Shooting it RAW with Ran Elfassy

Sasha is an accidental photographer... A happy-accident discoverer of what it's like to inspire others, thanks to surprising, powerful images.  Listen in as Sasha describes how she suddenly discovered the hidden beauty, charm, and even cuteness of jumping spiders and other tiny animals living all around us, waiting to be discovered.  Be inspired!     ****    Find...

Doug Woodring and I met at one of Hong Kong's bustling social enterprise hubs to discuss the state of plastic recycling in the world today. After moving to Hong Kong from the USA and spending hours in the water, he decided to turn his frustration with plastics in the ocean to direct action that would make a difference. Doug described how he spearheaded campaigns that were decades ahead of the curv...

Lisa joined me from Montreal, diving into what it's like to be a journalist who steps forward to cover stories that must be told.  She's a journalist and editor with nearly two decades of professional experience in the Middle  East, New York City, and Canada. She covered the major events in  Israel-Palestine and the region between the Second Intifada and the Egyptian uprising of 201...

How long does it take and how much do you have to invest to become a great photographer?  These are big questions that Robert can talk about. He's been pushing himself to learn and master the craft of wildlife photography, and you can see that he's clearly dedicated to making the kind of incredible photographs that inspire so many and win awards.  We met in Hong Kong's Lion Nature P...

Did you know the world's oceans are under major, critical threat? Did you know that you have the power to help make a difference? The answers to these questions are how Andrea and I reconnected at the Hong Kong Shark Foundation's offices in Hong Kong.  After learning about sharks and the unsustainable shark trade, Andrea volunteered and eventually became the HKSF's Managing Director. Listen i...

Who are your teachers? How do you connect with your self, your ephemeral self that is so much more than who you think you are and what is possible?  Jasmine Nunns joined me from her apartment on Hong Kong Island to share why her guided nature experiences are so powerful.  Through her company – Kembali –  Jasmine offers restorative "forest bathing walks", rites-of-passage programs, b...

Such a treat! Now counting all members from the quintet Fluffy Pagan Echoes, Justin McGrail joined me from Victoria for a catch-up that was decades overdue.  Justin studied at McGill and Victoria universities and is a highly regarded Art History professor at Vancouver Island University. He's got more than twenty-five years of performance experience in Canada and the US, and has had several co...

Lady  (Kitty) Chisholm is the COO at Boardwalk Leadership, author, keynote speaker on neuroscience, and diversity and inclusion champion based in the UK. She joined me to share her images and fascinating work in neuroscience and some of the incredible ways people can achieve and grow beyond what they thought possible. Tune in to find out more about your  own superpower! Learn more about...

I joined Martin at the Cornell Centre in Hong Kong, getting a deep dive into the artist and architect's studio and creative space.  We've been friends for under a year, after I saw the work featured in the incredible series, Ghost in the Machine. With the dramatic and sweeping industrial landscape of Hong Kong Island's Chai Wan district below, we had a tête-à-tête on the themes of perception,...

Vince and I have been friends for decades – starting as collaborators in the spoken-word quintet, Fluffy Pagan Echoes.  Vince has always had his camera, either to document, archive, capture, or just record and share what was around him throughout his life.  Vince is one of my most respected and beloved creative friends, a person who has dedicated his life to understanding and exploring t...

Sharon Kwok is in the house! Going back to 2009, Sharon and I have crossed paths mostly around marine and other conservation campaigns. Like two comets passing each other in the heavens, Sharon was kind enough to sit for a spell and share what it was like to grow up with one foot in Hong Kong, and another in the USA.  From beauty pageants to schooling in the arts, running a studio and classes...

What is it to live alone, to have an empty nest, to be by yourself when you transition? How do you process and grieve the loss of the sense of smell? And how do you regain your people and a new tribe to create a new road ahead?  Kerri and I =reconnected to explore the impact of anosmia and what it was like for Kerri to channel her energy and commitment to the Green Party of Canada.  Get...

Award-winning thinker, author, and Duke University's JA Jones Distinguished Professor Adrian Bejan and I met for a revealing conversation on so many important ideas.  Listen in to our chat on Bejan's new book, "FREEDOM and EVOLUTION : Hierarchy in Nature, Society  and Science" and the impact the Constructal law has had since Bejan first conceived of it.  From the rivulets that...

Nissa Cornish and I discussed what it's like to be a parent in these challenging times – conservation, climate change, recycling, the protests in Hong Kong, the politics, and how textile waste is a leading source that's filling up our landfills.  Nissa got deep into what it's like to have a haven she can retreat to for herself and her family, and how to maintain perspective, energy, and focus...

Andrew Jeffreys joined me in Hong Kong to discuss some of the amazing ways Andrew has stepped up to show leadership, deep care for the community, and what it means to live with guts and intention.  Learn how Andrew continues to share some of the sights and sounds of the famed Chungking Mansions, a bit of the untold stories of refugees in Hong Kong's difficult civil society, and what it w...

In this episode, Regina joined me to share her experience and stories from her own podcasting journey.   Having run Hashtag-Impact for years now, Regina has created and attracted a community of change-makers and other passionate people.  The aim: help people make a difference and inspire progress. A truly inspiring conversation! Visit Hashtag Impact here: https://www.hashtagimpact.com/ S...

In this episode, Adina joined me to talk about life in this digital era, what it means to own what you say, the power language has to shape people's sense of belonging, and what it's like to raise a child in these incredible times.  Oh, and what it's like to have a neigbour steal your plants, what it's like to be a manager in a progressive media company, and other heartwarming goodies.  ...

How many Mongolians do YOU know? In my case, I had never met anyone from Mongolia until I met Khaliun at The Hive in Sai  Kung, Hong Kong.  We met in Wanchai to discuss what it was like to grow up in Mongolia, what Khaliun's attachment is to the land, the unexpected beauty of the Mongolian language, how identity is shaped by your own self and how people see you, that Shooting it RAW has...

Saskia Wolsak is a trainer, facilitator, therapist, PhD candidate, artist and so much more, and she joined me to review what life's been like these past few years.  From Canada to Bermuda, the USA and now Costa Rica, join us to learn why plants are so incredible and what it's like to have a toucan hold on to your breast and scream for dear life. Learn more about Saskia and the poweful essay f...

With the Black Lives Matter debates and turmoil as the backdrop, we met up in Sai Kung for an open discussion of what it's been like for Saleem to just be...  From being raised in the Caribbean to 'Growing Up Green' in the  Army, to living in Germany to eventually travel the world. Here's an unvarnished view into the life of a man who is always challenging himself to grow – and can'...

Audrey joined me to dive deep into what it's like to raise a child with autism, what it's been like to dedicate her days to raising awareness of autism, and giving a voice to those who can't fight for themselves.  We also dove into what running marathons have meant for her, even during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing as she was about to cross the finish line.       -...

Raphael or Ralph Chemtov is the man ultimately responsible for inspiring me to explore photography, riding motorcycles, and being entrepreneurial.    Raphael is at heart a street photographer, loving the connection and immediacy of being in front of a living, breathing subject.    - See more of his award-winning photos here: - https://gurushots.com/photoart.by.raphael/photos &n...

Victoria Stanton joined me to shoot it RAW over art, life, and everything else.  We old friends and former performance members are more like siblings catching up. Today, Victoria is an interdisciplinary performance artist and educator who has performed in innumerable festivals and events, participated in several residencies, as well as exhibited around the world.  Victoria's the BOMB and...

Adad is a working visual artist based in Vancouver, Canada.   He was born in New York in 1971, spent his childhood in Israel and England, and moved to Vancouver in the early 1980’s. In this episode, Adad describes how he started his Social Distancing Video Portraits and what it's like to be a practicing artist in these crazy COVID-19 times. Oh, and he also introduces me to the Mexican GREETO!...

Andy Cornish is the conservation Leader at WWF. He is the WWF network’s representative among the core partners of the  Global Sharks and Rays Initiative, and co-author of Global Priorities for Conserving Sharks and Rays: A 2015-2025 Strategy.  We sat for an update on shark and marine conservation. Our friendship and commitment to marine conservation go back more than a decade, and Andy g...