Social Animals

This week I am hanging out with Chris MacDonald. Chris is the author of a new book called Days and Days A story about Sunderland’s Leatherface and the Ties that Bind, published by ECW Press. Chris is also the owner and tattoo artist at Under my Thumb on College St. in Toronto and a certified rock and roller playing in the band Le Barons. We talk about backpacking, taking mushrooms at the cottage and new words that burn into your memory. This is Chris MacDonald, Author of Days and Days and these are his stories of friendship. You can follow Chris here: IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_red_beauty/ Book: https://ecwpress.com/products/days-and-days-leatherface Le Barons: https://lebarons.bandcamp.com/album/days-are-mountains Tattoos: https://www.undermythumb.ca/index.html#/ Subscribe to automatically get Chris’ episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Najla Said. I read Nejla’s book “Looking for Palestine” and it struck a chord as a story of representation and struggle about identity growing up with an eminent academic father who fought his entire life for Peace. Edward Said was one of the world’s most galvanizing thinkers and defined how the world viewed Arabs. Nejla and I discuss the value of an imaginary friend and why you shouldn’t go to an Airbnb on the other side of an unrefrigerated fish market in Vietnam. We discuss not apologizing for our existence and what it was like growing up on the fence between not White enough growing up in Canada/America, but also not Arab enough.  You can follow Najla Said here: Web: https://www.najlasaid.com/ Insta: https://www.instagram.com/kittybubble/?hl=en Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/308356/looking-for-palestine-by-najla-said/ Subscribe to automatically get Najla Said’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Beatlalipos aka Elie Nakhle Elie is a Lebanese Producer, Rapper and sound Engineer who lives in Montreal.  We talk about Lebanese food, politics and what brought Elie to Canada. Is God an imaginary friend? A near death experience and his newest project released  July 1st 2024 called 808 Dabke infusing modern sounds with traditional Arabic melodies. You can follow Beatlalipos here: Web: www.beatlalipos.com Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Gek9Q7tZ8ribKJrjBKcNH Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/beatlalipos Subscribe to automatically get Beatlalipos’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Jay Sparrow Jay is a singer/songwriter based in Alberta, Canada. Jay is a career musician having played in ‘Murder City Sparrows’ and taken his solo act to great heights he is now releasing his 8th studio album ‘Hard Eight.’ He’s also the owner of Sea Change Brewery. We talk about drive-by shootings and talking to gang members while filming a music video, partying with Wyclef Jean, growing up in Alberta and how hard it is to get a beer into the LCBO. You can follow Jay here: Web: https://jaysparrow.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaysparrowmusic Brewery: https://www.seachangebeer.com/ Subscribe to automatically get Jay’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.  Photo Credit: Cooper & O’Hara

This week I am hanging out with Bilal Nasser Bilal is a Windsor, ON based musician who takes a foundation of classical guitar, elements of shoegaze, post-punk and drone and distills them into a cascade of brilliant and emotive sound. He is also a music teacher, fellow podcaster and he opened the loft he shares with his partner Kamryn to us when the band was on tour in November. You can follow Bilal Nasser here: Link 00: https://www.instagram.com/bilalguitar/?hl=en Link 01: bilalnasser.com Link 02: https://bilalnasser.bandcamp.com/album/how-can-we-say-nothing Link 03: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hOgpveIitcLnPfyyaYI1Z Link 04: https://www.instagram.com/theriverandtheland/?hl=en Subscribe to automatically get Bilal Nasser’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.

This week I am hanging out with Simon Head Simon is a Simon is a Canadian musician, documentarian, tour manager and dad. Simon found Social Animals because he just finished a documentary called ‘Subversives: History of Lowest of the Low’ who’s lead singer, Stephen Stanley was a recent guest and features other Social Animals like Alan Cross and mother of Sameer Cash, the trailblazing Sandy Pandya. We talk about taking magic mushrooms, being on tour, what we would do if we didn’t have jobs and we ruminate on the behaviour of cats. You can follow Simon Head here: www.apologue.ca Subscribe to automatically get Simon Head’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

Today I’m hanging out with Tez Ilyas. Tez is a UK based comedian, actor, writer and author who has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Live at The Apollo, and co-starred on the Netflix Series Man Like Mobeen You can follow [GUEST] here: Web: https://tezilyas.com/ IG: @tezilyas Twitter (X): @tezilyas Subscribe to automatically get Tez’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://linktr.ee/socialanimalspodcast Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Katelynne Roland They are an author and have generously spent some of their time to talk to me about being gifted live animals, getting dumped in a mall and Denmark. You can follow Katelynne Roland here: Web: https://katelynneroland.com/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/katelynnerolandwrites/ Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Chaos-Within-Katelynne-Roland-ebook/dp/B0CLK54FYL/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=milefive05-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=60435d7aa87a891e5c702e983c610eef&camp=15121&creative=330641 Subscribe to automatically get Katelynne Roland’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://linktr.ee/socialanimalspodcast Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.  #Hashtags #author #canadianauthor #contemporaryfiction #denmark #copenhagen #romancebook #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #lovetoread #bookaddicts #weekendreads #whattoreadnext #bookworms #bookish #bibliophile #beautifulbooks #goodreads #readersofIG #bookclubsofinstagram #bookclubread #bookclubbing #instabookclub #bookshelf #podcastsofinstagram #friendship #bookshelfporn #shelfielife #bookstack #amazonreads #selfpublished #bookstoresofinstagram

This week I am hanging out with Stephen Stanley Today I’m hanging out with Stephen Stanley. Stephen is a musician who helped found the Canadian Alternative Rock Pioneers Lowest of the Low and pilot them through the Indie Boom of the 90s. And now he’s doing it all again with his solo project The Stephen Stanley Band. We talk about growing up in Toronto, the legendary DJ Dave Bookman, touring, his new album ‘Before the Collapse of the Hive’ and more. You can follow Stephen Stanley here: https://stephenstanleyband.com/ https://stephenstanleyband.bandcamp.com/ https://www.instagram.com/stephenstanley/ Subscribe to automatically get Stephen Stanley’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Tracy Hamilton We talk about overcoming social anxiety, her retired Pomeranian Evie and meeting the love of your life in a plague.  We also discuss books and a new approach to setting boundaries. You can follow Tracy here: https://www.instagram.com/hamiltrace/ https://www.tracyhamilton.net/ https://www.tiktok.com/@hamiltrace Subscribe to automatically get Tracy’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week is a continuation of my conversation with Zane Banyan Zane is a vocalist and model and has generously spent some of her time to talk to me about cat homies, losing a friend and ADHD. https://www.instagram.com/xozane/ https://www.instagram.com/genx90srock/ https://www.goodenoughlivekaraoke.com/ Subscribe to automatically get Zane’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Zane Banyan Zane is a vocalist and model and has generously spent some of her time to talk to me about cottage weekends, epic musical journeys and books You can follow Zane Banyan here: https://www.instagram.com/xozane/ https://www.instagram.com/genx90srock/ https://www.goodenoughlivekaraoke.com/ Subscribe to automatically get Zane’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Dylan Hennessy Dylan is a multi-instrumentalist and busker and has generously spent some of his time to talk to me about Reappearing friends, nostalgic bachelor parties and making friends with people who kick you. You can follow Dylan Hennessy here: https://www.dylanhennessymusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/dylanhennessymusic/ https://www.youtube.com/@Dylanhennessy/featured Subscribe to automatically get Dylan Hennessy’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.

Ken Tizzard is back! Ken is a musician, songwriter and producer, playing bass in the acclaimed Canadian rock bands The Watchmen, Thornley and Ron Hynes. Ken is now the raconteur behind Music for Goats, playing rich & soulful folk-rock. In this episode Ken tells stories about his late friend Steve Dagg. Steve is an accomplished jazz percussionist, fervent father and great friend who led a full life filled with music, surrounded by friends. RIP Steve Dagg, you will be remembered fondly by all. You can follow Ken Tizzard here: www.kentizzard.com www.twitter.com/ktizzard www.youtube.com/kentizzard www.facebook.com/kentizzardmusic www.instagram.com/kentizzard www.tiktok.com/kentizzard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsCvwxS9s1I Subscribe to automatically get Ken Tizzard’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! With the passing of Steve the band has decided to release a series of singles under the title “The Dagg Sessions” which will cumulate with a vinyl release of these songs in one space at the end of 2023. The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.   #torontowaterfront #torontoisland #campbellford  #alltogethernow #togetheragain  #memoryfades #ottawacuisine

This week I am hanging out with Dave Merheje Dave is a Comedian, Actor and Writer. He is a co-star on  the Golden Globe Winning Series, Ramy (Hulu), he has two specials “I Love You Habibi” on Crave, “Good Friend, Bad Grammar” on Youtube. We talk about travelling to the Middle East, kindness and how far to go when you’re playing rec soccer. You can follow Dave Merheje here: Insta: @davemerheje - https://www.instagram.com/davemerheje/ Facebook:  davemerheje - https://www.facebook.com/comediandavemerheje/ Twitter: davemerheje - https://twitter.com/davemerheje?lang=en Web: https://www.davemerheje.com/home Subscribe to automatically get Dave Merheje’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.

This week I am hanging out with Chloe Brown Chloe is a community organizer, low-key saxophonist and candidate for City of Toronto Mayor in the June 26th, 2023 Mayoral By-election. Chloe has generously shared their time to talk to me about her friends, her drive and her platform. You can follow Chloe Brown here: https://chloebrown.ca/ https://www.instagram.com/chloebrown4to/ https://thelocal.to/toronto-mayor-candidates-2023/        https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/by-election/ Subscribe to automatically get Chloe Brown’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening! The interlude music on this episode was made by Me using Apple Garage band and those sweet sweet loopies.

This week I am hanging out with Jad Sleiman They are a comedian, journalist, writer, US marine and cat dad. We talk about being arab in the US Armed forces, BBQs and why his loveable furry roommate has no name. Jad’s brand of dark comedy has him discussing heavy issues from a unique perspective with a tongue firmly planted in his cheek, that is after being in the line of fire across the globe for many years. You can follow Jad Sleiman here: https://www.instagram.com/jadslay/ Subscribe to automatically get Jad Sleiman’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Ryan Shuvera of the band Older Siblings, based in London, ON Ryan is the lead singer and birthright/namesake of his band Older Siblings which he is a part of along with his younger sibling Kait We talk about Public Parks, travelling to meet your pals, and why simple gestures are the most meaningful. You can follow Older Siblings here: https://www.instagram.com/oldersibsband/ https://oldersiblingsband.bandcamp.com/album/unfinished-basement https://open.spotify.com/artist/5whCLbyg2IQBvKs3cECMlS?si=lwH-DYunT2e4mu3BFg4mQA&nd=1 https://www.facebook.com/oldersiblingsband/ Subscribe to automatically get Ryan’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Jake Touzel Jake is the lead singer of the Vancouver-based hard rock mastadons called Sleepcircle.Jake and I coordinated time zones and chatted about siblings vs single children, the quiet chaos in the company of cats and rolling 200  joints and Jake shares a favourite book. 'The Knife Awaits' slated for February 17th 2023. With their energetic performances and distinctive sound, Sleepcircle has built a loyal fanbase that continues to grow with each new release. Their shows are known to be high energy and unforgettable, with fans eagerly anticipating their upcoming dates for 2023 You can follow Jake here: SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/sleepcircle WEBSITE: https://www.sleepcircleband.com/ BANDCAMP: https://sleepcircle.bandcamp.com/ Subscribe to automatically get Jake Touzel’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals. Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!

This week I am hanging out with Jillian Clair! Jill is the Lead singer for the post-hardcore band MVLLCRIMES from London, ON. We talk about pulling children’s hair, getting super high at a festival and long-distance friendships! You can follow Jill Clair here: https://www.instagram.com/mvllcrimes/ https://mvllcrimes.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Z3WkDDfrf27jJSl8J4ttr Subscribe on all the channels at https://socialanimals.ca/ to automatically get Jill Clair’s episode and more episodes of Social Animals: Tell your friends, comment below and enjoy the stories! Thanks for listening!