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The People's Program Project - PODCAST #24

SKIP TO THE NEW EPISODE (#24), HERE! Hello Vancouver is Awesome readers! My name is Elianna Lev. Sometimes I ask people what they do but immediately regret asking because that’s a silly question. A lot of people do a lot of things.

My name is Elianna Lev.

Sometimes I ask people what they do but immediately regret asking because that’s a silly question. A lot of people do a lot of things. And I’m one of those people.

One of the things I do, semi-regularly, is produce a podcast called the People’s Program Project. I started it in February 2009, when I was going through the darkest period of my life. I originally come from a print background but have done work in broadcasting and absolutely love it. My mentor Steve Pratt, the director of CBC Radio 3, encouraged me to put myself out there while I was slogging through this period of deep depression and uncertainty. I took his advice to heart.

I needed a creative outlet that was all my own. And so the People’s Program Project was born.

Hello Vancouver is Awesome readers!

But it wasn’t all my own, really. I would bring my Edirol (a digital recording device) with me everywhere and collect stories from my talented, funny and inspiring friends. Then I’d piece them together. For the first eight episodes, the astoundingly talented musician and filmmaker Aaron Beckum of the Amazing Alphabet People’s Coalition, was my musical director. I was so lucky. He did incredible work. Then he got too busy and was offered a job in LA and has been blowing up the scene there ever since. He just finished working on a film with Miranda July. No big deal.

So you see, that’s why I named it the PEOPLE’S Program Project, as oppose to Elianna’s Program Project. I wanted it to be a project for the people. Which is why I’m here at Vancouver Is Awesome.

I met Bob at an event that I co-organize called Rain City Chronicles. I guess he liked some of my other work and asked me to be part of his empire. I didn’t really have to think long and hard about it. In the business world, this is what is often called synergy.

So the plan is to put out my podcast through this website. It will also be available at my website, eliannalev.com But my website isn’t nearly as cool as this website so, really it works in my favour. And hopefully yours too.

On this (sort of) inaugural episode we have two stories. One is with Bob Kronbauer. You know him. But now you can know a little more.

The second is an interview I did with my dad, Avi Lev. Avi is considered to be one of the best news editors in the country (based on what many of his colleagues have said. Oh, and two Gemini awards.) I come from a hard news background but decided to distance myself from it in the last few years to pursue (mostly) first person storytelling. At the time I was writing for Vice, which Avi really didn’t get. So it’s just a chat about how he feels about my new path. One thing I should mention is that Avi is originally an artist. His path lead him to news but he is an artist in the truest sense of the word. And as a result, I am an artist because of him.

Also, if I sound really nervous in the interview, it’s because I am. I have tremendous respect for my dad and what he does.

So now I have some homework for you. Have a listen to the podcast. Think about what it is your dad taught you. Did he teach you how to be an artist? A thinker? A total jerk? Get in touch: write@eliannalev.com Or if you have any other stories about your dad, or anything else, please share them with me. I’d love to hear them.

Also, all the episodes of my podcast are available HERE, so feel free to have a listen.

That’s it for now Vancouver Is Awesome readers! I’m so happy and grateful to be here. I’m looking forward to hearing from you. I mean that sincerely.

And if you don’t know, now you know…

Elianna.