Firecracker Department with Naomi Snieckus

Andrea Dorfman

Our guest on the podcast this week is animator, writer, illustrator, director, artist, ANDREA DORFMAN! She’s written and directed shorts, documentaries, a feature-length musical drama, comedies with Ellen Page and most recently, the new comedy SPINSTER, with Chelsea Peretti. She’s been Emmy nominated, adapted a young adult graphic memoir, and even has a viral video under her belt… that was ALSO adapted into a book that she illustrated herself. Follow Andrea @dorfmanorama Follow Spinster ...

Mozhdah Jamalzadah

Our guest this week is actor, singer, TV host, champion of women’s rights, “the Oprah of Afghanistan,” Mozhdah Jamalzadah! She’s inspired women all over the world on her talk show show The Mozhdah Show, braving death threats in Afghanistan to cover subjects like divorce, hijabs, child marriage, and violence against women. We talk about her being compared to Oprah, sleeping with a gun under her pillow, questioning the Quran, making your own armour, burkas, social media, reality TV, and so muc...

Firecracker Aftershow LIVE: Carmen Aguirre

Happy 1st birthday to the Firecracker Aftershow! 🎈🎂🎈 We're celebrating with our first LIVE Aftershow to talk about actor/activist Carmen Aguirre's podcast episode. We chatted live on Facebook, Thursday August 6th at 1pm PT / 4pm ET! Turn on live notifications so you don't miss future live streams!

Firecracker Aftershow: Lauren Kisilevsky

Lauren and Naomi met on Disney’s Z-O-M-B-I-ES set, but their artist connection has extended way beyond actor + executive. Our team identified with learning to fail, writing to talk about how smart you are, the bullshit paragraph, systemic Canadian caution, not going to graduation, forward-critical-thinking, and learning conversations! Catch up with firecracker core members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Sarah Deakins @deakinssarahc  on the newest Firecracker Aftershow ...

Lauren Kisilevsky

Our guest for your ears and soul today is LAUREN KISILEVSKY, the Vice President of Original Movies at Disney Channel! She’s in charge of creative development of the Disney Channel Original Movies, as well as those for Disney Plus! We talked about writing to sound smarter, musical theatre, development & jobs you don’t know about, shit sandwiches, resume typos, working as a parent, and so much more!    Subscribe to Disney Plus+ and stream all these DCOMs anytime!   Listen to Brené Brow...

Live Spark Chat: Sarah McVie

Every first Sunday of the month, I talk to a past guest about what’s going on with them now, and we release it as a bonus episode on the pod! For the April Spark Chat, I caught up with actor SARAH MCVIE, from Workin’ Moms, The Handmaid’s Tale, Odd Squad, and Detention Adventure! This was actually our first spark chat during the pandemic! I was in LA and Sarah was just back from a vacation and in the first few weeks of Quar in Ontario. Get some pens and paper out for this one! Look out fo...

Firecracker Aftershow: Jet Wilkinson

Jet's episode and journey made everyone want to be a part of her work! In this #firecrackerAFTERSHOW we talk about identity, blending labels, leadership on sets, their favourite films, social media's effects on creativity, and what the team's up to lately! 🧨💥 Catch up with firecracker core members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Sarah Potter @ssass34 on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now! 😍 If you haven't yet heard the episode, listen wherever you're listening now!

Jet Wilkinson

Our guest on the podcast this week is director/producer JET WILKINSON! Jet is from Sydney, Australia, and has directed some of Australia’s most popular shows including Wentworth and Home & Away. She moved into directing in the US about 5 years ago, and has directed and executive produced The Chi, How To Get Away With Murder Season 4, and Netflix’s newly released WARRIOR NUN, just to name a few!  We talk about having to slow the hell down during a pandemic, productions in the USA vs Austral...

Firecracker Aftershow: Celeste Pechous

Celeste made us all laugh this week in her episode and on our Work In Progress panel, and in this #firecrackerAFTERSHOW we talk about selfishness and comedy, playing yourself, improvisation as self-acceptance, crazy ballerinas, her amazing attitude, and what the team's up to lately! Catch up with firecracker core members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Rebecca @rebeccaloops on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now! 

Celeste Pechous

This week's guest on the pod is actor, writer, comedian CELESTE PECHOUS! She’s currently a series regular on Showtime’s critically acclaimed dark comedy Work in Progress. You can also see her in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Masters of Sex, Workaholics, and One Day at a Time! We talked about using your comedic voice as an artist during a crisis, 9/11, USO, making an impact by being vulnerable, impatience as drive, coming out as queer, the improv trenches, painting dogs, and all about her journey so f...

Firecracker Aftershow: Kay Cannon

Kay inspired and impressed the pants off our team in her episode. We talk about moving from acting to writing, Kay's philosophy of "jokes & songs" on set, self-care in quarantine, beautiful oops/happy accidents, and what the team's up to lately! 🧨💥 Catch up with firecracker core members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Sarah Deakins @sarahdeakins on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now!

Kay Cannon

Our guest on the podcast today is writer, producer, director KAY CANNON! Kay is the writer of the Pitch Perfect franchise, a writer on 30 Rock and New Girl AND the creator of Netflix’s Girlboss. Her newest gig has her writing AND directing the upcoming musical comedy, a feature film reimagining of CINDERELLA, starring Camila Cabello, Idina Menzel, Billy Porter, Missy Elliot, and a cast that will blow your mind! We talk about the different chapters of her life, what production looks like duri...

Firecracker Aftershow: Jerrica Long

Jerrica shared so many goals, writing and career advice, and our team fell in love! We talk about all her wisdom, how you live affects your art, and coming out to yourself. 🧨💥 Catch up with Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Rebecca @rebeccaloops on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now!

Jerrica Long

Our guest this week is writer, actor, comedian JERRICA LONG! She’s called herself a ‘recovering Hollywood assistant,’ and has worked in writers rooms on Veep, Black-ish, Diary of a Future President, Love & Hip Hop: New York, and we talk about all of them and more! We get into her journey in stand up comedy so far, coming out onstage, being treated and feeling like the diversity hire, the burden of educating others, hearing your jokes on TV for the first time, and so! much! more!   Follow...

Lesli Linka Glatter

Our guest on the podcast this week is Writer, Producer, Director, LESLI LINKA GLATTER! You may know her as the Executive Producer of a little show wrapping up its 8th and FINAL season, called HOMELAND! She’s directed episodes of Freaks and Geeks, ER, Weeds, The Walking Dead, Mad Men, The Newsroom, The Leftovers, and so many more! Her directorial debut, NOW AND THEN, is celebrating its 25 year anniversary this fall!    Twitter: @leslilinkag Instagram: @leslilinka Donate to #SupportOur...

Carmen Aguirre

Trigger Warning: This episode contains some sensitive talk about sexual assault. Our guest this week is a literal revolutionary, CARMEN AGUIRRE. Carmen is an author, actor, playwright, and activist. She was born in Santiago, Chile and has lived a life that most people may never experience even a slice of. We talk about her journey to Vancouver from the revolution in Chile, building community pockets, auditioning, bravery, insecurities, her ongoing PTSD, the “right” time to speak vs. listen...

Firecracker Aftershow: Helen Zukerman

Helen Zukerman is the Artist Director and Co-Founder of one of Toronto's best festivals, the Toronto Jewish Film Festival (TJFF). She leant Naomi her wisdom on leadership, being okay with the answer "no" and never taking less than best. We loved her episode! Catch up with Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Camille Adams @camilleadamsfilm on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now! 🧨💥 The online festival goes live this SATURDAY MAY 30th, and runs until SUNDAY JUNE 7th! Make ...

Helen Zukerman

Our guest on the podcast today is HELEN ZUKERMAN! Helen is the Artist Director and Co-founder of the Toronto Jewish Film Festival (TJFF).  Helen also runs the Zukerman Family Foundation with her daughters Aviva and Yona and she just has so many funny, awesome stories we’re able to get into this episode!  The online festival goes live this SATURDAY MAY 30th, and runs until SUNDAY JUNE 7th! Make sure to follow @TJFFgrams to keep up with the festival’s programming, get your virtual cinema tic...

Andra Gordon

Our guest on the pod this week is writer, producer ANDRA GORDON! We go through Andra’s journey from academia to festivals to Head of Development and Production at AEI! We dig into so many different aspects of the film industry, from developing to pitching to finance and everything in between.   You can watch her newly released film CASTLE IN THE GROUND starring Neve Campbell and Imogen Poots on digital and on demand RIGHT NOW all across Canada.   Follow Andra on Instagram: HERE Cast...

Firecracker Aftershow: Marie Clements

Marie has been changing the world with her stories for decades and this week her new film Red Snow is being released! We loved listening to her interview and chatting about the incredible viewpoints she offers the world. Join us! Catch up with Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Camille Adams @camilleadamsfilm on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now! 🧨💥

Marie Clements

Our guest this week is writer/director Marie Clements! Marie's first dramatic feature RED SNOW comes out digitally THIS FRIDAY! That’s right, Friday May 15th you can find RED SNOW on Apple TV. I had a chance to watch the film … which, by the way, is shot in FOUR languages! Truly incredible. Follow her on Instagram @marie.clements  Red Snow I Trailer https://vimeo.com/313876027 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redsnowthefilm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redsnowfilm/ Twitter:...

Firecracker Aftershow: Sydney Poitier Heartsong

Catch up with Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Anna @tooconvoluted on the newest Firecracker Aftershow now!    You know her from Carter, Deathproof, and Chicago PD - Sydney Poitier Heartsong is a gem and we loved chatting about her episode on this weeks After Show!

Sydney Poitier Heartsong

Our guest this week is a beautiful soul I’ve been blessed to work with…. SYDNEY POITIER HEARTSONG! You know her from Carter, Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, Chicago PD, Veronica Mars, being one of two famous Sydney Poitiers (her father is the legendary Sidney Poitier) and more. I worked with her on the CTV series CARTER, with Jerry O’Connell, and this is officially our first shelter-at-home interview! Sydney's IG/Twitter: @sydneypoitierheartsong Subscribe to our newsletter at https://ww...

Firecracker Aftershow: Jess Salgueiro

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill Anna @tooconvoluted and Avelyn @avelyn.graye and what they thought of the @JessSalgueiro episode! Jess Salguerio is a Canadian wonder, appearing on multiple television shows and giving back to her community. Avelyn, Anna, Naomi and Emily all loved her episode and are thrilled to share their thoughts. Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept and find this awesome Aftershow...

Firecracker Aftershow: Ophira Eisenberg

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Anna @tooconvoluted, and what they thought of the @OphiraE episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept and find this awesome Aftershow and more over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey!

Firecracker Aftershow: Jenna Ricker

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Chelsey @chelseymackenzie  as we talk about the Jenna Ricker episode. She's sharp and focused, filled with wisdom and endless ideas! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome Aftershow in FULL over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey! 🧨💥 Find Jenna on twitter @rickernyc and on IG @rickster5000!

Firecracker Aftershow: Sarah McVie!

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Veronica Martin @veronicaannemartin as we talk about the Sarah McVie episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome Aftershow in video form over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey!  Find Sarah on social media @sarahmcvie.

Live Spark Chat: Kat Barrell

Every first Sunday of the month, I talk to a past guest about what’s going on with them now! For the February Spark Chat, I caught up with actor KAT BARRELL, from Workin’ Moms and Wynonna Earp! We talk about the new season of Wynonna Earp, getting into character, bullying, The Artist’s Way, morning pages, and more!  Look out for April’s Spark Chat with Sarah McVie to be released as a podcast episode soon!

Raf: Double Feature!

Our guests this week are a special combination of cast and crew from the same film, Raf! Producers Sara Blake and Charlie Wells are up first, followed by actor Jesse Stanley. We talked about the filmmaking process, features vs shorts, working with friends, producing as a team, seeing all the pieces of a puzzle, budgeting, taking ownership, improv onscreen, and more! It’s an indie film mini-masterclass, and you’re invited!    Follow the film: @RAFthefilm Follow Jesse: @jpattys Follow ...

Renuka Jeyapalan

Our guest this week is director RENUKA JEYAPALAN! She’s directed award-winning shorts and films, episodes of Kim’s Convenience, Workin’ Moms, Murdoch Mysteries, The 410, and more! She’s also directing the upcoming GINNY & GEORGIA tv series which features another firecracker, Schitt’s Creek’s Jennifer Robertson! We talked about filmmaking, The Godfather, moving from film to TV, the CFC, their similar mothers, her journey from chemistry to directing, surprise awards and more!  Follow Renuka ...

Jess Salomon & Eman El-Husseini

Our guests on the podcast next week are Jess and Eman, aka The El-Salomons! These hilarious ladies are a married comedy duo and we chatted at the YYComedy Festival! We talked about Betty White, working with your partner, moving from law to comedy, the Canadian TV boom, political conversations in comedy, reading the comments, True Lies, and more!  Follow Jess and Eman solo, and together @TheElSalomons. Just For Laughs special "Marriage of Convenience" is out NOW on Crave TV! Jess has a ...

Jess Salgueiro

This week’s guest on the pod is actor JESS SALGUEIRO! Jess is everywhere lately - Letterkenny, The Expanse, The Boys, Workin’ Moms, Canadian Strain. Later this year you’ll see her starring in Tiny Pretty Things and in Jupiter’s Legacy on Netflix. We got to chat in LA a few weeks ago, and TODAY, the film we worked together on, CANADIAN STRAIN, is available on iTunes in Canada!  Follow @jesssalgueiro @canadianstrain Canadian Strain on iTunes: LINK. Stream Letterkenny on Crave or Hulu. S...

Ophira Eisenberg

This week’s guest on the pod is comic, writer, host, OPHIRA EISENBERG! 😍 Ophira hosts NPR’s comedy trivia show Ask Me Another, she’s a regular host and teller with The Moth, she’s a published author, and you can find her comedy special and albums on Amazon and iTunes! We talk about moving to NYC, mentorship, going for it onstage, victory bombs, comedy’s evolution, humorous uteruses, mentors, the concept of weekends, true crime, and more!    Follow Ophira on social media @ophirae Ongoin...

Live Spark Chat: Astrid Van Wieren

Every first Sunday of the month, I talk to a past guest about what’s going on with them now! For the January Spark Chat, I caught up with actor ASTRID VAN WIEREN, currently of Come From Away on Broadway! We talk about how you can do anything for 6 weeks, being a friend to yourself, being terrified of the gym, accountability, dodging people as a sport, fitbits, falling off a routine, and more.   Follow Astrid Van Wieren on Twitter @astridvanwieren and on instagram @astridvw2020.   Loo...

Jenna Ricker

This week’s guest is actor, writer, producer, director, JENNA RICKER! Meeting Jenna (Ben’s Plan, The American Side) was such a lucky catch with both our schedules - but we had our share of struggles to get to the start, let alone the finish line. We met up in NYC at a restaurant, and by the time we finally found a quiet spot... the restaurant staff decided to have their meal right next to us! Technical difficulties aside, I was not about to let this opportunity slip by. So plug in your headp...

Sarah McVie

Our guest this week is brilliant human, actor, writer, dog mom, SARAH MCVIE! You know Sarah from her hilarious role as Val on Workin' Moms and in the latest season of The Handmaid's Tale. She's also an award-winning theatre actor and writer! For this chat, she stopped by my place while she was in LA, but we're actually neighbours in Toronto! She has a beautiful Bichon Frise Shih Tzu named Coco, and we see each other at the dog park all the time. My dog Rufus wasn’t having the best time, so h...

LA Comedy Panel

Our guests (plural!) on the podcast this week are coming to you LIVE from the launch of our LA chapter at the Impro Theatre in Los Angeles!  We hosted a fierce panel of LA comedians led by Naomi @snieckus, including Alana Johnston, Madi Goff, and Katie Thomas, in front of our first-ever live firecracker audience! This hilarious panel of ladies talk candidly about building your own reputation, Mary Tyler Moore, complaining vs self deprecation, feminism, elbows and more! AND we promise it do...

Aisling Chin-Yee

Our guest this week is producer, writer, director AISLING CHIN-YEE! We met up during a super crazy festival schedule, and I feel so lucky that we got to make time for each other. Her directorial feature film debut, THE REST OF US, premiered at TIFF in 2019, and now is coming out in U.S. theatres and on V-O-D on February 14th starring Heather Graham, Sophie Nélisse, and Jodi Balfour. She’s produced award-winning documentaries, and in addition to her killer storytelling, she co-founded the #Af...

Firecracker Aftershow: Chantal Kreviazuk

Chantal Kreviazuk is has rattled the charts, radio stations and now, our minds. Join the Firecracker Core team as they discuss her amazing interview and the topics of resilience, fear and standing up for what you believe in. This episode includes core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Sydney @sydney_neilson as we talk about the Chantal Kreviazuk episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome After...

Lorraine D'Alessio

This week’s BONUS guest is Lorraine D’Alessio! She’s an international immigration lawyer and we spoke at TIFF! We talk about her journey through sports, modeling, advocacy, becoming a lawyer, surviving cancer, running her own law firm, what inclusivity means, and of course, corsets and Joan of Arc! We talked about so much, because this firecrackEr has done SO! MANY! THINGS! We cannot wait for you to hear this one!

Chantal Kreviazuk

This week's guest is songstress Chantal Kreviazuk! This fierce ball of fire has been making music for herself and the world for decades, and she's so authentically herself... I've been waiting to share this with you for so long! She has a new Christmas album (tisn't it always the season?!) and documentary with her husband Raine Maida of 20 years (!!!), directed by firecracker Annie Bradley called I'm Going to Break Your Heart. She's written for Drake, Pitbull, Kendrick Lamar, Britney Spears,...

Firecracker Aftershow: Caitlin Cronenberg

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Sydney @sydney_neilson as we talk about the Caitlin Cronenberg episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome Aftershow in FULL over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey!

Caitlin Cronenberg

This week's guest is the insanely talented photographer & director CAITLIN CRONENBERG! We talked about how to bribe your children, needing to be at 100%, growing up on set, list-making, the “highlight of your career,” visualizing your goal, loving control, and more. @CaitCronenberg is a total boss that's shot COUNTLESS iconic photos including Drake's much-memed "Views" album cover, plus everyone from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to J.Lo! She was the Variety portrait photographer at TIFF thi...

Firecracker Aftershow: Amanda Crew

BONUS: Live Foodie Panel

Naomi Snieckus moderates a panel of four female food & drink entrepreneurs, hosted by Pioneering Women.

Amanda Crew

This week's guest is actor AMANDA CREW! Right now you can see her on Silicon Valley in its FINAL season now on HBO! I met Amanda at an ACTRA panel last year and we were fast friends. We talk about shit talking yourself, social media, the best/worst way of meeting Ryan Gosling, dark humour, writing, directing, dogs, therapy, boundaries, *takes breath* aaand even more! Listen & let us know what stuck with you. Aftershow coming next week!

Firecracker Aftershow: Allana Harkin!

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Winnie @wonder_wong as we talk about the Allana Harkin episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome Aftershow in full over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey! Find Allana on social @AllanaHarkin.

Allana Harkin

This week's guest is actor, writer, director, ALLANA HARKIN! She's a producer and correspondent for Full Frontal with Samantha Bee (recently renewed for SEASON FIVE!), director of the short film The Godmother, a queen of improv, playwriting, acting, and more... this woman has so much to share and it was SO GREAT to really dig in in this chat! We talk about premature mom-casting, Oprah, playwriting, exercising muscles to make things happen, caring less, inspirations, relaxations, and some of ...

Firecracker Aftershow: Jessica Ellis!

Catch up with our firecracker core team members Naomi @snieckus Emily @emchurchill AJ @atotheje and Deanna @deanna_moffitt as we talk about the Jessica Ellis episode! Let us know what resonated with you too! Reach out anytime @firecrackerdept, and find this awesome Aftershow in full over on our Youtube channel! Come say hey! Find Jessica on social media @baddestmamajama.

Jessica Ellis

Hey Firecrackers! I met up with writer/director Jessica Ellis in LA just a few weeks ago. We had this chat right before the premiere of her debut feature What Lies West. We got into SO many things! Seasonal creativity, LA, connecting to nature, open heart surgery (!!!), first time director feels, anxiety, chronic pain, crowdfunding, Twitter, and AHHhhjjjgkkg just so much more! Such a quotable episode. This was a super fun chat and I can't wait for you to hear it so go on, press play! (Tap pl...