205. BETH RYLANCE

With season two being recorded entirely over the spring and summer of 2020, during the earlier days of the COVID-19 pandemic, before vaccines and far from what we'd come to expect as "normality", we thought we'd recap a little on what that felt like. Featuring excerpts from Skyler Day, Jason Henwood, Isla Ure, Eliot J Fallows, Aaron Neville, Matthew McPherson, Chris Aylmer, Taylor Haydon and Beth Rylance. All episodes are still live and listenable on your platform of choice!

A happy episode with a difference... Belle and Al talk at length about the joy they have both derived over the years from the privilege of being able to visit the Disney theme parks around the world. They discuss what it is about theme parks and the disney themed experience in general that makes people feel so happy and how it's brought them both countless happy memories and strengthened their relationships with family and partners. Belle can be found in many places:Her twitter: @annabellefageHer instagram: @bellefage_Her disney, sisterly instagram: @thefagesisters_ALSO, Belle makes fudge and it's delicious and magical, you can order it here: https://www.facebook.com/bellesfabulousfudge

Part two of this week's double bill!Matthew McPherson returns to the podcast arena from the safety of his home in Margate to discuss his love/fury relationship with yesterday's guest - Chris Aylmer. Al and Mat attempt to navigate the enforced loneliness many people have been faced with during 2020 and how Mat has managed to stay buoyant, productive and happy in himself during this time. Al tries to convince Mat to tell his family that he loves them. Find Mat's company on instagram: @tiny_mediaukFind Mat & Chris's podcast "Forest All Over" wherever you get your podcasts!

It's a double bill! First up...Actor, Filmmaker, deeply lovely man, Chris Aylmer joins us from Canada. Chris talks about his life, navigating chaos and finding a sense of peace now that he is in his 30s. Chris tells us about his love for a sports team that continues to disappoint him year after year, and the podcast he started on that basis with the second guest of this week's double bill - Matthew McPherson. Follow Chris and Mat's Podcast on instagram: @forestalloverTake a look at Chris's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUvSg_UtDwFfHbYw-cjLxg

Taylor joins Al in the podcast arena to discuss the sudden need to examine her own sense of what brings happiness in a rapidly changing social world. Taylor muses on the simplicities of taking care of a garden, walking her dog and being able to let go of obsessive goal-setting and social media based comparison. Find Taylor on instagram: @taylorhhaydonFind Taylor's dog, Stan on instagram too: @stanley_haydonthefirst

Aaron Neville joins Al in the arena to discuss mediation, happiness as an acute AND chronic human condition and finding the time toJust. Slow. Down. He also treats us to a wonderful new song of his right from the off! Find more from Aaron on twitter: @NevilleSounds.On Instagram: @NevilleSoundsand search for NevilleSounds on Spotify, Apple Music or anywhere else you please to listen to his wonderful and soulful tunes.Happy Listening!

Beth takes an hour on one of the hottest days of 2020 to discuss staying happy whilst she attempts not to melt entirely in the heat, and we are forever grateful. Al and Beth talk about the futility of trying to stay productive, creative and career driven during a time of total chaos for the world. Find Beth on Instagram: @thebethrylanceFind Beth on Twitter: @beth_rylance

Being of earth and beautiful soul Jason Henwood joins Al remotely to discuss whether or not either of them really exist, but not as a cause for crisis, as a discovery of freedom. Jason tells us what he gained from spending 8 days in silence and how he has tried to take these lessons on in his every day life, but recognising it's often easier said than done. Jason is a focus-puller in film and television, a keen cyclist and a deep thinker. He's not hugely bothered by it, but you can find him on instagram now and then: @jasonhenwoodac

Isla joins Al in the arena, via her living room to chat all things happiness in 2020. Isla tells us how the pandemic forced her to cancel a special event and changed her year immensely, but how she has leaned into positivity and the recognition of all she has in her life that brings her security and joy. Find Isla on instagram: @isla_ure_stories

Eliot and Al discuss in detail the difficulty they can never fully appreciate - being an extrovert in a year when you're not allowed to hang around with other people. Eliot stuns and delights Al as he explains how, despite the world being such a rollercoaster of emotions in 2020, he has found himself to be the happiest he has ever been, and is looking to use this happiness to be good to others, now that he has finally learnt to be good to himself. An amazing lesson!You can find Eliot doing amazing things all over the internet, hosting and producing podcasts, starring in and directing short films and saying profound things on social media.Twitter: @EliotJFallowsInstagram: @eliotjfallowsHappy Listening!