Innhold levert av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department. Alt podcastinnhold, inkludert episoder, grafikk og podcastbeskrivelser, lastes opp og leveres direkte av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department eller deres podcastplattformpartner. Hvis du tror at noen bruker det opphavsrettsbeskyttede verket ditt uten din tillatelse, kan du følge prosessen skissert her https://no.player.fm/legal.
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The Firecracker Department explicit
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Manage series 1395320
Innhold levert av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department. Alt podcastinnhold, inkludert episoder, grafikk og podcastbeskrivelser, lastes opp og leveres direkte av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department eller deres podcastplattformpartner. Hvis du tror at noen bruker det opphavsrettsbeskyttede verket ditt uten din tillatelse, kan du følge prosessen skissert her https://no.player.fm/legal.
Award-winning actor Naomi Snieckus (Second City, Disney’s Zombies) is getting real with fellow artists about their struggles, successes, and everything in between. A new episode is out every 2 weeks.
…
continue reading
228 episoder
Merk alt (u)spilt...
Manage series 1395320
Innhold levert av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department. Alt podcastinnhold, inkludert episoder, grafikk og podcastbeskrivelser, lastes opp og leveres direkte av Naomi Snieckus and Firecracker Department eller deres podcastplattformpartner. Hvis du tror at noen bruker det opphavsrettsbeskyttede verket ditt uten din tillatelse, kan du følge prosessen skissert her https://no.player.fm/legal.
Award-winning actor Naomi Snieckus (Second City, Disney’s Zombies) is getting real with fellow artists about their struggles, successes, and everything in between. A new episode is out every 2 weeks.
…
continue reading
228 episoder
Alle episoder
×1 The Writers Lab - Elizabeth Kaiden and Nitza Wilon talk about amplifying the voices of women 57:47
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57:47Naomi sits down with the powerhouse duo behind The Writers Lab - Nitza and Elizabeth! We dive into their incredible journey of building a space that empowers underrepresented voices in screenwriting. From that first letter to Meryl Streep to the creative chaos of launching a groundbreaking initiative, their story is one of passion, perseverance, and purpose. They share the personal sacrifices required, and their unwavering commitment to lifting this community. As Nitza said, "We throw a rock, and the ripples keep going" - their impact is undeniable. Listen now to get inspired, laugh out loud, and reignite your creative spark. 🎬✨…
1 Nia Vardalos gets incredible advice from the most unbelievable sources 1:04:37
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1:04:37Actress and screenwriter Nia Vardalos has received advice and opportunities from some truly unexpected sources. While working the box office at Toronto’s Second City, she tells Naomi how she fell in love with improv, deepened her passion for acting, and prepared herself for a breakthrough moment—stepping onto the stage when another actor fell ill. That pivotal experience set her on a path to Chicago and then Los Angeles, where, during a moment of panic, a cab driver encouraged her to take a breath and trust she would succeed—and she did. Inspired by her own Greek family, Nia decided to write a script based on their stories, and the project first came to life as a play before becoming the beloved movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Throughout her journey, she has remained open to the wisdom and opportunities that came her way, including surprising advice from her gynecologist about setting aside irrational thoughts. Nia shares with Naomi the importance of accepting tough but valuable feedback, her belief in letting creativity flow naturally, and her commitment to writing every day. Through it all, she’s learned to embrace her quirks, let her authentic self shine, and find strength in the unexpected.…
1 Janet McMordie is living the ultimate double life, and celebrating the wins along the way 1:07:19
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1:07:19Janet McMordie is living the ultimate double life: she’s a practicing doctor and an actor, juggling two incredibly demanding careers with an impressive amount of energy and humor. She also hosts the Second Act Actors podcast, where she chats with fellow actors hustling to catch up to the pros who seem light-years ahead in the industry. In her conversation with Naomi, Janet opens up about her choice to keep both passions alive. She doesn’t want to rely on acting to pay the bills, but she’s not about to burn out by doing medicine full-time either, so she’s all about finding that sweet spot. She also shares how jumping into improv during the pandemic made her a better doctor, teaching her to think on her feet and tackle anything life throws at her. On stage and in the operating room, Janet values the trust and teamwork that comes with having a solid “scene partner”, and knowing someone always has her back makes all the difference. Through it all, Janet is determined to celebrate the little wins and keep things fun, proving that life—and art—is way better when you don’t take it too seriously.…
1 Winnie Jong prides herself on delivering strong performances & finding magic in scripts 1:02:56
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1:02:56Winnie Jong (Law & Order Toronto, Jane) may now be recognized as a director, but her journey started behind the scenes as a script supervisor. Growing up across the street from a movie theatre, she fell in love with cinema, watching Federico Fellini films and dreaming of directing her own someday. In her chat with Naomi, Winnie recalls how she initially saw script supervising as a detour but soon realized it was anything but. Being in the middle of all the creative conversations gave her invaluable insight and set the foundation for her directing career. Making the jump to directing wasn’t easy, but it pushed her to try something new every day. At first, she searched for the “magic” script to direct but eventually let go of that idea, learning that any script could be magical with the right vision. Now, Winnie prides herself on running sets where there’s room to explore emotionally charged scenes, giving herself and her actors the time to dig deep. She’s discovered she can consistently pull powerful performances from her cast, which she counts as one of her biggest accomplishments. As she continues to grow her career, Winnie stays motivated by the same dream that inspired her as a kid: creating her own Fellini-esque films. With every project, she gets closer to making that dream a reality.…
1 Jennifer Liao will always remember her lighting bolt moment 1:09:27
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1:09:27Jennifer Liao’s journey from actor to writer and director is fueled by her passion for storytelling. Growing up dreaming of being a sitcom writer, she credits her love of Shakespeare and poetry for teaching her how to dig into text and find its layers. She shares with Naomi how her experience as an actor shaped the way she approaches directing, helping her connect with performers and bring out the best in their work. She talks about directing her first short films with the help of friends who believed in her vision, showing how collaboration and community played a big part in her early success. Jennifer opens up about the challenges of the industry — balancing ambition with flexibility, learning to advocate for herself, and staying energized for the work she loves. While she still values producing her own projects, directing has become her main focus, giving her the chance to tell stories that matter and amplify new voices. Her journey is full of determination, creativity, and a commitment to always keep learning and growing.…
1 Melanie Scrofano gives herself permission to fail 42:04
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42:04In this special episode of The Firecracker Department Podcast, actor, writer, and director Melanie Scrofano (Letterkenny, Wynonna Earp) sits down with Naomi for a candid chat about their careers, the value of community, and trusting their instincts. Melanie talks openly about her ongoing struggle to balance everything at once and her passion for creating characters that feel real. Together, they share their experiences of learning to trust their gut, with Melanie reflecting on the power of finding joy and pride in the work she’s done. Naomi also opens up about her goals for The Firecracker Department—a place where artists can connect, collaborate, and feel empowered. She’s learned to let go of control, allowing others to take charge of different aspects of the community. Both Melanie and Naomi agree on the importance of finding strength both behind and in front of the camera and making space for more voices in the writing process to create authentic characters. They’ve learned to follow their instincts, stick with their choices, and own it along the way. This interview was conducted by SheDoesTheCity in Fall of 2023, in support of the Firecracker Department. We’ve been given permission to share this podcast with our listeners. SheDoesTheCity is a community-minded arts and entertainment media outlet that amplifies the stories about and from women, trans women and non-binary people. Follow them on their socials @shedoesthecity…
1 Mia Bella wants to be best known for connecting to others through her art 1:07:25
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1:07:25At 15, actress and singer Mia Bella is carving a solid path for herself in the entertainment industry. Fueled by her passion for her craft and her parents’ unconditional support, Mia’s love of music at a young age has helped her pursue her dreams and she tells Naomi how much she looks forward to exploring more of her interests as her career progresses. Throughout her career, she’s learned to recognize when she’s about to burn out, how to deal with rejection and how to manage her expectations when auditioning. She shares how she’s learning to find the balance between going after her dreams and making time for her community, including her fellow castmates from the hit TV show The Popularity Papers, whom she loves collaborating with. Mia tells Naomi about her hopes to mentor younger generations of women and non-binary actors as she ages, to continue paving the way for up-and-coming talent. Although her career is just beginning, Mia is a remarkable talent with big dreams, big plans, and an even bigger future ahead.…
1 Robin Duke is improvising through her funny life 1:06:15
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1:06:15Robin Duke is a comedy powerhouse whose talent spans all mediums. After getting her start on SCTV and transitioning to SNL as the first female cast member hired as a writer, Robin tells Naomi about her mission to write sketches that painted women in different lights and showed their strengths. She talks about how much she loved writing for other people, showing that comedy by women isn’t all about boobs, and the pressure she felt to perform. Though her tenacity landed her the job, she also talks about the downfall after being replaced on the show and how that affected her confidence. She tells Naomi that her passion was reignited after teaching a course where a speaker claimed comedy was only for young people and not for women, and how she was determined to prove them wrong, creating comedy troupe Women Fully Clothed. Though open about her journey, Robin explains her decision to keep her cancer diagnosis private until she was ready to explore it in her writing, finding humor in the experience. Throughout her illustrious career, she vows to keep learning, growing, and working on projects that inspire her and keep her laughing.…
1 Adeline Bird is a champion of rest & resurgence 1:11:02
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1:11:02Adeline Bird is the true definition of a multi-hyphenate, unapologetic artist. As an actor, storyteller, director, author, podcaster and social worker (just to name a few), Adeline has taken all of her experiences in her various disciplines and used them to fuel her creativity and find her voice. She tells Naomi and Jennifer how important her Afro-Indigenous identity is, and leads them into a riveting conversation about the importance of rest amidst the hustle. While working on her current project, a sleep podcast called “Rest and Resurge”, Adeline creates decolonial stories, worlds without police and patriarchy, and encourages her listeners to rest through the constant struggle of having to explain themselves. She also shares how she strongly believes that as artists, we need to hold our stories in our heart, how our characters are spirits that live inside us, and that the world will conspire to make them come to life. And through practiced rest and relaxation, Adeline believes we can rise up stronger and be as unapologetic as we desire.…
1 Tasha Hubbard is learning to find moments of joy and look ahead 1:05:48
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1:05:48Documentary filmmaker Tasha Hubbard (We Will Stand Up, Two Worlds Colliding) always knew she wanted to be in the arts to help amplify and uplift Indigenous experiences. Although initially she was unsure where she fit in, when she met fellow Indigenous filmmakers Gil Cardinal and Doug Cuthand, her journey truly began under their mentorship. Throughout her career making documentaries, Tasha tells Naomi and Jennifer how she learned to give not only herself the space to heal and be supported, but also the brave subjects she features in her work. She’s also a seasoned academic, and shares the resiliency she developed as a single mom when she began teaching, and the village of people that helped raise her child. Tasha is embarking on a new journey as a narrative feature filmmaker with her upcoming project Birth of a Family (based on the documentary of the same name), and is reeling off of the success of her recent documentary film Singing Back the Buffalo. Even though Tasha has self-admittedly chosen to play the long game in her career, she shares insights on how the buffalo have inspired her to keep going, deal with hardship, find moments of joy, and always keep looking ahead. For more information on the buffaloes, visit buffalosong.com . To sign the buffalo treaty, visit buffalotreaty.com .…
1 Jessica Matten wants to be best known for being of service to others 1:14:05
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1:14:05From a young age, actress and producer Jessica Matten (Dark Winds) has been focused on creating Indigenous communities to support and be of service to. From her first group Positive Beauty at the age of 13, supporting young Indigenous models with an undercurrent of mental health and wellness, to running programs with the Indigenous Film School and her own company 7 Forward Entertainment, Jessica is focused on consistently pushing others forward towards their goals and healing people through the arts. She tells Jennifer and Naomi about how coming from a multicultural background has given her the capacity to hold so much space for others, and how she’s learned to create discipline in doing so. As she’s grown older and gained more life experience, she also shares how her intuitive guidance and connection to her culture has helped her to better understand and identify the “silences” and traumas affecting Indigenous youth, and her hopes to affect change through action. Her commitment, grace, and intention to heal and be of service to others through the arts is admirable, and her philanthropic work has been able to guide her and trust that this is her purpose for being on this earth.…
1 Keilani Rose is on a lifelong journey to discover her voice 52:37
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52:37The extraordinary Keilani Rose (Shoresy) is embracing the lifelong journey of self-discovery to find her voice as an artist. Born and raised in Lheidli (The Place Where the Two Rivers Flow Together - also colonially known as Prince George, BC), she tells Naomi and Jennifer how her roots in dance gave her a safe space to find herself and morphed into other areas of artistry she’s used to tell powerful stories. She also shares how her Indigenous cultural values serve as a reminder that all areas of creativity are interconnected, and how we can honour different parts of ourselves and allow them to inform each other through art. Keilani also shares her personal process into discovery and reclaiming her spirit after she experienced a traumatic incident, and how the healing process informed her work moving forward. In this enlightening conversation, Keilani, Naomi and Jennifer connect on the discipline, focus, and freedom we can find in our creative work and look towards the various “rivers” of possibility that open up once we connect with our true selves.…
1 Jennifer Podemski & Naomi Sneickus believe there’s comedy to be found in trauma 35:14
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35:14In our kickoff episode for the second season of The Blaze Sessions, Naomi sits down with this season's curator, Jennifer Podemski. As a multi-hyphenate artist, Jennifer’s creativity knows no bounds, and she’s committed to highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity when it comes to Indigenous content and shining lights on aspects of the industry that still make her angry in an effort to force change. In this discussion with Naomi, Jennifer shares her views on the importance of grieving, how both grief and comedy exist next to each other, and her desire to bring people together in moments big and small. She also shares her hopes for this new season of The Blaze Sessions, where she hopes to introduce us to incredible Indigenous creatives that are “doing the coolest shit” to change the landscape of our industry and the world.…
Welcome back to The Blaze Sessions brought to you by the Firecracker Department! Season two is here, and we're thrilled! Hosts Naomi Snieckus (Mr.D, The Madness, The Social, Second City Toronto) and the incredible Jennifer Podemski, ("Little Bird", "Reservation Dogs" and founder of Red Cloud Productions and The Shine Network) have curated inspiring, engaging, and refreshingly honest conversations with women and non-binary individuals at the top of their game in the industry. From sharing insights on their creative journeys to discussing how they're changing the world through their art, these talks are the perfect blend of real, raw, and fun. Get ready to ignite your passion, and join us for a blazing good time. Starting May 15th, you’ll get a new episode every 2 weeks! Find us at www.firecrackerdepartment.com and all your favourite podcast platforms.…
1 Alana Johnston wants to be the funniest she’s ever been 1:02:04
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1:02:04For the past few years, performer and writer Alana Johnston has made it her mission to incorporate the theme of self-esteem into her artistic work. As the host of The Self-Esteem Party Podcast (on which this episode was first featured), she’s learned that the things we struggle with in regards to self-esteem might follow us forever, and that’s totally okay. She also shares how her perspective has shifted after some major events occurred in her life in recent years, and how she’s now using her art to work through those traumatic moments. Through this brave discussion, Naomi and Alana speak about the importance of surrounding yourself with people who support your artistic endeavours, bringing yourself back to reality through positive self-talk, and embracing your weirdness. And Alana shares that now - more than ever - her ultimate goal is to be the funniest she’s ever been.…
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