Comedy icon Elvira Kurt joins us for a powerhouse conversation about aging in comedy, staying relevant, and the fearless boldness that has defined her career. She’s blazed the trail for so many comedians, proving that having something to say on stage only gets stronger with time. We talk about the courage it takes to keep pushing boundaries and why…

In this episode, we sit down with powerhouse director Aleysa Young, whose work has shaped some of the best comedy on TV. We dive into her journey as a director, the career-changing moment when she interviewed for Baroness von Sketch Show, and how she’s built a reputation for creating safe, playful, and dynamic sets where comedy can truly ignite. Al…

This week, we sit down with the powerhouse that is Rosa Laborde—award-winning playwright, screenwriter, director, and actor—whose work spans theatre, film, and television. We dive into the creative process, the magic (and challenges!) of collaborating with friends, and the drive to make things happen. But what happens when burnout hits? Rosa shares…

Join us for an inspiring conversation with the multi-talented Ashleigh Rains! Naomi and Ashleigh dive deep into her fascinating journey from classical ballet training at Canada's National Ballet School to her current success as an actress and award-winning producer. You'll hear all about her creative philosophy, how she balances multiple artistic p…

Meet the dynamic Liesl Lafferty, a Jessie award-winning director whose journey from scriptwriter to industry leader embodies creative perseverance. As Head of Firecracker Writing Department, Liesl has transformed countless storytelling dreams into reality. Her latest ventures showcase her innovative spirit – from co-creating The Writers Lab Canada …

Don't miss this heartfelt conversation between our host Naomi Snieckus and Jen Pogue 💫 Jen reveals the challenges and triumphs of her creative journey - from winning a CSA for County Blooms to navigating her cancer diagnosis. Through it all, her resilience, passion, and commitment to community shine through. This insightful discussion touches on fi…

This week on the Firecracker Department podcast, host Naomi Snieckus teams up with the fabulous Jody Quine from our Vancouver chapter to chat with the incredible Veena Sood! From feeling a sudden calling at the age of 14, to her early days of Theatre Sports with Keith Johnstone, to her starring role in Children Ruin Everything for CTV, Veena shares…

Naomi 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, an…

Actress 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. …

Janet 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 conve…

Winnie 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 init…

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, hel…

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 cr…

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 progres…

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 pe…

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-…

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. Througho…

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 …

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 int…

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 ind…

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…

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 tota…

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 d…

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…

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…