The Conversationalist with Ryan MacDougall & Richard Lubin

Welcome back to The Conversationalists — today it’s Ryan, Richard, and Mark in the studio (Lewis is MIA, as usual… probably doing something suspiciously responsible).

We kick things off with some city/transit talk, then jump into Super Bowl reactions, what it’s like experiencing big games live, and a surprisingly deep rabbit hole on the Olympics and what those events really represent.

From there we slide into basketball / NBA talk, then hit a quick movies & shows check-in — including Richard’s completely scientific rating scale: “4 riches out of 5.”

Later we pivot into a real moment ackn...

The Conversationalist Ep. 63 is the definition of “one sip turns into a whole episode.”

We start with pickle juice payback (yes, it’s as nasty as it sounds), lock in Super Bowl picks, and then bounce through culture, sports, and the kind of debates that only happen when four guys are way too comfortable on microphones.

Ryan breaks down Apple TV’s Hijack (Idris Elba), including the rating, the premise, and the subscription fatigue we all feel in our souls.

Then we get into Olympics talk (including the most important debate of all t...

Ryan, Richard, and Lewis are back on The Conversationalist—minus sweet Mark this week—starting with Edmonton’s cold snap and a little parking spot beef, then sliding into the bigger question:

When something happens outside the arena… why would a league cancel the game? And are we setting a precedent that’s more about optics than logic?

From there, we zoom out into the “rage-bait” incentive structure: how outrage can drive attention (positive or negative), and why that same energy shows up in social media and even modern movies.

Then we wrap with movie tal...

Welcome back to The Conversationalist by Spare Bedroom Studios — the roundtable where we try to understand the week… and occasionally fail in real time.

This episode starts with a petty breakup story straight out of a sitcom, then spirals into AI deepfakes, “signals” like Pentagon pizza orders, CES robots, a debate over a possible “sin tax”, music talk (J. Cole/Drake/Kendrick), and a big run of movie + horror conversation — before wrapping with sports/coaching and what’s changing with player leverage.

Drop your take in the comments: what part made you go “what is happening right no...

The Conversationalist Ep 61 — We’re back after a “two-week break” turned into a four-week break, and we jump straight into 2026 resolutions, wild headlines, and a True/False predictions.

In this episode:

-New Year’s resolutions (and calling ourselves out)

-Political chaos + “can we plow the roads first?” energy

-The Minnesota daycare fraud story + scam logic breakdown

-True/False: 2026 predictions (GTA, Marvel, streaming, etc.)

-Movie talk: Timothée, Dune debates, villains, and more

🎙️ Spare Bedroom Studios

💬 Comment: what’s your bold 2026 prediction?

#SpareBedroomStudios...

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with independent reggae artist Caleb Hart for a focused conversation on longevity, discipline, and building a sustainable creative career outside the traditional music industry.

Caleb shares his journey as a fully independent artist — from touring and live performance to adapting his hustle in the modern streaming era. Throughout the conversation, he breaks down the difference between short-term attention and long-term artistry, the role of feedback in growth, and how artists can stay grounded while navigating criticism, pressure, and changing industry expectations.

Th...

In this bonus episode of The Conversationalist, Ryan + Rich sit down with a subscription-based content creator to talk about the real behind-the-scenes side of the creator economy: money, boundaries, privacy, stigma, and the weird world of parasocial relationships.

This conversation stays grounded in the human + business + safety side of online creation — not shock value.

Important note: This episode is for discussion and understanding. We don’t share explicit content, and we don’t link to adult material.

👇 Drop a comment: What’s the biggest misconception people have about online creators?

It’s our first official Christmas Special and we went full extended cut. Mimosas on the table, four hosts on the mics, and one last banger before a short holiday break.

JOIN THE CONVERSATION Drop a comment and tell us:

- Your favourite moment from the episode

- Your best purchase of 2025

- And obviously… who’s your MVP host this year? 👀 📺

MORE FROM SPARE BEDROOM STUDIOS

The Conversationalist – group pod, hot takes, stories, chaos

Solo Spotlight – one-on-one deep dives with guests

Pr...

The tip screen is asking questions it has no business asking.

In Episode 59 of The Conversationalist, Ryan, Rich, Mark, and Sweet Lu get into the “support local” guilt trip, tipping culture getting out of hand, businesses that somehow stay open forever, AI in music, celebrity philanthropy (impact vs optics), and the timeless debate: are man colds real?

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Welcome back to The Conversationalist — the only show where a simple conversation about comedy somehow spirals into puppy yoga allegations, cartel hitmen, $7.5 million storage lockers, and whether any of us would snitch for a life-changing bag.

In Episode 58, Ryan, Rich, Lewis, and Mark dive into one of the wildest mixes of topics we’ve had in a while. We kick things off with arena comedy vs. club comedy, roast Jake Paul’s “legacy,” break down the story of a former Olympian turned cartel murderer, debate whether $15M is enough to turn state’s witness, and then somehow...

Welcome back to The Conversationalist, where strong opinions and questionable takes are a lifestyle choice.

In Episode 57, Ryan, Rich, and Lewis dive into a hilariously chaotic stretch of topics — from aging, birthdays, and shrinking social bandwidth… to Edmonton’s homeless warming bus… to a wild Indian cow-poop festival that sparks a real conversation about cultural traditions and whether documenting them counts as “racist” or just honest journalism.

If you enjoyed today’s chaos, hit LIKE, drop a comment, and subscribe to Spare Bedroom Studios for more weekly madness.

New episodes every week. Clips da...

⚠️ Note: We accidentally called this Episode 57 during the intro — it’s actually Episode 56. We’ll blame the AI for that one. 🤖

All four mics are hot again as Ryan, Rich, Mark, and Lewis step into The Conversationalist booth for a full-throttle episode that hits everything from bottled farts to AI-made Billboard hits to the dirty underbelly of modern sports.

The crew kicks things off with unfiltered humor before spiraling into a sharp-edged conversation about AI’s invasion of art and culture, including a fake artist topping the charts and deepfakes using the likeness of historical i...

Ryan, Rich, and Lewis unpack Edmonton’s election results, the teacher strike chaos, and how The Conversationalist somehow became part of the mayoral storyline. Then they jump into the Jays’ World Series run, the morality of politics in sports, Netflix ad rants, and the seven-minute crown jewel heist that feels straight out of Ocean’s Eleven.

🎙 Recorded in Edmonton. Produced by Spare Bedroom Studios.

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The full crew is back — plus two dogs in studio — for Episode 54 of The Conversationalist, filmed at Spare Bedroom Studios.

This week, the guys recap Ryan’s interview with Edmonton mayoral candidate Andrew Knack, dig into local bike lane and transit debates, and then take a hard left into Vegas proposal stories, sports hot takes, and a few very questionable movie reviews.

Expect chaos, comedy, and the occasional bark.

Featuring: Ryan, Rich, Mark & Lewis

Recorded at: Spare Bedroom Studios, Edmonton, AB

Special Guests: Ralph & Trouble

<...

We celebrate a Jays run, unpack an Oilers opener, and argue whether McDavid’s pay move equals leadership. Then: when media’s “first take” hurts real lives, whether true-crime teaches the wrong lessons, and who should get paid when AI clones a face or voice. We close with a ruthless AITA.

👉 Follow The Conversationalist & Solo Spotlight by Ryan MacDougall. New: Prime Joe Time (Spare Bedroom Studios).

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This one’s a full plate, Edmonton—the whole meal deal. We’re digging into the issues that actually shape your week: city politics, taxes, infill versus sprawl, the playoffs, and even the eternal battle over airplane armrests. —just real talk about what it all means for your street, your wallet, and your Sunday.

Ryan and Richard, with producer Mark, break it all down with their signature mix of insight and humor. We translate policy into plain language, connect the dots between sports headlines and real life, and settle debates that matter more than you’d think (y...

Uncle Hack @DangerCats69 pulls up to Solo Spotlight and we get into the whole arc—oil patch shifts → sketch grind → “Rules of the Patch” blowing up → sobriety reset → first open mic → building Danger Cats → and the infamous 3-venue fail-safe for canceled shows. If you’re chasing stage time (or just love good chaos), this one’s for you.

Guest:

Uncle Hack — Comedian, Danger Cats

🎟 Tickets/Merch: dangercatshop.com

📲 IG: @unclehacks69

YT - @dangercats69

Solo Spotlight 61 — A real conversation with my friend Anthony (aka @tangled.anglerr). We get into why process beats the catch, the unwritten rules around sharing fishing spots (without being “that guy”), and plain-English conservation so our rivers actually have fish tomorrow. We also talk resilience, headspace, and knowing when not to post.

About Solo Spotlight

Long-form, human conversations. Just people telling the truth about what they do and why it matters.

Connect

Host: Ryan — @Spare_bedroom_studios

Guest: Anthony — @tangled.anglerr

Booking: ryan.sbstudios@gmail.com

Podcaster. Stand-up. Nick Von Wackerbarth built The VonDubCast on long-form, real talk—then used that muscle to step on stage and make strangers laugh. We get into the jump from podcasting to comedy, the ugly/funny truth about bombing, how rooms actually work, beating podfade, and making creativity pay without selling your soul.

Follow Nick / Get tickets

Guest IG: https://www.instagram.com/nickvondub

The VonDubCast:

@TheVonDubCast

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-vondubcast/id1519722867

#SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #StandUpComedy #Podcasting #EdmontonComedy #TheVonDubCast #CreatorLife

Joey Vyvanse joins Solo Spotlight to unpack the stove-story name, the Blue Door set, writing Scorpion, and why “Clean Hands” & “Spaceship” connected. We talk ADD vs consistency, ads vs shows (what actually grows fans), Invermere’s capacity night, collabs, and what’s next. Subscribe, comment your favorite line, and stream Joey via the links.

Hit subscribe, drop your favorite bar in the comments, and stream Joey below. Independent artists don’t grow by accident.

Guest links

• IG: [@joeyvyvanse]

• Link hub / website: linktr.ee/joeyvyvanse

Start your podcast with RSS.com—launc...

Solo Spotlight with Ryan. Today’s guest: Mark Hillman—PACE candidate for Ward papastew (Garneau, Strathcona, Queen Alexandra, Belgravia, Windsor Park, Ritchie, Allendale, Pleasantview and more).

We keep it human and practical: fewer slogans, more “show your work.”

In this episode:

We break down the viral “Baseball Karen” saga (yes, there’s a $5,000 apology offer), argue WNBA watchability, drop a bold Oilers “we don’t lose if we’re back” prophecy, and explain why Albania’s “AI minister” would start with public procurement. We even cap it with a 60-second Conjuring: Last Rites review.

🎧 Full audio feed: https://media.rss.com/the-conversationalists-with-ryan-and-rich/feed.xml

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Follow & connect:

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X/Twitter: https://x.com/sparebedroo...

In Solo Spotlight Ep. 57, we sit down with Jen Tomski—the creator behind That’s Really Jen and the 2025 Edmonton Tourism Awards – Tourism Influencer winner. We talk content craft (from ideation to edits), working with brands without losing your voice, and the real-life moments behind the reels.

If you’re building on social, this one’s a mini-masterclass wrapped in a candid conversation.

🎧 Listen to the podcast (audio)

- RSS (hosted on RSS.com): https://rss.com/podcasts/the-conversationalists-with-ryan-and-rich/

- Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-conversationalists-with-ryan-and-rich/id1799063881...

Note: I missay the episode number in the intro—this is Solo Spotlight Ep 56.

Divorce isn’t a personality; it’s a plot point. Coach/author Matina Singh joins me to talk about rebuilding identity after a breakup, co-parenting without chaos, and the daily routines that actually move you from survival to “okay, I’ve got this.”

In this episode:

Episode 50—half a hundred and fully caffeinated. Ryan, Lubin, Mark, and Kelvin go straight at the week’s biggest fan-pain points: NFL RedZone sneaking in ads, the death of free streams and the messy new reality of sports rights (ABC/Peacock/Prime… pick a lane), the Kai x Kevin Hart x Druski mega-stream and what it says about “TV vs. creators,” plus the Clippers/Kawhi under-the-table allegations and what penalties could look like. We wrap with a spicy (and honest) riff on Ontario crime, vigilantism, and where the line actually is. No fluff—just four mics telling it like it is.

Parents, teachers, coaches—this one’s for you. Kathryne Imabayashi (Parents-of-Boys coach; early-years educator; author of Raising Boys Who Become Remarkable Men) lays out the “bias you can’t unsee,” how the Boy Code pressures boys to hide their feelings, and simple everyday scripts to raise boys who are strong and kind.

About our guest:

Kathryne is a Canadian-born educator with four decades across international schools and leadership roles (Japan, Thailand, Georgia, Qatar). She founded Sonhood Coaching to help families intentionally parent boys ages 0–12 and hosts the podcast Unlocking the Parenting Code: All About Boys...

Canadian 400m sprinter Austin Cole sits down to break the myth that sprinting is “just 44 seconds.” We cover the full grind: training blocks, travel and acclimation, funding/sponsorship reality, selection windows, and the mindset it takes to keep winning when you’re “only as fast as your last race.” If you’re an athlete, coach, parent—or just sprint-curious—this episode is a blueprint, not a highlight reel.

What you’ll learn

• How Austin went from hockey to track, then set a 300m school record as a rookie

• What a pro season actually looks...

This week we’re poolside (literally) with Kelvin dodging monkeys in Grenada, arguing about Taylor & Travis, celebrating UBC boys hitting the NFL, and telling an all-timer airline saga. Zero fluff, just real talk and dumb jokes. Tap in.

👍 Like, 💬 comment your favorite moment, and 🔔 subscribe if you’re new.

HOSTS & CREW

Ryan • Lubin • Mark • Kelvin (remote from Grenada)

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Singer–songwriter Eric Kane walks through the rebrand from Cane Incognito to his own name, the personal events behind the new material, and how DIY touring across Western Canada helped him build momentum. We also cover the single “Water My Soul.”

Listen to “Water My Soul”: https://lnk.to/EKwater

Follow Eric: https://www.instagram.com/erickane_/ • https://www.tiktok.com/@erickane_ • https://linktr.ee/erickane

Subscribe to Spare Bedroom Studios for new episodes of Solo Spotlight and more shows:

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Watch the So...

First batch gone in 48 hours. ~400 jars in ~3 months. Then AHS reached out—so Steven paused home production, moved into a commercial kitchen, and kept building.

Drunken Phở’s founder Steven Nguyen breaks down how a family Vietnamese satế (lemongrass chili oil) became a real brand: a 12-jar retail test that sold out in ~3 days and expanded to five stores, scrappy pop-ups (30 jars in 30 minutes; 45 in ~2 hours), and content that actually converts.

What we cover:

When Braden Burym left Saskatchewan for steady money in Alberta oil and construction, it felt like a one‑way road to a decent life. Years later, on May 31st, a routine basket move whipped the wrong way and ripped his bicep tendon. Overnight he was injured, medicated, and expendable. HR said there was no work. Bills stacked. Friends went silent. The gym—the last outlet holding the darkness back—was gone.

Four days before eviction, a lawyer called about long‑owed wages from a defunct Saskatoon employer. The cheque paid the rent—and funded a used Sony A7III. Wit...

Local grind meets sports soap opera. We kick off with a killer Edmonton founder story—how Drunken Foe went from mom’s recipe to navigating AHS rules, pH tests, and razor-thin margins—then pivot into the week’s sports drama: Ryan’s Austin Cole debrief, a Canadian teen shaking up tennis, MLB history behind the plate, Jays reality check, the WNBA’s money/growth tension (yes, Caitlin comes up), and the NBA’s never-ending headline factory. We land the plane with a no-fluff chat on the Air Canada mess and what labor showdowns actually mean for real people trying to get to work...

Chef/owner Levi Biddlecombe joins Solo Spotlight to break down the founder grind behind Backstairs Burger: from $13 in the account to lines out the door. We get into the food-truck sprint, the Breakfast TV pop, and how to scale fine-dining technique without losing soul. Real ops, real numbers, real craft—house American cheese, house pickles, “bacon glass,” and the blueprint that actually holds.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• The $13 → sold-out arc: momentum, mistakes, and what changed

• The TV break & handling demand without breaking the system

• Scaling craft: what travels in delivery vs. dies on th...

Real-time captions aren’t a magic button—they’re a human sprint. Court reporter & close captioner Elise Eichmüller joins me to demystify how captions actually get to your screen, why humans are the gold standard, and what strong training programs (like NAIT’s) mean for accuracy, accessibility, and justice.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• How live captions work (pre-hookup, modem checks, ~3s delay buffer, rapid fix window)

• The skills bar: 225 WPM for 5 minutes at ~95% accuracy—and what that sounds like

• Courtroom realities: one voice at a time, read-backs & daily copy keep the record honest

Dr. Farhan Chak joins Solo Spotlight to trace his path from global activism and the book “Nuclear Flashpoint” to teaching and, now, serving his community at the city level. We dig into prevention over performance, why language and dignity matter in public life, and how participation (not posturing) actually fixes things.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• Global → local: lessons that translate to safer streets and clearer decisions

• “Prevent problems early” — what that looks like at the municipal level

• Teaching → leadership: classroom tools that work in council chambers

• Participation & dignity: making civic life clea...

A brutally honest hang with Ryan, Lewis, and Mark: drive-thru war crimes, the eternal green-bubble debate, QR menus that hate you, and a quick autopsy of that Area 51 documentary. Also: festival talk, “bubbles” culture, and a viral relationship mess that had us yelling at our screens. If you’ve ever ordered for a small nation at a drive-thru…this one’s for you.

Watch next: More hot takes, fewer napkins.

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In this deep and honest conversation, Ryan Macdougall sits down with Daniel Brimblecombe, an Australian entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience scaling businesses, navigating near bankruptcy, and mastering the mindset required to thrive in the face of adversity.

Daniel shares candid stories from his early days — from struggling with cash flow and leadership challenges to the emotional toll of burnout and tough business decisions. He opens up about mixing friendship and business, learning hard lessons in team management, and pivoting his ventures to find sustainable success.

The episode goes beyond business to explore the philosophy of...

In this Solo Spotlight episode, Ryan sits down with comedian, producer, and instructor Alex Jocko for a hilarious and raw conversation about the comedy grind, motherhood, and the art of hosting shows that keep Edmonton laughing. From her theatre roots to co-running Canada’s longest-running free comedy show, Alex shares the unfiltered truth about building a career in stand-up while juggling family life.

We dive into:

🎭 Her journey from musical theatre to stand-up

👩‍👦 Balancing motherhood with late-night comedy gigs

🎟 Producing shows like Underdog Comedy, The Standup Show, and Help, I’m Joking

In Episode 46 of The Conversationalist, Ryan, Mark, Rich, and Lewis go full throttle for over an hour of raw takes and unfiltered insight. The gang opens with wild speculation around the Epstein files, shady celebrity connections, and Trudeau jokes, before diving into the dark truths of false accusations and how the justice system breaks people.

From there, things spiral into LaMelo Ball’s controversial tattoo, WNBA betting scandals (yes, period props), and a heated roast of fast food culture—Chick-fil-A’s franchise model gets torched. But it doesn’t stop there.

This one’s got everything...

In Episode 45 of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Harrison Amit, CEO and founder of Canadian rideshare disruptor, HOVR. Harrison shares his journey in creating a no-commission rideshare model, how transparency and fairness are reshaping the transportation industry, and what it takes to scale a Canadian startup globally.

In this conversation:

- The unique HOVR business model: no commissions, fair pricing, driver-first approach.

- Challenges in disrupting an industry dominated by giants like Uber and Lyft.

- Navigating Canada’s complex insurance and regulatory landscape. - Scaling sustainably—why slow...