Poema Podcast

Poema S9 013 | Marshall Blount (Gentle Giant Ace) on Ace Equality & Activism

TW: Stories of acephobia
Today Marshall Blount (@AceGentle on twitter) joins me today to share his story of discovering his identity as an asexaul (ace) and his journey into ace & LGBTQI activism. 
We talk about the challenges he faced in discovering going public about his ace-ness and how others reacted, how it impacted his mental health, as well as his experiences of acephobia. 
We also talk in depth about the activism he's been involved in, including how he obtained a proclamation for Ace Week 2020 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the difference his work is making to ace awareness and equality - as well as words of encouragement for those still exploring their aceness. 

Poema S9 012 | Superman, Grief & Hope with Amanda Held Opelt

This week, in our 350th episode, Amanda Held Opelt joins me again for the second part of our series on superheroes, grief and modern mythology. 
This week we explore the character and story of Superman, in particularly the one we see in the Christopher Reeve movies. He's a character who loses his adoptive father as a teenager, an event which drives him into a life trying to save people, never expressing his emotions, until another event finally unlocks his buried grief.
We explore how Superman is a more hopeful character, and how his processing of grief doesn't dilute this, but rather makes him more hopeful, more kind, and more inspirational.
We explore what lessons we can learn from his processing of grief, and his character, and why the world needs more people of sincerity and hope.

Poema S9 011 | Batman, Mythology & Grief with Amanda Held Opelt

This week I begin a new series with my friend Amanda Held Opelt to discuss how grief is explored in superhero stories, and how they have become our modern mythology. 
Today we focus mainly on Batman, exploring his story sand how his grief transforms and initially controls him, with Batman an expression of his raw grief. We discuss some of the stories in prominent Batman movies, as Bruce Wayne processes his grief and eventually Batman becomes a symbol of hope. 
This episode explores how grief can control us if we let it, but if we allow ourselves to process it, it can transform us. 

Poema S9 010 | Jenna DeWitt on Midnights, Taylor Swift & the Enneagram

This week Jenna DeWitt returns to the show for a conversation about Taylor Swift's recent album "Midnights" and the enneagram.
Jenna briefly introduces the enneagram and we talk a bit about Taylor's likely enneagram numbers 9 (3w4). Then we explore how this relates to the recent fallout with Ticketmaster regarding her tour.
Then we talk about how the album is reflective of Taylor's own personal and creative journey, her lived experiences and how she's often been perceived and treated by the media and those who aren't fans. 
We also discuss how many of the challenges she can face are typical of her enneagram number, and end by exploring how all of us, whatever our enneagram number can embrace our identities and move into growth and transformation. 

Poema S9 009 | Carissa Explains (Nothing) Deconstruction

TW: Spiritual abuse, evangelicalism, toxic religion
 
Today I'm joined by Carissa (@carissaexplainsnothing) who courageously shares her story, including her deconstruction and experience of toxic religion.
She talks about her upbringing with evangelicalism, and a path she began to see as already pre-determined and inevitable.
Carissa shares some of the spiritual abuse she experienced, and the grief she experienced leaving evangelicalism behind, and at the end of her marriage. And then she tells us about her experience of deconstruction, the risks and the joys of creating a new life, and discovering who she's always been. 

Poema S9 008 | Candice Czubernat on Processing Grief

This week I'm honoured to be joined by Candice Czubernat. She is a therapist (known as @lesbiantherapist on IG), and founder of The Christian Closet, an LGBTQ affirming counseling, coaching and spiritual direction organization. She is also the founder of Gloriously Queer a conference for LGBTQ people of faith developed by LGBTQ people of faith.
Today Candice shares her own story, talks about her work and her experiences as a therapist, particuarly focussing on grief.
We discuss our various experiences of grief, different types of grief - including loss of loved ones, relationships ending, and the grief of deconstruction - and how we can learn to respond to grief and process grief in healthy ways.

Poema S9 007 | Trace Bell & Tina Olsen on Grief & The Spirituality of Dogs

Today I'm joined by returning guests Trace Bell and Tina Olsen to discuss grief and the spirituality of dogs. 
Tina shares her experience of grief, and both her and Trace share their experiences with dogs, and learning and understanding their consciousness and building relationship with them, and how this can improve our mental health.
They discuss how dogs can be extra intuitive and aware of our emotions and needs almost before we are, and what this can teach us about learning to listen to our own intuition and our relationship with the earth.

Poema S9 006 | Amanda Held Opelt on the Black Death, COVID & Cultural Grief

In this week's episode author Amanda Held Opelt joins me to discuss the cultural and historical impact of the Black Death during the 1300's. 
We discuss the collective grief and trauma experienced by the countries impacted by the Black Death, and the longer term consequences for the church, culture and ultimately the history of western culture.
We explore the consequences of collective cultural grief and trauma, and talk about what the potential long term impact of COVID has and potentially will be for the world and our culture as a whole. 

Poema S9 005 | Marla Taviano on Schitts Creek & Deconstruction and LGBTQI Inclusion

In today's episode we return to our irregular pop culture series, with author Marla Taviano joining me to discuss the popular show - and one of our favourites - Schitts Creek. 
We talk about the various character arcs, and how these explore personal deconstruction and transformation after a major life change. We also explore the culture of the show which normalised LGBTQ inclusion and was such an inspiration to the LGBTQ community.
This was such a fun episode to record, any fan of the show will enjoy it (and even those who don't know the show). 

Poema S9 004 | Maria Francesca French on Safer than the Known Way

I'm honoured to be joined today by my friend, colleague Maria Francesca French today. Maria is a professor, theologian, author and coach, exploring all things Christian and post-Christian. 
Today she shares her personal journey, and talks about her first book, Safer than the Known Way, and we discuss together the root of the term deconstruction.
We explore the concept of event, and how event begins an unravelling which takes us on a journey into what is called deconstruction, which goes way beyond the boundaries of religion and belief, and helps us explore, question and understand our very identity.
This was such a great conversation, Maria has such knowledge, wisdom and lived experience in this area. 
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I highly recommend checking out Maria's book 'Safer than the Known Way', available at all online booksellers now.