The View From A Broad

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What if the thing you call “helping” is actually you grabbing the reins? A lot of control starts as love. 

My guest, award winning film maker and founder of To Be Or Not To Act, Jo Kelly, chose a newspaper column I wrote about 30 years ago about a humbling lesson I learned about offering unsolicited advice when it came to my son's school project and how to apply face paint for my daughter's school play.

We talk about creativity, how the need to control can kill it, and how best to approach collaborative relationships at home, at work and when co-creating with fellow artists.

Jo believes the key is to get back to our natural state by letting go of the performative behaviors we have developed as a result of the rules imposed on us growing up, specifically in school.

Imagine if you'd shown up to class as a child and there was no classroom, no desk and no "teach"er? 

Jo Kelly made the bold choice of finding alternative educational opportunities for her children and has never regretted that decision. She runs online group sessions for adults to help them let go and get back into their bodies and feelings in order to unblock their creativity.

It's an eye-opening conversation. Join us and, please share your thoughts, comments. I love hearing from you!

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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Telling people anecdotal stories about what's happened to us was, at one point in time, the only way we existed beyond the span of a lifetime.

In a world where individual experiences often feel lost in the noise, storytelling allows us to celebrate both the good fortune and the challenges we face and these narratives not only help us process our lives but also foster a deeper understanding of one another.

My guest Patrick Sharbaugh is a designer, business strategist, digital minimalist and improviser. Patrick, who began life in Charleston South Carolina and now lives in Portugal via Asia, Australia and Alaska, brings a unique perspective to our conversation about true storytelling as he believes it's everyone’s right to know whether what they're seeing online is real or has been made with AI, and is currently working in the tech space on solutions to the crisis of trust afflicting societies everywhere.  

Patrick and I reminisce about growing up with the freedom to play outside until the sun set without the confines of adult supervision  and how this nostalgia contrasts sharply with today’s concerns about safety and the impact of technology on kids' play today.

We talk about the importance of play, not just for children but for us as adults. As Patrick points out:  "Play is not sitting down and looking at a screen... It's very hard to play that way." 

Our conversation invites you to reflect on your own stories of family, of overcoming obstacles and the playful moments you've shared with other people in your lifetime. If you want to dive deeper into these themes, please join us and listen to the full episode.

And if you're enjoying the podcast, please leave a comment, review or subscribe, on whatever platform you join us on.  

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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The Golden Rule, Silver Rule, Bronze Rule, Iron Rule. Do unto others... don't do unto others... do unto them before they undo you!  Who knew there were so many to choose from?  

My guest, Emmy award winning journalist and documentary producer, Ann Medina, was working on her doctorate in philosophy when she made the leap into journalism becoming a producer for NBC, a correspondent for ABC news in New York before moving to Canada and CBC where she's been named one of Canada's 100 most powerful women.

Ann joins me to unpack a column written 30 years about an article written by Carl Sagan about the various "rule" options and what seemed the most ethical choice at the time, and shares her own philosophy for treating others fairly professionally and personally.

Join us to hear how she connected with a pair of kalashnikov toting militia men, the editorial call on a documentary she'd produced that had her handing in her resignation, why Toronto in the 70's and 80's needed to get "goosed" and what she saw in 1983 as CBC's Bureau Chief in Beirut that prompted her to choose the charity she sees as true heroes.

It's a fascinating conversation with the woman who has been dubbed the first female broadcast journalist in Canada to become an icon by the Canadian Film and Television Hall of Fame.

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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Revisiting a 1999 column I wrote about the “real men” of the 1960's, I embark on a discussion of masculinity, banter, consent, and the cultural roots of the manosphere, with chef, writer, and yogi Tom Norrington Davies,  

We discuss whether masculinity has been “pathologized” in some modern discourse, and why boys need space grow into men without being told there is something wrong with being a masculine male.

This is in counterpoint to observations they share on Louis Theroux's Netflix documentary "Inside the Manosphere" and the negative impact this is having on young men.

What's preventing the healthy balance between masculinity and respect for women and their achievements?

Tom describes the influence of women in his life and work, especially the strong women in his family and chef Carla Tomasi, whose rigorous, seasonal, low intervention approach shaped both his cooking and his sense of professional identity.

My 1990's column makes reference to Milton Berle and her criticism of his "dressing up in frocks" and the question of how my comments might be cancelable today. Tom shares a clip he found of Berle and RuPaul at an MTV Awards ceremony that laid any qualms I had of offending the drag world to rest.

It's a loaded conversation and it get's unpacked thoughtfully, compassionately and  with warmth and humor.

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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What a hilarious romp this episode is through the division of "labor" -  from the rampage of pregnancy hormone sweeps to the actual labor in the delivery room of a hospital (one in Hong Kong in 1987 and the other in Myanmar in 2021) along with 24-hour new parent exhaustion, cracked nipples and some tips for new fathers on what NOT to ask a nursing mother.

Join me and my guest, speechwriter, communications consultant, content strategist and mother of two, Grace Edwards, who shares a YMT's (young mother today) perspective on a 3 decade old column I wrote about the invisible scoreboard that goes up over the bassinet and how new fathers can gain and lose points.

What's changed in 30 years? Join us to find out, for lots of laughs, important work being done by Grace's charity of choice, and an hysterical and hair raising story of her first delivery in a hospital in Myanmar.

And please, if you are enjoying the podcast, please jot a few words in a review, and follow/subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon and YouTube.  I really appreciate your support.

Grace's charity: https://doctorsfornepal.org/

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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We begin with a column I wrote in 1994 after I'd seen Robert De Niro in the movie "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein".  We are frightened and fascinated with ugly.

My guest on the podcast, Eliana Bogdanova, explores with me what, if anything, has changed in the way we look at unattractive people, whether there's a downside to being "too beautiful", and she shares her own struggles with self-acceptance against a beauty standard she felt she could never attain.

Eliana worked for over a decade as CFO for an international software company, was named Forbes CFO of the Year and, having moved to Lisbon,  founded HerMoneyGame https://www.hermoneygame.com/  to help women entrepreneurs take back control of their money.

Eliana shares how insecurity about her looks fired her meteoric career in finance and shares the steps she took to love her body.

Join the conversation by leaving a comment, following, subscribing and sharing with friends.  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

You can learn more about Eliana on:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/cfo-power-up/?viewAsMember=true

And find us both on Instagram:  Teresa  teresanortononair  and Eliana her.moneygame

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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NOTE: In this episode we discuss mental health, depression and suicide, so please take a moment to consider whether or not this is safe subject matter for you.

"A Speccy Man Has a Breakdown" is the name of the book that my guest, John-Paul Flintoff has recently published - it captures, through illustrations his experience as a patient in a psychiatric hospital, having checked himself in with severe depression.

Each of my guests chooses a newspaper column I wrote from 1993 - 2000 so we can unpack what still feels relevant and what has changed in our world and ourselves. 

John-Paul chose a humorous piece that made a comparison of the cheerful chaps who posted my overseas Christmas parcels with their "disgruntled" counterparts in the US Postal service who had gained notoriety for turning up at work and "going postal".  That term, by the '90's, had become commonplace slang to describe someone who had simply lost their temper with no violence involved. It had become a joke.  In fact, there's a reference, in the 1990's comedy series "Seinfeld" to Jerry Seinfeld's neighbor Newman who is disgruntled and a postal worker, taking over Son of Sam's postal route. 

John-Paul and I talk about whether mental health should be off limits in comedy today.  I ask if there were signs that family members and friends should be aware of that may indicate serious depression is affecting a loved one. John-Paul shares about the confluence of events that he feels brought him to seek help.

John-Paul is an artist and a writer and worked as a feature writer on the Financial Times and the Sunday Times of London, his book is available through his website: https://www.flintoff.org

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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Has balancing work and family gotten tougher from one generation to the next? 

My parents had clearly defined roles: Dad earned the money, Mom managed the home and kids, my brother and I were responsible for schoolwork: he was better at that than I was.  

To a great extent, that same division of labor was mirrored in my marriage.  

My husband worked and travelled , I worked and (while hands-off with the household chores, thanks to living in Hong Kong where domestic help was  affordable and available) I did most of the "kid stuff", and, like many of my fellow working mothers, found the balancing act was taking its toll on our minds!

My guest in this episode is Will Fan, CEO of NewCampus, an online business school focused on emerging markets, husband to business partner Faye and new father to their son - the latter job is the focus of our conversation as Will shares how he and his wife have redefined the roles of mother and father.

"She's the CEO and I'm head of Operations when it comes to our son".  Faye's all about long and short term planning and strategy. Will is in charge of implementation.  This means he suits up and shows up... to the playdates!

Will shares lessons learned from his own hardworking immigrant parents, how he's found support and friendship through a tribe of other dads, some ways that technology is helping him, his wife and their domestic helper (Will now lives in Singapore) to stay on top of their son's changing needs, and his top two tips for today's young fathers.

Join us for this game changing conversation, and please follow, subscribe and drop a comment if you're enjoying the podcast!

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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Teresa is joined by Professional Bodybuilder, World Champion Powerlifter, former international rugby player, and entrepreneur who stars as Voltage in  Amazon Prime’s American Gladiators, Daniella Means.

Dani is the perfect person to help unpack Teresa's 1990's newspaper column that sends up  20-minute infomercial for an exercise machine, presented by a hard selling, pencil thighed, firm bottomed blonde bombshell and a retired football player, that she  juxtaposes against the beautiful and bodacious butt kicking star of cult classic sword and sorcery tv series, Xena Warrior Princess.

Daniella and Teresa talk about the ongoing search for the "ideal" body, the male gaze, the female gaze, the world of competitive body building, post feminism, a savage attack by a stranger and the incredible impact of an inspirational mom.

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth 

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Do men and women still dance with each other? I don't mean on celebrity dance-offs or bouncing up and down as a group at a concert.  I mean in each other's arms, cheek to cheek... or at the very least facing one another.

In the 1990's I wrote a column bemoaning the fact that my then-husband had dismissed the idea of joining me to learn to tango, samba, waltz and cha-cha.

Would I ever find that man who would clasp my hand in his, place his other hand in the small of my back and glide me round a dance floor? I did - in what would then have been described as a "gay" bar - and his name was Job, but it might just as well have been Fred (Astaire) or Gene (Kelly) or Ginger (Rogers).

Join me and my guest, former litigator, prosecutor and now retired judge, Dana Spade for a conversation that explores the etiquette of straight women in queer bars, the advent of tick tock and the effect of technology on socialization. 

Dana who met her husband on an Aikido mat, shares about that martial art as a dance of self-defense, and we talk about the importance of creating environments today where young people can go a bit wild and still feel safe.

#teresanorton  #theviewfromabroadpodcast #hongkong #portugal #humor #journal #truestories #changingworld #selfreflection #socialnorms #growth