Poema Podcast

Poema S8 004 | Rashid Darden on Anti-Racism & Pop Culture

I'm honoured today to be joined by best-selling author, novelist, educator and activist Rashid Darden. 
Rashid tells us his story, and his lived experiences growing up and living as an LGBTQI black man raised by a single mother, and how this influenced his writing and his activism.
We explore together how pop culture and black & LGTQIA representation, past, present and future, and why it continues to be increasingly important. 
We also touch on examples from the MCU, Superman and even Doctor Who (a mutual love) where we are seeing more representation and his hopes for this. Rashid talks about his own experience of watching Black Panther, and the significance of that movie and the metaphors & messages within it. 
Rashid has so much wisdom and insight on all these important issues, and it was an honour to chat with him.

Poema S8 003 | Luke Wilson on Conversion Therapy & Deconstruction

**TW: conversion therapy**
Today I'm joined by writer, PhD candidate and lecturer Luke Wilson, to hear his story of deconstruction, as well as his experience with and escape from conversion therapy.
Luke lays bare his lived experience of conversion therapy and how he broke free of this and how this impacted his own mental health, his spiritual journey and his work.
He also tells us about the advocacy and writing he does now, against conversion therapy and other practices which hurt the LGBTQIA community.

Poema S8 002 | Wandavision & Grief with Emma Morrison & Kevin Nye (Special preview of The Kryptonian, the Princess and the Avenger)

Special bonus episode today, with my friends Kevin Nye and Emma Morrison where they and I chat together about the award-winning show, Wandavision.
We explore the themes of processing grief, certainty and how this show gives us an echo of the roots of fundamentalism and oppressive systems. We explore some of the deeper themes and story arcs and reflect on what the story means for us, and what we can learn from it.
This is also a semi-preview of my second podcast, launching this coming week, "The Kryptonian, the Princess and The Avenger", where all three of us (me 'the Kryptonian', Emma 'the Princess', and Kevin 'The Avenger) and others will be chatting every fortnight about the stories which shape us, talking about movies, TV shows and other geeky stuff which inspires us. 
You can follow the new show on IG and Twitter @KalElLeiaKevin and it'll be on all podcast platforms soon.
Meanwhile the Poema Podcast will continue every week...with some great guests coming up in the next few months!

Poema S8 001 | Holly Smale on Ending the Stigma around Autism

Today author Holly Smale, author of the bestselling Geek Girl books, joins me to share her story and talk about the lived experience of being autistic. 
She talks about her writing career, and how creating geek girl actually helped her discover she was autistic and get a formal diagnosis. We discuss together our shared lived experiences of being autistic and the challenges autistic people face living in the world as it is - and the stigma and lack of understanding which still exists. 
We also talk about how we've found solidarity and support in fictional characters such as Tony Stark (we're both MCU fans) and what we can do to create a better world for autistic people. 

Poema S7 056 | The 300th : Ask James Anything with Becky Castle Miller

Today is the 300th episode of the Poema Podcast (despite some numbering issues with iTunes), and to celebrate, my friend Becky Castle Miller is acting as host, in a semi-fun ask me anything!
Many listeners and friends sent in questions, and I had no idea what they were before recording. Questions on podcasts, how the podcast started, on my dreams, on creativity, spirituality, curiosity and a whole lot more.
This episode was so much fun and a perfect way to end 2021 on the podcast. I'll be back in January 2022 with lots more incredible guests and episodes. 

Poema S7 055 | Kristyn DeNooyer on Singleness and Hospitality

Today I talk with fellow singleton Kristyn DeNooyer about the challenges of singleness and stigma around this, and the importance of hospitality to and by single people in order to have healthy support networks. 
Kristyn shares her own story and the challenges she's faced and how its impacted her mental health. She also discusses the stigma single people can often face in spiritual communities and even society and how it can affect us.
And she gives us hope and insight into how we can make the world and churches more welcoming, and accepting of singleness.

Poema S7 054 | Trace Bell & Tina Olsen on Living the Spiral

Today my friends Trace Bell & Tina Olsen join me to talk about everything spiral dynamics - and how we can apply the concept of spiral dynamics to our every day living and grow in awareness and consciousness. 
We talk about what spiral dynamics is, and Trace and Lisa unpack some very practical lessons they've learned about how we can use spiral dynamics as a tool. They explain how living the spiral can help us live more creative, healthy lives, as well as growing in our own level of consciousness. 

Poema S7 053 | Geek Philosophy: The Grief & Deconstruction of Loki with Doug Humphries

My geek philosophy series continues today as writer Doug Humphries and I spend time reflecting on the season one of 'Loki' and the lead characters personal journey. 
We explore how Loki confronts his past, his actions, and his grief and goes through an incredible personal deconstruction & transformation, and how his journey is often reflected in our own.
We also talk about the similarities between TVA and evangelicalism/capitalism, - a system we are part of and seems friendly, but has a sinister side - and a lot more too. This is one of my favourite shows, and one of my favourite episodes in this series.

Poema S7 052 | Geek Philosophy : Drew Brown on Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Today my geek philosophy series continues, as my friend Drew Brown and I sit down to discuss the series 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier'.
We explore the character arcs of the two central characters, their processing of grief and trauma from the events of Avengers Endgame and loss of Steve, and how this journey helps them discover themselves. 
We also explore the issues around systemic racism and white supremacy in the US and how these manifest themselves in the show, and the lessons they can teach us. 
This was a fascinating conversation which covered a number of important topics, and Drew has some great insights to share. 

Poema S7 051 | Deborah Brunt on Spiritual Abuse & Escaping Toxic Religion

Today on the podcast, another in our occasional series of deconstruction / spiritual transformation journeys, this time blogger and author Deborah Brunt. 
Deborah shares with us her experiences of growing up in a toxic religious environment and the spiritual abuse she experienced, and how it impacted her faith & her mental/emotional health.
She tells me how in order to follow what she believed to be a call to ministry and be free of this abuse and toxicity, she had to make tough choices, and let go of everything she'd known in relation to her life and faith.
**TW: Spiritual abuse, toxic religion**