London's Pretty Cool

Episode 83: VENUExVENUE In this episode we speak with Darryl Hurs about all things VENUExVENUE!  We learn about what to expect at this year's festival, how it will grow over the next few years, SONGxSONG, collaborating with LBC to create a beer, and more! Buy tickets: https://venuexvenue.com/

Mini: Forest City Film Festival Opening Night & More The Forest City Film Festival is running this year from October 19th - 27th We chatted with Festival Director Dorothy Downs to learn all about this year's Opening Night: A Celebration of Music and Film, the first films that will be presented at this year's festival, this year's Lifetime Acheivement Award being presented to Victor Garber and more!  Buy tickets to the festival here: https://fcff.ca/events/

Brent Jackson and Jim MacDonald join to pod to let us know about their upcoming event happening this weekend - September 14th - at London Brewing Co-op! Tickets to London Brewing Turns 10 and Peace, Love and Sunshine: https://www.londonbrewing.ca/product-category/tickets/ 

The Ontario Summer Games were first delivered in 1973 by the City of Oshawa. Since then, the Games have grown to host over 3,500 participants, aged 12-18,  competing in 18 sports. The London 2024 Ontario Summer Games presented by London Hydro will be the 27th edition. In this episode we speak with Zanth Jarvis, Director Sports Tourism at Tourism London. We speak with Zanth about the history of the games, the sports and venues for the 2024 games, why it's important for Ontario to put on these games for the youth, how Londoners can get involved and more!  More Ontario Summer Games: https://www.london2024.ca/ 

Episode 81: Aeolian Hall with Clark Bryan The Aeolian Hall is a staple in the London community as a place for music and gathering. The Aeolian Hall hosts some of the best shows in the city, but they are also a space for the community to come together and enjoy similar interests. Aeolian Hall hosts amazing programs as well such as El Sistema, the Aeolian Pride Chorus, The Rebel Heart Collective, 88 Keys to Inspiration, Jazz Festival and more! In this episode we speak with Aeolian Hall owner Clark Byan about the history of the Hall and how it became what it is today, why he decided to purchase the hall, the types of performances that are held at the Aeolian, the programs that Clark has put into place during his time at the Aeolian, how London should be supporting the arts, and more! More Aeolian Hall:  Website: https://aeolianhall.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theaeolian/  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/theaeolian/ More LPC: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/   

Amanda Movio bends an old soulful sound into the modern world. Influenced by Hip-Hop, RnB, Jazz, Funk, and Soul, she holds her audience with an exclusive tone and lyrical puzzles. With her first EP 'The Chasm' coming late 2024 and an eagerly anticipated Eastern Canada Tour in collaboration with Lovetown Records, Amanda is excited to elevate her artistry to new heights. In this episode we speak with Amanda about her journey in music, what made her take it to the next level, the process of releasing her first EP this year and going on her first tour to the East Coast. We also discuss the London Music Scene, being a content creator, advice for young musicians and more!  

The London Lightning is our city's professional basketball team playing in the basketball super league. The London Lightning formed in 2011 and have won 6 NBLC Championships in their short run thus far as a team. In this episode we talk with Doug about his basketball career, becoming the assistant coach of the lightning and moving up to head coach, Vito's commitment to creating a great basketball program here in London, what makes a championship team, if London is a basketball city and more!

Guess Where Trips is an experiential company that creates one-day trips for you to explore some hidden gems close to you! And all without knowing where you are heading before you start! With many trips leaving from London, you can choose which theme suits your interests, whether it's spooky, craft breweries, waterfalls and more, and head on your way for a fantastic road trip that you didn't have to plan! In this episode we speak with Jessica about how the business was started, her favourite trips, how Guess Where Trips has grown since they started and where she hopes to see the business go in the next 5 years, the successes and failures of the company, the different themed trips offered from London, how the stops on each trip are chosen and more!   More Guess Where Trips:  Website: https://guesswheretrips.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guesswheretrips/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guesswheretrips/  

The Palasad (north or south) is your one stop shop for all things entertainment. From bowling, arcade games, pool, live music and more, there is something for everyone at the Palasad!  In this episode we speak with the Palasad Director of Operations Marty Novak to learn more about how and why the Palasad was started, turning the north Palasad into the socialbowl and it becoming one of London's top venues and more! More Palasad Socialbowl:  https://www.socialbowl.ca/ https://www.facebook.com/SocialbowlLDN/ https://www.instagram.com/socialbowlldn/?hl=en   More Palasad South:  https://www.palasad.com/ https://www.instagram.com/palasadplay/ https://www.facebook.com/palasadlondon/    

Dough EV is a new doughnut and coffee shop located in OEV! Started by Tara Davies, Dough EV offers amazing doughnuts with standard and seasonal flavours, along with coffee curated by bean wizard Juan Marulanda.

Episode 73: Brent Jackson / Sunshine Makers / Peace, Love & Sunshine In this episode we speak with Brent Jackson. Brent has had a long career in music spanning over a decade. We talk with him about his career, his current project Sunshine Makers, and their upcoming festival Peace, Love & Sunshine. 

Episode 71: Lost Cycle LOST Cycle is a rhythm riding fitness studio with locations in the south and north end of the city. LOST opened in 2019, and over the past few years has grown and cultivated their own community of dedicated riders, which is more like a family. Offering multiple classes throughout the week, you will always be able to find a ride for you, whether it's a themed ride, karma ride or more! In this episode, we speak with Courtney Stache, owner and creator of the fitness studio Lost Cycle. With Courtney we speak about how and why she decided to start Lost, what rhythm cycle is, the community that has been created at Lost, the different theme rides that are offered, what to expect in your first class, their new North location with off the bike classes and more! More LOST Cycle:  Website: https://lostcycle.ca/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostcycle/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lostcyclelondon  More LPC: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Email: lpcpod@gmail.com 

Episode 70: Giggle Boys Giggle Boys is a comedy duo, bringing comedians from across Canada to London for our enjoyment!

The London Public Library is a place for everyone. They are an anchor in the community and a place for knowledge, creativity and information. They are London's home for books and borrowing. They inspire a love of reading and we support critical forms of literacy through all ages and stages. London Public Library serves the community through our 16 neighbourhood library locations, our extensive community outreach and our excellent online resources. We had the opportunity to speak with Ashleigh Hickey: Outreach Librarian with specialization on children & youth programming & Joanna Kerr: Adult Services Programming Librarian about all things London Public Library! In this episode we talk about all the items you can check out from the library, not just books, the different types of programming that is offered (mostly for free) for both children and adults, partnerships with the local community, learning labs, providing social services to the London community, the brand new website and branding of the library, favourite books and so much more! More London Public Library: Website: https://lpl.ca/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonlibrary/  More London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Email: lpcpod@gmail.com   

Episode 68: Film London  ⁠ With the support of our community partners, Film London's goal is to develop and enhance our city's film and television industry and to provide productions with a vibrant and economically viable location for filming.  ⁠ Film London is a no-cost business concierge to help connect your production to the resources you're looking for. They are committed to welcoming you to London as a friendly place to film your next project. In this episode we speak with Film London Manager Andrew Dodd about how Film London was started, what makes London a Film City, how Londoners can get involved in upcoming productions, what productions have already been flimed in the city, how the Forest City Film Festival has helped put London on the map for Filmmakers, favourite local actors and more!  More Film London:  Website: https://filmlondon.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmlondonon/

Episode 67: Western Fair Market  Located in the heart of Old East Village, the Market is home to 100+ permanent vendors. The first floor is home to a wide range of produce, baked goods, handcrafted cheeses, prepared foods and more! While the second floor features the best and most unique craftspeople, artists and artisans, together with an eclectic roster of distinctive and locally handcrafted products, fine jewellery, collectibles and one-of-a-kind services.  Market-goers love they can buy high-quality; farm-fresh goods directly from the person who produced them and can find unique products they won't discover anywhere else in the city. In this episode we speak with Market Business Development Manager, Carol Sceli about the history of the market, the vendors, market success stories, events such as Park it at the Market, having buskers, the community that the market brings and much more!   More Western Fair Market:  Website: https://themarketwfd.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themarketwfd/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMarketWFD/    More London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod  Business Inquires: lpcpod@gmail.com   

The original 514-seat Hyland cinema opened as the Elmwood in the Depression-laden 1930s. The south London showplace offered double features made up of second-run movies. Later, it became a first-run art house specializing in British films such as Henry V, starring Laurence Olivier.⁠  ⁠ The new 414-seat single screen Hyland Cinema is independently owned and operated. It is newly renovated with an excellent projection and sound system as well as a new screen. The cinema will premiere the most up-to-date releases from the Toronto, Cannes, and Sundance Film Festivals.⁠  In this episode we spoke to Mike Klassen: Assistant Manager, all about the history of the Hyland, how he became involved with the Hyland, why they focus on playing 'artsy films' over main blockbusters, why it's important for London to have a movie theatre like the Hyland, the events they put on, i.e., retromania, double features, children's movies and their upcoming event of Cinema Speculation.  More Hyland Cinema:  Website: https://www.hylandcinema.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hylandcinema/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HylandCinema/

In this episode, we speak with festival organizer Savannah about what to expect at this year's festival, how the festival came to be in the first place, why they went on hiatus and why they decided to come back this year, some of Sav's favourite memories from past festivals and what she's looking forward most this year, and much more!  Winter Spectacular is a weekend of amazing programming happening February 17th - 19th in London. On Friday they are hosting a Dinner & a Show, with a beautiful dinner from Growing Chefs! With musical performances and the ‘It's not you, it's London' Awards. Saturday is a show at the Children's Museum featuring some of the best musical talents from London and beyond. Finally, Sunday, Punk Rock Flea Market with amazing artisans for your retail therapy needs! Don't miss out on this amazing festival! Get your tickets now!! More Winter Spectacular:  Website: https://www.winterspectacular.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winterspectacular/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winterspectacular/

Episode 64: Simon Larochette of Sugar Shack  ⁠ Sugar Shack is a recording studio located in the Soho neighbourhood of London that has been recording some of your local favourite bands for over a decade. The studio is home to an extensive collection of guitars, amps, keyboards, and drum kits both vintage and modern. In this episode, we speak with Simon about why he started Sugar Shack, how it differs from other studios, studio cat Winston, his favourite projects he's worked on and more!  More Sugar Shack:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesugarshack_/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarshackrecording/  Website: http://www.sugarshackrecording.com/  Email: thesugarshackstudio@gmail.com   More London's Pretty Cool:    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/    Email: lpcpod@gmail.com  

Episode 63: Stompbox London ft. creators Sofia Pompe and Roisin Miland Stompbox is a collective of musicians and creatives supporting and uplifting the voices of the diverse London artistic community. Through community events, DIY concerts, and publications, Stompbox aims to bring attention to the forest city culture. In this episode we speak with Sofia and Roisin about why they decided to start Stompbox, why they chose to focus on all-ages shows and bringing younger fans out to spaces, releasing a zine, all the past amazing events they have put on like skateboard competitions, craft jams, Halloween parties, heavy and indie shows, what they have coming up in 2023, where they hope to see the future of Stompbox grow into and much more! More Stompbox:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stompboxlondon/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stompboxlondonca/

 In this episode, we speak with Monica Joy Peeff, Andres Garzon Espitia and Zane Pate from Good Sport Gallery!

Episode 60: Holy Ghost! Holy Ghost is a tattoo and barbershop located in the heart of OEV at 724 Dundas St. Holy Ghost is your one-stop-shop to feel brand new with a fresh haircut and some new ink without having to move more than a few feet! In this episode, we speak with Jameson Donaldshaw, owner and head barber of Holy Ghost. We speak with Jameson about the origin of the name, why tattooing and barbering go together so well, what it was like opening a business in the heart of the pandemic, why it's important to create a welcoming shop, why he decided to become a barber and much more!

Lavish is known for putting on amazing events, such as drag shows, burlesque shows, themed dances and so much more. With a fantastic club and rooftop patio, Lavish is a safe space in the city for people to be who they are and enjoy their nights out!  In this episode we talk with Kelly Roy, Lavish's social media coordinator and co-owner of Mum's Entertainment, about what Lavish is, some of the amazing events that are put on there, how it is a safe space in London and how the city is in need of more spaces like it, her favourite memory from her time with Lavish and much more!  More Lavish:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lavishlondonca/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LAVISHlondon/

Exhibits and engaging learning experiences allow children to explore history and heritage, investigate science and social relationships, and celebrate art and culture. The London Children's Museum helps children ignite their curiosity and play their way to a life of innovation and creative discovery. In this episode, we speak with Mira Noordermeer (Marketing and sales manager) & Vanessa Eastmure (Exhibits & Collections Manager) about all things Children's Museum!  We speak about London having the first children's museum in Canada, the exhibits at the museum, programming and special nights, moving to their new space at 100 Kellogg's soon and what that's going to look like, seeing some cool artifacts and much more!   

Episode 57: Dan Brodbeck  Dan Brodbeck Juno award-winning and Grammy nominated Canadian record producer.  He has worked on many local artist's albums, such as Ivory Hours and Texas King, as well as some of the top artists like The Cranberries Dan is also a mixer/engineer and recording engineering professor and the coordinator of the Music Industry Arts Program at Fanshawe College.  In this episode you will hear about what it's like getting a job in the music production industry, getting a job at Fanshawe and working his way up to coordinator of the MIA program, working with local bands, why he decided to stay and work in London instead of moving to Toronto or a larger music hub, winning a Juno and being nominated for a Grammy, advice for people interested in becoming a producer and so much more!  More Dan:  Website: https://www.danbrodbeck.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbrodbeck11/?hl=en  More London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ   For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com  

The first Home County took place in 1974 and has had a festival in Victoria Park every year since then, other than covid, and now they are back for the 48th year!  The founding festival organizers came up with the name H.O.M.E. County in 1974, as an acronym for Huron, Oxford, Middlesex, Elgin - the four counties in southwestern Ontario surrounding the city of London and area. In this episode, we speak with this year's festival manager Darin about what is to be expected at this year's festival, the history of the festival, some of his favourite memories throughout the years, the emerging artist stage, and local talent on the bill and much more!  This year the festival is running July 15th-17th!  More Home County:  Website: https://homecounty.ca/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homecountyfest/?hl=en  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeCountyFest/  More London's Pretty Cool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ   For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com  

Heeman's is a family owned and operated business that has been serving London and surrounding area since 1963. Heeman's is the place to go for all your gardening and berry needs!    In this episode we get the origin story of Heeman's, what it's like working for a family business, BERRY SEASON (on now) and pick-your-own, how they started making cider and mead, best times to check out the greenhouse, how you can spend a whole day there and not get bored and so much more!    Have a listen when you're driving out to the greenhouse! Or crack a cider and listen! Or put it on when you're planting your new goodies! Or listen to it while making your strawberry jam!    More Heeman's:  Website: https://heeman.ca/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heemans/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heemangreenhouses/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/heemans?lang=en    More London's Pretty Cool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ    For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com 

Episode 54: Grooves Record In this episode we spoke with Andy, Bonnie and Danny from Grooves Records all about this London hotspot!  If you like music, you have heard of, but more likely have visited Grooves Records. Grooves is your go-to stop for all your new & used vinyl, CDs & music DVDs, magazines, books, cassettes, record players & accessories needs!  We talk all about how owner Troy started the shop, the rise of vinyl in the past couple of years, starting their own label ‘Grooves Records Records', why people who start working at Grooves never seem to leave, Record Store Day and all that goes into it, the future of Grooves and so much more!  More Grooves Records  Website: https://groovesrecordstore.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groovesrecords/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groovesrecordstore/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/grooves_records  More London's Pretty Cool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com 

Episode 53: Emma Maganja of London Brewing Co-op Emma is the marketing and administration manager and one of the worker owners at London Brewing Co-op  The London Brewing is a worker co-operative brewery located in Old East Village. All of their beers feature Ontario grown ingredients (most coming from within 117km of the brewery) creating a truly local brew. London Brewing carries many different varieties of beer, from a London Organic Lager to the famous Downtown Coconut Brown (Emma's personal favourite), so there is something for everyone!  London Brewing, while known for their beer, is also one of London's best live music venues! London brewing hold two live shows a week, Friday Night Live and Sunday Acoustic Aftertunes, featuring some of London's best musicians!  In this episode we talk with Emma about the history of the brewery, how she became involved, what a co-op is, the brewery being sustainable and using local ingredients, her favourites, and creating collaboration beers with amazing local bands and organizations.  We also talk about how beer is not the only thing the brewery offers! London brewing hosts so many events from euchre nights, trivia nights, pop up shops, drag shows, live music and more!  More London Brewing: Website: https://www.londonbrewing.ca  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonbrewingca/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LondonBrewing  More London's Pretty Cool Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com 

Episode 52: Mik Stevens of Flourish and Grow Mik Stevens is a multidisciplinary artist, working under the name Flourish & Grow to share her art. Mik's art forms range from embroidery, hand-dying fabric, beading and screen printing.  In this episode we talk all about how Mik became interested in art, what it's like to turn your art into a business, what she was inspired by to create her pieces, the anxiety collection and why she started it, her favourite art form, what it's like seeing her art displayed in different ways, her music video break out role and much much more!  More Flourish and Grow:  Website: https://www.flourishandgrow.ca/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourish.n.grow/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flourishandgrowshop/  More London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com 

Richard Gracious is a local musician that you have likely seen on stage, singing and/or playing guitar with bands like Bad Teeth, Mountain of Wolves, Wolf Saga, Charlie Weber and much more.  Richard's life has always been surrounded by music, growing up in a musical family and attending local arts schools Lester B. Pearson and Central Secondary School -  which led him to the MIA program at Fanshawe College.  When he's not writing and playing his own music, he's recording local talent with his record label Forest City Records.  In this episode we speak with Richard all about how he got started in music, if arts school helps, what it's like playing in multiple bands, his label Forest City Records, turning his songs into a musical with the Re:Opening festival at the Grand Theatre with the show One Year, playing in a pit band, what to expect from him in 2022 and so much more!  More Richard:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardgracious/  Forest City Records: https://forestcityrecords.ca  All routes lead downtown playlist: https://www.downtownlondon.ca/discover-businesses/our-stories/all-routes-lead-downtown-richard-gracious/  More London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  For business inquiries: lpcpod@gmail.com 

In this episode we speak with Marty Thody, member of the management team at Boler Mountain about all the amazing activities they provide!  Boler Mountain is a staple in London opening in 1949. Since then, Boler has continued to grow to become Southwestern Ontario's most dynamic destination for outdoor adventure!  Boler Mountain is mostly known for their ski and snowboard hill, but they are also home to a tubing hill, mountain biking trails, TreeTop adventure and so much more.  More Boler Mountain:  https://www.bolermountain.com https://www.facebook.com/bolermountain/  https://www.instagram.com/bolermtn/  More London's Pretty Cool: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod  https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast    For business inquiries, email us at lpcpod@gmail.com 

Episode 49 features Zahra Habib, project Director & Executive Producer, Asha Supaul - Social Media Coordinator and King Jerome - Promotions and Outreach Coordinator of the ISO Project  The ISO Project is a music video incubator for artists and creators of colour in London. In collaboration with the London Music Office and the Forest City Film Festival, those who are accepted into the incubator will receive mentorship and guidance, as well as support in every part of the music video process. In this episode we talk with Zahra, Asha and King about why they started/got involved in the ISO Project, how to apply & the eligibility, how you can apply to be apart of the creative team, why they decided to start with a music video incubator and how they want to grow it in the future, and much more!  More ISO Project:  https://www.londonmusicoffice.com/iso-project/ https://www.instagram.com/isoprojectldn/  More LPC:  https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  https://www.instagram.com/ebriggsy/  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  https://www.instagram.com/movingfastslow/ 

In this episode, we speak with our dream guest - Shad! Shad is an extremely talented rapper and MC from London, who has released six studio albums and 4 EPs since 2005. He has won 3 Juno awards for Rap Recording, beating out Drake in 2011.  Shad has accomplished much more outside of the music sphere, hosting CBC's Q and Netflix's Hip Hop Evolution, which has won a Peabody Award and an International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming.  In this episode to talk to Shad about his new album TAO and the differences between it and his last very conceptual album Short Story About a War. We also speak about his dream collaborations, his favourite parts about hosting Hip Hop Evolution, what it was like, in the beginning, trying to create his own beats on the guitar, his impact on the London and Canadian music scene and much more!  Shad is coming to London on tour! Buy tickets here: https://londonmusichall.com/events/shad/  Shad Info:  Website: https://www.shadk.com  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/15lOM8PWY9pXQoURZwSZlK  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadkmusic/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/shadkmusic  Twitter: https://twitter.com/shadkmusic  London's Pretty Cool:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/londonsprettycool/  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43R5Q9JIsuWgS19TGxAKnU  Twitter: https://twitter.com/lpcpodcast  

The CCMA Awards and Canadian Country Music Week are back in London this weekend (Friday, November 26th-Monday, November 29th) and we have the scoop on all the amazing events that are happening!  We were able to chat with Tiffany Astle, the head of communications for the CCMAs, about what can be expected this weekend!  In this episode, we talked about bringing the CCMAs back to London for the second time (the first time being in 2016), why it's important for Canadian country artists to have their own awards, all the amazing FREE events that are happening for Country Music Week, how to get your non-country music fan friends out to the shows and so much more! 

This is part 2 of our minisodes about Neighbourhood Decision Making  In this episode, we go over how to vote THIS SATURDAY, November 6th, and we go through our top 2 ideas from each of the geographical areas!  Be sure to check out all the ideas that you are able to vote for on Vote day by going to www.getinvolved.london.ca/NDM and check out the area that you live in! Don't worry, you are able to vote for 3 ideas, so you don't have to try and choose only one great idea.  Neighbourhood Decision Making is such a great way to get together within your community and vote for something that will make your community better! Mark your calendars!

October 19th-October 30th, London welcomes back the Forest City Film Festival!  In this episode, we speak with the founder and executive director of the Forest City Film Festival, Dorothy Downs. She tells us all about how FCFF came to be, what those first few festivals were like, how the film industry is growing in London and more!  We also talk all about this year's festivals, from what the most anticipated films are for this year, the new experimental category, how the films are judged, the second year of including music videos in the festival, some of the AMAZING speakers and programs being put on by the Ontario Screen Creators Conference, the Youth Film Festival and so much more!  Get your tickets today and don't miss out on this amazing event happening in your backyard!  https://forest-city-film-festival.myshopify.com https://fcff.ca 

Susanne is an Olympic Rower, who in Tokyo 2020 was able to bring home the Gold Medal with her team for Women's 8 Rowing for the first time since 1992.  Susanne started rowing on Fanshawe lake here in the city under coach Bob Ward. Susanne has worked her way up to multiple World Championships and World Cups and now has an Olympic Gold Medal under her belt.  You probably saw the reaction of the team when they found out they had won, with their coxswain Kit jumping to her feet in their pretty unstable boat!  In this episode, we speak with Susanne about that unbelievable moment, what she was feeling, and what it took to get to that point in her career.  We also talk about how Susanne started rowing, what it's like being a professional rower, what it's like going to the Olympics, both during a pandemic and not, what women's 8 rowing is, what it's like making the Olympic team, the differences between winning a World Championship and an Olympic Gold Medal and so much more! 

Episode 44) Richie Bloomfield, Co-founder of Sidetrack: A Wortley Cafe “In a world of relentless pursuit, sidetracks are more important than ever. Let your mind stray off the beaten path and return with fresh ideas and new imaginings. After all, detours write the best stories. There has always been a café here, in this cozy nook of the village. Folded away but never forgotten, it has always been a place for community, coffee and conversation. Our hope is that this will be your space for creative distraction, of wanderings without worry. A place to read, to write, or indulge in many of life's other simple joys. Let this be a place for the London community at large to get sidetracked.” In this episode, Richie tells us all about what goes into opening up a cafe, the coffee community in London, the ethics behind the coffee beans and tea they sell, gives us some hints on how to brew the perfect cup at home and much more.  Sidetrack info:  Location: 136 Wortley Rd Website: www.sidetrack.cafe  Email: hello@sidetrack.cafe  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidetrack.cafe/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sidetrackwortley  LPC Info:  https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/ lpcpod@gmail.com 

Welcome back to London's Pretty Cool Podcast. Today we are speaking with Karen Oldman and Julie Ryan from Neighbourhood Decision Making. Neighbourhood Decision Making is a program in which Londoners are able to come up with ideas to improve their local communities. You are able to submit your ideas and get your community to vote on which ideas you all want to see come to life. Because you know what is needed in your neighbourhood better than anyone. Submissions close on September 21st. This part is about submitting your ideas. We want to encourage our listeners to submit their ideas for your neighbourhood before the submissions close. In part 2 we will showcase the ideas that are up for a vote in each neighbourhood so you know what you are able to vote for and also, how to go about doing that. Remember to rate and subscribe and all those fun things and follow us on social media to know when part 2 is out!    In this episode, we talk with Karen Oldman who is the manager of this program. We speak with her about how this program was started, how it has a positive impact on the community, the types of ideas that are already being submitted for 2021, the most popular ideas that have won in the past and more. We also have Julie Ryan on. Julie's idea - the murals under the Richmond Street underpass - was a previous winner of the Neighbourhood Decision Making Program. She tells us about the process of submitting an idea to this program, from the initial submission to completing the project with your community.    Submit your ideas: https://getinvolved.london.ca/NDM    https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/  https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod

Sarah Smith is a musician from London that has always been praised for her songwriting and vulnerability in her lyrics. Sarah has been heavily involved in the London music scene for most of her career, winning multiple Jack Richardson/Forest City London Music Awards and performing at almost every venue the city has.  Recently, Sarah paid homage to her hometown, releasing an album called “Sarah Smith and the Lovers of London” along with writing partner Noelle Frances. This album was a collaboration with 6 other London-based artists in which each song focuses on a different type of love: familial, romantic, platonic, love for a city and love of community.  In this episode we talk to Sarah about how she started in the music industry, being open and honest in her songwriting, the London Music Scene and how it's changed over the years, the London Music Office, touring throughout Europe, the Caribbean and hosting her own Sarah Smith Cruise. We also talked about performing with big names such as Joel Plaskett and 54-40, creating the “Lovers of London” album during the pandemic and exclusively over Zoom, upcoming touring plans and so much more!  Sarah Smith Info:  https://www.sarahsmithmusic.com https://www.facebook.com/sarahsmithmusiccanada https://twitter.com/sarahsmithmusic?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/sarahsmithmusic/?hl=en LPC Info:  lpcpod@gmail.com  https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod

Growing Chefs! Ontario is a registered charity based in London, Ontario that unites chefs, growers, educators and community members in children's food education projects. Growing Chefs! Ontario offers a variety of Food Education Projects to get kids and communities excited about healthy, wholesome food! In this episode, Andrew tells us all about how he got started with Growing Chefs in Vancouver, how and why he decided to create a headquarters for Growing Chefs in London, the Food Education Programs that they run, such as Growing Communities, Kid's Monthly Cooking Classes and more, the collaborations and other programs Growing Chefs has helped with, how to get over being a picky eater and much more!  Growing Chefs! Information Website: https://growingchefsontario.ca  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingchefsontario/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growingchefsontario  London's Pretty Cool Information:  Email: lpcpod@gmail.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/43R5Q9JIsuWgS19TGxAKnU  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/londons-pretty-cool/id1456976350  Google: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9sb25kb25zcHJldHR5Y29vbC5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNuNCE963yAhVmgnIEHbDDBa4Q9sEGegQIARAC 

Episode 41 with Mariam Waliji of Urban Roots London  Urban Roots is a non-profit organization that revitalizes underused land in the City of London for agriculture by: Producing high-quality, organic vegetables and herbs, distributing produce locally, directly to consumers and to private and social enterprises, developing agricultural opportunities for the neighbourhood, social enterprises, and community organizations within the City of London, and growing a self-sustaining, urban agricultural model to germinate to new sites. In this episode, we talk about how Urban Roots got started, their weekly markets, the Model of Thirds that Urban Roots follows, their new composting program, educational programs that they have started, the Harvest dinner 2021 and so much more!  Urban Roots Information: https://urbanrootslondon.ca https://www.facebook.com/UrbanRootsLdnOnt/ https://www.instagram.com/urbanrootslondon/?hl=en https://twitter.com/urbanrootsldnon?lang=en LPC Podcast Information:  lpcpod@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/?hl=en https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/

Episode 40 Guests: Savannah Sewell, Aaliyah Stewart and Hannah Fayad from London Girls Rock Camp!  Starting season 3 off strong talking about the amazing local camp London Girls Rock Camp. London Girls Rock Camp is focused on empowerment, confidence building, friendship-making, and most importantly: music-loving. London Girls Rock Camp is lead by a team of female musicians and industry contributors and brings programming to campers aged 8-15 who self-identify as female, trans, and gender non-conforming.  In this episode, we talk about how the camp got started, what the day-to-day looks like for the campers, how it is possible to go from no experience to a full band playing an original song in a week, the changes they have had to make to go virtual over COVID, the final show and much more!  Girls Rock Camp Info:  https://www.londongirlsrockcamp.ca https://www.instagram.com/londongrc/?hl=en https://londongrc.bandcamp.com Stay in the Loop:  lpcpod@gmail.com  https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVMSbxJ8T9vxDCfReDU8KUQ https://www.facebook.com/LPCPod/  

“PLUMP! is a space for London's BIPOC community. A space where we can cultivate our passions, share our perspectives, learn new things and get inspired by those around us.” Alecia Bryan and Harina Mokanan are the visionaries and creators behind this group. We were able to discuss with them all about seeing the need for a space for BIPOC in London to get together and share stories and have fun, in a place that they feel seen and heard and not looked at as the minority in that space - and PLUMP was born!  Starting in 2019 with a panel discussion about work-life balance, PLUMP has grown into so much more, offering many community events such as movie nights, rollerskating, dance parties and more!  PLUMP also is known for their program “The Exchange” -a multi-media sharing circle where each month they choose a topic and a medium (such as music or film) for community members who are interested in connecting, who wish to explore and be exposed to new and old works of creative arts while discussing the universal themes of human nature.  We discuss these programs and so much more in this episode of London's Pretty Cool.  PLUMP Information:  https://weareplump.ca https://www.instagram.com/plumpsessions/ LPC Info:  lpcpod@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/

Nicole Snobelen is the owner of Evelynn by Nicole Snobelen, which is a clothing line with amazing pieces such as dresses, scrunchies, tees, accessories and more! Evelynn carries unique options such as matching sets for you and your pet, custom bridal robes, thrifted pieces and upcycled pieces, so you can find the perfect thing for you!  While creating such a cute clothing business, Nicole decided to use this to give back by starting The Abby Fund, which proceeds from sales go to. The Abby Fund is a charity in which children who are in the hospital are given the opportunity to design their dream princess dress or superhero cape and Nicole brings their creations to life! In this episode we talk to Nicole about her business Evelynn, how it got started, her favourite products to make, new & upcoming releases and more! We also discuss how her business is a social enterprise, donating proceeds to The Abby Fund, how this charity was started, ways for listeners to help out, the fashion show and more!  Nicole Snobelen Information:  https://www.evelynnbns.ca https://www.facebook.com/EvelynnByNicoleSnobelen/ https://www.instagram.com/evelynnbns/?hl=en https://www.theabbyfund.com https://www.instagram.com/theabbyfund/ https://www.facebook.com/theabbyFund/ LPC Info:  lpcpod@gmail.com https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/

Episode 37: Rude Girls Music Collective  Episode 37 features Harina, Zarha and Denise of Rude Girls Music Collective! In this episode, we talk about all Rude Girls, how they met and were formed, the different types of music they play, and why they chose their name. We also discuss Rude Girls Radio - their weekly live stream dance parties on Twitch, Front Womxn, their collaborative Livestream program showcasing womxn owned businesses & organizations, what it is like to be a DJ in London and how they started, their own personal projects that they are working on and more!  Rude Girls Info:  https://www.instagram.com/rudegirlsldn/?hl=en LPC Contact:  lpcpod@gmail.com  https://www.instagram.com/lpcpodcast/?hl=en