Fairbank & Friends

“All of our experiences fuse into our personality. Everything that ever happened to us is an ingredient.” Malcolm X How did we get here, where are we going and how do we stay present through the journey. Join me and marinate in the mystery. I consider myself a story catcher and a storyteller, constantly oscillating between a craving for understanding and relaxing into being Part of the inspiration...

Dr. Shane Alborz is a chiropractor with a practice in the Los Ángeles area. His commitment and passion towards helping people heal is both inspiring and infectious! We met while doing our undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University in California many years ago, when we were both definitely very different versions of ourselves. Recording this episode was particularly special for me for a couple...

Joe was my first boyfriend, we met in middle school and bonded while I was supporting his grade in their Shakespeare production. Fast forward a few years we each found ourselves living in different states at respective reform schools. The years after passing in a blur filled with substance use, loss, healing and transformation. 21 years later we are still connected sharing our stories. We go deep...

Ben and I match on hinge back in 2021 having both met famous 90’s rappers it was instant story time. We ended up talking for hours and becoming fast friends. Ben is a sound engineer and travels all over making sure the shows we so love are possible! We have continued to stay in touch and our first meet up was recording this episode! Thank you so much Ben for your friendship and willingness to be v...

Jef and I met at Othership: house of transformation, where he brings the magic from meditation, martial arts and mental health into the classes he guides. He is a writer who burnt out after a career in journalism and has been carving his own path ever since.  Sometimes you meet people and do not know the depth of how they will impact you, Jef is one of those people for me. He came into my life in...

Julie and I met while I was manager for Starbucks, she was moving from Montreal and needed a new store to work at, thanks to the internet we found each other! While our time working together was brief, my admiration for her hard work and dedication to her craft is anything but short lived. She is a writer, designer and exotic dancer, asking questions and exploring the human experience through her...

Julie and I met while I was manager for Starbucks, she was moving from Montreal and needed a new store to work at, thanks to the internet we found each other! While our time working together was brief, my admiration for her hard work and dedication to her craft is anything but short lived. She is a theatre artist, designer and exotic dancer, asking questions and exploring the human experience thro...

Gerry is a photographer with an ever-expanding thesis on perception & light. His work includes absolutely stunning displays of what playing with light can do. I am so grateful to have crossed paths with Gerry and have enjoyed many a lengthy conversation about the nature of perception, time and more. Seeing the magic that he produces in the photography studio is not only evokes a curiosity about hi...

Jai is the founder of Vital Cryotherapy Canada, with locations in both Toronto and Vancouver. His passion for knowledge and learning is equal parts inspiring and motivating.  After leaving medical school in his mid 20's he founded his first company bringing cutting edge technology into the health and wellness space. He says in the episode 'he has no business being in business' yet here he is. The...

Lisa and I met 9 years ago while we lived in The Annex, it has been such a joy to watch her start and grow her business. We have both watched each other transform ourselves and our lives over the last nearly decade. With many early morning and late night chats she has given me space to just be me and I have had the opportunity to stand by as a cheerleader, sometimes assistant, and watch her create...

Ella and I met 6 years ago through a mutual friend. It has been a joy and inspiration to watch her journey and explore different parts of the world. Ella started her own business called That Good Vintage while she was away. Her business combines a beautiful love for sustainability, fashion, self expression and creativity! Watching her dance in her reels and share herself is an absolute joy.  Throu...

Meagan is a chiropractor and the founder of Peridot Wellness a holistic wellness studio in the King West area of Toronto. I first met her years ago for for a treatment at her former work place and we connected over a love of travel and mindfulness. I have had the joy of watching her start her own business over the past year and am so excited to share more about the woman behind Peridot Wellness! h...

Desh Fernando is a chef and works in TV and film. Took a break from his 12 year career in TV and film production to pursue becoming a chef and now has the opportunity to bring the two together with his upcoming show Chef Desh Adventure Cooking! He also has a catering business called Chef Desh Adventure Cuisine where I had the pleasure of meeting him a year ago at his first gig. He has also run num...

Kareem is a digital marketing, Brazilian Ju jitsu and life champion nerd. He is also one of my ex boyfriends and this is the first (maybe only, who knows?!) episode I am dubbing the ex-files. We have stayed in touch over the past 14 years here and there and recently reconnected after my mom passed away. Watching Kareem shift into where he is now has been such a joy to watch from afar. This convers...

Kareem is a digital marketing, Brazilian Ju jitsu and life champion nerd. He is also one of my ex boyfriends and this is the first (maybe only, who knows?!) episode I am dubbing the ex-files. We have stayed in touch over the past 14 years here and there and recently reconnected after my mom passed away. Watching Kareem shift into where he is now has been such a joy to watch from afar. This convers...

Randy is a Toronto based musician and music teacher. We met back in the day when I hired him to work at Starbucks in what I thought was the least professional interview of my life, outside among the scaffolding in heart of the Financial District in Toronto. Trained as a classical pianist with the voice of an angel and some serious modelling skills it has been a joy to learn that my hiring him was...

Fatima is a photographer with beautiful and kind energy, her work includes beauty, cosmetic & skincare, jewellery & luxury good, lifestyle & people as well as food photography! She has been published in British Vogue, Hello Canada Magazine, West of the City Magazine and more! I first met her on set of a creative shoot she was doing with some of my friends and just felt an instant connection and co...

Evelyn Tu is a multimedia artist, content creator, and a plant mom. Her creative interests are creating content, videography, traditional painting, analog photography, and exploring different mediums to express herself creatively. A lot of her works are inspired and influenced by water and nature. She was born and raised in Taiwan and is now based in Toronto.  She has a bachelor's degree in fine a...

Tony Tabona is a creative director from Botswana who is currently living in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the past 2 years with his cat Rio. I was lucky enough to have him as one of the people checking up on me after my trip here had an unexpected delay. A mutual friend put us in contact so I would have someone who knew the city as a point person while here. Tony has travelled the world working towards br...

I found Maggie's work on instagram some months ago after seeing one of the reels she made. The work that initially drew me in was her interview series with people from all over the world in Fi Di Kulcha, where she showcases what life is like for different people in various countries through their lived experience.  She has a series called Kitchens of Toronto where she showcases various local resta...

Rodolfo Roger aka The Purple Hair Guy of Toronto is someone I met...you guessed it...at Starbucks. There seems to be a theme with the first part of this series. #PartnersForLife He came to work at my store while I was managing in the financial district, his melodic voice and vibrant hair definitely made an impression.  Fast forward a few years, we are in a global pandemic and a few brave souls sai...

Lesley was one of my leaders while I was at Starbucks, she is a mother, absolutely hilarious and unfiltered. It was such a joy to record this episode with her and talk about curiosities like 'what are other people thinking about during this meeting?' 'what it would be like to experience calm'. I found inspiration in her perspective on housework and workouts that has change the way I view those par...

Avrielle is a creative and absolute light, we met 4 years ago while I was managing a Starbucks in the financial district. I borrowed her for a few shifts and was so appreciative for her seemingly boundless energy and kindness. We have since become friends and have opened up to each other in a more authentic in depth way as you will get a taste for in this episode. I am so grateful for her willingn...

Nick is a photographer, psychonaut and consciousness explorer whom I met through my friendship with his girlfriend. Nick's work has been featured in Vogue Italia, View the Vibe and NYFW. Despite his impressive photographic resume; the bulk of our hangouts never focused on photography, but more often included discussions surrounding his experience healing and gaining inspiration through psychedelic...