So, what did you do during lockdown?

"So, what did you do during lockdown?"

It was a question I was anticipating from friends, my employer or industry colleagues, even at the onset of Sydney's 2021 four month lockdown.

Now I can say I played a small role in keeping part of my community connected by providing valuable advice on how to stay positive and healthy, both physically and mentally, during lockdown, while also building my professional skills base.

Being one to find it hard to sit on my hands, I wondered, with so much free time in lockdown, what can I do from home to grow personally, and also make a difference?

As an essential worker, I acknowledge that I was very fortunate to still be able to go to the office to work, but my weekends were left empty.

That led to Ricardo&Reddie , a live 10 episode online chat show, broadcast on Facebook and YouTube , featuring inspring stories during lockdown from special guests.

I had already acquired the skills to do an online show from my one bedroom apartment in Redfern in the previous year, when I launched "Your Health & Your Wealth " during the first lockdown in 2020. That was also a live 10 episode online chat show with health and finance experts talking about everything from pandemic poodles to pandemic financial assistance.

This time though, I wanted to do something a little different, a little more fun, and more inspiring, but I needed a wingmate.

So I convinced my friend and fellow journalist Mark Reddie to give up part of his Saturday nights for 10 weeks.

I created the graphics and theme using Canva, updated my equipment with a podcast microphone, ear piece, (cheap) ring light and used the StreamYard broadcasting platform which allowed me to play both interviewer and director at the same time.

Mark would dial into the platform, followed by our guests and presto, we had a show.

We tackled everything from pandemic eating disorders, to lockdown hair tips and neighbourhood COVIDsafe dinner parties to lockdown spirituality and so much more.

Importantly, it was interactive. Viewers could ask questions by writing them in the comments section of the live feed. Those questions could then appear on screen and our guests could answer them.

One of my favourites was Ben Cleary-Corradini. He's a small business operator in Queensland who was able to talk about what he learnt from the first lockdown and how he was operating in Brisbane as restrictions eased there. We jealously watched on as he gave us a tour of his operating restaurant.

I would then repurpose the live interviews like his, into short highlight reels like the one below.

Another favourite was drag performer Prada Clutch. She makes a living by perfoming on stage, but the pandemic meant a rethink and pivot to online, and by doing so, she connected communities across the country.

I felt very privillaged that some viewers actually reached out to us, willing to tell their uplifting experiences, like Mic Touma who shared his incredible story of the gift of surrogacy.

Not wanting to waste all this brilliant content, I went one step further by repurposing some of these interviews in an audio only format on Spotify .

For me, Ricardo&Reddie allowed me to grow professionally by expanding my skills like interviewing, co-hosting, camera switching and directing all at the same time. Multi-skilling. For a creative and storyteller like me, that was immensely satifying.

What was even more rewarding, was knowing that the show reached even a handful of people and provided some respite, laughter and help during a tough time

A huge thank you to the 20 plus guests who gave up their time to contribute.

All episodes of Ricardo&Reddie are on Facebook and YouTube .

Highlight videos are on the Ricardo&Reddie Facebook page and my Instagram feed.