Natalie Rozon: Full Circle

Longtime friend Natalie Rozon joins me in Montreal for a walk about memory, encouragement, parenthood, loss, and the conversations that quietly alter the direction of a life.

Natalie and I first met in 2000 while working aboard the cruise ship Mercury — sailing from Vancouver to Alaska. I worked in the casino; Natalie worked in guest relations. We were young, uncertain, and trying to work out who we were becoming.

We haven’t seen each other in twenty-six years.

In this episode, we walk through Montreal and revisit that time — the friendships, the laughter, and the conversations we had and have stayed with me ever since. At a point in my life when I lacked confidence and direction, she was the one who encouraged me to pursue acting seriously.

This walk became an opportunity to finally say thank you.

Natalie also talks about music and singing, something she has always loved and continues to pursue for the joy of it rather than the spotlight. We speak about becoming a mother, the relationship with her daughter, losing both of her parents in recent years, and how grief reshapes your understanding of time, presence, and what truly matters.

Running through the conversation is a quieter idea: that the people who influence our lives most profoundly are not always aware they’ve done it at all.

Recorded in Montreal during one of my work trips, this is a walk about friendship, memory, gratitude, and the strange way life circles back on itself.

Season Two of the story pilgrim walks with people — their histories, their influence, and the moments that stay with us long after they’ve passed.

buen camino, and keep listening.