The Liquid Courage Podcast

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some Zevia cream soda and root beer with writer, director, and producer Clara Altimas. Clara is a writer, director, and producer originally from Montreal, now based between Toronto and Los Angeles. She serves as showrunner, executive producer, and director on Crave’s The Office Movers, created by Jay and Trey Richards, and is now working on season 3 of the series. She was previously a writer, producer, and director on CBC’s Strays and Kim’s Convenience. In addition to her television work, Clara has written and directed numerous short films, and is currently in development on her first feature film. She has also taken part in several major industry development programs, including the Canadian Film Centre’s Writer’s Lab and the Reykjavik International Film Festival’s Talent Lab. Before all of that, Clara started out as an actor, training in Meisner with the late Jacqueline McClintock, studying scene study and script analysis with Larry Moss, and performing improv at UCB in Los Angeles and Toronto’s Second City. She credits her love of story and character to her extensive training as an actor, and brings those experiences into her writing and directing work. In this episode, Amanda and Clara discuss the shift from actor to writer/director, how she got started in writing for TV, and how she navigates the pressures of comparison and self-doubt in the entertainment industry. Mentions from this episode… ~ This is John (short film by Jay & Mark Duplass) ~ Sleep Away (short film by Clara Altimas) ~ Christmas Green (short film by Clara Altimas) ~ Allan (Al) Magee ~ Heated Rivalry (series) Terms we mentioned… ~ “Meisner” - an acting approach developed by Sanford Meisner that focuses on "living truthfully under imaginary circumstances" ~ “Save the Cat” - a popular script writing book by Blake Snyder ~ “Punch up” - a term used to describe the process of adding more/better jokes to a script, or sharpening/heightening the existing jokes in a script ~ “Canadian Film Centre (CFC)” - https://cfccreates.com/ ~ “TIFF” - stands for the Toronto International Film Festival, one of the world's largest and most prestigious public-facing film festivals ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Clara Altimas (guest) - click here! ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks a negroni with actor and filmmaker Chloe Van Landschoot. Chloe is an actor, filmmaker and a registered nurse, currently based out of Toronto. She stars as Kristi on MGM+’s sci-fi horror From, recently led Houston Bone’s queer horror feature Son of Sara: Volume 1, and is the creator behind the award-winning short film Tidal, now streaming on CBC Gem. She also has two films of her own currently in development, so keep an eye out for news of those projects! Chloe’s experiences working in healthcare deeply inform her work as a storyteller, both on screen and behind the camera. She co-founded Collective h’ARTS, a Collective of Healthcare Artists dedicated to building community, fostering creative expression, and providing a platform for healthcare workers to share their artistry. In this episode, Amanda and Chloe discuss Chloe’s experience playing Kristi on From for 4 seasons now, how nursing shapes and feeds into her creative instincts, and her creative process from building a character to taking care of yourself when creating in the horror genre. Mentions from this episode… ~ Collective h’ARTS ~ From (tv series) ~ The Pitt (tv series) ~ Aviva Armour-Ostroff ~ Aviva Armour-Ostroff’s Lune ~ Son of Sara: Volume 1 (film) ~ Liquid Courage - Ep 46. Sam Coyle (writer, director) - audio episode, video episode ~ Azure Barton’s “A a | a B : B E N D” ~ “Public Consumption”, created by Lauren Gillis and Alaine Hutton ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Chloe Van Landschoot (guest) - click here! ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks a smoothie with actor, writer, and director Nadine Djoury. Nadine is a Second City Mainstage alumna who wrote and performed in three critically acclaimed revues and recently directed Rizz the Season, playing at Second City Toronto until January 4, 2026. She currently writes for CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show, and co-created, wrote, and starred in ABC.com/CBC Comedy's web series Newborn Moms. You will definitely recognize her from basically every show ever, including DMV, What We Do in the Shadows, Ghosts, Children Ruin Everything, My Dead Mom, The Z-Suite, Workin’ Moms, Good Witch, Kim’s Convenience, Transplant, Baroness Von Sketch Show, The Beaverton …see what I mean? (I could keep going). You can catch Nadine performing in Holiday! An Improvised Musical, where the cast improves an entirely new holiday musical every single night, on at Factory Theatre in Toronto until December 21, 2025! In this episode, Amanda and Nadine discuss the realities of working in television comedy, when to advocate for yourself on set, and navigating self-image under the spotlight. Mentions from this episode… ~ Newborn Moms ~ Transplant (Nadine’s episode: Season 2, Episode 7) ~ Rizz the Season at Second City Toronto (running until January 4, 2026) ~ The Great Canadian Baking Show ~ Mae Martin ~ Robby Hoffman ~ Lisa Gilroy ~ Dropout.tv ~ Veronika Slowikowska ~ Steph Tolev ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Nadine Djoury (guest) - click here! ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some non-alcoholic beer with comedian Laura Ramoso. Laura is a German-Italian comedian best known for her viral online characters, including “German Mom”, “Italian Dad”, “Girl who just got back from…”, and "Chiara". She has amassed over 3 million followers, sold out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and London’s Soho Theatre, and completed a 60+ show, sold-out world tour with her third live special, Sit Up Straight. She was named a 2023 Just For Laughs New Face, and recently opened for Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on their Restless Leg tour at the Wang Theatre in Boston. She is now gearing up for her 2026 international tour with her fourth solo special The Calm Down Tour. In this episode, Amanda and Laura discuss Laura’s journey from classical theatre training to falling in love with sketch and improv, navigating the pressure of an audience’s expectations, and the difference in creating comedy for the stage versus online. Mentions from this episode… ~ Heavy Weight (podcast) https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/heavyweight Terms we mentioned… “Beat out / Beat it out” - refers to the process of breaking a comedy idea into key moment-by-moment story or joke beats before writing it out fully. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Laura Ramoso (guest) - click here! Laura’s Work in Progress shows (Dec 2025 in Toronto) Laura’s The Calm Down Tour (2026) ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks a spicy margarita mocktail with actor, writer, and content creator Julie Nolke. Julie is a CSA-nominated performer and the creator of her self-titled YouTube channel with nearly 1 million subscribers. She’s best known for her viral series Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self (~65 million views), and has earned herself multiple accolades including three Webby Awards, two Streamy nominations, and two Buffer Festival Excellence in Writing awards. You’ll also recognize Julie from her on-screen performances in Run the ‘Burbs (CBC/Hulu), the Emmy Award winning Workin’ Moms (CBC/Netflix), Murdoch Mysteries (CBC), What We Do in the Shadows (FX), or her leading role in The Wedding Rule (W Network). Most recently, she is fresh off the western tour of her sold out one woman sketch show: Dying on the Outside. In this episode, Amanda and Julie discuss navigating career shifts in the aftermath of viral success, how new motherhood has reshaped Julie’s identity and creative priorities, and the ongoing journey of redefining what ambition and success look like. Mentions from this episode… ~ Julie’s YouTube channel ~ Julie’s I Solved the Housing Crisis sketch ~ Julie’s Explaining the Pandemic to my Past Self series ~ Run the ‘Burbs ~ Andrew Phung ~ Rakhee Morzaria (listen to Rakhee’s Liquid Courage episode here!) ~ Wendy Litner ~ Gwynne Phillips ~ Fight Night by Miriam Toews Terms we mentioned… “ACTRA” - stands for the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, and is a national union that represents and aims to protect eligible performers in Canada's recorded entertainment industries “AFBS” - stands for the Actra Fraternal Benefit Society, and is an organization that provides insurance, retirement, and health benefits to members of the entertainment industry, primarily those who belong to ACTRA and the Writers Guild of Canada “22 Minutes” - refers to This Hour Has 22 Minutes, an award-winning Canadian comedy series focusing on Canadian politics and current events. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Julie Nolke (guest) - click here! ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some matcha with actor, writer, and creator Paige Evans. Paige’s work has premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, she’s won three Best Actress Awards at film festivals across the globe, and she’s built a dedicated audience of over 1.6 million followers on TikTok. You can catch her in Sorry About the Demon on Shudder, Something You Said Last Night on CBC Gem, and starring in her new series Revival, airing on Syfy (CTV) and streaming on Crave and Peacock. In this episode, Amanda and Paige discuss the emotional highs and lows of auditioning in a self-tape era, navigating rejection and self-worth in an industry that often feels silent, and using social media as a tool for visibility, vulnerability, and community. Mentions from this episode… Couples Therapy Building the Band Bet Something You Said Last Night Revival Rat Race (Amanda’s improv comedy troupe) Terms we mentioned… “Indies” - refers to an independent film, which is a film produced and distributed outside of the major film studio system, often by independent companies or individual filmmakers “Deadline article” - Deadline is an online news site that often announces the new cast of an upcoming series or film “TIFF” - the Toronto International Film Festival (to find all the Canadian films at TIFF, go to https://tiff.net/films and filter for “Canadian” under Genre) “ADR” - an acronym for “Automated Dialogue Replacement”, which is a post-production process where an actor re-records lines in a studio to replace or improve audio that was captured during filming ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Let’s Connect! Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Paige Evans (guest) - Instagram! TikTok! ⇒ To donate to the show, click here! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The music in this episode is thanks to HookSounds. You can check out their tracks here: www.hooksounds.com. Use the discount code LIQUIDCOURAGE10 for 10% off a HookSounds subscription!* *If you use this code, I earn a small commission — so you’ll be supporting the podcast, too!

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some Christmas tea with aura photographer and the founder of Rose Aura, Evelyn Salvarinas to discuss aura readings, energy healing, and (of course) the magical world of Bravo reality TV! Evelyn is an aura photographer and the founder of Rose Aura here in Toronto. Originally from Toronto, Evelyn studied in New York City where she earned a Masters in Fine Art History at Sotheby’s Institute. During her time in the Big Apple, she discovered the power of aura photography at the shop Magic Jewelry, and enjoyed getting her aura photographed and read as frequently as she could. When she returned home to Toronto, she searched for someone who offered film aura photography - but no one had the right camera. So, craving the healing and reflective power of readings, Evelyn set out to fill the aura photography void in Toronto. And in 2017 Rose Aura was born! Evelyn also holds a Crystal Master Certification, and uses a deep knowledge of the chakras to provide unique, informative, and comfortable mystic guidance. Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: IG @hotcoldspicy Guest - Evelyn Salvarinas: IG @roseaura.ca

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some apple flavoured Crown Royal whiskey with brand and content manager Marianna Miniotis to discuss podcasts (of course!), The Sonar Network, and self confidence. Marianna is the brand and content manager at The Sonar Podcast Network, based out of Toronto. After moving to Canada from Greece at the age of 6, Marianna studied Cultural Studies & Communications at McGill University and went on to study Marketing at the University of Toronto. Since the very beginning, Marianna has been a podcast enthusiast. She is the creator and writer behind Pod Creatures, a Toronto-based blog celebrating local podcasters. Her enthusiasm for podcasts led her to connect with The Sonar Network, an award-winning indie podcast network established in 2017 that has over 50 podcasts on its roster. She now works as the brand and content manager at Sonar and is a critical player in strategizing podcast releases, building partnership relationships, and increasing visibility. Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: insta @hotcoldspicy Guest - Marianna Miniotis: insta @marimints The Sonar Network: insta @thesonarnetwork Listen to Amanda Pereira guest on The Artists’ Blend podcast

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some White Claws with comedian and actor Rachelle Lauzon to discuss her stand-up career, the importance of being your own cheerleader, and astrology (obviously). Rachelle is a multi-faceted artist originally from London, Ontario who is now based in Toronto. Rachelle has performed stand-up comedy at comedy festivals including Just for Laughs Toronto, The Boston Comedy Festival, NXNE, The Blue Whale Comedy Festival and The Odd Block Festival. Last year, her stand-up was featured on Laugh After Dark: Live in Las Vegas which is available to watch on Tubi, and her debut comedy album Rachelle, Rachelle just premiered on all streaming platforms earlier this month. As an actor, Rachelle made her feature film debut in the Butler Brothers’ newest dark comedy Unfriending, which won Best International Feature Film at the 2023 International Cobb Film Festival. Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: IG @hotcoldspicy Guest - Rachelle Lauzon: IG @rachellelauzon

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some white wine with actor and writer Lauren Collins to discuss her time on Degrassi, pregnancy and motherhood, and what it’s like to feel recognizable but not quite famous. Lauren is an actor and writer, best known for her portrayal of Paige Michalchuk on the international hit series, Degrassi. A three-time Canadian Screen Award nominee, some highlights from Lauren’s 25-year long career include The Kroll Show, The Strain, Take the Lead starring Antonio Banderas, and Charlie Bartlett starring Robert Downey Jr.. Most recently, you can catch Lauren guest starring on What We Do In The Shadows, Pretty Hard Cases, and the Roku series SLIP from writer/director Zoe Lister-Jones. Lauren’s short film Zero Recognition, which she co-wrote and co-starred in with actor Ben Lewis. The film premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and was a Vimeo Featured Staff Pick. Their follow-up short film, Apart From Everything starring Emmy-winner Tatiana Maslany, was shown at dozens of festivals including LA Outfest and New York Newfest. The duo’s first feature film script, More Than A Friend, was selected for the CFC Comedy Lab and the prestigious BlackList Live Read at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: IG @hotcoldspicy Guest - Lauren Collins: IG @laurenfcollins

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some Caesars with comedian and actor Sarah Hillier to discuss motherhood, her dream career, and reality TV (a lot of it). Sarah is a comedian and actor currently based out of Toronto. She has been awarded multiple Canadian Comedy Awards (including Best Female Improvisor) and was also awarded Best Female Improvisor by NOW Magazine. Sarah has written and starred in 2 award-winning mainstage shows at the Second City Toronto and her comedy album with comedy partner Inessa Frantowski titled Inessa and Sarah Get Your Through The Day is available on iTunes and Spotify through Howl and Roar Records. You may recognize Sarah’s acting and voice acting from credits like Odd Squad on PBS, Transformer’s BotBots on Netflix, and The Amazing Gayl Pile on Amazon and CBC. Her new podcast The Funny Thing About Ghosts - a comedy podcast about ghosts and all things paranormal - just had its premiere yesterday, so check that out wherever you get your podcasts! Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: insta @hotcoldspicy Guest - Sarah Hillier: insta @thesarahhillier

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks some margaritas with actor and producer Tamara Almeida to discuss how Jane changed her life, how to nail an audition for a Hallmark movie, and everything Taurus energy. Tamara is a bilingual actor and producer currently based in Toronto. You can catch Tamara’s acting in series like Jane and the reboot of Ghostwriter (both on AppleTV+) and in films like Lifetime’s Secrets at the Inn, Hallmark’s Entertaining Christmas and, most recently, starring in Lifetime’s What We Do For Love alongside co-star Jake Epstein. You can hear Tamara’s voice acting in numerous acclaimed animated series including PBS’s Let’s Go Luna and the upcoming reboot of Total Drama Island coming out on HBOMax. In addition to acting, Tamara works behind the camera as a producer, writer, and editor. Looking for more of The Liquid Courage Podcast? Instagram: @liquidcouragepodcast TikTok: @liquidcouragepodcast YouTube Video Episodes & more! Reach out at www.liquidcouragepodcast.com Host - Amanda Pereira: insta @hotcoldspicy Guest - Tamara Almeida: insta @tamararubyalmeida