The Firecracker Department
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.
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Jennifer Liao will always remember her lighting bolt moment
11/20/2024
Jennifer Liao will always remember her lighting bolt moment
Jennifer 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.
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Melanie Scrofano gives herself permission to fail
11/06/2024
Melanie Scrofano gives herself permission to fail
In 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
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Mia Bella wants to be best known for connecting to others through her art
10/23/2024
Mia Bella wants to be best known for connecting to others through her art
At 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.
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Robin Duke is improvising through her funny life
10/09/2024
Robin Duke is improvising through her funny life
Robin 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.
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Adeline Bird is a champion of rest & resurgence
07/17/2024
Adeline Bird is a champion of rest & resurgence
Adeline 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.
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Tasha Hubbard is learning to find moments of joy and look ahead
06/26/2024
Tasha Hubbard is learning to find moments of joy and look ahead
Documentary 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 . To sign the buffalo treaty, visit .
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Jessica Matten wants to be best known for being of service to others
06/12/2024
Jessica Matten wants to be best known for being of service to others
From 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.
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Keilani Rose is on a lifelong journey to discover her voice
05/29/2024
Keilani Rose is on a lifelong journey to discover her voice
The 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.
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Jennifer Podemski & Naomi Sneickus believe there’s comedy to be found in trauma
05/15/2024
Jennifer Podemski & Naomi Sneickus believe there’s comedy to be found in trauma
In 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.
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The Blaze Sessions Season 2 Trailer
05/01/2024
The Blaze Sessions Season 2 Trailer
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 and all your favourite podcast platforms.
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Alana Johnston wants to be the funniest she’s ever been
04/17/2024
Alana Johnston wants to be the funniest she’s ever been
For 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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Anne Rab finds bravery in being bold on stage & in life
04/03/2024
Anne Rab finds bravery in being bold on stage & in life
Anne Rab’s improv career all started when she met a clown and stumbled into the art form that would change her life. Although it was difficult to make the transition from a city where she had stability and comfort to one completely unknown, she tells Naomi that learned that she didn’t want to play it safe and to make the choice to just go for her dreams. Now, she carries this outlook through her teachings and thrives off of encouraging people to be comfortable with making mistakes and not worrying about “fucking it up” in her improv classes. Ultimately, Anne tells Naomi that her favourite thing about art and life is having people around, connecting, and even throwing some killer parties. And through all of the confusion and uncertainty that she felt when starting her career, that improv helped her discover - for certain - that this is all she’s ever wanted to do.
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Nadine Antler gives herself permission to do the things she loves
03/20/2024
Nadine Antler gives herself permission to do the things she loves
One thing’s for certain about improviser Nadine Antler is that her strength lies in taking care of people. From studying to be a social worker to putting on a decade-long improv festival and now running her own improv school, Nadine tells Naomi about her desire to help both actors and non-actors through the communication and boundary-setting skills that improv teaches. But despite committing to help others with this, she reveals that her personal challenge is her inner critic and the disappointment she faces when it rears its ugly head on stage and takes her out of the present moment. Although some of her shows go horribly wrong, she details how all she can do is pick herself up and continue on - and that making lists of how to improve helps her feel better. Even when improv can be challenging and scary, Nadine wholeheartedly believes that if you want to take a risk and try, there’s no need to wait for the right moment: that all you need to do is give yourself permission to do the thing you love.
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Vanessa Matsui is a pro at taking things frame by frame
03/06/2024
Vanessa Matsui is a pro at taking things frame by frame
With her wealth of experience as an actor, writer, improviser, and now a director, Vanessa Matsui always finds time to look back and thank her younger self for having the gumption and bravery to take chances. By stumbling through her experience creating, writing, directing, and acting in the award winning series Ghost BFF, Vanessa tells Naomi about how she learned to just keep going and follow through on her impulses in every role she played. She also recounts the discovery she made that all roads were pointing to her beginning to direct, and how much she loves that it allows you to access a different part of yourself. Naomi and Vanessa also have an enlightening conversation about the importance of looking back at your younger self and taking the time to grieve the dreams that didn’t come to fruition, before moving forward into the future. And although her fear and anxiety may take over in certain moments, Vanessa always reminds herself of the great advice she received when directing her first feature film Midnight at the Paradise: just take things frame by frame.
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Inbal Lori has a plan to not have a plan
02/21/2024
Inbal Lori has a plan to not have a plan
Growing up in Israel, the multi-faceted Inbal Lori always knew she would be in the arts and fully embraced the holy trinity of acting, writing, and directing. But amidst her love for creation, she tells Naomi that before she moved to Berlin, she suffered when she played parts that she didn’t write because she wasn’t in control - even though she never had a “plan” in life. Little did she know that when she arrived in Germany, her love and passion for improv would take over her life and teach her how to work within a structure but also profoundly let go and play. As she began immersing herself in the world of improv and created her own school, she realized the power of improvising stories that are thought-provoking to an audience and exploring the depths of human emotion through this free-flowing art form. Inbal quickly became a leader in the world of Impro internationally as a teacher and performer. While she never had a concrete plan, Inbal tells Naomi how the most freedom comes from existing in your own story and allowing life to take you where it leads.
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Maria del Mar paved the way for all of us with power and passion
02/07/2024
Maria del Mar paved the way for all of us with power and passion
Maria del Mar has never let fear hold her back from anything in her extensive career and expansive life. As a young actress with a passion growing up in Ottawa, Maria took a chance and moved to Toronto to fake it ‘till she made it, with roles on incredible shows like Frasier, 24, and Hudson & Rex. The more Maria took chances, the more life presented her with opportunities to try new things and learn from everyone she’s worked with. She tells Naomi how she vowed to always remain open to everything in life, and how there’s no such thing as perfection - which has become all the more significant given the difficult years she’s faced. But although she has been thrown many challenges, Maria is embracing the spirit of hope and dancing the salsa with life, allowing it to lead her where she’s meant to go and enjoying the journey along the way.
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Beatrix Brunschko navigates life with her three “me”s
01/24/2024
Beatrix Brunschko navigates life with her three “me”s
Beatrix Brunschko, aka Trixie, dives headfirst into every twist and turn of her incredible career. She's not just a director of the stage and screen – Trixie's a founding member of Theatre Bahnhof, a professor at the University of Hamburg, and the go-to guru for all things improv. Starting from the wild passion that birthed a theatre company to her game-changing improv workshops, Trixie's all about creating spaces where creativity runs wild and shakes things up for everyone – even our curious host, Naomi. She reveals her "say yes to everything first" approach, taking life as it comes. And in this chat with Naomi, Trixie peels back the curtain on her fascinating journey, where she juggles being a character, an actress, and, most importantly, herself in every scene and life experience. Join us for this enlightening convo that unravels the magic behind Trixie's "yes-to-it-all" philosophy, proving that embracing your various selves can create real-life magic along the way.
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Firecracker Department 2024 Trailer
01/10/2024
Firecracker Department 2024 Trailer
Rev up your year with a brand new season of The Firecracker Department Podcast! Let's ignite 2024 with an explosive lineup of captivating conversations. Join our sensational host, Naomi Snieckus, and an array of global artists as they take you on a heart-pounding journey into the depths of creativity and inspiration. But that's not all – mark your calendars because later this spring, we're bringing you The Blaze Sessions, a special mini-season featuring the extraordinary co-host Jennifer Podemski. It's a dynamic duo that will set your imagination ablaze! Each episode promises an electric blend of insights and innovation you won't want to skip. So, whether you're strolling down the street, pumping iron at the gym, whipping up a storm in the kitchen, or lost in your own universe, tune in and let us transport you to an action-packed realm of unbridled creativity. Get ready to fire up your imagination and dive headfirst into a whirlwind of inspiration with The Firecracker Department Podcast – the ultimate destination for all things thrilling and ingenious!
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Jennifer Holness immerses herself in stories
06/14/2023
Jennifer Holness immerses herself in stories
Jennifer Holness is not only a force to be reckoned with, but she is a beacon of change in the industry. An award-winning filmmaker and the co-founder of Hungry Eyes Media (with her partner Sudz Sutherland), she is the first ever recipient of the Firecracker Department's Red Point Award, going to women over 50 who are still creating incredible content and leading the way in out community. After a life-changing health scare in her early twenties, Jennifer learned to go forth confidently in the direction of her dreams to direct and produce, and never look back. Throughout her incredible career, she shares with Naomi and Amanda how she is able to fully immerse herself in a story to help spark change, and how centering on a theme helps her pinpoint what the story will transform into. She also acknowledges that despite her increasing drive to change the world, she needs to be able to take care of herself and her family. And through the trials, stress, and pressure, Jennifer is still able to live a life that is full of joy.
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Wendy Crewson stands up for herself
06/07/2023
Wendy Crewson stands up for herself
With a career spanning decades and a multitude of incredible roles in beautiful shows, it’s no wonder actor Wendy Crewson is one of Canada’s brightest and most beloved stars. With credits like Air Force One, Good Sam, Pretty Hard Cases, she is also known as a staunch advocate for ACTRA and FilmOntario and for the role she’s played in helping change the landscape of the industry. But, Wendy says she’s learned the most important person to stand up for, ultimately, is herself. She tells Naomi and Amanda about how much she loves to celebrate her own accomplishments and those of her fellow actors (she still gets excited about award nominations), especially when it comes to the next generation. She also shares that even after all these years, nothing will ever beat the rush of going into an audition room. Wendy Crewson has courage to wear an orange formal gown to a casual event, to stand up for what she believes in and above all, to be herself.
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Mary Young Leckie lives for her lightbulb moments
05/31/2023
Mary Young Leckie lives for her lightbulb moments
In the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, Mary Young Leckie had one of her infamous lightbulb moments, which inspired her to produce such amazing shows as M.V.P and the brilliant and award- winning film Maudie. With an immense passion for telling Canadian stories and steadfast activism throughout her career, Mary reveals she has an unwavering belief in all of the stories she tells. She also details the determination she has found to push through the sometimes-long journeys to produce her work. She shares how reaching out within the artistic community can fuel you, why we should always forgive those who have wronged us and how often the best way to wind down is to belt it out with a rock ‘n roll choir at Carnegie Hall.
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Jennifer Podemski acknowledges all her little wins
05/24/2023
Jennifer Podemski acknowledges all her little wins
Juggling a work-life balance is difficult for many of us, but perhaps even more so for the multi-hyphenate extraordinary talent that is Jennifer Podemski. As she has navigated her career through acting, writing, directing, producing and showrunning (with her beautiful film Little Bird coming up), not to mention her companies The Shine Network and Red Cloud Studios she has learned a few valuable lessons along the way. She tells Naomi and Amanda about how the art of fear management and the importance of celebrating the “little wins” have helped guide her through various iterations of her career. She also speaks to the freedom of owning your own artistic work, and how important it is to adapt the way we tell Indigenous stories so they are no longer extractive, but instead allow the community to maintain agency over their collective experience. Even though she’s achieved success on a global scale, Jennifer will always be thankful for the creativity her grandmother fostered in her, and how she sometimes just takes jobs to be able to spend some quality time with her equally gifted sisters, Sarah and Tamara.
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Sheila McCarthy is just going to pretend
05/17/2023
Sheila McCarthy is just going to pretend
Sheila McCarthy’s résumé truly reads like an adventure book with twists, turns and surprises that makes her one of the most versatile and unique artists in our community. From playing a maid in The Littlest Hobo to her profound performance as Greta Loewen in Sarah Polley’s Oscar award winning movie Women Talking, her command of the screen is unlike any other - and really makes Naomi and Amanda wonder why she doesn't yet have the Order of Canada. Despite her prolific career, even Sheila has experienced moments of doubt and fear. She shares how jumping around various mediums and always reinventing herself has helped her push through. That, plus a memory of Liza Minelli peeking behind the camera and giving her some magical advice that she’s held on to ever since. Catch this inspiring and motivating discussion with one of our industries best of the best.
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Adrienne C. Moore never wants to be a GOAT
05/10/2023
Adrienne C. Moore never wants to be a GOAT
Whatever Adrienne C. Moore is selling - we’re buying! As the unpredictable drug squad detective Kelly Duff on Pretty Hard Cases, with some other pretty big roles under her belt (hello, Orange is the New Black!) we’d assume Adrienne had achieved GOAT status. But she proudly proclaims that she’d rather just keep striving for it than have already reached it. After a successful career in marketing, Adrienne tells Amanda and Naomi how she learned how to think of herself as a product and work within her own acting wheelhouse to make the shift into acting. And although she’s a self-branded genius, she does make mistakes - and admits she is just as honest about them as the successes she’s had. And let’s not forget how she not only got “camera ready” for this interview in 3 min flat AND she continues to forge a path for BIPOC creatives to be accommodated on set. Yes - the word “unstoppable” comes to mind!
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Grace Lynn Kung doesn't like labels
05/03/2023
Grace Lynn Kung doesn't like labels
Grace Lynn Kung has reached a milestone in her life and career - being number one on the call sheet for the very first time as Marissa Wong in the new crime dramedy Wong and Winchester - and she’s celebrating every moment!. The road to get there hasn’t been easy, but Grace tells Naomi and Amanda how she finds that tuning in to her vulnerability and authenticity helps feed into the various roles she’s played - both onscreen and off. She also divulges how we often use age as an excuse to stop listening to people, reminds us how important it is to reclaim your body and mind for yourself first and foremost, and how important it is to live life freely without labels. But maybe best of all, this intense, intellectually inspiring conversation ends with Naomi and Amanda getting an impromptu cartoon voice acting session from Grace. What does your pet's voice sound like?
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Meredith MacNeill is best friends with failure
04/26/2023
Meredith MacNeill is best friends with failure
We know Meredith MacNeill as by-the-book, yet frazzled detective Sam Wazowski on Pretty Hard Cases and for her absurd and hilarious comedic sketches on Baroness Von Sketch Show which she wrote and starred in….but the truth is - she’s more than just the wild roles she plays on screen. The depth that she carries through her work comes from recognizing the truth of her life and how she sees the world. She shares with Naomi and Amanda that part of her comedic process involves cozying up to her best friend: failure. From her upbringing in Halifax to performing on stages in the UK, Meredith held hands with her inner voice and her fearlessness to help her achieve her dream to fly. Oh, and if you think perimenopause and chin hairs suck - she’ll definitely convince you otherwise.
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The Blaze Sessions Season 1 Trailer
04/19/2023
The Blaze Sessions Season 1 Trailer
Get ready for The Blaze Sessions! Award-winning actors and friends Amanda Brugel and Naomi Snieckus kick off their shoes and dive into honest conversation with eight women at the top of their game in the entertainment industry. It's a showbiz cheat sheet, a dose of creative inspiration and a great ride, all rolled into one. Coming at you April 26.
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Amanda Brugel finds beauty in her daily “delights”
04/12/2023
Amanda Brugel finds beauty in her daily “delights”
The incomparable Amanda Brugel should truly be recognized as an artistic chameleon. With her seamless ability to transition from comedy to drama - in roles like Karina Duff on Pretty Hard Cases and Rita Blue and then effortlessly to her work on The Handmaid’s Tale - Amanda is constantly reinventing herself and breaking away from the proverbial “box” that many actors seem to fall into. But her successes haven’t come without setbacks, and she tells Naomi how she’s learned to be open about her struggles throughout her life, and also to take time to appreciate the little “delights'' that appear. She shares that one of the most valuable muscles for her is the one that helps her recognize the victories in her life, big or small. And, even though she knows life is a never ending journey, Amanda is learning to always show up as herself, and learning that no matter what role or struggle she may face, she can always find a way to Brugel-ize it.
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Rong Fu
06/08/2022
Rong Fu
Our guest this week is Chinese-Canadian actor, writer - RONG FU! Rong was born in Qin-an, China and was raised in Toronto, Canada. She knew at a young age that she wanted to be an actor and started her classical training in theatre at Earl Haig, an arts high school in Toronto and then went on to graduate from York University’s Acting Conservatory in 2012. Rong’s theatrical debut was in the critically acclaimed production of THE CRUCIBLE at Soulpepper in Toronto. She has since performed on stages across Canada in amazing productions including the Shaw Festival’s STAGE KISS and THE ORCHARD AFTER CHEKHOV in Niagara-on-the Lake, Vertigo Theatre’s SHERLOCK HOLMES and THE RAVEN’S CURSE in Calgary, Toronto Tarragon Theatre’s THE MILLENNIAL MALCONTENT, and Roseneath Theatre’s Dora Nominated THE MONEY TREE in Toronto. You may recognize Rong on the small screen in shows such as: CBC and NBC’s PRETTY HARD CASES, CBC and Netflix’s WORKIN’ MOMS, CBS’s AMERICAN GOTHIC, ABC’s ROOKIE BLUE, CTV’s CARTER, and The CW’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Most recently, on Paramount+’s STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS, and Lionsgate and BuzzFeed Studios’ MY FAKE BOYFRIEND. Rong plays the romantic lead Avery in CBC Gem’s original HELLO (AGAIN), a k-drama inspired rom-com created by Simu Liu and Nathalie Younglai, that recently won BEST DRAMA PILOT in the DIGITAL SHORTS SERIES in SeriesFest in Denver, Colorado. MAY FLOWERS, ASIANS IN THE SIXTH is a short film that Rong wrote and it premiered on CBC: CANADA REFLECTIONS in 2020. She is a founding member of a community collective of Asian artists in film and television called ASIANS IN THE SIXTH as a Facebook group. In 2021, she curated a program of various free industry workshops to uplift and support fellow Asian artists, including workshops about The Business Side of Acting and another workshop on Authenticity and Wellbeing. Twitter: @rongideas Instagram: @rongideas Website: HELLO (AGAIN) @watchhelloagain #watchhelloagain @cbcgem Watch: Podcast Team Head Producer and Editor: Winnie Wong @wonder_wong Editor: Shayne Stolz @shaynestolz Graphic: Vicki Brier @brier2019 To listen to the podcast: https://linktr.ee/firecrackerdept Subscribe to our newsletter at https://www.firecrackerdepartment.com and follow us @firecrackerdept!
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Sally Shaar
05/26/2022
Sally Shaar
Our guest this week is Toronto-based Juno-winning vocalist, songwriter, director, music marketing specialist and Syrian-Canadian - SALLY SHAAR! Sally studied with Canadian vocal legends Christine Duncan, Lorraine Lawson, Falconer Abraham, and Micah Barnes. She has such an amazing voice and she’s constantly pushing the boundaries of her voice both on stage and in the studio. Through her studies at Humber College’s music program and an unfortunate bout of tonsillitis, Sally has become a veritable expert on vocal health and recovery. Sally is a founding member of the alternative rock band MONOWHALES. They recently won a 2022 Juno for Breakthrough Group of the Year! Sally has been the creative force behind numerous music videos, photos, and online marketing campaigns for the band. That’s right, Sally’s ingenuity and forward-thinking approach to music marketing has helped MONOWHALES establish themselves as one of the most exciting new bands in Canada and the WORLD! MONOWHALES’ 2019 single RWLYD (Really Wanna Let You Down) broke the record for the highest-charting single by an unsigned Canadian band when it hit number two on the Mediabase Canada Alternative Rock Chart. They released their latest album DAYTONA BLEACH in early 2021 which included RWLYD along with Top 10 singles ALL OR NOTHING and OUT WITH THE OLD. By the way, OUT WITH THE OLD has over 1 million streams on Spotify! Sally is no stranger to the stage, she has toured extensively with MONOWHALES. Performances include Reeperbahn in Hamburg, Germany, Canadian Music Week in Toronto, Canada, Festival d’ete in Quebec City, Canada and Yellowknife PRIDE. MONOWHALES has played in support of artists including K Flay, Our Lady Peace, Death From Above 1979, Marianas Trench, Sloan, I Mother Earth and many more. MONOWHALES were just on a cross-Canada tour with indie-rock band Mother Mother and they have a new album slated for release Fall of 2022. Fun Fact: Three MONOWHALES songs off 2018's CONTROL FREAK were featured in Season 1, Episode 5 of 2020 Netflix series SPINNING OUT, which also included a cameo appearance by the band. Twitter: Instagram: MONOWHALES @monowhales - and Podcast Team Head Producer and Editor: Winnie Wong @wonder_wong Editor: Shayne Stolz @shaynestolz Graphic: Vicki Brier @brier2019 Subscribe to our newsletter at and follow us @firecrackerdept!
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