Dingbat Chat

I like to think I have a bit of skill when it comes to most creative things - this is not the case when it comes to drawing. But with illustrations featuring female empowerment taking over social media and filling me with inspiration, I couldn't think of a better way to finish Dingbat Chat; Quarantine Edition series! 

And to join me, I have the rather talented and absolutely lovely illustrator and designer, Louise Strudwick; her page Rose Tainted Dreams is taking off with it's progressive messages regarding mental health, self-identity, feminism and body positivity. It's fascinating finding out how she personally and professionally got to this point - follow Dingbat Chat and Rose Tainted Dreams below.

Dingbat Chat

Apple Podcasts -

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dingbat-chat/id1461700565

Spotify - 

https://open.spotify.com/show/5bTiumMFVuVdhymuhA5k1A?si=ZURCje28Rle90YTa_H9Nag

Instagram - 

https://www.instagram.com/dingbat_chat/

Twitter - 

https://twitter.com/dingbatchat

Facebook - 

https://www.facebook.com/dingbatchat

Podcast Guest

Louise Strudwick - Rose Tainted Dreams

Instagram - 
https://www.instagram.com/rosetainteddreams/

Etsy -
 https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Rosetainteddreams

Tigger warning- the following description and podcast episode discusses sexual assault. If you have been effected by any of the topics we discuss or just want to have a chat, do not hesitate to get in touch x

I have mentioned it before but never truly discussed my experience as a survivor of sexual assault. I usually want to talk about everything, it's my way of figuring things out, so to not be able to do when it comes to my own rape remains a painful truth that I've only recently started to come to terms with.

To help me do this and, for the first time, CHOOSE to have this conversation with someone who has had a similar experience, I got in touch with Rebekah Wenying who is a sexual assault survivor and activist and an old friend of mine. From education's effect to creative writing outlets, this conversation is deep and personal but mainly honest and it massively helped us - I hope it does the same for you.

To find this weeks resources and follow Dingbat Chat:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dingbatchat/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dingbatchat

You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-BMyIG8WhDpPQFsIb1FixA

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/dingbatchat

Rebekah Wenying (who also has some incredible resources):
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wenyinggggg/

Not Victims But Survivors Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/belikelilith/

Not Victims But Survivors Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/notvictimsbutsurvivors

Having grown up in Cornwall, being in nature is like... well, second nature to me. But I've always been a fan of ragged tor tops or feral forests rather than stopping to smell the roses, or take trimmings, plant and garden the roses.

However, in lockdown I've learnt to appreciate my mum's beautiful garden and the many wonderful things people are doing with flowers out in the world. Such The Girl Flower Podcast with Jess and Vic who bring the British florists together. And Annabelle's Cornish Flower Crowns, beautiful, wearable and eco-friendly floristry that you can keep for the rest of your life. These three guests know exactly what they're talking about and talk me step by step through how to make a flower crown for myself!

To see this and follow Dingbat Chat:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dingbatchat/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dingbatchat

You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-BMyIG8WhDpPQFsIb1FixA

The Girl Flower Podcast:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/girl-flower-podcast/id1494504009

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/girlflowerpodcast/

Cornish Flower Crowns:
Website - https://www.cornishflowercrowns.co.uk

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cornishflowercrowns/

Over the last few years, I've started to come to terms with myself being a B in the LGBTQ+ community and what exactly that means to me. One of the discoveries I've made is Pride - in February, Melbourne Pride was my very first parade and I was thrilled to be there.

But Pride is still a protest, fought with love and celebration but fought all the same. And in light of current events such as BLM and the reconsideration of the Gender Recognition Act, Pride Month 2020 has been recognised in a more serious manner.

My two guests Zodi, a drag performer, and Kiran, an activist, recognise and celebrate their roles in Pride and the LGBTQ+ community in fresh and invigorating interviews that I'm honoured to share through Dingbat Chat.

Zodi Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/theonlyzodi/

Kiran Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/kiraneverix/

Dingbat Chat Socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dingbatchat/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dingbatchat

You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-BMyIG8WhDpPQFsIb1FixA

I have always been under the impression that glowing up is a fun shallow activity, giving your body a makeover and treating yourself for the day. At least that was my attitude going into this episode - I couldn't have been more wrong.

Talking to Becks from the Time To Glow Up blog and podcast, I found out how choosing to glow up from the inside out can actually change your life. And with my hair-bleaching-expert Beth, I discovered that glowing up for some actually means doing a lot less to their body. 

Then it's up to me to glow up myself... to see those results follow the links below!

Time To Glow Up blog and podcast - https://timetoglowup.co.uk
Beth bleaching expert - https://www.instagram.com/bethanyridgewell/

Dingbat Chat Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/dingbatchat/
Dingbat Chat Twitter - https://twitter.com/dingbatchat
Dingbat Chat You Tube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-BMyIG8WhDpPQFsIb1FixA

You've had the SESH, you've had the WERK, you've had the RELATIONSHIPS... now we come to part 4 of the farm work series, The HOSTELS.  

Though it probably has the least interesting title, this is the most important episode. Finally, I talk to the middleman between the backpackers and the farmers - the hostel receptionist. They decide who goes where, what farms we work, how long we last, essentially they hold our vulnerable backpacker spirit in their power hungry hands. EZ was a lovely receptionist but even he loved to stir the pot and nothing in comparison to the monster at North Bundy... 

Have a listen and let me know what you think, maybe a tad too harsh? If you'd like to see the visual repercussions, search @dingbatchat on instagram, twitter, facebook and you tube!

This podcast is the closest I've ever been to entrepreneurship - I've put love and effort and the little sanity I had left into making it something I am proud of and want to keep on producing. 

Now I'm not claiming to be a business owner, nowhere close, but I do know a couple of people who have taken their own projects a little more seriously. Podcaster Scott Stockdale has been slaying the game will 'Entrepreneurs Can Party' and Ben Lyon is taking over Australia with Pride Promotions- very different businesses, very definitely entrepreneurs. 

I'm absolutely thrilled to have them on my podcast and they tell a great story (so get yourself a pint and settle in)!

The werk was the reason and the sesh was the catalyst but what really made my 88 days more than worth it was the relationships.

From mixing female friendships with romantic competition to meeting the last person in the world that you expected, Bundy bonds are unbreakable. You're right to be worried about many things but the people you meet and the family you make shouldn't be one of them! Comparing the environment to Love Island meets Survival of the Fittest is an understatement and I wouldn't change a damn thing.

Both topics are the cause of intense discussion and I was lucky enough to do this with unique singer songwriter, Grace Petrie. 

I feel like I've been very lucky with the people who have come to chat on this podcast, and Grace only confirms that belief. Moving through the mass of music genres to achieve her individual message and becoming beloved by the Guilty Feminist Podcast, interviewing her made me revaluate my own approach to this podcast and if you're ready for some self reflection, then this is the episode for you.

To top it all off, I even wrote my very first politically charged poem in response and bloody hell... but you'll have to wait till the end for that one. Follow Dingbat Chat on Instagram, Twitter and Youtube if you're worried your attention span won't last the hour and you need those visuals!

You're in Australia. You're outside. You're in the sun. You're working with your mates and listening to podcasts for half the day; it's easy to question how hard farm work can actually be?

The truth is that the work itself is only one of many challenges you come across. From finding an hourly job to tuning out the casual sexism, the physical battle in those 88 days is nothing in comparison to the mental resilience you have to find within yourself and the others around you.

 I've arranged a panel of Bundaberg experts that have been through it all and know a thing or two about perseverance- now their stories are the ones to listen to.