The FOLD

The Fold Podcast - Episode 43: BREAKING CHARACTER - a conversation with friend of the show, Rachel Romu

It’s been a while since I connected. I wanted to check in and bring you something special. On July 17, 2022, I had the opportunity to collaborate with my dear friend Sabre [https://www.sabre-music.com] to put on an intimate celebration for our friend Rachel Romu [https://linktr.ee/rachelromu] – you might remember Rachel from our December 2019 episode featuring their story – the last in-person conversation I conducted before the world in a dramatic way. You can call Rachel a musician, activist and model, yet they are so much more. They’re a friend, confidant and true trailblazer in every definition of the word. This summer, Accessible Media Inc. launched an incredible documentary series called Breaking Character, following the journeys of six performers with disabilities as they hustle to make their mark on the stage, screen and runway. Rachel is one of the featured subjects and shares their story with authenticity, intention, and impact. We dove deeper with Rachel at a screening party of the series, and a special chat between them and I followed. What a beautiful day. Thank you, Rachel, Sabre and all those who attended, watched, and supported this fantastic project from AMI. This interview was recorded live in Rachel’s backyard in Toronto; the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. Thanks for listening to our conversation and being in the Fold with us! You can connect with and learn more about Rachel via Instagram [https://instagram.com/rachelromu] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/rachelromu] (@rachelromu) more resources, check out their linktree at linktr.ee/rachelromu [https://linktr.ee/rachelromu]. To watch Breaking Character, check It out at www.breakingcharacter.tv [http://www.breakingcharacter.tv] and follow them on socials via Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/breakingdoctv] and Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/breakingdoctv]. Special shoutout to Sabre for inviting me to do this and the reminder of how important it is to have these conversations!

The Fold Podcast - Episode 42: a CommUNITY Catchup with The Depanneur's Len Senater + Ksenija Hotic

What a true honour to be in The Fold and close out the CommUNITY Catchup series with Len Senater, Owner + Founder of Toronto's The Depanneur [https://www.thedepanneur.com]. Nestled in Toronto’s Dufferin Grove neighbourhood, it is not only a stomping ground for local and visitor chefs alike, and of many Diasporas to gather, cook, share recipes, tradition and conversation, but a place to cook up change. If you don’t know about the Depanneur, they are part of the definition of ‘community’ in Toronto terms and beyond. I have long wanted to have Len on the podcast after reading about The Dep’s incredible initiative, Newcomer Kitchen [https://thedepanneur.ca/newcomerkitchen/], many years ago. Len co-founded the initiative, a non-profit that aimed to create social and economic opportunities for newly-arrived Syrian women through food-based projects. From his ever-popular Pick-up Dinners that break barriers beyond borders, pre-pandemic cooking classes, supper clubs, and events, Len’s space is a support system that cooks up knowledge and brings it to your table. Now, Len is asking the people to be the plate and serve support through a new Kickstarter [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedep/the-depanneur-cookbook] campaign to help fund The Depanneur Cookbook; Showcasing 100 recipes from 100 cooks that have come through The Dep (as it is affectionately known) kitchen over the last 10 years. It has become the most-funded Canadian cookbook ever on the platform (now at 200% of its goal reached, aiming for $50K by December 21st - Len’s 50th Birthday!) Equal parts documentary, manifesto and cookbook, it will feature amazing stories, thoughtful contributions from some of Canada’s top people in food, and photography by Ksenija Hotic [https://www.ksenijahotic.com], who has been involved with The Dep for 7 years. Len and Ksenija joined me for the last CommUNITY Catchup to discuss bringing people together through food, how small businesses can be a mode of activism, food security and support systems, and how compassion, empathy and dialogue really make for a great recipe.

The Fold Podcast - Episode 41: a CommUNITY Catchup with Liz Lokre

Liz Lokre is one of the most soulful and soul-driven artists from Toronto that comes from a line of artists and members of the global entertainment industry – her Dad was a booking agent in his native Dublin, Ireland while her Trinidadian-born mom was a professional Indian dancer and performer, and her grandmother was a progenitor of a signature style of Indian dance. Liz carries this lineage with her in a profound and powerful way as a tool to heal. In this CommUNITY Catchup with the Toronto Artist, we discuss her new EP - FIRE - and how she has been using this element to fuel the EP and other facets of her life and career through heritage, community and collaboration.

The Fold Podcast - Episode 40: Mental health matters - a CommUNITY Catchup with Alfred Nomad

Alfred Nomad is an innate poet that hails from Indianapolis, Indiana and is now based in LA, contributing to various communities through an array of initiatives. Influenced by the greats like Jay-Z, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye, Jill Scott, The Roots and Common, to opening for Big Boi, MGK, Trey Songz, T-Pain and headlining his own solo tour to producing an annual festival as part of his culture brand LxVE – LxVE Fest – Alfred does a lot on stage and off. We discussed Alfred’s inspiration behind his latest album, Everything Will Be Alright, mental health in the arts, his podcast and more.

The Fold Podcast - Episode 39: CommUNITY Catchup with Anthony Simas

Anthony Simas [https://www.anthonysimas.com] is Toronto born and raised and wears many hats – with roots in athletics and work as an electrician, Anthony’s life changed after enduring a spinal cord injury during a getaway at his family cottage, leaving him a quadriplegic. His MO, turning negatives into positives, is fueled by sharing his story with others, where he is able to be a voice for others who live with disabilities, eradicating stigmas that surround their lives to remove the dis and capitalize ABILITY. We discuss disability awareness, wheelchair tips, mindfulness, the communities he has cultivated and those he thrives in through his big contributions.