Our guest in this episode is mustard and smoked-meat wizard Zane Caplansky, founder of Caplanksy's Deli & purveyor of fine mustards. When Nick had the idea of interviewing a chef to discuss the artistic elements of food and cooking, Zane immediately came to mind. As it turns out, the struggles associated with balancing artisanal meats and mustards …

The irony of this episode is that Nick's "Word of the Year" for 2024 is EDIT. And it took Brie four months to edit this dang file. Maybe EDIT should have been both our words! NEVERTHELESS. Here we are. It's 2024. We're the happiest new members of PodCavern. And we're ready to set and tackle our goals in the struggly world of Arts & Entertainment in…

Jo Anne Tacorda is an actor, improviser, singer and one fifth of the popular sketch comedy troupe Big Chick Energy. In this episode of TCS, Brie and Nick find out what it was like to form a sketch troupe in the thick of Covid, what it takes to be part of the Hallmark "Christmasverse" and great tips along the way about embracing your inner-creative.…

***DON'T MISS "Good News Toronto" at Montreal Sketchfest FRI MAY 12th!*** Korri Birch is an actor, improviser, comedian, writer, producer, voice-over artist, puppeteer, teacher and self-proclaimed idiot based in Toronto. In this episode, Brie and Nick chat with Korri about his decision to stop producing, writing, and starring in the award-winning m…

Belynda Thomas is an author of novels (Secrets and Silence, Secrets and Sorrow) and children's book (When Can We Get a Puppy,) a blogger, a visual artist, Toastmaster, wife, mother and consultant to Mississauga Writers Group. In this episode, Nick and Brie chat with Belynda about writing, self-publishing and owning your artistic dreams. We chat abo…

Heather Eyman is a fitness coach and improviser among many other things and in this episode, we see the path Heather took to narrow down on what's important when there isn't enough time to do everything and when you're the kind of person who enjoys the abundance of what life has to offer. We also ask her advice on how to fix Nick's darn back! Find …

Our first episode in over four months! Why the break? Well you'll just have to listen to the episode and find out. HA! Masters of the tease. But really, it's a doozy of an episode where Brie & Nick dig deep into some real talk about physical and mental health, motivation, relocation and the whole thing gets a little vulnerable. It's not all struggl…

Chicago's Mary Hynes is an improviser, actor, instructor, stage manager and tall lady. In this episode, Mary reminds us of the importance of leaning into and really living our core values as performers, and human beings. She offers tremendous insight into navigating the unsure waters of the performance industry, including her signature Lean Back.…

All wordplay aside, this is a delightful and informative episode featuring Genevieve (Evie) Jones, playwright, actor, director and mom of Daphne. Evie’s located in the Niagara Region, and chats with Nick and Brie about starting out her artistic career in Niagara, spreading her wings beyond the peninsula and her parents, and the reason for her epic …

Rhiannon Archer is a stand-up comic and instructor, a mom of two little dudes and is currently in school training to become a therapist. In this episode Rhiannon chats with Nick and Brie about her formative years, her ADHD diagnosis, and how it impacted her education and career path and how that path has changed now that better resources are availa…

In this episode, Nick and Brie chat with Wellesley Robertson III; a circus-artist, breakdancer, improviser, puppeteer, actor… self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Wellesley has spent the better part of the last decade travelling the world performing with various theatrical productions, seemingly falling into one amazing opportunity…

Happy New Year Strugglers! We’re back with another great episode! This time, Nick & Brie chat with Toronto-based special effects make-up artist and instructor Megan Fraser. Megan takes us through her creative journey, starting in Calgary with papier mâché and glue all over her childhood bedroom floor to, probably a fairly similar floor-situation in…

In this Year in Review episode, Nick and Brie enjoy a host-cast chat about the year that was; what accomplishments we were able to achieve given the colossal mess of a year we all just collectively endured and what struggles (other than the colossal mess) we endured and attempted to overcome. Thanks for listening this year pals, and feel free to sh…

Chances are if you've performed comedy in Toronto, you're likely one degree of separation from this episode's guest; Gary Rideout Jr., owner of Toronto's famous Comedy Bar & Director of Business Development at The Second City in Toronto. This episode dives into Gary's timeline as a budding comedian-turned-business owner and tracks the many successe…

Alan Belerique (or Alan Bee as many know him) is a live comedy producer, actor, improviser and writer. His production company This Is Not TV has been creating live comedy content for Toronto audiences for the better part of a decade. His show “This is How We Duo” is making its return to live audiences on September 20th at Comedy Bar in Toronto. Ala…

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 hel…

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 sea…

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 littl…

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 musi…

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 acces…

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 poss…

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 exci…

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 an…

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…

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 transiti…

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…

***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 e…

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…

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 (W…

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 Hos…

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 str…

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 upco…

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. W…

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 month…

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 th…

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!By Brie & Nick Watson

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 depa…

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 u…

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…

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 ful…

JESS GRANT is an improviser and improv teacher living in Toronto. Originally from New Brunswick, Jess takes TCS on a journey through her discovery of improv through to her process of using physicality to inspire her amazing scenework along to how the rules of improv helped her through her treatment of Hogkin's lymphoma. With a clean bill of health,…

Clint Murphy is a sci-fi screenwriter living in Toronto with his wife and two daughters. He recently made it to the 2nd round in an HBO-sponsored one-hour original pilot contest at the Austin Film Festival, where he returned with a wealth of knowledge and insight he was happy to share with TCS. Clint spoke to Nick and Brie about his writing and str…

#SPOILER ALERT! In this episode, we talk a BUNCH about Star Wars : The Last Jedi. So if you haven't seen it yet, we're warning you ahead of time. Everyone's saying 2017 was a garbage fire, and in many ways it was. But creatively, for Nick and Brie, things seem to be headed in the opposite direction. Slowly, but surely we're seeing progress on our c…

JASON LOO is the creator of The Pitiful Human-Lizard, a working-class superhero defending the city of Toronto. Now in its' 16th issue and a part of the Chapterhouse, Jason talks to Nick and Brie about what it's like being a comic book artist in Toronto and creating a superhero who is quintessentially Canadian, all while maintaining a full-time job …

JANET DAVIDSON is an improvisor, actor & Second City instructor who's just gone on an epic journey of self-discovery to Vancouver and is returning to Toronto with a brand new perspective. Nick & Brie caught up with Janet one evening in the Second City Training Centre to find out more about Janet, her passion for both playing and teaching improv, he…

MONIQUEA MARION is an improviser, character actor and YouTube creator embarking on a new project, in which she plans to travel across British Columbia on her motorcycle and document her experiences along the way in a webseries. Nick and Brie caught up with Moniquea shortly before leaving on this adventure to talk comedy, career and ego-checks. With…

It's a hostful episode, folks! This time, Brie interviews Nick about how his book is coming along as well as his new sugar/gluten-free lifestyle and Nick interviews Brie about how she just LEFT HER JOB FOR A YEAR to pursue her comedy FULL TIME! So yeah... lots of ground to cover. Tune in and check in with the hosts of the Constant Struggle's consta…

DINA SENIOR: Improviser, Actor, Voice-Actor, Improv Teacher, Daytime Vampire. DINA talks to Nick and Brie about being a performer in the Niagara Region and the plethora of opportunities that exist in the thriving community theatre scene. She talks about her struggles finding the time to realise her creative goals while juggling a full-time job as w…

CAMILLE CÔTÉ talks to Nick & Brie about finding her voice in stand-up comedy, her style of writing as well as her experiences in the Toronto comedy scene. She opens up about a heckler who attacked her personal values at a Hamilton club and dishes about the inside scoop working in a hair salon to pay the bills and to balance her life as a hustling s…

BAXO (visual artist) talks to Nick & Brie about his signature artistic style "Aluminism"; how he discovered it and how he creates masterful pieces that look vastly different depending on how it's hit by the light. He also talks about what it's like to be an artist in Welland and the Niagara Region, where a thriving arts community is growing as well…