Seen

Ready or not, you can’t hide—the internet will find you! Or, at the very least, the truth will be found out, and repercussions may ensue. In this day and age, “cancel culture” and “call-out culture” are highly criticized as divisive, but what is the purpose of cancelling people? What are alternatives? In this episode, we discuss accountability, disposability, shame and redemption. Song of the week: Ready or Not by The Fugees 

We’re deep in the age of social media, and for better or for worse, it shapes how we think, how we see ourselves and how we project our identities to others. Our experiences as BIPOC are finally able to be validated on a whole other level, and social media helps us find our people. In this episode, hosts Nic and Lala find the strengths of this powerful digital arena, discuss how we can meaningfully engage online, and identify some of the reasons that social media may harm us. Song of the week: Photograph by J.Cole

What does it mean to step into your power? How do you work to tune out the noise that distracts you and the people and systems that keep you small? In this episode, Nic and Lala discuss the foundations of stepping into our power: believing ourselves. We explore the importance of connecting to our values and share tools that can support us in playing the most important character in our own lives. Song of the week: My Power by Thierra Whack, Beyonce and Moonchild Sanelly

What’s for you is for YOU. So why are we tripping, holding onto things that no longer serve us? In this episode, we identify common reasons why letting go is so difficult, and how we can better tolerate that discomfort and show up for ourselves in meaningful ways. Song of the week: Bag Lady by Erykah Badu

How do you feel when you’re alone with your thoughts? Do you welcome solitude, or descend into feelings of loneliness? In this episode, we tease out the differences and share what it means to become acquainted with the practice of tuning in to our own bodies and minds. Song of the week: New Apartment by Ari Lennox 

It’s likely that we’ve all experienced it: that drop in the pit of our stomachs, desperately wishing we could disappear, and fearing that the people we love may no longer accept us. Shame is a powerful feeling that most often drives us to retreat in self-judgement and isolation. In this episode, Lala and Nic share their perspectives on the causes of shame, how it operates, and its obvious but necessary antidote: community. Song of the week: Runnin’ by Naughty Boy ft. Beyoncé, and Arrow Benjamin

SEEN was created out of a desire to connect personal healing with collective liberation work—but what does that even mean? Is it possible to be an advocate of social justice and transformational change in our communities if we aren’t doing our own personal work? In this episode, Lala and Nic explore the heart of the podcast, provide insight on the harms that come when the two pieces do not exist together, and offer ideas on how we can make sure our work is sustainable by rooting it to our own healing journeys. Song of the week: Doo Wop (That Thing) by Lauryn Hill

Society shows and tells us that anger is often intertwined with abuse or violence—but is that the truth? How can we tune into our bodies when anger overwhelms us? This episode, we discuss the much-avoided emotion, dispel myths, and explore how anger can help us understand our needs and boundaries. Song of the week: Mad by Solange ft. Lil Wayne

Not all relationships give us the freedom to be who we really are. This can be especially true for people of colour who are in intimate relationships with white folks. How might we navigate these relationships to ensure that we are fully seen and heard? How can we keep sight of the manifestations of white supremacy in our own relationships? Get comfortable with being uncomfortable for this one! Song of the week: Insecurities by Syd

What’s the secret to having good politics, and what does having “good politics” even mean? In this episode, Lala and Nic share foundational principles that guide how they take up space and work to minimize harm and maximize benefit. They do away with hard-and-fast rules and take nuanced approaches to explore how we centre relationships and identify when power is at play. Song of the week: Don’t Hurt Yourself by Beyoncé ft. Jack White