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 some gin and sonic with actor, producer Liz Johnston. Liz is an award-winning actor and improviser from Toronto, who has performed on the renowned Second City Mainstage and as a Repertory Player at Bad Dog Theatre Company. Alongside her creative partner Ruth Goodwin, She was nominated for a Canadian Comedy Award for her co-created show Entrances & Exits, and just finished performing in Second City Toronto’s Rudolph Runs Wild and Knife Fight Theatre's Invasion: Christmas Carol. Liz’s work spans stage, television, voice acting, and innovative live experiences, including the acclaimed telephonic improv show The Ministry of Mundane Mysteries featured in The New York Times. On screen, you can catch her on shows like Apple TV's Murderbot, Nickelodeon's Star Falls, and CBC’s Murdoch Mysteries. Most recently, you can hear Liz’s voice work in the best-selling game Lil' Guardsman. In this episode, Amanda and Liz discuss the auditioning process, how becoming a mother has changed (and hasn’t changed!) her career in the performing arts, and how to maintain a successful creative working partnership with friends. Mentions from this episode… ~ Shh I'm Watching a Movie (podcast) - Episode 39 – Armageddon w/ Liz Johnston -  ~ Martyr! (novel) ~ How to be both (novel) ~ Isola (novel) ~ Orlando (novel) ~ Liquid Courage - Ep 67. Nadine Djoury (actor, writer, director) - audio episode, video episode ~ Make ‘Em Laugh ~ The Court Jester (movie)  ~ Ruth Goodwin  ~ Murderbot (series) ~ Sarah Hillier (listen to her on Liquid Courage!) ~ Paloma Nuñez (listen to her on Liquid Courage!) ~ Christy Bruce  ~ Natalie Metcalfe (listen to her on Liquid Courage!) ~ Jess Bryson  ~ Aurora Browne (listen to her on Liquid Courage!) ~ Julie Nolke (listen to her on Liquid Courage!) ~ Hollywood Reporter roundtable Jessie Buckley clip  ~ Greta Lee ~ Heated Rivalry (series) ~ Liquid Courage - Ep 64. Nadine Bhabha (actor, writer, producer) - audio episode, video episode ~ Mabel’s Fables (bookstore)  ~ Hanna Puley    Terms we mentioned… ~ “‘Bad Dog Theatre” - a popular live comedy venue and comedy school in Toronto ~ House Co.” / “Tour Co.” - Various cast grouping at Second City Toronto, a live comedy venue and school in Toronto ~ “Comedy Bar East” - a popular live comedy venue (and comedy school!) in Toronto at Danforth/Main, with Comedy Bar West being at Ossington/Bloor.    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let’s Connect!  Liquid Courage - click here!  Amanda Pereira (host) - click here!  Liz Johnston (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!

A special episode where host Amanda Pereira shares some of the most impactful moments from each episode released in 2025.   Click below to listen to any of the episodes from 2025 on Apple Podcasts: Episode 61 with actor, writer, creator Paige Evans. Episode 62 with casting director Colleen Rush. Episode 63 with actor, writer, and content creator Julie Nolke. Episode 64 with actor, writer, producer Nadine Bhabha. Episode 65 with comedian Laura Ramoso. Episode 66 with drag queen, actress, and model Makayla Couture. Episode 67 with actor, writer, director Nadine Djoury.   Or click here to listen anywhere you get your podcasts, and click here to watch any of the episodes from 2025!   ***There’s still 3 more episodes to be released as part of Season 5 - next episode comes out Wednesday January 14, 2026!   HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~   Let’s Connect!    Liquid Courage - click here! Amanda Pereira (host) - 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!