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

#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.

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

What does it take to keep a family restaurant thriving for nearly 40 years? In this episode of The Just Drew Podcast, I sit down with Nick Kokkoros [chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0], partner at The Barrel, one of Norfolk County’s most iconic restaurants. Nick grew up in the restaurant world, walked away from it for a career in healthcare leadership, and then made the leap back, returning to Simcoe to help run his wife’s family restaurant. What followed was a masterclass in long-term thinking, community driven business, and adapting. We talk about: * Why most restaurants fail—and how The Barrel avoided it * The difference between loving food and running a food business * Balancing tradition with modern expectations * Why small communities like Norfolk County punch above their weight * Leadership, mentorship, and hiring young people the right way * Sourcing locally, cooking from scratch, and resisting shortcuts This episode is for business owners, creatives, food lovers, and anyone thinking about building something that lasts.