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This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life

This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life

By: Erica J. Schmidt
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Summary

Welcome to This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life! In this podcast, writer Erica J. Schmidt talks to people who may—or may not—have had the chance to transform their lives into spectacular TED talks. Cherished guests include Erica’s beloved grandmother, talented fringe performers, and more fascinating folks from across generations and communities. Discover new takes on creativity, morning routines, art, mental health, eating disorder recovery, perfectionism, and healing, plus a loving advice column segment in almost every episode. Oh, and sometimes there are tiny singsongs!

About the host: Erica J. Schmidt is a writer, translator, storyteller, and recovering gifted child living in Montréal. She is currently querying a novel about that time she fell in love with her eleventh therapist. To learn more, check out Erica’s generously personal essays at ericajschmidt.com/blog

Art Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health
Episodes
  • Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec (with Jahon Mousavi-Torbati)

    Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec (with Jahon Mousavi-Torbati)
    May 7 2026
    Erica and Jahon are two artsy, nerdy, anglophone Montrealers. And today, we’re coming together for our special episode, Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec. Join us for adventures in French stand-up comedy, cringe slam poetry, and becoming a Quebec Grey’s Anatomy superfan. We talk education, French immersion in Perth Ontario, reading in French, dating in French, hobbies in French, and more. Make sure to listen to the end for a riveting listener question from Girl Who Just Wants to French Some Dudes.Please note that this episode is in English, making it a wonderful start for learners of all levels. Wherever you are in your French journey, it’s never too late and it’s always worth it.Jahon Mousavi-Torbatiis a talented concept artist and regular artist who has made a recent pivot to storytelling and stand-up comedy. Jahon has great enthusiasm for urban transit, kobo e-readers, pineapples, and ending doom-scrolling for all time. In general, Jahon is someone who exudes great enthusiasm for just about everything. Also, he is Erica J. Schmidt’s boyfriend!Erica J. Schmidt grew up in Perth Ontario, where she enjoyed half-day immersion from grade five to eight. Then there was a touch of extended French in high school, but odds for mastery were not in her favour. Despite this, she moved to Montreal and proceeded to become a French-to-English translator. These days, she is proud to be able to read full novels in French with the help of her trusty kobo.Jahon Mousavi-Torbati on the InterwebsFollow Jahon on Instagram @jahonartCheck out his Concept Art Drink and Draw: @conceptartdrinkanddrawJahon’s Quebec fantasy illustration projectJahon on LinkedInJahon’s Website: artstation.comErica J. Schmidt on the InterwebsInstagram: @erica.j.schmidtSubstack: @ericajschmidtWebsite: ericajschmidt.comThe Donate ButtonIf you would like to be a beta reader for one of Erica’s two manuscripts, please get in touch! THANK YOU SO MUCH!How to Learn French in Quebec: Art, Books, and ResourcesC’est L’Halloween (Est-ce que tu as peur? Oui, oui, oui, oui, oui!)Watch STAT on icitouttv‍ ‍Book: 99 Francs, a novel by Frédéric BeigbederBook: Spoken Here: Travels among Threatened LanguagesLOVING SHOUT-OUT TO OUR FABULOUS TEACHERSFrom Stewart School, Perth Ontario: Mme. Shelley Fillipoff, Mme. Renée Capello, Mme. Denise Baker, Mme. Danielle Normandin‍From John Abbot College, Saint-Anne-de-Bellevue:Frédéric Laganière‍How to Learn French in Quebec: Timestamps00:00:00 Theme Song00:00:34 Introduction to VIP guest, Jahon and his extra special episode, Unhinged Ways to Learn French in Quebec. Teasers about Jahon’s slam poetry and fun facts on how to pronounce poutine. Disclaimer about how this episode will NOT address language politics00:02:54 Official Bio: Jahon Mousavi-Torbati00:04:20 Jahon’s incredibly biased bio for host Erica J. Schmidt. Slide into Erica’s DMs if you’d like to be a beta reader for one of her manuscripts.00:07:17 Erica and Jahon’s linguistic origins. Jahon was Montréal born and raised by French-Canadian mother and Persian father who both spoke English at home. He went to French immersion school and eventually was accepted to a French program at university.00:11:12 Erica grew up in the metropolis of Perth Ontario. Her French career started with core French songs like C’est l’Halloween before she embarked on four years of half-day immersion from grade 5 to grade 8.00:16:55 Jahon feels he did not read enough books in French. Shout-out to his teacher Frederic who had him read the book 99 Francs and dessicrate it00:18:27 How Jahon’s father ended up in Quebec, and his French story. The moments Jahon realized that his French was not at an adequate level. Jahon reads book Spoken Here and commits to improving his French and he applies to Université de Montréal. 00:23:11 The moments when Erica realized her French was not at an adequate level. 00:24:54 Erica binge watches STAT on icitoutv. (Quebec’s Grey’s Anatomy)00:28:50 The first time Jahon was referred to as le Quebecois, and how that became part of his identity.00:32:19 Deeper into unconventional ways Jahon and Erica learned French, especially improv and stand-up comedy.00:39:19 Erica explains Shadowing, the technique she used while practising to become an interpreter. It involves listening to the language you are practising and then repeating the words while you are still listening to what comes next.00:41:45 One last conventional way to learn French: Read! And ideally get a Kobo which lets you take books out of the library and look up words without checking your phone.00:44:19 Listener Question from A Girl Who Just Wants to French Some Dudes00:58:02 Always read books with your girlfriend. Stay tuned for an exciting surprise on This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life59:22 Thanks and wrap-up. Follow Jahon and Erica on the Interwebs. Go to Jahon’s Concept Art Drink and Draw. Never give up on your French. LOVE YOU, BYE!!!
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    Less than 1 minute
  • In Loving Memory of Mary Adamson Owen

    In Loving Memory of Mary Adamson Owen
    Mar 20 2026

    For our first-ever encore episode, we have Mary Adamson Owen, otherwise known as the best grandma in the world. Grandma was my inaugural podcast guest and reason for starting This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life.

    After a long, strange, and beautiful life, Grandma died on November 14, 2025. She was 99. To honour her memory, I am reposting the extra special interview we did back in March of 2023. We recorded from her tiny room in long-term care, where she had just moved in. Unsurprisingly, she was an all-star guest. It is such a treasure to be able to listen to her voice and her stories now that she is “gone,” whatever that means.

    I have added an only slightly teary intro and some VIP footage at the end. Check out the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PQACTE_CduA

    To learn more about Mary’s life, you can read her obituaryor watch a wonderfully extensive interview series, created by the Crestwood history project, created when Grandma was 98!

    Bravo, Grandma! We miss you so much.

    Thank you everyone for listening.

    Love, Erica

    Instagram: @erica.j.schmidt

    Substack: ericajschmidt.substack.com

    Website: ericajschmidt.com

    The Donate Button. Thank you so much!

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    53 mins
  • As Good a Place as Any with Rebecca Păpucaru

    As Good a Place as Any with Rebecca Păpucaru
    Feb 5 2026
    Today we have a writer’s writer’s talk with the accomplished author and poet Rebecca Păpucaru. Rebecca has published an impressive variety of poetry and fiction, and she is someone who works very hard and long on her creative projects. Legend has it that some of her published poems and her recent novel have taken years (and even a decade or so) to make them what they are today. So,if you’re someone who’s been toiling on a project forever, if you feel like you’re stuck, or even if you haven’t started yet, this interview is bursting with hope, tips, and inspiration.Bio: Rebecca Păpucaru (also known as Rebecca Schwarz)Growing up in Montréal, Rebecca Păpucaru was always the English teacher’s pet. During her youth, she won second prize in an Archie comics’ writing contest. Her essay on how to change the world beat out hundreds of American and Canadian competitors. In 2018, her collection of poems, The Panic Room won the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for Poetry. Her novella Yentas won the Malahat Review’s 2020 Novella Prize. And her recent novel, As Good a Place as Any has met great acclaim, making all kinds of lists including the CBC’s selection for Best Canadian Fiction Book of 2025. As Good a Place as Any tells the story of 16-year-old Paulina, who is forced to flee Chile with her brother after the 1973 coup. They land in Toronto, and no spoilers but Paulina has a much better time than her brother Ernesto does, and we get to read about her unlikely quest for freedom as a queer woman and aspiring actress. It’s a historically relevant, emotionally compelling coming-of-age novel. You’ll love it as much as you’ll love this episode! Thank you, Rebecca for coming on the show. Follow Rebecca on Instagram: @rebeccapapucaruwriterRebecca’s author page on FacebookBook of Poetry: The Panic Room (Nightwood Editions)Novel: As Good a Place as Any (Guernica Editions)Erica on Instagram: @erica.j.schmidtErica on Substack (new!): @ericajschmidtErica's website: ericajschmidt.comFull shownotes: ericajschmidt.com/podcast/as-good-a-place-as-any-rebecca-papucaruIf you enjoyed this podcast, you may also enjoy:Montréal’s Favourite Anita Anand (Author, Translator, Peace Seeker):Apple Podcasts SpotifyTrue Stories to Save Your Life with Nisha Coleman:AppleSpotifyCuriosity with Michelle Syba (Author of End Times):AppleSpotifyRebecca Păpucaru on This Is Your Strange and Beautiful Life (Timestamps)00:00:00 Theme Song, Intro + Rebecca Păpucaru’s bio00:03:50 Rebecca gushes about Erica’s squatty potty set-up in her bathroom. Erica: You want to give birth and take a dump in a squat.Rebecca and Erica talk ergonomic redemption and the importance of internal plumbing as you age.00:08:00 Rebecca was born Rebecca Schwarz but prefers her father’s family name Păpucaru, which he changed when he came to Canada. “If I’m honest, my decision to publish under that name is a certain internalized self-loathing. But on the other hand, I really like the sound of it.”00:12:05 Writer’s Block Trick: If you don’t have money for a writer’s course, just write an essay on your name.00:12:47 Rebecca Păpucaru’s creative origins and how she became a writer (Early journals, lots of reading, and winning the Archie comic writing contest)00:16:55 Theatre school at Dawson college and why Rebecca did not become an actor00:19:52 The call to read. University of TorontoRebecca is captivated by Sylvia Plath and decides she wants to write poems. Ends up studying English at U of T. She writes poem but they rarely submits them anywhere. Then her uncle dies when she is 38, and she vows to take the writing thing seriously. 00:27:31 What is most natural, writing poetry or fiction?00:31:05 The tension between commercial and literary fiction and the pressure to write something high-brow and cerebral. 00:32:03 Elevator pitch for As Good a Place as Any00:36:19 Did Rebecca do research to authentically and respectfully depict the experience of the queer Chilean woman? Rebecca describes her process and self-doubt, and the trip where she met her main character.00:42:37 A sign that you’re really stuck with your writing.00:43:29 Writing through shit in the dark and/or How to get into a flow state and get your characters to talk to you00:48:30 Rebecca Păpucaru’s Morning and Creative Routines00:53:31 Rebecca Păpucaru’s Spectacular TED talk00:54:59 More writing tips! How to write or not write and not hate yourself01:48:00 Rebecca Păpucaru’s Cleaning Routine01:03:40 How to read outside reading bubbles and Instagram lists. Reading tips and recs01:07:59 Wrap-up and where to find Rebecca online and buy her bookTo support this independent podcast, please consider purchasing a Lil and Bud dog greeting card at ericajschmidt.com/merch. You can also make a one-time donation here at The Donate Button.Feel free to get in touch for other sponsorship possibilities. My infinite thanks for all of this.More infinite thanks, as always, to ...
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    1 hr and 11 mins
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