Christel Bartelse, From First Spark to Centre Stage

Some conversations feel like a creative reset button — and this is one of them.

This week, Naomi Snieckus (@snieckus) sits down with Christel Bartelse (@cbartelse): comedian, powerhouse, and one of the beloved producers behind our Toronto Firecracker Comedy Café. Month after month, Christel shows up to champion the boldest, funniest female and non-binary voices in the comedy community — and in this episode, she opens up about what that creative life actually looks like behind the scenes.

They get real about the pushes and pulls of a busy creative life: how to keep making things when time is tight, how to refill the well when inspiration dries up, and how to trust yourself enough to find your way back.

Christel also walks through the practical, step-by-step journey of building a one-person show — from the moment an idea first takes hold, all the way to standing under the lights on opening night.

Honest. Warm. Hilarious. Full of Firecracker spirit.

🎙️ New episode out now — give it a listen.