Hold firm to your dreams โ โ HEY FRIEND(S) ๐ Never ever did I imagine returning to Thailand again. But here I am, with a 1-Year #ThaiVisa to: 1. Study Muay Thai for a year (and get in the best shape of my life) 2. Rebuild my Copywriting Agency (@copyadscontent); 3. Build and monetize a bunch of websites (e.g., pooffee.com and eyelinernan.com); 4. Live like a King (at the living costs of a commoner); 5. Share my experiences with you (on #TikTok, #YouTube, and #Instagram). It's a long journey ahead, with a lot of work to do, but, that's the beauty of being a #digitalnomad: Never try. Never know. (i.e., if you never try to push your self or chase your dreams... you'll never know what kind of life you will create or achieve.) #buildyourdreams (at Udon Thani) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnjcqOsp2Dx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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It's not all sunshine while enjoying a Leo beer by the beach. The reality of being a nomad is navigating archaic and confusing bureaucracies without losing your cool or blowing a fuse. #digitalnomad #visarun #laos #Thailand #cmmtg #edvisa #godhelpme #sos #headache #ineedabeer (at Vientiane, Laos) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cndnn3ppnG_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Life has a weird way of taking you to places where you belong. About 2+ years ago, I was living in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I knew this was a #digitalnomad haven, but I had my heart and mind set on building a life and my future in #Indonesia. Well, guess what? Throughout my time in Chiang Mai Thailand, I was unhappy with my experience. Here's why: ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ'๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐๐ง๐ญ. Now, I'm back here in #ChiangMai and I'm excited to finally refocus and rebuild my future by learning from the past and enjoying every moment in the present. May you find your happy place and live good. Stay well โ๏ธ @jefthecrazycanadian - - - Huge thanks to @nixbrouwer and his incredible photos ๐๐คณ - - - Location? ๐ เธ เธนเธเนเธฒเนเธช เนเธฎเธกเธชเนเธเธขเน เธกเนเธญเธเนเธเนเธก 27/2 เธซเธกเธนเน11เธเนเธฒเธเธซเธเธญเธเธซเธญเธขเนเธซเธกเน Mae Raem, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai 50180 Phu Fahsai Homestay - - - #liveyourbestlife #myhappyplace #entrepteneur #entrepreneurship #nomadic #freedom #เนเธฃเนเธฃเนเธญเธเธเธดเธเธดเธเธฑเธฅ #jefvandegraaf #jefthecrazycanadian (at Mon-Jam, Chiang Mai) https://www.instagram.com/p/CltSECTNhHC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Building a fkn empire. ๐ - - - In life, you only have two choices: Choice No. 1: Be a slave. Choice No. 2: Be a boss. "But Jef," you say, "how can slavery be a choice?" Just look at the definition: ๐ข ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฐ ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ญ๐ฆ๐จ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐บ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ณ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ช๐ด ๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฐ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐บ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ. In today's working world, an employee is foundational to a company's ability to function. It's also the sole driver of a company's value and asset creation. "Wait Jef," you say, "WTF does that even mean?" Think about it like this... Almost every time you make or create something for your boss/employer, who gets ownership? Them or you? In many cases, it's the company/business/owner that acquires your creations which they sell at a price to put profit into THEIR pockets. All the while, you simply get a salary - or worse - minimum wage. Look. I'm just rambling about sh*t here but I hope you understand my point. You can work for a living. Or... You can build a fkn empire. The choice is yours, my friends. - - - #boss #selfemployed #entrepteneur #startup #motivation #dailymotivation #inspiration #beaboss #founder #freelancer #parttime #bullshittet #enjoylife (at Copenhagen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjXaKb0tAm3/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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What's your summer vacay look like? (Assuming, you even take one...) - - - For me -- and for the first time in like forever -- I scheduled a full week away from all client projects, #copywriting, and my laptop. My little bro @jonathonvandegraaf put together a 5-day portage trip in Algonquin Park with my old man (aka dad), my nephew, and my niece. It was epic because... There was no WiFi in the wilderness, no stress trying to get my client's site to rank on Google, no impulse desire to buy sh*t online that I don't really need, no urgency to meet a deadline. But instead... There was nothing but pine-scented air to breathe, a big fresh lake to drink water, a hole in the ground to poop, and some delicious lake trout to catch'n'cook. Hope you all take the time to enjoy your summer. โ๏ธ - - - #summer #vacay #wilderness #alone #algonquinpark #algonquin #gonefishing #laketrout #summervibes #camping #outdoors (at Algonquin Park, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgctoA0JCxB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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Social media is so f***ing stressful... ๐ตโ๐ซ --- Some days I write and share whatever comes to mind while: 1. I'm taking a poop ๐ฉ 2. I'm sitting on the train ๐ 3. I'm drinking a coffee โ Other days, like today, I attempt to stage and plan content to: 1. Validate my existence with the world ๐ 2. (Re)build my IG audience/community ๐ 3. Find leads/clients for @copyadscontent โ๏ธ However, days like today, I end up with content that: 1. Triggers my insecurities ๐ญ 2. Makes me feel like a fraud ๐คฅ 3. Questions my purpose in life ๐ค Do you ever feel the same way? --- #Instagram #contentcreator #influencer #wannabe #honesty #truth #socialmedia #stressed #entrepreneur #business https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_mK9ELT6p/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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In a perfect world โ without you know what happening in the world โ I'd go to Kathmandu to explore the Himalayas. Then back-pack for months in a India, introduce myself to the Stans, and mingle in the middle east (if I can afford it). How about you? ๐ค #travel #wanderlust #postdaily #weekend #memories #nomad #nomadic #life You made it. Yay! ๐ (at South-East Asia) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYfpEbwt456/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Define: #nomad (at Canada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSg84hu-cv/?utm_medium=tumblr
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What's your favorite city? ๐ง #travel #nomad #nomadic #digitalnomad #kunming #china #chiangmai #thailand #bali #indonesia #favoritecity #cityliving ============== Internet's Best Consulting "Jef went above and beyond with the tips, hints and links. Thank you." - Anna ๐ LINK IN BIO (at Earth) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYPozQAvxn2/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Hi, my name is Jef *insert 22 Jump Street meme* and I'm a aฬถlฬถcฬถoฬถhฬถoฬถlฬถiฬถcฬถ nomadaholic. So... I've been back in Canada for 3+ months and I've had time to reflect on my 7+ years of travel in #Asia. And... My nomadic life started way before I jumped on a one-way ticket #Tokyo in 2014. In fact... I recall wanting to explore all the places my parents would take me as a child. That's why... My mom used a child leash, you know, strapped to a kid's arm as the parent walks then around like a dog? Anyway... I want to start sharing my 9+ years of experience as a #nomad that started with quitting factory labour in pursuit of an alternative way to fund my education in 2010/2011. So... I'm kicking off the month of January with a new post everyday about my experiences, lessons, and stories. And... There's no better way to do this than by playing my favorite game: #2Truths1Lie Drop a comment to make your guess: โ ย โกย or โขย ================= p.s., The Internet's Best #Consulting (#linkinbio) has just gone up in price. My hourly rate is now $15. Book an hour with me today to explore options and ideas to: โ Fund a future full of #travel โ Attain more #freelancer clients โ Shoot the shit about whatever Trust me, I'm a damn good listener. And, people normally pay hundreds of dollars for my strategic advice. (Is that a humble brag or am I just a @superduperahole?) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNFE3DvwJs/?utm_medium=tumblr
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**FOR FREELANCERS ๐ข๐ก๐๐ฌ** If you're reading this, I'm looking for #freelancers who are serious about growing their services in 2022. And... I'm not f*cking around when I say I want to help you get: โ More leads โ More clients โ More money I've been a #freelance #copywriter for 5+ years and I've built a few successful #wordpress websites for my self and my clients. If we're a good fit, I'm gonna go all out balls out to help you win more in the new year. ============== "๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ด๐ด ๐ต๐ณ๐บ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ฆ. ๐๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ค๐ฆ๐ฑ๐ต ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ช๐ฏ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ต, ๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ญ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฆ๐น๐ฆ๐ค๐ถ๐ต๐ฆ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ด๐บ-๐ต๐ฐ-๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ, ๐๐๐-๐ง๐ณ๐ช๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฅ๐ญ๐บ ๐ธ๐ฆ๐ฃ๐ด๐ช๐ต๐ฆ ๐'๐ฎ ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฑ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ฑ๐ญ๐ฆ. ๐๐ญ๐ถ๐ด, ๐ ๐ฅ๐ฐ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ข๐ฏ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ค๐ฌ๐จ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ง๐ช๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ต๐ญ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ต ๐ฎ๐บ๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง!" โ แดแดแด แดสแดษชแดแดแดษช, ๊ฐสแดแดสแดษดแดแด ๊ฑแดสษชแดแดแดกสษชแดแดส ============== What are you waiting for? SLIDE INTO MY DM RIGHT NOW TO: โ Book a discovery call โ Discuss pricing & project ideas โ Get a website that makes you ๐ธ *แดแดสสแดษดแดส = แดแดแด
(ษดแดแด แด๊ฑแด
) Talk soon, @jefvandegraaf #UX Copywriter | #WebOps Specialist | Not a #Mama's Boy | #Workaholic | #Honest AF | Why are You Still Reading โ Slide into my DM ๐ (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/jefvandegraaf/p/CXUhfw3lWng/?utm_medium=tumblr
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You're not a failure. ๐ค ๐ค I promise. You either: 1. Gave up too soon; or, 2. Didn't even try. I gotta be honest though... This sounds an awful lot like guru garbage โ which I'm not about. But... ๐ That's been my problem time and time again. I start a project. Then get distracted. And change directions. It's like I'm a dumb dog chasing it's tail until I get so dizzy and crave tummy rubs. Ah, tummy rubs ๐คค F*ck... see... it happened again as I write this freaking post. Look, #NapoleonHill wrote in his book #ThinkAndGrowRich: "๐๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต ๐ค๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ค๐ข๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ๐ด ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ง๐ข๐ช๐ญ๐ถ๐ณ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ด ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ #๐ฉ๐ข๐ฃ๐ช๐ต ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฒ๐ถ๐ช๐ต๐ต๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ด ๐ฐ๐ท๐ฆ๐ณ๐ต๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ฏ ๐ฃ๐บ ๐ต๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ข๐ณ๐บ ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ง๐ฆ๐ข๐ต." Promise me that the next thing you do or the next #project your start โ don't quit. Even if you've tried your hardest and haven't seen a single result in weeks. ๐ญ Even if you have no immediate support and feel utterly #alone in your pursuits. ๐ฅบ Even if a corrupt government deports you from their country and tries to extort you for #money while escorting you to the Jakarta airport. ๐ค Okay, that's a bit personal and probably irrelevant to you, but, I think you get the point. Best, @jefvandegraaf p.s., I still have spots available in the internet's best consulting experience. For a limited time only, you can tap into my: โ Freelance #copywriting expertise โ Website selling ideas & strategies โ Nomadic lifestyle know-how for a one-time super low payment of $14.35 โ that's #Canada's minimum wage! But don't delay โ my hourly wage goes up on January 1 to $15 ๐คฏ So, save yourself $0.65 and schedule a 1-hour consult to gain perspective on your: โ Online business โ Freelance career โ Life in general Talk soon ๐ (at Tiananmen) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXJHU0jOT3D/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Productive ๐ข๐ฅ๐ซ๐ฆ๐ค๐ต๐ช๐ท๐ฆ โข achieving or producing a significant amount or result "his/her/it was very productive today" Hmm... ๐ค That's not very helpful. What exactly do you want to ๐ฑ๐ณ๐ฐ๐ฅ๐ถ๐ค๐ฆ? A field of rice? A lot more sales? A load of crap? There's so little time in our lives. Why let it waste away? If there's ever a reason to ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ, make it today. But not without knowing what you want. Do you know what that is? That's your first priority. Second priority is productivity. Third priority is food. Fourth priority is getting laid. And so on. Look, jokes aside. If you're really lost and everything's fucked up. I got you. Grab a 1-hour consult for only $14.35 per hour โ that's Canada's minimum wage! I know you know what to do if you really want this. ๐ Talk soon, @jefvandegraaf ===================== #productivity #motivation #consult #consultation #strategy #productive #motivation #inspiration #ihatehashtags #ineedanassistant ===================== p.s. Let me know if you ever read my article, "7 Super Simple Productivity Hacks To Get More Shit Done" ๐๏ธ IN BIO (It really turns me on to know that your eyes are enjoying the words I created. ๐คค) (at Chiang Mai, Thailand) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_FnynlK2R/?utm_medium=tumblr
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โขยดยฏ`โข. Tabula rasa. .โขยดยฏ`โข It's finally here. A new beginning. The start of an adventure. A digital adventure. Aimed at helping you. To learn things. And to achieve things. Things I couldn't do before. Things I never knew possible. Things I discovered along the way. My way. Through life and it's mysteries. Mysteries that we'll never understand. But we always try to. Because we're human. And that's what humans do. Again. And again. And again. Anyway... It's good to be back, old friend. I've missed you. You've missed me. Are you ready to go chasing after prosperity? So come my brothers and sisters and kaks and diks.* Let's fucking do this. ๐ #welcomeback #helloagain #myfriend #blogger #writer #copywriter #ux #newwebsite #launchday #tuesday #jefvandegraaf #reconnected #IStillHateHashTags *Yes, dik, pronounced exactly as you think it, just like the dangy nobbin' I carry in my pants: dick. And, it means "sis" Are you always such a perv? (at Kitchener, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CW8afoxFYuz/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Podcast Art/Cover -- VOTE NOW ๐ ---- Regardless of the chaos and #bullshit in my life right now, there's nothing else I can do except continue building. Right now I'm preparing my podcast. I'll begin recording the first few episodes this week. ๐๐ค However... Which of the podcast covers do you like best? Drop a comment with your fav # Thanks ๐ ---- @jefvandegraaf แดฑหขแถแตแตแต โฑโฟแตแต แตสฐแต แดณสณแตแตแต แตโฟแตโฟแตสทโฟ #podcast #graphicdesign #votenow #podcastcoverart #coverart #entrepreneur #hustleeveryday #keepgrinding #doordie (at Yogyakarta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUHe8dOhPeT/?utm_medium=tumblr
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'Fuck it!' ๐คฌ I've spent so many years dreaming up ideas. From my failed drop-shipping business in Taiwan to a semi-successful hustle teaching English in Japan. Then I got into the freelance game and I became -- unregrettably -- the 'Jef of all trades.' Need an HTML email? Yeah -- I can do that! Need a new WordPress website? Yeah -- I can do that! Need a shit course with google-able information that you wanna sell for โฌ3,500? Yeah -- I don't wanna do that... There comes a point in your career/journey/adventure in life where you just gotta say: ๐ณ๐๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ถ๐! "Fuck it -- I'm gonna quit my job!" "Fuck it -- I'm gonna travel the world!" "Fuck it -- I'm gonna start a business!" We are living in the most prosperous era in the history of hairless apes. If there's ever a better time to do something you've always been meaning to do... it's right now. #cliche Its so easy to spend all day inside your head or covered in potato chip crumbs with your BFF, #Netflix. But, I get it... Its very fucking scary to take a blind leap into the great unknown -- not knowing where you're going to go, what's going to happen to you, or how things are going to turn out. Forunately for you, I'm cracking out of my shell to share a message with you -- a message that's dedicated to: ๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฑ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ๐ด๐ฆ๐ญ๐ง ๐ง๐ฐ๐ค๐ถ๐ด๐ฆ๐ฅ ๐ฐ๐ฏ ๐ธ๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐ฎ๐ข๐ต๐ต๐ฆ๐ณ๐ด ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ด๐ต โ ๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ณ๐ฅ ๐ต๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ช๐ญ๐ฅ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฅ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฎ๐ด, ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ฎ ๐ข ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ช๐ต๐บ, ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ช๐ท๐ช๐ฏ๐จ ๐บ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฆ๐ด๐ต ๐ญ๐ช๐ง๐ฆ. You're welcome to join me on this new journey because, in the coming months, I will be: - Releasing a podcast that tackles life's toughest questions - Sharing insights into my day-to-day hustle and quarterly earnings - Writing weekly emails to help you make sense of this crazy world ๐๐๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ: Quitting your job without a financial cushion to depend on or a plan to create new income streams may be fatal. Always seek advice from your doctor -- or better, a qualified business advisor -- to see if the Fuck It Newsletter is right for you. SIGN UP IN BIO @jefvandegraaf DID YOU READ THIS? Drop a ๐ in the comment #Fuck #It #Newsletter (at Special Region of Yogyakarta) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJ2eWEB9S3/?utm_medium=tumblr
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Ironic, huh? ๐ ================= ๐คช You've seen my recent TikTok videos. But... Behind the scenes, I'm still running my copywriting business (@copyadscontent) while preparing for the re-launch of my marketing agency (@build.succeed). Anyway... Last week, I was working with Ame Proietti -- that's Ah-may, not Amy. ๐ ๐๐ป @nutritionmyfood Ame is a friend, client, and fellow copywriting peer who's going deep into the Video Marketing game. I helped with updating her #WordPress website to create a dedicated page for her new podcast: ๐ฅ Making a Video Marketer ๐ค Discover the 'wild west' of video marketing and learn how to produce a successful video from concept to promotion. โน๏ธ Contact Ame -- @nutritionmyfood -- to get a link to her podcast... Or go to: https://ameproietti.com/making-a-video-marketer/ (You can also search 'Making a Video Marketer' on #Spotify to listen now). ================= ๐ Thanks, @nutritionmyfood, for entrusting me with your website/freelance script writing biz. ๐ I wish you nothing but success for your new podcast and I'll 100% be tuning in for more Video Marketing tips so I can level up my game. ================= #marketing #videocontent #viralvideo #videomarketing #podcast #newpodcast #newpodcastalert (at Canada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSECLfEBb33/?utm_medium=tumblr
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