Curious, energetic, and “chill” by his own admission, Pierre-Yves Lord is a host, producer, and DJ. With more than twenty years of experience in his field, he always has a thousand and one projects on the go, taking advantage of the quieter moments of the year to travel. Recently returned from a stay in the sun, he opened up to us with generosity, truth, and wisdom during an almost contemplative telephone conversation.
STRøm nordic spa
Hello, Pierre-Yves. What does authenticity mean to you? Do you think it’s possible to be authentic in your line of work?
pierre-yves lord
“Oh, authenticity is definitely important, my God! In entertainment, in interviews… in short, in the branch of communications I’ve chosen, we ask for the truth from our guests. When we host certain people, we say to ourselves, ‘Ah, I hope he won’t break out his tape!’ If you ask people to be truthful, and on your side, you’re wearing a mask, playing a character… that’s not fair, and people end up feeling it.
“Authenticity is a quest for people, but also for our life choices. ‘Am I really as loyal as I think? Am I playing a role in front of my family, my friends, my co-workers? Or do I say what I think and assume?’ I don’t think authenticity happens overnight; I think it comes with maturity, and that at the same time, it belongs in some sense to childhood, that it’s taken away from us little by little as we learn to play the game of life.”
STRøm nordic spa
And what’s your relationship to positivity? Are you a positive person in life?
pierre-yves lord
“I try, as much as possible. For me, gratitude and positivity are connected. If you’re grateful to be alive, to be supported, you end up seeing beauty in your condition, whatever it is; it’s not any more complicated than that. No matter what life sends my way, I tell myself I can always enjoy the sunshine, listen to people laughing, dance… “However, recently, I’ve been more tired, and it seems like when the body is about to give up, positivity is one of the first things that can fall by the wayside. Seeing things in a positive light isn’t necessarily a given; it takes effort. “Always focusing on the negative, especially when we can’t control events, can have a domino effect that’s really devastating and reconfigure our brains in a funny way; I’m sure of it. We are what we think, at the end of the day. I know that sounds like a “Post-It” quote, but I believe it anyway. If you fill your head with bright ideas, they end up shining through in many areas of your life. People sell it to us as the laws of attraction.
There’s nothing esoteric about it. When you believe in something and absorb it, it gets reflected.”
STRøm nordic spa
In recent years, you’ve been seen getting involved in several projects involving young people, such as Conte pis raconte and 100 génies. Is this just a coincidence?
pierre-yves lord
“Not at all! That was really something I wanted to do. I’ve always had an interest in working with young people, giving them a voice. I think if I hadn’t made my way into communications, I would probably be working in a youth centre today, or something like that.”
STRøm nordic spa
What appeals to you about being involved with them?
pierre-yves lord
“There’s a part of me that doesn’t want to get older. I find that aging is a disease. Looking at life through the eternity of childhood is reassuring to me. I love watching my kids grow up and, thanks to my job, being able to contribute even a little to the development of our young people, in all humility.”
STRøm nordic spa
What kind of dad are you?
pierre-yves lord
“I’m a curious, fun dad. For their part, my kids would definitely say I’m not as cool as I look on TV. But I’m a father who does what’s possible with the tools I have. My kids are learning to be human beings, and I’m learning to be their father. It’s not always easy.
“Sometimes, I slip back into my teenage mindset. When I’m demanding with them, I remind myself that at 14, I didn’t enjoy shovelling the driveway or folding the laundry either. Now that my kids are teenagers, I try to have more empathy in my parenting, whereas I was stricter when they were younger.”
STRøm nordic spa
You were a Strøm ambassador in 2023. What can you tell us about wellness?
pierre-yves lord
“We live in a time when our attention is very focused on material things, but ultimately, if we don’t take the time to settle down and connect with ourselves, it ends up catching up with us.
“ We should draw more inspiration from the Scandinavian people, for whom thermotherapy is part of their habits, hygge, all that. Is it any wonder that these people are less stressed, happier, more connected with nature, more sensitive to design, that they think more about the layout of spaces, whether they’re schools, hospitals, restaurants, libraries, so that living environments are more conducive to the overall development of human beings? I think it’s all connected, that we should make more room for relaxation in our lifestyles in Quebec. It’s not laziness, it’s not a vacation; it’s working on yourself. A morning or an afternoon at the spa to regain your energy, to come back rested to the intense pace of daily life… it should be prescribed by the RAMQ!”
STRøm nordic spa
Are you able to prioritize relaxation in your daily life, despite a busy schedule?
pierre-yves lord
“Yes, much more now. That, too, is a process. When I was in Nicaragua this winter, I spent several days doing nothing. I got up and went to the edge of the pool, and I didn’t do anything because I didn’t feel like doing anything. I had my book with me and sometimes, I read three pages, took a nap, looked at the birds, baked in the sun. And I didn’t feel guilty, because I needed it. But it’s true that it took me a few days before I got used to this pace and gave myself permission to do nothing at all. “ What’s funny about wanting to take time for ourselves and rest is that at the same time, we often want to perform our relaxation. We post on social media and put ourselves on display to show how relaxed we are. But who do we need to prove this to, really? I don’t think it’s in the spirit of wellness, to have a competitive approach to that and to yourself.”
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What is balance to you?
pierre-yves lord
“A beautiful place for nothing. Doing nothing, looking out a window, going for a walk, jogging a little, experiencing moments as a family… For me, this is important. I’m realizing that there’s something in ordinary life that’s still delicious. The little chaos of the house, the kids squabbling, or a Wednesday night dinner where we’re rushing around because there’s a soccer practice… These are the moments we’ll miss when the house is empty, once the kids have left and we’re older. I don’t want to traumatize them, but sometimes I tell them: ‘Children, everything has an end. One day, this house will fall down and it will be replaced with another one. Everything around you, people, roads… Everything will end at some point, and some things, sooner than we think. So, enjoy and find beauty in ordinary, everyday life.’”
Pierre-Yves with his two children, Édouard and Olivia, and his wife, Mélo.
Photo: © Courtesy of Pierre-Yves Lord