Melodies and Menus: Talking with country icon Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Melissa B of 'Traitors Canada'

On the latest episode of Melodies and Menus, Dan Clapson and Hailey Benedict chat with country music icon Carolyn Dawn Johnson as well as Melissa B from Traitors Canada.

First, Carolyn Dawn Johnson talks about her approach to supporting independent artists, watching Nashville grow over the past three decades and her new single "Road Blocks".

Hailey and Dan discuss the third episode of Traitors Canada before its first eliminated Traitor, Melissa B, joins the co-hosts to chat.

Hailing from St. John's, Melissa loves her local live music scene and shares some of her favourite local artists in addition to chatting about iconic Newfoundland foods, and her experience filming Traitors Canada.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Do you have a pretty good senseof humor? I think so. I
think I'm pretty funny. I mean, you're from Newfoundland, so I feel
like you should. Yes, itjust comes with the territory. Yes,
I think so. I have tobe honest. I feel like you were
not the greatest trader on the show. That it was horrible. This is

(00:27):
Melodies and men Us, a podcastmini series brought to you by Eat North
that talks about all things food,music, pop culture, and more with
a ton of interesting Canadians. I'mone of your co host Dan Clapson,
joined for the fall by the lovelyHaley Benedicts, and this is our third
and final episode together. I'm sad, so sad. Oh my gosh,
what a ride. You know what? It was fun. I think we

(00:49):
will have to bring you back whenmy regular co host Mattison Nolds is back
with me in the holiday season.Because I know that you have a holiday
song coming out. I do,yes, is that something I haven't announced
a bit, but I mean maybemaybe I do. Who knows, Maybe
I don't what, but I mighthave something fun fun with the holiday.
Yeah, I'm really excited. It'llbe uh, it'll be fun and I

(01:11):
haven't really done like a full Christmassong before, so I'm excited and it's
I find you can be a littlemore playful with Christmas music, and you
know, I had all the funlittle Christmas things in there and stuff,
so you're not really confined to onespecific sound. I feel like lots of
people may not agree with me,but I personally I do. I have
currently been mixing in Christmas songs intomy playlist lately. I feel like October

(01:34):
is for me the time to start. So oh I love this. I
love that I've found my people becausesometimes I really try to listen to it,
like after Rememberance Day, that's kindof like that's my Like, okay,
I'm free too now, but Ialmost I wish I could listened to
it all year round. But thenI'm like always I don't want to get
sick of it, but everyone alwaysmakes fun of me for how early I

(01:57):
like will start setting up, Likewe usually start setting up our tree at
the end of yeah, pretty closeto the end of November or middle of
November at least, and people thinkwe're crazy. So I think you a
full month of a Christmas tree ifyou celebrate Christmas. I feel like you
need a full at least a fullmonth. Something's a month and a half.
I feel like it's totally acceptable,I know. And it's so pretty
and it just lights up your homeand it always feels like when it's gone,

(02:21):
it feels like something's missing. AndI don't know, I like lights
and fun colors and all the things. No, it's so true. And
I mean, in terms of releasingChristmas songs, Tyler Shaw disdropped a new
song last week and two weeks agoShare released a Christmas song. So,
I mean their Christmas songs are onthe way. Yes, I think it's
acceptable. You know it's it's comingthe weather, I mean, especially in

(02:43):
Canada, in Alberta, where youknow it's going to be snowing here and
very soon. So I think,so, well, let's get right to
it. Because our first guest issomeone I'm I'm very excited to chat with
and I know you are too,the one and only Carolyn Don Johnson.
And I'm so stoked to chat withher for so many reasons. But she
seems, I mean, you knowher well, so to me, she

(03:05):
seems like someone that really embodies thelike the idea of community and wants to
really support artists and uplift them andreally grow the music community in Canada and
beyond. Obviously she's based in Nashville, So what have your experiences with her
been? Like, Oh, mygosh, she's just incredible, you know,
not only like I've always looked upto her as you know, a

(03:25):
musician, songwriter, entertainer, andfeel very grateful that I've actually got to
know her personally more the last coupleof years and write with her. And
I feel like her personality really shinesthrough her music. But just as like
as as warm and kind she seemsthrough her music and her online presence,
she is in person and she yeah, like you said, she really does

(03:46):
everything to give back to the musiccommunity and the Canadian music scene. So
yeah, she's an incredible person.And she also has a new song,
Roadblocks, which will come out tomorrowif I edit this podcast in a timely
fashion. I'm so excited for it. I absolutely can't. I can't wait

(04:08):
to hear what she's what she's gotcooking up. So we will bring Carolyn
on and Wei chat a bit aboutthe new song. Obviously, her experiences
in Nashville over the decades, anda whole bunch more fun stuff. Yes,

(04:41):
Carolyn, I've heard so much aboutyou and so many musicians that I
am lucky to work with through theBlue Jay sessions. They speak so highly
of you, and I feel likeyour house has really become a hub for
independent artists when they come to Nashville, and they they all they all really
appreciate what you do for them somuch. So, I mean, firstly,
I just want to get into that, like, why is forming a
sense of commune in the songwriters aworld important to you? Oh? Wow?

(05:05):
You know what when I moved toNashville, Actually before I moved to
Nashville, I joined this little songwritingkind of group in the Vancouver area and
it was the Vancouver Area Nashville SongwritersAssociation International Chapter. Wow, and just
having that community was just like,oh, you know, there wasn't very

(05:28):
many of us, but I waslike, oh, there's other people who
think like I do. I hadjoined the NSAI a few years before that,
and I was like this lone rangerwriting songs. I didn't really know
anyone else who was doing it.And I would get, you know,
mail from Nashville every I think itwas quarterly at the time, and I
felt super important to be part ofthis group. And then at some point

(05:51):
a lady named Sandy Dunkley she hadstarted the the like Western Canadian chapter of
the NSAI, and that where theyfound out who was in Canada and let's
all get together, And so thatcommunity was something I started with. Of
course, eventually I moved to Nashvilleand found my own community down here.

(06:13):
I didn't know anybody when I gothere, so you just start hanging out
all of the place. And Ithink that community in general is just a
way to stay afloat when you don'tfeel like you can. And it's just
a great camaraderie to cheer each otheron. And I like being part of
that. I like nurturing that,and I like hopefully instigating some of it

(06:36):
sometime. I always want people tofeel welcome. Yeah, I love that
too. I think also it's soimportant in something like music. It's a
very independent type of career and itcan and can feel really isolating, you
know, especially it's just I mean, unless you may be part of a
band, but as a solo artist, it can can kind of feel like
you're on your own sometimes. Soto have that community where you can and

(07:00):
to you know, especially with songwritingand stuff, I think is a really
special thing to have. I agree, I agree with you. You know,
we all have our own path.Nobody can do it for us.
But it's sure fun to have friendsalong the way. And I know you
grew up in a small town Alberta. How often do you make it home
these days? I know you're you'revery, very busy in Nashville. Yeah,

(07:21):
you know, I had some cousinsthis summer send me a note saying,
hey, we're waiting for you atthe lake, and I said,
I wish, I wish, butI'm not going to get up there this
year, but I try to getup there. You know, I lost
both my parents in the last fiveyears, so it's changed quite a bit
for me. So that part,as far as having a home to go

(07:46):
to, I don't feel like Ihave it anymore. So my brother's there
and I can go see him,and that's part of it. But and
he comes here, thank goodness,but so well, not getting home there
as often as I probably did before. It's interesting that you mentioned that because
my mother passed away six years agoand my dad moved from our home in

(08:09):
Saskatoon out to the East Coast andI go home to Saskatoon sometimes, but
not as frequently because I don't havemy home anymore. It's such as an
unusual feeling, isn't it When yourparents aren't there anymore. It's a very
unusual feeling. You feel kind ofa little bit like an orphan and now
you know you're creating your own homefor everybody. I think I like to,

(08:31):
you know, going back to thequestioning asked about songwriters and community,
I think I like to be someonewho maybe people can lean on. I
don't know why. Maybe it's becauseI don't have someone to lean on anymore
myself. I have great friends,I have a lot of songwriting friends,
but hopefully I'm creating that home notonly for the musical community, but definitely

(08:52):
for my own children. I reallyget the feeling. Maybe, Haley,
you can weige on this too.I feel like there's a huge Canadian contingent
in nowshvill These days. It feelslike my whole Instagram feed is full of
Canadian musicians that now live in Nashville. Have you seen that population grow over
the years? And even for you, Haley, if you you go for
rights and one not, do younotice more and more every time you're there,
and why aren't you there? Actuallythere's a lot of questions all while

(09:15):
well, yeah that is like thatis a lot. Well it's expensive,
That's that's one reason why I wouldn'tbe there all the time. But yeah,
no, I think it's like it'sa second home. There's so much
there's so many Canadians down there allthe time, and I always run into
Canadians like just like on the street, you know. But Carolyn, I'm

(09:35):
sure, I'm sure you you feelthat way too. I'm sure with more
and more people coming down and Ido. I do feel like since I
first came here, there's a lotmore of them here, which I like.
I think it's sweet. It's verybrave and courageous to cross the border
and come and actually live here.But even if you don't live here,

(09:56):
going back and forth, making thatcommitment to developing your craft in a town
where honestly the best, the bestare here, so you can only learn
and go up when you immerse yourselfin this in this town. When you
first went to Nashville, how didyou Because I feel like you can either
go two ways. It can eitheryou know, set a little bit of

(10:18):
a fire underneath you, and youget really inspired because you're immersed with so
many talent or I think for someartists it can be kind of hard going
down there because every person is sogood and even in the tiniest bars.
How was that for you on yourfirst trip down? You're absolutely right about
all of that. My first blueBird experience was Kathy mcjeski, John Scott

(10:43):
Cheryl who are two veteran writers,Paul Jefferson and Keith Urban. Oh my
gosh. So Keith Urban was thenobody at the time. He was wow
anywhere. And I remember looking athim and Paul Jefferson because Paul is amazing
too, uh, And I remembergoing, oh my goodness, they're not

(11:05):
signed. Okay, I better likeget to work because that's that's my competition.
And so there's a part of youthat goes, they're not signed.
There's no way that I'll ever getsigned. Like you have those little lies
that you tell yourself, and thenyou have the other part of you that
goes, Okay, now I seewhere I fit in. How am I

(11:28):
gonna get better so that people arelooking at me like that. So there's
some of that. I had areally weird, weird, it's not the
right word. Very sad experience thatlet a fire under my butt about a
month and a half after I gothere. So I should I tell this
story? Yes? Please? SoI don't think I've told you this story,

(11:54):
Hayley, but I've told a fewpeople this story, many, not
as many as I should. Butanyway, it's a key thing for me.
One key story. Okay, herewe go. I got invited to
a Thanksgiving dinner. I was newin town. Somebody invited me to go
to this big do is at somebody'shouse. He owned a bunch of restaurants

(12:18):
in town. There was gonna bea lot of music. People there invited
me to come to it, andI went and I was so excited to
meet all these people and got there, met a bunch of people. There
was this giant dining room table andsomebody says, so, Carolyn, so
you want to be a singer andwriter and whatever, And I said,

(12:39):
yeah, that's why I'm here.And I'm from Canada, and I'm all
like, you know, starry eyedand just like hopeful and positive and sweet
and young. And they said,here, play something for us, and
they hand me a guitar. SoI'm like okay, So I play a
song for them and everybody's like clapping, and then this one guy goes play

(13:03):
another one m So I'm like okay, So I play another one and he's
like, would you write yesterday?And he just started being early ornery.
I'll kind of stop there. Iwon't to go to everything that he said.
But at some point he said,you're from Canada. What do you
know about country music? And hedidn't say it even as nice as I

(13:26):
just said it. And I waslike, well, you know, I'm
hoping to get a publishing deal andmaybe a record deal, and he's like,
you think you can, Like hewas that mean, and everybody was
quiet around the table, and mylump in my throat was huge. It
took all my willpower to not breakdown crying, and I realized I was

(13:50):
gonna crack. So I got upand I said, I think I better
go. I could barely talk.You know, he had grabbed the guitar
at one point he said. Hekept saying, uh, I can't play,
I can't do this, like hewas just being an ornery and then
he grabbed a guitar for me,and he like totally like played amazing,
sang this great song, and Iwas like, oh my goodness, he's

(14:11):
just making fun of me. AndI realized I need to go, so
I said, I think I bettergo, and I got up and everybody
was kind of just watching this godown and feeling bad for me. I
think, and I go to leaveand he goes, well, we'll see
you on the charts, kind oflike a joke but nice. And I

(14:33):
turned around and I said, yes, you will, and I walked out.
I still kind of get chills aboutit, but I walked out and
I got to my car. Ijust went to get in and the owner
of the house, great guy,comes running out after me. He said,
please, don't pay attention, andhe said too much to drink.

(14:54):
Just you know. I'm so sorry. Why don't you come back in?
Everything will be fine. I saidI can't. I can't, just so
you know. And I'm like chokingdown my tears, and so he gives
me a hug, he goes in. I get in my car and I
cried all the way home. Istill get chose thinking of that. I
cried all the way home and Iwas like, God, why did that

(15:16):
happen to me, and I waslike, I'm gonna show him. I
will get on the chart someday yearslater. I did. I saw him
at a restaurant. He was bussing. Oh yes, oh yes, not
a bad guy. I just hada big hit, and you know,
I just smiled at him. Inever said anything, but that was a
good feeling. Absolutely, that wasa very unexpected intersection of music and food

(15:41):
as well. Oh my god,yeah. I mean the guy who owned
the restaurant, he owned a lotof restaurants in time. He's a great
guy and he, you know,stayed friends with me for years. And
I think it was just an offnight for this guy. And but the
reason I told that story is ithurt me so bad. But it did
light and that straight fire on mybutt. I was like, I'll show

(16:02):
them. Canadians do know something alittle bit about country music, and I
am going to do this whether youwant to support me or not. I
love that. Is that still aperception with Americans versus Canadian country artists?
Like do you find that that isa common I mean, I have mostly
in the food media sphere, andI do find that Americans know essentially nothing
about our restaurant scene. Or chefsor anything. You know. So,

(16:25):
does does that mentality also happen inthe music side of things? I would
imagine it does a little bit.Well. I think there's a lot of
respect here for Canadian artists and countrymusic artists, and you know, they're
so busy doing what they do herethat they can't necessarily be paying attention to
everything up there either. You know, it's such a big country here,

(16:47):
They've got a lot of artists,so when somebody pokes through or gets some
attention, I really believe that theyare willing to listen. And I don't
think they don't think we don't knowanything about it anymore. Think there's plenty
of great artists that have come downeven way before me. You know,
I think that there are some peopleprobably here in Nashville that think there's one

(17:11):
way to do things and that's theonly way. But then there's also other
people who are open minded, whogo it doesn't matter where you come from.
If you're great, you're great.So I think I think that did
I answer your question? I don'teven care. That was great. Yeah,
I forget what I fully asked.Yes, I don't remember what.

(17:34):
Oh, it's good lost in youranswers. It's great, it's beautiful.
Can every podcast interview be this kid? Oh, you're so sweet. I
have a million stories and I youknow, obviously cannot tell them all,
and I never remember exactly who's heardwhat. But it's been a journey,
for sure, and music has ledme to a lot of wonderful places.

(17:55):
And you know, you have heartachealong the way, but you have a
lot of to Your newest single iscalled Roadblocks, and I know that you've
kind of shared that with me.So is an experience like the one that
you just shared. Does that kindof have to do with the song or
yeah, I guess speak more toabout what the song is about and all

(18:17):
these experiences that have helped shaped you. Yes, yes, absolutely, yeah.
So my new song Roadblocks is justabout not letting roadblocks change the course
of your life. Now they mightin the way that they might teach you
something, and you might, youknow, shift a little bit because of

(18:37):
them, but this song is allabout just going through them, breaking through
them, not letting them stop youfrom being you. So yeah, absolutely
that story could relate to this song. I might have to tell that story
as a little clip now that Ibrought it up to you guys, and
I'll let you guys post it first, because I've never talked about this story

(19:00):
in public before. But maybe it'sone of those roadblock stories I can tell
again somewhere down the road, becauseyeah, there's things that happen in your
life and you go, am Igonna believe what they said? Or am
I gonna believe what's in my heart? And that is the decision you have

(19:21):
to make. Hopefully we all listento our hearts and keep going. But
gosh, there's been a lot ofvoices, in a lot of words that
have been said along my journey thatI had to just go, no,
that's not right. Yeah, Iknow who I am, you know,

(19:41):
and you have to like help Thankyou for helping me figure out even more
who I am by showing me whoI'm not. I feel like a critical
voice is important sometimes, So whendo you think it is timely irrelevant to
listen to some sort of criticism ofso the guy at the dinner party is
a terrible example of that. ButI mean there are other times when artists

(20:03):
even come to me and ask formy thoughts on like a demo or something,
and I'm I think you can givecriticism thoughtfully to help improve an artist
as well. I think you canhave constructive criticism for sure, and hopefully
you have some people around you thatwant you to win and that are also
honest during that process. You know, everybody has an opinion and it doesn't

(20:27):
have to be the same as yoursif you really feel something. I mean,
there's been a few moments in mycareer where I chose to absolutely die
by my own sword or live bymy own sword, whatever that was going
to be. But I think Ithink listening to some things, especially as

(20:48):
you're growing. I mean, anytime, it's okay to listen, but
if you listen and put too muchweight on everybody else's voices, you will
lose your own. So try toget the people around you that see your
vision and that help you grow toeven be a better version of yourself,
because I do think that having goodpeople around you helps elevate. Now,

(21:15):
you know, we've heard songs beforein the past, and I've got some
of them that have never even comeout, but like I'm trying to remember,
I think it's Stronger by Christina Aguilera. I don't know that's not country
at all, but there's some storiesbehind that song apparently, and it's like,
you know, adversity does cause youto either get hot or go home

(21:36):
though listening to a few things andthen taking it go. What can I
learn from this? Are they rightor wrong? Am I going to believe
this? Am I going to usethis? I mean, there's a lot
of questions you can ask yourself.I mean, I don't sit and listen
to somebody's criticism and go and godown a list of questions like I just

(21:56):
said to you, But I'll takeit. If it's somebody I respect and
a love or anything like that,I will take it and listen to it
and there and then you go,is there an an element of truth?
U suw? Your gut can tellyou if it is, and it will
move you into a direction that Ijust realized that there was a notification.

(22:21):
Sorry, it'll move you in adirection that you need to go if you
listen to it. I love that. I love everything that you're saying right
now, and I'm trying to soakit up. But I think there's a
lot of wisdom and what you sayfor other artists like myself or that are
coming up. It's inspiring to hearyou know, all the no's that maybe
you've received and the experiences that havehelp shaped you. You are also no

(22:48):
stranger to writing some pretty awesome hitsongs, and you know, not only
for yourself but also for other artists. In your opinion, what do you
think is the difference between and agood song and a great song? What
special qualities do you think those hitsongs have to have for them to be
hits. I think ultimately a uniqueidea is gonna get some attention, But

(23:15):
you can also have the same old, same old love song idea that can
also be a giant hit, especiallyif it's singable people want to sing along.
I really think melody is key toanything that's a hit song. I
mean, gosh, if it doesn'thave a great melody, who wants to
sing long? Yeah, you're gonnashut it off. So that is very
very key. And I think forme, when I'm writing, I do

(23:41):
I want to sing it? Igauge it for me as a singer.
But I think a hit song isa great combination of idea and music,
which is what we're all looking for. And does it tug somewhere? Does
it make you want to crank it, or does it make you want to
cry, or just something very universaland relatable is gonna be gonna be more

(24:06):
likely to have a hit with verycool looking at the home kitchen. Are
you an active home cooking I wouldsay I'm about half and half. I
would like to be more. Justdepends on if I'm really busy or not.
But I actually love cooking. Iwouldn't say I'm a chef or anything,
but I'll take a good recipe anddo it pretty well. I'm good

(24:29):
at concocting the good old meat andthree kind of meal too, because I
grew up on a farm and it'slike just you know, have your meat
and your vegetables and maybe a littledessert, you know. I try to
do that for my kids, notalways, but so I do like to
cook though It's very relaxing for me. So in that mind frame of finding

(24:49):
those components that make a great song, what do you think differentiates just find
food from great food, M greatquestion, savory, flavorful. I will
say a great restaurant with a greatpresentation is always so fun. I feel
so special. I'm like, yes, this is so wonderful. But taste

(25:17):
is key. If I find somethingthat's great. I will go back time
and time again in order the samething, and it's so hard to stray
from that. You've seen the Nashvillefood scene probably evolve over the years as
well, because I mean I startedgoing to Nashville just personal trips about probably
closer to ten years ago, andI feel like the food scene has changed
dramatically then. I couldn't imagine ina longer stretch than that. Oh yeah,

(25:38):
it's changed dramatically. I can't keepup to all the new restaurants that
are coming out. When somebody mentionedsomething else, I'm like, what,
I haven't been there either. Howam I going to keep up to this?
You know? So we have definitelyincreased in the food department in a
very positive way, and I wouldlove to get out to everything. I

(26:00):
think because it's turned into I sayit's turned into I mean, it's always
been a destination for people, butit's a much bigger one than it's ever
been. Now we've gathered more andmore expertise in here. We're not just
a small town anymore. And youknow, I think there's part of us

(26:21):
that for people like me've been herea long time. I've been here twenty
eight years. It's like the littlesmall town feel that we always had.
We'd like to think still there.But it does feel like we've got a
big city now. Even though wewere in a big city before, it
was not as big as this.So now I feel like we are competitive
with anything else that's out there that'sa you know, even like a Chicago.

(26:42):
I shouldn't say that. Chicago wouldprobably be like, don't you dare
compare Nashville to Chicago. But Itake some pride in Nashville, and I
think that we have some pretty specialplaces, you know, Broadway. I
think for locals perhaps do not frequentBroadway, maybe unless of some more emerging
artsts are performing there. But whatis one must experience venue on Broadway?

(27:07):
If you're going to go and youhave one one night, where are you
going? Oh my gosh? Well, I mean, I guess I'd have
to say Tutsi's because I think itwould be almost a sin to not say
that. So I remember when Icame here, I was like, I
can't wait till I played Tutsi.So, because it seems like everybody legendary
has now, I like legends aswell. I like the stage. I

(27:29):
mean, yes, I don't godown there unless I'm bringing somebody down there
to show them what's going on.It's just too crazy now, But TOUTSI
still. I mean, you feellike you're enjoying part of history, and
I just you know, pray thatit stays me too. I mean,
it's right behind the Ryeman too,So I've gone where. I played the

(27:51):
backstage at Putsi's and then went acrossand went and played the operation when I
was at the Ryman. I mean, how cool is that? I'm like,
it's somebody film that? Did somebodyfilm that? Did you just see
what I would be on video thesedays? For sure? I? Well,
I I'm very excited to hear yournew song. I know it's just

(28:15):
going to be amazing, and I'meven more inspired to listen and get to
hear it after, you know,hearing more of your story today. I
was listening to some of your othersongs Complicated and George on YouTube the other
day and going through the going throughthe comments and stuff was really cool because
so many people, you know,still to this day connect to these songs

(28:40):
and and they released did the testof time, And I wanted to know,
is there a song for you thathas helped you throughout your journey and
has did the test of time foryou. Wow, that's awesome. Well,
one of my favorite songs that juststill sits on my shoulder, hangs

(29:03):
around with me forever, and Ithink it's because of my journey in the
music business as well. Is thesong Remembers When, and that is by
Trisha Yearwood and Hugh Presswood wrote it, and it's a song that just talks
about how music remembers moments in yourlife. And you hear a song and
it takes you back to something.And so that song that never gets old.

(29:30):
I can put it on and stillget chill bumps and still feel those
feelings like, Yeah, this songremembers When. So I'd probably have to
say that I wish I had writtenthat song. That is one of my
all time favorites and it never getsold. I love that it means the
Spice girls stop. Is that normal? That would be very ampting anyway,

(29:56):
Carolyn to Johnson, that was absolutelylovely. Thanks for thanks for chatting with
us, but also on behalf ofevery Canadian songwrite if it's worked with you,
I want to say thank you becauseI know you mean a lot to
so many people out here, sooh my goodness, well, thank you
for having me, And yeah,I love anybody and everybody who attempts to
go down this road. I knowwhat it takes, and I know the

(30:18):
heartaches that can come along. AndI mentioned heartaches. I don't mean to
make it sound like it's all likeardaches, because it's not. It's mostly
wonderful. But when you're a creative, it's not an easy road. So
getting someone to listen, you're gonnaget, you know, way more nos
than you are going to get.Yes, is it's a lot of delayed
gratification. But that's but you know, you can still go somewhere. And

(30:44):
so I just admire anyone who walksdown this path because you got to have
some extra strength to get through it. Totally. Oh my goodness, Carolyne,

(31:21):
she's such a ray of light.I love her. It's not that
I didn't expect her to be,but it really is infectious through that.
I mean, we chatt aw onvideo, obviously, but I mean even
I'm sure the warmth of her voicereally comes through on the podcast, or
I certainly hope it does. I'msure it does. But yeah, no,
it's really cool. I mean,what great career longevity she's had,
and I mean still putting out newmusic that's very exciting. So you know,

(31:44):
I just there's so much to loveabout her. Honestly, I know,
yeah, she's uh, she's prettyamazing, all right, But I
think the time for warm and fuzzytalks are over and we need to really
make take things a bit more moretreacherous maybe and talk about the Traders Canada
episode three. So this this show, I mean, I really like the

(32:08):
show, although I will say alot of my peers do not actually enjoy
this show. Yeah, you knowwhat I've I've found mixed reviews. Yeah,
I'm surprised a couple of people thathave tried. And I think you
kind of have to. Like,I don't know, I'm a theater kid,
so I love the theatrics. Ieat that up. I think it's

(32:29):
great. But I think for somepeople that might not like it's definitely way
more theatrical. It's got a littlebit of cheese. But that's what I
like about it. So it's alittle more than like Survivor or Big Brother.
Like I'd say, it's a littlebit closer to like Big Brother Canada
than anything, because that I findhas a little bit more theatrics to it.
But yeah, it is interesting.I find people either like love it

(32:52):
or they don't like it, butI also feel like you have to give
it a chance. And it alsodepends on which version you start with first.
Like I watched the UK very firstand I was like hooked right away,
which I still haven't watched. I'veheard the UK version is very unhinged.
Though, it's so unhinged like thefirst episode and the host on that
one is scream at each other allday. Basically, Oh yeah, it's
but there's like a lot of liketwis where you're like, oh my,

(33:14):
oh my god, they just theyjust did that. They're not afraid to
do anything, to the point whereI was like, is there any rules,
Like did they just like decide didthe producers just decide we're just gonna
throw this purfall at them? Likeyeah, I why some reality show purists
of my friends that watch a lotof reality TV. That's also actually why
they don't like the Trader's format becauseit's hard to actually have a firm strategy.

(33:37):
For the most part, it's likethere's too many things going on that
like don't allow a player to likeproperly carve a path to the end.
Yeah, it's a little bit ofluck, Like I feel like a little
bit of his luck. And thenI also think because it's so new,
it's hard to build strategy on agame that you can't really research much about,
and so it's like to find kindof what works best. I think

(34:01):
that's but I think this is alsokind of fun is no one totally knows
what Every day you wake up andit's a new day, and someone else
could be thinking that you're a trader, right, so yeah, and we
live for a brunchroom entrance, andI feel like I'm also living for the
low key showmans between Kevin and Fiercethat I think, my gosh, I
love what she was like protecting himand so good from the laser challenge too,

(34:24):
and she was like, I don'tknow what he's doing. It was
it was so funny. It's Fierceas someone in this show I would definitely
want as an ally, whether Iwas a trader or not. I feel
like Fierce, Yeah, Fierce believesin you, like like you better look
out, you know. Yeah.Yeah. I love the dynamic duo between
Kevin and fierce. I wonder ifthat will take them to the finals.

(34:45):
We'll see. Yeah, I'm actuallyintrigued now to see because I thought Kevin
would be like a done deal kindof thing right away, but now he's
kind of he's kind of blended intothe background a little bit so and he's
smart, I mean obviously, Yeah, he's big brother twice, So I'm
intrigued to see what where his fatelies. Donna's the worrisome one for me,

(35:07):
but I mean maybe she's says tokeep around because I feel like I
feel like she's very clearly a faithfulbut just yeah, not instincts have not
led her in the right direction reallyyet. He just seems like a very
sweet, you know, kind kindlady. And yeah, I think that's
also got to be hard when youknow, I feel like she's very pure

(35:30):
and it's probably hard to go against, you know, to paint people as
bad or whatever. Right, SoI'm enjoying Crystal more too. I'm happy
she had more screen times this episode. I really like Crystal, so I
think that and Crystaline May for me, for sure, are the ones that
I think are are strong players.May I'm really in truted see what happens
next week because of the little previewand May had some some tears and some

(35:54):
uh you know, it seemed likesome heated arguments. So very intrigued to
see what what happens on episode four? Yeah see, I mean, what's
reality TV without a few tiers sometimes? Right? Exactly what's life without a
few tiers? Honestly? Yes,wise words, Yes, So I'm excited
for this next chat. We haveMelissa be On who I mean. I'm

(36:15):
sure she'll also agree was not thestrongest trader on the Traders Canada and was
sniffed out quite quickly as far asTraders formats go as well, doesn't normally
happen as quick, so I'm lookingforward to chatting with her about well.
She's also from Newfoundland, and Ilove Newfoundland. It's it's one of my
favorite places I've ever been in Canada. So I've never been. I want
to go so bad. You haveto. You have to. They love

(36:37):
love music there. You got toplay a show there, a festival,
you know, I would love thatfood music whether. I have a lot
of friends from there, so abouttime. It should be happening soon.
But yeah, very excited to talkto Melissa and also just kind of get
what an inside look to what wasgoing on in her head when all of
this was happening. You know,knowing that she's from Newfoundland, I'm sure

(36:58):
she has a great sense of humorabout everything, but well, I will
double check that before we lay inon her being a bad trader. Oh
man, it's got to be wayharder than it looks, you know,
like it's easy for us to belike, oh, she was so bad,
but I feel like I would betoo, like how she is as
honestly, how I feel like Iwould be. I think people would write
it away, be like, oh, you're lying. That's why I like

(37:19):
the show though, because it istheatrical. I feel like, even though
she was bad, it's not likeyou hate her on the show. You're
just you're just watching it being likethis is funny because you were you're you
weren't the greate. It's at thisit's like Eric getting kicked off first,
Like it's like, yeah, it'sshitty, but it's also Erica didn't care,
you know, It's like it iswhat it is. Yeah, And
I mean Eric also won a milliondollars on Cever, so I mean I

(37:40):
I don't think she's going to bea bad sport either way. Okay,
let's talk to most speed. Doyou have a pretty good sense of humor?

(38:02):
I think so. I think I'mpretty funny. You're for Newpoland,
so I feel like you should.Yeah, it just comes with the territory.
Yes, I think so. Ihave to be honest, I feel
like you were not the greatest traderon the show. It was horrible.
I was really good in my head, so you know, coming into it,
I had all kinds of strategy,and I think when I got picked

(38:24):
to be a trader, I wasjust so unbelievably excited and so surprised that
I actually got picked that I didn'treally think about how I should be acting
so that people wouldn't know that Igot picked so right off the bet,
you know, I was. Ihad all the tell everybody knew immediately apparently,
and you know, I just didn'tcontain myself. I feel like if

(38:45):
I had to play it cool andmaybe play a little bit like I did
on day two and three, thatI could have been fine. But Day
one, I just I was tooexcited to be there. I was like
a little puppy dogg it was interesting. Me. Chatted with Korean and our
first podcast of the Fall episode ofthe Fall, and she said that everyone
on the cast wanted to be atrader, which I found surprising. I

(39:06):
mean, I think the game iseasier ish when you're a trader, but
also I we've come to discover thatperhaps we would not be great on the
show. I would not be agood trader, So I've learned I would
be terrible at this at this think, Yeah, I found out that I
was. I didn't think that Iwould be. I thought I was going
to be, you know, thebest trader I was, sorree. I
was going to bring it right tothe end. I was going to be

(39:27):
so good. But then you getpicked, and I guess for me,
just the giddiness and excitement of beingthere just kind of took over. I
definitely blew my cover. But Ithink for being a trader is appealing because
it's yes, you know who theother traders are. You do have a
leg up on the faithful, butyou're also getting to play a role that

(39:49):
most people don't necessarily play in theireveryday life, Like every day I don't
I'm not conniving, I'm not schemingI'm not looking to backstad people and send
them home. And in the game, it's kind of really exciting to be
able to play that dark side ofyourself that maybe wouldn't normally be in life.
So I was I was really lookingforward to doing something different. That's
so cool. Yeah, I wasgonna say, I don't envy you because

(40:12):
I feel like I'd be the exactsame way where i'd want to be a
trader. And I you know,but I I think was it Heather.
I think she said you felt yourjitters or like, yeah, like she
was, I feel like I wouldbe the exact same way. And it's
really I feel like it looks easierthan it actually is, like I'm sure
you know. And and then alsoyeah, having to play you know,

(40:36):
to you still kind of have toact as the faithful but then still be
the trader, and so it's youknow, it's probably a lot harder than
what we see on TV. We'reprobably like, oh, it looks so
you know, i'd be able todo that, but so easy. So
I watched it before I left,and I was just thinking like, oh,
this is a great game, likethis is designed for me. And

(40:57):
even when I got there, Ijust kept saying, you know, two
wys, two ears, one mass, look, listen, and don't say
too much. And instead I gotthere and I was like and I just
couldn't shut up. But that's justkind of part of who I am.
So when I got there, youknow, I didn't take my own advice.
Unfortunately I was talking too much.But yeah, you're just thinking about,
like, Okay, how do Iact like a faithful what would a

(41:20):
faithful do? But then also you'rethinking who shouldn't murdered tonight? Who's making
relationships? And you know, who'sa target? Can I paint a target
on somebody else's back? Who canI frame? Like, There's so much
that goes through your head that youjust it does kind of take you out
of the faithful game because you're thinkingabout how you can get ahead as well.
You Chad with Erica last episode ofthe podcast, and was she an
easy pick for the first episode becauseshe had won Survivor Because I mean the

(41:43):
people like Kevin's won Big Brother Canadawhatever, But I mean, when you
Survivor, you win a wild amountof money compared to other shows, so
that must have made it easier topick her. I would imagine it wasn't
so much the money it was,but it also it was mostly like I
I really wanted Kevin out. Mikeseemed to be on board with Kevin Kouzy.

(42:05):
We could tell had something going therebecause she wouldn't tell me where she
heard my name. You could tellthat she was hiding something. And then
whenever we bring up Kevin, she'dstare the conversation. So she actually sprinkled
Erica's name in with May, andI think she was doing that to hide
her cover that she had a relationshipwith Erica and stare us toward getting rid
of May. So the more thatshe would push toward May, the more

(42:29):
I kind of leaned back and said, well, you know, Erica is
the survivor. So like we threeof us did collectively go through it.
But a lot of it was Idon't there's definitely something going on between BECOZI,
Kevin and Erica here, and Idon't want her to have like an
extra leg up. The other sideof it was we're still competing against each
other fundamentally. Well, yeah,we're like we're a team, but we're

(42:51):
also you know, we're traders.We're supposed to want the whole pot to
ourselves and with Erica because she wona game like Survivor. In order to
get to the end of Survivor,you know, it's it's tough. You
have to be really personable, andalready in this game, like day one,
she was already creating all kinds ofrelationships. Like there was nobody looking
at Erica like they didn't want herto be there. Everybody wanted to be

(43:13):
there. She's so nice, soeasy to talk to that it was like,
the longer she stays in this game, the more likely people are going
to want to keep her in.So it just made more sense to get
her at first, as opposed toyou know, Kevin or May. Was
there someone that you think would makean excellent trader that was not picked?
Well, I mean I think Ido think, Oh god, I do
think Kevin would have made one.I think Crystal would have been a phenomenal

(43:37):
trader. Oh my god. Youelse. Mike was a wicked pick,
Like I thought he was great.Yeah, yeah, yeah, they were
good picks. Oh my god,you know what, and probably May May
might have done really well. Ohyou know what, everybody who was pick
I could just go through the rosterof every person, but for the most

(44:00):
part, honestly, like on knowingthem, I feel like they all could
probably do a really good job.But then at the same time, I'm
like, well maybe I thought Icould do a good job. So everybody
was picked because they had the capabilitiesto be a trader. But I mean
good versus bad. I don't know, We'll have to that could be another
season. How do you feel beingpaired with Mike and Koozy? Do you
feel like that helped your game orwas it more of a detriment. I

(44:22):
mean, Mike just kind of likeoffered you up, like as soon as
as soon as Korean was like okay, time to chat at the round table,
he like right away pointed you out, and so he kind of fed
you to the wolves there. Itfelt like a little bit like are you
I wouldn't think you'd be allowed todo that. Actually, in this game,
to do that kind of thing,you're allowed. So we still have

(44:43):
to be faithful, right, westill have to appair as faithfuls as we're
traders. So even though we knowwho the other traders are, we're not
allowed to identify. Like I can'tgo to someone and say I know for
a fact that Kuzzi is trader becauseI'm the other trader. You know,
you're not allowed to say that you'rea trader or or identify the other traders.
But you know know when you're atthose those roundtable discussions, you're allowed
to throw people under the bus aslong as you're not giving it away for

(45:06):
certain So you know, all hereally did was open up with a question,
give me a chance to defend myself, and you know, feed me
to the wolves, as you say, And he definitely did, you know
he But at that point I thinkthat when we got to my roundtable,
it was pretty clear that I wasa sinking ship. So you know,
for Mike to open it up,really that just saved his game. It
made him look more faithful. Andfor Koozi to jump on, I mean

(45:29):
I had actually been saying Kuzzi's namea little bit, so I don't blame
her in any way. It's notthat they were not good traders to work
with. I think they were absolutelyfabulous. I think that the issue was
that once I heard in the firstconclave that my name had been said,
my head just kind of started aspiral and I was thinking, Okay,
tomorrow, I have to be quiet, so instead of you know, in

(45:52):
between whenever we weren't in the conclave. Me and Mike were on a team
together a few times, but wewould always be with groups. Myself and
Kuz never really kind of like pulledapart privately, so the three of us
never got to talk outside the conflict, so there was no trade or strategy,
only what we would talk about thenight before when I came to murder.
So I think that the biggest downfall. It wasn't who were selected,

(46:15):
it was the fact that we weren'tmeeting aside from the evenings to kind of
talk strategy and game. There wasalways too many people around or we just
we just didn't do it. SoI think that was probably one of my
downfalls, aside from the you know, the overacting all reality shows you take
seriously, yes, but this thisshow does seem like it's a extra dramatic
and extra fun, Like do youdo you feel like even though you lost,

(46:37):
you had a great time plane.I feel like certain games people are
really let down, like in Survivorthey seem really sad and something happens,
or any any show, but thisone just seems like it's almost theatrical,
so I feel like that that kindof provides an element of fun for everyone
involved. It was the most funI've had in my life, Like from
the plane ride up from the airportonward, I just had such an incredible

(47:01):
experience. It is a lot offun, I mean, and I don't
know if it's if it's the gameitself, or if it's just like I
went into this knowing that I signeda contract with a game called The Traders,
so I was signing up to backsteadand be Backstad, you know,
So I went into it with zeroexpectation of, like somebody let me down

(47:21):
and they're not a nice person orwhatever. Everybody is in there isn't a
game, so you know, ifsomebody betrayed me or whatever, there were
no hard feelings, right, SoI think a lot the majority of the
cast, I think, felt likethat it was we all knew that we
were playing a game, and maybeit's a Canadian thing. We're all there
play game. We're not looking forenemies, We're looking for a good time,
right. So at the end ofit, you know, I was

(47:44):
heartbroken to be sent home, butit wasn't because people were betraying me or
Backstead and me. It was becausemy time in a game that I had
always dreamed of playing was over andI was out. So I was upset
that way. But at the sametime, when I revealed in the circle
that I was a trader and goteverybody's reaction, like Kevin jumped up,
he nearly broke the table, Likeyou know, the excitement that was in

(48:06):
that room gave me adrenaline, AndI'm like, if I was upset,
I wouldn't have got that adrenaline righta rush. So definitely a different type
of game. So you're a fanof other reality TV shows, would you
do maybe like another Traders or wouldyou ever try like Big Brother Canada or
any other Canadian reality shows? Doyou have the bug? Now? I

(48:28):
would go on Naked and Afraid ifthey asked me, Honest to god,
I think I would talk about fun. Probably maybe not Naked and Afraid.
We'll see, But no. BigBrother Canada was actually like always my my
dream. That was always the team, that was the show I wanted to
go on, so I knew,you know going into it. Who the
Big Brother Canada contestants were traders wassomething I just I mean, it only

(48:49):
came out for me last year thatI knew about, and so when I
saw that show, that was justlike I I never thought i'd ever you
know, especially season one get pickedfor that that was the craziest dream come
true. And I half the bug. I love a social strategy game.
So you know, if I evergot the opportunity to do anything like this
or even any competition show, Iwould I'd say yes, you know,
four times before they asked me.That's awesome. So living in Newfoundland,

(49:12):
I mean, I love Newfoundland.It's such a wonderful place, and I
mean Saint John's especially, such asuper vibrant city. Can you speak a
bit to the I don't want tocall them quirks, but there's signature Newfoundland
dishes that are quite unique to thearea. So I mean, obviously like
fries and dressing and things like Iwould say it wrong Tountans. I always

(49:34):
want to say two tong like inthe French French accent, and my friends
make fun of me for that.But yeah, I think you have lots
of like cool regional food over there, so you know what's so funny we
do. We have a lot ofstuff and I I don't know if it's
just that I'm just like, youknow, stuck on island. Haven't been
very many places before, but itwas I was an adult before I found
it that most of the things thatI enjoy were like local only, like

(49:57):
with towns. Like we grew upthere. It was like you know,
townains or pancakes, Like it wasn'tanything different. But I mean we would
have that that was like a cabinstaple. So every weekend we would go
to the cabin. We'd have tuntaindough, we'd make tountains. You'd eat
it with molasses. I used toeat it with syrup because I love sarap.
But yeah, toountains. Jigs Dinnerapparently, jigs Dinner is not a
thing that No, that's definitely Newfoundlandfor sure. Oh yeah, Jig's Dinner

(50:22):
is probably the biggest thing. Likethat's a Sunday meal staple every Sunday,
so it's almost like a big Thanksgivingdinner. But we do everything in the
one pot with like salt beef.Do you gys have salt beef? Well,
we have it at grocery stores inAlberta because we have so many Newfoundlanders
that live here. But it's notIt's not common across Canada, but you
can buy it here in Alberta.Oh yeah, because like I love some

(50:45):
salt beef, so you cook everythingin a pot with salt beef. We
make peas pudding, dressing, youknow, we'll stuff a turkey. Like
we have all of this and it'slike a Sunday meal, like families get
together. So like, yeah,there's a lot of traditional Newfland dinners.
Fish and chips. I don't knowif that's a newfo landing, but fish
and chips is like a go to, especially if you're on George Street the
night before the next day, youmight be paring some fish and chips.

(51:06):
So I've yet to go over reallyanywhere East Coast, and it's like,
yeah, that's I would love too, because I just want to I don't
know. I also love being bythe water and the food sounds amazing and
I love seafood. So yeah,some lobster crab. Oh yeah. My
first time to George Street, Iwas not I don't know, it wasn't
prepared for what it was. Andthen when you show up there and it's

(51:27):
like really intense and almost at somepoints kind of like club atmosphere. Sort
of energy. You know, it'sjust that bar crowd, but then they
also have a huge outdoor stage andit's just like like there's nothing like that
in lots of cities, Like I'venever been to somewhere else, and I
would say Canada Side maybe like KingStreet, where you feel like there's like
a huge party on the street allthe time on the weekends. Like it's
a very unique strip for sure,especially in such a small small city,

(51:51):
and especially like with the music scenetoo, Like like you'll go into like
there'll be a dance club right here, and then right next to it they'll
be like a blues bar, andthen right next to that there's like open
mic night, and then like it'sjust and then there's a karaoke bar.
That's where I liked Adventure too.But you know, it's it's a lot.
It's it's just this. Yeah,like you say it's a street that
the whole street is a party,because even outside the clubs, there's just

(52:15):
people walking from one club to thenext. You're pumping into friends, you're
having a chat, like it's it'sa real unique place for sure. You'll
have to pump yeah, yeah,oh my gosh, no George Street.
That's the big festival. That's thebig Yeah. We have a couple of
festivals a year actually where basically theyblock off the street and you have to
pay to get on the street,but you can take your drink outside the
clubs and have them on the streetand there's a big stage. Bands come

(52:37):
and play. It's it's just wild. It's it's such a great time.
Sounds so fun. Do you haveany favorite East Coast bands or either if
bands or like venues that you youlove that you'll go check out live music?
I do, well, you knowwhat. I like a lot of
like up and coming people. Sothere is I don't know, being a

(53:00):
part of like Nick Earl. Haveyou heard of him? Yeah? Oh
yeah. Our friend Danny Strong manageshim. She's a musician as well.
But yeah, he's great. Yeah, Okay, Nick is absolutely fabulous.
I've got one of his songs.What's it called? Because it's my car
driving driving song, It's Born toLose It's called so definitely look that up.

(53:21):
Such a good song. I lovedriving to that. So Nick is
one of my favorites. Up andcoming. Randy Matthews, I don't know
if you've heard of him. He'sa local local artist again up and coming.
And Jenny Mallard is act. JennyMallard is actually my husband's cousin.
She love local artists and they're allon Spotify, so definitely check them out.
But yeah, I absolutely if I'min a bad mood, one of

(53:42):
those three are going on. Loveit amazing. This is a food podcast,
so not surprisingly, I'm fixated onthe brunch spread on all Trader formats,
and Traders Canada does not have agreat brunch spread compared to the other
formats. I'm even in this episodeit look like they were just eating like
cantaloge, like it was prepping thisbrunch. It's just this brunch seems really

(54:07):
lackluster. Can you I mean,we don't want to throw that production production
fabulous this, I'll start by sayingthat, but yeah, breakfast, you
know, brunch, it left alittle to be desired. I was most
excited when I found out that Iwas going to be on the show.
One of the things that I saidto casting producers was like, oh my
god, I can't wait for breakfast. Like breakfast. I was like,

(54:30):
I want to sit down, Iwant you to give me food. I
want to talk and like conspire withpeople while I get to eat this delicious
meal. I'm a big food lover. Like if I'm not if i'm not
working, I'm eating. So Iyou know, I was really excited about
it, I will say. Soit was mostly like pastry and fruit.

(54:50):
That was kind of what we got. I would have you know, I
wouldn't have killed anybody to give mea little slice of bacon, just a
little bit of bacon. Yeah,but there was no bacon. But there
was the best croissans I've ever hadin my entire life, So that's good.
It wasn't a lot of options,but they made off for it just
with the croissants alone because they werefabulous. So what do you do for
lunch and dinner? Do you alsoget spreads or is it is it like

(55:12):
a kitchen? Is it sort oflike Big Brother where you can go and
you can just kind of do yourthing in the kitchen. No, it
is catered, so they do theyhave like meals, different meals every day,
and that we would eat it offcamera. No, I always wonder
about all that, you know,and that was me. Yeah, that
was for watching all the other showstoo. Is the breakfast bread always looks
like so amazing, But I'm gladthat the croissants made up for it.

(55:36):
That's good, you were, LikeI looked forward to that my two breakfasts
that I made it to I was, you know what, I was really
sad. The next day, Ithere cool, So I guess I'll just
get a bag along my way homeat the airport. If you had murdered
different contestants, that it would havechanged the outcome of your game or do
you think you know from that veryfirst when you were picked as a trader

(55:58):
and people started to pick off onthat lie, like, do you think
that was what kind of sealed yourfate or do you think maybe if you
had murdered different people that things wouldhave been different. My biggest regret,
and I've told him this since Igot home, was not murdering Kevin immediately.
Yeah, that was my absolute biggestregret. I like, you know,
I figured, okay, well,I'll just be quiet the next little

(56:22):
bit, like Kevin's gonna dig hisself a grave. Like I didn't realize
how many relationships he had actually created. He was pulling people off and having
these little side alliances, and Ijust I watched him play Big Brother twice
and I still underestimated the power.Right. So I think had I killed
him or murdered him the first night, that I would have had a better

(56:44):
chance, because yes, and youknow, everybody has said I pegged Melissa
as soon as that line full cameoff, I don't believe them. I
think that because everybody is suspect atthe table, and people are gonna look
at something, they're gonna pick it, and then they're gonna run with it.
I think that because I was doingbetter on day two and day three,
staying under the radar, building betterrelationships, that the main thing that

(57:05):
got me gone was that Kevin justhad me any sites and he just wouldn't
let go. Had we murdered himthe first night, it would have looked
like it would have looked bad onme because he was saying my name.
But I also hadn't realized how muchhe had said my name, so I
wouldn't have needed to act that likeact surprise. I would have genuinely been
like I didn't know he was talkingabout me. I feel like I could
have played that off a little bitbetter because I wouldn't have been number one

(57:27):
in everybody's mind, whereas when Kevinwas there, he still had the opportunity
to pull people aside her, likefiers like look at her, or when
she comes in the door, likesee if she's acting too much, and
you know, all that kind ofstuff. Because there were a lot of
people who I did have fools whowere you know, I got a lot
of boats at that around table.But there were some people there who were
like, you guys are after herthe same way were after Colin. There's
yeah, you know, so ifI murdered Kevin, I think I would

(57:51):
have at least lasted a day ortwo longer. Yeah, it's funny.
I thought it was a little funnythat Donna, because Donna she's a themedia,
right, yeah, done. Itwas kind of funny that she's like,
it's absolutely not you. I connectedreally well with don I'll actually I
have it here. She threw meher bracelet, so on the way out,

(58:13):
me and her connected a lot overspirituality. We connected over crystals and
things like that, and she herbracelet really meant a lot to her,
and I also had a lot oflike crystal bracelets with me, so we
connected over that. And on myway out, when I got voted.
I was walking into the Circle oftruth, and she hauled off her bracelet
and she tossed it to me rightas I hit the circle because she was

(58:35):
so sure that I was definitely faithful. So when I said I was a
trader, and I waved for by, and I couldn't tell her that,
you know, I couldn't. Yeah, because when you're out, you're out.
You don't get to talk to anybody. So it wasn't until the show
was finished filming that we were ableto talk again. And and then finally
I was like, oh, Igot done. I have a bracelet.
Do you want it back? I'mso sorry, and she she told me,

(58:55):
was like, no, it's cursed. Its yeah right, yeah,
no it was. It was justshe was so like, we just made
a really good bond. So itwas really hard to see. And that
was my plan going into it,was to to form really genuine connections with
people, so that when you're bondedwith someone and you feel good about them,
you don't want to send them home, even if part of you is
like I think that they're the badguy. You're you know, your relationship

(59:20):
that you have, you just don'thave it in you to send them home
all the time. So that wasmy ideal plan but got foiled. Korean
As a host, I feel likeshe might be my favorite host of any
format. Actually, I think she'sreally great. She is like a light,
honest to god, she comes inevery day, she's stoic and just

(59:42):
like she just has this energy whereshe can command the room. But she's
still you know, you still feelcomfortable around m hm, and like a
little bit's just scary enough sometimes,you know, just enough, just enough
that you're not going to step outof line. Like she's got some principal
energy, you know, like misbehaveyou're going to listen to her, but
she's you know, she's still gentle. Yeah, and we're always waiting for

(01:00:05):
the next look, you know.Oh every time I see her looks.
I'm like every time she would comeinto a room, if it was breakfast
or a mission or a round table, like we would all just sit there
and just be like I always neededto take a minute. I was like,
Okay, I'm going to listen toyou in a second to what you're
saying. I just need a minuteto appreciate this. Because the outfits were

(01:00:25):
amazing. Well, thank you forjoining us today, Melissa. We appreciate
your time and we're sad to seethat you left so soon from the Traders,
but awesome here about even your Newfoundlandrecommendations for food and music. And
hopefully this won't be the last thatwe see of you. Maybe we'll see
you on another reality TV show soon. Who knows, not naked and afraid,

(01:00:47):
I'll just make sure. But yeah, this was great, guys.
I really appreciate it. I lovechatting with you guys. I'll definitely be
tuning into your podcast and just thanksfor having me. Wellist be very fun

(01:01:15):
chat. I figured it would be. You know, I always love chatting
with someone from Newfoundland because they're they'realways so friendly, so conversational, and
maybe that is what didn't allow herto be an excellent trader. They're just
they're just too friendly over there.Yeah. I I wonder if like roles
were reversed, if she was afaithful if people still would have suspected her

(01:01:35):
as a trader or not. Youknow, that would have been an interesting
Yeah. I guess it depends howpeople where they're they're what's in their mind
on their face and like that's notthe right to phrase for that but I
mean you understand. I mean,it's been a it's been a long week,
okay, yeah, but again,tons of fun and like it's great
to hear when people have a blaston the show, even if they don't

(01:01:57):
do that well, because again,it comes back to that's why I like
this show because I feel like itis fundamentally a very fun format and I
feel like every contestant and the hosteveryone we've got to talk to you from
the show so far, they allkind of echo that sentiment. I feel
like, yeah, I I totallyand it just it makes you, I
think, as a viewer, feelmore I don't know, I guess happy
to watch it because you know,the people are actually having fun and it's

(01:02:19):
not just you know, put onfor TV or and I feel like with
the other reality shows that are outthere, it can get quite heated and
you know, and this this feelslight And I think that's why I like
it as much as it's like,oh, we're talking about murdering people and
exiling and whatever, all these likebig words and the show is called The
Traders. It is a very likelight show because I feel like, you

(01:02:40):
know, people aren't they're just goingoff of gut instincts of what they feel,
but no one's you know, youcan't someone can't lose, and you
can't necessarily blame somebody for like losinga certain competition or you know that kind
of stuff. So I would bemad at the end if I was a
faithful and I lost to a trader. I feel like that is when if
you made it that far to findout that the person you trusted was lying

(01:03:02):
to you the whole time, thatthen yeah, that would yeah, I
think it gets it's yeah, definitely. As the game goes on, it's
a little more, the stakes gethigher. But yeah, that would suck.
But I also if I was atrader and I was like befriended this
faithful person, I would feel terribleand then I'm going to take the money
from them. Maybe I wonder ifyou could do this on the side and

(01:03:25):
be like, look, if oneof us is a trader, why don't
we still commit to splitting the prizeIf if one of us, I was
thinking that maybe you're not allowed toyou know, yeah, I know,
I uh yeah, I was wonderingthat if you could do that, I
mean maybe you could. You couldprobably do anything. Just send over a
healthy eat transfer. Yeah, Iknow that's what I would do. That

(01:03:46):
would that would help me sleep atnight too after the game's over, I
know, especially when you start toget to know people, because that's another
thing is I think a lot ofpeople it's very interesting the very beginning,
they're like, I don't want tomake relationships, Like any relationship I make
with people will just be to getme in the next stage, like everyone's
going in to use it. Andthen I don't think people realize how close
they get, or like they startto understand of these people's backgrounds and their

(01:04:10):
family lives, and it suddenly becomesvery I think more complicated for the traders,
especially as it goes on, becauseyou kind of have to have that
way on your conscious a little bit. And I don't think Koozi cares.
I think, yeah, Kuzzi justwants a bank man, which I get
it, I get it, butI yeah, to be curious. I'm

(01:04:32):
curious to see how her game willplay out, and you know, maybe
if maybe she will have some moralconflicts. I don't know. Well,
we have to take a break onthis podcast for a few weeks because well,
you're going on tour with Tim Hicksvery very soon, crazy, and
I'm going away as well for work. So when we're back and we'll have
you as a guest because my regularco host Madison holds me back with me,

(01:04:56):
but I think we'll have you onas a guest so we can still
talk Traders and maybe by that pointwe can have one of the Traders Canada
finalists on the show with you.So we're still doing our nice little roundtable
about the show. Yes, Oh, I would love that. That would
be awesome. Until then, itwas fun. That was really fun for
you to join me on the podcast. You are You're a natural host.
I knew you would be because you'veYou've done so many on screen presenting things.

(01:05:18):
So I'm honored that you came onmy humble podcast. Oh, I'm
honored for you asking me like thisis this is amazing. I mean,
love you, love everything that youdo, and uh, this is just
so fun because I feel like Idon't get to talk about not all the
people know that looks like my myguilty pleasure is reality TV. So it's
very exciting for me to talk aboutit. But then also get to meet

(01:05:39):
like some pretty cool Canadians and fromall from all over and this is my
favorite thing, just connecting with people, So I appreciate you having me and
for the opportunity. It was ablast, tons of fun that I lived
up to your your standards. Highstandards, yeah, absurdly high standards.

(01:06:01):
You were just listening to Melodies andmenus, a podcast mini series brought to
you by Eat North. For moreinformation about the show's co hosts, myself,
Dan Clapson and Hiley Benedict, andour guests and much more, head
to etonorth dot com.