Solo Spotlight with Ryan MacDougall

Spare Bedroom Studios

Solo Spotlight is where real people get real time. Host Ryan MacDougall sits down for unfiltered, long-form conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, and out-of-left-field thinkers. No scripts, no fluff—just honest stories, hard-won lessons, and the kind of moments you replay later. Expect deep dives, left turns, and a host who actually listens. Episodes run 45–90 minutes and favor substance over sound bites. Recorded in Edmonton, built for anyone who likes their interviews candid, curious, and occasionally spicy. New episodes weekly. Produced and published by Spare Bedroom Studios.

  1. Sara Steeves on Survival, Healing & Reclaiming Your Voice

    15 APR

    Sara Steeves on Survival, Healing & Reclaiming Your Voice

    In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Sara Steeves for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about survival, reclaiming your voice, healing after abuse, and turning lived experience into advocacy. Sara opens up about the path that led her to speak publicly, the role sobriety played in changing her life, the realities of coercive control, and the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors to be heard. She also shares how her platform has grown into a community, the message behind her Trauma Tees / REALM collaboration, and why she’s currently working on a book called Canadian Soil. This is an honest conversation about pain, resilience, accountability, healing, and what it means to use your story to help someone else feel seen. Solo Spotlight is part of Spare Bedroom Studios — real conversations with people who have real stories. Subscribe for weekly conversations and daily clips. keep up with our guest: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sara_12636_steeves/ REALM - https://realmshakercup.com/sara/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@saramsteeves/video/7532408330069871928 #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #SaraSteeves #Podcast #Interview #Healing #Survival #Advocacy #Sobriety #CoerciveControl #AbuseAwareness #Storytelling #CanadianSoil #TraumaTees #RecoveryJourney

    1hr 20min
  2. How Murdock Altas Built Their Sound From Scratch

    8 APR

    How Murdock Altas Built Their Sound From Scratch

    In this episode of Solo Spotlight, I sit down with Edmonton-based music duo Murdock Altas to break down their journey, creative process, and the mindset behind their sound. We dive into how both artists developed individually before coming together as a duo, what influences shaped their music, and how they approach creating something authentic in a space that often rewards trends. We also talk about the realities of making music today — from production and lyricism to live performance and building a fanbase that actually connects with the work. Their upcoming album “Believe It” drops April 19, and this conversation gives a real look into what went into building that project and where they’re headed next. If you’re an artist, creative, or just someone who appreciates real conversations about the process behind the work — this episode is for you. 🎧 Listen on all platforms 📲 Follow Spare Bedroom Studios for weekly episodes + daily clips 🎶 Check out Murdock Altas — “Believe It” dropping April 19 - https://linktr.ee/murdockaltas?utm_source=linktree_profile_sharesid=8cf820d1-a464-413a-8dda-34b027b31dc4 #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #Podcast #PodcastClip #PodcastLife #LongFormContent #InterviewPodcast #ContentCreator #YouTubePodcast #CreativeConversations #MurdockAltas #EdmontonMusic #CanadianMusic #HipHopArtist #IndieArtist #MusicDuo #NewMusic #MusicInterview #UpAndComingArtist #IndependentMusic

    1hr 17min
  3. Lameese Smaili on Lebanon, Journalism, & Telling Human Stories

    1 APR

    Lameese Smaili on Lebanon, Journalism, & Telling Human Stories

    In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Lameese Smaili to talk about growing up between Canada and Lebanon, living through crisis, teaching in Lebanon, witnessing the impact of war and displacement, returning to Canada, and building a career in journalism and long-form storytelling. The conversation also dives into media trust, journalistic ethics, and her work hosting Pop-Up Conversations. A powerful, honest episode about resilience, identity, and telling human stories. Make sure to follow Lameese Smaili and check out Pop-Up Conversations for more long-form artist interviews and human stories. If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Solo Spotlight, leave a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share this episode with someone who cares about storytelling, journalism, and real conversations. #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #LameeseSmaili #Journalism #Storytelling #Media #Podcast #PodcastInterview #LongFormConversation #Edmonton #YEG #CanadianMedia #PopUpConversations #RealStories

    1hr 3min
  4. How Ryan Cowan Turned Addiction, Prison & Pain Into Purpose

    27 MAR

    How Ryan Cowan Turned Addiction, Prison & Pain Into Purpose

    Ryan Cowan joins Solo Spotlight for a raw and deeply personal conversation about addiction, prison, sobriety, masculinity, mentorship, and rebuilding a life with purpose. In this episode, Ryan opens up about his childhood, the chaos that shaped him early, time spent in jail, the pressure of parole, and how those experiences forced him to confront who he was becoming. He also shares how fitness and coaching became more than physical transformation, turning into a way to help others through accountability, hard conversations, and lived experience. Ryan discusses his involvement with Gloves Not Guns, where he speaks to youth coming through the correctional system and works with them through boxing and mentorship. He also talks about his bigger vision moving forward: taking life coaching to the next level and using his voice to reach and help more people through social media. This is a conversation about pain, discipline, healing, and what it really means to change your life in real time. Follow Spare Bedroom Studios for more episodes, clips, and weekly conversations. #SoloSpotlight #RyanCowan #SpareBedroomStudios

    1hr 25min
  5. The Algorithm Is the New Canon — Art History in 2026: Celia Bugno

    14 MAR

    The Algorithm Is the New Canon — Art History in 2026: Celia Bugno

    Celia Bugno is back on Solo Spotlight for a second appearance — and this time we’re dragging art history straight into 2026. We break down the art world’s biggest pressure points right now (museums, funding, culture wars, and the attention economy), then run a full discussion segment: “Art Terms, But Make It 2026.” You’ll hear how the canon became algorithmic, how the gaze became measurable, how modern patronage shows up through brands and platforms, why provenance is basically receipts culture, and why Rococo might be the blueprint for today’s curated joy aesthetic. If you’ve ever felt like you needed a dictionary to understand art — this episode is your translator. CHECK OUT CELIA / HIGHBROW HONEY Podcast: https://rss.com/podcasts/highbrow-honey-podcast/ Instagram: @highbrow_honey Subscribe for weekly interviews with creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, and people with real stories.

    1hr 18min
  6. Autism Isn’t a “Label” — It’s Real Life: Yenn Purkis

    4 MAR

    Autism Isn’t a “Label” — It’s Real Life: Yenn Purkis

    In Episode 85 of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Yenn Purkis — autistic and non-binary author, presenter, and advocate — for a practical, honest conversation about what autism really looks like in day-to-day life. Yenn shares their journey through diagnosis, mental health systems, and rebuilding identity over time — including why they didn’t fully accept their diagnosis for years, and how finding the right community and language can change everything. We also get into what real support actually looks like — especially in workplaces: listening to autistic staff, building inclusive culture, sensory-friendly changes (like fragrance-free spaces), and how simple misunderstandings can cost someone a job if managers don’t understand what’s happening. Finally, we spotlight Yenn’s work as an author: how their books grew organically from real needs (employment, mental health, practical guides), and why their writing focuses on tools people can actually use.

    51 min
  7. Real Estate, Leadership, and Building Momentum: Nathaniel Blais

    25 FEB

    Real Estate, Leadership, and Building Momentum: Nathaniel Blais

    Nathaniel Blais returns to Solo Spotlight to discuss his rapid growth as a real estate agent, closing 11 deals in his first year in a highly competitive market. In this episode, Nathaniel breaks down what it actually takes to survive and grow in real estate, the mindset required to handle rejection, and how communication, persistence, and self-drive separate successful agents from those who leave the industry. We also explore the role of social media in building trust, the realities behind working with clients, and how leadership and personal discipline have shaped his career. This conversation offers a transparent look at what it means to build momentum from nothing and develop into a professional in a competitive field. Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, professionals, and individuals building their path forward.

    1hr 7min
  8. The 3-Bus Grind, “Unforgotten,” and Building an Edmonton Sound: Karisse G

    19 FEB

    The 3-Bus Grind, “Unforgotten,” and Building an Edmonton Sound: Karisse G

    In this episode, I sit down with Karisse G to talk about his journey as an Edmonton artist—how writing started for him on a family trip to Jamaica in 10th grade, how he linked up with producer Taylor, and what it really takes to build momentum in music. Karisse breaks down the behind-the-scenes reality most people never see: the COVID-era daily grind (including taking three buses just to get to sessions), dropping his project “Unforgotten” and landing his first manager, and why a song might take 2–3 hours to make… but a proper release rollout takes a month. We also get into release strategy, visuals, playlists, and how he’s planning to stay consistent this year—plus where new listeners should start if they’re hearing Karisse for the first time. 👇 Where to start with Karisse G: “Established 23” (then work your way down). #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #EdmontonMusic #KarisseG #CanadianHipHop #IndependentArtist #MusicIndustry #ArtistInterview #Podcast #YEG

    58 min
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About

Solo Spotlight is where real people get real time. Host Ryan MacDougall sits down for unfiltered, long-form conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, and out-of-left-field thinkers. No scripts, no fluff—just honest stories, hard-won lessons, and the kind of moments you replay later. Expect deep dives, left turns, and a host who actually listens. Episodes run 45–90 minutes and favor substance over sound bites. Recorded in Edmonton, built for anyone who likes their interviews candid, curious, and occasionally spicy. New episodes weekly. Produced and published by Spare Bedroom Studios.

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