Tong Wang: Windwood Music Festival

Tong Wang: Windwood Music Festival

Author: Chris Glass March 12, 2026 Duration: 22:45
She has performed at the Lincoln Center and toured the world, but Tong Wang’s most important stage is a cul-de-sac in Airdrie. As a concert pianist, educator, and co-founder of the Windwood Music Festival, Tong is on a mission to replace the scarcity of elite art with an overflow of community belonging. This is a story about the power of the big open sky, the science of "cute" music, and why world-class chamber music belongs to everyone. Support the show

There's a particular energy in a community like Airdrie, a blend of ambition, creativity, and neighborly spirit that often goes unnoticed beyond the city limits. Airdrie Inside is about changing that, one conversation at a time. Hosted by Chris Glass, whose perspective is shaped by years of living and breathing life here, this podcast ventures into the studios, workshops, offices, and community spaces where local stories are made. Each episode is a quiet sit-down with the people who are building, creating, and shaping the fabric of the city. You'll hear from entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of small business, artists explaining the inspiration behind their latest work, and dedicated volunteers whose efforts keep local culture vibrant. The focus is always on the genuine voices and personal journeys, not just the public achievements. It’s a series dedicated to the nuance of local life, offering a deeper appreciation for the hardworking heroes who might be your neighbor or the owner of your favorite shop. By tuning into this podcast, you get an authentic, behind-the-scenes look at the drive and passion that fuels Airdrie’s unique character, all through thoughtful, engaging conversations that feel like a chat with an old friend.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Airdrie Inside
Podcast Episodes
Mandi Fusaro: Building Airdrie's Soul [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:02
The "Champion of the Arts" award isn't for the person who writes the biggest cheque. It's for the person who gives the most of themselves. For Mandi Fusaro—actor, director, playwright, and teacher—that has meant spending…
Kristen Shima: City Builder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:08
Most politicians learn how cities work after they're elected. Kristen Shima spent a decade building them from the inside. With a Master's degree in sustainable community development and a resume that includes securing ov…
David Barchard: Micro Acres [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:32
Most people think farming requires hundreds of acres and massive tractors. David Barchard proves you can feed a community with just a few hundred square feet and a lot of heart. After 15 years in the restaurant industry…
Corbie Dorner: Airdrie's Piano Man [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:50
Most musicians think they have to choose: the stability of a "real job" or the freedom of the stage. Corbie Dorner chose both. As a beloved band teacher at Bert Church High School and a dueling pianist at Aussie Rules, C…
Chad Stewart: City Councillor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:05
Most politicians follow a standard path: Law school, business, public office. Chad Stewart took the scenic route. From a 26-year career on a manufacturing floor to becoming a firefighter in his 30s, and now pitching horr…
Flaysher: One More Light [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:37
You can travel the world looking for your sound, but sometimes you have to come home to find it. Brad and Ryan Fleischer (Flaysher) grew up on 90s rock and construction sites. They went to Toronto to chase the music drea…
Jeremy Pollock: Dreadnaught Films [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:34
Jeremy had friends winning Oscars for Lord of the Rings... and they were miserable. They were just one of a thousand people who "worked on Legolas's cape." That realization sent filmmaker Jeremy Pollock on a different pa…
Heather Spearman: Airdrie's New Mayor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:07
Season 2 of Airdrie Inside kicks off with a bang ad we sit down with a true powerhouse: Airdrie's new Mayor, Heather Spearman. In this exclusive conversation, Chris dives into the questions many of us have been asking si…
Jo-Anne Yau: Mentor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:10
What if your greatest failure was actually your biggest opportunity? Jo-Anne Yau's life was supposed to go one way: become a doctor. When that dream died, she discovered a more powerful path. From a shy kid in Airdrie's…
Erin Belley: Tattoos and More [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:22
The "starving artist" is a story we tell ourselves. The "gatekept industry" is a wall waiting to be torn down. Erin Belley walked away from the toxic, old-school tattoo world only to come back and build a new one from th…