Seen

As non-Indigenous POC, have you ever pushed back against racism by asserting that you’re from here, you’re Canadian, you belong here? In this episode, Nic and Lala continue their discussion of the identities and responsibilities held by settlers of colour, exploring what it means to search for belonging while living on stolen land, and how we can honour our ancestors by fighting Canadian colonialism. Song of the week: K.O.S Determination by Black Star

While Indigenous Land Defenders #ShutDownCanada, what does it mean to be both a person of colour and a settler? As we feel overwhelmed and may need to balance showing up for others with caring for ourselves, who has access to rest and self-care? And when does “self-care” become an excuse for not doing our work? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss pushing past shame, how settler guilt can compel us to act, and the necessity of finding our place in the movement for Indigenous sovereignty. Song of the week: A Tribe Called Red by Angel Haze

Self-exploration of our sexuality can be exciting and daunting. Nearly one year after coming out as bisexual, Nic opens up about her feelings of not feeling “queer enough”, and Lala offers her experiences on navigating queerness as a woman of colour. Song of the week: Gonna Love Me by Teyana Taylor

Diasporas are rich, vibrant... and complicated. While many of us feel deeply connected to the cultures of our heritage, we also feel like outsiders. So how do we engage with our cultural lineages with integrity? In this episode, Lala and Nic explore the dynamics of cultural appropriation and how to understand our place in the cultures and communities we descend from. Song of the week: Formation by Beyoncé 

2020 began with a lot of tragedy: Australia’s catastrophic wildfires, devastating loss in Iran, and the world feeling on the brink of impending disaster. Where do we go from here? In this episode, Lala and Nic dive into frank discussions on the often overwhelming fear and grief we experience today, and explore what it means to have hope in the face of endings, collapse, and destruction. Song of the week: Hallelujah by k-os

The end of the year often means feelings of reflection, optimism, and sometimes, dread. How does a new year feel for you? A challenge to expand more fully into yourself, or a measuring stick and what you ought to “fix”? With a new decade in full view, Nic and Lala talk self-acceptance and personal growth. Song of the Week: 5 Year Plan by Chance the Rapper, Randy Newman

Vulnerability can come naturally for some, and cause real discomfort for others. Listen as Lala and Nic discuss whether vulnerability is just about communicating our feelings, and consider what keeps us from being vulnerable, even with people who love us. Song of the week: These Walls by Kendrick Lamar ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, and Thundercat

Sensitive people are all around you: taking in information, feeling deeply, and honing in on the energies of others. In this live recording of Seen, Nic and Lala open up about emotional and physical sensitivity and explore how an Achilles heel can become a powerful resource. Song of the week: In My Feelings by Kehlani

What is anti-blackness? Can non-black people of colour be anti-black, or is this just a white thing? In this episode, we get into the specificities of this particular strand of racism to tease out the ways that anti-blackness operates and is perpetuated. Buckle up, shit might get a lil' bumpy. Song of the week: F.U.B.U. by Solange

Our bodies are sites of learning, holders of our experiences, and for many, battlegrounds against chronic pain, disease and illness. In the first episode recorded after our hiatus, Lala shares how her health has forced her to slow down, and the lessons she’s chosen to take from this debilitating season. Song of the week: Another Spring by Nina Simone