Bountifull Podcast: Connor Amor-Bendall
People of all ages seek to live a bountiful life irrespective of their generation, yet the journey is not always easy—and it is always deeply personal.
It was a privilege to sit down with playwright, actress, and journalist Connor Amor-Bendall to understand how she overcame adversity, navigated loss, and the impact that had on her life. We discussed how she chooses to live by love and kindness and how she found solace in her creativity, the arts, and getting back to nature.
Guest Bio:
Connor Amor-Bendall is an accomplished writer, playwright, and actor. She graduated from The Actors Program in 2021 and has since brought her talent to screen roles in Shortland Street, Netflix's Sweet Tooth, Power Rangers, and Warner Bros' Testify. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Creative Writing at Auckland University and holds a Master's in Journalism as well as an undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Relations. Her debut play, The Clitoris Conundrum, premiered to a sold-out season at Basement Theatre for Pride 2024. Connor is also a member of Indian Ink Theatre Company's Next Generation cohort. When she isn't working on her creative pursuits, Connor enjoys connecting with friends and loved ones, getting back to nature, surfing, her dog, and nurturing her tomatoes.
You can connect with Connor here: https://www.instagram.com/conconcan_/
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
Navigating Loss and Grief: Connor Amor-Bendall shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming adversity and navigating the profound loss of her father, offering insights into the emotional and mental challenges she faced.
Creative Healing: Learn how Connor found solace and healing through her creative pursuits in playwriting, acting, and journalism, and how these outlets helped her process and express her grief.
Living by Love and Kindness: Discover Connor’s philosophy of living by love and kindness, and how these values guided her through her toughest times, providing her with strength and resilience.
Supporting Loved Ones: Explore Connor’s experience in supporting her father through his terminal illness, the impact it had on her life, and the importance of spending time with loved ones.
Finding Solace in Nature: Understand how reconnecting with nature became a crucial part of Connor’s healing journey, offering her peace and a sense of grounding during tumultuous times.
Personal Growth and Resilience: Hear about Connor’s reflections on personal growth, resilience, and the life lessons she gained from her experiences, emphasizing the importance of being kind to oneself and persevering through difficult times.
Creative Processes and Projects: Delve into Connor’s creative process, her latest projects, and how she uses her art to explore and communicate complex and gritty themes with authenticity and vulnerability.
Detailed Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Connor Amor-Bendall, her background, and the scope of today's discussion.
03:30 - Connor's journey in overcoming adversity and navigating loss.
10:15 - Discussing the impact of her father's terminal illness and the profound challenges faced.
18:00 - Finding solace in creativity: Connor’s experiences in playwriting, acting, and journalism.
25:45 - Living by love and kindness: How these values guided Connor through tough times.
33:30 - The importance of nature in the healing process.
40:15 - Supporting loved ones: Connor’s role in caring for her father and her advice for others.
48:00 - Personal growth and resilience: Life lessons and reflections from Connor’s journey.
55:00 - Listener Q&A with Connor on creative processes, personal growth, and maintaining resilience.