Cue To Cue: The Performers' Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Do you know what happens to the brain when we improvise? How does it differ from our brain activity during hypnosis? In this episode, Actor/Improvisor, Colin Mochrie will share his eye-opening experience when he collaborated with Dr. Charles Limb to unravel how the brain works during improv. Colin found himself improvising inside an MRI scanner for 1.5 hours, and the findings revealed a decrease in activity in the brain region responsible for self-criticism, coupled with an increase in creativity.

Colin also shared that this is also the same thing that happens during hypnosis, part of the brain stops producing self-doubt and worry.  Empower your mind to silence self-doubt, let your brain ignite the fire of possibility and propel you towards your greatest achievements.

In this episode:

• Who we are as people is amplified during hypnosis.
• Colin learned from his debut on “Whose Line Is It Anyway” that he preferred taking action over doing nothing whatever the outcome may be.
• An artist is someone who is never content with what he/she is doing; you have to be curious about the world and other people.

A little about Colin:

‘Colin Mochrie is an alumnus of Toronto’s famous Second City comedy troupe. After nine years as a regular on the British improvisation series ”Whose Line Is It Anyway?’‘, he became a regular on the American version hosted by Drew Carey, which ran six years and is now being rebooted by the CW network.

Colin was a cast member of CBC’s ”This Hour Has 22 Minutes’‘  2001- 2003. 

With his wife, Debra McGrath, he produced, wrote and starred in the CBC show ”Getting Along Famously” 

Currently, he is part of a very successful tour with “Whose Line” cast mate Brad Sherwood, performing a live improv show across North America. 

Follow Colin!

• Online: http://www.colinmochrie.com
• Facebook: Colin Mochrie
• X: @colinmochrie
• Instagram: @colinmochrie7591

What surprising moment led you to discover a passion you never knew you had? How did it transform your life? 

In this week's episode, Sarah "Polerina" will share her story, recounting the journey of how she serendipitously discovered her love for pole dancing while searching for activities on Groupon. She is the perfect example of someone who dared to venture beyond her comfort zone and stumbled upon something unexpectedly remarkable. 

In this episode:

• People avoid pole dance for the first time because they're not athletic, flexible or fit enough; but pole dance is for everybody.
• Stress and pressure don't guarantee victory, which is why finding enjoyment in the competition is crucial to our mental health.
• If you're thinking about trying pole dancing, just do it and be amazed by what it does to you physically and mentally.
• We can embrace our body and choose what aspects we wish to showcase on a public platform.

A little about Sarah:

Sarah fell head over Pleaser Heels for pole dancing in 2015 and specializes in low flow and heelwork. With a passion for the fundamentals and the unconventional, she helps beginners to advanced dancers connect with their inner magic.

A lover of the tallest platforms and the tiniest of details, she cultivates her own brand of sinuous and intoxicating flow. Sarah is a certified Heels and Liquid Motion Pole instructor, and has won several awards in Pole Sport Organization, CPFA Pro Supershow, and CPFA Nationals.

Her classes and workshops are rooted in the fundamentals and focused on technique, sensuality and play. Sarah firmly believes that there is no one perfect way to pole dance, and that you can always make your basics look advanced.

Follow Sarah!
Instagram: @sarah.polerina

Today we are going for a solo round! Woot! Woot! 

I was going to do an episode about my takeaways from a recent event I went to to hear the winderful Elizabeth Gilbert speak but that'll have to wait as life has thrown me a spicy curve ball this week and I had to share!

Listen and find out how I have pivoted to stay in alignment with my creative goals and vision. Sometimes when life gives you lemons.. you need to switch to limes ;) PIVOOOOOOT! #Rossforever

Don't Wait To Create! 

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I: @thisischelseajohnson

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Are you worried that you don’t belong in just one single creative community because the way that you want to make art is in multiple directions?  Go ahead and pursue your passions, whatever that looks like!

In this week’s episode, Actor/Writer Vanessa Smythe will encourage us to follow whatever creative currents flow within us. She reminds us to honour the whispers of our creativity and worry less about the perception of other people.

In this episode:

• The challenges that Vanessa had to overcome while she was pregnant while working as well as the unexpected gifts and learning that have informed her artist through her pregnancy. 
• The importance of having role models in your life who are courageous enough to share with you how they overcame the norms.
• Having multiple skillsets as an artist allows you to live a sustainable life and pursue various creative projects.
• The habits that Vanessa adds in her daily routine to guide her thoughts, focus and energy.

A little about Vanessa:

Vanessa Smythe is a Canadian actor and writer, best known for playing Michio in The Expanse. When she’s not in space, she can be seen on Hudson & Rex, Mrs. America, Designated Survivor, and Murdoch Mysteries. Her original live show, In Case We Disappear, has played to sold-out houses internationally, and was named one of the best free shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Ever the dreamer, Vanessa is one of the creators of the Nostalgic 90s Video Store Experience, The Tape Escape – “Outside the March’s latest site-specific marvel” – (NOW). She is also a poet, collaborating with Olympic Gold Medalist Simon Whitfield on a poem for The Canadian Sport Awards. Vanessa has worked with CanStage, Soulpepper, Company Theatre, Crow’s, Starvox, fu-GEN, Howland, and YPT. In her free time, she offers writing workshops for people of all ages. But you’re most likely to catch her shouldering her nephews, or writing a long-winded birthday message for someone she loves. Upcoming: Vanessa appears in The Amityville Curse, and the film Littlemouth, starring Isabelle Fuhrman and Dennis Quaid. She’s also slated to perform her newest solo show, “Tell You A Story” at the end of April with Talk is Free Theatre. 

Follow Vanessa!

• Twitter: @vsmythe
• Instagram: @vanessasmythe
• Get tickets to Vanessa's Solo Show! Tell You A Story

In celebration of International Women's Day this month we are sharing a selection of some of the winderful women that have graced Cue To Cue with their wisdom, strength, vulnerability, and creativity!

Be prepared to to get your cup filled and be inspired by these souful artists!

In order of appearance:

Heather Christine- Vocalist/Recording Artist/Educator

Julia Juhas- Performing Artist/ Embodied Mindful Movement Coach

Pastel Supernova- Choreographer/Burlesque Performer

Lucy Russell- Actor/Coach/Creative

Kaylee Harwood- Performer/Director/Educator

Alana Bridgewater- Singer/Actor

Lunar Bloom ( band )- Female Folk Trio

Follow Cue To Cue!

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I released this episode over a year ago. After watching Chris Rock's comedy special made me want to re release this epsisode. I went back and listened to it and I still feel the same way.

I am not certain of many things these days but there is one thing that has become very clear to me. That the pervasive cancel culture that has become prevalent in our culture is a threat to art. If we are not careful it will prevent us  ( society) as a whole from exploring meaningful ideas and impede the making of art. I believe canceling people is dangerous.

In today’s episode, I am exploring the ramifications of cancel culture and the effects it has on the creative process, artist, and our art! 

Spicy episode! enjoy!

I: @thisischelseajohnson

F: @thisischelseajohnson

T: @thisischelseaj

Would you rather perform in front of thousands of people or a handful of strangers? 

Does performing in a small crowd bring out the shy introvert version of you? Surprisingly, many of us are shy and it manifests in different ways.

Singer/Actor, Alana Bridgewater, will join us in this week’s episode to reminds us that it’s okay to constantly search for ways to overcome shyness and solve your challenges as an artist. You can have an arsenal of different things that can help you cope with the demands of the life of an artist. Give yourself permission to figure things out and enjoy the journey towards finding the best solution for you.

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In this episode:

• How singing in front the church congregation sparked Alana’s love for singing.
• The impact of having a strong mentor in her commitment towards fostering the next generation of artists.
• The importance of having grounding practices incorporated into your routine in mitigating the negative impact of unattended pressures and shyness. 
• An artist is someone who is trying to keep the culture of creativity and art present.

A little about Alana:

Alana Bridgewater is an actor and singer in Toronto. Best known for her role as Killer Queen in the hit musical We Will Rock You, Alana made her debut at the Signature Center in NYC with the prestigious Soulpepper Theatre Company. Her recent credits include the title role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Novelette in Da Kink In My Hair at Arts Club Vancouver, Eartha in the animated series Mysticons (Nickelodeon) and the voice of Mr. King Dice in the hit video game CupHead. Working with youth, Alana was Choral Director for Daniels Corporation’s production of The Journey. Alana, with her team, won Gold at The New York Radio Awards for the documentary Journey To Jazz and Human Rights which she narrated. Alana was appointed Resident Artist for Necessary Angel Theatre Company for the 20/21 Season
Musically, Alana sang backup on tour with Johnny Reid, Digging Roots and Corey Hart. She also contributed vocals on Digging Roots latest album Zhawenim which has been nominated for a 2023 Juno Award.

Follow Alana!

• Instagram: @alanabridgewatermusic
• Twitter: @alanabeemusic

This week on Cue To Cue- The Peroformer's Podcast we are talking resistance!

One of the most important things we can learn as an artist is how to get curious about our  resitance to exlporing, sharing , and expressing ceratin ideas, expreriences and emotions.

If we don't learn how to meet ourselves in our resistance and figure out what works for us to address our fears and blocks then we will not evolve as artists. 

Today, I am sharing my experience about moving throughmy own resistance and some tools i have discovered that I have discovered that are helping me heals, transform and evolve! 

Are you having a hard time finding the light at the end of the tunnel?

This journey can be full of twists and turns and ups and downs and all arounds. It is inevitable. Our realtionship to ourselves and our environment are the very things that will determine how we navigate our journey. Today's episode is there to help us remember ourselves. You are talented, you are worthy and you have the skills to achieve your dreams! You are allowed to have the things you want.

This week, Performing Artist and Embodied Mindful Movement Facilitator Julia Juhas will remind us to get curious about ourselves and change how we treat ourselves. Through digging within our thoughts and removing the part of our body that doubts us, we get to the root cause of our issues and eventually attract the things that we want.

You are talented, you are worthy and you have the skills to achieve your dreams! You are allowed to have the things you want.

In this episode:

• As creatives, we can't create in a tense body and mind; we need to unlock our hearts so that we can allow our body to process our emotions.
• Pain is part of life, we just need to develop a healthy relationship with it.
• Our sympathetic nervous system is only there to help us in a state of emergency, we're not supposed to live there all the time, and I think we tend to; so when we hit a stressful situation, you can't intuitively act because you're already there.
• The importance of identifying the root cause of our self-doubt and taking accountability of our actions instead of blaming our mishaps to someone else.

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A little about Julia:

Julia is a professional performing artist, Embodied Mindful Movement Coach + Certified Yoga Teacher with over 25yrs experience as a practitioner and guide. She completed her Yoga Teacher training in 2015 at the highly regarded Esther Myers Yoga Studio (EMYS) in Toronto where she currently teaches a variety of classes and workshops. She's also a graduate of Sheridan College's Music Theatre Performance Program. 

For over 20 yrs Julia has been performing alongside some of North America’s finest, both onstage and on the big screen. 
She has performed at the Stratford Festival, Mirvish Productions and in theatres across Canada and the U.S.  

In the middle of Julia’s career as a professional dancer and music theatre performer, she suffered two devastating events; a rare knee injury and a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis. Both impacted her basic functionality of movement and almost ended her career as a dancer. These events inspired Julia to shift her approach to movement and yoga to explore a practice that offers more sustainability, functionality, mobility and longevity. Discovering this profound ability to heal through somatic integration, imagery, breath & embodied mindful movement is exactly what inspired Julia’s passion for helping others unravel their tension and pain to live and move with ease.

Now, over 10yrs since her diagnoses Julia is living pain-free and guiding others to do the same. She is still performing, dancing professionally + enjoying a very active lifestyle. Most recently she was featured in The Shaw Festivals Production of White Christmas and played Violet in Capitol Theatres Production of 9 to 5. She has also appeared in numerous films and TV shows such as Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiousities which was released this past fall.

Julia offers her services as a PTA (physiotherapist assistant) + Embodied Mindful Movement Coach at the Body Science Therapy clinic as well as private/semi-private mindful movement sessions online + in-home through her company Live With Ease. She also offers complimentary yoga practices via her YouTube Channel – Live With Ease which is a wonderful creative outlet for her. It’s her way of giving back and being of service to others especially during these unprecedented times. 

Follow Julia!

• Website: Live With Ease
• Instagram: @juliajuhas  @_livewithease_
• Twitter: @juliajuhas
• Facebook: Julia Juhas

What  does your creative process look like?

Do you listen to certain genres of music to get your creative juices running? D you collaborate with other artists to help you drill drown on what you want to achieve with your art?   

Joining us this week is Performer/Drummer, Troy Sexton, who will share his own journey in fine tuning his creative process. He inspires us to be authentic and persevere despite the different roadblocks that we may face as artists.  He also reiterates that we need people that we trust to mentor and help us become better artists. The great thing about art is that it's malleable, you don't have to figure everything today! Enjoy the process and you do you!

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In this episode:

• How attending Les Miserables and Stomp influenced Troy's passion to perform at an early age
• Troy's amazing journey from being a huge fan of the musical group "Stomp" to eventually travelling the world with them as an international entertainer.
• How Troy used the rejection he faced during his first audition as fuel to strengthen his skills as an artist.
• There's a lot of different types of kids in jail; but, when they start learning to play music together, all of their criminal records go out the window and they're just kids having fun.

A little about Troy:

Troy is a Canadian drummer and international entertainer, workshop teacher, speaker and performer. 
Troy started performing in the broadway show STOMP at age 19, after traveling the world, for 10 years, he set roots in Canada and started Rhythm Works, doin drum and dance workshops and performances. Rhythm works has been in over 500 schools across Canada, we have performed coast to coast and you were able to see Troy performing at Toronto Raptors games leading the drumming group “the 6ix stix” . from 2015-2022. Troy worked with non profit Bue print pathways, working in 6 youth prisons for 6 years. teaching and putting on shows with he kids. also has taught in over 20 Arctic and native reserves. Troy also works on movie sets and a assistant director and does voice over work for tv and film.

Follow Troy!

• Instagram: @troyrw
• Tiktok: @troy.stix
• Website: www.rwcanada.com