2020 is drawing to a close, so it's time for Isolation Station to look back and ponder the challenging year that put us in Isolation Station to begin with! J. Sean and Tyler review clips from all of our wonderful guests and chat about where we were at the beginning of the pandemic shut down in March, and where we're at now (perspective-wise) in our Christmas shutdown! Multitudinous thanks to our beautiful guests: Al Braatz, Christine Devine, Kelly Holiff, Greg Pember, Trevor Campbell, Julia McLellan & Mike Cox, Stephen Patterson, Andrew Prashad, Laura Mae Mason, David Warrack, Zoe Heath & Jake Simons, Caden Douglas & Michael Lomenda, Cameron Francis, & Jenni Burke! So much love to all of you from J. Sean and Tyler here at Isolation Station! We will be back with more chats from the Station in 2021! Keep smiling, keep wearing your mask, and keep safe!

That loving, performing powerhouse, Jenni Burke, visited us at the Station back in April 2020 for a Covid chat! Jenni’s mirthful energy is contagious, even smack in the middle of a pandemic! She talks about the importance of self-compassion, and not putting yourself behind everybody else in your care regiment, and how much more equipped we are at helping others when we make sure we’re ok first! (she recommends we watch Lisa Neff’s TedTalk on self-compassion) Jenni’s deep commitment to her spiritual path has prepared her for a satisfying (and often hilarious, of course!) Covid-era pep-talk! Enjoy!

Dynamo fitness trainer, instructor and motivator, Cameron Francis, spoke to us early in the Covid shutdown! He shares how he coped in the midst of moving to a new city (from Toronto to Calgary) to start a new job (as a Barry’s Bootcamp fitness instructor in a new market) just as Covid was closing everything down. He explains how being forced to slow down made him consciously count his blessings, and how motivating others online kept him motivated throughout the early days of the pandemic. Cameron’s positive, upbeat energy is contagious and his passion for encouraging others in their pursuit of wellness and fitness is inspiring! (Recorded May 15, 2020)  

All the way from sunny California, Caden Douglas and Michael Lomenda swung by the Station, back in early Covid times (early May of 2020), to talk about life in L.A. during the pandemic! In addition to being uber-talented performers and writers, they’ve also created their own business in L.A., called “Little Bull Productions.” We chatted about how their lives as artists prepared them for being able to pivot during this tricky time - and maintain their perspective on what’s of value, both in the industry and in the world at large!! Check out their wonderful company at littlebullproductions.com!  

Zoe and Jake are the fabulous actors behind The Acting Center - an extremely successful acting school in Guelph. When Covid struck, Zoe and Jake had to think outside of the box to maintain their classes for their eager students. From our mutual isolation back in April 2020, we discussed how being forced to be more creative in keeping their classes together benefitted themselves and their students, artistically and emotionally. We talked about the importance for the kids in sustaining the sense of community they’ve developed at the school, and how important community had been in coping during this extended pause. We also chatted with Zoe about how her recent marathon training had prepared her for this unexpected interruption in the status quo. Jake and Zoe are two funny, compassionate gems - enjoy!  Check out their fabulous school at theactingcenter.ca!

Master musician, composer, conductor, writer, producer, entertainer, and irrepressible charmer David Warrack joined us at the Station in early Covid, while still hunkering down at home, to bombard us with his boundless energy and good humour! We quizzed David on his amazing buoyancy, and how it had been sustaining him during the pandemic. We discussed coping strategies, and how tapping into your creativity can be a welcome distraction and a bonafide blessing during this extended interlude. David’s endless compassion and relentless eagerness to be of cheerful service make him the perfect mood-lifter if you’re ever feeling a bit bluesy!

Today, we’re sharing with you the capital-D-lightful Laura Mae Nason, when she swung by the Station for a catch-up during the early days of isolating at home! She told us about how she and her hubby, Gerrad, explained Covid to their 4-year-old, and what she was learning from him about playfulness in return. We talked about using this extended coffee-break to enjoy your own company, and how expressing your creative urge for creativity’s sake keeps boredom at bay! Laura Mae’s beautiful outlook, her drive to stay creative, and her commitment to rolling with the punches are all welcome messages to savour at any time!  Since we chatted, Laura Mae and the fabulous Robin Calvert have been building their beautiful apparel company, called Wheat + Sea Collective. Check out their website, wheatandseacollective.com.

We recently had a very inspiring chat with a man of multitudinous talents - Mr. Andrew Prashad! In this episode, Andrew talks about how he’s been keeping his beautiful perspective amidst the trials of Covid time (especially while juggling 3 kids!). We also ask after his gorgeous son, 5-year-old Ezra (who has struggled with Spina Bifida since birth), and how Andrew has kept so positive with the ups and downs of Ezra’s ongoing health challenges. We also get the chance to ask Andrew about the frank and compassionate video he recently released about white privilege, and how he maintains his equilibrium while coming up against it. Andrew generously shares with us how leading by example, with love and kindness, is the best strategy for creating a more loving world.

Steve Patterson drops by the Station for a check-in! We ask him how he, his wife Robin, and his two boys are fairing with all the isolatin’, and what Steve has learned about parenting during the days of Covid. We talk about going easy on yourself when you (inevitably) get frustrated and how accepting the fact that you can’t control everything can be a huge stress-reliever. Steve’s compassion, relentless self-honesty, and goofy sense of humour are things we can all use right now!

Isolation Station lit up today with a visit from sustainability power-couple Julia McLellan and Mike Cox! Mike and Julia tell us how they’ve been adjusting to life in isolation, and how their zero-waste lifestyle prepared them for this very time! They also share how for all of us, living in harmony with each other and the Earth is the way to cope right now and the way to move forward into the future! And as two people who harmonize beautifully with whatever they do, with wherever they go and with whomever they’re with - the example they set is a much-needed tonic for all of us!