Definitely Not Famous

It is hard to find good memoir written by and about people who are not famous. And yet, these are some of the best memoirs to read. They are so much more relatable than celebrity memoirs. This is what inspired me to create Definitely Not Famous, a podcast where I interview memoirists about their stories. My goal with this podcast is to elevate the stories of everyday people who truly are More Extra than Ordinary.

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  • Pedalling Ultra Fast with Meaghan Hackinen

    Three side‑by‑side images. On the left, a book cover with an orange and red gradient background featuring a bicycle silhouette and the title ‘South Away: the pacific coast on two wheels’ by Meaghan Marie Hackinen. In the center, a person outdoors holding a laptop, wearing a floral top, with trees and greenery in the background. On the right, a second book cover with blue tones showing a cyclist illustration and the title ‘Shifting Gears: Coast to Coast on the Trans Am Bike Race’ by Meaghan Marie Hackinen.

    In this episode of Definitely Not Famous, host Rebecca Hogue interviews Meaghan Hackinen, an ultra-distance cyclist and author of two memoirs, South Away and Shifting Gears. Meaghan shares how her cycling journey began with a solo ride along British Columbia’s Highway of Tears at age 24, evolved through cycle touring the Pacific Coast with her sister, and eventually led…

    Read more: Pedalling Ultra Fast with Meaghan Hackinen

  • Going to Ethiopia with Marian Dodds

    A person with curly blonde hair sits indoors wearing a patterned black‑and‑white top, positioned beside the cover of a book titled Tizita: A Memoir of Perseverance and Enchantment by Marian Dodds, which features a painted cityscape in cool blue tones - a podcast guest

    Educator and advocate Marian Dodds joins host Rebecca J. Hogue to discuss Tizita — A Memoir of Perseverance and Enchantment, tracing her path from second‑wave feminist organizing in the BC Teachers’ Federation to three years volunteering with CUSO in Ethiopia. She reflects on the status‑of‑women work that reshaped classrooms and contracts, the challenge of transliteration in place names, and the…

    Read more: Going to Ethiopia with Marian Dodds

  • Biking, Surfing, and Searching for Solitude with RC Shaw

    Promotional image featuring a person wearing a cap and blue neck gaiter, photographed outdoors against a bright blue sky. To the left is the book cover Louisbourg or Bust: A Surfer’s Wild Ride Down Nova Scotia’s Drowned Coast by R.C. Shaw, showing a loaded bicycle on grass. To the right is the book cover Captain Solitude: One Surfer’s Search for the World’s Greatest Swell by R.C. Shaw, illustrated with ocean waves and a sailboat - a podcast guest

    What do don quixote, Sailing Alone Around the World, and King Lear have in common with surfing? My next guest, RC Shaw, aka Ryan, writes about his adventures in a quirky and entertaining way, similar to Bill Bryson, except with a definite Nova Scotia twist.

    Read more: Biking, Surfing, and Searching for Solitude with RC Shaw

  • Always Ask for Help with Janet Lee

    Split image with a portrait on the left and a book cover on the right. The left side shows a person wearing light‑coloured eyeglasses, photographed outdoors in sunlight with flowering plants and a building in the background. The right side shows the book cover Always Ask for Help by Arnie Stewart and Janet Lee, featuring a red background and a child‑style drawing of a red heart outlined in blue, green, and yellow, framed by large black headphones.

    In this episode of Definitely Not Famous, host Rebecca Hogue interviews Janet Lee, co‑author of Always Ask for Help, a memoir about Arnie Stewart, an adult who lived most of his life unable to read or write. The conversation traces Arnie’s extraordinary journey from a childhood marked by poverty, hunger, and shame in Cobalt, Ontario,…

    Read more: Always Ask for Help with Janet Lee

  • Definitely Not Famous Trailer

    Graphic with the words “Definitely Not Famous” in bold black lettering, with a stylized audio waveform in shades of yellow and green behind the word “Not.” Below the title is an open book illustration in green and gold, with the text “with Rebecca J. Hogue” underneath on a light background, representing a podcast about memoir.

    I’m about to take a leap and publish the trailer for the show! The first episode is almost ready. I’ve teed up a couple of interviews, with more to come. I’m excited to share with you the stories of amazing memoirists. Subscribe where ever you get your podcasts! Land Acknowledgement Definitely Not Famous is produced…

    Read more: Definitely Not Famous Trailer