We welcome a very special guest this episode—Nathan Dueck, Winnipeg-born author now calling Calgary home. Nathan has written poetry, tried unsuccessfully to win hearts with it, and has just released his latest book: a collection of self-deprecating anecdotes that may or may not be funny. He's cautiously optimistic.

But before we get there, we have a crisis on our hands. Sean shaved his beard. The complaints are rolling in. The polls are not looking good. It may be the single greatest controversy in the show's history—and that's saying something.

Nathan's Mennonite upbringing in Winkler opens up a fascinating conversation about cultural identity, language, religious heritage, and what it means to grow up inside a community so tight-knit you don't even realize it's unusual until you leave. It turns out Sean and Todd's Acadian Catholic roots have more in common with Nathan's experience than anyone expected—railroad tracks, basement drinking, and detention for speaking the wrong language included.

From there the conversation takes some genuinely unexpected turns involving book covers, Netflix, water cooler culture, comic books, and one very important Spider-Man suit. Plus a deep dive into a guitarist so talented that Sean thinks his current gig is a waste of his abilities. And Prince. Lots of Prince.

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We're diving into some juicy updates this week, starting with Sean's epic air conditioning saga that had him sweating bullets and Todd's shed construction woes that are battling Mother Nature. We'll also jam out to some tunes from the band Bliss, whose tunes are as diverse as our podcast chats! It's a mix of laughter, stories, and a sprinkle of nostalgia as we reminisce about our experiences with local music and the good times that come with it. So kick back, grab your favorite drink, and join us for a fun ride full of banter, updates, and some sweet sound bites from Bliss. You'll be glad you did!

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Takeaways:

• Sean provided a hilarious update on his air conditioning saga, making us all laugh at the absurdity of a heatwave without AC.
• Todd shared his ongoing shed project, which has been hilariously hampered by unpredictable weather—classic DIY woes!
• We dived deep into the music of Bliss, exploring how their diverse musical styles kept things fresh and exciting for listeners.
• The discussion about Bliss led to a nostalgic trip down memory lane, showcasing the band's evolution and how it resonated with their fans.
• Sean's heartfelt tribute to his late friend Ray, revealing how his encouragement during tough times helped Sean find his way back to joy and music.
• We wrapped up the episode with a playful banter about the quirks of being a DIY musician, leaving listeners with laughter and inspiration.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Turnstone
• Bliss
• Gin Taxi
• Fastball
• New Meanies
• Paul Rogers
• Studio 21
• Studio 11
• DJ Rain
• DJ Narcotic
• DJ Phosphor

Todd had a surprise birthday party. Sean kept recording anyway. Happy birthday, Todd.

This week Sean sits down alone with author David Jon Fuller, whose debut novel Venue 13 is out now through Turnstone Press. What starts as a conversation about a ghost story set in a haunted Winnipeg theater quickly becomes something much deeper — a wide-ranging discussion about creativity, the bohemian life, what it costs to make art, why Icelandic culture produces so much of it, and how you keep your creative self alive when real life gets in the way.

David has a background that covers theater, acting, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, two years living in Iceland on scholarship, journalism at the Winnipeg Free Press, and now fiction writing. The connections between all of those things — and between his life and the life of his novel's protagonist Robert — turn out to be more intertwined than even David realized going in.

Along the way: the creative parallels between Iceland and Winnipeg, why doom scrolling is the enemy of reflection, what it means to romanticize the bohemian artist life versus living it, the Fringe Festival, INXS and Michael Hutchins, Def Leppard at Christmas, Kiss in October, the Killer Dwarfs and a handmade wooden box set that David built himself and got the whole band to sign, and why asking your library to stock a book is one of the best things you can do for a Canadian author.

About the book:

Venue 13 follows Robert, an actor who buys a haunted downtown Winnipeg theater while working a restaurant job to keep the lights on — a man at a creative crossroads, trying to hold his artistic dream together while real life pulls in every direction. It's a ghost story, but it's also much more than that. If the main building sounds familiar, Sean figured out exactly which one inspired it.

About the guest:

David Jon Fuller is a Winnipeg writer, journalist, and former actor whose Icelandic heritage took him to Iceland for two years on scholarship, where he became fluent in the language, performed in student theater productions in Reykjavik, and developed a deep connection to Norse folklore and ghost stories that runs through his writing to this day. He also copy-edited Chadwick Ginther's Ravenstone books, which is a very Winnipeg small world moment.

Venue 13 is available at local bookstores, Chapters, Amazon, and — David's preference — by request at your local library.

Find David:

• Website: https://www.davidjonfuller.com/
• Bluesky: @davidjonfuller.bsky.social
• Instagram: @davidjonfuller

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Website: seanmcginty.ca

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Linktree: https://linktr.ee/seangeekpodcast

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We are a part of the Boneless Podcast Network: https://bonelesspodcasting.com/

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Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Ravenstone
• Turnstone
• Killer Dwarfs
• Helix
• Kick Ax
• Def Leppard
• Sigur Rós
• Weakerthans
• Manitoba Chamber Orchestra