Best Dan Pugh Podcasts (2025)

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Misty Copeland honours trailblazing Black ballet dancer Raven Wilkinson 31:49

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6m ago31:49

31:49

In 2015, Misty Copeland became the first Black woman to become principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre. Her heartfelt memoir “The Wind at My Back” pays tribute to her mentor and fellow dance pioneer Raven Wilkinson, who performed in the segregated South as a member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo in the 1950s. A few years back, Misty joi…

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Ribbon Skirt found inspiration in renewing her antiquated “Indian” status card 16:12

11m ago16:12

16:12

The Montreal band Ribbon Skirt just released their debut album, “Bite Down.” Lead singer Tashiina Buswa joins Tom Power to tell us how the record was inspired by grief and reconnecting with her Indigeneity, how her first exposure to music was in the church, and the difference between knowing you’re free and actually feeling free. Plus, she tells th…

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Why the director of Materialists quit her past job as a matchmaker 25:14

10h ago25:14

25:14

Acclaimed Canadian filmmaker Celine Song (Past Lives, Materialists) is back with a new movie that takes a candid look at the inhumanity of matchmaking and modern dating. As it turns out, Celine used to be a matchmaker herself. She sits down with guest host Gill Deacon to talk about her experiences in the field, why she says her “drug of choice is p…

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Lido Pimienta and Owen Pallett march to their own beat 27:28

10h ago27:28

27:28

It’s been five years since the Grammy-nominated musician Lido Pimienta made waves with her breakout album, “Miss Colombia.” Now, she’s back with “La Belleza,” which takes an entirely new musical direction. Canadian composer Owen Pallett co-produced the album, which was recorded with help from the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra. Lido and Owen sit d…

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Mona Lisa Episode IV: A New Hope (ft. guests Julianne Moore & Michael Pearce, Ralph Fiennes & Jodie Comer) 1:48:56

4d ago1:48:56

1:48:56

It's another packed episode of the Empire Podcast, the show that dares to ask the big questions: isn't the Mona Lisa just a woman sitting down? Who's the richest Northern Irish person? Can you buy stocks in Glen Powell? Join the pod team — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer, and Amon Warmann — as they tackle those questions, discuss the origina…

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For Tantoo Cardinal, there’s no turning back 24:44

3d ago24:44

24:44

For more than five decades, Canadian acting legend Tantoo Cardinal (Dances with Wolves, Killers of the Flower Moon) has worked tirelessly to bring nuanced Indigenous stories to the stage and screen — and she says there’s no turning back. The renowned actor was recently honoured with the Equity in Entertainment Award at The Hollywood Reporter's Wome…

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This driving school sitcom is a celebration of Black culture in Nova Scotia 16:09

3d ago16:09

16:09

Steve Lawrence and Alexandra MacLean are the stars and co-creators of the Bell Fibe series “0-60 Driving Academy.” They speak to guest host Talia Schlanger about creating a show based on Steve’s real-life experiences running a driving school, and why they wanted to see a Black Nova Scotian family on the screen.…

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Going Deep With Colin Trevorrow: An Empire Podcast Interview Special 32:55

5d ago32:55

32:55

In our latest Empire Podcast interview special, Chris Hewitt sits down (in a swanky London hotel room) with Colin Trevorrow, the director of Jurassic World and Safety Not Guaranteed, to talk about Trevorrow's latest movie, the Prime Video comedy Deep Cover, which he produced and co-wrote. But that's not all — Trevorrow also talks about his choices …

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The Shameless Plug #4 45:21

4d ago45:21

45:21

The Shameless Plug — the show in which Chris Hewitt and Empire editor Nick de Semlyen sit down and do a deep dive into the contents of the latest issue of Empire — is back, folks, and this one really is fantastic. That's because this month's cover story is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, which inspires Chris and Nick to talk about some of their se…

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Domee Shi on Elio, aliens and one-dimensional moms 19:03

4d ago19:03

19:03

The Oscar-winning Canadian animator and director Domee Shi (Bao, Turning Red) is back with a new Disney-Pixar movie, “Elio.” It’s about an 11-year-old who’s obsessed with getting abducted by aliens. Domee joins guest host Talia Schlanger to share how her own childhood inspired aspects of the film, why the theme of alien abduction is a great way to …

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Playwright Tim Crouch doesn’t want his actors to hear this podcast 24:16

4d ago24:16

24:16

There's a reason why the British theatre maker Tim Crouch doesn't want his actors to hear this podcast — it’s because they’re not supposed to know anything about their role until an hour before the show. This year, Tim’s award-winning play “An Oak Tree” turns 20. It’s one of the strangest and most influential theatre experiments in history, and it’…

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Johannes Gutenberg with Eric White 52:06

5d ago52:06

52:06

There are a lot of gamechanging inventions that shifted the trajectory of the Middle Ages, but one machine managed to hit at just the right time and place to create a massive enterprise in medieval Europe, with consequences that touched the entire globe: Gutenberg's printing press. This week, Danièle speaks with Eric White about Johannes Gutenberg’…

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281 Burn Your Bridges 28:12

6d ago28:12

28:12

This week Shauna and Dan burn all the bridges behind them. And sometimes boats. Or maybe they'll light a river on fire. Bonus: Failure is always an option It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tiers have even more perks, lik…

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Joshua Jackson had to make a tricky transition before Dawson’s Creek 21:47

5d ago21:47

21:47

Joshua Jackson rose to fame more than 20 years ago as a teen heartthrob on the show “Dawson’s Creek.” But his latest role relies solely on the power of his voice. The Vancouver-born actor joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about narrating the suspenseful Canadian audio series “Oracle 3: Murder at the Grandview,” embracing his Canadian roots, and …

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Endless Cookie is a psychedelic family portrait of two half-brothers 22:51

5d ago22:51

22:51

Imagine taking your favourite family memories and spinning them into a full-length movie. That’s exactly what the Toronto filmmaker Seth Scriver has done with the animated documentary “Endless Cookie,” which he created over nine years with his half-brother Peter. Though Seth and Peter lead radically different lives (they’re separated by age, cultur…

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Owen Wilson’s childhood was a real-life buddy comedy 22:27

6d ago22:27

22:27

Owen Wilson has played a misfit, a cowboy, a robber, a male model and now he can add pro golfer to that list. In the new sports comedy series “Stick,” Owen plays Pryce Cahill, an ex-pro golfer with a dark past who ends up coaching a troubled teen prodigy. Owen joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the show, how his carefree nature seeps into h…

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Comedian Malik Elassal on why it's important to make fun of everything 21:44

7d ago21:44

21:44

The Calgary-born comedian Malik Elassal has already been getting noticed on the stand-up circuit, but with a starring role on the new FX and Disney+ series “Adults,” a lot more people are going to start hearing about him. Malik sits down with Tom Power in our studio to talk about the show, his journey in stand-up, and why he says you can talk about…

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Adam Duritz wrote a song about wanting to be famous — and it came true 47:47

7d ago47:47

47:47

In 1993, Counting Crows’ debut album, "August and Everything After,” went multi-platinum, selling more than seven million copies in the U.S. alone. Lead singer Adam Duritz joins Tom Power for a wide-ranging conversation about “Mr. Jones” (the song that started it all), how there’s no going back after becoming famous, and what it was like playing hi…

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Yes, And/Yes, Andor (with guests Jack Lowden, Bryce Dallas Howard, Nick Mohammed & Orlando Bloom) 1:44:41

11d ago1:44:41

1:44:41

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees Chris Hewitt sit down in person with Deep Cover stars, Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom, and Nick Mohammed, to talk about their experiences playing improvisers who go undercover as fake cops;[1:00:00 - 1:15:52 approx] and on Zoom with Tornado and Slow Horses star, Jack Lowden. [26:15 - 39:20 approx] …

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What made Graham Greene an icon? Talent, discipline and luck 33:09

10d ago33:09

33:09

Canadian icon Graham Greene (Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile, Wind River) is one of the most recognizable Indigenous actors in North America. Recently, he was honoured with a Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award from the Governor General's Awards, which recognizes his prolific career on stage and screen. In this career-spanning interview, Graham …

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How Boxcutter celebrates Toronto, hip-hop and young artists 17:15

10d ago17:15

17:15

Reza Dahya helped shape the sound of Toronto hip-hop as the host of “OTA Live” on the iconic Canadian radio station FLOW 93.5. Now, he’s released his debut film, “Boxcutter,” which is a love letter to Toronto and all the young artists who are trying to find their place. Reza joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about the movie and how it pays tribu…

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Kyle MacLachlan And Mark Frost On Twin Peaks And David Lynch: An Empire Podcast Interview Special 58:00

12d ago58:00

58:00

Here's a damn fine special episode of the Empire Podcast for you to enjoy. We're in the grip of Twin Peaks fever all over again — the seminal David Lynch/Mark Frost TV show is being celebrated this Sunday (June 15th) at the BFI Southbank in London with a special 35mm print screening of the show's pilot, and if that weren't enough, every single epis…

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What if Macbeth was set in the world of biker gangs? 36:39

11d ago36:39

36:39

Acclaimed Canadian theatre maker Robert Lepage is back at the Stratford Festival with a new take on Shakespeare's “Macbeth.” This new production tells the same classic story of greed, betrayal and murder, but it’s set during the brutal Quebec biker wars of the ‘90s. Robert joins Tom Power to talk about putting a new spin on this Shakespearean trage…

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Why Robert Adam won’t be singing their queer country music in the U.S. 14:54

12d ago14:54

14:54

Country artist Robert Adam is Calgary's self-proclaimed “Dream Angel Cowboy.” But they say celebrating queer identity isn’t always easy in their home province of Alberta or in Nashville, where they made their upcoming full-length album, “Governed by the Seasons.” Robert joins guest host Gill Deacon to talk about finding their musical community, mak…

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Inventing the Renaissance with Ada Palmer 55:55

12d ago55:55

55:55

Given that the term literally means “rebirth”, the Renaissance throws some not-so-subtle shade on the period that comes before it. So, where did the idea of the Renaissance actually come from? And was it truly a golden age? This week, Danièle speaks with Ada Palmer about Petrarch, Machiavelli, atheism, and how we should look at the period formerly …

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280 Upset the Apple Cart 31:41

13d ago31:41

31:41

This week Shauna and Dan try not to upset the apple cart. Bonus: The USA's earliest pen pals, wizardly cats, and Gudrun Lauret's disruptive creators (or possibly creative disruptors) It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and polls. Paid tie…

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Alessia Cara is an introvert in an extrovert’s industry 25:09

13d ago25:09

25:09

Alessia Cara has a unique talent for capturing the inner life of someone growing up in the digital age as they deal with love, acceptance and rejection. On the Grammy-winning Canadian singer-songwriter’s fourth and latest album, “Love & Hyperbole,” she opens up about her feelings of being an introvert in an extrovert’s industry. Earlier this year, …

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What made Oscar Peterson so exceptional 27:39

13d ago27:39

27:39

Robi Botos is a Juno-winning Canadian jazz pianist who was hugely influenced by the late Oscar Peterson — one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. He opened for Oscar in Switzerland and he even gave Oscar’s daughter piano lessons. In celebration of the Canadian jazz legend’s centenary (he would have turned 100 on Aug. 15), Robi sits down with…

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Teddy Swims was terrified to shift away from covers 36:19

14d ago36:19

36:19

Teddy Swims first won over the internet with his viral YouTube covers of hits like “You're Still The One” by Shania Twain and “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt. But his success performing covers left him questioning whether he’d ever be capable of writing original songs that were just as good. Now, Teddy is one of the biggest artists in th…

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Alicia Moffet's pop career had a few false starts 13:10

14d ago13:10

13:10

Alicia Moffet grew up being told she was going to be the next big thing. She was 12 when her covers started going viral on YouTube, 14 when she won the Canadian singing competition show “The Next Star,” and 16 when she placed second on another singing competition show, “La Voix.” But during that time, Alicia learned that if you’re not prepared for …

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Hannah Moscovitch is trying to unredact her life 30:54

15d ago30:54

30:54

Hannah Moscovitch is a Governor General’s Award-winning Canadian playwright whose work often takes a sharp and uncompromising look at the internal lives of women. Her play “Red Like Fruit,” tells the story of Lauren, a journalist covering a high profile domestic violence case who starts to reexamine her own past experiences with men. Hannah tells T…

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How writing about love is similar to writing about murder 21:19

14d ago21:19

21:19

Bestselling romance writer Uzma Jalaluddin is switching gears. Her new novel, “Detective Aunty,” is a murder mystery, set in a fictional neighbourhood in Scarborough, Ont. Uzma joins Tom Power to talk about the overlap between writing a romance and a “cozy” murder mystery, how writing about love is similar to writing about murder, and why she alway…

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An Award-Losing Podcast (with guests Jai Courtney, Ian McShane, Dean DeBlois) 1:57:01

18d ago1:57:01

1:57:01

This week's episode of the freshly award-losing Empire Podcast sees the podteam lick their wounds after a demoralising defeat in the Best Podcast (Consumer) category at the BSMEs earlier in the week. How do they do this? By talking about movies, of course, as they discuss the week's news (a load of trailers, and a potential new James Cameron movie)…

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Cynthia Erivo says her new album makes her feel “totally naked” 35:45

17d ago35:45

35:45

Cynthia Erivo discusses her vulnerable new record “I Forgive You”, and all the big musical theatre roles that built her career. From her childhood obsession with Brandy to her performance as Elphaba in the movie musical Wicked, Erivo talks to Tom Power about her life as a singer, and all the surprises she encountered along the way.…

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Katie Tupper says that songwriting helped her settle into her identity 11:07

17d ago11:07

11:07

Hailing from Saskatoon, Katie Tupper didn’t have a big queer community to help her find herself. Now, she’s embracing her bisexuality, and singing soulful songs about the kinds of love she always wanted. Katie Tupper sits down to talk to Tom Power about bi erasure, and how fans are responding to her music.…

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“It becomes more personal as you go along” — Wes Anderson on creating films about family 25:09

18d ago25:09

25:09

The Phoenician Scheme is Wes Anderson’s latest feature film. And if you are a fan of deadpan screw ball humour, meticulously shot and edited behind a colour pallet of muted earth tones, you will not be disappointed. But for his thirteenth feature film, Wes is leaning a little more into action and even violence to tell his new father daughter comedy…

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Christopher Stowell on the future of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet 27:42

19d ago27:42

27:42

Christopher Stowell is the new artistic director of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet – Canada's oldest ballet company and the longest continuously operating ballet company in North America. He’ll speak with Tom about why ballet is his “family business,” his career as a principal dancer and ballet leader, and what the future holds for the Royal Winnipeg Ba…

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Saint Thomas Becket with Michael Staunton 57:16

19d ago57:16

57:16

It's one of the most notorious political assassinations in history: the murder of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket. The story of two friends who became bitter enemies in a struggle between church and state that drew in some of the most powerful people from all over medieval Europe. So, how did a pretty ordinary kid from London end up as …

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279 Flash in the Pan 33:50

20d ago33:50

33:50

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, flash in the pan. Bonus: Hubble taking pictures of long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, Epic burns of the 1600s, and Texas: the America of America. It's free to join our Patreon, patreon.com/bunnytrailspod On our Patreon you have direct access to reach Shauna and Dan, plus join our weekly chats and …

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Suddenly struck by pain, Gabrielle Drolet learned to write and draw again 23:39

20d ago23:39

23:39

A few years ago, the cartoonist and writer Gabrielle Drolet developed a condition that made her unable to use her hands. It kept getting worse over time, and as Gabrielle searched for a diagnosis, she also had to find new ways to make art. Her new memoir “Look Ma, No Hands” is the story of an artist coming to terms with disability, adapting to the …

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Savannah Ré bet on herself, and it led to a creative breakthrough 23:09

20d ago23:09

23:09

Whenever life got tough, Savannah Ré’s mom always used to quote a specific, motivational verse from the bible. Those words have now inspired Savannah’s new album, “Formed.” She tells Tom Power about the creative turn she’s taken on her new record, and the risks and rewards that come with going independent. Fill out our listener survey here. We appr…

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Rebellious and reflective, Billy Idol looks back on a life in music 34:08

21d ago34:08

34:08

Turning 70 this year, legendary punk-rocker turned MTV Icon Billy Idol is back with his ninth studio album. “Dream Into It” reflects his life and career, with songs documenting his early days, his massive breakthrough, his drug addiction, and finally his rebirth. He tells Tom Power about why he’s looking back now. Fill out our listener survey here.…

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Dawn Macdonald on the mess and beauty of growing up in the Canadian North 18:39

21d ago18:39

18:39

Dawn Macdonald is a poet based in Whitehorse, Yukon whose 2024 debut poetry collection “Northerny” takes an honest, raw and unsentimental look at growing up and living in Canada’s North. Now, “Northerny” is the winner of this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize, Canadian First Book Prize. Dawn tells Tom Power about growing up off the grid without running w…

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Wade Eastwood On The Stunts Of Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning: An Empire Podcast Interview Special 41:20

22d ago41:20

41:20

Whether it's Tom Cruise risking his neck underwater, or above ground while clinging to the wing of a biplane, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning is filled with stunts that might just turn your hair white. That's if you don't lose it completely. That's just one of the side effects discussed in this Empire Podcast interview special, as the fil…

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Losing her voice taught Melanie Fiona to speak up for herself 21:43

22d ago21:43

21:43

After over a decade away from the spotlight, Canadian singer Melanie Fiona is back with an EP. “Say Yes” is her first record since she won two Grammys in 2012. She tells guest host Talia Schlanger how her intense burnout led to her spiritual awakening, and why she’s saying yes to singing again.

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The wrestling saga at the heart of The Halluci Nation’s new EP 20:28

22d ago20:28

20:28

When Bear Witness and Tim “2oolman” Hill of The Halluci Nation watched wrestling as kids, they had to look past stereotypes and tropes to find Indigenous heroes in the ring. Now, their new EP “Path of The Baby Face” uses wrestling to tell a more empowering story. The music duo tell guest host Talia Schlanger about their collaboration with wrestling…

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Starting In The Middle (with guests Jesse Armstrong, Tim Key, Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan) 1:53:44

25d ago1:53:44

1:53:44

This week's episode of the Empire Podcast sees the podteam — Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, James Dyer and Alex Godfrey — get to grips with the definition of in media res, as they discuss some of their favourite films that throw you right into the action. Elsewhere, they talk about the week's movie news, pay tribute to Empire's founding editor Barry M…

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Wiz Khalifa found peace in not needing praise 25:29

25d ago25:29

25:29

Wiz Khalifa just dropped his latest album ‘Kush + Orange Juice 2,’ the sequel to his 2010 mixtape that introduced him to the world. Khalifa joins Tom to talk about his early days as a hip-hop artist, why he’s never cared about being a celebrity, and what important lessons he learned from Snoop Dogg.

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Sister Ray trades rejection for joy on their new album Believer 24:00

25d ago24:00

24:00

The Alberta folk singer-songwriter Sister Ray is known for writing songs about heartbreak and sadness. But they decided to try something different with their new album “Believer”— their latest record is all about love and connection. Ella Coyes of Sister Ray tells Tom Power about how “freeing” it is to write about joy, how growing up around Métis a…

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#174 From Homeless to Hollywood: Marine Veteran Aaron Williamson 1:11:16

26d ago1:11:16

1:11:16

Aaron Williamson’s life story is a jaw-dropping journey of grit, resilience, and reinvention. In this powerful Medivac Podcast episode, Aaron shares his transformation from a troubled youth and Marine Body Bearer to celebrity trainer, Hollywood actor, and advocate for veterans' health.