#48 - Nick Kokkoros - The Business of Food, Family, and Community

#53 - How Ryan Szucs Turned Design Into a Career (And Created a Norfolk Icon)

Ryan Szucs has been immersed in the world of design, signage, and custom graphics for more than two decades. From creating custom muscle car graphics and racing stripes at Stripe Art to building a unique artistic style using steel, rust, paint, and dark humour, Ryan has carved out a creative path that’s entirely his own. He’s also the creator of Norfolk County’s iconic word-map design — a piece of local art that has appeared on everything from buildings and beer glasses to apparel throughout the region. In this episode, Ryan and Drew dive into creativity, ADHD, procrastination, perfectionism, graphic design, parenting, logos, local art, craft beer, and the challenge of balancing creative passions with family life. It’s a conversation full of laughs, relatable creative struggles, and insight into the mind of an artist who sees the world a little differently.   We Talk About: * Ryan’s journey from graphic design student to professional designer * Creating Norfolk County’s iconic word-map artwork * ADHD, hyper-fixation, and creative obsession * Why some creatives thrive under deadline pressure * The relationship between procrastination and creativity * Parenting a child on the autism spectrum * Ryan’s son’s obsession with logos * Organizing creative projects and workflows * Craft beer, local breweries, and design inspiration * The ethics of Banksy, street art, and artistic ownership * Why perfectionism can be both a gift and a curse * Balancing family life with creative pursuits

#52 - What 40 Years in Nursing Teaches You About People - w/ Shirley Kennedy

What is it really like working inside a prison? Shirley Kennedy spent nearly 40 years as a nurse… with 29 of those years inside correctional facilities, a world most people will never see. From navigating healthcare in prisons to shaping policy across Ontario, Shirley shares the realities, challenges, and deeply human moments that defined her career. From caring for people, to marrying them, Shirley is now a wedding efficient. Something I had the pleasure of experiencing at my own wedding. But beyond the titles… this is a conversation about people, perspective, and connection. 🧠 In this episode, we talk about: * What it’s really like working as a nurse inside prisons * The biggest misconceptions about correctional healthcare * How nursing has changed over the past 40+ years * The emotional and human side of healthcare * Balancing career, family, and life * Writing a book with lifelong friends after 50 years * How relationships and connection shape everything

#51 - Built From Nothing: The Reality of Entrepreneurship w/ Jonathan Jagt

What happens when you lose everything as a kid… and decide to build it all back? In this episode, Drew sits down with Jonathan Jagt an entrepreneur from Norfolk County who turned early instability into fuel. From starting a business at 19 with no backing, to building something rooted in leadership, reputation, and long-term thinking, this conversation goes deep into what it actually takes to build something that lasts. This isn’t about hacks or shortcuts… It’s about doing things the right way — even when it’s harder. What we get into: * Losing your home at a young age and how it shapes you * Starting a business with zero backing * Why reputation is everything in a small town * Leadership, accountability, and doing things properly * The reality of entrepreneurship (no glam, just work) * AI, efficiency, and the future of work * Mental clarity, burnout, and finding focus * Why podcasting (and conversation) still matters

#50 - Red Venture: Resilience, rebuilding a tongue, and refusing to fold

Life can deal some brutal hands. The question is whether you fold or play them. On this episode of The Just Drew Podcast, Drew sits down with Red Venture - a Canadian born creative whose life has taken some extraordinary turns. After working in Los Angeles for one of the biggest media conglomerates in the world, Red made the bold decision to uproot everything and start fresh back in Canada. But that move came after surviving experiences that would break most people. Red is a rare cancer survivor, a MeToo movement survivor, a makeup artist and wig attendant for the Stratford Festival, a pin-up model, and the reigning Miss Wheels on the Danforth pageant winner. After losing part of her tongue to cancer and undergoing reconstructive surgery, she rebuilt not only her speech — but her entire life. In this conversation, Drew and Red talk about resilience, identity, creativity, advocacy, and why sometimes the hardest chapters lead to the most meaningful reinventions. This episode is about risk, survival, and choosing to keep playing the hand you’re dealt. Topics include: • Surviving rare cancer and reconstructive tongue surgery • Life in Los Angeles working in major media • Starting over in Canada • The Stratford Festival and the art of wigs & makeup • Accessibility in beauty and makeup education • Being a MeToo survivor and self-advocacy • Pin-up culture and the Miss Wheels on the Danforth pageant • Identity, resilience, and refusing to fold

#49 - Is The Superhero Era Over? DC , Marvel & The Future of Film with Tyrell Myers

Superheroes were our generation’s mythology. But something’s changed. In this episode, Tyrell returns to the podcast to break down the rise of Marvel, DC’s struggles, Christopher Nolan’s legacy, the future of superhero films… and whether the genre is quietly dying. We get into: • Why the MCU worked — and why it’s struggling now • DC’s identity crisis and the James Gunn reboot • The decline of CGI quality • Why Batman resonates more than Superman • The problem with cinematic universes • Theatre vs streaming culture • Christopher Nolan’s filmmaking philosophy • Heath Ledger’s Joker and mythological storytelling • Absolute Batman and pushing canon boundaries • Why superheroes might be our modern Greek gods • Whether AI should ever make films • The future of superhero movies Superheroes aren’t just entertainment. They’re modern mythology. And we might be watching the end of an era.