This week on the podcast, we sit down with first-time novelist Shawn Lawlor, author of Boom Road — a darkly funny, tender, and at times violent debut novel set in rural New Brunswick in 1982.

Boom Road follows Jackie O’Connor, a sawmill worker living a simple life along the banks of the Miramichi River. Jackie believes in one thing above all else: keeping your word. But when he unexpectedly inherits a large sum of money, his quiet world is thrown into chaos. Old ghosts resurface, trust becomes slippery, and suddenly everyone wants something from him. With his dog Ruby by his side and a canoe beneath him, Jackie navigates a rapidly shifting moral landscape, trying to keep both his balance and his integrity intact.

Shawn joins us to talk about the very ordinary moment that sparked the first line of the book — spotting a pair of skates hanging in someone’s garage during a COVID-era walk — and how what began as a simple writing exercise slowly revealed itself to be something much bigger. Before he knew it, he was working with a publisher and holding a novel in his hands.

We also talk about:

• Growing up in Miramichi, New Brunswick, and how hometowns quietly shape our creative instincts
• Writing characters and places that feel deeply familiar — the kinds of people we all recognize from our own communities
• Shawn’s creative life outside of writing, including theatre, music, and stand-up comedy
• His time teaching in Japan and how living abroad influenced his perspective and storytelling
• Why you don’t need to be a full-time artist to make meaningful, resonant work

Shawn is funny, generous, and a natural storyteller, and this conversation is a reminder that creativity often begins not with ambition, but with attention — noticing the small details, trusting curiosity, and following the thread wherever it leads.

If you’ve ever wondered whether there’s room in your life to make something creative alongside everything else, this episode is for you.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeandkristen

Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mikeandkristen

Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_and_kristen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandkristencreative

Shoot us a message! Say hello, tell us who you think we should have on the podcast, and your deepest and darkest secrets: mikeandkristencreative@gmail.com

Review our book "You and Me" on Amazon (it helps a lot!!): https://amzn.to/3qqNCMo

Intro song: “A Day in the Life"

Outro song: “The Show" both by Mike (Michael S. Ryan) from his upcoming 88 song project Power Chords

Mike's site: www.michaelsryan.com

Kristen’s site: www.kristenherringtonart.com

Shawn’s site: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/boom-road/9781998122073.html

Shawn’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/shawnlawlor/?hl=en

Episode 191: Intuitive Astrologer Deborah Young Offers a 2026 Cosmic Forecast

This week on the podcast, we sit down with intuitive astrologer Deborah Young to explore the cosmic energies shaping 2026. With deep astrological knowledge and spiritual insight, Deborah helps translate what the universe has in store — and why this year may be unlike anything we’ve experienced before.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The January New Moon and what it signals for personal beginnings, intention-setting, and making space for what’s next
• The February Eclipse and its role as a catalyst for deep transformation on both personal and collective levels
• What it means to be entering the Year of the Fire Horse, a cycle associated with momentum, courage, and accelerated change
• Astrological chart readings for the United States and Canada, offering insight into the collective themes emerging in each country
• Why 2026 brings cosmic activity we have never experienced before, and how to meet it with awareness rather than fear

Deborah encourages us to remain hopeful, to see ourselves as global actors, and to step into the fullest expression of who we are. This is a powerful and grounding conversation that invites listeners to prepare for the year ahead from a place of clarity, presence, and trust.

Key Takeaways:

• 2026 carries rare and potent astrological energy that supports transformation when approached with grounded awareness
• Seeing ourselves as participants in collective evolution allows us to engage with uncertainty more consciously
• Astrology can serve as a practical and spiritual tool for navigating change with confidence and hope

About Deborah Young:

Deborah Young is a psychic and karmic astrologer whose work bridges sacred symbolism and practical insight. She believes each person’s birth chart reveals their unique purpose and spiritual intentions, and she draws on classical, mundane, predictive, and psychological astrology to help people better understand their life path. Deborah is also versed in numerology, runes, auras, tarot, and intuitive work, integrating these tools into her readings to support healing, self-awareness, and movement from pain into purpose.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeandkristen

Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mikeandkristen

Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_and_kristen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandkristencreative

Shoot us a message! Say hello, tell us who you think we should have on the podcast, and your deepest and darkest secrets: mikeandkristencreative@gmail.com

Review our book "You and Me" on Amazon (it helps a lot!!): https://amzn.to/3qqNCMo

Intro song: “A Day in the Life"

Outro song: “The Show" both by Mike (Michael S. Ryan) from his upcoming 88 song project Power Chords

Mike's site: www.michaelsryan.com

Kristen’s site: www.kristenherringtonart.com

Deborah’s site: https://www.deborahyoungastrology.com/

Deborah’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/deborah_young_astrology/

This week, we’re welcoming our very first chef to the podcast — and we couldn’t have asked for a better one. Chef Stephen Barrett joins us for a rich, thoughtful conversation about food, place, and the communities that shape how we eat.

Stephen grew up in Goose Bay, Labrador, where culture, community, and resourcefulness played a huge role in his relationship with food. That early experience continues to inform how he cooks, eats, and thinks about food today — from the importance of process and tradition to the realities of food insecurity and access.

We talk about what first drew Stephen to cooking, how global travel and culinary school in Melbourne, Australia expanded his perspective, and why the restaurant industry isn’t always as romantic as it’s made out to be. Stephen also shares practical kitchen tips, staple ingredients worth keeping on hand, and what actually makes a great meal beyond the plate.

Along the way, we dive into some of his favourite foods, restaurants, road trip destinations, and atmospheres across Nova Scotia — all while Stephen generously highlights and celebrates others in the industry. His passion for cooking, storytelling, and community shines through in every part of the conversation.

Stephen is the founder of Seasoned Plate, which has been showcasing high-quality local food and drink since 2015 through honest, transparent, and expert recommendations and reviews. He’s a familiar face on CTV Morning Atlantic, a past Guest Chef at Taste of Georgetown, and was named Influencer of the Year by the Restaurant Association of Nova Scotia in 2019.

This episode is a love letter to food as culture, connection, and craft — and a reminder that what we eat is always shaped by where we come from.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeandkristen

Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mikeandkristen

Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_and_kristen/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandkristencreative

Shoot us a message! Say hello, tell us who you think we should have on the podcast, and your deepest and darkest secrets: mikeandkristencreative@gmail.com

Review our book "You and Me" on Amazon (it helps a lot!!): https://amzn.to/3qqNCMo

Intro song: “A Day in the Life"

Outro song: “The Show" both by Mike (Michael S. Ryan) from his upcoming 88 song project Power Chords

Mike's site: www.michaelsryan.com

Kristen’s site: www.kristenherringtonart.com

Stephen’s site: https://seasonedplate.ca/

Stephen’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/seasonedplate/?hl=en