PODCAST · arts
Two Two Guys
by Kealan McLaughlin
The Two Two Guys podcast will take you deep into the world of ballet through the lens of professional ballet dancers. Each week, Kealan will interview a fellow dancer and bring you a relaxed yet informative discussion, and a coveted peek into this often secretive art form. They will explore difficult topics, tell light-hearted stories, and sometimes get derailed and forget what they started talking about in the first place.If you're a dance professional, student, hobbyist, or simply interested in the behind-the-scenes of the world of ballet, this podcast is for you.Kealan has danced around the world, most recently as a principal dancer with the Estonian National Ballet. You can find us on Instagram, and Facebook @twotwoguys.Contact us at [email protected].
Episodes
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Episode 33: "Soul", SYTYCD, & Indigenous Representation w/ Jera Wolfe
This week we are joined by intrepid choreographer Jera Wolfe to talk about his most recent creation — a dance film called "Soul" for the National Ballet of Canada — and get a behind-the-scenes look at the genesis of this profound piece. We talk about his rise to success, the unique blend of...
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Episode 32: Dancers as Athletes of Art w/ Joseph Gatti
Have we got a real bumper of an episode for YOU! This week the man—the myth—the legend, Joseph Gatti stopped by the pod, and oh did he bring it!! Topics include (but are not limited to) that time he invented a new pirouette combination at the NY IBC, stories of working with the great Fernando...
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Episode 31: Longevity w/ Greta Hodgkinson
This week we are joined by star of the stage for three decades - Greta Hodgkinson! Greta retired from the National Ballet of Canada as a principal ballerina in 2020 at the age of 46, having danced in the company for 30 years. During this episode we go into the "how" of it all, and try to…
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Episode 30: Overcoming Struggle, Paris Opera, and Alicia Alonso Stories w/ Osiel Gouneo
This week on the podcast we present part 2 of our interview with Cuban ballet-phenom Osiel Gouneo. In part 2 Osiel speaks on some of his most serious struggles and the lessons he learned in overcoming them. He talks about the unique challenge in guesting with Paris Opera Ballet, and what makes it...
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Episode 29: Greatness, Pushing the Art Form Forward, and Performance Mindset w/ Osiel Gouneo
This week on the pod we are joined by Cuban ballet-phenom Osiel Gouneo for part 1 of a 2-part interview. Having danced as a leading principal at Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Havana), Norweigan National Ballet (Oslo), and Bayerisches Staatsballett (Munich), as well as guesting and performing in galas...
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Episode 28: Part 2 w/ Ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja
We present to you Part 2 of our conversations with ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja. On the previous episode we talked about the unique career transition that took her from performing lead roles on stage to leading the orchestra in front of the stage and discussed her upcoming debut...
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Episode 27: Part 1 w/ Ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja
SPECIAL MID-WEEK BONUS POD! This week on the show we are joined by ballerina-turned-conductor Maria Seletskaja. Currently Conductor-in-Residence at the National Ballet of Canada, and simultaneously preparing for debuts with Royal Danish Ballet and Estonian National Ballet, she actually began as a...
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Episode 26: Being New vs. Being the Veteran in a Lead Couple w/ Ketlin Oja
This week we are joined by soloist of the Estonian National Ballet, Ketlin Oja. Having performed together for years, Ketlin and Kealan are able to draw from their lived experience on stage to share stories – raw and honest – and give the listener real access into the quiet intensity that exists…
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Episode 25: Would You Rather: Lockdown or Work? w/Julian Botnarenko
After a year and a half at home, a lot of us are beginning to go back to work/school. As life begins to return to "normal" we may notice there are pros but also some cons. Maybe we miss being able to wear the same onesie every day for a week, and now when we wear it to the office we get HR…
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Episode 24: How to Find Your Groove w/ Joakim Stephenson
How do we find our groove? Each of us has natural rhythms, tendencies, gifts; how do we tap into them so they can be enjoyed and shared fully? On this episode, movement coach/choreographer/former Royal Swedish Ballet soloist and genuinely groovy guy Joakim Stephenson visits from all the way in...
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Episode 23: Could Ballet Ever Be an Olympic Sport? w/Dash Grundy
Two Two Guys resident sports reporter Dash Grundy is back on the pod and this time he's really bringing the heat. With the addition of Skateboarding, Surfing, and Climbing to the Tokyo Olympics, and the announcement that Breakdancing will make its Olympic debut at the Paris 2024 Summer Games, we...
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Episode 22: Answering Mailbag Questions w/Arlo
After a small hiatus, Two Two Guys is back with the heat. This week on the pawdcast we have an extra special treat. Our first quadrupedal guest stops by to help answer mailbag questions. If you have any cats in the room with you please consider listening with headphones. Host: Kealan McLaughlin...
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Episode 21: Breathwork in Dance, and Accessing the Autonomic Nervous System w/ Damian Norman
Take a deep breath everyone, it's going to be ok. We know there's a lot going on and we have something to soothe those aches. This week we have on contemporary dancer, yoga instructor, and certified Breathwork coach Damian Norman. The conversation that follows touches on the importance of…
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Episode 20: How to Take Striking Ballet Photos w/Tarzan Dan
This week we're joined by legend of the screen, radio, and camera lens Tarzan Dan. Equally at ease interviewing Beyonce and photographing ballet's leading stars, Tarzan brings his effortless charm, wacky sense of humour, and stories galore to Two Two Guys. How many other people can say they've…
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Episode 19: Career Transition w/Joan Jeffri
This week our guest is Joan Jeffri, Director and Creator of the Research Center for Arts and Culture at The Actors Fund in New York City, and former director of the Graduate Program in Arts Administration at Columbia University. Having spent decades teaching arts management, spearheading...
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Episode 18: What makes a good colleague? w/ Mark Biocca
This week Kealan is joined by the charming and insightful Mark Biocca to discuss which qualities make for the best colleague. The pair discuss the mental and emotional pressures a young dancer may face at the beginning of their career, and the significance of having someone with whom they feel...
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Episode 17: Mother's Day Special w/ Dr. McLaughlin-Jenkins
On this very special Mother's Day episode, Kealan is joined by his mother, the esteemed Dr. Erin McLaughlin-Jenkins to talk about what it's like being the parent of an aspiring dancer. In addition to her Ph.D., she comes with decades of experience raising a dancer as a single mom. They speak…
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Episode 16: Dance as Self-Expression w/ Thomas Fonua aka Kween Kong
This week on the show Kealan is joined by award-winning choreographer and dancer, 30 Under 30 recipient, and community leader Thomas Charles Fonua aka Kween Kong. The pair have a chat about dance as a platform for self-expression, what it feels like when that need to express is supported vs when...
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Episode 15: Dancers as Nomads, plus Dancing in Europe vs. North America w/ Evgeni Dokoukine and Jonatan Davidsson
Kealan is joined this week by Evgeni Dokoukine and Jonatan Davidsson, both former soloists with the Estonian National Ballet. They compare the experiences of dancing for a company in North America and a theatre in Europe, talk about the often nomadic life of a ballet dancer, and lay out the pros...
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Episode 14: In-depth w/ choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa
In this episode, Kealan sits down with award-winning choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa to discuss her process, the highs and lows of being an in-demand freelance choreographer, the significance of accolades and reviews, and much more. Check it out if you want real insight into what it is like…
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Episode 13: Creativity! w/ Morgan Reid
This week Kealan is joined by Morgan Reid to talk about the nature of creativity. In addition to running his own company - Phase Zero Productions - with his wife, choreographing for other companies, and dancing as a guest artist around the world, Morgan plays guitar in the world-touring metal…
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Episode 12: Being an Emerging Dancer during Covid w/ Andris Kundzins
In this episode, Kealan is joined by Andris Kundzins, an apprentice with San Francisco Ballet. Together they look at the landscape facing emerging young dancers in the wake of Covid-19 and Andris shares what he feels the psychological impact has been on him and his peers. *Andris' sound quality...
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Episode 11: Swan Lake Swan-tacular!
In this episode, Kealan is joined by dancer, scientist, and all-around great human being Taylor Gill to talk all things Swan Lake. They look at the ballet's little-known origin, its characters, music, and story, discuss trivia, and tell some stories of their own from the various roles they've...
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Episode 10: Is Ballet a Sport? w/ Dash Grundy
In this episode, Kealan is joined by dancer, actor, and avid sports fan Dash Grundy to debate the question: Is ballet a sport? In pursuit of a definitive answer they discuss personal experiences, cite the relevant research, and enjoy some of what the self-proclaimed internet experts have to say.…
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Episode 9: Injuries w/ Julian Botnarenko
In this episode, Kealan interviews Julian Botnarenko - ballet dancer, family man, and Kealan's best friend since they were 12. They talk about their experiences with long-term injuries, the lessons they had to learn in order to heal, and the blueprint for finding their way back to health.
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Episode 8: Directing and Leadership w/ Christopher Rudd
In this episode, Kealan is riding solo, but fear not! He is joined by Christopher Rudd - dancer, choreographer, and director of RudduR Dance in New York City. The pair talk about Chris's upbringing and how his experiences with different directing styles influenced his approach to leading his own...
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Episode 7: Pre-Show Habits
In this episode the boys talk about pre-show practices they've tried, which ones they SHOULD do, which ones they MUST do, and even a possible curse.
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Episode 6: Adam Picks Surprise Topic
In this episode, the boys talk about how to handle having different teachers who want different things from you, and they go in-depth on the importance of filming yourself and documenting your progress.
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Episode 5: Early Challenges and How We Handled Them
On this very special episode, the boys talk openly about challenges they faced early on, and get real about how they made it through them. Also, Kealan misuses the word "prolific" multiple times, and Adam debuts an accent he's been working on.
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Episode 4: Nutcracker Spectacular!
In this episode, the boys celebrate Christmas together and dive into the tradition that is the Nutcracker! They talk trivia, early Nutcracker memories, and some stories from the stage.
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Episode 3: Favourite Things About Being a Ballet Dancer
Being a ballet dancer is a job unlike any other. In this episode, Adam and Kealan begin to dive into why that is and go through their favourite things about being professional ballet dancers.
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Episode 2: Audition Wins and Fails
Auditioning is a part of every dancer's life. It's inescapable. On this episode, the boys talk about the audition process and tell stories of audition wins and fails. Laugh along as they recount their painful memories.
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Episode 1: Performance Fails
On this episode hosts Adam and Kealan touch on one of the most fun topics all performers can relate to: Performance fails! Each of them tells a story of an embarrassing moment on stage, but with the passing of time, the tears have turned to laughter.
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Episode 0: Introduction
Welcome to Two Two Guys! On this episode, hosts Adam and Kealan introduce themselves, give a little backstory on who they are, and share why they wanted to start a podcast in the first place.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Two Two Guys podcast will take you deep into the world of ballet through the lens of professional ballet dancers. Each week, Kealan will interview a fellow dancer and bring you a relaxed yet informative discussion, and a coveted peek into this often secretive art form. They will explore difficult topics, tell light-hearted stories, and sometimes get derailed and forget what they started talking about in the first place.If you're a dance professional, student, hobbyist, or simply interested in the behind-the-scenes of the world of ballet, this podcast is for you.Kealan has danced around the world, most recently as a principal dancer with the Estonian National Ballet. You can find us on Instagram, and Facebook @twotwoguys.Contact us at [email protected].
HOSTED BY
Kealan McLaughlin
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Two Two Guys have?
Two Two Guys currently has 34 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Two Two Guys about?
The Two Two Guys podcast will take you deep into the world of ballet through the lens of professional ballet dancers. Each week, Kealan will interview a fellow dancer and bring you a relaxed yet informative discussion, and a coveted peek into this often secretive art form. They will explore...
How often does Two Two Guys release new episodes?
Two Two Guys has 34 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Two Two Guys?
You can listen to Two Two Guys on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Two Two Guys?
Two Two Guys is created and hosted by Kealan McLaughlin.
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