Episode Details

For a joyful, low-drama approach to creativity, Jeff Gandell is your person. Jeff Gandell is an icon in the Montréal storytelling and performance community. He has written, directed, produced, and starred in a number of glittering fringe shows including Things Drugs Taught Me (co-created with Nisha Coleman), and The Balding, a coming-of-age-story about the race to lose your virginity before you lose your hair. For six years, Jeff ran the adored storytelling show Yarn at the Cagibi, may it rest in peace. He has offered countless storytelling workshops and has been a pivotal guide and mentor for all kinds of storytellers, including me. These days, he is channelling his creative energy into writing and singing songs. So far, he has produced two albums—Cold Chicken N Rice and this past summer, Only Human, a reappraisal of what it means to be mortal in an age of too many robots. Jeff also has one child with another one coming soon. What a thrill to have Jeff on the show.

What You’ll Learn From Jeff Gandell

Did Jeff lose his virginity before his hair? Erica and Jeff talk hair loss, ageing, and how most haircuts are actually good news.

Jeff’s tips on how to be a Chill Type of Person Who Goes With the Flow. Therapy helps. So does knowing you are going to die.

How did Jeff start writing stories? A shout-out to Jeff’s grade 3 teacher Mrs. Lezar. Plus a blast from the past, courtesy of Grownups Read Things They Wrote As Kids. (Check out Jeff’s avant-garde, 10-year-old take on Alice in Wonderland in Episode 612.)

How does Jeff allow his creativity to unfold organically? From writing stories to performing Fringe shows to composing songs on his guitar, he’s always ready for his next thing. And it’s never forced.

What did Jeff do in the face of a terrible singing teacher? And how he overcame unkind, unproductive feedback.

Listener Question from “She Deserves So Much Better:” Our letter writer is deeply concerned about her cousin who keeps going back to her problematic boyfriend. Jeff and Erica really can’t fix this one, but we do our best. And Erica adds some wisdom from Oprah’s life coach Martha Beck who you can hear on Episode 253 of We Can Do Hard Things.

How to Stay Creative After Kids: Jeff’s creative morning routine is aspirational.

How to Keep Your House Clean After Kids: Jeff’s looking to outsource parts of his cleaning routine if anyone knows of an excellent cleaner.

I’m Turning Into a Question Mark: For this extra special ukulele segment, we have an original song by Jeff Gandell, with Jeff on guitar as an added treat. I loved it!

For more on Jeff’s music and albums, check out his websi