The Unknown Studio

Merry Christmas, everyone! In this very special Christmas episode of the Unknown Studio, Scott and I chat with Jonn and Sam, two of the creators of the Edmonton: A City podcast segment. And wouldn’t you know it, but they have a segment in this very episode! There’s also some other tidbits in here from Scott and myself, as well as a gift exchange between the two hosts. Here’s the breakdown:

0:00: Intro – “look at my sack!”
1:00: Welcome to the Edmonton: A City boys
19:58: Christmas in Space – yes, this is a severe Star Trek reference
23:36: How podcasts get started
43:27: Edmonton: A City – A special Christmas segment
54:38: A Dramatic Reading with Scott C Bourgeois – in which Scott outdoes Adam by telling EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY AT ONCE
1:01:15: A Christmas gift exchange; also Scott and Adam get confused
1:10:39: The Fast Sixteen with Sam and Jonn

Popularity: 20% [?]

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I don’t know much about poetry, except that I can’t write it unless it’s a limerick. And even then, no one wants to hear “The once was a boy named Runt…”

You know who can write poetry? Very well? Edmonton’s own Kasia Gawlak. (You may know her from such events as Words with Friends, which she organizes with fellow writer Jason Norman. You might also know her as one of the outspoken organizers of Edmonton’s Slut Walk. Or even the Edmonton Music Collectors Show.)

So she does other things too. You can find out all about her poetry and her extracurricular activities in this episode. Here’s the breakdown:

0:00: Intro – “Sexy Poetry”
1:00: Do you tan?
19:08: The Flavor of T-Shirts – an interview with Wade and Brendan from Flavor Clothing (listen to this segment for the opportunity to win a prize!)
30:17: Remember Geocities? So do we.
52:30: Scott’s Soapbox – the moustache speaks: Scott raised $592 for Movember!
55:19: We debrief (!) Outgoing EPL Writer-in-Residence Marty Chan
1:04:33: Words! With Friends!
1:14:42: Fast Fifteen with Kasia Gawlak

Popularity: 15% [?]

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Have you ever sailed in a Happy Harbor? Scott and I have. We did so in this, our most recent episode, where we interview Jay Bardyla, proprietor and local giant at Happy Harbor Comics. They just relocated their downtown store to 107 Street and 104 Avenue. A lovely store that you should visit (they have couches, coffee and soda. Also, comics).

We also have segments detailing some of the terrific Movember events taking place right here in the Greatest City on the Planet™. Here’s the breakdown:

0:00: The Fortress of Solitude… home of Happy Harbor!
17:17: Microphones and Moustaches (on November 27) with Gregg Beever
23:56: Wait, how many Happy Harbors are there?
48:18: MoSistas Edmonton, coming to a D’Lish Wine Bar near you (on November 10)
55:44: The Rules for Home Shaving – A Dramatic Reading by Scott C Bourgeois
59:12: Jay and PureSpec and Married Scott
1:16:14: The Fast Fifteen with Jay Bardyla

Popularity: 10% [?]

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Sylvancroft, former residence to Mayor Harry Evans | Photo by Raffaella Loro

Both of my parents moved to Canada from Europe when they were young. They settled in Alberta and eventually started a family in Edmonton. My dad was an entrepreneur, and my mother was studying at the U of A and working in the old courthouse downtown… Eventually, they started having kids and my mom dedicated her life to raising us boys, but she looks fondly back on her days working among judges and lawyers.

We spoke a little bit a few weeks back about the history of Edmonton and some of the characters that she grew up around. My mom, a citizen of Calgary for about 6 or 7 years now, still misses the city. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 46% [?]

There’s no shortage of things to do in Champion City this weekend. Today sees the beginning of Pride Week in Edmonton, as well as the 104 St Al Fresco event. The Unknown Studio will be at TEDxEdmonton chatting with audience members, speakers and organizers about the second TED event to hit Edmonton.

But tomorrow… that’s when things get downright SCARY. In a good way. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 9% [?]

Last week, Scott and I were invited back to Grant MacEwan University by Archie McLean, chair of the school’s journalism program (we did an episode with one of Archie’s classes last year). Scott and I were eager to meet with a second-year class and chat with them about their class project and one of Edmonton’s newest hyperlocal blogs WestEdmontonLocal.ca.

We decided to turn that discussion into a special episode that we hope you enjoy. Thanks again to Archie and his class for hosting us.

Popularity: 21% [?]

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