Solo Spotlight with Ryan MacDougall

Spare Bedroom Studios
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. 4d ago

    Twig on Returning to Music, Starting Over at 30 and his new project

    Edmonton hip-hop artist Twig joins Ryan MacDougall for Episode 102 of Solo Spotlight. Twig discusses the anxiety he experienced during his first performances, learning how to build confidence onstage and finding his identity within Edmonton’s music scene. He also reflects on stepping away from music, returning during a difficult period in his life and receiving support from ILLiam and Whole Heart Entertainment. Twig opens up about the years he feels he lost to drinking, the pressure of returning to rap at 30 and balancing a full-time job with his creative ambitions. The conversation also covers his upcoming album, Branching Out, which faced a bizarre series of distribution issues after being placed on the wrong Spotify artist profile and later flagged for possible AI use. This episode is about rebuilding, creative community and realizing that starting again does not mean starting from nothing. 🎙️ Start your own podcast with RSS.com Use our affiliate link to get started and support Spare Bedroom Studios. https://rss.com/?via=9f1700 Follow the guest: Instagram: @twig.official Follow the show: Instagram: @spare_bedroom_studios YouTube & Facebook: Spare Bedroom Studios

    Twig on Returning to Music, Starting Over at 30 and his new project

  2. Jul 25

    Mark Wvlker Returns: Touring, Authenticity & Building an Independent Music Career

    A year after his first appearance on Solo Spotlight, Mark Wvlker returns to reflect on everything that's changed. When Mark first joined the podcast, we talked about rebuilding his identity as an artist, finding his authentic voice, and taking the first steps toward a new chapter in his career. Since then, he's released new music, toured Western Canada, launched merchandise, and continued building his brand as an independent artist. In this conversation, Mark shares what he learned from life on the road, earning respect in Edmonton's music scene, balancing creativity with family life, and why staying true to yourself matters more than chasing trends or numbers. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, creator, or simply working toward something meaningful, this episode offers an honest look at the patience, persistence, and resilience required to build something that lasts. Connect with Mark Wvlker Instagram: @wvlkerwvlker Facebook: Wvlker Mark Listen to Mark's music on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and wherever you stream music. Connect with Solo Spotlight Hosted by Ryan MacDougall New conversations every Monday featuring creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, and people with incredible stories. Enjoyed this episode? Please follow the podcast, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who would appreciate Mark's story. Your support helps Solo Spotlight continue bringing authentic conversations to listeners every week.

    Mark Wvlker Returns: Touring, Authenticity & Building an Independent Music Career

  3. Jul 1

    Mary Tibbetts on Burnout, MS, and Rebuilding a Life That Doesn’t Break You

    This week on Solo Spotlight, Ryan is joined by Mary Tibbetts — keynote speaker, corporate wellness strategist, entrepreneur, founder, and MS advocate. Mary’s story is one of ambition, business success, burnout, a life-changing multiple sclerosis diagnosis, and rebuilding life with more purpose, boundaries, and intention. Before becoming a speaker and advocate, Mary built an award-winning flower shop from the ground up, despite never having made a flower arrangement before opening the doors. Over the years, the business grew, scaled through COVID, earned major contracts, and became a huge part of her identity. But behind the success, Mary was pushing herself past her limits. Long hours, stress, pressure, and ignoring the warning signs eventually led to seizures, a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting MS, and a moment where she had to completely rethink her life. In this conversation, Mary opens up about what success really cost her, the danger of always pushing through, learning to listen to her body, and how her diagnosis eventually led her to create MS Nation Community Foundation — a nonprofit supporting individuals and families living with MS. This episode is about entrepreneurship, burnout, invisible illness, leadership, boundaries, community, and what it really means to rebuild when the old version of your life no longer works. Learn more about Mary Tibbetts, her speaking work, and her corporate wellness programs at: https://marytibbettsspeaks.com/ Learn more about MS Nation Community Foundation and the work they are doing to support individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis: https://msnation.ca/ Follow Spare Bedroom Studios for more episodes, clips, and behind-the-scenes content: YouTube: Spare Bedroom Studios Instagram: @spare_bedroom_studios If this conversation resonated with you, subscribe to the channel, follow the show, and share this episode with someone who has been carrying too much for too long.

    Mary Tibbetts on Burnout, MS, and Rebuilding a Life That Doesn’t Break You

  4. Jun 25

    Dogboys on Brotherhood, Sobriety & Edmonton’s Dark Rap Scene

    Ryan MacDougall sits down with Edmonton rap duo Dogboys for a raw conversation about brotherhood, sobriety, faith, family loyalty, and building an independent music career from the ground up. Dogboys open up about how music brought them closer as brothers, the making of their album When It’s Finally Dark, their early influences, finding their sound, and what it means to create dark, aggressive music with real emotion behind it. They also talk about navigating the Edmonton music scene, live show chaos, performing for small crowds with full energy, why fans bark at their shows instead of clapping, and their long-term dream of building something bigger than music. This episode goes beyond the image and into the story behind the duo: recovery, creative growth, loyalty, faith, independence, and the grind of building your own lane.

    Dogboys on Brotherhood, Sobriety & Edmonton’s Dark Rap Scene

  5. Jun 17

    Martin Brooker on Trust, Pressure, and Real Leadership

    In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with Martin Brooker, a retired Commodore from the Royal Australian Navy, leadership speaker, coach, and advisor, for a conversation about what real leadership looks like when the stakes are high. Martin joined the Navy at just 15 years old and went on to serve for 37 years, leading people through complex, high-pressure environments. But this conversation goes beyond military rank and career accomplishments. It explores the human side of leadership: earning trust, managing pressure, admitting mistakes, asking better questions, and learning how to lead with self-awareness. Ryan and Martin discuss the difference between authority and actual leadership, why technical skill alone is not enough, how leaders build trust with their teams, what happens when personal struggles affect the way someone leads, and why leadership starts with confronting yourself before expecting others to follow. Martin also shares lessons from stepping into leadership with a crew that had returned from war, the concept of the “accidental leader,” and why the standard you walk past is the standard you accept. This episode is for anyone interested in leadership, team culture, personal responsibility, military experience, emotional intelligence, or becoming the kind of person others can actually trust under pressure. Learn more about Martin Brooker: martinbrooker.com Follow Spare Bedroom Studios for more episodes of Solo Spotlight and The Conversationalists.

    Martin Brooker on Trust, Pressure, and Real Leadership

  6. Jun 10

    Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office with David Graham

    On this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan is joined by David Graham, founder and Chief Exploration Officer of EDGE3, Master Certified Coach, Royal Roads faculty member, TEDx speaker, and program director at Ivey Business School for Executive Education. David shares his journey from acting and cruise directing to marketing and executive coaching. The conversation explores burnout, career change, the difference between coaching and advice, and why time in nature can help people find clarity. David also discusses his TEDx talk, Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office, and explains why leaders often do not need more information — they need more space. Follow Solo Spotlight for more conversations with people sharing the stories, lessons, and turning points that shaped who they are. If this episode gave you something to think about, leave a rating, share it with someone who could use more clarity, and check out the full video version on Spare Bedroom Studios.

    Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office with David Graham

  7. Jun 10

    Illiam on Fake Streams, Confidence & the Craft of Hip-Hop

    On this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Edmonton hip-hop artist Illiam for a conversation about confidence, craft, live performance, fake streams, collaboration, and the reality of building as an independent artist. Illiam opens up about his journey from performing as Hades to becoming a more authentic version of himself, the years he spent writing hundreds of songs before feeling confident in his music, and the process behind sharpening his pen through rhyme drills and thousands of pages of rhymes. The conversation also explores backing tracks in live rap shows, soundcheck struggles, touring with Junk, the Edmonton hip-hop community, fake playlist promotion, and the pressure artists face to look successful online before the foundation is actually built. This episode is a grounded look at the work behind the music, the person behind the artist, and what it takes to build something real in independent hip-hop. Follow Solo Spotlight for more conversations with artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and everyday people with stories worth hearing. New episodes continue to spotlight the people building something real from the ground up.

    Illiam on Fake Streams, Confidence & the Craft of Hip-Hop

  8. May 27

    Summit Fever, Burnout & The Adventure Mindset: Ben Popplestone

    In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Ben Popplestone, a keynote speaker, strategist, and adventure mentor who brings together two worlds that may seem completely different at first: high-growth corporate leadership and high-risk adventure. Ben has spent over two decades working inside fast-moving technology and e-commerce companies, helping organizations grow, adapt, and navigate change. At the same time, he has built a life around adventure — climbing mountains, trail running, spearfishing, sailing, and exploring environments where pressure, uncertainty, and risk are not just theories. They are real. If you are a leader, entrepreneur, creator, athlete, or someone trying to grow without burning out, this conversation is worth your time. Check out Ben Popplestone: LinkedIn: Ben Popplestone Adventure Mentors: adventurementors.com Email/contact: letsgo@adventurementors.com Subscribe for more long-form conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, leaders, and people with stories worth hearing. #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #BenPopplestone #AdventureMindset #Leadership #Burnout #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #RiskTaking #LeadershipDevelopment

    Summit Fever, Burnout & The Adventure Mindset: Ben Popplestone
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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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