Episode Details

In this back-to-life episode, Montréal’s favourite self-deprecating Russian interviews Erica. Riveting questions include:

Erica, why did you decide to start a podcast?

How’d you come up with the name, This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life?

Tell us all about your creative angst and writer’s block!

Have you ever been diagnosed with autism? (Vad told me to cut that part out but I decided to keep it in.)

Erica and Vad go deep into creative routines, the quest for authenticity, Erica’s youthful longings to go on Oprah, the drama of the gifted and difficult child, and how to reconcile this with the fixings of adult life. It all comes together with a tome of a listener question from My Vision Board Jumped Off a Bridge in 2011. Vad and Erica can’t fix it—but we have thoughts.

And for even more thoughts, this listener question comes with all-new FREE AND EXCITING BONUS CONTENT. Please hit up Erica’s longform blogpost answer to MVBJOABI-2011.

FREE AND EXCITING BONUS CONTENT RIGHT HERE

Follow Erica on Instagram @erica.j.schmidt or check out her website at ericajschmidt.com

Full show notes at ericajschmidt.com/podcast/your-life-does-not-have-to-be-a-spectacular-ted-talk

About Vad

Vadim Gran is famous for his elaborate beard, and Eeyore sense of humour which he infuses into his storytelling and barbecue banter. In 2019, he made his fringe festival debut, performing the wildly popular show Happy-ish, A Russian Immigrant’s Guide to Smiling. It was by all accounts a smash hit. These days Vad is ultra busy first-class adulting and flipping burgers at the epic summer barbecues he hosts with his partner Andrea and previously his darling dog Jake, may he rest in peace. Vad recently upgraded his skills in computer programming, and he’s hoping to also maybe upgrade his skills in podcasting. This interview was a great start. Thank you so much, Vad!

About Erica

Erica J. Schmidt is available on all your favourite podcast