I received an advance screener of the new motion picture The Floaters, which follows struggling musician Nomi (Jackie Tohm) who accepts a last-resort job from her overachiever best friend Mara (Sarah Podemski) at Camp Daveed, a Jewish summer camp. It hits theatres August 12.
Floaters refers to a group of misfit campers. With the camp’s survival in the balance as it ramps up for competition with a longtime rival headed by a character portrayed by Seth Green, the clashing friends and campers must overcome their differences to save the camp.
Freshly ousted from her rock band, Nomi steps into a role she does not relish. As camp director Mara contends with a busted septic system which will cost $30,000 to fix. That is where she needs Nomi to step up and steer the Floaters into winning a stage production contest against the rival Camp Barak.
Framed through multigenerational perspectives, this offbeat comedy captures the rich diversity of a Jewish summer camp and explores the conflict between leaving one’s mark and building connection. Directed by Rachel Israel, this spirited film celebrates authenticity and warmth, painting a vibrant portrait of modern Jewish life.
I had a chance to interview Podemski, born to a mother of Saulteaux heritage, specifically from the Bear/Thunderbird Clan of the Muscowpetung First Nation in Saskatchewan, and a father who is Israeli, born in Kfar Saba, Israel. At a young age her parents divorced. She was raised by her dad in a very Jewish environment. That included Camp Shomira, a Jewish summer camp in Perth, Ontario so her role in Floaters was not much of a stretch.
The Floaters was actually shot a New York summer camp that the creators attended years back. The kids cast in the movie actually stayed in the bunks. Besides Green, viewers will also recognize the iconic Steve Guttenberg from Police Academy fame and Jonathan Silverman from Weekend at Bernie’s fame in cameo roles. “I could not believe I was acting in the same film with such legends,” Podemski said. “I grew up watching them on screen.”
Podemski told me the movie was shot three years ago before Tohm became a breakout star for her role in the Netflix comedy series Nobody Wants This. The show is about “Hot Rabbi” Noah (Adam Brody) and podcaster Joanne (Kristen Bell) who are in an unconventional interfaith relationship. Tohm portrays the character of Esther, Noah’s sister-in-law. “When a new film comes out you always hope for something big to give it a boost,” she noted. “Jackie’s role in such a huge Netflix hit is a gift given the lovefest viewers have for her character.”
Podemski’s sister Jennifer was the producer of the much talked about Crave TV series Little Bird, which follows the story of Bezhig Little Bird, a five-year-old from Long Pine Reserve, in Saskatchewan She is separated from her family during the Sixties Scoop and adopted by a Jewish family in Montreal.
Below is my video chat with Podemski
AMERICAN IDOL’S FIRST DRAG QUEEN AT CAF’CONC: Imagine an artist who not only made history on American Idol by becoming the first drag queen to reach the Top 10, but who continues to break barriers wherever she performs. Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, Ada Vox will be at Caf’Conc’ at the Marriott Chateau Champlain on Fri. August 6 and Sun. Aug. 8.
Audiences can get ready to experience a voice that will give you goosebumps. At Caf’Conc’, promoters promise fans won’t just see a drag show, you’ll witness an extraordinary vocal performance filled with emotion and personality.
In today’s polarized American social climate, Ada Vox continues to move forward with strength and determination. With her new show, The Music in Me, she transforms the Caf’Conc’ stage into a space of raw emotion. Combining flawless vocal technique with a larger-than-life personality, this is a performance that will make you laugh, cry, and, above all, leave you feeling transformed.
From moving renditions of beloved classics to upbeat songs that will have you on your feet dancing, this show is for anyone who loves music and the power it has to move us.
HONEYBEAR: Vancouver based soul, blues and roots quartet Honeybear, the Band has released its new single “Just Your Fool” out now, a classic blues ballad built around the timeless pull of devotion, even when that devotion may not be entirely returned. The track continues the band’s run of vintage inspired storytelling, delivered through the warm, horn laced sound that has become their signature.
“Just Your Fool” has already racked up more than 30,000 streams, proving there’s still a strong appetite for authentic, human performances and timeless songwriting. A riff on the classic Slim Harpo tune ‘Raining in My Heart,’ the song harks back to an earlier era, both sonically and lyrically.
Written by bandmates Colin Brumelle and Ian Beaty and produced by Jeff Zipp, “Just Your Fool” brings together the full lineup, with Beaty on bass and vocals, Brumelle on guitar, Cindy Fairbanks on keyboards and Geoff Hicks on drums, joined by Jerry Cook on saxophone and Formed in 2023, Honeybear brought together four longtime friends and veteran performers who had crossed paths for decades on tours across Canada and down the West Coast. The band’s origin traces back to the pandemic, when the group found itself jamming outdoors in parks, running amps and PA systems off jerry rigged motorcycle batteries just to keep playing live music together. That instinct to connect through sound has carried through to every release since.
The band’s debut album, ‘I Was Wrong,’ self released in June 2025 on their own Playmor label, has surpassed eight million streams on Spotify with close to 180,000 monthly listeners, earning placement on official Spotify Editorial playlists including Retro Soul, The New Retro and Best Blues of 2025. The record has also found a home on the airwaves, receiving support from CBC, NPR, CKUA and indie and co-op radio stations around the world.
That momentum has translated directly to the stage, with Honeybear quickly becoming a festival favourite at Rifflandia, Barnside Harvest Fest, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Kitchener Blues Fest, Wapiti and Starbelly, alongside sold-out club dates at celebrated rooms like The Horseshoe in Toronto, the Rainbow in Ottawa and the Ironwood in Calgary. The band’s rise has not gone unnoticed within the industry, earning a nomination for a Blues Music Award from the Memphis based Blues Foundation, a Blues Artist of the Year nomination from the WCMA, a spot on the Vancouver Sun’s “10 Artists to Watch in 2026,” and Roots Music Canada’s New Discovery of the Year for 2025.
The band will perform on Thurs. Aug. 5 at La Salsa Rosa (4848 Boulevard Saint-Laurent). It is already sold out.
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