Inside The Flow - From Acting to Podcasting
Being flexible, embracing change, and flowing through life’s unexpected moments
Hello,
For our returning readers, thank you for joining us for another edition of this newsletter. We’re glad to have you back and hope you find something here that resonates. For new readers, welcome! My name is Cyan, and every so often I sit down with Graham to chat about his personal life, recent thoughts, and whatever else he feels inspired to share. I then shape those conversations into a newsletter, blending words, videos, and photos to bring it all to life.
This format is a joy for both Graham and me. When we sat down for this interview, I had a guiding topic in mind and a sense of where the conversation might go. But as Graham began to share his opening thoughts, the conversation naturally evolved into a new direction. I decided to follow it and I’m glad I did. What unfolded was a beautiful, engaging exchange. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Life Lately
When Graham and I sat down to chat, he had recently returned to Canada from Australia. After spending time with his family in British Columbia, he made his way back to Alberta, where he’s been enjoying reconnecting with friends.
“I have been happy to just see old faces, friendly faces and connecting in with people here.”
Alongside catching up with friends, Graham has been podcasting and soaking up the outdoors of Alberta.
“The most recent podcast I shot was with Julien Lepage and we went out into the woods at Cat Creek and set up right by the river, over the creek. Julien was playing his double barrel flute and I had this box thing (Shruti Box) that had this like drone sound. And then Tyrone had a drum and we just played music to start the podcast. It was so fun, I loved it.”
Surrendering to the Uncontrollable
I asked Graham whether he prefers filming podcasts in a studio or outdoors. He explained that the studio offers a controlled environment—he can set up his lighting and gear exactly how he likes, and there are fewer outside factors that could disrupt the process. This allows him to focus fully on the conversation, without worrying about external distractions.
Still, filming outside combines two of his passions: filmmaking and the outdoors.
“I can't always film outdoors but when I can, I just can't get enough of it.”
Of course, the outdoors comes with its own set of variables, bugs, passing people, changing weather, that require a heightened level of focus and, as Graham puts it, a willingness to surrender. In the video below, he shares more about this idea of surrender, both when filming and in life.
Learning to Flex and Flow
Transitioning from the topic of surrendering while filming outdoors, Graham spoke about the importance of flexibility, a skill he believes is essential in both work and life.
“I think this is relevant in so many areas of life where we have systems or levels of comfort and we try to eliminate all the unpredictability in life. I understand that there is some value in that you want to know that your house is going to be there when you come home from work and it's the same place. If you were trying to find a new place to sleep every night, it would be tedious. It would be very difficult. So to some degree, it's important that we have consistency. But it becomes a problem when that desire for the mind to control everything and have everything consistent and known and in a box goes too far. Then when something goes wrong, we don't know what to do because we're not used to learning how to flex and flow.”
Can you share an example of a moment when being flexible has led to a positive outcome in your personal life?
Graham draws on his experiences as a podcast host, an actor on CBC’s Heartland, and simply as a human navigating life. As an actor, he recalls times when he would arrive on set ready to film a specific scene, only to find that the way it was written wasn’t working for one reason or another. Learning to let go of the original plan and completely switch gears was a skill he had to develop over time.
“If you don't have a plan, then plan to fail. And then when you have a plan, be ready to throw it out as soon as change comes.”
In the video below, Graham uses the analogy of a plant growing, you can support it as much as you like, but ultimately, it will grow in its own way. He also reflects on how artificial intelligence may influence our ability to remain flexible throughout the creative process.
Learning to Listen
In discussing flexibility, Graham emphasized the importance of being in tune with yourself. He explained that the answers often come from being honest and present with yourself, and truly listening.
He shared a story about wanting to buy a fitness tracker, even though he’s owned several in the past and rarely used them. He became convinced he needed one and set off to find it. After visiting three stores where they were sold out, he finally found one—but in bright orange, a colour he said he would never wear.
In that moment, Graham realized it was a message: he didn’t actually need the fitness tracker. He chose to stop trying so hard and accept the message.
While this idea makes sense in theory, it’s often easier said than done. So I asked Graham for advice on how to become more attuned to those little nudges. In the video below, he explains how to open yourself up to let those messages come through.
Thanks for reading another edition of the newsletter! If it’s your first time here, I hope you will join us for future editions. It’s always a pleasure to share Graham’s stories, reflections, and thoughts with this community. We’d love to hear from you too, are there any topics or questions you’d like us to dive into in future editions? Let us know below!
Latest Podcast with Julien Lepage
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A Closing Message from Graham
As always, paid subscribers can watch the full interview between Graham and I below.
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