A OK

Dean D’Monic is ace, agender, and known as the Shapeshifter of the Twin Cities. We talk about what it means to be an ace advocate, what it’s like to perform at the Renaissance Festival and in drag shows, and Dean’s late husband.

 

Follow Dean D'Monic on YouTube (Dean D’Monic) and Twitter (@dean_d_monic)!

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Caitlin (they/them) is a crafter who identifies as asexual and panromantic (or maybe biromantic). Caitlin talks about being autistic and asexual, what they want in a relationship, and representation in season two of Sex Education on Netflix.

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

John Arrow (he/him) is a second-grade teacher and fem slash convention organizer who identifies as bisexual/queer and aromantic. John and Courtney bond over their experiences trying to date as aromantic people, and John talks about representation, ace and aro headcanons, and his friend's YouTube series (BIFL) featuring asexual and aromantic characters.

 

Watch BIFL: https://www.bifltheseries.com/watch-now

 

Content Warnings: swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Janet (she/her) is a retired I.T. manager who identifies as asexual. Janet reflects on her past marriages, tells us a bittersweet love story between herself and a married woman, and tries to figure out how to proceed with life now as a 72 year-old asexual.

 

Warnings: detailed descriptions of french kissing, swearing, masturbation, mentions of sex and bodily fluids.

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Sophie Katz (she/her) is a writer who identifies as panromantic and demisexual. Sophie points out the parallels between anosmic and asexual experiences, explains how growing up Jewish prepared her for certain challenges, and reminisces about what it was like to write for Disney.

 

Content Warnings: swearing, antisemitism

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Graham (they/them) is your best friend who identifies as demiromantic/queer, and who is also questioning their asexuality. Graham explains how they can tell the difference between romantic feelings versus how they feel pre-romance. Courtney and Graham also discuss how society ties together sexuality and body image, and how Graham’s journey with their own body has changed.

 

Content Warnings: mentions of trauma, swearing

 

Special Thanks: 

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License. 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Joci (she/her) is a poet and artist who realized she was aromantic and asexual at age 46. Joci talks about her time studying at a bible college nicknamed “bridal college,” aphobia in the Christian community, and a marriage proposal that went right over her head.

 

Content Warnings: aphobia, large focus on Christianity and faith.

 

Resources: Aven: The Asexual Visibility & Education Network, Wee3beasties feline rescue. 

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Jim (he/him) is a maker and engineer who identifies as asexual and heteroromantic. Jim explains how Dungeons and Dragons helped him realize he was asexual. Courtney and Jim also go into the pressures society places on cis het men to engage in sexual activities.

 

Content Warnings: swearing, mentions of masturbation

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Jude (she/her) is an author who identifies as anegosexual and "historically" romantic. She explains what it's like to be asexual in a long-term marriage with someone who is allosexual, the complexities of coming out to her children, and what an "ace happy ending" might look like.

 

Jude's book: Body Parts and Mind Games

 

Content Warnings: aphobia

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde; 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler;

Music: A OK by ÜberKicK is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!

Episode Transcript:

As you may have seen announced on the A OK twitter page, we don't have a new interview this week. I sincerely apologize for skipping this week, especially as I know that the holiday season is ramping up, which I know is the hardest time of year for many in the LGBTQIA community. That being said, I wanted to take a moment to remind you that being you is not a bad thing. You are wonderful, and you are valid, and you are seen. Please remember to be kind to yourself, and do whatever you need to do to make it out of the next few months in one piece. Being under the asexual and aromantic umbrellas can be tough, but we've got this. You've got this. I really do think of you all as friends, and as a community I never really felt like I had before. Thank you so much for being here and for being you. I'll talk to you next week. Until then, I'm Courtney Lang, and you and I are a-okay.

 

Special Thanks:

Editor/Producer: Sofi LaLonde (www.sofilalonde.com); 

Visual Artist: Tanner Groehler (www.ratsandchildren.co); 

And thank you to our wonderful patrons at https://www.patreon.com/AOKpod!