February 19, 2025 • 49 mins
On today's episode, Kelly welcomes her friend, politician Jill Andrew to the podcast! Dr. Jill Andrew, PhD is the MPP for Toronto-St. Paul's. She serves as the the Ontario NDP Culture Critic and Women's Issues Critic for the Official Opposition. Jill also sits on the Standing Committee on Social Policy. But today her & Kelly are going to talk community, a world post-pandemic, the importance of the arts... and the magic of lasagna.
Then they wrap up their conversation using Kelly's favourite Listen B*tch affirmation cards for a hilarious & supportive tarot-esque card reading!
Logo design by: Lauren Kenney
Original music by: George Westerholm
Technical Assistance: Matt Ar
Then they wrap up their conversation using Kelly's favourite Listen B*tch affirmation cards for a hilarious & supportive tarot-esque card reading!
Logo design by: Lauren Kenney
Original music by: George Westerholm
Technical Assistance: Matt Ar
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Tape Deck Media.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Step right up. Listen to the offul Savis Podcast. It's
future radio on your computer phone. You've heard of Laurel
and Hatty Says and Roebuck Now Dimond cook us out?
Are you a bean counter? A boring job? Listen to
(00:26):
the offul Service Podcast. We've got segments, We've got guests,
we've got Kevin's.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Awful Service Podcast to fail. But we're all podcasters.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Streams brought to you by Tape Deck Media.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Hey there, I am Kelly's and Nichoas and this is
my podcast, Holler and Wine. I'm a stand up comedian,
I'm a documentary filmmaker, and I'm someone who just enjoys
having conversations, which is what we are going to do here.
Going to invite on all sorts of friends, old and new.
(01:00):
I'm just going to talk about stuff and infuse it
with some questions about cocktails, and we will end the
podcast just as everybody ends their conversations with an affirmative
terror card reading.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
You know, totally normal. Come join us.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's time to holler and whine. On today's episode of
Holler and Wine. I'm joined by a good friend who
is doing really good things. For the city of Toronto.
She is the MPP for the Toronto Saint Paul's area.
(01:40):
She's been involved in politics since twenty eighteen as a
member of the NDP and she was the first black
Queer person elected to the Ontario Legislature. And I love
this on her bio, reportedly the first in the country
of Canada. But I would doubt that she has a
(02:03):
ton of laughs. She is such a good soul doing
amazing things. As I say, Jill Andrew is here, so
let's get started.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It's time to holler and wine with Kelly. Unsurprisedly, it
does an advisory. It coulde get Randie and Kelly. But
don't be afraid of a little tirade. You don't need
an umbrellie. It's time to holler in wine.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
With Kelly's impis quick, No, Kelly, use chapstick. Kelly's on Netflix,
Kelly Cocoa vent Tropics.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
It's true. It's true. As far along as we get
in this decade, technology is still not that reliable. But
we're here on this Monday of a Saturday. Oh gosh,
what did you bring to drink for this chat?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Did you?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Oh god?
Speaker 6 (03:10):
I was supposed to bring a drink.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Okay, do you want to go get a drink?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
Yes, yes, we'll get a drink. I am back with
my cat lover mug.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I love the cat lover. That's a big mug.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Yes. So I actually like tea and I was sort
of rushing this morning, so I didn't get a chance
to have it. So it works out perfectly that I
can actually drink and talk.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Amazing. Well, I've got my coffee, So here's tea there head.
As I say on this on this Monday of a Saturday,
good grief. I love Mondays. I'm not like Garfields for
those who remember Darfield, I don't hate, but I like Mondays.
I like lasagna.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
I love lasagna. I love lazagna. Goodness, the more, the
more gooey cheese, Yes, the layers. I would name drop
one of my favorite. Can I am pa please? Harrow
has incredible lasagna. Incredible. You haven't had their lasagna yet?
(04:21):
You have to try it.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Where about Sint Toronto are they.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
They're on Saint Clair West. They're literally like across the
street from bloom bar oh baro. Incredible. I'm going to
try it. Pretty good. They're pretty good. Ye Iver know
that you may get a you know, a bigger one,
a smaller one. But I find even when you get
the so called smaller one, I'm able to extend it
to two meals easily with like some vegetables on the
(04:46):
side or something.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I love that that that is like classic comfort comfort food,
any kind of pasta and meat together. I know for me,
like when I think back to like a meal that
just treats me back to being a kid macaroni and cheese,
and my mom would put brown beef on top.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Oh goodness, I love. I'll be honest. You want to
know what I had for breakfast for breakfast, So one
of my all time favorite comfort foods is spaghetti and
meatballs out of a can. And I know everyone laughs
at me, Everyone laughs at me, But spaghetti and meatballs.
(05:29):
And you know, since becoming an adult, I've upgraded it
a little bit. At some saracha, I add, I add
garlic powder, a little black pepper. Literally, I got up
this morning with clearly having money, more breakfast items in
(05:50):
the fridge. Yeah, but something just said, you know what,
it's been a week, Yeah, dressing anxieties. Hi, you need
something that reminds you off those truly stress free early
early years of childhood, and for me, that is spaghetti
and meatballs in a can.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Move over, Chef Boyardi. I love that.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
I love.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I will frequently put an egg on things that do
not usually have an egg on them, and I'm like,
this is now breakfast. There is an egg.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Yes, Well with that on that point, I actually made
my felt myself feel a little more you know, relevant
to breakfast. But I have two fried eggs along with
my spaghetti and meatballs in a can.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
There you go. You've got You've got your meat, you've
got your egg, you've got your carb.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
And I had an apple and a tangerine.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That's a complete breakfast, which is.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Like a luxury these days. I mean literally, Oh right,
you can talk about that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
But I know, yeah, usually I say the question for
a bit later in the chat, and I'm going to
ask it now because you alluded to it being a week,
I would alluded to it being a decade. But if
you could describe this past week as a cocktail, what
would you be ordering at the bar?
Speaker 6 (07:19):
It would be a shot of Tennessee, a shot of
hypnotic mixed with a shot of hot pepper.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Hot dog. Okay, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Yeah, No, the other item. But yeah, it's you know what, Yes,
it would be. It would be at the very least,
it would be hypnotic with a splash of lime. Yeah,
being the upside, the optimism, the hope.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, you know, yes, no, definitely you need that bit
of like refreshing citrus to go, oh okay, I'm still here. Yes,
I'm doing the gratitude less exactly exact. That's this like
you got to politics when in twenty eighteen or.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Eight twenty eighteen, twenty eighteen, Yes, there was a contest
at a local fair and the prize was, you know,
winning a nomination to be elected. And I'm just joking,
it's just the same. What speaking to a comedian, I
(08:43):
could you know, No, it's twenty eighteen, and it feels
like it was a lifetime ago. I mean, in some
ways it was a lifetime ago, you know, and in
other in other ways, it feels like it was yesterday.
You know, yeah, twenty eighteen, June twenty eighteen. There I
(09:04):
was in Queen's Park, you know me eyes, yeah, you know,
all full of optimism.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Yeah yeah, what if you could put on your like
time traveler cap, what would you say to that? Jill
I'm where you right now, because we couldn't have imagined
what we were going to be, what we're going to
go through in twenty twenty. Like, no way.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
I imagined that, you know. You know what, It's funny
you should say that because I've had to work through
some real resentment of that time in twenty twenty. And
I mean, you know, COVID is still here. You know,
lots of friends, you know, so many folks passed and
(09:55):
our relationships changed, you know, like I think back to
the one ful New Year's Eve we had, you know,
December thirty one, twenty nineteen, Like I was with a
group of friends. You know, we had rented a hotel.
We all cooked or bought food for those of us
who aren't great chefs, you know, had drinks flowing. It
(10:19):
was such a fun time, and you know, the narrative was,
oh my god, We're going to do this every year, Like,
oh my god, this is this is a wonderful tradition.
Let's just get a room and just you know, let
loose with no worries, you know, and then boom bam boom.
Yeah twenty twenty. Right, Yeah, So what would I say?
(10:42):
What would I say? Looking back on the last five
years that we've had who hold your friends, dear, hold
your friends dear. Sorry. You know, we worked really hard,
many of us, to hold our friends virtually, you know,
and some of those virtual hugs lasted. But you know,
(11:05):
let's face it, social media, you know, virtual connection. I mean,
I shouldn't say let's face it, because that's a judgment
call on my part. But for me, that's not that
doesn't represent my truest friendships. Like I'm still an old
school person that wants to meet in person, that likes
a hug, that wants to sit in your home or
(11:26):
have you in mind, you know what I mean, and
not changed for a significant amount of time. And I
know a lot of people whose friendships, heck, their their
love relationships didn't make it. Yeah, they didn't make it.
I certainly have some friends that you know, we stuck
it through. There are some others that you know, sort
of petered, you know, and thank God that I still
(11:49):
have my love you know, we're still you know, going strong.
But certainly it was a tough time. It was a
tough time on all friends, you know, and changed significantly.
But I still remember the day where it's like Okay,
we're gonna leave. You know something's going on, but we'll
be back in two weeks. A breath, take a break,
(12:11):
cont with your friends and family. See you in two weeks. Yeah,
And all of a sudden, right.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
I remember I used to work at a restaurant in
in your in your district, Emma's Country Kitchen. Oh yes,
I used to work there, and I remember my last shift.
I just broke down waiting for the streak her. I
was on the phone with my mother. I was like,
(12:37):
what is happen? It felt so there's something about that
this feeling has really not totally lifted, but this very
apocalyptic fend for yourself feeling about this decade that when
I think back to, like, you know, the the movies
and the lore I've heard of the nineteen twenties, I
(12:59):
was like, I am ready for the Roaring twenties. I
want some fun. This is a different kind of ruar.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
Yes, it's funny you that the apocalyptic you know, fend
for yourself, because I mean, oh, I mean I think
back to some of the days when goodness, when we
had not had but we attended rallies. You know that
frontline healthcare workers organized people that were crying and dying
(13:30):
because they didn't have access to masks like ninety five masks.
You know, there were you know, government inflicted you know,
holds to some extent on who could get an N
ninety five Who couldn't you know you had you had
heroes buying masks at you know, I won't name the
name of the company, but at non Medical. Yes we're
(13:55):
selling bootleg masks or not masks, but could actually save
your life. So there was a lot of that sort
of neoliberal fend for yourself, right, Yeah, you know, so
it was a tough time, Kelly. On some level, I feel.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Do you think we have recovered?
Speaker 6 (14:17):
You know, I think we're recovering. I think we are recovering.
I you know, I I am hearing more and more
of folks who are living now and struggling with long COVID.
You know, yes, there are still folks that are living
in outbreak situations. I know one of our long term
(14:39):
care homes had an outbreak just over the holidays, you know,
you know RSV. Various things are still you know, alive
and real. So do I think we are recovering? I
think that you know, opportunities like what you provide for
us to go out and enjoy comedy, you know, support comedians,
(15:00):
support small business. You know, we can visit our friends.
You know, I think that there are certain certainly signs
that we are in a different place. There's no way
that we're in the same place as we were. As
we were, but you know, as someone who still masks indoors,
(15:21):
you know, as someone who still thinks that it's important
for us to you know, take some shared responsibility and
keeping each other sax, and keeping our restaurants open, setting
our comedy, you know, bars going like, you know, just
keeping our health and wellness of our communities to the
(15:42):
best of our ability as individuals and of course collectively.
I think I think we're still recovering, is what I'm
trying to say. How much, how much relationships and and
all that. Like, you know, there are there are social hues.
There are hand gestures. You know, we're still kind of negotiating,
(16:06):
you know, handshake, hug, yes, And I think you know,
some more than others are still a little unaware of
how to make those gestures, you know, in a quote
unquote post COVID but still COVID world.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Yeah, yeah, No, I think if anyone does any reading,
you would find out that going back to like the
Spanish flu that wasn't cycled out until like the nineteen
fifties pandemic is done. COVID I think is probably going
to continue to shape shift. How much did the landscape
(16:51):
on Saint Clair West change business wise?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I can tell you the landscape on Edlington West really,
I mean our businesses were shut for a while. You know,
we lost businesses on We lost businesses on Saint Clair
West as well, you know, due to COVID and due
to you know, small business concerns around rent and you know,
(17:18):
if no one's coming in, it's really hard for store
owners to keep to keep the magic going right. And
I think that's why, you know, we need to have
a clean air strategy. You know, we need to have
a way to keep those damn businesses open and to
keep people healthy enough to be able to come in
(17:39):
and and and and and be able to shop and
be able to laugh and spend and sit and do
what we can. You know, I'm not a scientist, I'm
not a medical doctor. But from everything I've heard and
from the folks that I know, community members, you know,
here in Saint reached out to me who have long COVID.
It's not fun, it's not fun in it, And if
(18:00):
it can be prevented or at the very least, you know, mitigated,
then doing that as a province to again keep us
socializing as much as possible, but as safely as we can.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Yeah, yeah, I really, I really did think my dad's
got long haul COVID. I certainly was affected by COVID
in a really I find it so bizarre the two
things that are different for me Now. I drink a
stronger coffee because the kind of coffee I had before
I cannot taste. Yes, tastes like water to me. Now
(18:38):
I can't taste the flavor in it, so the richness
has gone up. And I can't smell the perfume I
used to wear. I wear a stronger perfume now. Those
are the only two things that seem to have been affected.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
So you still taste lasa onia. Yes, that's all it matters.
That's all it matters.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
I really did think though, that I certainly am more
mindful of when I'm doing a show like the comedy Kabernet,
we do a bloom if I've got the sniffles, if
someone in the cast I'm more mindful of, like I'm
going to stay home. My throat's feeling weird and I'm
going to stay home. I thought more people would be
(19:22):
doing that, and it doesn't seem to be the case,
because it seems to be like, well, hands are claimed,
we're all done, let's go back to it. And it's
but I see germs differently now, like like you go
in the matrix, like I.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
See all to be. To be very honest, I think
I think this has shaken. It's shaken our foundation, you know,
of productivity in a capitalist society, right, because I mean
I'm ashamed to admit it, but yeah, I've wanted to
work with a cold before COVID, you know. Yeah, I've
(19:58):
want to work, you know, probably on the tail end
of a flu because it's like, oh my god, I
can't afford to miss any time away. I'm going to
have so much to do, so many people depend on you.
You know you're gonna be so behind, right, I mean
we are judged sadly, you know, and primarily economically based
on our productivity, right, So you want to shine, right,
(20:23):
So we have to sort of reframe that and we
have to sort of reframe it in a way where
we're thinking again, not just about us shining, you know,
and our promotion as individuals or our accolades from an
employer as individuals, but the accomplishment of taking care of
community over self. Right, And that's where staying home now
(20:47):
with a cold or flu after we've had a killer,
you know, pandemic ripped through our world, that's even a
bigger accomplishment, right than the shame of missing those two
days that we usually would have pushed ourselves through.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
That's all I mean. Goodness, right, yeah, goodness. I can't
think of the number of times that uh, you know,
going to work on a TV set, I went just
as sick as a dog, but just stuff had to
get done. And at the time, it wasn't you know,
entirely possible to do some of that job remotely because
(21:24):
you did have to be on set exactly, you know,
but everyone was like, you know, stay away yet do
all these things, and yes, yeah, and you know.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
I remember in my grad school days, oh my goodness. Look,
I mean there were times when I missed school, when
I was hospitalized, when I was in the er, literally,
other than that, I was there, like you know what
I mean, I would I would be the person to
push through, and that was that was a sign of
(21:55):
success for me to be able to push through, and
to some extent, I know that that is still who
I am, you know, And that's a whole other conversation
and all that. I got to try and get a
better mark in that one of these days, you know
what I mean. But when it comes to illness, we can't.
We can't think of our own frankly egotistical needs for
(22:18):
a pat on the back. Oh my god, Jill, such
a great employee, right, you got to think about everyone
else or student, You got to think about everyone else
around you now in ways that we didn't have to before.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Exactly. And I realized that there are some people that
financially can't afford to do that. And I think that's
even more important that for those of us who do
have that option of choice, either working remotely or just resting,
we got to think about that person in the community likes.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
And that's why, you know, not to be a demi down.
That's why we thought so damn hard for paid sick days,
you know, especially at the heights of this pandemic, when,
as you said, you know, essential workers, single parents, you know,
the folks who stayed open so we could be at home,
(23:12):
you know, on holidays and whatnot. They didn't have many
of them paid some days. Right, So you've had people,
you know, making that tough choice. And I mean one
could argue that there was no choice. It was the
illusion of choice to to quote unquote go to work sick.
But they had to write it was that or not
(23:35):
pay your rent, or not have food on your table,
or not be able to afford that month's medication. You know.
So these are these are choices that ideally we would
live in a society where people would never have to
make those decisions for themselves or their community in harm's way.
(23:55):
You know that that's when you know, those those wonderful
people who become elected at all levels of government, who
make the rules that governed out our society should be
able to step in and do what's right, you know,
Partisanship aside personal political agenda, whether we hate each other
(24:16):
or not aside, but just do what's right for our
communities to keep them safe and to keep them well.
At a time when our mental health and physical health
was definitely an economic health laid in the balance.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And yeah, no, definitely. Back in those early days, I
was running through my local sobs down at Young and
Davisville like it was a video game. I was like,
I am someone who loves like I love food, to peruse,
see what's new, ingredient? What can I do? I had
a list, I was timing myself. I'm like and go,
(24:56):
I've never been so scared. ALM goodness is.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
The other thing. And let's also remember that some of
us had the luxury of ordering online, were able to
get our groceries delivered to our front door in some cases.
And then we had our seniors, you know, and we
had those who you know, in some cases may have
been on ods poverty or ow who may or may
(25:22):
not have had a cell phone, or may or may
not have had data on their cell phone. And I
just remember, I remember at different times during the pandemic,
us as a community stepping up, you know, people delivering
food to seniors, you know, people making those runs. You know,
(25:45):
it was a time where you saw a side of
our humanity. I mean, you certainly saw we saw other
sides too much air to on today's talk, but you
also saw some good sides of humanity where people were
really looking out for strangers, for people that they had
lived to for years and never really got to know.
(26:07):
But all of a sudden there was a purpose for
standing on the sidewalk and dropping off those groceries and
you know, oh totally and making sure they got them,
you know.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah. No, I remember being on my balcony and the
way that my building was. The balconies were jagged, and
I just that was my out door time because I do.
I have for years worked from home, so working from
home starting in twenty twenty wasn't a big deal. But
I remember there was a kid in the balcony above me.
(26:38):
I became friends with the family. I had never talked
to them and all the time I had lived there,
because we had never seen each other. We went for
like a couple of you know, when we were able
to gather, when for a couple of dinners up there
before I ended up moving. But yeah, there were those
nice little, nice little right spots.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
I remember the banging of the pots and pans, work
of the frontline healthcare workers. You know. I'm at young
an Egg, as you may know or remember, and I
can tell you we're surrounded by apartments and I remember
like literally crying one of those evenings because it was
like wow, like everybody and their mother were banging those pots. Yeah,
(27:23):
you know, it didn't matter. It didn't matter what your
political stripes were to some extent, it didn't matter what
your socioeconomic background was. To some extent, it didn't matter
what your experience may or may not have been to
that moment. But there was an understanding. These people were
(27:46):
going into we're going into the hospitals, and they were
risking their lives to an extent to keep our loved ones,
loved ones who you could not see exactly, remember exactly.
I'll never forget the guy that we spoke with and
(28:10):
were subsequently able to help him with something related to
his to his loved one. You know, folks standing on
the sidewalk trying to get a glimpse of their parents
and long term care homes, you know, waving through the window,
signs in the window, like oh do you remember those
news stories.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
I lived across the street from an old folks home,
and so I saw those families standing outside, ye, and
like the love that was I there's a restaurant on
Mount Pleasant on the bell.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
Size, Yes, yes, yes, is.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It still there because I live in a different part
of TOWNA but I hope it is.
Speaker 6 (28:54):
Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I remember when they were able to do takeaway or
take out as most North Americans say, my mom's British
is different. But I remember when we were able to
do that and I got my wine, I had the meal.
It may or may not have been lasagna, which seems
(29:18):
to be the secret word of today. But I remember
calling the restaurant and thanking them because I realized how
much I missed that experience of someone coming up to
me and saying, how's your food, ha's everything? How you doing?
And I called them just to thank them, almost in tears.
It was you, as I say, like as someone who
(29:42):
works from home, the little breaks in my day of
leaving the apartment, of going to my neighborhood diner to
get a meal, the mornings when I would go down
to like the Starbucks or wherever and get a coffee,
I missed those little tiny interactions that I didn't realize
meant so much to me.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
Oh, I know, I know exactly what you mean. It was.
It was a It was a direct hit on our
personal and daily routines. And I think some of us
are sort of still in a place of figuring out
how to rework those routines, how to recreate them, how
(30:24):
to reimagine them. I mean there were also some people
who you know, hit the star of success during the pandemic.
You know, there are many influencers. You know, you look
at some folks on Instagram who had no followers or
a thousand followers who now have a thousand followers, right,
who are now you know, it's their full time job.
(30:44):
It's lucrative, right. So there are all kinds of experiences,
but I think I think for many of us there's
still that Okay, you know what part of my previous
self do I want to bring forward into this remat
You know, what can I what did I learn from
that experience? And how is it going to inform how
(31:06):
I use my time, how I schedule my time, how
I negotiate my time with all the folks that want
to connect with you, with me, with communities. You know
some of the things I'm thinking of, And I mean,
you know, I'd be remiss if I didn't say, during
the pandemic, the government always used to say, it's you know,
(31:28):
first hit, hardest hit, last open or whatever they're saying,
was artists, you know, artists, authors, musicians, dance teachers who
transitioned onto to zoom and online education, comics like I mean,
(31:48):
you know, filmmakers. There were so many creatives who sort
of helped all of us through this difficult time, you know,
and that is why, you know, whether it's Queen's Park
or whether it's in our community, we can't forget artists.
We can't forget cultural workers. We can't forget the people
(32:09):
who made us laugh when they themselves were probably struggling
and trying to figure out their next move as well.
You know, and I know this to be true because
I know, you know of symphonies of you know, lespians,
of authors, of dance instructors who were you know, bringing
(32:33):
the joy. Yeah, the kids bringing the joy to seniors
who hadn't seen their loved ones in a long time. Yeah,
you know, bringing the joy to kids who you know,
were sailing on steam and all of a sudden they
lost their ayah right, So yeah, it was a time.
(32:54):
I can't lie to you. I am still I still
hold a sense of resentment of like, oh my gosh,
all those good years that you know, we lost connection,
But I guess it allowed us a chance to figure
out new ways of connecting. It sort of showed you
who your community and who your friends were and are,
(33:16):
you know, and it gave us a little bit of
time of rest and a chance to reflect. Maybe. But
I mean again that us is relative because for some
people they never stopped. As you said, Kelly, you know,
they were frontline and it was just go, go go.
(33:36):
There was no necessarily time for journaling.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
We should all make time for journaling.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
But on the grass the Queen's part protesting, I mean
to some extent our privileges, you know that some people
did not have access to.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Yeah, yeah, no, no, I joke about we should all journal,
But there is something to making time for yourself, even
the tiniest little moment. I think it's it's just as important,
but you know, as as one is able. But I
will say, like for me, what I've sort of taken
(34:18):
of being an artist and being online into the quote
unquote real world. Although I would argue that what we're
doing right now is real. It's just this alternate way
of doing things. Yeah, but what's really important to me
now is it made me realize and I knew it before,
(34:42):
but how inaccessible things are Toronto. We love our stares.
So that's one thing like going forward, I want to
be part of, you know, the both bodied community that
is working to make all spaces accessible for art sets.
(35:08):
I think, like you know, five year Kelly wants to
wants to have more, more shows where anyone can attend.
We talked about your past self. What do you see
Jill in five years?
Speaker 6 (35:21):
Oh man?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
What is Jill twenty thirty doing, Kelly?
Speaker 6 (35:30):
I I'm not one hundred percent sure, you know, is
five years from now Jill? You know? Is she a
member of provincial parliament? Is she in government? Is she lecturing,
you know, at one of our fine institutions. Is she
(35:50):
running a catterie somewhere literally? You know goodness? Is she
working on her memoir? Is she finally taking piano lessons?
I loved piano. I used to play piano as a child,
and life happened. That's a whole other story. Yeah, you know,
(36:13):
I am not sure. I'm not sure. I mean, I
certainly have I've got a lot of plans and a
lot of opportunities, but I'm also open to seeing how
things go. What I know, though, is I'll still be
in some shape, in some way, shape or form, telling
(36:37):
stories of the community I'm in, whatever community that may be.
I will still be the advocate avocating for for better
and you know, for more opportunities for those who are
you know, most disadvantaged or most located away for opportunities.
(37:00):
You know what I mean. Those things don't change, you know.
I'll still be loving my friends and family and my
partner and my cats. Yeah yeah, I still taking an
arts however I can, however I can, you know, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yeah, No, I like that. I like being open. I
like the idea of options and looking at possibility. Maybe
twenty twenty five, it might be possible that this might
be a year where you have the doctor Jill Andrew wine.
Maybe there's a wine that's in near future, Jail. I
(37:40):
love asking I love asking you for this. If you
had a wine label, Yes, what on earth would you
call it?
Speaker 6 (37:48):
Oh my god, what would be called? You know, like
the first thing that came to my mind. And you're
gonna think I'm like two sheets of the wind already
to be like, now, yeah, that's really original. My friends
(38:08):
will be like, oh yeah, of course it had to
do with the damn cat, But you know, I feel
like it or it could be per you know, something
very luscious. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (38:17):
You could have both. You could have a white and
red yes.
Speaker 6 (38:21):
Now, But you know I gotta say to you when
you're talking about comedy and art spaces and loving our stairs,
I just have to say, that's where funding comes in. Right,
That's where funding from different levels of government to help
(38:43):
modernize our spaces, to make them accessible for seniors, for
folks at every life stage who can have different ways
of mobility comes in. It's important. That's how we keep up.
That's how we allow our dollars that people work really
hard for to stay in our local arts communities a
(39:05):
little longer. Right. So that's yeah. On December fourth last year,
we had a debate. I debated a motion where I
was really calling for some meaningful and sustainable funding to
Ontario Arts Council, Experience Ontario, Ontario Braids all kinds of
folks you know, that have our programs that have been
(39:28):
chronically underfunded. That motion was denied. It was not successful,
but the success of that motion was the dozens of
artists and cultural workers who came to on that day
witnessed the debate, who saw across party lines because I
had I had, of course NDP official opposition support for
(39:51):
the motion, but I also had you know, green and
liberal and independent support for the motion. The government did
not support it. But the fight continues, It continues, and
it has to because at the end of the day,
as I said in that debate, artists and cultural workers,
this is not a hobby. Just as we respect our
skill trades people, our doctors, our nurses, well, that could
(40:15):
be argued that this government hasn't really respected them per se,
our teachers and education workers alike as well. But they
are workers. They are workers. They are workers at the core,
and during an affordability crisis, they need to be able
to turn their key in that lock and it needs
to be able to open.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
Yeah. Yeah, I would love if the day would come
where people would stop saying to someone who is an artist,
and I know I've heard it myself, but when are
you going to get a real job? Oh? Can we
stop that.
Speaker 6 (40:47):
I'll tell you. And this is part of the education
that has to happen, right, This is why you have
organizations and I'm forgetting there any in this moment. Oh
my goodness. Association of educators, musicians, music teachers, dance teachers, theater,
(41:11):
drama teachers, you know, like code for instance. This is
why you have organizations that are saying, you know, we
have to emphasize that a in statements in STEM like
we have to add the ay, yeah, it can't just
be science, technology, engineering, and math. We have to recognize
that arts cut across that. They really and you know,
(41:34):
if we give arts a chance, we actually realize that science, technology, engineering,
and math are also emphasized in the arts as well too.
Like that's that's the irony, right, I'm trying. Now, now
I'm going to be like.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Now I've got goosey is I love this? I want
I want that infused into the world because then number
of times I have heard that, right, it's soul crushing.
And then I think, as we talked about going through
something so that has just affected every one of us,
(42:14):
you realize the importance of talking of art, of music,
of dance and expressing and that's healing too. It's just
as important as knowing how to count and how to
build and yeah.
Speaker 6 (42:32):
Exactly reach out Like I mean, I would tell any
parent because having been a child and youth worker and
you know worked in schools. You know that was often
something we heard. Yeah this is a hobby. Yeah that's
an elective, you know, but the real courses are right, right,
(42:53):
right to break that narrative. I mean, this is an
industry that contributes what is it twenty seven to twenty
eight billion dollars to one tear is GDP. It is
responsible for upwards of three hundred thousand jobs. And you know,
one chat with anyone from like the Ontario what is
it Music Educators Association, I want to say, or the
(43:15):
Council of Drama and Dance Educators, any of these organizations,
you will see that the STEM subjects have a place
there too, and the arts have a place. But we
need our elected officials to start saying steam. So whenever
I can, I come from the generation of STEM. Yes,
(43:38):
that's what we said, right, So it's a shift for
me too, and sometimes I get it wrong. But anytime
I can say steam, I do so. I do so,
you know, I do so because it's important to emphasize
that they are all viable career paths and that there
(43:59):
is is a public health component to arts and culture.
Absolutely not public arts. I mean, just think of what
it's like to be walking, you know, and and see
a bit of limage.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
That's I love all the murals in your area, like
all the murals on the building that there's one now
on Chaplain ye with Charlie Chaplin. I love the bits
of art that just make my eyes dance and just
give me some color.
Speaker 6 (44:29):
I literally shared, Wow, it's so funny that you said
that because I didn't. I didn't tell you that one.
I'm trying to remember to.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Read your newsletter, Jill, okay.
Speaker 6 (44:41):
But yeah I saw that and it it it stopped
me in my tracks. Yeah, I'm trying to remember the
exact words love like it's relaxed or whatever. I'm trying.
I'm trying to actually find it now because I took
a picture of it.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
Yeah, it's said listeners, it's yeah, it's something to catch
if you're in Toronto. It's just really it was.
Speaker 6 (45:06):
It was beautiful and then it stopped me literally in
my tracks on Eglinton. Yeah. I then looked up you know,
some some uh some pros by Charlie Chaplin, and I
was like, I want to share this. I want to
share this.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
Well, while you're looking that up, I'm going to give
the uh We're going to do an affirmative terror card
reading before, so I'm going to get the card shuffled.
Why while you're looking that up?
Speaker 6 (45:33):
You know how madly I've wanted to do it, but
cervous of what I'll be told.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
So listeners, if you want your own pack of listen
bitch terror cards Affirmative terror cards.
Speaker 6 (45:46):
But you bought them, loved them also the best, getting
a pack for myself as well too, I had to.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
They're the best cards. Toronto based company. You can buy
them online or if you're if you're around Saint Clair
and Christy in Toronto. You can't buy them at Bloomber Studio.
Speaker 6 (46:09):
All right, where is my shall we? Yes?
Speaker 3 (46:15):
All right? We got three cards to pull for you, Jill.
So this will either affirm would we have talked about
today or maybe send you something into the for a
future newsletter or to bring to Parliament. Let's let's see
what we got you can take to the office. Here
we go, okay, Card number one, Jill? Yes, all right,
(46:36):
listen bitch no one else I respectively, I love you,
I just it's what the card says. Okay, listen, bitch,
no one else is no one else is dwelling on
your mistakes, move the f on you see.
Speaker 6 (46:52):
And I wish I could believe that, but I tell
you in politics, oh my god, Kelly, yea behaters want
to hate.
Speaker 3 (47:01):
Oh comedy two friend.
Speaker 6 (47:03):
Your loves love and your supporter support. But god darn
it those haters, and they can be like mold on
a bathroom tub, really hard to get rid.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
Yes, we will manifest.
Speaker 6 (47:20):
This, not pay attention to but yeah, you're very right.
That's a tough one. But that's a really fun one
for your blood pressure.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
Yes, all right. Card number two listen, bitch, your worth
is not tied to your productivity.
Speaker 6 (47:38):
We talked about that a bit today. Yeah, that's a
big one.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
That's a big one any career. I think it's important.
All right, last card before we let you go, and listeners,
I will put Jill's socials in the chat so you
can give her a follow get the awesome newsletter that
she puts out because that's a good one. Uh. And
you're just a good person, so thank you for doing this. Okay,
last card, listen, bitch, I love this. Your wildest dreams
(48:08):
deserve a chance.
Speaker 6 (48:10):
Yes, I so agree. I agree. I still I think
if I snapped my fingers. If I could be Alice
in Wonderland for like a minute, I would probably I
would probably be a vet and I'd have like a
cat clinic. But then on weekends or on certain holidays,
(48:32):
I'd also like moonlight as a big cat veterinarian as well.
But I tell you, one of these days I will
have a cat sanctuary. I don't know where, I don't
know when, but it will happen.
Speaker 3 (48:45):
It will be put it into the world. Thank you
for everything you do. Thanks for being here.
Speaker 6 (48:51):
Thank you for what you do for our community all
across the city. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (48:56):
Pressure Color and Wine is hosted, produced, written all the
things by me Kelly's and Nichols, with technical assistance by
Matt Rdill and original theme music is by George Westerholme.
Speaker 3 (49:13):
If you like the podcast, and I.
Speaker 5 (49:15):
Certainly hope you do, please rate and review.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening right now.
If you have any suggestions of a guest you want
me to invite on or a drink you'd like me
to try, please leave a message on our socials on Instagram.
Speaker 5 (49:32):
We are at Holler and Wine.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
This has been a tape deck Media production, Thank you
for listening,
Tape Deck Media.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Step right up. Listen to the offul Savis Podcast. It's
future radio on your computer phone. You've heard of Laurel
and Hatty Says and Roebuck Now Dimond cook us out?
Are you a bean counter? A boring job? Listen to
(00:26):
the offul Service Podcast. We've got segments, We've got guests,
we've got Kevin's.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The Awful Service Podcast to fail. But we're all podcasters.
Speaker 4 (00:36):
Streams brought to you by Tape Deck Media.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Hey there, I am Kelly's and Nichoas and this is
my podcast, Holler and Wine. I'm a stand up comedian,
I'm a documentary filmmaker, and I'm someone who just enjoys
having conversations, which is what we are going to do here.
Going to invite on all sorts of friends, old and new.
(01:00):
I'm just going to talk about stuff and infuse it
with some questions about cocktails, and we will end the
podcast just as everybody ends their conversations with an affirmative
terror card reading.
Speaker 5 (01:14):
You know, totally normal. Come join us.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
It's time to holler and whine. On today's episode of
Holler and Wine. I'm joined by a good friend who
is doing really good things. For the city of Toronto.
She is the MPP for the Toronto Saint Paul's area.
(01:40):
She's been involved in politics since twenty eighteen as a
member of the NDP and she was the first black
Queer person elected to the Ontario Legislature. And I love
this on her bio, reportedly the first in the country
of Canada. But I would doubt that she has a
(02:03):
ton of laughs. She is such a good soul doing
amazing things. As I say, Jill Andrew is here, so
let's get started.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
It's time to holler and wine with Kelly. Unsurprisedly, it
does an advisory. It coulde get Randie and Kelly. But
don't be afraid of a little tirade. You don't need
an umbrellie. It's time to holler in wine.
Speaker 1 (02:34):
With Kelly's impis quick, No, Kelly, use chapstick. Kelly's on Netflix,
Kelly Cocoa vent Tropics.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
It's true. It's true. As far along as we get
in this decade, technology is still not that reliable. But
we're here on this Monday of a Saturday. Oh gosh,
what did you bring to drink for this chat?
Speaker 5 (03:09):
Did you?
Speaker 1 (03:09):
Oh god?
Speaker 6 (03:10):
I was supposed to bring a drink.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Okay, do you want to go get a drink?
Speaker 6 (03:15):
Yes, yes, we'll get a drink. I am back with
my cat lover mug.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
I love the cat lover. That's a big mug.
Speaker 6 (03:26):
Yes. So I actually like tea and I was sort
of rushing this morning, so I didn't get a chance
to have it. So it works out perfectly that I
can actually drink and talk.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
Amazing. Well, I've got my coffee, So here's tea there head.
As I say on this on this Monday of a Saturday,
good grief. I love Mondays. I'm not like Garfields for
those who remember Darfield, I don't hate, but I like Mondays.
I like lasagna.
Speaker 6 (03:56):
I love lasagna. I love lazagna. Goodness, the more, the
more gooey cheese, Yes, the layers. I would name drop
one of my favorite. Can I am pa please? Harrow
has incredible lasagna. Incredible. You haven't had their lasagna yet?
(04:21):
You have to try it.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
Where about Sint Toronto are they.
Speaker 6 (04:24):
They're on Saint Clair West. They're literally like across the
street from bloom bar oh baro. Incredible. I'm going to
try it. Pretty good. They're pretty good. Ye Iver know
that you may get a you know, a bigger one,
a smaller one. But I find even when you get
the so called smaller one, I'm able to extend it
to two meals easily with like some vegetables on the
(04:46):
side or something.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
I love that that that is like classic comfort comfort food,
any kind of pasta and meat together. I know for me,
like when I think back to like a meal that
just treats me back to being a kid macaroni and cheese,
and my mom would put brown beef on top.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Oh goodness, I love. I'll be honest. You want to
know what I had for breakfast for breakfast, So one
of my all time favorite comfort foods is spaghetti and
meatballs out of a can. And I know everyone laughs
at me, Everyone laughs at me, But spaghetti and meatballs.
(05:29):
And you know, since becoming an adult, I've upgraded it
a little bit. At some saracha, I add, I add
garlic powder, a little black pepper. Literally, I got up
this morning with clearly having money, more breakfast items in
(05:50):
the fridge. Yeah, but something just said, you know what,
it's been a week, Yeah, dressing anxieties. Hi, you need
something that reminds you off those truly stress free early
early years of childhood, and for me, that is spaghetti
and meatballs in a can.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Move over, Chef Boyardi. I love that.
Speaker 6 (06:15):
I love.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
I will frequently put an egg on things that do
not usually have an egg on them, and I'm like,
this is now breakfast. There is an egg.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
Yes, Well with that on that point, I actually made
my felt myself feel a little more you know, relevant
to breakfast. But I have two fried eggs along with
my spaghetti and meatballs in a can.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
There you go. You've got You've got your meat, you've
got your egg, you've got your carb.
Speaker 6 (06:44):
And I had an apple and a tangerine.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
That's a complete breakfast, which is.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
Like a luxury these days. I mean literally, Oh right,
you can talk about that.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
But I know, yeah, usually I say the question for
a bit later in the chat, and I'm going to
ask it now because you alluded to it being a week,
I would alluded to it being a decade. But if
you could describe this past week as a cocktail, what
would you be ordering at the bar?
Speaker 6 (07:19):
It would be a shot of Tennessee, a shot of
hypnotic mixed with a shot of hot pepper.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Hot dog. Okay, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (07:44):
Yeah, No, the other item. But yeah, it's you know what, Yes,
it would be. It would be at the very least,
it would be hypnotic with a splash of lime. Yeah,
being the upside, the optimism, the hope.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, you know, yes, no, definitely you need that bit
of like refreshing citrus to go, oh okay, I'm still here. Yes,
I'm doing the gratitude less exactly exact. That's this like
you got to politics when in twenty eighteen or.
Speaker 6 (08:22):
Eight twenty eighteen, twenty eighteen, Yes, there was a contest
at a local fair and the prize was, you know,
winning a nomination to be elected. And I'm just joking,
it's just the same. What speaking to a comedian, I
(08:43):
could you know, No, it's twenty eighteen, and it feels
like it was a lifetime ago. I mean, in some
ways it was a lifetime ago, you know, and in
other in other ways, it feels like it was yesterday.
You know, yeah, twenty eighteen, June twenty eighteen. There I
(09:04):
was in Queen's Park, you know me eyes, yeah, you know,
all full of optimism.
Speaker 3 (09:14):
Yeah yeah, what if you could put on your like
time traveler cap, what would you say to that? Jill
I'm where you right now, because we couldn't have imagined
what we were going to be, what we're going to
go through in twenty twenty. Like, no way.
Speaker 6 (09:33):
I imagined that, you know. You know what, It's funny
you should say that because I've had to work through
some real resentment of that time in twenty twenty. And
I mean, you know, COVID is still here. You know,
lots of friends, you know, so many folks passed and
(09:55):
our relationships changed, you know, like I think back to
the one ful New Year's Eve we had, you know,
December thirty one, twenty nineteen, Like I was with a
group of friends. You know, we had rented a hotel.
We all cooked or bought food for those of us
who aren't great chefs, you know, had drinks flowing. It
(10:19):
was such a fun time, and you know, the narrative was,
oh my god, We're going to do this every year, Like,
oh my god, this is this is a wonderful tradition.
Let's just get a room and just you know, let
loose with no worries, you know, and then boom bam boom.
Yeah twenty twenty. Right, Yeah, So what would I say?
(10:42):
What would I say? Looking back on the last five
years that we've had who hold your friends, dear, hold
your friends dear. Sorry. You know, we worked really hard,
many of us, to hold our friends virtually, you know,
and some of those virtual hugs lasted. But you know,
(11:05):
let's face it, social media, you know, virtual connection. I mean,
I shouldn't say let's face it, because that's a judgment
call on my part. But for me, that's not that
doesn't represent my truest friendships. Like I'm still an old
school person that wants to meet in person, that likes
a hug, that wants to sit in your home or
(11:26):
have you in mind, you know what I mean, and
not changed for a significant amount of time. And I
know a lot of people whose friendships, heck, their their
love relationships didn't make it. Yeah, they didn't make it.
I certainly have some friends that you know, we stuck
it through. There are some others that you know, sort
of petered, you know, and thank God that I still
(11:49):
have my love you know, we're still you know, going strong.
But certainly it was a tough time. It was a
tough time on all friends, you know, and changed significantly.
But I still remember the day where it's like Okay,
we're gonna leave. You know something's going on, but we'll
be back in two weeks. A breath, take a break,
(12:11):
cont with your friends and family. See you in two weeks. Yeah,
And all of a sudden, right.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
I remember I used to work at a restaurant in
in your in your district, Emma's Country Kitchen. Oh yes,
I used to work there, and I remember my last shift.
I just broke down waiting for the streak her. I
was on the phone with my mother. I was like,
(12:37):
what is happen? It felt so there's something about that
this feeling has really not totally lifted, but this very
apocalyptic fend for yourself feeling about this decade that when
I think back to, like, you know, the the movies
and the lore I've heard of the nineteen twenties, I
(12:59):
was like, I am ready for the Roaring twenties. I
want some fun. This is a different kind of ruar.
Speaker 6 (13:07):
Yes, it's funny you that the apocalyptic you know, fend
for yourself, because I mean, oh, I mean I think
back to some of the days when goodness, when we
had not had but we attended rallies. You know that
frontline healthcare workers organized people that were crying and dying
(13:30):
because they didn't have access to masks like ninety five masks.
You know, there were you know, government inflicted you know,
holds to some extent on who could get an N
ninety five Who couldn't you know you had you had
heroes buying masks at you know, I won't name the
name of the company, but at non Medical. Yes we're
(13:55):
selling bootleg masks or not masks, but could actually save
your life. So there was a lot of that sort
of neoliberal fend for yourself, right, Yeah, you know, so
it was a tough time, Kelly. On some level, I feel.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
Do you think we have recovered?
Speaker 6 (14:17):
You know, I think we're recovering. I think we are recovering.
I you know, I I am hearing more and more
of folks who are living now and struggling with long COVID.
You know, yes, there are still folks that are living
in outbreak situations. I know one of our long term
(14:39):
care homes had an outbreak just over the holidays, you know,
you know RSV. Various things are still you know, alive
and real. So do I think we are recovering? I
think that you know, opportunities like what you provide for
us to go out and enjoy comedy, you know, support comedians,
(15:00):
support small business. You know, we can visit our friends.
You know, I think that there are certain certainly signs
that we are in a different place. There's no way
that we're in the same place as we were. As
we were, but you know, as someone who still masks indoors,
(15:21):
you know, as someone who still thinks that it's important
for us to you know, take some shared responsibility and
keeping each other sax, and keeping our restaurants open, setting
our comedy, you know, bars going like, you know, just
keeping our health and wellness of our communities to the
(15:42):
best of our ability as individuals and of course collectively.
I think I think we're still recovering, is what I'm
trying to say. How much, how much relationships and and
all that. Like, you know, there are there are social hues.
There are hand gestures. You know, we're still kind of negotiating,
(16:06):
you know, handshake, hug, yes, And I think you know,
some more than others are still a little unaware of
how to make those gestures, you know, in a quote
unquote post COVID but still COVID world.
Speaker 3 (16:26):
Yeah, yeah, No, I think if anyone does any reading,
you would find out that going back to like the
Spanish flu that wasn't cycled out until like the nineteen
fifties pandemic is done. COVID I think is probably going
to continue to shape shift. How much did the landscape
(16:51):
on Saint Clair West change business wise?
Speaker 6 (16:57):
I can tell you the landscape on Edlington West really,
I mean our businesses were shut for a while. You know,
we lost businesses on We lost businesses on Saint Clair
West as well, you know, due to COVID and due
to you know, small business concerns around rent and you know,
(17:18):
if no one's coming in, it's really hard for store
owners to keep to keep the magic going right. And
I think that's why, you know, we need to have
a clean air strategy. You know, we need to have
a way to keep those damn businesses open and to
keep people healthy enough to be able to come in
(17:39):
and and and and and be able to shop and
be able to laugh and spend and sit and do
what we can. You know, I'm not a scientist, I'm
not a medical doctor. But from everything I've heard and
from the folks that I know, community members, you know,
here in Saint reached out to me who have long COVID.
It's not fun, it's not fun in it, And if
(18:00):
it can be prevented or at the very least, you know, mitigated,
then doing that as a province to again keep us
socializing as much as possible, but as safely as we can.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Yeah, yeah, I really, I really did think my dad's
got long haul COVID. I certainly was affected by COVID
in a really I find it so bizarre the two
things that are different for me Now. I drink a
stronger coffee because the kind of coffee I had before
I cannot taste. Yes, tastes like water to me. Now
(18:38):
I can't taste the flavor in it, so the richness
has gone up. And I can't smell the perfume I
used to wear. I wear a stronger perfume now. Those
are the only two things that seem to have been affected.
Speaker 6 (18:51):
So you still taste lasa onia. Yes, that's all it matters.
That's all it matters.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
I really did think though, that I certainly am more
mindful of when I'm doing a show like the comedy Kabernet,
we do a bloom if I've got the sniffles, if
someone in the cast I'm more mindful of, like I'm
going to stay home. My throat's feeling weird and I'm
going to stay home. I thought more people would be
(19:22):
doing that, and it doesn't seem to be the case,
because it seems to be like, well, hands are claimed,
we're all done, let's go back to it. And it's
but I see germs differently now, like like you go
in the matrix, like I.
Speaker 6 (19:34):
See all to be. To be very honest, I think
I think this has shaken. It's shaken our foundation, you know,
of productivity in a capitalist society, right, because I mean
I'm ashamed to admit it, but yeah, I've wanted to
work with a cold before COVID, you know. Yeah, I've
(19:58):
want to work, you know, probably on the tail end
of a flu because it's like, oh my god, I
can't afford to miss any time away. I'm going to
have so much to do, so many people depend on you.
You know you're gonna be so behind, right, I mean
we are judged sadly, you know, and primarily economically based
on our productivity, right, So you want to shine, right,
(20:23):
So we have to sort of reframe that and we
have to sort of reframe it in a way where
we're thinking again, not just about us shining, you know,
and our promotion as individuals or our accolades from an
employer as individuals, but the accomplishment of taking care of
community over self. Right, And that's where staying home now
(20:47):
with a cold or flu after we've had a killer,
you know, pandemic ripped through our world, that's even a
bigger accomplishment, right than the shame of missing those two
days that we usually would have pushed ourselves through.
Speaker 3 (21:03):
That's all I mean. Goodness, right, yeah, goodness. I can't
think of the number of times that uh, you know,
going to work on a TV set, I went just
as sick as a dog, but just stuff had to
get done. And at the time, it wasn't you know,
entirely possible to do some of that job remotely because
(21:24):
you did have to be on set exactly, you know,
but everyone was like, you know, stay away yet do
all these things, and yes, yeah, and you know.
Speaker 6 (21:34):
I remember in my grad school days, oh my goodness. Look,
I mean there were times when I missed school, when
I was hospitalized, when I was in the er, literally,
other than that, I was there, like you know what
I mean, I would I would be the person to
push through, and that was that was a sign of
(21:55):
success for me to be able to push through, and
to some extent, I know that that is still who
I am, you know, And that's a whole other conversation
and all that. I got to try and get a
better mark in that one of these days, you know
what I mean. But when it comes to illness, we can't.
We can't think of our own frankly egotistical needs for
(22:18):
a pat on the back. Oh my god, Jill, such
a great employee, right, you got to think about everyone
else or student, You got to think about everyone else
around you now in ways that we didn't have to before.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Exactly. And I realized that there are some people that
financially can't afford to do that. And I think that's
even more important that for those of us who do
have that option of choice, either working remotely or just resting,
we got to think about that person in the community likes.
Speaker 6 (22:51):
And that's why, you know, not to be a demi down.
That's why we thought so damn hard for paid sick days,
you know, especially at the heights of this pandemic, when,
as you said, you know, essential workers, single parents, you know,
the folks who stayed open so we could be at home,
(23:12):
you know, on holidays and whatnot. They didn't have many
of them paid some days. Right, So you've had people,
you know, making that tough choice. And I mean one
could argue that there was no choice. It was the
illusion of choice to to quote unquote go to work sick.
But they had to write it was that or not
(23:35):
pay your rent, or not have food on your table,
or not be able to afford that month's medication. You know.
So these are these are choices that ideally we would
live in a society where people would never have to
make those decisions for themselves or their community in harm's way.
(23:55):
You know that that's when you know, those those wonderful
people who become elected at all levels of government, who
make the rules that governed out our society should be
able to step in and do what's right, you know,
Partisanship aside personal political agenda, whether we hate each other
(24:16):
or not aside, but just do what's right for our
communities to keep them safe and to keep them well.
At a time when our mental health and physical health
was definitely an economic health laid in the balance.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
And yeah, no, definitely. Back in those early days, I
was running through my local sobs down at Young and
Davisville like it was a video game. I was like,
I am someone who loves like I love food, to peruse,
see what's new, ingredient? What can I do? I had
a list, I was timing myself. I'm like and go,
(24:56):
I've never been so scared. ALM goodness is.
Speaker 6 (25:00):
The other thing. And let's also remember that some of
us had the luxury of ordering online, were able to
get our groceries delivered to our front door in some cases.
And then we had our seniors, you know, and we
had those who you know, in some cases may have
been on ods poverty or ow who may or may
(25:22):
not have had a cell phone, or may or may
not have had data on their cell phone. And I
just remember, I remember at different times during the pandemic,
us as a community stepping up, you know, people delivering
food to seniors, you know, people making those runs. You know,
(25:45):
it was a time where you saw a side of
our humanity. I mean, you certainly saw we saw other
sides too much air to on today's talk, but you
also saw some good sides of humanity where people were
really looking out for strangers, for people that they had
lived to for years and never really got to know.
(26:07):
But all of a sudden there was a purpose for
standing on the sidewalk and dropping off those groceries and
you know, oh totally and making sure they got them,
you know.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
Yeah. No, I remember being on my balcony and the
way that my building was. The balconies were jagged, and
I just that was my out door time because I do.
I have for years worked from home, so working from
home starting in twenty twenty wasn't a big deal. But
I remember there was a kid in the balcony above me.
(26:38):
I became friends with the family. I had never talked
to them and all the time I had lived there,
because we had never seen each other. We went for
like a couple of you know, when we were able
to gather, when for a couple of dinners up there
before I ended up moving. But yeah, there were those
nice little, nice little right spots.
Speaker 6 (27:00):
I remember the banging of the pots and pans, work
of the frontline healthcare workers. You know. I'm at young
an Egg, as you may know or remember, and I
can tell you we're surrounded by apartments and I remember
like literally crying one of those evenings because it was
like wow, like everybody and their mother were banging those pots. Yeah,
(27:23):
you know, it didn't matter. It didn't matter what your
political stripes were to some extent, it didn't matter what
your socioeconomic background was. To some extent, it didn't matter
what your experience may or may not have been to
that moment. But there was an understanding. These people were
(27:46):
going into we're going into the hospitals, and they were
risking their lives to an extent to keep our loved ones,
loved ones who you could not see exactly, remember exactly.
I'll never forget the guy that we spoke with and
(28:10):
were subsequently able to help him with something related to
his to his loved one. You know, folks standing on
the sidewalk trying to get a glimpse of their parents
and long term care homes, you know, waving through the window,
signs in the window, like oh do you remember those
news stories.
Speaker 3 (28:30):
I lived across the street from an old folks home,
and so I saw those families standing outside, ye, and
like the love that was I there's a restaurant on
Mount Pleasant on the bell.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
Size, Yes, yes, yes, is.
Speaker 3 (28:48):
It still there because I live in a different part
of TOWNA but I hope it is.
Speaker 6 (28:54):
Yeah, I think it is.
Speaker 3 (28:56):
I remember when they were able to do takeaway or
take out as most North Americans say, my mom's British
is different. But I remember when we were able to
do that and I got my wine, I had the meal.
It may or may not have been lasagna, which seems
(29:18):
to be the secret word of today. But I remember
calling the restaurant and thanking them because I realized how
much I missed that experience of someone coming up to
me and saying, how's your food, ha's everything? How you doing?
And I called them just to thank them, almost in tears.
It was you, as I say, like as someone who
(29:42):
works from home, the little breaks in my day of
leaving the apartment, of going to my neighborhood diner to
get a meal, the mornings when I would go down
to like the Starbucks or wherever and get a coffee,
I missed those little tiny interactions that I didn't realize
meant so much to me.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
Oh, I know, I know exactly what you mean. It was.
It was a It was a direct hit on our
personal and daily routines. And I think some of us
are sort of still in a place of figuring out
how to rework those routines, how to recreate them, how
(30:24):
to reimagine them. I mean there were also some people
who you know, hit the star of success during the pandemic.
You know, there are many influencers. You know, you look
at some folks on Instagram who had no followers or
a thousand followers who now have a thousand followers, right,
who are now you know, it's their full time job.
(30:44):
It's lucrative, right. So there are all kinds of experiences,
but I think I think for many of us there's
still that Okay, you know what part of my previous
self do I want to bring forward into this remat
You know, what can I what did I learn from
that experience? And how is it going to inform how
(31:06):
I use my time, how I schedule my time, how
I negotiate my time with all the folks that want
to connect with you, with me, with communities. You know
some of the things I'm thinking of, And I mean,
you know, I'd be remiss if I didn't say, during
the pandemic, the government always used to say, it's you know,
(31:28):
first hit, hardest hit, last open or whatever they're saying,
was artists, you know, artists, authors, musicians, dance teachers who
transitioned onto to zoom and online education, comics like I mean,
(31:48):
you know, filmmakers. There were so many creatives who sort
of helped all of us through this difficult time, you know,
and that is why, you know, whether it's Queen's Park
or whether it's in our community, we can't forget artists.
We can't forget cultural workers. We can't forget the people
(32:09):
who made us laugh when they themselves were probably struggling
and trying to figure out their next move as well.
You know, and I know this to be true because
I know, you know of symphonies of you know, lespians,
of authors, of dance instructors who were you know, bringing
(32:33):
the joy. Yeah, the kids bringing the joy to seniors
who hadn't seen their loved ones in a long time. Yeah,
you know, bringing the joy to kids who you know,
were sailing on steam and all of a sudden they
lost their ayah right, So yeah, it was a time.
(32:54):
I can't lie to you. I am still I still
hold a sense of resentment of like, oh my gosh,
all those good years that you know, we lost connection,
But I guess it allowed us a chance to figure
out new ways of connecting. It sort of showed you
who your community and who your friends were and are,
(33:16):
you know, and it gave us a little bit of
time of rest and a chance to reflect. Maybe. But
I mean again that us is relative because for some
people they never stopped. As you said, Kelly, you know,
they were frontline and it was just go, go go.
(33:36):
There was no necessarily time for journaling.
Speaker 3 (33:41):
We should all make time for journaling.
Speaker 6 (33:43):
But on the grass the Queen's part protesting, I mean
to some extent our privileges, you know that some people
did not have access to.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
Yeah, yeah, no, no, I joke about we should all journal,
But there is something to making time for yourself, even
the tiniest little moment. I think it's it's just as important,
but you know, as as one is able. But I
will say, like for me, what I've sort of taken
(34:18):
of being an artist and being online into the quote
unquote real world. Although I would argue that what we're
doing right now is real. It's just this alternate way
of doing things. Yeah, but what's really important to me
now is it made me realize and I knew it before,
(34:42):
but how inaccessible things are Toronto. We love our stares.
So that's one thing like going forward, I want to
be part of, you know, the both bodied community that
is working to make all spaces accessible for art sets.
(35:08):
I think, like you know, five year Kelly wants to
wants to have more, more shows where anyone can attend.
We talked about your past self. What do you see
Jill in five years?
Speaker 6 (35:21):
Oh man?
Speaker 3 (35:22):
What is Jill twenty thirty doing, Kelly?
Speaker 6 (35:30):
I I'm not one hundred percent sure, you know, is
five years from now Jill? You know? Is she a
member of provincial parliament? Is she in government? Is she lecturing,
you know, at one of our fine institutions. Is she
(35:50):
running a catterie somewhere literally? You know goodness? Is she
working on her memoir? Is she finally taking piano lessons?
I loved piano. I used to play piano as a child,
and life happened. That's a whole other story. Yeah, you know,
(36:13):
I am not sure. I'm not sure. I mean, I
certainly have I've got a lot of plans and a
lot of opportunities, but I'm also open to seeing how
things go. What I know, though, is I'll still be
in some shape, in some way, shape or form, telling
(36:37):
stories of the community I'm in, whatever community that may be.
I will still be the advocate avocating for for better
and you know, for more opportunities for those who are
you know, most disadvantaged or most located away for opportunities.
(37:00):
You know what I mean. Those things don't change, you know.
I'll still be loving my friends and family and my
partner and my cats. Yeah yeah, I still taking an
arts however I can, however I can, you know, so yeah.
Speaker 3 (37:19):
Yeah, No, I like that. I like being open. I
like the idea of options and looking at possibility. Maybe
twenty twenty five, it might be possible that this might
be a year where you have the doctor Jill Andrew wine.
Maybe there's a wine that's in near future, Jail. I
(37:40):
love asking I love asking you for this. If you
had a wine label, Yes, what on earth would you
call it?
Speaker 6 (37:48):
Oh my god, what would be called? You know, like
the first thing that came to my mind. And you're
gonna think I'm like two sheets of the wind already
to be like, now, yeah, that's really original. My friends
(38:08):
will be like, oh yeah, of course it had to
do with the damn cat, But you know, I feel
like it or it could be per you know, something
very luscious. Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (38:17):
You could have both. You could have a white and
red yes.
Speaker 6 (38:21):
Now, But you know I gotta say to you when
you're talking about comedy and art spaces and loving our stairs,
I just have to say, that's where funding comes in. Right,
That's where funding from different levels of government to help
(38:43):
modernize our spaces, to make them accessible for seniors, for
folks at every life stage who can have different ways
of mobility comes in. It's important. That's how we keep up.
That's how we allow our dollars that people work really
hard for to stay in our local arts communities a
(39:05):
little longer. Right. So that's yeah. On December fourth last year,
we had a debate. I debated a motion where I
was really calling for some meaningful and sustainable funding to
Ontario Arts Council, Experience Ontario, Ontario Braids all kinds of
folks you know, that have our programs that have been
(39:28):
chronically underfunded. That motion was denied. It was not successful,
but the success of that motion was the dozens of
artists and cultural workers who came to on that day
witnessed the debate, who saw across party lines because I
had I had, of course NDP official opposition support for
(39:51):
the motion, but I also had you know, green and
liberal and independent support for the motion. The government did
not support it. But the fight continues, It continues, and
it has to because at the end of the day,
as I said in that debate, artists and cultural workers,
this is not a hobby. Just as we respect our
skill trades people, our doctors, our nurses, well, that could
(40:15):
be argued that this government hasn't really respected them per se,
our teachers and education workers alike as well. But they
are workers. They are workers. They are workers at the core,
and during an affordability crisis, they need to be able
to turn their key in that lock and it needs
to be able to open.
Speaker 3 (40:34):
Yeah. Yeah, I would love if the day would come
where people would stop saying to someone who is an artist,
and I know I've heard it myself, but when are
you going to get a real job? Oh? Can we
stop that.
Speaker 6 (40:47):
I'll tell you. And this is part of the education
that has to happen, right, This is why you have
organizations and I'm forgetting there any in this moment. Oh
my goodness. Association of educators, musicians, music teachers, dance teachers, theater,
(41:11):
drama teachers, you know, like code for instance. This is
why you have organizations that are saying, you know, we
have to emphasize that a in statements in STEM like
we have to add the ay, yeah, it can't just
be science, technology, engineering, and math. We have to recognize
that arts cut across that. They really and you know,
(41:34):
if we give arts a chance, we actually realize that science, technology, engineering,
and math are also emphasized in the arts as well too.
Like that's that's the irony, right, I'm trying. Now, now
I'm going to be like.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Now I've got goosey is I love this? I want
I want that infused into the world because then number
of times I have heard that, right, it's soul crushing.
And then I think, as we talked about going through
something so that has just affected every one of us,
(42:14):
you realize the importance of talking of art, of music,
of dance and expressing and that's healing too. It's just
as important as knowing how to count and how to
build and yeah.
Speaker 6 (42:32):
Exactly reach out Like I mean, I would tell any
parent because having been a child and youth worker and
you know worked in schools. You know that was often
something we heard. Yeah this is a hobby. Yeah that's
an elective, you know, but the real courses are right, right,
(42:53):
right to break that narrative. I mean, this is an
industry that contributes what is it twenty seven to twenty
eight billion dollars to one tear is GDP. It is
responsible for upwards of three hundred thousand jobs. And you know,
one chat with anyone from like the Ontario what is
it Music Educators Association, I want to say, or the
(43:15):
Council of Drama and Dance Educators, any of these organizations,
you will see that the STEM subjects have a place
there too, and the arts have a place. But we
need our elected officials to start saying steam. So whenever
I can, I come from the generation of STEM. Yes,
(43:38):
that's what we said, right, So it's a shift for
me too, and sometimes I get it wrong. But anytime
I can say steam, I do so. I do so,
you know, I do so because it's important to emphasize
that they are all viable career paths and that there
(43:59):
is is a public health component to arts and culture.
Absolutely not public arts. I mean, just think of what
it's like to be walking, you know, and and see
a bit of limage.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
That's I love all the murals in your area, like
all the murals on the building that there's one now
on Chaplain ye with Charlie Chaplin. I love the bits
of art that just make my eyes dance and just
give me some color.
Speaker 6 (44:29):
I literally shared, Wow, it's so funny that you said
that because I didn't. I didn't tell you that one.
I'm trying to remember to.
Speaker 3 (44:37):
Read your newsletter, Jill, okay.
Speaker 6 (44:41):
But yeah I saw that and it it it stopped
me in my tracks. Yeah, I'm trying to remember the
exact words love like it's relaxed or whatever. I'm trying.
I'm trying to actually find it now because I took
a picture of it.
Speaker 3 (44:59):
Yeah, it's said listeners, it's yeah, it's something to catch
if you're in Toronto. It's just really it was.
Speaker 6 (45:06):
It was beautiful and then it stopped me literally in
my tracks on Eglinton. Yeah. I then looked up you know,
some some uh some pros by Charlie Chaplin, and I
was like, I want to share this. I want to
share this.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
Well, while you're looking that up, I'm going to give
the uh We're going to do an affirmative terror card
reading before, so I'm going to get the card shuffled.
Why while you're looking that up?
Speaker 6 (45:33):
You know how madly I've wanted to do it, but
cervous of what I'll be told.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
So listeners, if you want your own pack of listen
bitch terror cards Affirmative terror cards.
Speaker 6 (45:46):
But you bought them, loved them also the best, getting
a pack for myself as well too, I had to.
Speaker 3 (45:59):
They're the best cards. Toronto based company. You can buy
them online or if you're if you're around Saint Clair
and Christy in Toronto. You can't buy them at Bloomber Studio.
Speaker 6 (46:09):
All right, where is my shall we? Yes?
Speaker 3 (46:15):
All right? We got three cards to pull for you, Jill.
So this will either affirm would we have talked about
today or maybe send you something into the for a
future newsletter or to bring to Parliament. Let's let's see
what we got you can take to the office. Here
we go, okay, Card number one, Jill? Yes, all right,
(46:36):
listen bitch no one else I respectively, I love you,
I just it's what the card says. Okay, listen, bitch,
no one else is no one else is dwelling on
your mistakes, move the f on you see.
Speaker 6 (46:52):
And I wish I could believe that, but I tell
you in politics, oh my god, Kelly, yea behaters want
to hate.
Speaker 3 (47:01):
Oh comedy two friend.
Speaker 6 (47:03):
Your loves love and your supporter support. But god darn
it those haters, and they can be like mold on
a bathroom tub, really hard to get rid.
Speaker 3 (47:18):
Yes, we will manifest.
Speaker 6 (47:20):
This, not pay attention to but yeah, you're very right.
That's a tough one. But that's a really fun one
for your blood pressure.
Speaker 3 (47:29):
Yes, all right. Card number two listen, bitch, your worth
is not tied to your productivity.
Speaker 6 (47:38):
We talked about that a bit today. Yeah, that's a
big one.
Speaker 3 (47:42):
That's a big one any career. I think it's important.
All right, last card before we let you go, and listeners,
I will put Jill's socials in the chat so you
can give her a follow get the awesome newsletter that
she puts out because that's a good one. Uh. And
you're just a good person, so thank you for doing this. Okay,
last card, listen, bitch, I love this. Your wildest dreams
(48:08):
deserve a chance.
Speaker 6 (48:10):
Yes, I so agree. I agree. I still I think
if I snapped my fingers. If I could be Alice
in Wonderland for like a minute, I would probably I
would probably be a vet and I'd have like a
cat clinic. But then on weekends or on certain holidays,
(48:32):
I'd also like moonlight as a big cat veterinarian as well.
But I tell you, one of these days I will
have a cat sanctuary. I don't know where, I don't
know when, but it will happen.
Speaker 3 (48:45):
It will be put it into the world. Thank you
for everything you do. Thanks for being here.
Speaker 6 (48:51):
Thank you for what you do for our community all
across the city. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (48:56):
Pressure Color and Wine is hosted, produced, written all the
things by me Kelly's and Nichols, with technical assistance by
Matt Rdill and original theme music is by George Westerholme.
Speaker 3 (49:13):
If you like the podcast, and I.
Speaker 5 (49:15):
Certainly hope you do, please rate and review.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you're listening right now.
If you have any suggestions of a guest you want
me to invite on or a drink you'd like me
to try, please leave a message on our socials on Instagram.
Speaker 5 (49:32):
We are at Holler and Wine.
Speaker 3 (49:38):
This has been a tape deck Media production, Thank you
for listening,
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
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