In the Presence of Dempsey Bolton

Inside “How Everything Feels and Other Lies” | Kue Varo

Kue Varo’s new album How Everything Feels and Other Lies is out April 30. In this episode, we go inside the record - how it came together, what changed this time around, and why they approached it differently than anything they’ve done before. Kue talks about stepping away from instruments, writing from instinct, and letting different versions of themselves show up across the album. We get into the reality of making music today, from collaboration and creative process to figuring out what actually works and what doesn’t. Kue also shares how confidence, self-awareness, and letting go of control shaped this record, and what it’s like putting something this personal out into the world. The Deets with Duddy is Calgary’s late-night show podcast - hosted by Jeff Dudder (@duddydoesit) - spotlighting the city’s culture, creativity, and people through unfiltered conversations with Calgary’s most interesting voices. #TheDeetsWithDuddy #CalgaryPodcast #YYC

Going Live: Behind the Stream with Summer Lilah

In this episode, I’m going live with Summer Lilah - streamer, editor, model, and actor - to get into what it actually feels like to be live for hours every day and build a community in real time. We talk about how streaming really works behind the scenes, constantly talking to chat, the pressure of always being on, parasocial relationships, burnout, and why some streamers grow while others stall out. Summer also breaks down her work editing content for Danny Mac’s podcast and how understanding clips, thumbnails, and audience behavior shapes everything she creates online. We also get into a much more personal part of her story - living with Crohn’s disease, going through major surgeries, losing her sense of self for a period of time, and how streaming became part of rebuilding her life. On top of that, she talks about modeling, acting, moving to Mexico at 17, and the darker side of that industry. The Deets with Duddy is Calgary’s late-night show podcast - hosted by Jeff Dudder (@duddydoesit) - spotlighting the city’s culture, creativity, and people through unfiltered conversations with Calgary’s most interesting voices. #TheDeetsWithDuddy #CalgaryPodcast #YYC

In the Presence of Dempsey Bolton

Trying to build a career in music isn’t as straightforward as it looks. In this episode, Calgary artist and producer Dempsey Bolton talks about what it actually takes to make it work. From putting out over a dozen songs in a year to learning how to move fast, stay consistent, and deal with the pressure of committing years to something uncertain, the conversation goes beyond just the music. Dempsey shares his path from studying astrophysics to fully committing to music, including time in theatre, producing for other artists, and building a system that lets him create at a high level. He also opens up about winning back to back YYC Music Awards, the reality of handling everything behind the scenes, and why the hardest part of being an artist often has nothing to do with creativity. They also get into his new album In the Presence of Giants, the ideas behind it, and what he hopes people take away from listening to it front to back. The Deets with Duddy is Calgary’s late-night show podcast, hosted by Jeff Dudder (@duddydoesit), spotlighting the city’s culture, creativity, and people through unfiltered conversations with Calgary’s most interesting voices. #TheDeetsWithDuddy #CalgaryPodcast #YYC

How She Turned Family Recipes Into a Modern Brand | Alessia Bellusci

Building something of your own isn’t always clear, easy, or guaranteed to work. In this episode, Alessia Bellusci shares what it was like growing up inside one of Calgary’s most well-known hospitality families, behind restaurants like Mercato, and the moment she realized she wanted to create something for herself. From working in the family business at a young age to stepping away and coming back with a new perspective, her story is about figuring it out in real time. We talk about how Dolce and Veloce came to life, combining family recipes with a fashion-inspired vision and building a brand that stands out. Alessia shares the early days of launching, learning on the fly, and moments like getting into Holt Renfrew and seeing strangers connect with her product. She also opens up about going through darker periods in her life, how that shaped her mindset, and why she now uses her platform to support mental health initiatives and create meaningful experiences through food, events, and community. The Deets with Duddy is Calgary’s late-night show podcast, hosted by Jeff Dudder (@duddydoesit), spotlighting the city’s culture, creativity, and people through unfiltered conversations with Calgary’s most interesting voices. #TheDeetsWithDuddy #CalgaryPodcast #YYC

Why Relevance Is Something You Have to Earn | Alex Sarian

Relevance isn’t something you decide. It’s something you earn. In this episode, Alex Sarian, President and CEO of the Werklund Centre, breaks down what it actually means for arts and cultural institutions to matter today. He talks about moving from New York to Calgary, stepping into a major leadership role at 36, and navigating one of the largest cultural infrastructure projects in Canadian history. He shares why prestige can get in the way of impact, how institutions drift away from community, and why relevance is something you have to keep proving every day. He also gets into the Werklund Centre transformation, what it takes to build spaces people actually care about, and how Calgary is still in the process of becoming. From smaller venues to major institutions, the conversation looks at how cultural change actually happens and what it takes to build both the hardware and the software of a city’s culture. The Deets with Duddy is Calgary’s late-night show podcast hosted by Jeff Dudder (@duddydoesit), spotlighting the city’s people, culture, and creativity through real conversations with Calgary’s most interesting voices. #TheDeetsWithDuddy #Calgary #YYC