Uplifting interview with Noam Shuster, a comedian and peace builder who was living her dream…until the pandemic hit and she was forced to adapt and be flexible. Her show at the Kennedy Center in NYC was cancelled. She flew back to Israel only to get Covid on the flight, be quarantined in one of Israel’s infamous corona hotels, and then have to deal with all the symptoms of her new normal. Throughout it all she’s learned to rest, have patience, and continue to create. We talk comedy, peacebuilding, becoming an online creator, feelings of doubt and self-worth and much more.
“If not now, when.”
This is part of a quote from Rabbi Hillel in Pirke Avot, a compilation of sayings from sages from around the year 0.
This is what I thought of this morning as I lamented the fact that while my father was dying in the hospital for 3 months I didn’t record my thoughts daily. Yes, it was an intensely draining experience, but I was learning and feeling so much and I wanted to try to capture it and tell it in story and lesson form to friends and strangers who might be helped by it.
This…
So it’s been an enormous amount of time since I’ve sent a newsletter out.
Forgive me, but also — Covid. It’s crazy how quickly time has gone by and how much everything has changed since the last time you received one of these. I’m committing to doing it more and have scheduled time to do so (if you don’t schedule it, it doesn’t happen, right?). Like a good person in their 30’s these are things I’m working on, failing at, and continuing to try.
It’s been a wild few months. I’ve made a few awesome podcasts…
Mackenzie (Macky) Donaldson is a Toronto and Los Angeles based director, producer and writer. She recently finished producing her first feature documentary, Citizen Bio (see the trailer), about biohackers aka citizen-driven biomedical research. It premiere’s on Showtime October 30th. She is actively involved in The Producer Pledge and Impact. Macky and I talk about the importance of getting more minorities and people of color telling their stories in the film industry, the microchip that’s been inserted in her hand, emulating her father and being aware of death in everyday life, her daily routines and work as a producer, what to…
Heavy, REAL and life-affirming interview with Benjamin Hackman, frontman for the Holy Gasp and composer-in-residence at the Historic Kiever Synagogue in Toronto. We talk about our father’s deaths, the grieving/mourning process, grief in today’s culture, losing a parent, choosing life and much more.
Find it here, or get it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen.
The upcoming show, The Holy Gasp presents Grief, is on Wednesday, July 1, at 9:03pm — 5:41am Eastern Standard Time. Link to the livestream on Facebook and Youtube or on www.theholygasp.com. The public is invited to record the names of their…
Moving discussion with Ariel Lefkowitz, a friend and young doctor, who was recently the attending physician on the Covid ward at one of Toronto’s major hospitals. There he quickly realized that the situation required a more significant and evolving level of compassion and humanity than he and any of his co-workers had ever experienced. It’s a fascinating look at what it’s like to be a doctor and a leader during these tumultuous times. …
Remi Dion is a friend and fellow engineer who studied at McGill University. He is currently doing a masters in artificial intelligence, and was on a semester abroad at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras in the South province of Tamil Nadu when all of the Covid-19 stuff began. His story is pretty insane and he is at present still trapped in South India with no visible way to return to his home country of Canada. Canada seems to have neglected its citizens stranded around the world, so please consider signing this petition to bring attention to Canada’s inadequate efforts…
For all those stuck at home, I’m sharing a full body workout that requires no materials, very little space, takes less than 10 minutes and will leave you absolutely smoked. All you need is 6 foot spherical radius and you’re good to go.
I’ve had trouble these last few days at home getting into my routine. It’s so easy to wake up late, skip workouts, eat crap, and stay in pajamas all day. I’ve been guilty of this the last few days but finally managed to do my journaling, meditation and gratitude practice and do a quick workout, shave shower…
New episode of Living30 is up! Link here, or get it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen.
Extremely motivating discussion with adventure filmmaker and photographer, Basti Hansen. Basti is one of the hardest working guys I know, editing into the wee hours of the morning and always in another part of the world shooting. Originally from Germany, he’s a Tel Aviv-based filmmaker who’s worked with Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, IQOS, Universal Music, and more. And he only started working with a camera 6 years ago!
We talk how to take yourself seriously, create a body of work, partnerships…
New podcast episode link here or on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen.
Inspiring interview with Mia Schon, better known as Mosaic with Mia. She’s a public artist specializing in mosaics with works all around Tel Aviv. She’s extremely talented and we talk about how hard it is to finally have the courage to start calling yourself an artist, working through the non-glamorous aspects of being a professional artist, how to put yourself out there and deal with rejection, and how an annoying, vandalized wall across from her apartment set her off on the journey she’s on…
Max Finder
Making my 30's the best decade ever. Writing about experiences & lessons learned. Working on www.nooddjob.com & www.living30.blog
