Grade A Nation

Chris Thomas chats with actress and model Ellie Noir about a collection of topics pertaining to the entertainment industry, including:

• preparing for roles in film and television compared to the live stage
• moving to pursue career goals
• how travel allows a performer to experience new cultures
• getting into the mindset of characters
• the most and least enjoyable aspects of being an entertainer

Ellie already has a cool body of work and she is bound to have a bright future as she climbs atop the showbiz ladder. Keep track of what Ellie is up to by visiting http://www.ellienoir.co!

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Riley Jarvis of TheSleepConsultant.com chats about what initiated his interest in helping others with their sleep, the general ingredients of sleep that enhance personal performance, the potential significance of dreaming, and warning signs of harmful sleeping habits. A good sleep is linked to positive health outcomes, so this conversation should be appointment listenting for many....and it is so engaging that I'm confident you are not going to doze off listening to it!

Vi Vi Thai is a writer and YouTube content creator. While some may be shocked to learn that a person who earned engineering degrees from Texas A&M and Cornell University currently lives in a van, Vi Vi talks about how the van lifestyle has helped her to focus her mind on living a life of adventure unencumbered by any materialistic mindset. Vi Vi discusses how some perceive her as homeless, and how she responds to that. Vi Vi is a genuinely sweet person, and her story deserves a listen! Check Vi Vi's writing at livingthroughalchemy.com and watch her videos about the van life on her YouTube channel.

Lance Ingram, host of the podcast Yesterday's Concert, joins the Grade A Nation to explain why he has attended so many live concerts from so many different genres of music in recent years. Is this behavior a passion or a compulsion? We discuss that, as well as the financial considerations tied to frequent concert-going, the reaction he has received from loved ones, memories of shows that stand out, and how to protect your hearing when going to so many noisy live events! To learn more about Lance and his podcast, go to http://yesterdaysconcert.com

Lacey Lehotsky, who runs travel blogging website liveitupwithlacey.com, reveals how she has not let anxiety and CPTSD stop her from exploring destinations around the world. Lacey wants people to know that anxiety is not something that should prevent people from trying new experiences in new places. A candid conversation that will hopefully get people thinking!  Note: This installment contains discussion of traumatic life events that some may find triggering. Please keep this in mind when deciding to listen. Chris Thomas, host of Grade A Nation, will be using the Wisdom app (at this time available on Apple iOS but soon to be available on Android), a new way to have in-depth and meaningful live conversations. The first live meeting on Wisdom will be January 15th, 2022 at 2 pm EST. If you want to interact with Chris Thomas live, download the app and look for Chris at https://joinwisdom.audio/gradeausa

Michael Unbroken talks to the Grade A Nation about his personal experiences with severe trauma at an early age and how these experiences led to self-destructive behaviors growing up. Michael decided to break the cycle of pain and studied to become a certified life coach to assist adults who also experienced trauma at a young age. Through helping others, he has learned quite a bit about self-improvement and mental health, and he shares his insights in this captivating discussion. Note: Some of the topics mentioned involve traumatic experiences that some may find triggering. To learn more about Michael and his work, check out https://www.thinkunbroken.com/

On this installment of Grade A Nation, Sophia Vee shares her experiences finding an audience on Twitch doing sidecasting (watchalong reactions to live material) and interviewing unique people like a spirit medium. Sophia gives tips on how to avoid toxic trolls while attempting to grow a fanbase as a live streamer and social media personality. She has a big appreciation for professional wrestling, so we discuss the general state of affairs with WWE and AEW. Sophia is a rising star on Twitch and you should check out her content at https://www.twitch.tv/Sophia. Prior installments of her live interviews are at https://www.youtube.com/vocalminds

Actor Christian Birkenberger talks about his experience on Season 23 of the CBS show Big Brother, as well as his determination to achieve major mainstream acting goals. Christian emphasizes the importance of taking a 'no days off' approach in the pursuit of success. As someone who has done extensive modeling work, he reflects on how having a thick skin helps avoid being pigeonholed as someone that only brings looks to the table. Having cultivated a fanbase from reality television, Christian talks about how he hopes his supporters follow him on his journey to being a leading man...as well as how one fan has already followed him for a 3 am photograph! Chock full of energy and desire, Christian is someone you should definitely be rooting for. Follow up on what Christian is up to on Twitter at https://twitter.com/CBirkenberger and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/christian_birkenberger.

Kanika Issar talks about her efforts to take the negativity out of divorce. Getting married at 23 and divorced at 27, she was struck by how divorce is always characterized as a bad thing. Kanika wants to make clear that life after divorce can be personally enriching, as she feels the last two years have been some of the best in her life despite the pandemic. Kanika has the gift of gab which makes for a Grade A interview!  Check out Kanika's podcast episodes on divorce called, "you WHAT??" https://www.youwhatpodcast.com/

Chris Thomas has an honest and open discussion about mental health with Paul Marlow, founder of the mental health advocacy platform Never Alone. In the discussion, Paul reveals how a challenging breakup and the death of his father led to serious mental health challenges that ultimately led him down a path toward self-improvement and a desire to help others facing mental health challenges. Paul reflects on his prior pursuits as an athlete and a model with candor and relates how these experiences have helped him confront the fear of failure. As someone who has had MDMA therapy, Paul gives his personal point of view on the potential future of this form of treatment. Don't miss this fantastic interview!  Guest Bio: Paul Marlow is a mental health advocate and the founder of Never Alone. Learn more about how to start your therapy journey today to better your mental health with the Therapy Hub.