past the development stage and starting to be recognized as as an international competitor. Wineries like Moraine are pushing the boundaries and putting Canada on the map of really really great wine!!This interview is such a treat and I could go on and on but really it's time to just listen….so grab your notebook and pen and enjoy….Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him atTwitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.  

It gives me great pleasure to add this new addition to Awesome People, a MasterChef participant, creative designer and lover of margarine...My Domingo.2016 was an incredible year for My Domingo. He made the cut for MasterChef Canada, one of 40 participants and 40,000 entries….WOW that's like winning the lottery...but with work involved...Congratulations Domingo!!Since this incredible experience Domingo has opened his #ICEBOXMAGIC food, fashion vino and all things pretty culinary experience. This is where he takes what's in your fridge and creates magic...thus  #ICEBOXMAGIC. You can visit his website at MyDomingo.com for more info and find out how to book your magic.Domingo and I have known each other a very long time and seeing his progress as a human and a friend has been nothing short of magical. He has evolved into a wonderful man and his cooking is nothing less than incredible.MasterChef was a game changer for Domingo. Life gives us many lessons and some are disguised and some are obvious. This experience for him was both…..One of my favourite questions is “If you could pass on one thing what would that be?” Domingo had more than one answer for me, which is fantastic!!Always dress up for your next job.The fear of showing up as not who you are far out ways the fear of being you. - This is a quote from Danielle Laporte and something Domingo holds close to his heart.Leggings are not Pants!!!Domingo has many dreams and aspirations, is an incredible chef, and I'm proud to call a friend. Please welcome to Awesome People Domingo Lumanog. ______________________________Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him atTwitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce this amazing dynamo to Awesome People Lynn Greene! I first came across her while being introduced to this video Citizen X. A video about Bill C-16 or more commonly called the bathroom bill. It's a bill that will amend the human rights act to protect those transitioning while using a public washroom. Why this has become such a big issue we are not sure but Lynn is not someone to sit and do nothing. She and a group of talented individuals made this video to show support to transgendered and to say hey this is ridiculous, we just wanna pee!!  ________________ "At some point we are responsible for our own lives" ___________________Lynn ran away at 16 and has never looked back. Her motto is "We can do better!". The tough times in her life made her more compassionate and made her strong. She is resistant, fun and as she put it...never bored! Without further a due, please welcome, Lynne Greene.____________________________________Music for Awesome People is provided by Jarred Nicklen. You can find more on him at Twitter, Facebook, Instagram. Etc.