This week on Make It with Mike and Kristen, we sit down with the wonderfully thoughtful Anne Lévesque — writer, poet, and author of Lucy Cloud and The Secret Lives of Public Servants.
Born in Rimouski, Québec and raised in a small working-class town north of Lake Superior, Anne’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and reinvention. She shares what led her to Nova Scotia — and why, after some early challenges, she chose the wild beauty of Cape Breton Island as home.
We talk about her shift from a career in the federal government to full-time creative life, how that leap of faith mirrors Kristen’s own journey, and the ways Anne weaves creativity into her every day. Her insight into writing, identity, and belonging is both grounding and inspiring — especially for anyone standing on the edge of change.
Anne also tells us about her latest book, her cross-province tour, and the serendipity that brought her near our studio just in time to record this conversation. A perfect listen for anyone drawn to stories of art, risk, and rediscovering your place in the world.
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikeandkristen
Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/mikeandkristen
Us on the web: www.mikeandkristen.ca
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mike_and_kristen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandkristencreative
Shoot us a message! Say hello, tell us who you think we should have on the podcast, and your deepest and darkest secrets: mikeandkristencreative@gmail.com
Review our book "You and Me" on Amazon (it helps a lot!!): https://amzn.to/3qqNCMo
Intro song: “A Day in the Life"
Outro song: “The Show" both by Mike (Michael S. Ryan) from his upcoming 88 song project Power Chords
Mike's site: www.michaelsryan.com
Kristen’s site: www.kristenherringtonart.com
Anne’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/riaisawake
Anne’s Website: https://writers.ns.ca/member/anne-levesque/
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com