Susie Kahlich (@prettydeadlyofficial) has travelled the world developing and teaching a revolutionary self-defence program that weaponizes everyday gestures — giving her students a physical vocabulary in case of emergency. We talk about how the origin story of Pretty Deadly Self-Defense, how patriarchy lays the foundation for victim-blaming and, the Karate Kid.

Oh, and we talk about how Pretty Deadly Self-Defense will become an international household, now that it has reached CIMSPA accreditation in the UK - the world is sure to follow. 

Artistic phenomenon and fancy foodie Maddox Lu @maddoxthings and I have known each other for a long time. In this episode we talk about where his career ambition originated,  how he repeatedly "lucked-in" to amazing opportunities (like designing Cher's makeup) and how COVID has revealed his next passion.

Toronto-based Super Queer/Career Queerdo Mike Smith is a non-binary, harm reduction and sexual health advocate who's not afraid to talk about their past in the work that they do. Mike grew up in a extremely religious Mormon household and came to terms with their sexuality and gender identity under the iron dome of an uncompromising religious culture — even surviving multiple rounds of conversion therapy.

And yet, Mike has found a way to use their experience to illuminate and bridge build, including with their own family and sharing harm reduction and accepting ethos with other faith-based organizations.

Art scholar Alma Mikulinsky talks about how her "niche interest" in Pablo Picasso had her scoured by the Tate Modern in London, UK and the conflict between appreciating, criticizing and adding context to one of the world's most celebrated artists.

Oh, and then we make plans to visit Windsor, Ontario to view the most recent Sorel Etrog exhibition she organized, for ribs and hummus, and a lesson on accessibility. Listen for the full story! 

"Someone" is having trouble getting back into the Podcast rhythm... listen here to find out who!

New episode next week!

Speaking with Cirque du Soleil alum and über flexible Joey Arrigo about his settling into COVID-induced Toronto life - complete with and the ups, downs and upside downs of building a home and transferring skills from strutting on stage to slinging drinks.

Season 2 Opener!

Welcome back lovely listeners! This season we're going audio-only (despite the handful of loyal followers who watched on YouTube) *sorry Dad*.  This season kicks off with a fabulous conversation featuring the secret and highly-storied Admin of Instagram account @Canada.gov.ca who wants us to look beyond the internationally acceptable cliché of a peaceful nation of maple syrup drenched hockey players to some of the truth in "True north strong and free".

Join us as we talk about what makes the art of Alex Colville so tense and wonderful, the eerie crossovers of Princess Diana and some blonde babes, and that time Jann Arden shit on his post. Oh and what people should really know about Canada...  Enjoy!

I'm excited! It's really happening! After a few months away, I'm back, back, back again!

New episodes will being again on Thursdays, starting June 24th!

(SEASON 1 FINALE!)

By day, Michelle Mai is a scientist working in the Bay Area of California and by night (and morning and evening, too!) she facets gems on a cutting wheel in her kitchen. After the murder of George Floyd, her Instagram became as much a platform for anti-racism as it was beautiful sparklies for sale.

Michelle and I talk about our shared love of beauty, politics and the blur between creative passion and life. And we talk about her custom design and cut of a "Corona Virus Gemstone".

To see Michelle's incredible work and activism, follow her on Instagram and Reddit: @mvmgems  r/shinypreciousgems

To learn more about the ethical jewelry industry, visit @ethicalmetalsmiths

What makes home, home? And since when did getting wet in the rain make you "more of a man"? In this, the second edition of the "Gay Away" series, I discuss the difference between places you date and places you settle for with Jose Patiño-Gómez. 

Jose continues his amazing journey from Caracas to Barranquilla to Bogotá to Montréal ... and eventually to Toronto! Anyone with some pandemic wanderlust will appreciate the vicarious adventure!