Theatre Pivot, Undercover Kindness, and Maintaining Your Sanity in an Upside Down World

Theatre took a blow during the pandemic, but who better to tackle the challenges than a creative crew. Laurie Steven is an award-winning director, playwright, dramaturge, and the founding Artistic Director of Odyssey Theatre who joins me to share how her theatre group has embraced the growing genre of audio dramas with The Other Path, a unique collection of modern folklore that tackles today’s big issues on your favourite podcast provider. We’re all starved for some kindness, so I’m delighted to have my dear friend Erica Ehm join me to discuss The Undercover Kindness Project from The Ontario Caregivers Organization that she has partnered with to help spread comfort and joy to unsuspectiing caregivers who desperately could use our support. Anne Brodie is here with entertainment and this week she shares what she feels will be an Oscar contender with Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan for their gut-wrenching performances in The Banshees of Inisherin, South Korea’s Official Oscar Selection for International Feature Film Decision to Leave, and Margaret Brown's stunning documentary Descendent, now on Netflix. Choosing to be compassionate over cynical is hard in a world that keeps throwing us curveballs but its the only way through. Leisse Wilcox joins me to to share her three top tips for helping others while maintaining your sanity in a topsy-turvy world. Added bonus Leisse’s voice is like butter and if nothing else will soothe your soul just listening to her. We’ve talked a lot about mid-life lately on this show, so today I offer up someone who is walking the talk. Lesley Crewe wrote her first book at 50 and since then has published 14 books. She joins me to share more on this life pivot and details on her new book Nosy Parker. Finally, writing a book is a lot of work. Now imagine also creating an online world and soundtrack where fans can fully immerse themselves in your fictional world. That’s exactly what my final guest Sienna Tristen has done with her husband Avi Silver in The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming, a labour of love that is less plot more vibes built over the last decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices