The Liquid Courage Podcast

In today’s episode, Amanda drinks a Cutwater Lime Margarita with drag queen, actress, and model Makayla Couture. Makayla is a Toronto-born performer whose artistry began in the halls of Earl Haig Secondary School, where she trained as a theatre major in the Claude Watson program. After discovering drag as a powerful form of self-expression, she skyrocketed onto the national stage, being featured on one of the most famous episodes of Canada’s Drag Race, in Season 2, becoming a runner-up contestant on OUTtv’s Call Me Mother, and most recently securing second place on Canada’s Drag Race Season 5. Makayla’s work extends outside of drag as well, including her appearance on Crave’s Battle of the Generations game show, and being featured in the Peabody award-winning documentary Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story. In this episode, Amanda and Makayla discuss Makayla’s experience on Canada’s Drag Race, what it’s like gaining fame at such a young age, and all the many facets of Makayla Walker — the artist behind Makayla Couture, drag icon.   Mentions from this episode…   ~ Crab Boil ~ Co-Star Astrology ~ Chani Astrology ~ Documentary about Michelle Ross: “Toronto's legendary drag queen: Michelle Ross, unknown icon” ~ “Guardians of the Aspis” by Sarah L. Rose (Canadian author! self published!) ~ @paintedbyesther   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let’s Connect!    Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Makayla Couture (guest) - @makayla.couture on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter!   ⇒ 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 some sparkling water with actor, writer, and producer Nadine Bhabha. Nadine is an award-winning writer, actor, and producer from Toronto. She’s written for This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Children Ruin Everything, and Crave’s upcoming comedy Slo Pitch. She’s best known for her performances on Letterkenny (Hulu/Crave), The Holiday Shift (CBS), One More Time (CBC), and This Hour Has 22 Minutes (CBC). A three-time CSA nominee, Nadine continues to develop projects in Canada and the U.S., committed to writing and portraying hilarious, nuanced female narratives.   In this episode, Amanda and Nadine discuss building a career in Canadian comedy, the creative power that comes from saying no, and the importance of community and friendship in sustaining a life in the arts. Mentions from this episode…   ~ Letterkenny ~ The Town (podcast) ~ Script Notes (podcast) ~ Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent ~ Britt Lower's Severance audition ~ The Studio ~ High Potential ~ Settle Down ~ This Hour Has 22 Minutes ~ Children Ruin Everything ~ Slo Pitch ~ Sweat (by Nadine Bhabha) ~ Comedy Bar Bloor (west) & Comedy Bar Danforth (east) ~ Soulpepper Theatre ~ Canadian Stage ~ Coal Mine Theatre ~ Spare Parts (podcast) ~ The Office Movers   Terms we mentioned… “WGC” - stands for the Writers Guild of Canada, a professional association for screenwriters in Canada “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   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let’s Connect!    Liquid Courage - click here!  Amanda Pereira (host) - click here!  Nadine Bhabha (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 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 LaCroix Limoncello with casting director Colleen Rush. Colleen has been working in casting for over a decade and is the Co-Casting Director at Larissa Mair Casting & Associates. In 2024, she launched her own company, Colleen Rush Casting. A four-time Canadian Screen Award nominee and 2025 winner for her work on Late Bloomer Season 1, Colleen has cast projects for major platforms including Netflix, Crave, CBC, Treehouse, Amazon, TVO, Hallmark, Lifetime, OWN, Prime Video, Hulu, and Paramount. She is passionate about discovering new talent and thrives on close collaboration with creators, producers, directors, and actors to bring the best talent to every role. In this episode, Amanda and Colleen break down the casting process, discuss the impact of self tapes post-pandemic, and Colleen shares her #1 tip when filming a self tape!   Mentions from this episode… Gangnam Project Late Bloomer Yoga with Adriene North of North Silo  Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser  Sort Of The Porter Star Slade   Terms we mentioned… “Breakdown Services” - a subscription-based platform for talent representatives (agents and managers) to manage clients, view casting notices, and submit their clients to audition for those projects “Hey Lucy” - an Italian restaurant in downtown Toronto! “Milo Casting” and “Jigsaw” - two casting houses in Toronto “MOW” - stands for “Movie of the Week”, which is a film made to be released on television, rather than a theatrical release   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let’s Connect!    Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - click here! Colleen Rush (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!