Tori Chickering O'Connell was born in New Jersey to parents that cultivated a loving, safe, and creative home environment where comedy, music, and dance were a central part of the daily furniture of growing up. There is no question that this nurturing environment set her on a path to a creative career of being a journalist, producer, documentary filmmaker, comedy writer and published author of two books Nookie Town and Twisted Family Values. In this vibrant two-parter, we cover Tori's upbringing and the influence of her parents, infusing the importance of having fun and not giving a damn. Tori's discusses the importance of gratitude, having a 'why not me' attitude, and how in her early career, this attitude landed her a job at MTV, as she applied her creativity and embraced life's uncertainty and ambiguity with gusto. Tori reflects on using this attitude in the time of Covid19, and we discuss how new models are emerging in comedy, music and the arts during the lockdown.We cover her extraordinary experience of making a documentary of some of today's most lauded comedians 20 years ago before they were famous.And we dive deep into how the serendipitous personal experience of becoming a divorcee in Jersey led to the idea for her first novel, NookieTown, and covers her second book, Twisted Family Values. I hope you enjoy the fun and freedom of not giving a damn with Tori O'Connell. What We DiscussTori's parental impact Glitter balls and dancing on SaturdaysThe experience of her youthArt TherapyThe importance of funThe impact of her grandparentsLiving in a household of love Freedom and life force of not give a damn Being outspoken and out there and the bullying that resulted The importance of Halloween costumes The connection of dis-ease to disease Her 'lets do it' attitude An early love of song and dance Having a sellout show at the Edinburgh festival with New York, Sex, Killing and ShoppingHaving start over attitude You Can Do it attitudeGreat Day in Harlem The evolution of NookieTownThe idea behind Twisted Family ValuesHer upcoming novelFun, accountability and social riskSocial Links VC Chickering - author's site (with loads of fun links to buy books and procrastinate)@vcchickering - author's InstagramTori Erstwhile & The Montys - author's band's YouTube channelLinks in the Show Nookie TownTwisted Family Values Tori Erstwhile and the MontysSt Martin's Press Rocky Horror Picture ShowMike Birbiglia Tip Your Wait staffMahler Chamber Orchestra  International Opera Choir Nabucco Opera Hamilton on ZoomStuck in the Middle Fallon CBGB's Bust Joan Jet Hurricane Sandy Great Day in HarlemVEEPFlight of the ConchordsSex Education  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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