Digging In With Allison Dore

Comedian Mike Storck is back to talk about his continued work on identifying and improving issues in his life. We talk new terms for old behaviours, what some of those terms really mean, and how working on yourself changes the rest of your life. We also talk new material as a comedian, authenticity, and why hecklers don't think they are a problem. You can follow Mike on Facebook @Mike-Storck-Comedian, on twitter @mikestorck and on Instagram @mike_storck

Comedian and all round good guy Hunter Collins joins me to talk about Atheism, life and being a good guy. We talk the many misconceptions people have about Atheism, why morality and religion are not the same thing, and why it's important to try to do, and be, your best. You can find out more about Hunter at his website huntercollinscomedy.com or follow him on Twitter @hunter_collins or Instagram @huntercomedy

Ann Pirvu is gorgeous inside and out. She has an infectious energy, and a kindness to her that is instantly endearing. She is also very smart, and we start this conversation talking about deliberate thinking. Find out what Ann thinks our "job" is in life, how social media can be a blessing and a curse, and why human connection and communication is so important. She has also created @pepmag http://thepepmag.com to inspire and encourage everyone, but particularly young people, to live their best life.  You can follow Ann on Instagram and Twitter @annpirvu

Calgary Police Officer and founder of Bullying Ends Here Tad Milmine is back, and we get more personal this time around. Is it healthy to dedicate your life to something 24/7? What about relationships? We both discuss our lack of romantic relationships and how it affects us.  You can follow Tad on Twitter and Instagram @tadmilmine and please check out his website bullyingendshere.ca

Danny Adhim comes ready to share his story. A writer, actor and filmmaker Danny draws from his unique perspective to share stories. We cover a LOT in this one: from who should host the Oscars to Danny's survival of sexual assault, depression to dating, and even more.  You can follow Danny on Instagram @dannyshowlive and on Facebook @dannyadhim

Comedian Alex Wood and I talk about addiction, his amazing podcast Alex Wood Quits Everything, and the various ways and reasons we stay sober and keep working on ourselves.  Alex also battles his addictions by channeling that energy into different positive activities, and is building a really great life. Take out Alex Wood Quits Everything , check out his website http://woodcomedy.com and follow Alex on Instagram @woodcomedy

Jess Beaulieu is a comedian, writer, feminist and activist, so naturally we start this episode talking about the post-Harvey wave that is going through the entertainment industry. We talk power dynamics, how sometimes you just can't win, and if it's possible to separate the art from the artist. (Not for us.)  Jess has created her own place in the industry, she co-produces The Crimson Wave with Natalie Norman every Sunday night at Comedy Bar in Toronto. This feminist, LGBTQ+, no rape jokes show caused quite the controversy in the community when it first started! Their podcast is still available on iTunes and rumour has it it might be coming back.  Follow Jess on social media @msjessbeaulieu, or find out more on her website jessbeaulieu.com

DIGGING IN TO A HOT MESS! Kathleen McGee, comedian and host of the podcast Kathleen McGee is a Hot Mess, and I are doing a crossover episode, and boy are we angry! We recorded this episode right after the Harvey Weinstein story broke, and we talk about being exhausted as women with harassment, stories of harassment, women not being believed - it's a lot to take! We also talk about how no one is a perfect feminist and why we need to recognize our allies. Check out more from Kathleen at her website kathleenmcgee.ca and on social media @kathleen_mcgee.

My best friend Amanda joins me to tell her 20+ year saga of dealing with her sister's drug addiction. It is a story so long and complicated that even this extra long episode couldn't contain it. We share it to educate people on the lengths addicts will go, how sometimes 2 cardiac arrests followed by comas aren't enough to change a person, and the people who get left behind. 

Katharine Ferns is a Canadian comedian currently based in the UK. She was in Toronto to perform her one person show In Stitches, and we sat down to talk about creating a show, the Edinburgh Fringe and how telling your darkest secret (to an audience) can help you and other people. Katharine's story is a dark one that she infuses with light, and shows us how comedy helped her to heal. 

Mike Wilmot is an internationally known comedian who has also appeared in dozens of movies and tv shows. We talk about how his success is traced back to a series of accidents, the importance of open mikes and continually writing, and why you should be nice. Also the health scare that changed his life. And more. You can follow Mike on twitter@mikewilmot1 and find out where you can see him near you www.mikewilmot.ca

Wrestler/actor/tv host RJ Skinner and I share a love of television, which I always want to talk about. However, some of his tweets made me realize there was more going on in his brain than just reruns of Maude. So in addition to Bea Arthur and television greats, we also talk about insecurity, about creating things and putting them out in the world, and the surprising inspiration for his villainous wrestling persona. You can follow RJ on Twitter @RJCity1 or on Instagram @rjcity; and check out his web series, The Cynical Crafter on CBC Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEZ0tftoH9k

Dan Rodo, aka YouTube star The Danocracy, comes by for an amazing conversation about anxiety, positivity, and working on something until you get good at it.  Click HERE for Dan's YouTube Channel, and follow him on socials @TheDanocracy.

Actor and musician Dayle McLeod is a friend I haven't seen in 7 years. She graciously did my podcast before we even had a chance to catch up, and SHE BROUGHT THE HONESTY. Doyle surprises me with several big reveals about major events in her life, and we talk about how sometimes the worst things that happen to you end up weirdly being blessings. Dayle has an EP out, In Bloom, with a full length album coming out in a few months. You can follow her on Twitter @baby_dayle

Comedian Michelle Shaughnessy joins me for a real trip into the honesty cocoon. We talk about the rocky beginnings of our friendship, dealing with depression, Mean Girls, eating disorders and more. I have a bit of a personal breakthrough in terms of how I deal with an issue with Michelle, and we have some laughs. You can follow Michelle on Twitter and Instagram @michellesfunny or go to her website michellesfunny.com

WHEN SHE WAS 14 JENNIFER MCAULIFFE RAN AWAY...TO MEXICO. Who the hell does that? Why would she not bring that up the first time she was on this show????? We also talk about the crack house she owns in another city. This comedian is ridiculously smart and willing to take risks, and I think her second episode is better than the first. Follow Jen on Twitter @jenniferjokes or check out her website www.jenniferjokes.com

I didn't have a new interview for this week, so I decided to make a sibling mixtape, with clips from Jon filling in with me on my show Ward and Al on SiriusXM channel 167, and an interview we did with Jeff Sammut, host of Canada Now on SiriusXM, host of The Jeff Sammut Podcast available on iTunes and at jeffsammut.com, and actually he recorded this interview for an episode of The Nightside on Newstalk 1010 here in Toronto.  In these clips we discuss topics as varied as how to catch a comet to space; would Jon survive the post-apocalyptic world?; how Jon thinks I could defeat Isis; are our parents funny?; and MORE.

Comedian, TV writer and actor Jon Dore (aka my brother) is here and willing to be serious for much longer than I expected. An intensely private person, I thought it would be more of a verbal wrestling match, but Jon is always surprising and showed up ready to talk.  You can see more from Jon at www.jondore.com

Writer and podcast host Brent Jensen joins me for a great talk about leaving the safe job for the job you really want, firing people, being a loner, dealing with loss and so much more!  He is the author of No Sleep Til Sudbury, Leftover People: A Journey Through Post-Rock and Roll America, and All My Favourite People are Broken; and the host of the podcast No Sleep Til Sudbury, where guests tell stories from their lives in 8-10 songs. You can follow Brent on Twitter @nosleepsudbury.

Comedian /artist/podcaster Graham Clark (www.grahamclark.com) is one of the nicest guys out there. I managed to grab some time with him while he was in Toronto performing his Fringe show 'Graham Clark's Not Here' (a wonderful show if you get a chance to see it somewhere!). We talk about beards, being positive and his super successful podcast with Dave Shumka "Stop Podcasting Yourself", amongst other things.