The Rocky Talky Podcast

EP:100 I MAKE TOYS (Jamie Ricottone)

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jamie Ricottone is a Project Designer at Spin Master Ltd (Paw Patrol/Kinetic Sand/Air Hogs to name a few), and recently became the Design Lead on the ...

EP:99 MAN OF GOD. OCCASIONAL COMIC. (Kevin Makins)

09 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I must’ve sat down twenty times to write this synopsis, and Im still having a hell of a time making it make sense. Kevin Makins is a little bit too ...

EP:98 ARTIST (Alexander Notarangelo)

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When I approached Alexander Notarangelo to be a guest on this platform, he said yes, followed by this caveat:“So, just so we’re on the same page, ...

EP:97 SIX FOOT ENERGY (Tania LaCaria)

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Hamilton, Ontario is like a high school hallway…especially within the arts/hospitality/maker space. We all move through the same orbit, waving at ea...

EP:96 (Clare Chiappetta)

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When you have a shared experience with another person, a friendship isn’t far behind. Somehow, there is a safety and muscle memory when two people h...

EP: 95 X NIGHT #5 (Danny Miles & Tyson Bodnarchuk)

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After a long break, our passion project TIMES jumps back with a fifth installment of “X Night”.This was an evening of firsts for us:- New location...

EP:94 SEARCHING FOR SELF (Bethany Kenyon)

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve had a hard time writing a synopsis for this episode, because in a way..I don’t feel like I’m supposed to. When someone shares their story t...

EP:93 THE RISE & SHINE OF NICOLE RAE

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nicole Rae is one of those people that when you meet her, you immediately want to join her club. She is gracious, kind, and very, very easy company. I...

EP:92 THE KORU JOURNEY (Becky & Sarah)

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes." - Marcel Proust I’ve known Becky Sutherland for the bette...

EP:91 JUNQ MAGAZINE (Stephanie Rico & Connor Marquis-Young)

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Stephanie Rico & Connor Marquis-Young have birthed a beautiful thing, and it’s JUNQ. An independent literary magazine gathering works of writers, p...

EP:90 SOBER (Krys)

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Walking away is never easy. Losing a piece of you….whatever it is, will cost its pound of flesh. Some retreat while they recover, and others do what...

EP:89 (The 9 Lives of Jeremy Potvin)

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Bruce Lee famously said, “Be like water”. Go with the flow. Take the many forms, and always be moving. This is Jeremy Potvin…He is a masterclass...

EP:88 (JAY PERRY)

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I heard about Jay Perry far before I ever met him. For a while he was a philanthropic rumour; a guy doing good deeds, and a local figure pushing noble...

EP:87 THE SCRIBE (Ellie Di Julio)

21 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I knew Ellie Di Julio was a writer. But, I didn’t know how GOOD of a writer until this last month. She’s damn good. Her recent release, “The Ord...

EP:86 PEARL MORISSETTE (Chef Eric Robertson & Chef Daniel Hadida

05 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Poised in the upper room of a cubist, flat black barn, lives Pearl Morissette…one of Canada’s premiere dining destinations, and recent recipient o...

EP:85 TINY HOME (Bianca Metz)

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I’m impressed with Bianca Metz.She’s done some big things, with the Tiny Home movement. For those looking for a way forward into that world..chanc...

EP:84 SAM & LAYLA PT.2

11 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is my second interview with my kids Sam & Layla. We had just finished a big summer together, and welcomed a new year of school the same day we re...

EP:83 WIDOW (Jessica Owen)

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When my friend Phil was diagnosed with cancer, I had planned to conduct an interview with him. A type of time capsule holding his voice & story for th...

EP:82 PETER ELKAS

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Peter Elkas has a unique, lived-in feel about him. A cross between ease and a kind of reclined wisdom. 
It’s how he carries himself, tells a story...

EP:81 THE MOTO SOCIAL

24 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Viktor & Samantha Radics grabbed a tiger by the tail with this one simple idea: create a way for motorcycle enthusiasts to connect. As they themse...

EP:80 HORROR, DEATH, & HUMANS (Dr. Mark Miller)

03 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Mark Miller returns to blow up my mind, in a twofold discussion highlighting: 1. the allure and benefit of watching horror movies 2. understand...

EP:79 WASTËD ŸØVTH (Jesse Warren)

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Jesse Warren, aka “WASTËD ŸØVTH” is the first guest to reach out to me wanting to share their story. This isn’t something I do, as I handl...

EP:78 SURVIVOR (w/ Rachel Shuttlesworth)

10 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In “What Sarah Said” Death Cab For Cutie perfectly says: Love is watching someone die. Its a devastating thought. And it is true. I did that v...

EP:77 BILLY ROGERS (X Night #3)

28 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I don’t wanna give a lot away with this one. You should discover the story like we did when this was recorded…in real time, up close, and person...

EP:76 THE MIDDLE

27 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This is just me and a microphone…. Trying to be honest. Trying to get better. It’s been a hell of a year so far. I needed to get what’s in me...

EP:75 CHEF JOHN FORCIER

17 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Work Hard. Stay humble. A saying thrown around so much, it has become a bumper sticker, rather than a mantra. But, there are people that do it for...

EP:74 VANESSA HEINS

04 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It took two years for Vanessa Heins and I to make this interview happen. There was a global pandemic, a cross-province change of address, loss, heal...

EP:73 DAY OF CREATIVE//FUCK UP NIGHTS (Anna Di Carlo)

17 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Anna Di Carlo is a good human. The more time I spend with her, the more I am convinced of this. I have seen her in action with DAY OF CREATIVE (her ...

EP:72 SERVIETTE MAGAZINE (Max Meighen)

05 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This interview was planned almost two years ago, but on my way to Toronto to chat with Max Meighen of Serviette Magazine, my engine blew, and I was fo...

EP:71 LTtheMONK

27 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

LTtheMonk is a musical BIG BANG. Kinda like a street party, where all the factions find common ground and have a really good time. His sound is fa...

EP:70 MIKE TREBILCOCK of THE KILLJOYS

16 Nov 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I was born in the 70’s, grew up in the 80’s, and cut my teeth as a musician in the 90’s. I experienced the Grunge/Alt-Rock movement first hand,...

EP:69 UNFOLD (Brooke Henshall)

12 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When you meet Brooke Henshall, you almost immediately wanna join her club. That’s the truth…. She owns a tangible, gentle stillness that is calm...

EP:68 L.A. WEST

28 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I’ve only known L.A. West since late spring of this year. However, I know her enough to say this: Meeting her was like a flash-bang. An immediate...

EP:67 OPERA (Camila Montefusco)

07 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Camila Montefusco is a Mezzo-Soprano. An opera singer. A rare breed with the ability to throw their voice, and fill a space like a weather system. ...

EP:66 GRAPHIC. ART. (Joel Malkin)

22 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Joel Malkin does not like to talk about himself…he seems to squirm at the notion. A self-effacing gentleman, that is also really, really talented....

EP:65 PERMANENCE OF INK (Michael Byers)

09 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

When Michael Byers hung out at my cafe, he was always alone. Solitary. Peaceful. Hemmed in by coffee, a sketch book, and a pen….he was the consumm...

EP:64 JACKLYN BARBER

19 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

There is deep and abiding empathy beating within Jacklyn Barber. The lens in which she views and experiences the world, is a gift that can capture t...

EP:63 THE UGLY FUN (JEREMY MACFARLANE)

12 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Ugly Fun. A perfect band name. As clever and catchy as the music itself. Jeremy MacFarlane is the architect of this project, and he understands...

EP:62 OUR LOSS (Annie Horton)

30 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Grief. Loss. Death. Heartbreak. Words and emotions that I dread, and go to great lengths to protect myself from. Yet, despite all of my efforts, I c...

EP:61 THE MICHELIN MAN (Chef Rob Rossi)

16 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In the fall of 2022, Canada was historically included in The MICHELIN Guide, which is to many, the final word on the best restaurants on the planet. ...

EP:60 STEWART MILNE

01 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What do you get when you mix a full time firefighter, a gifted guitarist, and a vibrant visual artist? You get Stewart Milne… The guy proving that...

EP:59 POLARITY TATTOO STUDIO (Aaron Hopman)

23 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Aaron Hopman is chill. He is a father, a husband, an exceptional artist, and the proud owner of Polarity Tattoo Studio. My plan for this interview...

EP:58 THE LAUNDRY DESIGN WORKS

07 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

“The Laundry Design Works is a multidisciplinary design and concept studio that creates strategies for brands, products, and spaces.” This is put...

EP:57 NATALIE SEXTON

28 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Natalie Sexton has a seriously impressive resume in television and social media (CHCH/CTV/The Marilyn Denis Show/ Hamilton Tiger-Cats). She is everywh...

EP:56 KEVIN DREW (Broken Social Scene)

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I met Kevin while tending bar at Dark Horse Espresso in Toronto over ten years ago. He became a regular. I became a fan of his band, Broken Social Sce...

EP:55 THE OSCARS (Retrospective w/ Andreana Zerafa)

16 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

I am NOT a film critic…but I love film, and have been known to be mildly opinionated… Same as my guest, Andreana Zerafa. Dre and I team up to p...

EP:54 STEVE KULAKOWSKY

21 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Kulakowsky & Core Urban Inc. helped set the stage and create space for Hamiltons historic wave of entrepreneurs, pioneers, and new locals. He ...

EP:53 CHEF MATTY COWAN (The Heather On Locke)

09 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In 2016, Chef Matty Cowan set a new kind of table in Hamilton, Ontario with his restaurant, The Heather. A small, efficient, yet beautiful space servi...

EP:52 CITHARA GUITARS INC. (DANIEL CLARK)

01 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Cithara Guitars Inc. is a small, yet devout company making masterfully made acoustic & electric guitars in Hamilton, Ontario Beginning in obscurity...

EP:51 FIGHTER (DAVID WARD)

23 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

David Ward should be dead… A bullet, from a Glock 19 pistol was fired point blank into his head. This was a suicide attempt. Here’s the twist: ...

EP:50 HALF ALIVE (MY STORY)

06 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A while back, I had an honest conversation with a friend where I was asked “do you like yourself?” I replied, “I have a great life. I have the...

EP:49 BEAUTIFUL MIND (PROFESSOR MARK MILLER)

26 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There’s so much I want to say about my interview with Professor Mark Miller, but I won’t. It needs to be discovered without leading and verbose de...

EP:48 HEALER (CAIT MIZZI)

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Cait Mizzi had a very successful career in film/television as a Special Effects Makeup Artist. She was very good at it, and it was very good to her…...

EP:47 REAL ONE (TOMI SWICK)

24 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tomi Swick is a natural. He is, perhaps the most gifted songwriter I know. The songs…they fall outta him like a cat shedding fur. I’m not being ...

EP:46 INTERVIEW WITH MY KIDS! (Sam & Layla)

15 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I’m a memory keeper. For a while now, I’ve been meaning to capture my children on a recording while they still live in innocence and own little ...

EP:45 BILLIE FLOWER CO. (JANNA DEKKER

10 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the best conversations happen when the “interview” is over. When the microphones and headsets are put away, all that is left, are two peop...

EP:44 FISHMONGER (Chef Rebecca DeWildt of Pinbones Fish Market)

05 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Chef Rebecca DeWildt’s PINBONES FISH MARKET is a special place. You know it as soon as you walk in. A thoughtfully curated space that only a chef ...

EP:43 FIREBRAND (Ian Pettigrew)

27 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ian Pettigrew is a firebrand… He is a photographer (among other things) that creates images that are simply hard to ignore. His work pops, challeng...

EP:42 TYLER LORD (Creative Director for Zac Brown Band//Caroline Jones)

15 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The cool thing about owning a coffee shop is constantly meeting awesome people. It always amazes me how many surprises pop up in a conversation while ...

EP:41 HOME MAKER (JOY JOHNSTON DESIGN)

08 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Joy Johnston is a longtime friend. We were roommates in Toronto (one of the best seasons of my life), and I worked closely with her husband for many y...

EP:40 RENAISSANCE MAN (ALLAN GLANFIELD)

04 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Allan Glanfield does WAY too much… He’s also way too GOOD at everything he does. A conundrum that has kept him very busy building a legacy of coo...

EP:39 TOUR DE FORCE (TASHA STAR)

29 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

“The first and best victory is to conquer self” - PLATO There were plenty of takeaways from my chat with Tasha Star, chief among them…her devot...

EP:38 CHRIS CADDELL of BIG WRECK

24 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I have been a fan and follower of BIG WRECK for well over twenty years. I have seen them live at least five times, and have been attempting to play th...

EP:37 TO HELL AND BACK AGAIN (KRISTIN NICHOLLS)

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Kristin Nicholls had a serious impact on my life twenty years ago; playing a pivotal role in making church relevant and something to be proud of. A ...

EP:36 JON D. HARVEY OF MONSTER TRUCK

03 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If Gene Simmons of KISS and a Kodiak Bear had a love child…I imagine it would sound a lot like Jon D. Harvey of MONSTER TRUCK. The man’s voice is ...

EP:35 SHE WEARS DEAD PEOPLES CLOTHES (NICOLE LIMA)

29 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nicole Lima wears dead peoples clothes….and she has the pictures to prove it. She is a freelance model, vintage clothing connoisseur, ballet dance...

EP:34 BUTCHER (Jamie Waldron)

15 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Tucked away in a east end alley stands the garage sized workspace of J. Waldron Butchers. A tiny temple devoted to the art of butchery. The same set...

EP:33 SONGBIRD (Melissa Marchese)

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When I met with Melissa Marchese, the air conditioning was busted….and it was HOT. Not the ideal way to start a conversation. Yet, Melissa shrugg...

EP:32 GREY HARBOUR TATTOO

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It’s possible we may be the most tattooed generation to ever walk the earth; yet we are very uninformed about the in’s-and-out’s of tattoo cultu...

EP:31 SMASH HAIR

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ashley Urie, of SMASH HAIR believes the greatest skill a hairstylist can have, is an ability and willingness to simply… “LISTEN” Kinda the per...

EP:30 THE LOCAL SKATE SHOP

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jay Dworsky of THE LOCAL SKATE SHOP pops in and gives me the rundown on skate culture; describing a very real world filled with unspoken rules, etiqu...

EP:29 MATTIE LEON

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Mattie Leon is a “real one”. Great writer, great performer, and a great guy. Truly. After a ten year absence of bumping into each other at gig...

EP:28 STRIPPER (“RAVEN”)

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Strippers… What drives a person to get naked and dance in a dark room full of voyeurs? Desperation? Quick money? Troubled past? If you’re askin...

EP:27 FRED FUCHS (EXECUTIVE PRODUCER)

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Fred Fuchs never planned on being a player in Hollywood, yet after a series of happy accidents, good fortune and a strong work ethic…Fred’s lack o...

EP:26 THE DILL (DYLAN HUDECKI)

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I always wanted to know Dylan Hudecki during high school, but it never happened. He was in bands, confidant, and impossibly laidback. Whereas I myself...

EP:25 COLIN MACDONALD of THE TREWS

24 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

There is a fire and fight in Colin MacDonald’s voice, and when you hear it….you immediately know it’s he and his cohorts, The Trews. They have...

EP:24 PASTA MERCATO (CHEF ROMAN KREMNEV)

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Pasta Mercato is perfect. A little shop set apart, with a very clear vision and devotion to Italian food. They know who they are, and they are good at...

EP:23 THE PRODUCER (DAN HOSH)

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Hosh is a precious soul that I’ve been trying to connect with for almost two years. After many near misses, and shifting timelines…we finally ...

EP:22 FLOWER CHILD (TASHA VAN DINTHER OF THUYA STUDIO)

27 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As soon as Tasha Van Dinther from Thuya Studio walked in with flowers and said hello…I knew immediately our time together would be special. There is...

EP:21 GROUNDBREAKER (JASON THORNE)

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Jason Thorne can consume data and multitask like no other….and he seems to do it with a comfortable ease. With a staff of 800 people, Jason and his ...

EP:20 CREATOR (MICHAEL WALSH)

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

My guest has a WAY cooler job than you, and me……… Michael Walsh is an Eisner award winning Canadian comic-book creator, based out of Hamilton, ...

EP:19 DRE BUCCI of ANDIAMO

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Talk to Dre Bucci of ANDIAMO long enough, you’ll quickly realize that he is more than just a guy that cuts hair. Dre is a Barber in pursuit of authe...

EP:18 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (w/ Ken & Claire Dam)

16 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This picture screams a thousand words….and yet, it still doesn’t come close. Claire & Ken Dam have traversed a human journey unlike anything I’v...

EP:17 CHEF SALAR MADADI (MAI PAI TIKI BAR)

30 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Salar Madadi makes beautiful things. When he introduced us to POKEH, we fell in love with his Hawaiian food, and the poke bowl suddenly became the pe...

EP:16 LOCAL GOD (TOM WILSON)

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I will never forget my conversation with Tom Wilson. An hour of recollections from a surreal life purified by pain, discovery, healing, and ultimately...

EP:15 ADAM GREENBERG//ONE BONE

22 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re “bigger” than the average bloke, you know how much it sucks to wear ill-fitting clothing. You feel exposed, unattractive, and constant...

EP:14 BOB RUSSELL of COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWING

06 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When most retire and find their way to the easy chair, Bob Russell of Collective Arts Brewing went hard the other way. This sixty-something maverick h...

EP:13 VIRTUOSO (Amy Forsyth)

17 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Amy Forsyth has pulled off the impossible. She is a working actor, split between New York & L.A., and has managed to avoid the proverbial “day job”...

EP:12 THE COMEBACK KID (Emily O’Brien)

09 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Despite a drug smuggling bust, and subsequent jail time….this episode is NOT a cautionary tale. It is, in fact a story of redemption, re-invention, ...

EP #11 FAMILY OF THINGS

21 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Crafting tasty songs with the perfect amount of hook, melody, and restraint…Aaron Brown and Brad Barnham of Family Of Things, prove that a “super ...

EP #10 THE AUTEUR

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Ryan Furlong of FENIAN FILMS discusses the labour of love that is filmmaking….and that it takes a village (and patience) to make a project come to l...

EP #9 LUKE BENTHAM/THE DIRTY NIL

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When a sleepy little town like Dundas, Ontario gives birth to a sonic boom….you call it THE DIRTY NIL. Power trio frontman, Luke Bentham graciousl...

EP #8 LEWIS MALLARD!

24 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

“I’ve gotta get the creator of the giant mallard duck on my podcast”, I said. “It’ll be a whimsical romp into the mind of a colourful artist...

EP #7 THE PROF

27 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When you come across a naturally gifted teacher & communicator, you shut up and listen. It’s really easy to do if you allow yourself to be the stude...

EP #6 THIS IS THE NEXT BIG THING

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This is a deep dive into what it takes to conceptualize, write, produce, and star in a sketch comedy series, that has made its way onto television. Mi...

EP #1 LE DUO DYNAMIQUE

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Chef Matt Kershaw, and business dynamo Erin Dunham sip on some wine, discuss dinner party strategies, and tell the story of how one little restaurant ...

EPISODE #4 BARBER SHOP BANTER

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

My guest is a force. Barber, owner of Glass Box Barber Shop, and educator...Peter Gosling has built an impressive platform. He has a lot to say, and h...

EPISODE #5 CHURCH KIDS

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Pastor Rachel Shuttlesworth weighs in on the current state of creative culture in Church, and tackles the really big question: why do so many successf...

EPISODE #3 SURVIVING OBESITY

21 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Lori Farnsworth-Wiegand fearlessly lays bare the harrowing and surreal experiences of living ”morbidly obese”. From tipping the scales at 210 lbs...