Shooting it RAW with Ran Elfassy

We live life going forward but make sense by looking back. Sitting with Tong Ge, talk about making sense of a life. Join us as she explains what it was like to live in China during the Cultural Revolution, and how she had to live away from her parents due to her father being a professor during those opaque, difficult times. Then let yourself get carried away by her stories around finding her passi...

After a two-month hiatus of not recording, Machiel Hoek and I sat for a truly inspiring conversation. So good! Machiel joined from Amsterdam and dove right into the world of phobias, fears and anxiety – but as a way to answer the question of what is the meaning of life? We then discussed Burning Man, how his son came to be, and then the lens or mirror we use to make sense of the world. Definitely...

Welcome aboard Don Sawyer! But actually, it's who you took us on a world tour. Starting with the shot of a lone car on a deserted road in Newfoundland, Canada, Don brought us from there to Nicaragua, The Gambia, and then Louisiana. The common thread throughout? That we all experience life in our own unique ways, and that we can learn and appreciate them all. Humble, curious, thoughtful and empathi...

It is my supreme honour to introduce and welcome my brother from a different mother, Russell Little. Within seconds it was obvious that this was a thinking, feeling, and perspective spirit who truly does make every second count. You have to listen to the episode to really get why Russell is right on target when it comes to the values of the podcast, and what it is to make every second count. Join...

After a short time away from recording, I'm back and none could have been a better guest than Melody Horrill. What a treat! Joining me from Melbourne, Melody shared the incredible story of getting to know and even be 'saved' by a wild bottlenose dolphin that researchers named Jock. A journalist by profession, the pandemic and the threats to local dolphin pods sparked her journey into book writing....

Get ready to get turned inside out. Sam Spiro joined me after... A year? Or so. Finally, we spoke – and what a revelation! Joining me from Brisbane, the former Sai Kung resident and fully-present kind soul joined me to share the essence of her brilliant book, "A Transformative Guide To Self-Love, Abundance & In-Lightenment." After a pause of a month of recording, suddenly the universe put Sam and...

For the love of books and story, here's the delightful Ann Aubitz. Yet another kind soul coming in from Minnesota, Ann and I sat down to talk shop around cherishing the life of her strong and tenacious mother, what it's been like to raise a daughter with Down syndrome, running a publishing company and publishing a book on how to get published, and the incredible journey that is a life. We covered...

Welcome to Shooting it RAW, Cliff Beach! What a powerhouse of talent, energy, drive, and commitment. Join us as Cliff described his adventures into the world of making music, travelling cruise ships, getting his MBA, studying music, putting out jazz CDs, interviewing the likes of Jean Baptiste, and so much more. Here is a guy who makes every second count, and his book, "Side Hustle & Flow" is here...

Buckle up and get ready to join Steve Fredlund on safari! Not quite about heading across Africa, mind you, but to have the safari mindset. This is the inspiring story of a man who ticked all the boxes when it came to life, yet something wasn't quite hitting it. On panic attack and months of growth later, Steve discovered the power and rewards of his new mission: Inspiring others to live life like...

Lance Robinson is here and what an inspiring story to tell! Joining from Thunder Bay, Canada, he took us on a trip that covered the wide, inspiring, open spaces of the Prairies. He then spoke on how possibility and movement defined how he sees the world, which then included an incredible tribe of nomadic people in Kenya. Shifting gears, he shared how his work as a published author has evolved, and...

Welcome to episode 201 Angela van Breeman – yes to connecting with great and inspiring fellow Canadians! Angela joined me from outside Toronto, and shared her love of music, singing, her new album coming out, how she helps protect monarch butterflies, how she helps rehabilitate wild animals, and that her first novel is out! Talk about a powerhouse. Each second was a treat, but then when she sang a...

Welcome to episode 200 – with Kendra Q Dodd! Dialling in from Minnesota, we had a bright, engaged and profound chat about how to push through tough times and tough relationships. Setting big goals for yourself, making sure part of your daily habits include physical effort, journalling, and more... Join us and be inspired by Kendra's energy and brightness! And check out her book, Perspectives – Bui...

Mark Morton is now on Shooting it RAW! With the auspicious episode 199, Mark humbly met me for a call and... Blew my mind. Join us as he shared about the incredible generosity that he and his wife had to adopt two siblings... Twice! Weaving in the power of dogs for supporting people of call kinds, and also what it is to have a layered relationship to the world and the land you call home. Massive t...

Some conversations are hard, and Betsy Gall is here to courageously head right into the heart of one of the hardest conversations out there. Joining me from her home, Betsy shared her bright and even joyful soul, to reveal a small slice from her harrowing story. Trigger warning, we talk openly and plainly about death from suicide. Not an easy topic and not a typical podcast episode – but so import...

Welcome to the podcast, Tim Eggebraaten! We got on a call and he joined from... You guessed it. Minnesota. What's up with that state and the amazing inspired folks from there? He shared why family was so important, what it was to serve for decades as a police officer and then Chief of Police, but then how that changed to inspiring others through his talks on leadership and more. Join us to learn m...

It's all about making every second count – and Brent Olson sure knows what that means. What a great way to kickstart Season V of the podcast! As a child, he tried his hand at writing a novel and the sting of rejection set him back... So off he dove into farming. Those were his hands. Then, at the age of 40 and looking for change, he turned his hands to the keyboard, remaking himself as a journalis...

Anna Carranza – welcome to your first podcast episode! Joining me from Southern California, Anna chimed in while en route or just holding up in a hotel. In our hour's conversation, she brought me to meet Chico – that tiny but great teacher. Then Big Head, Sunny, and the renowned Colony Palms Hotel. We talked writing, be it poetry or magical realism, and decided that I must have fallen on my head w...

Welcome back Mathew Hampshire-Waugh! Last time, it was to promote his book on getting to a net-zero carbon life, and this time it was how to create your climate kitchen. We talked shop about where emissions come from, and how one of the biggest spots where we can all get involved is around what we buy – to eat. Fact is, the toll on our climate from agriculture, livestock and industrial fishing is...

There's this group of accomplished people who have a shared mindset – one that's like no other. Welcome, Bashar Wali. Based in the US, Bashar has dedicated himself to exploring and growing his deeply felt commitment to hospitality. Not as mere customer service, but as a way of life to bring people together. This is how he then delivers a unique experience that affirms people's sense of...

Dickie Suzuki is here! We spoke about his life in Hong Kong, what it's been like to explore and keep discovering, and how the city keeps revealing new sides that will make you look again. A huge fan of what goes on behind the incredible facade, Dickie shares the special moments revealed in the shadows. Dystopian? Sometimes. Surprising? Always. Be sure to catch his upcoming show, The Art of Celesti...

Make no mistake – the world is there to be discovered, and people like Molly Hayden are here to remind us to think BIG. Our connection was from my sister in Savannah, where she met Molly. Then Molly moved to Korea, and once I returned to Hong Kong Molly and I finally got on a call and I was able to take a look at her life in photos. A creative spirit who seeks amazing people (e.g. the Haenyeo dive...

Asaf Artel was living in a communal village in Israel, on the edge close to the Gaza border. We first met in Savannah, in the USA, as he and two other survivors brought their harrowing experiences to people beyond Israel. What kind of person is Artel? The kind who volunteers to help others during disaster relief missions. What kind of person is he? The kind who has dedicated himself to life as a C...

Lance Aksamit is here! I am deeeeelighted that Lance is kicking off 2024 on the podcast. Connecting from California, Lance shared some of his life's chapters, taking us to Hawaii, California, Central America, Thailand, and his first book! What a powerhouse. More comfortable being an outsider than in, Lance shared what it was like growing up in an Evangelical Christian family, and how through criti...

Welcome aboard, Bruce Tretter! We met years ago and finally reconnected to share his work. And what a powerhouse Bruce is! It's amazing to me how some people are just made to tinker, design, and try to make things happen. Like Bruce, who moved from making cycling apparel that tries to help cyclists be seen, to his launching Safe Streets for All as a business-supported initiative, to helping vets l...

Myron Edwards, thank you for joining me from Cyprus! Born in 1952 to Welsh parents, Myron spent much of his early life in Essex. He worked in the travel industry for thirty years, and in the 70s he freelanced for BBC TV and Radio, writing for The Two Ronnies, Week Endings, and The News Huddlines. He soon became a full-time copywriter at JWT. He created Tubewalking, a set of short walking maps to h...