A Chat with Heart - with Christina Martin

Christina chats with award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Shari Ulrich about
living on a commune, the role that solitude plays in creativity, life lessons from being in bands, gaining confidence as a front person, listening to your instincts, and a heck of a lot more!

For over four decades, accomplished singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shari Ulrich has been winning hearts across North America with her voice, songs and on-stage charisma. A two-time JUNO-winner among other awards, she has recorded 25 albums as a solo artist and with the legendary Pied Pumpkin, The Hometown Band, UHF, BTU and The High Bar Gang.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Louise Triance interviews A Chat with Heart Podcast host Christina Martin. They chat about her start in music, meeting Her Majesty the Queen of England, and her upcoming tour in the UK. There are fun British quiz in the mix to help prepare Christina for her upcoming tour dates. 

Louise Triance runs a community for recruiters, she is an accidental customer services manager for a platform we both work for called Crowdcast, she has three awesome children, two dogs and a husband named Mike (who I hope to get to meet soon). For someone who doesn’t want to be defined by her job spends a lot of time at work. She loves coffee, toast and a nice chat. That makes Louise perfect for A Chat with Heart!

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with her friend, New Brunswick-based singer/songwriter and graphic designer Jessica Rhaye about her insanely successful viral video for her rendition of Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind', finding her musical family, growing up in the country, and songwriting. 

Jessica's songs have twice been a finalist in the Canada Music Week National Song-writing competition as well as a finalist in the folk category of the John Lennon Song-writing Contest. Notable co-writing partners over her career include Ron Sexsmith, Ken Tobias, Steve Poltz, Brent Mason, Royal Wood, and Matt Andersen. Jessica has graced many prestigious stages including the National Arts Centre, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Shivering Songs Festival, Canadian Music Café, Hughs Room, Hotel Café, and Half Moon Putney. As a visual graphic design artist, Jessica Rhaye has won both the ECMA for graphic artist of the year and Music NB visual artist of the year for her design work for her own music projects and in collaboration for numerous musical artists.

In short, Jessica is a gem of a talent and woman! 

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

This is a super fun chat with Christina's friend Stephanie Purcell, founder and agent at VOX Agency in Halifax, about attention to detail when event planning, Newfoundland English, and an exciting event happening in Halifax, Nova Scotia in February. Find out what friends and clients of Stephanie have to say about the kind of person she is.  

Stephanie Purcell has been devoted to the events industry for over 15 years. Her passion for live entertainment followed her from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia where she has become an award-winning agent and manager. She has helped bring events of all kinds to life. Working closely with clients to realize their vision, no matter how big or small, Stephanie prides herself on sweating the small stuff. Enthusiastic, ambitious, and trusted, Stephanie is with you every step of the way - from the idea to the stage. She is an expert in creating the perfect atmosphere with the right live performance.

Visit voxagency.ca to contact Steph and then you can make magic happen for your event!

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Bangs about her journey from dancer, to couch potato, to fitness instructor and personal development coach.  Bangs offered five fabulous lessons learned from 2023, like stop telling yourself you can't!

Hailing from the UK, Bangs is an award winning spin instructor who has guided thousands of people to find their best selves on stationary bikes. Her classes were so popular, people started asking her to coach them off the bike, and so her life coaching journey began. She's an accomplished public speaker, an author and the former fitness editor at ELLE UK. She’s a believer in the power of movement and mindset to change your life.

Instagram: @‌bangsandabun
Studio Bangs: studiobangs.com
Life Coaching: bangstheconsistencycoach.com

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with her friend Krista Keough about the long process to develop and launch Krista's first children's book. Dear Diary, It’s Me, Stella follows the captivating journey of a courageous dog in search of a place to call home. Illustrated by Gina Stavrou, with illustrations only using the colours that dogs can see.

Krista Keough is a dynamic and versatile contributor to Atlantic Canada’s creative industries. Over the past 20 years, she has woven her expertise through various roles as a writer in business, the arts, and education. She lives in Nova Scotia with her two dogs, Apollo and Stella. Read more of her writing at kristakeough.com.

Find out where to order the book.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with longtime friend Andrew Sisk about The Passing of the Buffalo by Buckskin, texting before calling, Big Pink, Andrew's songwriting journey, tips for staying the creative course and making time for yourself.  Also, Andrew's mama's freezer jam came up, scoring music for film, and how Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha inspired the creation of a big musical he's dreaming up.

Andrew Sisk emerged from the forests of New Brunswick into the Canadian music scene in the early 2000s writing and performing in several touring bands (Share, Sleepless Nights, Jenn Grant, Coco et co. ) As an independent artist he has released 14 albums, including the acclaimed art project “The Passing of the Buffalo- by Buckskin” (2012).

 Andrew Sisk’s song catalogue has been featured on national radio, used in television programs, and independent films, as well as, been covered by other artists like songstress Christina Martin with Blue Rodeo’s Greg Keelor. In 2013, the Canadian music scene honoured his songs with the release of a tribute album, “We Have the Same Lights Overhead“, by the Acadian Embassy label which featured acclaimed artists like Jon McKiel, Jenn Grant, and Michael Feuerstack. 

As a composer, Sisk has created the film scores for NFB Documentaries like “Paula” (2018), Seguridad (2024) and CBC’s Award winning Documentary “Freeman Patterson: The universe is unfolding as it should“(2023). Sisk was commissioned to perform a musical tribute to Canadian Poet Alden Nowlan for the 2020 Shivering Songs Music Festival as a multidisciplinary performance piece. 

Andrew Sisk’s newest and most ambitious work as a composer, songwriter, and arranger is Adrift (2023) which is poetic musical experience through the journey of healing from trauma.

Andrew's Bandcamp
Official Website

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Pilates instructor Stacie Fisher about transformation.  Stacie lived with crippling depression for about 10 years and now offers transformative  classes with Pilates for Power, an online and in person pilates training.

Stacie trained at internationally renowned Merrithew Corporate Training Center in Toronto and is a Stott Certified Pilates Instructor. Her passion is working with people who are experiencing challenges with mental wellness. She is also very excited about using movement to optimize health so her clients can enjoy life to the fullest. Stacie teaches groups and private sessions both online and in person at her home studio in Port Howe, NS.

Book your online or in person session with Stacie!

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with longtime friend and iconic radio DJ Rudie Hayes. Rudie is an ecologist, environmentalist, and forester, based in the UK, he is an advocate of the health benefits of woodlands.

A runner, and football coach he is a total music nerd. Writing on Americana, Folk and Acoustic artists for 20 years, he has been a promoter, drummer, compare of festivals - he'll do anything to get good music heard.

His passion has always been radio - he hosted the award winning "Horseshoe Lounge Radio Show" for 5 years as well as founding a local community station in his adopted home town of York. 

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with one of her best friends in his home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotion. Ryan MacGrath is the founder of Joy with Honey Artful Living - A decorating and design studio based in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

Ryan combines many artful worlds: as a studied visual artist, he creates graphic, enigmatic figurative and stylized landscape paintings.   At the same time, the Canadian is a celebrated Singer/Songwriter with comparisons to Brandon Flowers (The Killers), Nick Cave, Roy Orbison, and Rufus Wainwright.

The common thread weaving its way through MacGrath’s artistic work is an engaging melancholy. According to the artist, he has an affinity for exploring contrasts in his music: joy and sadness, light and darkness, and loneliness versus togetherness. Here it is again, that connection between two worlds: the bipolarity which also plays a major role in his painting.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with a longtime artistic collaborator and friend Nicole Aline Legault. Art was ‘the only path forward’ for Nicole Aline Legault. 

Nicole Aline Legault is a Canadian artist based in Montreal, Quebec. She has worked as a freelance illustrator and artist in print, film, and music. Raised on the east coast of Canada, her work often examines our need to reconnect with the natural world and has been deeply inspired by the ocean, nature, and dreams of whales.

Nicole's Website:  nicolealinelegault.com

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Nova Scotia Singer-Songwriter Kristen Martell about trauma being a catalyst that helped Kristen return to music, aging and beauty (as women) in the music industry, planning a good retreat, and all the work that goes into staying on a path with heart . 

With multiple ECMA and Music Nova Scotia award nominations since her return to music in 2020, she is making a name for herself in the East Coast music scene and beyond.  Her latest album 'Every Season' (Sept 30, 2022) is her most confident, self-assured and emotionally compelling work to date. It was also nominated for the 2023 ECMA ‘Album of the Year’ and ‘Folk Recording of the Year’.  

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

In this episode Christina lays down and gets her new finger tattoos touched up by  Hilary Wood, the owner of Bliss Tattoo!

Hilary has been hand-poking since 2019. After getting tattooed for over 10 years and seeing various artists in different cities, she determined that not all tattoo experiences are positive ones. She was inspired to create a safe, relaxed, and even fun space for clients to get a permanent piece of art on their bodies in Charlottetown, PEI. 

For more information and to book an appointment visit Bliss Tattoo ❤️

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chat's with one of her funniest friends Ian Foster about the challenges in making a film, staying positive, a healthy dose of rejection, and his relation to David Foster. Ian, native of Newfoundland, Canada, is a storyteller. That music and film are the ways he tells those stories only makes the telling richer still.  Once described by CBC’s Bob Mersereau as being “a fine example of what a 21st century folk performer should be doing,” Foster continues to evolve and defy genre, as his latest forthcoming album and film project Close to the Bone (2022) illustrates.

Ian has been compared to diverse artists like Bruce Cockburn, Daniel Lanois, The War on Drugs, Josh Ritter and more, depending on the album of his that you’re listening to. Meanwhile, his film scores draw more on Sigur Ros and Olafur Arnalds textures and ambience. This is not a bug, it’s a feature: it all comes from a love of sonic exploration that has only grown as Ian’s career has moved between touring around the world and producing albums for a diverse set of artists.

Ian has toured in Canada, the U.S, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria, and Italy, and has had his music played on radio internationally. He is a MusicNL and ECMA (East Coast Music Award) winner, a finalist for the International Songwriting Competition, and has numerous co-writes to his credit, including the legendary folk songwriter Ron Hynes.

Ian performs and records both solo, and as a duo with his longtime partner Nancy Hynes, with whom he released the multi-award winning album A Week in December in 2018.

• If and When Podcast
• Film and Album: Close to the Bone

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Anne Bérubé , a spiritual teacher who has made her life’s purpose about helping individuals remember the happiness within them.

Anne has written and published two fantastic books:  Be Feel Think Do, and The Burnout Antidote. Check out her website anneberube.com Embodied Spirituality, where you will find links to her virtual and in-person retreats, her podcast Embodied, and her books. 

Anne also has a plethora of education under her belt, including, no biggie, a PhD.  Her work has also allowed her to share the stage with many of her heroes, including bestselling authors Wayne Dyer, Deepak Chopra.

• Official Website: anneberube.com
• Podcast and Books: anneberube.com/podcast-books

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with GRAVEN (Matty McKechnie), an independent folk-rock singer- songwriter from Ottawa, Canada about his latest album Simple Complex, killing people with kindness, and singing and songwriting. As it turns out, Christina and Matty discover they might be the same person.

Graven is a passionate wordsmith of song who wears his heart on the sleeve of his melodies. He always has uplifting words and self-love promoting songs of support for anyone at his shows and his dedicated fan-base (who have dubbed themselves as  “Graventown”). Graven always tries to create a highly accepting and inclusive community and his music has become a safe-haven for anyone and everyone who wants to be their real-self without judgement.

Listen to his podcast Graventown
Watch Simple Complex - The Movie

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

In this episode I chat with my friend Carlyn Oswald  as we try to lend some online dating tips to my listeners about  setting up your profile, first impressions, red flags and background checks. I even share my limited experience using Tinder. 

My first Aupair gig landed me in Austin, Texas when I was twenty years old. I had never written a song, and I have very few memories of what it was like being single and dating. Now I'm 43 years young, and chatting on my podcast with my guest Carlyn, who was only six years old when I lived with her family as their summer Aupair. Now she's all grown up, and has a plethora of experience to bring me up to speed on what it's like living single in Northwest Arkansas. It was so fun to re-connect with Carlyn after all these years. 

 

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Jeff Douglas - the host of CBC Radio One's Mainland Nova Scotia's afternoon show  Mainstreet - about acting, making mistakes, imposter syndrome, and his role keeping Atlantic Canadians company during the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona in Fall 2022. 

He's a born storyteller with a background in theatre. Born in Truro, N.S., Jeff Douglas was the host of the award-winning unscripted series Ancestors in the Attic, Working Over Time, and Things That Move. Jeff's received three Gemini nominations, and a Kari Award for his popular commercial work — which includes playing Joe Canadian in the now-legendary "I Am Canadian" campaign. He was the co-host of As It Happens and the voice of CBC TV's The Stats of Life.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with the magical Estelle Thomson about some of the plethora of gifts she shares with the world - like yoga and spiritual retreats, grief work, and Tommy Tinker Forever, a 30-minute documentary about Estelle's journey with grief and love.

Estelle Thomson has her Masters in Counselling Psychology, she is a leading yoga teacher and educator in the intersecting fields of expressive arts, embodied movement and psychology. With over ten years of experience, her work explores the relationship between breath, body, emotions, imagination and play. She is also a faculty member of Quantum University, internationally recognized for offering online courses and graduate degree programs in holistic, alternative, natural, and integrative medicine. She leads numerous lectures, workshops, retreats locally and internationally. Her website, estellethomson.com is a plethora of resources from yoga to grief, retreats and conversations with other remarkable women on SHE Quest Podcast, so drop her a visit on her website.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net

Christina chats with Canadian road warrior, singer-songwriter and Juno winner Matt Mays about protecting the song, life's ups and downs, mental and physical well being and the hard work that goes into being human.  

Since departing seminal alt-country collective The Guthries in 2002,
Matt Mays has alternated between solo projects (his self-titled
debut, the film soundtrack ...When the Angels Make Contact) and
band projects (the eponymous Matt Mays & El Torpedo record and
2008’s Terminal Romance). Following the dissolution of Matt Mays &
El Torpedo in 2009, Mays released Coyote in 2012 to much acclaim,
including a JUNO Award win for Rock Album of the Year.

In 2017 Mays released Once Upon a Hell of a Time… to be followed
a year later by the album’s ‘woody’ companion Twice Upon a Hell
of a Time…. As the pandemic shut down touring in early 2020, Mays
set up a studio in his garage and produced Dog City, an inspiring
album written from the perspective of a rescue dog. In early 2021,
From Burnside With Love, a live album showcasing unplugged
versions of his most popular songs, was released along with a concert 
film of the same name.

Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769

Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net