Chel Sea

And she truly is barrier-free in more ways than one. I was utterly captivated listening to her talk about the changing sexual practices in Europe, about how she fell out of a helicopter directly into the Hudson River in New York. In November. And about how wonderfully unhinged her family is. 

I could hardly tear myself away from her every word. Her stories are simply too compelling, too surprising, and more often than not, hilarious. What on earth kind of nest did she fall out of?

Now, I already knew beforehand that she was a rather extraordinary presence. Otherwise I wouldn't have driven more than an hour through fog, ice, and snow heading north just to see her. But who I actually encountered in real life — that I was not prepared for.

Speaking of real: when she talked about her first dog, a guy named Junk, her story took on a slightly otherworldly quality. 
She mentioned that her recently deceased mother had come back as her dog Junk into her life. Hmm. My bewilderment didn't last long, because the way she told it made any doubts quietly drop to the floor of reality, where they lay ignored. 

My fascination soared to new heights. What in the world created this phenomenon of an exceptional storyteller?

She walked me through every possible facet of her life, her visions, and her philosophy in what felt like ten minutes. 
In reality, after more than an hour she said: "It was lovely, but I have to go now.» 
I — along with over two thousand other people — would have gladly listened for at least that long again. 
But Chelsea Handler's show was done after nine o'clock in the evening.

Chelsea Handler is a talk show host, comedian, author, actress, and an original in a class entirely her own. 
She resists being put into any category, because she seems allergic to any kind of pressure — whether that's coercion, repression, a compress, or any kind of pressure.

Chelsea is fearless and never minces her words. Quite the opposite. That's also what makes her such an influential voice on political and social issues. She speaks candidly about her own life and layers her stories with wit and a healthy dose of sarcasm. 

It's an explosively refreshing style of storytelling. She uses her platform boldly, advocating passionately for racial equality, women's rights, and mental health.

Chelsea Handler also knows how to spell self-reflection. She makes no secret of her mistakes in life. Quite the opposite. 

Chelsea invites her audience into her experiences and ways of thinking. Above all, it's the deeply personal themes of her own growth and the art of questioning herself that have made her such an excellent and authentic storyteller. 

When it comes to these topics, there's no mincing words for Chelsea either.

How frustrating it must be for an American woman of her calibre to watch her home country drift back toward the Germany of the nineteen thirties. 

Still, she loves Canada. And for her, that is both comforting and full of hope. For Canada as well. 
Every era needs people with heart, voice, and courage — people who refuse to be bent. 
And today, especially so.