Tag Archives: Toronto

Elyse Friedman: Author

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Elyse Friedman, author, screenwriter, The Answer to Everything

Elyse Friedman is a Toronto based writer. Her most recent book “The Answer to Everything” received great reviews. She’s won a Gold National Magazine Award and has been short-listed for the Trillium Book Award and the Toronto Book Award.

She’s also participated in Tarragon Theatre’s Playwrights Unit and has written two feature films, one of which premiered at TIFF, the other at the Sundance Film Festival.

Reviewing “The Answer to Everything” the National Post’s Sofi Papamarko wrote: “Tales about people searching for meaning in an empty culture and confusing universe aren’t new, but Friedman tackles hers in a fiercely funny and original way.”

The Toronto Star’s Safa Jinje wrote: “The Answer to Everything is tragicomedy at its best. The novel is packed with sadness, but readers will mostly laugh.”

Among other things we discuss why Elyse dropped out of high school at a time in her life when she was, in her words, “a crazy, hormonal, freaked out teenager.”

In the interview Elyse answers questions submitted by podcast listeners, including one about her favourite dark and funny writers.

Links from the Podcast
elysefriedman.com
The Answer to Everything
Ryeberg Curated Videos
Elyse Friedman, author, screenwriter, The Answer to Everything

Christina Walkinshaw: Writer, Comedian

Writer, comedian and craft beer nerd Christina Walkinshaw discusses her journey from journalism school to becoming a professional comedian and publishing a blog detailing her exploits on Tinder.Christina Walkinshaw discusses her journey from journalism school to becoming a professional comedian and publishing a blog detailing her exploits on Tinder. She explains how a vacation fling in New York made her realize she’d relish similar experiences at home in Toronto.

So she decided to go on 50 Tinder dates and write about them. The result is a hugely popular blog.

Christina made news across North America after she lost a comedy gig for confronting a staff member about being sexually harassed during a performance.

While performing at a comedy club, audience members asked her to “Show us your bush.” Following a confrontation with the club manager, who did nothing to help out, she confessed to her blog readers that she cried.

“I can’t believe I’m confessing to crying on the internet. I never cry. At least I didn’t cry on stage, right?”

Read about it HERE.
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Christina’s Blog: My Week on Tinder

Christina on Comdey Now

Melanie Doane: Singer, Songwriter

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Melanie Doane, Interview, Podcast, Keith Tomasek An accomplished singer, songwriter, musician, and performer Melanie Doane has appeared on Broadway and stages across North America.

Melanie Doane has released seven albums & written and performed many chart topping singles (“Adam’s Rib”, “Goliath”, “Still Desire You”, etc.).

Her music has been featured on hit television shows such as Brothers and Sisters, Being Erica, Flashpoint, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

As well as performing, Melanie uses the ukulele to introduce young children to musicianship. She’s following in the footsteps of her father, J.Chalmers Doane, a celebrated music education legend.

Doane’s relationship to music is intertwined with her sense of community. Her parents love of, and respect for, music and it’s place in the family home, has infused Melanie with a truly collaborative spirit.

Links from the Podcast
Melanie Doane.com
J. Chalmers Doane
Burton Cummings
The National Theatre of Great Britain’s “War Horse.”

Melanie’s music video “The Stupider I Am.”

Ukulele in the classrom

Melanie on the TV show I produced “Open Mike with Mike Bullard.”