Miyako (she/her) - Toronto call - 2022

When I first met Miyako in the bike shop of a friend in Toronto (I had just moved over from Vancouver the first weekend of the Olympics) we landed on the same page. I had a thin rain jacket and Vans coming from the PNW (after only 2 days as a bike courier in the middle of the winter) I stayed in a house with cats and got next level sick.

Miyako is a highly intuitive Osteopath treating from the inside-out when one is ready (but also from the outside-in). She healed my most recent injury (I thought my arm wouldn’t ever life over my head again), and started to take care of my oldest injuries.

Being able to be seen and heard mutually makes for a powerful dynamic. I have learned so much from our exchanges over the years, watching her follow the path that was always there. She is generous with her actions, kind with her words, and talented with her creativity.

Miss you

Aaron (he/him) - Berlin - 2022

I finally got to hang out with Aaron again yesterday at the studio (I even remembered to unplug the noisy fridge and plug it back in after). We both grew up skateboarding, get fucked up, leaving Canada, with a life rooted in recovery (much can be said for the northern climate influence in relationship to bottoming out).

We got into the origins of his creativity and how that trajectory has been going (often a surprise when deep spiritual practices are primary). I forgot to inquire about his history with self tattooing of very specific themes (I realised it only after, as we sat on a bench jamming a falafel, before I raced back to zoom into Vedic meditation class).

There have been a few folks now who want to stay anonymous, Aaron is one of ‘em (which is a pity not to be able to share his stuff, but well understood!).

Thanks!

Michael Harren (he/him) - New York City call - 2022

My first very sponsor @michaelharren and I had been catching up recently (trying to line this one up), it was such a treasure for me. In no particular order of importance Michael is a queer, a theatrical musician, a Podcaster, a vegan activist, a piano teacher, and the first person who really gave me the space and time to start to unpack my life.

I finally skidded into recovery (after almost a decade of physical abstinence from booze and drugs) as I was trying to make a life in New York City happen. Dry as a bone, I promptly emotionally and spiritually bottomed out and started to ask for help and found a solution.

The suggestions are to get a sponsor, to work the steps, to keep coming back, and to help others (back then the Rainbow room in Times Square was my home group). I heard Michael share one Friday night and said to myself “fuck it, I gotta ask this person to sponsor me, they have what I want.” He said a tentative “yes, let’s get together weekly before this meeting, as you do the work” (as his own personal life had been in a deep family crisis). All the rest has been the slow road that narrows gratefully. Thank you kindly.

https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/mikeypod/id74941758

Iñaki Aires (he/him) - Berlin - 2022

Over the years dear friends have come my way though the studio, @inaki_aires took the tea first then tattoo second then guesting third way (this has proven to be a trusted method in the times of IG).

He comes from a family of artists which really shows in the inherent ability to keep pushing aesthetics forward (I’m not that brave!). The techniques come along easiest when one has a direct connection to the creative process that the hand follows without fear (it’s impressive to watch him “figure it out” in several intervals per year for many years now).

He has since started @studio_nau_ in Porto where he was raised (the door is open to me kindly and I believe I helped name it accidentally over a classic UNIV ERSE breakfast in the kitchen here). Make sure to keep up with the fine art practice as well @arquivo_digital_

This one’s got some surprises, thanks again.

Julie F (she/they) - Berlin - 2022

Our paths first merged on week 2 of me landing in Berlin (I was here to stay but without a flat but had landed at AKA gratefully). I was over the moon to be offered a room by the studio with someone in long term sobriety (we hit the ground running, even if they were recently in a grieving process).

In those days we went to NA (that’s their main fellowship and you will understand who after listening to the historical account of the unmanageability). Next the cutest little handful of a puppy came into the mix and was named Rooney (I didn’t understand back then but have since come to dig Rooney Mara, but not for the same reasons).

It’s been impressive (and concerning) to watch how one can need fellowship and that surrounds it and slowly pull away but stay clean. Julie has always been making music with their partner Jane (and at times others in the band but often just the pair) and a solo project that speaks volumes. We had a blast expanding on: What it was like, What happened, and What it’s like now.

Enjoy.

Rita (she/her) - Berlin - 2022

We first met officially through Michele Servadio (we must have crossed paths already as AKA and the screen printing place was a block away). Since then we have been landing on the same pages in several iterations.

She moved to Berlin after finishing art school in Venice (then only speaking Italian and French but picking up English and immediately went to school for German). A punk drawn to noise, squats, community and performance (has a degree in all of it surely) stayed for 10 years then gypsied away a year ago or so now.

Over the years I’ve gladly taken care of her dog Pooka (being a dog myself in another life certainly). She assisted me in producing the last full season of UNIV ERSE (of which I still have much of). She saved enough form our time in collaboration (and as a cleaner) to put on a free weekend festival in Palermo. Sometime later recovery brought us closer again (as it often does).

There’s a lot shared in this episode as we sit in the studio (until my neighbour rings the klinger to collect a package and Pooka decides he’s been patient enough).

See you soon, safe travels!

Natasha Stavropoulos (she/her) - London call - 2022

We first met briefly (on the other side of the pond in a meeting) some years ago in London. She then moved over to Berlin and became a huge part of the queer fellowship immediately.

Shamelessly herself, a sober trans woman, mental health caregiver, sex worker, and powerfully intelligent. Make sure to listen well, (somehow I missed chatting about how much she loves driving very fast cars on the autobahn).

The many ways I’ve learned from @natashacomms @post.op.nataly couldn’t possibly squeeze into this episode (but we tried!).

Thank you kindly.

Sam Wood (he/him) - Los Angeles call - 2022

Sam AKA @morganwoodcallisto and I tried to jump a podcast tech hurdle recently (which was really just my block). This week we successfully hung out virtually, for an interesting conversation (beamed in from Los Angeles to Berlin).

We first met in the rooms of Berlin (as you do) and a friendship ensued via fellowshipping and summer bike rides to swim (FKK natürlich). As well his partner was once my sponsor which was a formative experience in my recovery.

If you already know how progressive Star Trek has been historically for queers (I was informed about this truth only recently). Then my excuse of being a young kid strung out late at night is almost enough? Somehow our conversation didn’t elaborate on his relationship to the series over the many years.

Enjoy!

Tamsin Omond (they/them) - London call - 2022

This week I had the chance to finally catch up properly with a lovely human @tamsinomond and share digital space (now normalised in these Corona times and greatly appreciated).

Tamsin and I met in a queer recovery meeting nearly 7 years ago (in a Crypt of a London church, which sounds crazy but commonplace). Since then we have been on the road to wellness individually and in tandem (irregardless of geography as they have spent plenty of time in Berlin historically).

From initially being involved in the London performance scene, to theatre, to climate activism, to politics, to gender, to writing a book, to a Ted talk, to getting hitched, to gender affirming surgery, to climate consultancy (all wrapped in up in a powerful recovery).

See you soon dude, thank you kindly.

Harry Hudson-Taylor (he/him) - Berlin 2021

Last weekend I got to witness @harryhudtay perform solo (gratefully at a non smoking bar in Berlin). I had been sent demos from the summer sessions @hudtaymusic made before the mastering (and they really rang that identification bell!). We get on well about all things music, spirituality, recovery, family, queerness alike.

At the beginning of Corona our meetings were all starting to be held on Zoom out of necessity (and Harry asked for some more help). Life connections keep on developing in my life because other folks also put their recovery first (and seek spiritual solutions) then can give back what was freely received.

Harry came to visit me at home with kind gifts of Frankincense, a candle, a small ruler, and a card (for underlining as we go along identifying in our recovery literature).

Thank you kindly!