This episode features Kevin Stark who began his career as an Actor and then made a career change to Computer Science and Software Development – not something you hear everyday. We’ve split it into two parts and this is Part 1 of 2; covering the entirety of his acting journey from high school onwards all the way to post-college work. I believe this episode will be useful for prospective actors/actresses and also just those interested in hearing the jagged path of an aspiring actor. I hope you enjoy it, now onto the episode! Timestamps:

(00:00:37) - A nervous kid becomes an actor in high school

(00:04:55) - Challenges of entering Theater in Vancouver + Canada after 2008

(00:07:37) - First roadblock in acting aspirations, during Capilano College 

(00:14:37) - How long Kevin had to persist before catching a first break

(00:18:28) - Dealing with failure: Becoming small fish after being accustomed to being the Big Fish

(00:22:19) - Studying for big theater shows and landing roles: Konstantin in The Seagull

(00:24:07) - Another rude awakening: Contrast against classmate landing roles without studying

(00:25:31) - Do grades even matter in Acting programs?

(00:30:48) - For aspiring young actors: What to look for in acting programs, and what to work on

(00:36:48) - In Acting, you are the commodity; being typecast into roles  

(00:41:26) - Discrimination when roles are being advertised

(00:45:23) - Basic overview of what it takes to land a role, including # of auditions

(00:47:42) - Star Wars sequels as an example of atypical casting

(00:51:31) - Kevin’s 2nd education arc for acting – UBC

(00:53:50) - An [outdated] contrast between UBC and Cap College

(00:56:05) - Admission process for UBC Acting

(01:01:55) - Is UBC (from College) a typical route for Acting Education

(01:04:07) - Do successful actors ever just skip education as a whole?

(01:05:15) - Short contrast b/w Stage Acting vs Film & TV

(01:08:02) - UBC continued – stories of success

(01:11:48) - Kevin’s first gig with a Touring Show

(01:13:03) - Challenges of making a living as an actor in Vancouver and Canada 

(01:16:07) - Gradually realizing the sacrifice it takes to be a successful actor

(01:21:08) - Kevin’s life during acting career and types of jobs

(01:24:16) - How did Kevin pick Computer Science as a career pivot?

Hey everyone, it’s an atypical episode & our Christmas special as we near the end of 2023! Our guest was Anthony Ornato and it was a very fun episode. As a forewarning I’ll say: if you’re only here for the topics we typically cover, I highly advise skipping to Part 2 – which will be labeled with timestamps in the description. As usual, feel free to jump around. Part 1 is more of a fun conversation covering topics such as Voice Acting, Podcasting, Music & Music Theory, Creativity & AI, & Making Friends as a shy or older adult. In Part 2, we dive into Anthony’s career path starting as a Dance Instructor while studying a Music Degree, and his numerous twists and turns as he balances a life of self-expression & art, while also covering basic needs such as paying the bills, and spending time with loved ones. Other topics include dance tips for beginners (especially those who are intimidated), learning to ask for help as a newer employee, and recognizing all the secondary help in our lives. I hope you enjoy this one, and once again, thank you so much for listening. Now onto the episode!

Part 1

(0:01:35) - Voice acting & Jedi Fallen Order

(0:07:40) - Star Wars: Comparing stories of Rogue One/Andor vs mainstream series vs game series

(0:12:00) - Anthony’s advice to aspiring podcasters, drawn from previous experience

(0:15:45) - Podcast co-host chemistry and accountability

(0:17:40) - Drew & Matthew origin story from work: TV shows, puppet shows

(0:20:30) - Rick Grimes, Walking Dead, and how it relates to Drew’s Secret Santa gift

(0:27:10) - AI Tools discussion: Stable Audio for music

(0:30:14) - Music & Creativity

(0:34:22) - Explaining chord progressions, melody and basic music theory to a layman

(0:35:35) - Using Guile’s Theme (Street Fighter) as an example 

(0:40:55) - Learning to love cooking, trying recipes 

(0:44:50) - Anthony’s close group of friends and finding 

(0:49:30) - Making online friends as a shy adult 

(0:55:45) - Safety concerns meeting random people online

(0:59:56) - The Platonic Kiss: Emotional awareness and social cues

(1:02:00) - We’re all cousins

Part 2

(1:06:18) - Anthony’s introduction into music and b-boy (break) dance 

(1:09:52) - Teaching Dance at 17, and career decisions after

(1:14:12) - Further insight into for why Anthony quit dancing 

(1:18:44) - Advice for learning Dance as an adult

(1:24:50) - Beginner-friendly dancing styles or techniques

(1:28:05) - Is Dancing a feasible & fairly compensated career? 

(1:32:55) - Recognizing the supporting casts, and unsung heroes in music and dance

(1:36:01) - Counter-Disneyfication: being a protagonist for yourself, but also a secondary for many others

(1:38:00) - Anthony’s time at BCIT, digital design & marketing

(1:39:40) - Property Management: Origin story, and the negative image of being a landlord

(1:44:10) - Freeing up time to love Voice Acting as a hobby

(1:48:05) - Challenges in learning to ask for help and lean on resources

(1:51:20) - The One Minute Rule

(1:53:00) - “I have to be good at the job – otherwise I’m a failure”

(1:55:43) - Volunteering at the Canucks Autism Network

(1:57:41) - Discovering fun doing work for the first time

(2:01:25) - Definition of Fulfillment

(2:03:55) - Thoughts on the podcast

Our guest was Dr. Daniel Wong, who has been a dear friend of mine for almost 20 years. He currently works at one of the local hospitals in Greater Vancouver, as a Hospitalist. Before that, he worked as a Family Physician – or more commonly known as a General Practitioner (GP). We discuss common challenges in the field such as why it’s so hard to get a Family Physician, behind-the-scenes, logistical challenges, and why there still remains a shortage of doctors in Vancouver – both in the office, and at the hospital. I feel there should be more open discussion of these topics between doctors and non-doctors, as they are the ones who get to see all the inner workings. Both literally and figuratively. It may help to hear them out, and hear why the healthcare system is constantly strained. Sometimes, this may include differing opinions, as a matter of different perspectives. We also dive into topics such as managing anxiety, time management, and having the energy to enjoy life – all very relevant and relatable topics in the modern era. There is also some bonus discussion at the end of the episode, for anyone interested in video games. Lastly, we failed as hosts to include one of Dan’s most interesting stories, of being a city boy finding himself stranded in the Arctic and coming close to freezing to death. This will come shortly, in a future episode, and thus, we’ll name this Part 1 of the interview. Timestamps: (0:02:35) - Sleep hygiene and the correlation with quality of work

(0:06:19) - Work Anxiety

(0:07:25) - What is a Hospitalist? What is a typical day like?

(0:09:43) - As a patient, when would I see a Hospitalist?

(0:13:20) - Communication between doctors for complex cases

(0:18:52) - The challenges of being a Family Doctor

(0:25:49) - Why do Doctors book so many patients then?

(0:28:48) - The non-medical, logistical challenges of Family Practice

(0:32:32) - Why Dan would still remain a Hospitalist, even if removing all the logistical challenges?

(0:36:10) - Transitioning to Hospitalist from Family Med. How did it feel?

(0:38:25) - Shortage of both Hospitalists and Family Doctors

(0:39:45) - About the recent change in BC’s billing structure for Family Doctors

(0:41:14) - Anxiety - Experiences, tactics, how it feels 

(0:45:50) - Anxiety cont’d - The Sunday Night Dread

(0:48:18) - The Three/Four day work week

(0:51:43) - The Productivity Curse - “it feels good to get things done”

(0:54:42) - Finding enjoyment in the slower activities

(0:58:30) - Guilt & inability to enjoy unproductive hobbies like tv shows and video games

(1:03:15) - The scarcity of time, and the fragility of life. Learned from work

(1:06:14) - Lack of energy after work

(1:09:05) - Definition of Fulfillment

(1:11:05) - Official End

(1:11:11) - Bonus: Sports video games, Tape to Tape, Mutant League Football, and why Matthew hates hockey

(1:14:39) - Bonus: Path of Exile, and why it’s so appreciated

(1:21:21) - Bonus: Types of games to play after a long day of work

Our guest was Tristan Bagri, who left his corporate job to found his own Accounting firm TSB CPA. 

I can personally attest to Tristan’s honesty, humbleness, and professionalism through our numerous conversations over the years. And in the episode, it will become apparent, as we reflect on his path to taking the leap in starting his own firm. We explore topics such as how he overcame being an introvert at a young age, attribution & lessons learned at previous jobs, and how his mindset has evolved over the years to conquer mental barriers, anxieties, and social pressure. I think this episode will be relevant not only for Accountants, but really for anyone feeling stuck in a corporate environment, and exploring other paths & thought processes.

Where to find Tristan:

https://www.tsbcpa.ca/ - Website

https://www.youtube.com/@tsbcpa - Youtube

Timestamps:

(0:01:38) - How Drew & Matthew met Tristan. Internet privacy paranoia, and face cams off

(0:05:08) - Marketing & putting yourself on the internet as an introvert

(0:06:58) - How working at a call center helped Tristan burst out of the introvert bubble

(0:08:53) - Roundtable: How everyone became an introvert, and any regrets?

(0:17:18) - How Tristan’s early life & interests influenced his career choice

(0:18:28) - Getting into Accounting at BCIT

(0:20:08) - Learning on the job, things they don’t teach you at school. And alternate paths

(0:26:16) - Different branches of Accounting & Tristan’s first jobs

(0:29:17) - The Big Four vs smaller firms

(0:32:35) - Getting an Accounting job + experience, meaningful connections

(0:35:23) - Similar anxieties in Software; landing a FANG job

(0:38:57) - External influences and pressure when younger to make the right decision

(0:42:16) - CPA: The value of BCIT compared to Universities; same curriculum

(0:44:55) - Being a cog in the machine at a typical job

(0:48:06) - Making the jump to start a business

(0:51:32) - How to decide when you’re ready and have enough experience?

(0:55:42) - Changing your mindset into being ready and embracing discomfort

(1:01:11) - How did it feel after finally committing to the business ful)l-time?

(1:07:41) - Leveraging socials and technology to streamline processes

(1:11:55) - Being honest, humble, and not being afraid to say “I don’t know”

(1:18:50) - Focusing on the present, and positiv)e-thinking

(1:22:14) - Books and methods to help with mindfulness and reframing your mentality

(1:26:38) - Bonus: Wrapping up & thoughts about the podcast

(1:28:48) - Definition of fulfillment

Our guest was Carolyn Wong, who started us off by sharing her journey living across multiple cities in the world. This included Vancouver, a pit stop in Houston, Singapore, and Beijing. There are prevalent themes of academic struggle in this episode, with a couple of harsh lessons learned abroad. Please be mindful that this may not be reflective of the general culture, but it does offer us a peek into it.

Carolyn works as a Dosimetrist in the field of Radiation Therapy, but we focus much of the conversation discussing her previous role as a Treatment Radiation Therapist. This career escapes the mainstream spotlight, but plays a pivotal role in our healthcare for controlling diseases such as cancer. I’ve always been curious about this field, and found myself wanting to know more about it as the interview went on – some of the challenges seem pretty cool. And as of recording, in October 2023, a challenging time for employment, there seems to be a shortage of this position. Something to keep in mind, if you’re exploring career options.

Our guest was Daaangles (Kenny), who right off the bat, was willing to be completely open and vulnerable with us. He took us through his coming-of-age story – a path littered with many forks in the road, and tradeoffs to be made. We learned how young Kenny had to make these tough decisions – and acquire a maturity level almost out of necessity. His DNA – molded by family struggle and sacrifice, made him aware of that fine balance in life involving huge facets such as: money, debt, education, personal satisfaction, and even purpose.

With regards to career: We go from his first jobs all the way to his current position at Translink, where he first started as a bus driver for Vancouver’s public transit network. We also talk about how & why he became a streamer, and podcast host later in life, and the mental struggle associated with such.

Our guest was Kenny Wong, who is a dear friend of mine, and works at BC Hydro in the realm of Electrical Engineering. I want to give him a special shoutout, because he rarely opens up about his life, but was willing to be publicly vulnerable and expose personal details – with hopes that it may help someone in need.

It is a powerful episode, which deals with a commonly encountered problem of being labeled smart or a gifted kid early in life, attaching your identity to your grades, and having that all stripped away when struggling in college or university. Furthermore, we talk about post-college life, and navigate his experiences with job interview & employment struggles while combating feelings of rejection, self-doubt, and unfulfillment.

Finally, we dive into his current life working at BC Hydro, and the contrasting feelings a comfortable job can bring. For example, the inner conflict between job security, work/life balance, and ambition.*Note: This was recorded earlier than the previous two episodes, so we apologize for the rough cuts and the audio quality at times.

In this episode, we had Dmitry Mebel, who works as an Anesthesiologist. Right away, Dmitry’s “larger than life” personality kept us laughing with his excellent story-telling and explanations.

For the in-depth sections, we touch upon the stresses that prospective, or current medical students and younger practitioners may face. We talk about these competitive environments which constantly push our capabilities for excellence, and our desires to live up to our potential. And sometimes, in these moments, we forget to celebrate ourselves and the victories which have gotten us here. Although these examples are detailed through the field of Medicine, I believe they are common problems in most competitive fields for today’s modern world.

We also get to learn a little bit about Dmitry’s background, and stories of colleagues, and their contrarian decisions. And we also get to learn about his personal journey with weight loss, exercise, and tackling addictive foods.

A friendly reminder that we don’t always align in our views – but we are all made in common. So please, respect our guest & respect each other. If you’d like to support us, for now you can subscribe & leave a rating on whichever platform you’re listening to. For written feedback to us or questions for our guests, the best bet is to leave a comment on our youtube channel.