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Hey there! Thanks for tuning in to the Right Turns Project! It's an interview portrait project in which I speak with people who have made a huge change in their life path, often changing their careers but most certainly their directions. It's a Right Turn for them because what they have done, and what many of us want to achieve, is becoming truly authentic. Authenticity is a deep thing that happens when someone dives into themselves and commits to introspection and insight and then, when they arrive at a certain clarity of vision and real honesty, their path lights up for them to follow.
You might think that once someone knows their true path in life that things just kind of fall into place and then life is hunky dory from then on. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many of the people that I interview admit that this is when things get really hard. But they wouldn't have it any other way.
After each interview, I photograph the person, hopefully genuinely capturing a part of their essence.
My wish, and the wish of these people, is that you may gain some insight into your own journey by listening to these interviews. Hearing the life stories of these men and women who have overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges, only then to recognize that the real journey and work had just joyfully begun, truly inspires me on my own path and helps fuel the courage it takes to change.
I would love to hear any feedback, comments or questions that you may have after listening to their interviews and viewing their portraits. Please feel welcome to do so through the contact form on my website. www.ewenlewis.com/contact
Musical intros and background music courtesy of Ehren Lewis.
Ewen Lewis Podcast | Episode 5 | Right Turns Project | Arthur Renwick
Ewen Lewis January 23, 2018
"Sometimes you do have to blindly take a chance. And light that match and burn that fuckin' bridge. And just keep walking and trust your intuition."
Hey, welcome back. I'm really excited to share this interview with you. I learned so much in researching and preparing for it and even more during the conversation. In episode 5 of the Ewen Lewis Podcast Right Turns Project I had the unique opportunity to sit down and speak with Arthur Renwick, the celebrated and renowned indigenous visual artist and musician hailing from the west coast of Canada but residing in Toronto, Ontario. Arthur's story is one more of reinvention than transformation, which can be just as daunting.
The love child of a Scottish father and Haisla mother, he spent much of his youth refining his identity while spending time in Kitimaat Village, home to the Haisla First Nations people, and in Kitimat town, built and supported mainly by Alcan, the aluminum smelting company. With a bright talent for drawing and visual art, he ventured out of that remote area of British Columbia to attend school firstly in the big city of Vancouver and then in Montréal. It was here that his participation in the Oka Crisis, the 1990 standoff between Mohawk protesters and the Canadian police and army, forged a pointed direction with his photography to work towards giving a voice back to indigenous peoples.
In this interview we go into detailed stories behind some of his most well known visual art and explore the reinventions of himself in artistic expression and in his career. When I first knew we were going to meet at the Inter Steer Restaurant in the bustling community of Roncesvalles Village in Toronto, I was a little concerned that it might get too noisy. However, it was really amazing to see how many people waved at Arthur from outside as we sat talking at the booth near the front window of the cozy, wood lined establishment. You'll even hear how one gentleman came in just to say hello to him. It was a real testament to Arthur's warm, open personality and big heart.
So grab a cup of tea or coffee, settle in and enjoy this insightful conversation with Arthur Renwick. See you on the other side!
Links & Notes
Find Arthur Renwick on:
Selected pieces from the Mask series.
Selected pieces from Delegates: Chiefs of the Earth & Sky
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel by Haruki Murakami
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami
In interview, podcast, portrait Tags interview, portrait, artist, musician, Haisla, First Nations, indigenous, art, music, arthur renwick, renwick
Ewen Lewis Podcast | Episode 4 | Right Turns Project | Cecile Gough
Ewen Lewis November 13, 2017
How do you fight an invisible enemy…for literally years? How do you do it when all the experts & doctors tell you it's all in your head but you know it isn't because the symptoms are crippling you and taking away your life piece by piece? This is the story of a woman whose indomitable spirit to overcome any challenge in life was perhaps the only thing that saved her from giving up total hope. She clung to her faith, her family and friends but ultimately had to rely on her own resilience and persistence to fight to get her health and life back.
"Honey, out of anything bad a little good will come." ~ Grandma Carrie
Meet Cecile Gough, a warrior spirit with a heart of gold. Join us as we explore her upbringing in rural Newfoundland, Canada. Find out how she lived with mysterious symptoms that plagued her and remained undiagnosed as anything but figments of her imagination until she was finally found to have Lyme Disease in 2014. Listen as she describes her difficult journey, her arduous healing process and how it drove her to become an advocate, educator and support for other sufferers of Lyme Disease. Her story is one of hardship and hope but really one of a caring soul whose own pathway through pain led her to contribute so much to others.
If you enjoy this podcast, please subscribe, like and share. Also, leaving a review and rating on iTunes will be a great boon to getting this project out to those who would benefit from hearing these stories of Right Turns into authenticity. Thanks so much for your help!
Sign Cecile's Petition to Improve Health Care in Canada in Regard to Treating Lyme Disease
Like & Share Cecile's Facebook Page
Sponaugle Wellness Institute
Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation
In interview, podcast, portrait Tags lyme, disease, interview, podcast, portrait, newfoundland, sponagle, institute, wellness, health, canada, authentic, brave, courage
Ewen Lewis Podcast | Episode 3 | Right Turns Project | Aaron Amadio
Ewen Lewis November 2, 2017
Aaron grew up in a small industrial steel town in a close knit Roman Catholic family with five siblings in a place where everyone knows everyone. A gregarious jock in high school, he played football and got into all kinds of mischief. When he finally decided to go away for university, everything seemed to be going as they should, studying history at Wilfrid Laurier University and playing football for the Golden Hawks, until one day he had his mind blown by one of his professors. The rock of belief that he had been brought up on had been shaken and now he was on a path searching for his own truth.
"Once you've awoken to something and seen it to be true and realize that's who you are, you can't force that consciousness on someone else. You can just live it and hope they see you doing it."
A rebel at heart, Aaron struck out on his own and discovered a world needing compassion, especially animals. Join us in a wonderfully winding conversation as he shares the epiphany that started his journey and the resulting impact it had on him and his family. In many ways, Aaron's self exploration reminds me of one of my favourite books, Siddhartha. It was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to interview him and I hope you will glean as many gems of wisdom from him as I did. Enjoy!
White Lotus Animal Services | (705) 946-9100 | aaronamadio@gmail.com
In interview, podcast, portrait Tags compassion, vegan, vegetarian, podcast, transformation, journey, football, interview, book, animals
Ewen Lewis Podcast | Episode 2 | Right Turns Project | Matthew Forbes
Ewen Lewis October 14, 2017
How does someone with extreme social anxiety learn to become a person who faces his fears head on and embraces others openly into his tribe? Find out in my conversation with Matthew. Despite crippling anxiety that developed into agoraphobia in his last year of high school, forcing him to drop out, Matthew went on in life to work as a Toronto cab driver, a TV show host, a mail carrier, a barista, and many other extraverted occupations both in Canada and abroad. He is a loving husband and father and a friend to many fortunate individuals.
Listen in as we explore how he developed and then learned to cope with anxiety and a fear factor that has followed him his entire life. In my time with him, he shared many stories that were both intriguing and, at times, extremely humourous. His eventual decision to open Matthew's Barbershop took all his courage and most of his savings, but the concept is about so much more than just cutting hair. It's about connecting community and helping others transform.
"If you don't try something, risk something, you don't get anything."
Matthew's Barbershop in downtown Guelph, Ontario.
Books: This is the book to which Matthew attributes a large part of his anxiety coping skills. Click on the link to explore further.
Feel the Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers
In podcast, interview, portrait Tags barber, barbershop, guelph, ontario, canada, agoraphobia, anxiety, coping, matthew, tribe, community
Ewen Lewis Podcast | Episode 1 | Right Turns Project | Allison Tait
Ewen Lewis October 6, 2017
Allison Tait
Allison has always been a talented artist and a lover of nature, especially birds, ever since she was a little girl. However, to serve the very practical reality of earning a living, she chose to put one love aside and throw herself fully into becoming a veterinarian and building a very successful practice. That is until a very impactful tragedy occurred and sent her on a journey of healing and self exploration.
Join us in our dialogue where we explore her path and delve deeply into her personal awakening. Find out how she went from being an accomplished veterinarian and business woman to rediscovering and following her artistic vein to become a talented tattoo artist.
Allison's Art & Tattoo Site: Toltec Tattoo
Books: These are books that were a big part of Allison's shift and she lists them as pivotal in her journey. Click on the names to investigate further.
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O by Shel Silverstein
The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer
Spell of the Sensuous by David Abram
Ten Bulls of Zen by OSHO
Dream Yourself Awake by B. Alan Wallace
The Four Agreements by Juan Miguel
In interview, podcast, portrait Tags interview, portrait, podcast, tattoo, artist, awakening, veterinarian, business, career, guelph, ontario
Give me a call or drop a line and we'll arrange a time to chat about how you'd like to be photographed.
(519) 993-2731 | ewenlewis@gmail.com
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