February 2023 - Don Amero

Episode #14: Lindsay Ell

February 27, 2023

A conversation between host Don Amero and country musician Lindsay Ell.
With more than 250M global career streams, Lindsay Ell has become one of country music’s most celebrated female voices. Lauded as “one of the most exciting and talented young artists” (Forbes), Lindsay Ell has two Canadian #1 singles (“Criminal” / “wAnt me back”), a US #1 PLATINUM-status single alongside Brantley Gilbert (“What Happens In A Small Town“) and has been celebrated for her incredible work hosting Canada’s Got Talent.

Ell has been nominated for ACM Awards (New Female Vocalist (2019), New Female Vocalist (2020), Music Event of the Year (2020)), CMT Awards (Social Superstar (2015), Collaborative Video of the Year (2019)), CMA Awards (Musical Event of the Year (2019)) JUNO Awards (Country Album of the Year (2021)) and 18 CCMA Awards. Her GOLD single (“wAnt me back“) led to the execution of her first Canadian headlining tour and allowed her to share the stage with her childhood idol, Shania Twain, at Canada’s biggest outdoor country festival, Boots & Hearts.

This spring Lindsay will return as host of Citytv’s Canada’s Got Talent and rejoin Shania Twain, performing in numerous US and Canadian markets on the Queen of Me Tour. 2023 will also see Ell continue her philanthropic work through the Make You Movement and release new music.

You’ll hear Don speak to Lindsay about what lead to the Make You Movement, her struggles around self-worth and her relationship to food and fitness, and more.

Learn more about Lindsay Ell HERE.

Some mental health resources:

Canadian Mental Health Association – https://cmha.ca

Mood Disorders Society of Canada – https://mdsc.ca

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – https://www.camh.ca

Resources for Victims of Sexual Abuse – https://findahelpline.com/ca/topics/sexual-abuse

Find out more about the Through the Fire Podcast:

https://donamero.ca/through-the-fire-podcast/

https://www.instagram.com/throughthefirepod/

https://www.tiktok.com/@throughthefirepod

https://www.instagram.com/donamero/

https://www.tiktok.com/@thedonamero

https://twitter.com/donaldamero

A photo of canadian musician Theo Tams leaning against a wall with a t-shirt on and his hair tied up

Episode #13: Theo Tams

February 13, 2023

Host Don Amero speaks with fellow Canadian musician Theo Tams.

Theo Tams is rediscovering his identity as an artist. The Canadian singer, songwriter, and performer has been playing since his teens and releasing music for the past 15 years. He has three albums and three EPs to his credit, along with a formidable collection of singles and…oh yeah, that championship run on the sixth season of Canadian Idol in 2008. Tams has put together a body of work that’s substantial and diverse. It speaks of an artist whose mission is growth and adventure — building upon his proverbial laurels, rather than sitting on them. With each step, Tams has made a stride forward, and sometimes even further. That’s certainly been true of the past few years, particularly with the series of three-song Trilogy EPs he’s embarked on, with the third just arriving and taking him into even more new sonic and lyrical terrain.

Tams lives in Toronto with his partner and their 11-year-old daughter explains that to understand where he’s going, it’s important to know where Tams has been until now. Born and raised in the small town of Coaldale in southern Alberta, Tams was raised in a strict Christian household, learning to sing in church (two services on Sundays), with a family that was steeped in music. He began writing poetry and prose pieces as a teenager, gradually moving towards songwriting influenced by the likes of Jewel, as well as confessional Canadian storytellers such as Sarah McLachlan, Alanis Morissette, Sarah Harmer, and Sarah Slean. After a series of rock bottom moments, Theo says he took the plunge of “spontaneous sobriety” in 2020, declaring himself finished and embarking on therapy that made a world of difference in his healing, and in Tams’ resolve.

Follow Theo Tams on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theotamsmusic

Follow Theo Tams on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotamsmusic

Follow Theo Tams on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theotams/

Find out more about Theo Tams on his website: https://theotamsmusic.com/

Find Theo Tams on YouTube

Some mental health resources:

Talk Suicide – https://talksuicide.ca/

Canadian Suicide Crisis Support – https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/mental-health-services/mental-health-get-help.html

Canadian Mental Health Association – https://cmha.ca

Mood Disorders Society of Canada – https://mdsc.ca

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health – https://www.camh.ca

Mental health and substance use support for people in Canada and Canadians abroad. Always free and virtual, 24/7: