『This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life』のカバーアート

This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life

This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life

著者: Erica J. Schmidt
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Welcome to This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life! In this podcast, writer Erica J. Schmidt talks to people who may—or may not—have had the chance to transform their lives into spectacular TED talks. Cherished guests include Erica’s beloved grandmother, talented fringe performers, and more fascinating folks from across generations and communities. Discover new takes on creativity, morning routines, art, mental health, eating disorder recovery, perfectionism, and healing, plus a loving advice column segment in almost every episode. Oh, and sometimes there are tiny singsongs!

About the host: Erica J. Schmidt is a writer, translator, storyteller, and recovering gifted child living in Montréal. She is currently querying a novel about that time she fell in love with her eleventh therapist. To learn more, check out Erica’s generously personal essays at ericajschmidt.com/blog

アート 心理学 心理学・心の健康 衛生・健康的な生活
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  • Comfort Is For Wimps with Jessica O’Reilly
    2025/10/23
    Jessica O’Reilly is a hilariously unconventional writer, digital nomad, YouTuber, and workout queen. Her YouTube channel, Comfort Is For Wimps dives deep into her life as a digital nomad—couch-surfing in Afghanistan, checking out Medellin’s love hotels, and babysitting rich people’s pets in lieu of rent. Along the way, she examines the disparities in the cost of living between countries, passes the mic to locals, and through it all, rocks a splendid sense of humour. Hit up her Instagram for zingers like, “I don’t fall in love. I audition for the role of ‘lesson I had to learn the hard way.’” Jessica O’Reilly is the perfect complement to your Instagram relationship coach. Make sure to listen to the end for the stellar advice she gives to “Should I LTR or Should I Bounce.” A committed digital nomad falls in love in a city he does not fancy. It’s the deepest connection he’s ever had, but she can’t follow him around the world. What should he do? Jessica and Erica can’t fix it—but we have thoughts.Subscribe to Jessica’s YouTube Channel @comfortisforwimpsFollow Jessica on Instagram @comfortisforwimpsErica on Instagram: @erica.j.schmidtErica on Substack (new!): @ericajschmidtErica's website: ericajschmidt.comErica’s Interview with Jessica O’Reilly from Comfort Is For Wimps00:00:00 This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life Theme Song + Jessica O’Reilly’s bio 00:03:06 How Jessica and Erica met in Varanasi, India00:06:12 Jessica’s Motto and YouTube channel, Comfort Is For Wimps00:10:48 Is confidence fake it til you make it? 00:13:00 How to Solve the Problem of Paying Rent00:20:44 What is a digital nomad? Are you a digital nomad? The challenge of the day job, monetizing your joy and art, etc.00:28:23 Staying healthy and reasonably sane while travelling. Jetlag hacks, packing cubes, workout schedules and more.00:37:05 Losing your job and finding your niche 00:41:38 Friendship and Romance on the Road. Is it lonely? (Yes.)00:48:05 Humour, self deprecation and self-help00:51:25 Listener question: Do I LTR or do I bounce? A lovestruck digital nomad wonders if he should stick around in a city he doesn’t love for the first real connection he has felt in a while. 00:55:00 Freedom in commitment 01:03:14 Jessica O’Reilly’s Routines and A+ workout habits:01:05:29 Jessica O’Reilly’s Spectacular TED talk01:07:58 Wrap-up and final theme songListener Question from Do I LTR or Do I Bounce?Dear Jessica and Erica,I’ve been a digital nomad for almost a year now. I totally love it! In general, I’ve tried to stay away from serious relationships that could cost me my freedom.However, I recently met a local during my travels, and suddenly I’m head over heels in love. I’ve never managed to connect with someone like this, and it feels awesome. We’ve been hanging out for four weeks now which is way longer than I’d tend to stay somewhere. Now the tricky part is that I want to continue my nomadic lifestyle whereas she wants to stay. She doesn’t have the kind of lifestyle that lets her travel for much longer than a couple weeks at a time, barely a couple of times per year, and never without tons of planning. She has a job that isn’t mobile, a house, and even a dog. I get that this is what a lot of people want in their lives. But it’s not what I want. At least not right now.I’d consider staying a bit longer, but honestly, I don’t really like her city. It’s her I love. I don’t know how to navigate my love for her with my dream of living a location-independent lifestyle. I worry I’m just a selfish avoidant jerk with a closed heart. Do you have any experience with this? Should I extend my stay and see what happens? What do you think I should do?Love, Do I LTR or Do I BounceIf you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: How to Be a Writer with Kyle Stevenson, ChatGPT Is My Therapist, and Funemployment with Erica J. Schmidt.To support this independent podcast, please consider purchasing a Lil and Bud dog greeting card at ericajschmidt.com/merch. You can also make a one-time donation here at The Donate Button.Feel free to get in touch for other sponsorship possibilities. My infinite thanks for all of this.More infinite thanks, as always, to Taes Leavitt (darling big sister, Big Heart Journey), Sherwin Tjia (technical and creative advisor, Sherwin’s Quirky Events,Episode 22) and my dearly departed aunt Eileen Gun, whose generous gift helped to fund my new podcast equipment. Stay tuned for more episodes extra soon. Don’t forget to followThis Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life on your favourite podcast platform. And if you enjoyed the episode, I would be immensely grateful if you could share it with a friend and/or leave a kind and enthusiastic rating and review.
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    1 時間 11 分
  • Montréal’s Favourite Anita Anand (Author, Translator, Peace Seeker)
    2025/10/02
    There is more than one famous Anita Anand, but this Anita Anand is the best. She is a Montreal-based author, literary translator, language teacher, and cherished guest at Erica’s ukulele parties. All the while, she yearns for peace on earth and a free Palestine!You must read her books! Her novel, A Convergence of Solitudes was a finalist for the 2022 Paragraphe Hugh MacLennan Prize for Fiction. And her first book, Swing in the House and Other Storieswon the 2015 Quebec Writer’s Federation Concordia University First Book Award. Anita’s fiction is as charming as she is, featuring delightful characters who are often in the midst of what Anita calls, “a minority’s predicament.” In the various neighbourhoods of her childhood, Anita was always the only girl her age of Indian origin. As such, Anita grew up quite familiar with the “minority’s predicament.” She believes this experience was pivotal in helping her to become a writer, but she’d also like to help bridge the gap of understanding that people of visible minorities experience every day.It was such a joy to have Anita on the podcast. Make sure to listen to the end for a universally relevant listener question and a five-star ukulele segment with Anita on guitar. Links and ResourcesAnita’s website: https://anitaanand.carrd.co/Anita on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms.anitaanand/Erica on Instagram: @erica.j.schmidtErica's website: ericajschmidt.comFull shownotes at ericajschmidt.com/podcast.anita-anand-montreal-authorVERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Me, Anita Anand, Nisha Coleman, and just about all of my guests are HORRIFIED by the genocide happening in Gaza. The situation is tragic and unfathomable, but there are concrete actions you can take!Concrete Steps for Palestine - Write letters to the other Anita Anand, Canada’s minister of defence - Follow @yousaama on Instagram. Yousaama shares insightful, philosophical, along with links to emergency aid campaigns at chuffed.org.Two Great Options:Rapid Relief for Displaced Families and ChildrenThe Zaynab Project:A women-led, 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit delivering critical aid to families and orphaned children across Gaza. Now’s the time to donate! Follow Yousaama and other Free Palestine activists, give what you can, read about Palestine, talk about Palestine, share stories, be brave, do not fall into despair. xoxoxoxoxo.Erica’s Interview with the Best Anita Anand00:00 This Is Your Strange and Beautiful LifeTheme Song + and Anita Anand’s bio00:02:24 How to go from “I have a book inside of me” to actually writing the book00:05:35 What about getting published?00:12:13 The “perfect novel” that became the title story in her collection “Swing in the House”00:13:05 Elevator pitch for The Convergence of Solitudes00:16:58 Inspiration of Serge Fiore in the novel. Un Musicien parmi les autres00:19:05 Anita calls Australian journalist “stolen” from Vietnam and turns her into a character (with her permission). Should you always ask people you write about for their permission?00:22:51 How being an outsider has helped Anita’s writing.00:26:41 Why Anita has decided not to write another book and focus on literary translation and guitar.00:31:23 Support Palestinian families by following @yousaama on Instagram. Yousaama posts heartfelt, insightful updates, and the latest in urgent aid campaigns on chuffed.org00:34:15 Learning guitar00:35:04 Writing routines and accountability00:36:58 Listener Question from Losing My Moji for My Sweet Slovenly Boyfriend. His partner’s apartment gives him the Ick. Is this a dealbreaker?00:57:19 The title and topic of Anita Anand’s spectacular TED talk.00:01:01:07 Half-bad Ukulele Segment:Drivin' on 9 by The Breeders00:01:04:47 Wrap-up and Closing Theme SongThank you so much, Anita! And thank you everyone for listening and hitting up these shownotes. LISTENER QUESTION FROM LOSING MY MOJO FOR MY SWEET AND SLOVENLY BOYFRIENDDear Anita and Erica,I’m a gay 33-year-old, almost a year into a relationship with a dude who, in theory, makes me incredibly happy. He’s hilarious and kind and attentive to my emotional needs in ways no partner has ever been for me before. Historically, our sex life has been great, and we’re talking about taking next steps like moving in together and even marriage. Earlier in the relationship, I was thrilled about all these conversations. But lately, I’ve started to freeze up. From what I can tell, the main reason is truly embarrassing. Here’s the issue: His apartment gives me the ICK.I put a great deal of effort into taking care of my home. I clean regularly and have set up my space with colours and furniture and art that make me feel calm, organized, and safe. When we first got together, we spent all our time at my place, so all was well But we’ve started going back and forth more, and I find I feel uncomfortable and gross when I stay at his frat-boy digs. He thinks doing the dishes (and cleaning the ...
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    1分未満
  • Luke Anderson Is One Cool Dude (Deep Thoughts on Grief, Healing, and Accessibility)
    2025/08/07
    It was my honour to welcome Luke Anderson to This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life! Luke Anderson is a speaker, singer, dancer, harmonica player, accessibility advocate, and athlete of the body turned athlete of the spirit. He is relatively famous for co-founding the revolutionary StopGap Foundation, a registered charity that builds bright and beautiful ramps across Toronto and North America. StopGap’s mission is to “bring people together to take practical steps to make spaces more accessible.”I think about this interview every day. Please enjoy! Luke Anderson: “I’ve developed a way of life that recognizes the possibilities of what I have now. And the way that I’ve chosen to recognize my physical situation right now is that, at the time of my injury... I was experiencing a piece of the pie of life. That was my periphery, that was my field of view, a slice of the pie of life. And because of the pie of life. And because of my injury and it helping me broaden my perspective, I’m now able to see a new slice of that pie of life. So, that kind of speaks to what I was saying... to see that moment, that injury I sustained on October 27, 2002 as a gift. It gifted me an opportunity to see life through a new lens.” Links and ResourcesLuke Anderson on Instagram: @lukewanders_onThe StopGap Foundation: stopgap.ca@stopgapfoundationStopGap on HotDocs: Stop Gap MeasureStopGap, The Luke Anderson Story: Watch on YouTubeLuke's Harmonica Teacher Nico TysonErica on Instagram: @erica.j.schmidtErica's website: ericajschmidt.comErica's Interview with Luke Anderson00:00:00 Riveting clips from Luke Anderson’s Interview. Watch and understand immediately why you MUST listen to the end. 00:01:48 This Is Your Strange and Beautiful LifeTheme Song + Luke Anderson’s bio 00:04:55 Language in the world of disabilities. How to empower, connect, remove barriers, and create a sense of possibility? 00:12:13 Living with a high-level spinal cord injury. Luke’s physical experience and need for assistance 00:18:08 Athlete of the body turned athlete of the spirit. An afternoon of mountain biking that would become Luke’s Day of Rebirth 00:28:06 The inner knowing that came over Luke soon after the accident. How this mysterious calm would help him help his friend Johnny save his life. 00:31:48 Early days at the spinal rehab centre. Did Luke every imagine himself beating the odds and find the cure to spinal cord injuries? 00:35:39 Navigating grief after injury. Climbing the ladder of consciousness and growing skills of patience, acceptance, empathy, compassion. Learning to embrace the grief and sadness when it comes up. 00:41:43 Erica asks Luke for wisdom on emotional regulation, among her life’s greatest challenges 00:49:56 How to find meaning and purpose in the face of grief and loss.00:54:52 Friendships and dating when you have a disability. On being a serial online dater, navigating relationships new and old, and transcending rom-com stereotypes. 01:02:02 Dating with a disability continued. Whether to disclose your disability on the apps. People with specific preferences for dating people with disability. Feedback and insight from Luke’s past partners. 01:13:18 Meditation to feel more. And invigorating a fading life force. 01:20:16 Everything StopGap. Bulding ramps and perspective. Transforming despair and frustration into creativity: How the StopGap Foundation was born 01:30:33 Luke Anderson’s first spectacular TED TALK, stage fright, and what's on for Luke's TED talk 2.0 01:38:46 Record-breaking harmonica playing on This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life. Luke rewrites the theme song and it’s awesome. 01:43:29 Final credits and wrap-up.THANK YOU SO MUCH, LUKE ANDERSON! THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR LISTENING! LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!And if you enjoyed this episode, you might also like: No Surrender with Hollis Peirce,How to Be a Writer with Kyle Stevenson, and Stories from L'Arche with Jimmy and IsabelleTo support this independent podcast, please consider purchasing a Lil and Bud dog greeting card at ericajschmidt.com/merch. You can also make a one-time donation here at The Donate Button.Feel free to get in touch for other sponsorship possibilities. My infinite thanks for all of this.More infinite thanks, as always, to Taes Leavitt (darling big sister, Big Heart Journey), Sherwin Tjia (technical and creative advisor, Sherwin’s Quirky Events,Episode 22) and my dearly departed aunt Eileen Gun, whose generous gift helped to fund my new podcast equipment. Stay tuned for more episodes extra soon. Don’t forget to followThis Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life on your favourite podcast platform. And if you enjoyed the episode, I would be immensely grateful if you could share it with a friend and/or leave a kind and enthusiastic rating and review.
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    1 時間 45 分
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