Today we’re chatting about how connection trumps perfection every time, and Holly knows a thing or two about keeping it real. As one half of one of Canada's pioneering female-led morning radio shows, she’s not just a voice on the airwaves; she’s a beacon of honesty, humor, and the kind of vulnerability that resonates with everyone. We’ll be exploring everything from motherhood and mental health to the delightful chaos of live radio—because who doesn’t love a good laugh while navigating the ups and downs of life? Get ready for some heartfelt insights that remind us all: it’s not about being polished; it’s about being genuinely you.

Takeaways:

• The episode emphasizes that authenticity trumps perfection; real conversations, filled with vulnerability and compassion, are the most potent tools we have in fostering genuine connections.
• Holly Conway and her co-host, who challenge the traditional gender roles in the radio industry, proving that two women can lead a morning show and be wildly successful at it.
• The discussion highlights how sharing personal stories about motherhood, mental health, and autism advocacy not only opens up crucial dialogues but also empowers other parents facing similar challenges.
• Listeners are reminded that in a world dominated by algorithms and artificial voices, the genuine and heartfelt human experience remains irreplaceable and vital, resonating deeply with audiences everywhere.
• The podcast also underscores the importance of gratitude and empathy as foundational values that we should instill in our children, fostering a generation that prioritizes connection over competition.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Ignite Voice, Inc.
• Virgin Radio
• The Beat

Your voice is your superpower. Use it. Welcome to Ignite My voice becoming unstoppable. Powered by Ignite Voice, Inc. The podcast where voice meets purpose and stories ignite change.

Deep conversations with amazing guests, storytellers, speakers, and change makers.

It's one of these, like, old school morning show things where, like, if there's three of you, one of you is the dick, one of you is the deer, the sweet mom, and one of you is the Dick.

Oh, I hear consultants in that, right? Oh, my God.

Dear the dick. And so they always brought this up, and I was always the dick.

Today's guest proves that connection beats perfection every single time.

Holly Conway is one half of one of Canada's first female LED top 40 morning radio shows. She's built a career on honesty, humor, and, ooh, saying the things that most people are afraid to say out loud.

From marriage and motherhood to mental health, autism advocacy, and the chaos of live radio, Holly brings the kind of authenticity audiences can actually feel.

And that's why she resonates. She connects to humanity, not polish. And she speaks with vulnerability, self compassion.

And she knows real conversations are the most powerful tools we have.

You know, anyone willing to say, AI is so square, let's see if it can get married and divorced, and then we'll talk. Now that already has our attention, huh?

Here's our conversation with Holly Conway.

What do you do?

I wake up the city.

What does that mean?

I entertain the people. Kevin, how do you do that? With quips such as, oh, God, here we go.

Right?

Who knows? It's been a long run.

It's been a long run, huh?

Yes, it has. At that station. Yes. And I thought I was gonna be there for, like, three months. I was like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys.

And here I am 21 years later.

That's incredible.

That's when you were here? It was 21 years ago.

No, I was here longer than that.

Oh, is it really?

I've been at virgin at 94.5, then the beat, now virgin for 21 years.

Really?

Yes.

That's incredible.

14 On the morning show in, like, two weeks.

Congratulations. Thank you. That's remarkable. And what's remarkable is two women I know with this beautiful capacity to mold brains and have inspiration on a city.

It's unheard of. You're trending, leading the way. Thank God.

I think something's wrong here.

Yeah, right.

Women are supposed to giggle to my voice. That's radio history.

We're just here to be your sidekicks.

So how did. What happened?

Well, we Used to have a man on the show. You scared him off. Yeah.

Good for you.

Bye. Bye. Well, what do you want to know? What? What happened? Where?

Well, you're breaking the rules. Really? I mean, you're outside of the gender norm. I know there aren't many. I mean, how many shows are like that in North America?

Even that are two women in the morning show like you guys.

Listen, we constantly google this because we like to say we're the only one in the world. Now, maybe not the world, but. Okay, I can't confirm or deny this. Kat, if you google, if you look around.

Didn't you do chatgpt?

No, I try to answer. No. Oh, I thought you would. You didn't prep for this interview?

We don't press. That's not our thing.

As far as I know, we are the only two person female show in North America.

That's amazing.

And I don't know about worldwide, but.

I don't understand that. What's the problem with two women? There's always two men. What's the problem with two women and why is that such a.

The radio research always said people don't want to. Too many women voices, you know, we can tolerate one.

Oh, that's so patriarchal.

No, that was all our research said, right?

Yeah. I don't know. I mean, when I grew up, it was always the man in the morning.

And the giggle and the woman sidekick.

And the woman sidekick. And she could do traffic, she could do weather, she could giggle at his jokes and be the brunt of probably some sexist comments.

But that's your role, honey. That's it, little sweetheart.

Make America great again. Like that.

Yeah.

So how did you guys break through?

Well, we actually were put together 14 years ago. I was doing the afternoon drive show and Neera, my lovely work wife, co host, was doing the morning show with somebody else who got let go.

And they were together and then Johnny, who used to be on our show with us, was doing the midday show. And so they, the radio station people decided to let go of the morning show guy.

But they loved Neera and they wanted her to keep her in some capacity.

And then they wanted to, I don't know why, they just, they put all of us together, they put like the entire day part together as the new morning show.

And they took me out for dinner and my bosses, my two bosses, and they said, we have this crazy idea and we want to know if you're interested in doing the morning show. And I was like, what? Yes. Like my dream was always morning show. In a major market. I thought it.

What were you doing then?

I was doing the afternoon drive show from 2 to 6, and I always thought it was going to be in New York. Okay. Well, not quite. I also thought I was going to be.

You're one step away, I think. One step.

I'm still trying to go for it.

Yeah, me too.

After this podcast could happen.

It could. This is going to launch me. It's going to break you out.

That's it.

So they said to me, we were. We got rid of the morning show guy. He's gone, and we're putting together a new morning show. We want it to be you and Johnny. And I was like, yeah. Yes.

I love Johnny. Great. And then they said, and Neira. And I was like, oh. And up till this point, no lie. Neira and I were totally pitted against each other.

Really?

Yes. We were like. I don't know people, I think, because we were both very strong personalities, and I think. I don't know.

But people didn't really want us to be close. They didn't really want us to be friends.

They just kind of, oh, two outspoken women can't be friends.

I honestly think so. Think so. And I'll say allegedly in case I get sued, but that's how it felt anyway.

To me, it felt very like people didn't really want us to be friends. And they told me things about her behind her back, and they told her things about me behind my back, and it was really interesting.

And so then they said, my jaw just dropped.

I hate that.

That's the culture, I think, isn't it? That's historically, you can't have two powerful women.

Don't hit them against each other.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it was a bit of a toxic Y feel.

And so when they said, we're gonna put you and Neera and Johnny on the show, and I was like, I don't know how that's gonna go, like,.

Because I can't work with another woman.

Well, I just thought, she doesn't like me. Like, we're not gonna get along. From everything I've heard from this little gossipy rumor mill is that she doesn't like me. And I was like, okay.

I'm like, well, if it doesn't work out with her, like, if I don't like mornings, can I go back to afternoon Dr. I loved it. And they were like, no. I'm like, okay, okay. So they're like, so take the gamble.

Are you in or out?

In or out? And I was like, okay, let's Try. Let's just see what happens.

It's a leap of faith, and that's courage on your part and also vulnerability, because that puts you in a spot. If it doesn't work out, you might not have anything left.

That's correct. Like, it was crazy. And I was so happy doing afternoons. I was like, But I always wanted to do mornings. So I was like, well, let's try.

So they put us together, and we did the show the next day, which was wild. And I'd love to hear the audio of that. I guarantee it was terrific.

Lots of time to prep.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I was used to just doing such short little breaks in the afternoon that there were, like, three more minutes to talk.

I was like, I have nothing to say. What? Here's the song.

Like, you have never had nothing to say.

Nah, that's maybe true. I know. That is true.

That's like saying, holly's very quiet.

I know. It's so loud. I know.

It's wild.

I'm constantly still being told at work, like, can you shut up? Can hear you down the hall. I'm like, sorry. Yeah. So they put the show together, and. And off we went. And it was very clunky.

Very clunky for a long time. No, never forget, we had this, like, radio. What are they called when they come in and they tell you.

Consultants.

Yes. A consultant came in and said, now, you guys, I hope you're ready for some tough love. And I was like, oh, I don't handle tough love well.

And he sat us around this table, and they played a bunch of our audio. And I was like, already wanted to die and crawl under the table. Oh, God, it was bad.

And he said, now, Holly, I'm gonna need you to change your laugh, okay?

And your personality while you're at it.

Could you. I'm like, what?

He's like, and cut your hair and do everything.

If you could just change your laugh. It's really too much. I'm like, I mean, I don't know what to tell you. That's how I laugh.

That's a really authentic thing to ask you to do. Yeah.

I'm like, oh, cool. Have fun and be myself and be, you know, conversational, but change the way I laugh.

And how did you do that?

How'd it go for you? And guess where that consultant is. No, just kidding.

What did you say, though? Like, how do you address that?

I just said. I was like, I don't understand. You want me to. Not like, I didn't think I was faking Laughing. Yeah, but I don't know, he just. He didn't like my laugh.

And I was like, okay, that's an important.

Another detail. Yes, right. He didn't like my laugh. But I just.

It's so funny, too. What a thing to pick out, you know, instead of the research you do or the stories or whatever.

No, you laugh, change your laughing.

It was very strange. Change me.

Yeah. That's really great advice.

So I guess you didn't.

I did not, no.

I think I just, like, took a step back and that was one of many times when it was like, we're going to bring in this consultant and we're going to give you guys advice on how to do a better show. And here's some different features you can try.

And every time we tried, and at the time it was Johnny, Holly and Nero, the three of us, every time we tried to sort of fit into these molds of these other morning shows in LA and New York and Toronto or wherever, we just couldn't do it. We just were doing our own thing and it was working. We were doing well in ratings, but for some reason, it was just a little bit different. And so.

Because you're all different.

I think because we're all different, no one had had this mix of people before. And to be honest, like, it was myself, Neera and Johnny. But on the show, and I really actually still think this, I was the man.

Like, not that Johnny's not a man, he's very much a man. But it felt like we took these roles. Like, I'm sure you've heard of the morning show thing of the deer, the dick and the dork.

Have you heard of this analogy for a morning show?

I have to remember that exact one, though.

Explain that one.

It's one of these old school morning show things where, like, if there's three of you, one of you is the dick, one of you is the deer, the sweet, and one of you is the dork.

Oh, I hear consultants in that, right? Oh, my God.

Dear. The dick. So they always brought this up, and I was always the dick. And I was, like, so proud to be the dick.

Funny.

I was like, I'm so happy to be the dick. And they were like, you know, the dick is usually a man. And I'm like, why is that?

How did you grow a dick anyway?

I don't know. So it was always this thing where they were kind of trying to, like, change us and mold us, and we just kept being like, yeah, we are who we are.

Like, we're just Gonna keep going, and people seem to like it. And then it just kind of kept growing.

So we kept going through all these consultants to the point where they were like, we're not even gonna bother anymore. Just.

Yeah. It reinforces my belief of consultants. Consultants are AI.

Yeah.

That is, they're not human, they're not creative, and they can't look forward. All AI can do is process big data backwards. Right.

And so all they can do is look at previously successful shows in the US or whatever and force you into that mold.

Yeah.

And there's no room for a new show.

So much support in the building for all of us and just doing what we do and lots of belief in our show, and. Yeah, it was great.

And you and Neera then obviously found your way to be friendly and developed. We still hate each other.

Yeah, you can hear that. You know, we had a lot of moments of her. And I like. And I would say our relationship is like, sisterly, where we have had our moments, definitely.

As sisters do.

Yes. But at the end of the day, you know, we love each other and we're gonna make it work no matter what. But it's. It's not always easy.

And we know each other and spend way too much time together very well and. Yeah. But we did overcome. We joke about it now how, you know, we didn't like each other.

We didn't really know why we didn't like each other, but we were just told, you don't like each other. I'm like, okay. You know, and now. Now we really love each other. So.

Wow. It's kind of like me and Kevin. We were stuck together.

I still don't like you.

Yeah. You'll come around. She's great. Give it time, Kev. One day, you know what? I'll call a consultant. One day it'll happen.

But it's funny.

I said to Kevin this semester, we have to tell students, like, we're besties, because everybody talks behind her back thinking that, you know, we're a couple and we're this. And we're like, kev, we have to address this up front because he's married to a woman I absolutely adore.

Right.

But you know, when you're with somebody all the time, we do understand that. Right.

We've worked together for how long? 40 Years. Oh, my goodness.

40.

That's a long time.

It is.

And we have.

He's a junior still.

Brotherly sister relationship.

Great. Yes. Right?

Do you see? I mean, you've been doing this for such a long time. Do you see this as the pinnacle for you.

Do you have other visions of how you would like to take your skills and move them into something different?

Not tv, that's for sure. Really why I don't like being on camera.

Why?

Are we on camera?

Yes.

Not yet. God damn it.

I find it really scary to be on camera, actually. I really don't like talking in front of people, which is so ironic because.

You're not the only one.

I would rather be behind a microphone than emcee an event live ever.

But you're so beautiful and you're so talented and. No, you are. And you have this wonderful charisma about you that could translate to television beautifully.

So that's interesting that you have this no go block boundary and so many people do.

We've talked about it that a lot of media people aren't good at public speaking. They're just. They imagine the one person they're talking to. They love the microphone and that's it.

Yes.

And you fit the mold, I guess.

Do you? Socially awkward? No, I don't think I'm socially awkward, but I just don't. I just don't want that. That form of.

It's a different vibe, different energy.

You don't feel like everybody's staring at you every morning, right? You don't?

No, I don't. No, I don't. No, I don't.

But I don't like one to one communication, I guess so.

I just like being in the room. I don't know why. Like, even social media has like, I used to like it because no one really would know. Not that I'm like recognized all the time.

Watch out. But like social media now has made it definitely more like, oh, how do I know you? I'm like, oh, damn, you know, I'm buying like tampons and chips.

Thank you for listening. It's a great day, you know, whatever.

Well, people feel like they know you, right? It's a parasocial relationship that must be kind of awkward for you at times.

It's interesting. It's interesting because people do know me and I do. We're very real. We talk about almost everything on the air.

And yeah, so that is kind of weird because people say, oh, I feel like I know you. I feel like you're like one of my best friends. I'm like, thank you, that's such a nice compliment. And you are like, it's so weird.

I just don't think it's weird.

Isn't it?

Yeah, it is very strange.

Even feel it. I think people Walk up. And their closeness to you is odd because they feel like they know you really well. Right.

So they're right up in your face, whereas it's a foreigner to you.

Totally. I've been hugged by many strangers. I'm like, thank you. What?

Yeah, but how nice, though, because they really feel connected to you. So that means you're doing your thing.

You must be doing something right.

Yeah, that is true. Hopefully we're doing something right. Yeah. Yeah. It's really fun. I really love doing it, and I'm never sick of it. And that is, to me, wild.

And we still have not run out of things to say. I literally thought one day it's going to be like, there's no more bits. We're done. We've talked about everything, and so see you later.

Well, life changes. Your life changes.

Yes.

And you're a real person who has real life experiences, so you bring that to your work.

Oh, my God.

Which is also vulnerable because you're talking about things that tampons.

That, you know, tampons are a great subject, Kat.

They are a great subject. And I'm mad because in washrooms, tampons are free. Now when I had to buy them in the little, you know, 25 cents. I spent a lot of money on tampons.

Oh, yeah.

Kevin, how are you feeling right now?

I was ready for this conversation.

Yes, you are. Come on.

Okay.

You have a woman in your life.

I don't buy tampons, though.

Oh, you've never bought tampons for.

You've never bought tampons for a woman?

Well, in my life, yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

So that's pretty good. You've gone up once.

Congratulations, Kevin.

Yeah, thanks.

You're a real man now.

So anyway, no, a cat on the subject. Quickly. Side note, I say, you know, period underwear and pimple stickers. Do you know about the pimple stickers? Yeah.

If I had those two things in high school, fantastic. I would have been a whole different experience. These kids these days, so lucky Dan.

I'm looking at the producer, male, and.

Going, what do we do, man? Pimple stickers. Come on. I love them.

Pimple stickers are fabulous.

Some things I find really easy to talk about, and I'm, like, cool about it and blah, blah, blah. And some things I find really hard to talk about, and I'm trying to be more open to it. One of them is my youngest son is on the spectrum.

He has autism.

And I feel very responsible as the parent of an autistic, neurodivergent child to get the language right, to discuss it on the air, to normalize it, to represent. Like I. It's, it's. It does. It's this. It's a. It's my biggest challenge I've had in the last. Well, when did we get them diagnosed?

Like, three, four years ago. So, yeah, it's, It's. It's interesting. That's been a really big challenge.

But I feel very responsible because we have this platform and I know so many parents are in the same spot as me, so.

And you're opening doors to discussions because people may not have talked about it before, feeling maybe ashamed or grieving or not knowing where to turn to and who to talk to. And you open that door and then people have those conversations. And that's real. That's what people want. That's what we need.

It's very authentic and good for you. Because that's not easy to talk about.

No, it's really hard.

Yeah.

And it's so interesting coming from because, like, every single day on our show, we do one break, which is like, you know, three to five minutes on something about social justice. We just dedicate. Every day, we dedicate 13 to 5 minute break segment on something to do with social justice, charity event, whatever's going on. We.

We do that every day, and we're very proud of that. And so the other day, it was autism awareness day. And so, you know, Nira will say, like, how do you feel? Do you want to go on about it?

She's very supportive, and so is our producers are both great. And so I decided, yeah, okay, we'll talk about it.

But I do find, like, I get, like, very nervous talking about that where any other subject, because it's not about my child, my little baby. I'm okay to, like, talk about it, and I get very real and everything. But as soon as it's about your own kid, it's such a different feeling.

Well, you're a protective mama.

Yeah, totally.

And it's your baby.

Yes.

Yeah, I totally understand that.

But good for you for standing up for your child and good for you for allowing other men and women to also stand up for their children because there's so much support that's necessary for families because they're traversing, as, you know, a lot of, you know, medical and teachers and people and other people who don't understand.

It's a wild ride.

Yeah.

Yeah. And it's really. It's been very interesting.

My husband and I have been, like, sort of navigating as we go and yeah, but that's one of those things where some subjects I'm like, cool period underwear. Let's talk about it. But like, when it comes to something like that close to home for me, I'm like, I still get a little bit hesitant.

Oh, yeah. It's so personal.

Yeah.

But it's sweet. It's community minded. It's humanistic. There's a lot of things we don't always associate with media. Right. Or playing a role or whatever.

It's putting yourself for real out there.

And we always get such lovely feedback, too, from parents, other people listening, just saying, like, thanks for talking about it and. But I do feel like this, like, I don't know, like, am I supposed to be the head of some organization? Because, like, I don't know, like, I just.

It's weird, you know?

But it could go the other way too, right? You could just all talk about entertainment.

And many, many places do do that, and they shy away from the stuff that is important, which does create that.

Do you remember when. When we were in the industry, the. The phrase was. Don't say I remember that. Maybe in the LG days. Don't talk about yourself. This was one of the.

Yeah.

Isn't that weird?

What?

Such a turnaround. Hey.

And now at least we're moved away.

From that because you weren't the interesting person. It should have been like the celebrities you were talking about or the music you were talking about, you were supposed to be removed from that.

Which is now a different philosophy today. And I think it's a better philosophy today.

It's a lot more real.

Yeah. I think that is one of the things we pride ourselves on too. I mean, we're pretty real about whatever's going on in our lives.

And we, both of us, you know, Neera has kids that are a little bit older than mine, and so we just kind of hit these phases. Like, I was married and I was divorced, and I'm married again. Like, great material.

That's not why I did it, but, you know, it does make for some good stuff. Stuff.

I've done it three times, so I'm. I'm better pre.

I'm way behind you guys.

Endless material.

Yeah.

Cat, you've only been married once. What?

Divorced once.

Oh, my.

So I, you know, I at least got the divorce.

Yeah.

I need some tips, you guys.

Yeah, right. We talk lots about our kids and we talk all. I mean. Yeah, we talk about it all. It's fun.

No, I wanted to look backwards for a moment.

Okay.

Because Kat and I have Known you for a really long time. You've been through a lot of change.

Yes.

I seem to remember when I first met you, you had a single mom, didn't you?

Yep.

Yep. And you grew up in North Van.

Yep. Still live in North Van?

Yeah. I'm curious on two fronts. One, you obviously didn't live a rich family life, I'm guessing.

No.

So you've seen some big change there.

Yeah.

You know, as a single kid, struggling probably financially. You're not in that position now. I mean, life's probably quite a bit different than how you grew up.

It's different. Yes. For sure. It's way different. Yes. Yeah, Yeah. I mean, I grew up. I'm one of three girls. I'm the middle, obviously. Look at me.

Didn't get enough attention, and I never got a new bike. And so that's my motivation for life. You know, hand me down city.

The new stuff.

Yes.

Your kids are gonna get new stuff.

I always wanted to have three kids to school, spoil the middle one, like, more than any other. But anyway, I didn't.

But, yeah, there's always time.

Oh, my God. Oh, no, Cat, no.

I'm just trying to be a positive influence.

Ooh, that would be bad. Yeah, it's different. I grew up with a single mom, and, yeah, she always wanted.

She always tried to talk me out of getting into radio, but she is proud because I never shut up. So she's like, well, now you're being paid to speak so good.

And you've got an outlet for your personality. There you go.

That's right.

So that's a big change.

Yeah.

The other thing like that, because I grew up in North Van, too, you know. North Van was a very different place.

Oh, yeah.

When we were kids, you've probably watched it change, and now you're living there, it must feel very different.

It does feel different. Although I run into someone I know all the time, everywhere, like, high school. Like, oh, my God.

People from North Van, like, generally leave North End and then come back. Are you back?

No.

Okay, well, when's that happen?

I can't afford to.

No, I know, right?

But you left once, too. You were in Beach Grove for a while. Yeah, because we were kind of neighbors.

Oh, really?

But North Van has become. It's kind of a. A wealthy.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

Individual's place to live, right?

Yes, yes.

And it wasn't that way when I was a kid.

No, it was a little different. Yeah.

It's interesting how things change, huh?

I know, I know. We're lucky. We rent Our basement. That's how we live there.

How have you changed, though? Like, internally? Do you feel different than from when you were here a long time ago?

Oh, I feel like when I was here, I felt like. Am I allowed to swear?

No, you're allowed to swear.

Of course.

That's why you're an adult.

I felt like when I was at bcit, I was a little shit. And I'm sure probably that's how few people are.

Kevin and I might agree with you.

Yes.

He had some attitude.

Yeah, definitely have some attitude.

I think what you needed. I think what.

Maybe a little less, but I still have it.

You're full of expression and I think that's a good thing. I really do.

That's nice of you. Thank you. But, yeah, I feel like I've been through a lot of life, you know, married, divorce, lots of stuff in between.

Two kids later, and I feel like I'm actually in a really good place right now. But it's definitely trickier doing this job with kids than without. Tell you that much. Cause. What's the word I don't get? Sleep.

Oh, sleep. How precious. Who needs it?

I know you're training for getting older. Cause as somebody a little bit older than you.

Yeah. What happens? You stop sleeping.

Yes, you do.

I already don't sleep.

So are you ready?

I'm telling you, one day I'm just gonna drop dead. That's gonna. It's gonna be like, I tell you.

What, you're going to.

Like, maybe, I don't know. People are like, how do you not? Those are the two questions I always get the most about the show. What time do you get up?

And are you and Neera really friends? Those are the two questions I get asked the most. I'm like, I got up at 3:30. And yes, we are. But, yeah, I know, it's funny.

What do people expect? No, actually, we hate each other. It's all. We fake it.

Yeah.

I don't know. I think. I don't know. And one lady at Save One's like, where's Nero? Like, when she saw me, I'm like, we don't live together. We're not.

Like, she lives in White Rock, I live in North End. Yeah, but I think people just assume we're together all the time. I'm like, no.

How are you dealing with AI in all of this? Are you finding it helpful? Are you finding it scary? Are you finding it impacting?

The only place that AI has really impacted me is on Instagram. Like, I think everything I see is Real. I'm like, look at this cat's doing. It's driving, you know? Like, I'm very gullible.

And I'm like, it's got to be fake. Like, even yesterday, I was like, oh, my God, look at this picture. It's Brad Pitt with this little puppy. I'm like, that's so cute.

I'm like, definitely not real. Like, come on. Yet. I just. Like, I love it. I'm like, okay.

But I guess because we use our voice and the computer could just take what we do and regurgitate it to something. I should be more scared than I am. But because it's not an original thinker, I'm like, we're an original thinker. Or I am Anira. So, yeah.

And Kevin and I really think that AI is not going to be able to replicate voices and the nuances that we have naturally. Yeah, it'll get good, but I don't.

Think it'll get especially newer content creation. We interviewed a producer, Larry Semkiugh, a little while ago, and he was telling one of his voice talents.

Well, actually, the more accurate story was he just played a commercial who had featured the voice talent, and he listened to it, the talent, and went, wow, I don't remember doing that commercial. And Larry said, you didn't.

Sucker.

I created it all. Used your voice. Then the guy was shocked. He couldn't tell a difference. His own voice.

Now, Larry has ethics. He never would have done that. He was just proving a point.

Yeah, he was just playing with the tools.

Oh, yeah. For sure.

Now, of course, that's a commercial. That's just some basic script. Whereas your storytelling, you're inventing newer things. And we would argue AI can't do that.

They can't. And it's not very funny.

It isn't. It's pretty formulaic, isn't it?

Thank you.

Yeah, it's pretty formulaic. It's pretty scripted.

It's pretty.

You can get where it's going really quickly. At this point.

At this point. We'll see. We'll see. I don't know.

Who knows now?

Humans are complicated and messy.

Yes.

And it's good.

And AI's so square, you know, let's see them get married and divorced and then we'll talk.

Yeah.

Really?

Three times. Oh, my God.

You walk in my shoes and then we'll talk.

Yes.

Something we always ask our guests. And since you're the queen Dick, apparently, or something like that.

Let's do it.

You know, our society, it's wonderful. In so many Ways. But there are some things that some would argue we're kind of going in the wrong direction.

Okay.

Some things. Some people are feeling the pinch financially, politically. Other things. If you were beyond queen Dick, you were queen of the world.

Oh, wow.

What would you do to make it better?

Oh, my God.

I'd pick high heels myself.

What would you do to fix some of these things?

I would somehow talk all the billionaires into giving 99% of their money away.

Yeah. Because really, the 1% is still doing well.

Yes.

Right?

Yes. I think that would really shift the world. I don't know. I hate money. It's so weird. But I just, like, money ruins so.

Many things and yet could solve so many problems for a lot of people and families who could really use some support.

Yes.

It's hard, though, because our medical system,.

Our society's kind of moved against that as money has become so important and individualism kind of gone the wrong way.

I just hate it. Such a focus. It's so annoying. I'm like, oh, God. And I don't want to teach my kids like, this is what you need to survive. But, like, really, you do.

Yeah.

You're going the wrong way there. You're telling your kids that, okay, money really does matter. It is number one.

Yeah.

But it isn't.

No, it isn't.

So how do you. How do you pass that to your kids?

I don't know. Trying to figure that out.

What would you do? What might you do?

I don't know.

You need to have all the answers for us because we need to know.

I know. Trying to really help you guys here.

Well, just thinking of our own kids. We all have kids.

Yeah.

We want the world to be better when we're gone for them.

Yeah.

What tools do we give them to navigate this?

Gratitude. Gratitude, for sure. Compassion, empathy, giving back, paying forward, being a good person.

You know, I think that's like the most important thing of all. I'm all the moms. I'm the rink mom. I'm the ski mom, I'm the soccer mom, hockey mom, baseball mom.

Sounds like you have fun with your kids.

Yes, but that has nothing to do with online. You're a terrible mother.

Right? Oh, I Instagram about it all. Kevin, don't worry.

Social media runs counter to a lot of this. Yes, it does. It tends to be self focused, greed focused, money focused.

Yeah, 100 it is.

And. And I don't want that for my kids.

No, me neither.

And so I limit social media.

Yeah.

And I try to put guardrails like.

Limit yourself or limit your kids.

Kids. Well, I mean, I don't do a lot myself anyway, but I need to inoculate my kids against that kind of culture.

Always looking for ways to do that and support us. I mean, in this podcast, it's one of our aims, is to try to influence the world a little bit to counter that.

Do you know about the Jennifer Garner rule about social media?

I've heard that. What is that?

Okay, Jennifer Garner said to her kids, if you can find me one study that says social media is good for kids or good for people, I'll let you go on it.

That's what ChatGPT is for. I have to find something.

Go find me the study. They have not been able to find one. I think the closest they got was about social connection, like high school and social connection.

And, you know, how kids communicate now on, like, all the apps, Snapchat and all these different apps. And if you aren't on that app, you do feel like you're being left out. So that's a really tricky. That's really hard for a parent.

You're like, I want them to be included. I want them to get invited to the parties. And that's how it's happening on all these apps. So if you say no to the app, then are you coming?

And they're excluded, then. Yeah, it's really tricky.

But, yeah, I'm grateful that my children did not grow up in that era because they're not influenced by it at all. My kids aren't really on socials. They were never excluded because they actually had to call each other.

Yeah.

You know.

Yep.

Well, we.

It's a tough one. I like her rule.

I know.

I really like that rule.

We grew up somehow without it.

Yeah.

I think we turned out.

Survived.

We turned out fairly well.

Yeah. I mean, I even as an adult, though, go on Instagram and I'm like, oh, my God, look at that girl. She's got it all. Look at this mom. Look at her body.

Look at, like, I compare it. I'm like, okay, come on. Like, get it together. No, this is a probably. Bullshit.

Yeah.

And it's not real. And still. So I'm like, imagine if I was, like, in grade nine or ten. Oh, my God.

Oh, make it hard. I know.

So interesting.

But, you know, that's part of the human DNA. It's one of our faults, I think, is the negative side of socialization. The comparison.

Oh, it's awful.

It's built in us, and so we have to combat it. It's our job all the time is to contribute to how to combat to this.

And that's part of this podcast.

Yeah.

And so we have to band together, I think.

Oh, I didn't know we were here to change the world. You should have started with that.

Do you not listen to our podcast?

Oh, my God.

Welcome to the group. You're an in part of it now.

Okay. Let's start again.

We are here to change the world, Holly.

Okay.

Wow.

Good.

But you are changing the world.

You're trying, right?

I'm trying.

So we need to band together, and that's what we tell all our guests. We're going to have a club or something after all this.

Okay.

And we're gonna contribute positive.

Yes.

Against the machine.

Okay.

Okay. You're in.

I'm in.

Holly doesn't try to sound perfect. She just sounds real. Because she is real. And that's why people trust her.

She's being herself. Right.

She could be talking about parenting, relationships, advocacy, or the pressure of live broadcasting, but she leads with honesty first, and that creates connection.

She also reminds us that voicemail isn't just about performance. It's about using your platform for good, especially for people who don't always feel heard.

And we believe that, too. Your story, your struggles, your humanity. That's the thing people remember, because when.

You speak from live experience instead of performance, people don't just listen. They feel you.

Oh. And in a world of algorithms, artificial everything, that kind of authentic voice matters more than ever.

Thanks for listening. Keep up with us on ignitemyvoice.com

Ignite my voice. Becoming unstoppable. Your voice is your superpower. Use it.