Words And Wellness | Wakefield Brewster, Poet & Spoken Word Artist | Shed Talk Ep. #117

Poet and spoken word artist Wakefield Brewster joins Kevin for a vulnerable conversation about addiction, suicidal ideation, sobriety, wellness, and the healing power of language. He reflects on becoming Calgary’s sixth Poet Laureate, writing his way toward wellness, and using poetry to help others speak what they have carried in silence.

Guest: Wakefield Brewster - Poet & Spoken Word Artist

Wakefield Brewster is a poet and spoken word artist based in Calgary whose work connects words, wellness, recovery, mental health, and live performance. A former Calgary Poet Laureate, he speaks openly about addiction, suicidal ideation, sobriety, and using poetry to help people begin honest conversations with themselves and others.

In this episode:
- Meet Wakefield Brewster
- The Story Beneath The Sheen
- Suicide Awareness And Conversation
- Reaching Men With Breadcrumbs
- Talking To Yourself First
- Mulling It Over
- Personifying The Problem

Chapters:
0:00 Opening Question
10:32 Mulling It Over
21:50 When Poetry Took Over
33:41 Turning Addiction Into Effort
47:31 Preparing A Live Poem
57:25 After The Performance

Follow the show in your podcast app for more full conversations.

What is Shed Talk with Kevin Halliday?

Shed Talk with Kevin Halliday is built on a simple belief: the right conversation can change the direction of your life.

From a shed in Calgary, Kevin sits down with entrepreneurs, experts, community builders, and people with hard-earned stories. Together, they move beyond titles and highlight reels to talk honestly about what worked, what failed, what changed them, and what others can learn from it.

Grounded in the three pillars of health, wealth, and mindset, Shed Talk explores the whole person behind success—the habits, relationships, pressures, choices, setbacks, and moments of reinvention that shape a meaningful life. It is not inspiration for a moment; it is practical wisdom you can carry into your business, your family, your health, and whatever you choose to build next.

Kevin believes life does not end at 50—it starts. Every episode is an invitation to stay curious, challenge what you think you know, and turn insight into action.

You don’t know what you don’t know—until you know.