Half A Star Podcast

Kiss me. Just kidding! This episode is where Justin and Ben send us off into the Summer sunset by telling us some of the things they are passionate about outside of their work lives. It's weird AND revealing! Thanks to everyone who joined us for our comeback seasons! Bad ideas never felt so good.

SEX! Now that we have your attention, this episode is about chasing a dream in theatre. Where has this wacky journey lead our boys? Find out on this episode of Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good.

Are you a picky eater? One of our boys might be... or maybe both! Take your bets now as to who doesn't eat their veggies and who has a self-proclaimed diet of a raccoon. It's all in this damn dirty episode of Half a Star. Bad ideas never felt so good.

ARE YOU READY TO ROCK! I CANT HEAR YOU! Oh sorry you said "yes"? Sorry, it's loud in here, that's good that you're ready to rock. Thanks for coming. We actually have an episode about concerts that you might enjoy. It features chats about our favourite band Two Hours Traffic. You should check them out! Have a nice day! (PS Bad ideas never felt so good)

Ohhhhhh what do we have here! hehehe guilty pleasures? Are they... nasty? Only one way to find out! Hoooohooo this is going to be wild I bet! Bad ideas have never felt so good.

Can the boys handle themselves when it comes to sports ball? We find out the boys athletic history (or lack thereof) on this episode of Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good.

ALL HAIL THE MIGHTY INTERNET! This week, the boys reveal some of the strangest ads they've encountered that, according to their algorithm, they apparently would REALLY like. How weird does it get? It has a dash of TMI and spoonful of "don't go there, girlfriend!" Bad ideas never felt so good.

Justin and Benton are BACK with Season 3 of Half a Star - their first episode back, they tackle a big question that has persisted throughout their friendship: is it cool to plan your own birthday party? Find out where the discussion goes on this first episode of the rebooted Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good.

Get ready for more Half a Star! We are back every Friday in July & August for more fun with hosts Justin Shaw & Benton Hartley. Plus! Our theme song was rerecorded by Two Hour's Traffic's Liam Corcoran! Subscribe today for more Half a Star goodness. Bad ideas never felt so good.

Our very last guest on our very last episode (we promise!) is none other than ROB MACDONALD! Rob has been a wonderful supporter of Justin and Ben's work throughout the years, and if anyone is to blame for nurturing their comedic interests, it would be him. Rob is an improviser, sketch comedian, and whether he likes it or not, an actor. You may have seen him in Popalopalots, Sketch-22, Meanwhile in Ward 16 - but you've definitely heard him singing the Half a Star theme song which he lovingly wrote and donated to the series, and denies accepting any credit for contribution. We love you Rob!

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by writer Dave Stewart! Dave Stewart is a long-time friend and talented writer based in Prince Edward Island. He’s got a long list of accomplishments under his belt, including DARK|Sanctuary, a horror comic created in collaboration with Sandy Carruthers for Sandstone Comics, Monster Man (collection of short horror stories), Fear from a Small Place (multi-author anthology), Before Grindr (six-part online interview series exploring the secret gay and lesbian social history of Prince Edward Island), The Satan Show (The Island Fringe Festival) just to name a few! Dave gives us a rundown about what he believes makes a great horror film, and sheds some light on a project he’s working on with Benton at Kings Playhouse in Georgetown, Prince Edward Island! All this, and maybe a little more, on Half a Star - where bad ideas make great stories.

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by musician Nikkie Gallant! Nikkie is a long-time friend of our hosts, and an awesome musician based on Prince Edward Island. Nikkie Gallant writes and performs heart-aching music featuring lush vocals and tremolo-laced guitar sounds. Her songs have been called emotionally smart, earning her multiple Music PEI Award nominations, including Songwriter of the Year. Her recent single Free (I Remember) was nominated for Music PEI's Song of the Year award. Nikkie's third album Subtle Motions dives into the complexities of relationships and life. Nikkie shares stories of her musical inspirations as well as her very own half a star story! All this, and maybe a little more, on the latest episode of Half a Star. Bad ideas never felt so good!

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by CELIA OWEN! Celia is an actor who you may recognize as Eleanor from CBC’s newest comedy-drama MOONSHINE! Celia and the lads discuss the new show, as well as her bonafide half a star story which is laced with all the joys and terrors of high school musicals! All this, and maybe a little more, on the latest episode of Half a Star. Bad ideas never felt so good!

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben fall in love! Well… sort of. They decide to take a love test! “36 Questions That Lead To Love” was a New York Times article from 2015 that offered the reader 36 questions to ask someone - and after answering, the pair should feel a deeper sense of intimacy! Ooh la la! Will the intimacy be ridiculous? Or will it lead to prolonged eye-contact hubba hubba style? Buckle up, this episode dives into some personal stuff! TMI alert! All this, and a little bit more, on this episode of Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good.

On this very special (repeat!) episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by PEI filmmaker Adam Perry! Adam shares with the lads what is perhaps the most haunting half a star story they had ever heard - hence why it was originally released on Halloween 2020! This episode deserves another moment in the spotlight not just because of how funny it is, but because Adam’s film A Small Fortune is having a WORLD PREMIERE on September 18 in Halifax! This is exciting news and we want to celebrate by reflecting upon the painfully true story from the storyteller himself. All this and maybe a little more on this episode of Half a Star: where bad ideas make great stories.

On this episode of Half a Star, Justin and Benton are joined by the super funny Elspeth Wright! Elspeth had an exciting year shifting her comedy debate show Battle of Wits onto on an online format AND getting featured on JFL’s Zoofest AND getting to be featured on JFL Originals! WOW! Elspeth sheds some light on her experiences as a Montreal comic while unearthing a wild half a star story of her own. All this, and maybe a li’l more, on this episode of Half a Star - where bad ideas make great stories.

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by Hamilton entrepreneur Emily O’Brien! Emily is the owner and operator of a snack company called Comeback Snacks, and they distribute delicious popcorn across Canada. Why is it called “Comeback Snacks” you maybe wondering? Because wow, wow, wow - Emily’s tale is less of a half a star story, and more of a comeback story. Listeners, this episode explores some heavy topics including eating disorders, substance abuse, and Canada’s criminal justice system - but through these challenging subjects, Emily shares an incredibly uplifting and empowering story of perseverance and ultimately - forgiveness. All this, and maybe a little more, on this episode of Half a Star! Presented in partnership with Hub of the Hammer Event Planning!

On this very special episode of Half a Star - Justin and Ben ENTER THE SPIDERVERSE! The lads are joined by hero of Charlottetown (by way of Toronto) it’s Island Spider-Man! Spidey shares his tales on the road bringing joy to countless folks, young and old - and along the way, you can bet he picked up more than his share of half a star stories. PLUS! We get the scoop on his origin story! Watch out J. Jonah Jamison - Half a Star is on the case! All this, and a little bit more on this episode of Half a Star!

On the latest episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by the band BABY GOD! Baby God is the alternative-folk songwriting collaboration between Andrew Murray and Nathan Gill. Both hail from Prince Edward Island, and they bring the pop and indie rock sensibilities of previous music projects to the group’s stripped back sound. Baby God’s song-first approach and laid back production style keep their recordings candid and direct. Their latest release, Another Suffer, is a breezy, homespun Sunday listen. It was recorded in a half-moved apartment in February of 2020. It sits in the isolation between the place you left behind and where you might be headed; a feeling that is bittersweet and immersive. This awesome band shares with Justin and Ben stories of how their latest album came together, some of their other works as musicians, and, of course, the half a star story. All this, and maybe a little bit more, on the latest episode of Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good.

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Benton are joined by none other than comedy legend-in-the-making, Shawn Hogan! Originating from Mill River, Prince Edward Island, Shawn Hogan has produced and starred in dozens of sold out comedy shows across his home province. Over the last 10 years he has performed and lived in Toronto, where he created, produced, and hosted the Hangover Cure Comedy Show, one of Toronto’s most successful & unique comedy shows which made its Just For Laughs Festival debut last year. To close out 2020, Shawn made his second consecutive appearance at the Halifax Comedy Festival, where in 2019 he made his national television debut. In 2019 he was also a featured comedian on CBC Radio’s “Laugh Out Loud”, and was a finalist in the Brantford Comedy Festival’s $10,000 competition.Buckle up because Shawn shares a wild story about his first trip to the BIG APPLE! All this, and maybe a little more, on this episode of Half a Star. Bad ideas never felt so good.

On this very special episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by their dear friend Lisa Morrison - who may be better know to the drag community as LIZZIE STRANGE! Since 2015, Lisa has brought Lizzy to stages across Canada, performing at 4 of the country’s Pride festivals, Just for Laughs, Montreal Fringe and some of the country’s most magical dive bars.  Their name has also appeared in publications such as Canadian Art Magazine, Flare Magazine, CBC, and the coveted Montreal drag magazine You Betcha Iris. Lisa shares stories about performing as Lizzie, the origins of their name, the topic of ‘drag families’ and  you better believe there’s a burner of a Half a Star story! All this and maybe a little more on this episode of Half a Star! Bad ideas never felt so good!

On this episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben are joined by East Coast music sensation Tim Chaisson! Tim has performed around the world and is an incredible gem of a human being. You may have heard his work as a solo singer-songwriter, with The Morning Fold, or with music trio The East Pointers. Tim shares one hell of a half a star story with Justin and Ben, so buckle up! All this, and maybe a little more, on this episode of Half a Star - bad ideas never felt so good.

On this episode of Half a Star, Justin and Benton are BACK with Season 2! This episode features our favourite goofballs giving a rundown as to what they’ve been working on since Season 1, and a sneak peek as to what to expect for this season. There’s lots of stories and more than a few laughs on this outrageous comeback episode. And, of course, it wouldn’t be Half a Star if they didn’t dig deep and share some of their own personal half a star stories - stories so bad, they don’t even get a full star rating. All this, and maybe a little more, on Half a Star - where bad ideas make great stories.

You asked, we answered! Justin and Ben sit down and answer some fan submitted questions to the podcast, and BOY what a ride. Questions ranging from our favourite dairy bar on PEI, to which Golden Girl do we identify with, to most pressing: how have Justin and Ben stayed friends after all these years? All this (and maybe a li'l more) on the wonderful world of Half a Star!

It's Benton's birthday bash (what more do you need to know?)

On this very special episode of Half A Star, Justin throws Benton the best virtual birthday party he's ever virtually had. With a collection of special guests dropping by to wish ol' Benny a happy birthday, this episode is full to the brim with birthday shenanigans. Also! Stay tuned to the end to see what Justin got for Benton as his SUPER SPECIAL GIFT! All that (and maybe a lil more) in the wonderful world of Half a Star.

Half a Star is proud to present a drunk departure from their usual programming. Justin Shaw is a professionally trained theatre actor, yet astonishingly has a very limited knowledge of contemporary musicals. Having not seen many modern cinema classic musicals, hosts Diana Moser and Benton Hartley decide to amend this situation by sitting Justin down to watch a musical he has never seen, and inviting him to speak to his viewing experience... while completely shitfaced.

On this special presentation, Justin watched the 2019 movie musical CATS and drank a lot of gin and soda really fast because he was worried he wasn't drinking enough. 

Half a Star encourages listeners to PLEASE drink responsibly, this experiment was conducted in a safe environment. That being said, Drunk Musicals will only be featured sporadically on select occasions. Happy listening!

On this episode of Half a Star, Justin and Benton discussed Desert Island Theatre Company – an independent theatre company based in Charlottetown that is owned and operated by one Benton Hartley! Benton sheds some light on this company, and he and Justin are joined by actors Kassinda Bulger and Patrick Jeffrey who are the stars of DITco’s upcoming production “I Know You” – coming to The Guild February 25-27, 2021! Kassinda and Patrick are kind enough to share a fun scene from the play… as well as their very own half a star stories! All this (and maybe a li’l more) on this episode of Half a Star.

Half a Star is proud to present a drunk departure from their usual programming. Justin Shaw is a professionally trained theatre actor, yet astonishingly has a very limited knowledge of contemporary musicals. Having not seen many modern cinema classic musicals, hosts Diana Moser and Benton Hartley decide to amend this situation by sitting Justin down to watch a musical he has never seen, and inviting him to speak to his viewing experience... while completely shitfaced. 

On this special presentation, Justin watched the 2002 movie musical Chicago and drank 6 pints of gin and soda. Yes, pints. He offers a gin soaked explanation of his opinion of this award winning film. 

Half a Star encourages listeners to PLEASE drink responsibly, this experiment was conducted in a safe environment. That being said, Drunk Musicals will only be featured sporadically on select occasions. Happy listening! 

Half a Star presents – ARMAGEDDON HOME FOR CHRISTMAS! A holiday radio parody!

Join the wonders of saving planet Earth from near destruction as a team of plucky oil drillers are sent into space to annihilate an asteroid headed to Earth… on Christmas Day! It’s all the fun and excitement you could expect on the brink of an apocalypse mixed with some holiday spirit!

This radio play is a parody and no profit (or wisdom) was gained from its development!

On this very special episode of Half A Star, Justin and Ben are joined by Matthew Surina. Matthew is the owner and operator of Hub of the Hammer Event Planning, and an all ‘round expert about Hallmark Holiday movies. Justin and Ben also share an important announcement about something awesome they’ve been working on – all that and more in the wonderful world of Half A Star.

LOST EPISODE – ADAM PERRY

Halloween is just around the corner, and Justin and Ben have decided to release a Lost Episode of Half A Star that was originally recorded during the Season One interviews. Please be joined by Adam Perry, a Prince Edward Island filmmaker who shares with the lads a story that will haunt them until the end of their days. This is a story not for the faint of heart. Happy Halloween!

On this very special episode of Half A Star, we have Canadian comedy legend Sean Collins. But since he’s a Canadian Comedy legend, we still have to tell you who he is. Thank you to James Mullinger for helping us swing this guest by giving him a shout out earlier in the season!

Canadian Sean Collins has 25 years experience in stand up comedy, with initial success leading to ‘Best Male Stand Up’ nominations at the Canadian Comedy Awards, a Just For Laughs Gala set at Montreal and his own hour long special on Canadian television. Sean has a few stories from his time on the road to share, and what better way to cap off this season of Half A Star than with another homerun half a star story? All this, and maybe a little more, on the wonderful world of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by comedian Mike Carrozza! The last time Mike was on Half A Star, he was featured on a bonus episode to promote his debut comedy album "Cherubic" (available now!) but now - Mike has to pay the piper. He owes the world of half a star some wonderfully terrible bad ideas - and boy does he deliver. Bad ideas make great stories, and Mike Carrozza makes for many laughs. Plus! Ben does a run down of the top half a star emo band names. Tune in and find out why that's relevant! All that and more on the wonderful world of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by country musician Lawrence Maxwell! Mr. Maxwell is a cool cowboy who recently a new album called ‘Almost Natural’ and is available now. In fact, this episode even features a track from the album – how’s that for lovely? Mr. Maxwell shares a story that cause Justin and Ben to ponder the weight of the universe and question the quality of Wal-Mart pajamas. And Ben has a list of the top half a star country western song titles. Spoiler: they’re really, really terrible. All this (and maybe just a smidge more) on this twangy episode of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by youth mentor Isy Castillo. Isy Castillo is a champion for children and youth. Through her constant support for young people, she has offered support to kids as a one-on-one mentor, leading groups and presentations on resiliency, and setting a strong example of compassion, professionalism, and kindness which both her mentees and her fellow mentors would follow. She is truly the best of us – and she’s got some very silly stories that are equal parts endearing and inspiring. And Ben has a thing about cereal? This episode doesn’t transition well. All this, and maybe a li’l more, on the wonderful world of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by comedian Mike Carrozza who is chatting about his upcoming debut album CHERUBIC. Cherubic was recorded in back-to-back performances at The Ossington in Toronto, and is available for streaming and purchase Friday, September 4. Carrozza describes his stand-up persona as a “fun silly boy”, one that is playful, absurd, and naive, but there’s an “alt comedy” element too. He’s opened for Tig Notaro, Todd Glass, Kyle Kinane, and has been featured on Just For Laughs, as well as other festivals around the world. This episode features some samples from the albums to give you a taste of what to expect on Cherubic – be sure to check out Mike’s album so we can GET HIM TO NUMBER ONE ON ITUNES! Stay tuned later this month for more Mike Carrozza as he shares his Half A Star stories!

Justin and Ben are joined by comedian Dan Hendricken who shares what is less of a half a star story and more of a cautionary tale of why it’s important to understand the levels of bacteria in certain alcohol… and why you shouldn’t drink a growler before a date. Dan shares his knowledge of alcohol not only in his hilarious stand-up comedy, but also in his work at Loan Oak Brewery! You might see Dan’s serving up the drinks and the laughs on what might possibly be the most half star of half a star stories in the series thus far. Luckily for Dan – bad ideas make great stories. All this and more on half a star!

Justin and Benton are joined by actor and comedian Chris Sandiford shares stories of who inspired him to do comedy, as well as a half a star story about a comedy gig one awry at a punk show. Chris has also been featured on FX's vampire mockumentary ‘What We Do In The Shadows’, so Benton shares his list of half a star vampires from throughout history. All that and more on this episode of Half A Star!

EPISODE 16 – JUSTIN’S BIRTHDAY EPISODE

Buckle up, kiddos – this is a wild ride of an episode. On this episode of Half A Star, Justin and Ben invite a number of guests on to the program for a very special occasion: Justin’s birthday. If it weren’t for Justin being born, this show would be called ‘Quarter Star’ and Ben would be a lonely boy. And we don’t want that!

Each guest on this episode is someone important from Justin’s life, and they share their own stories about the birthday boy.

Rory Starkman shares a story about Justin’s fouth time doing stand-up, which was a gig that we in the biz would call “a poor choice.” Their partner Kandace Hagen is there too for some laughs!

Taylor Carver is the comedian responsible for introducing Justin into the world of stand-up. Since then, Justin and Taylor have performed on many shows together, and Taylor shares what it’s like having to open for Justin on a show.

Diana Moser is the Executive Director of ArtsBuild Ontario, is an accomplished musician, and, miraculously, is also Justin’s girlfriend. Diana shares a story about what it’s like watching Justin try to understand how to use basic household appliances.

Sherrel Shaw is Justin’s mother. She has some stories. Enough said.

Finally, at the end of the episode, Benton shares with Justin his birthday gift, which can best be described as “out of this world.”

This is a hell of an episode. All this, and maybe a li’l more, on this week’s episode of Half A Star.

On this BONUS episode, Justin and Ben share some extra interview content from their chat with Rory & Kandace (Screaming Beaver Productions) and discuss theatre on Prince Edward Island - particularly, an upcoming event called 'Pounding the Pavement' coming to the 2020 Island Fringe Festival.

Pounding the Pavement: Celebrating and amplifying artists from the fringe is an Island Fringe Festival production in partnership with the Confederation Centre of the Arts, with support from InnovationPEI and the City of Charlottetown.

Island artists who identify as Indigenous, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, and those with a disability come together to tell their own stories from their own perspectives. Performances are made up of 10-20 minute vignettes that explore people’s journeys of discovery to having their voices heard (be they personal explorations, activism for equality, etc), and presented as dramatic readings of original poetry and plays, songs, dance, and stand-up comedy.

Rory and Kandace will be presenting a show as well - check out BLACKBERRIES! Blackberries, starring Claire Byrne , Joce Reyome, Cameron Cassidy, and Brandon Roy, is a one act play that explores the realities Black folx endure from well intentioned white people. Clara Bradburn, portrayed by Claire Bryne, and Joey Raymond, portrayed by Joce Reyome, didn’t dwell on the short notice they were given to perform at Gallant’s Theatre Company during their local Pride Festival. However, after meeting with Karen Campbell, the theatre’s artistic director, and Spencer Flowers, the theatre’s stage manager, they have to consider whether this gig is worth the emotional labour of educating those well meaning, but blatantly racist white folx.

For more information about Pounding the Pavement - visit www.islandfringe.com

Justin and Benton are joined by singer/songwriter Liam Corcoran! Liam Corcoran was the co-founder of the Canadian indie-pop group Two Hours Traffic. Since the group disbanded, Liam has released three solo albums, including his latest, Giving Tree and Other Songs. This episode features a track from Liam’s latest album, PLUS Justin and Ben sound off on some of the best band names that came from a Shakespeare quote. And rumour has it weatherman/professional wrestler Bradford Montague may have update for us… all that and more on this trip to Planet Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by Kandace and Rory of Screaming Beaver - a theatre company based in Charlottetown, PEI. Rory and Kandace are the masterminds behind the 2018 Island Fringe Festival hit "Realizations" - an autobiographical memory play, and exposes the politics and negotiation of queer sexual awakening in a culture controlled by heternormalivity. Rory and Kandace delve into their own half a star experiences, PLUS - Ben shares his latest half a star experience (hint: both his arms are in casts). All that and more on another episode of Half A Star. 

... and SPEAKING of more! A BONUS "Pounding the Pavement" episode of Half A Star featuring Rory and Kandace will be released August 10th featuring a discussion about more of their own work, the Charlottetown theatre scene, and an awesome event coming up for the 2020 Island Fringe Festival. Stay tuned! 

Justin and Ben are joined by a few good men - Mark and Dana! Hosts of the podcast A Few Goodman - a podcast dedicated to exploring the work of the greatest actor of our generation, John Goodman. Plus, Justin and Ben discuss the nuances of The Flintstones. All that and more in a little town called Riverdale. I mean Half A Star. 

On this episode, Justin and Ben are joined by a pair of spooooooooky guests - Carly and Cecila from the 'Ghosts Are Everywhere' podcast! The pair of pairs chat about life, death, and whatever might come after. ALSO! Justin and Ben dive deep into the world of the top half a star ghosts from popular culture. All this and more in the wonderful world of Half A Star. 

Justin and Benton are joined by Yousef and Harri of Other HeArts Collective. This pair just released their latest project l00k1ngl4ss - a new puppet-centric performance piece based on isolation and new methods of interaction. While richly creative, Yousef and Harri are not without their disturbing tales of performance art gone awry. Also! Justin and Ben sound off on the Top Five Half A Star Puppets From History! All this and more on another wild episode of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by sketch comedy duo Gender? I Hardly Know Them, featuring Alberta-born, queer comedians Elena Eli Belyea and Sydney Campbell. "Drawing from their experiences of growing up gay, hot, and short in Alberta, Syd and Eli are out to queer the world, one denim punchline at a time." This quote is taken from their website because we could not come up with anything more clever than THAT. Elena and Syd share their stories of bathroom misadventures and the woes of strip-mall hair salons. Also! Justin and Ben share some of their own half a star experiences from their early days as comedians. All this and more on the wondrous world of half a star.

On this bonus episode of Half a Star, Justin and Ben share some extra stories from Teiya and Mel! They both go into some detail about their past and upcoming projects, AND stick it to a certain newspaper from Mel's old university. All this and more on this BONUS episode of Half A Star.

Justin and Ben are joined by performance artist Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 and partner Mel Carroll from their Toronto apartment and they share stories about their wild honeymoon experience as well as their picks for their favourite show on CRAVE. This episode also features some awesome music from contributing artist DJ QPID! All this and more on another trip to the wonderful world of Half A Star. 

Justin and Ben are joined by comedian Chad Anderson who shares what is quite possibly the most haunting half a star story to date. Chad Anderson also has as a great new comedy album available for purchase/stream online (Chad Anderson's Live At Wee Johnny's). But WAIT! There's more! Justin and Ben serve up the top five list for half a star ice cream flavours - spoiler alert: they're all terrible. All this and more on this episode of Half A Star.