Something to warm up a frosty start to February – the latest Heartbeat podcast.

It’s the final solo Heartbeat before the show relaunches in March, teaming up with &then the Podcast (Josie Loeppky’s fantastic blog covering the stories behind Manitoba’s musicians) and Super Gamer Podcast (Mark McAvoy’s ubergamer lowdown).

Would we give you a pseudo “last show” that wasn’t packed with goodness? Not likely. Tune in tonight at 7pm on Red River Radio to hear:

• how U of M student group Segue is wearing pyjamas to school to raise awareness of human trafficking in Winnipeg
• the true story behind the iconic photos of L.B. Foote
• how Angela La Muse met – and danced for – her burlesque queen
• music from the heart of the continent
• our feature interview with Theatre Projects Manitoba artistic director Ardith Boxall, on plugging in to Manitoba’s story

Playing on the Prairies

If theatre is about holding up a mirror for an audience, Ardith Boxall holds a Manitoba-shaped one. She’s the artistic director of Theatre Projects Manitoba, the most locally focused company with a history of giving budding playwrights the workouts they need to become heavy hitters. She’s the feature guest on Thursday, January 31, talking about:

• being gently told by her dance teacher she might want to look up theatre programs (a la Fame)
• why she still calls herself an emerging director
• what she looks for in a Theatre Projects Manitoba play (hint: not tap dancing)
• how the drive to build a career has been replaced by a need to plug in to the painful challenges that make Manitoba bleed

This coming Thursday is Heartbeat’s final show.

Woah now! Stow those tears soldier! I only wrote that for dramatic effect. More accurately, this week is Heartbeat’s final solo show. After taking a recharge break in February, Heartbeat is joining forces with &then the podcast and The Super Gamer podcast to create a newer, hipper audio uberbaby covering Winnipeg’s arts and culture scene.

The downlow on what’s shaping how you live, think and feel just got more awesome.

As a recent letter noted, Winnipeg’s creative citizens set the city apart. Not just because of the work they make, but because they spend so much time reaching out to their fellow citizens, inviting them to join the party. That’s our theme for the Thursday, January 24 show where you’ll hear:

• how the Human Library is letting you check out living, breathing, very talkative books
• why Oh My Darling is releasing their first album en français
• filmmaker and musician James Rewucki’s New Year’s Eve gig go from awful to a town-wide party
• when Meira Cook leaves busy Johannesburg for Manitoba, how she leaned on books to help her “become Canadian” (with a little help from Peter Mansbridge)
• music from the heart of the continent
• our feature interview with visual artist Jordan Miller on mothering cre8ery, being trusted with others artworks and the dangerous balancing act she plays between administrator and creator

Tune in at 7pm on Red River Radio!

How can someone be this busy and smile this brightly?

Jordan Miller is clearly a meta-human. How else could she run one of the busiest galleries in Winnipeg, teach students, create her own outstanding works, be sick and still find time to come in and do a hilarious, thoughtful interview as the January 24 feature guest? Have you ever seen her and The Flash together? We rest our case.

Tune in to catch Jordan talking about:

• going from a shy Carman theatre nerd to bold, proud Woman of Distinction
• how the cre8ery is her baby — as well as a real bitch to run
• how a few collages snowballed into her greatest work, Life Structures & Other Personalities

Enjoyed the January 17 episode? Even if you listened to it on Thursday to hear my live hosting debut? Actually, I kind of enjoyed the adrenalin rush and might try it again…

The stories you caught are richer than I can capture in a one-hour show. If you want to dive deeper, start with Niigaan Sinclair’s anthology of Manitoba Aboriginal writers, Manitowapow (and be sure to snag Centering Anishinaabeg Studies when it comes out this spring).

And don’t forget you can catch Kendra Jones (whose story of a public performance gone awry kicked off the show) in Dear Mama, running until Sunday, January 20 as part of SondheimFest.

Stay tuned for some exciting news about Heartbeat. Things are gonna get all shook up…

Storytellers from the heart of the continent, unite! Here’s the latest podcast featuring Niigaan Sinclair, Kendra Jones, Nick Friesen, Mel Marginet, Anthony Kiendl from the Plug In ICA Gallery and some tremendous made-in-Manitoba music.