Alexi Couto: Young Toronto Singer Delivers Anti-bullying Message

I really need to give a shout out to a very generous guy who consistently suggests extraordinary people for me to link up with, interview and expose. He big-heartedly suggested I speak with 20-year-old singer and Toronto native, Alexi Couto.   Alexi Couto is a singer songwriter who adoringly devotes her time to music, but…

Amanda Hamer: Sous Chef, Foodie & Donut Lady

Although my heart and soul belongs to writing, I have another love. I love and appreciate good food (my co-workers would undeniably agree with this statement!). One of my not-so guiltiest pleasures is donuts.   My love for them goes soooo deep that I used to binge watch episodes of Donut Showdown – a program…

Madison Shockley III Asks, “Where is the Love?”

A couple of years ago, I became overly consumed with the web series Awkward Black Girl. All it took was watching one episode and it was a done deal – I was an instant fan.   The series followed the awkward life of J, played by comedic super genius Issa Rae.   I enjoyed the quirkiness…

Desiree Marshall: Getting funky with Afrodelik Designs

I ran into Desiree Marshall – creator and founder of Afrodelik Designs, at the How She Hustles pop up shop back in November 2015. Bumping into her felt like I was reunited with an old friend that I sadly lost touch with.   It was in 2007 that I first met Desiree when I caught…

Lisa Michelle: Singer, Songwriter & Stage Performer

    * My interview with Lisa Michelle was previously posted in 2013.   I first met Lisa Michelle when she sat in on my interview with rapper and producer Solitar. She seemed more than willing join in on our “off the record” discussions.  I knew from then that she deserved an actual sit down interview.  She…

Chivon John: Shares Secrets of a Side Hustler

  Can’t really tell you how I found out about Secrets of a Side Hustler #girlboss, Chivon John. I just remember being on Twitter and stumbling on the hashtag #sidehustlechat. I clicked on the hashtag and discovered that Chivon shares tips on how to be a happy, healthy, and productive entrepreneur.   I looooved the…

Justice Achampong: Representing African Designs

  I met Justice Achampong at the Youth Entrepreneurship Fair on October 1, 2015.   But we almost didn’t meet.   A week before the event, my boss asked me if I wanted to attend a youth entrepreneurial fair that would take place after work hours. I really wasn’t overly psyched about attending because I…

Talking ‘da Kink in My Hair With Trey Anthony

When I do things on the spur of the moment, it usually ends well.   Case in point. I’ve wanted to interview entertainment mogul Trey Anthony for about 2 years now. I’ve emailed her, gone to her workshops, seen her plays, even took a selfie with her, but landing the coveted “Trey interview” eluded me….

Join the Joy & Love Movement with John Robinson Jr.

* This article was originally posted Oct 2013.     Some may know him as John Robinson Jr., but to me he’s J.J.   I met J.J. for the first time over 10 years ago when we were paired together for the radio talk show, The Cutting Edge on York University’s CHRY 105.5 fm (now called Vibe 105).  I think we…

Natasha Chandel: Writer, Performer & Content Creator

It was recommended by a friend that I speak with Natasha Chandel – the funny, outspoken, and sassy Managing Editor of Programming at Maker Studios (Maker TV). He noted that Natasha is a #TDot native who is super creative, and currently develops cutting edge online programming.   He sold me on his suggestion and I…

Dalton Higgins: Writer, Author & Hip Hop Expert

One of the people that I have admired for the longest time and tracked the career of is Dalton Higgins. Dalton is an outrageously talented writer who also holds the auspicious title of being Canada’s sole expert on hip hop culture. He’s written for Now Magazine for 10 years, and he has freelanced for Source…

Duane “D.O.” Gibson: Rapper With A Message

I’ve pretty much grown up with rap music. I’ve witnessed the fear produced by gangsta rap, I was enlightened by Afrocentric rap, got my dance on during the Puff Daddy (aka P. Diddy) era, and inspired (and also disillusioned) by the current state of hip hop.   Although rap music and rappers have played an…

Anya Grant: Natural Hair Advocate

I met Anya from I Heart My Hair on a balmy Saturday afternoon at a midtown coffee shop.  She originally wanted me to email her the questions or Skype the interview, but I was pretty insistent on meeting up.   Meeting face to face not only allows for a more authentic interview, but it allows me to gain rapport with the interviewee….

Jonathan Shaw Has A lot On His Mind

On May 21, 2015, I tweeted that it was a year ago that I paid a visit to the G98.7fm studios to meet and interview DJ, radio legend, and mentor, Jonathan Shaw. Within seconds of posting that tweet, Jonathan replied saying that he was ready for Part 2. Yassss!   Guess what? In a mere…

Dr. Kenneth Montague: Dentist By Day, Art Collector By Night

Who is Kenneth Montague anyways? Well, he’s a handsome dentist who has been practicing the fine art of dentistry in Toronto for about 18 years. He also has an illustrious list of patients, which includes Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, and Canada’s own Nelly Furtado. But only a select few know about his other passion. Yes, he’s…

Ebonnie Rowe: Talks About Running Honey Jam for 20 years!

I’ll be honest and say that most of my interviews tend to be with “creative types.” Can’t help it. I love being in the company of people who express themselves through music, art, and the written word. (psst..I am also inspired by non-artsy types too!)   In this latest interview, I chose to seek out…

Ayanna Lee Rivears: Getting Your Body Fit With Socacize

  Are you like me and in slight panic mode cuz your body ain’t ready for summer? Okay, truth be told, I’m not too stressed (#lovingmycurves), but I am looking for a fun way to stay active. If you know me, I’m not one to workout on the regular, but I recently heard about Socacize…

Coffee, Cake & Conversation With Alexander Henry & Sam Asante

Have you ever felt an inexplicably strong connection to someone you just met? I have. I felt a crazy intense connection when I met Humber College film student Alexander Henry and aspiring actor, Sam Asante at the ReelWorld Film Festival press junket a couple of months ago.   As soon as Alexander Henry – director/writer…

Aisha Fairclough: Fashion Blogger For Stylish Women With Curves!

Not sure what I was searching for one day while surfing the net, but I somehow stumbled upon the blog, Fat in the City. Fat in the City (FITC) is a fashion blog that celebrates stylish clothing for women with curves.     I practically leapt out of my computer chair when I made this discovery!   Fashion tends…

A Quick Chat With Tonya Williams- ReelWorld Film Festival Founder

Serendipity noun ser·en·dip·i·ty \ˌser-ən-ˈdi-pə-tē\ Coincidence, luck, fate.   My latest interview happened through a serious case of serendipity. I didn’t have a scheduled interview, and I had no idea who I was going to feature next on the blog.   While fanatically checking my phone the morning of February 10th (no reason in particular, just slightly attached…

Dru: Speaks About His Solo Career

When I was a young, hungry writer just starting out, I prayed for any opportunity to show the world my writing skills. I wrote to thousands of magazine editors practically begging them to take me on as a writer. In a last ditch attempt to get published, I contacted an editor of a magazine that…

The Double Life Of Alize

One night, about a month ago, I was gettin’ my social media hustle on, when I received a tweet from @thisisAlizeS – a.k.a Yung Superman. He asked if I was interested in interviewing a web series producer who also happens to be a rap artist.   I’m always down for making a new connection, but…

7 Questions With Chef Roger Mooking

I’ll let you in on a little secret….I don’t really spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but I shamelessly watch an exorbitant amount of cooking shows on the Food Network. #mydirtylittlesecret.   A few years back, I was watching an episode of Everyday Exotic (a show where Chef Roger Mooking cooks with international…

Ardean Peters: Photographer& Light Chaser

As I meet new people and widen my circle, I’ve come to realize how much we are all connected. #Sixdegrees is real! I know I sound like some new age guru, but it seems that every time I talk to someone new, they know someone I know or are somehow connected to someone that I’ve…

Talking Hair with Natural Stylist Hair by Glenna

When it comes to natural hair, I can literally talk about it for hours and hours. #myobsession. Perhaps my preoccupation began when I was a little girl.   I went through a million emotions when it came to what I thought about my hair. I was embarrassed by it, hated it, liked it, and was obsessed…

Dwayne Morgan: No Ordinary Poet

I don’t know how I scored an interview with esteemed Spoken Word Artist Dwayne Morgan, but I thank God that I did! I have been in awe of Dwayne for years. It could be because I’m a writer and I appreciate that he introduced poetry slams to the T. Dot via his company Up From…

A Few Questions With Comedian Patrick Haye

Anyone who knows me, knows I loooove to laugh. Actually, what I should have written was – anyone who knows me, knows that I love being around people who make me laugh!   So when I was thinking about who I wanted to interview next, I knew I wanted to meet a comedian.   I…

Jill Andrew: Body Image Activist

  It feels good when I am able to recognize the remarkable things that people do, but it’s even more gratifying for me when I‘m able to recognize friends who are doing remarkable things.  One of my friends doing amazing things is Jill Andrew.   Jill and I met way back in 2005 when she…

Andrea Lewis: Actress, Singer & My Latest Hair Crush

First off, I really need to say this: Andrea Lewis is amazing. I’m not just saying that because I watched her back in the day on Degrassi (she acted alongside Drake – LUCKY!!), or because I am a total fangirl of her web series Black Actress, or because I’m crushing hard on her hair (seriously,…

Tracy Peart: Makeup Artist, Beauty Expert & App Creator

My friends often tell me that I am the luckiest woman alive because I have a pretty sweet work week. Um…….I don’t work Tuesdays or Fridays. Yes, it’s true. On those days I either spend it doing interviews, writing, or engaging in some retail therapy. But the one thing that I usually look forward to…

Jonathan Shaw Talks Radio, DJing And Being a Mentor

It’s slightly surreal meeting someone in person when you’ve only heard them on radio. That’s what it felt like when I visited the G98.7fm studio and met Creative Director and DJ legend, Jonathan Shaw.   Jonathan’s name, like many of the people I interview, had been scribbled on my infamous “to-interview” list for many years. Not…

Ta$ti Dosh: From College To The Stage

When I met  Dosh, ahem, Ta$ti Dosh almost a year ago, I really had no idea that we’d still be talking. No, it’s not that we didn’t get along or had a falling out; it was just that he was employed as a Graphic Arts work-study student in my office, and I thought that once…

EGR: Badass Graffiti Artist

I first found out about EGR – a visual artist, a few months back when I logged into my Facebook account. I saw the initials and a link to the artist’s work mentioned in my feed, so I let my nosiness get the better of me and I clicked onto the link. Damn, I’m glad…

DJ Reddy Fox: DJing in the Digital Era

I met Richard Martin, a.k.a DJ Reddy Fox, way back in ’the day.  We were both working part-time at a crappy music store (remember Music World?), trying to make ends meet while we hungrily pursued our goals.  I was trying to establish myself as a writer by publishing a semi-autobiographical zine while Richard was an…

Shi Wisdom: Outspoken, Talented, Unapologetic

It’s not often that when I first meet someone I instantly feel that I am in the presence of a huge a star.  I’m serious.  When I met soulful singer/songwriter Shi Wisdom on February 4th, 2014, I came this close to asking for her autograph because she just seemed like a big star.  Don’t get…

Welcome!

Thanks for visiting my new blog WordsWithMichelle and joining me on this new venture. It has been a long time coming. So glad it’s seeing the light of day : ) I must confess though, I miss publishing my former blog  (the happygrrls blog) but I am beyond excited that I am starting a new…