I’m back! And joining me in cozy conversation is the ever creative and colorful Ings, a Seattle-based Lullaby Rock musician. She’s here to chat with me about making, mindfulness, advocacy, and art over the hyggelig crunch of Kransekake. Ings shares that her music “is about embracing your inner emotional world” and, quite frankly, as a fellow-feeling-artist-gal, I dig that.

Featured music: Afterthought and Dogs are Aliens by Ings

Instagram: @ingsyeah

www.ingsyeah.com

Friend Fest 2: August 31st, benefit for Colectiva Legal del Pueblo

Production: Tobijah Rogers

Cover art: Sarah Day

4:33 Ings// an introduction to this Lullaby Rock beauty

9:00 Patriarchy// downloading: a republican grandpa

12:50 Inspired// the beats that fuel Ings

18:09 Software // Ing’s playlists

23:00 Purpose// Mindfulness of art

26:00 Activism// empathy for our fellow earthlings

35:00 Favorites// Sond, Dogs are Aliens, Pick Yourself Up

39:10 Afterthought// GTFO of the male gaze

43:20 100// more shows and music by Ings

Quotes:

“It’s like a little floppy disk for your brain” –Ings

"being kind is often perceived as being soft as if being soft was a bad thing" –Ings

“Where does my drive come from? I think it just comes from knowing I can do a good job” –Ings

“I identify as a maker because I just love to make stuff. I need to make stuff” –Ings

“The more that I emotionally understand the oppressive systems that we exist in, the more I am able to act on those emotions” –Ings

Norwegian Kransekake recipe: https://www.marthastewart.com/1162975/kransekake

Trigger warning: this episode discusses and/or mentions mental illness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm (please listen in a safe place if any of these topics might be triggering for you). It’s mental health awareness month and I’m here to share about my struggle with anxiety. Vulnerability on this topic is not just for my own sake, but also for that of others. This is my way of breaking down the associated stigma which still exists surrounding mental illness. I would like to thank Kaylyn Rogers for sharing her beautiful song, Morning After, in this episode. Also, I am thankful for my lovely friends who inspire and encourage me and whose voices are included in this podcast. May you listen with openness, feel inspired to treat your own mental health with care and pay mind to others in the world who are affected by illness of the mind.

24-7 Crisis Line for those going through a mental health crisis: (866)427-4747

Peace, love and hygge,

Claire

Featured music: Morning After by Kaylyn Rogers

*stay tuned for her upcoming album “About My Body” coming out on June 10th *

https://www.kaylynrogers.com/bio

Production: Tobijah Rogers

Cover Art: Sarah Day

1:00 Intro// a hello to mental illness

6:50 Anxiety// a story with reminders of this hidden monster

16:50 Brick// breathing through despair

29:00 Monster// and meds to let it free

35:00 Friend// the voices of those who know

What the hell is up with spring, new life and my favorite color? This episode is all about the beauty of spring and its connection to grace, which is abundant even in the searching. If I was to ask you what the hell is up—might you answer the sky? It’s still a bit grey here in Seattle, but April showers are supposed to bring May flowers, so I promise you everything is going to be just fine. I’m really just here to vaguely talk about God’s love as I’m growing in a season of change and wonder. Thanks for listening, friend.

Peace, love, and hygge,

Claire

Featured music: “Yellow” by Toni Lee

Check out her Instagram: @tonispaghettios

Production: Tobijah Rogers

Cover art: Spence Hood

How the hell did I get here (into the double digits!) lovely listeners? Today’s episode is brought to you by the beginning of Spring, a Seattle-promised ant infestation, night shift, and so many questions about living in the world at this moment. This episode is about letting life’s sorrows and joys guide and center us. It’s also about using God-given gifts and passions for a purpose greater than ourselves. I had the opportunity to chat with Naomi Wachira, a Seattle-based Afro-folk singer/songwriter, who is living out her calling to offer hope in the world through music. I first listened to her song; I am a Woman at a dance class at Westlake Dance Center. As soon as I discovered her name, listened to the rest of her discography and read up on her story, I was eager to get a good word from this gal. Sure enough, this conversation was a blessing to me in somewhat of a rocky season of my life. I hope (and trust) that it will encourage and inspire you to see beyond your own stumbling blocks to look for all the “beautifully human” aspects of ourselves and others.

Peace, love, and hygge vibes,

Claire

Featured music: “What if?” by Naomi Wachira

https://www.naomiwachira.com/

Production: Tobijah Rogers

Cover art: Spence Hood

1:00 Intro// welcome to ant-ville (or some cliché existential crisis of a gal’s young 20s)

8:00 Naomi// Queen of Afro-folk

11:15 Hearing// when God gives you a melody

21:10 Calling// a girl with a desire to share hope in the world

37:30 Mother// “what if we walked a mile in their shoes?”

50:00 Sorrow// feeling on a spectrum for bold living

56:42 Space// silence to create

1:06:20 African Girl// identity and celebration

1:14:00 Beginning// a common language

1:20:20 Outro// follow your breadcrumbs

Thanks for tuning in! What the hell is up with you? Today’s podcast episode is about exploring faith and doubt despite fear. I sat down with one of my favorite professors from Uni, Dr. Shannon Smythe who was recently ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA. Shannon is not only a fellow tea and hygge-lover, but also a fellow feminist and is quite a soul sister to me in faith. In our conversation she shares about the difficulty of pursuing ministry despite the disapproval of her family (faith proving to be a rebellious act), but she also describes the concurrent fuel this has been for her feminist theological fire. I discuss my experience exploring faith outside the boundaries of the Christian church. Whether or not religion has felt important in your life, I hope this episode might inspire you to think deeply about your context and the ways it has potentially ensnared you and given you opportunities to be free. And may you be reminded that no matter your practice, God (the universe, that little light inside you, etc.) loves you very very much.

Peace and hygge vibes,

Claire

Featured music: “Israel” by Leah Lawson

Check her out on Instagram: @lllawson

http://leahlawson.com

Production: *INTRODUCING* Tobijah Rogers

Cover art: Spence Hood

Today’s tidbits:

1:00 Intro// Sicky Claire says “what the hell is up?!”

3:45 Cookies// Shannon: a rebel in faith

15:00 Freedom// Breaking away from faith in a God that’s always mad

30:00 Searching// Meeting God in Buddhist meditation

47:45 Finding// Finding truth and a way among many

55:00 God’s love// I’m letting go of shame in my faith

Quotes:

• “being a woman called to ministry, then a script for me is that I am somehow bad and doing something rebellious”—Shannon

• “I was getting a sense of a God that was not always damning me”—Shannon

• “I see myself as a Gentile who has been brought into a faith that wasn’t mine”—Shannon

• “I think a lot more humility is needed especially by those who call themselves Christians”—Shannon

Today’s episode is about voice, femininity, vulnerability, mental health, songwriting, and the power of art. I sat down with Kaylyn Rogers, a lovely friend of mine, to chat about her latest EP The Older Brother, and her courage in creating an authentic piece that expressed her struggles with anxiety, among other things. Unfortunately, the audio turned out a bit shabby in this episode, but I promise the hygge conversation makes it absolutely worth it! The sound of the espresso maker, neighboring chit chat, and overall coffee shop vibes all speak to the frankness of our conversation. As a gal who has very recently come to terms with the role of my gender in creating my experience, I was eager to ask Kaylyn about the ways her bravery and femininity informed her creation of such vulnerable art. Plus, discovering her beautiful EP was a gift to me as I found comfort in its understanding of my own mental health struggles. If I didn’t already believe that our challenges fuel art and that vulnerability may just be our God-given superpower, I sure did after talking with this amazing guest on episode 8 of what the hell is up.

Featured music: Older Brother by Kaylyn Rogers

Follow Kaylyn on Instagram @cerealrogers

Cover art: Spence Hood

Today’s tidbits:

1:00 Intro// a HUGE hygge thank you for supporting my podcast

2:35 Kaylyn Rogers// a singer-songwriter & artist of authenticity

4:30 Anxiety// fuel for art & art as a means of coping

9:40 Risk// validity in taking up artistic space

16:55 Older Brother// what do they think about at night?

22:00 Faith// hope in the mere act of prayers that don’t go anywhere

25:15 Femininity// the value of emotional expression

32:00 Forward// more on anxiety in new sounds

Quotes:

• “Songwriting on so many different occasions has been the one thing that made sense of things for me”—Kaylyn

• “The beauty from ashes thing—I’ve never experienced it anywhere else more than when I’m feeling like shit and make something cool out of it” –Kaylyn

• “I got a little rush that made me think, Kaylyn: 1, mental health: 0” –Kaylyn

• “I felt like it was my responsibility to put it out there just in the off chance that some kid in Wisconsin who I’ve never met might stumble upon it” –Kaylyn

• “I had this moment of crisis when I was writing the songs on the album… that I have people in my life who I would die for and I don’t know what keeps them up at night” –Kaylyn

• “I’m learning the way that my femininity is not a weakness, but has given me a bit more access to my emotions and being raw about them” –Claire

• “Growing up, I was a tomboy not necessarily because I thought cargo shorts flattered me but because I felt like I would have more validity in spaces if I was more masculine” –Kaylyn

• “Even though there is that fear of being discounted for being more emotional—which is something women encounter all the time—I think I saw such a strength in myself for doing it that I didn’t really care if somebody was discounting me”—Kaylyn

• “I think the more art that could do what yours does would only make people feel more allowed to experience a breadth of emotions” –Claire

Today’s episode is the first to officially feature two amazing women in my life— Callan, my groovy little sister, and Olivia, my long-time stellar friend. I had the opportunity to catch a conversation with this cute couple about their experiences navigating social media, labels, coming out, being queer in high school, and figuring out how the hell to be queer in a heteronormative world. Ideas in this episode point to heterosexism, stereotypes, the difficulty of being queer as a young person, over sexualization of queer—especially female—people, and other challenges experienced by queer people. Plus, Cal and Liv speak about their passions for their respective arts with Cal pursuing dance and Liv creating music as a singer/songwriter. I’m continually inspired by the confidence these two gals emanate despite the obstacles they’ve faced AND how far they’ve come as individuals since our high school days. It’s been a blessing for me to be a part of their journeys and see them both thrive as a couple and as individual artists making a positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community and others.

*This episode’s hygge tidbit is embedded in the hyggesnak—honest, cozy, conversation—I had with Cal and Liv 😊

Featured music:

How We Love by Olie.G

Follow Cal and Liv on Instagram:

@calatopia

@olie.g_music

Today’s tidbits:

1:15 Welcome to the podcast, Cal and Liv!

4:45 Social media influencers? #globalgaygirlgang

11:35 Labels and identity

14:50 Being out-ed vs. coming out

19:00 Queer in high school: lost with no guide

30:15 The demand (and distaste) for labels

34:00 Coming out is CONSTANT

39:00 “You look straight”

42:00 Meet Olie.G, a rising queer POP sensation!

48:00 Meet Cal, a true dancing artist

53:15 A party for who?? Party for People!!

56:30 How We Love, outro

Quotes:

• “[Social media] was a way for us to be ourselves and not have to worry about how people would react to it” –Cal

• “Queer…queer…QUEER”—Liv

• “Liv and I had no hand in our coming out process”—Cal

• “In their eyes, if we did identify as something other than straight then our entire life was a lie up until that point”—Cal

• “I don’t really give a shit. People can perceive me however they want. Because the truth is you can’t make people know you just by looking at you, so might as well be comfortable with how you’re presenting” –Cal

• “Before I admitted I was gay, I always, always had the fear that people would assume I was gay”—Liv

• “I want to say, this is my girlfriend, Cal, and move on”—Liv

• “I don’t think either of us had a queer role model to look up to”—Liv

• “If there were people that were “popular” and they were living amongst the straights in harmony, it’s because they made themselves palatable by dressing a certain way or engaging in certain activities”—Cal

• “I hate the sexualization of it”—Cal

• “Music has 100% turned into the big gay platform of my life”—Liv

We’re nearing the Yuletide season and quite cozily nestled amid Advent. Today I’d like to have some hyggesnak and chit chat about what the holiday season is supposed to mean. Ever since I was a young girl, I struggled to find the meaning of Christmas and foster this hygge warmth beyond the gift giving. I’m quite sure that I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed by some of the stresses of the holiday season. There’s plenty of light, love, and hope to feel especially during the holidays! But it might just take some intentionality to cultivate the holiday spirit and not get lost in the commercialization, pressure of gift giving, and other potential stressors. Also, in this episode, I announce the launch of my Kickstarter to fund future podcasting!

Peace, love and hygge,

Claire

Featured music:

“Merry Merry Christmas” by Handsome and Gretyl, a husband and wife duo based in Seattle, Washington.

Instagram: @handsomeandgretyl

Cover art credit: Spence Hood

Today’s tidbits:

1:00 what the hell is up with Yule?!

2:00 meeting the real St. Nick

6:30 nuances of the holiday season

11:30 what YU(le) had to say

15:00 cultivating a hyggeligt holiday season

19:00 light in the darkness

22:00 Christmasy curiosities

23:30 girls during Christmas be like

25:00 Merry Merry Christmas by Handsome and Gretyl

25:55 help fund future podcasts! 😊

In this podcast, I’m doing something that scares me… coming out about my sexual orientation, which is just another piece of my identity which informs my voice and what I hope to share in this podcast. As much as I tried to organize my thoughts for this podcast, I would call this one experimental as I explore questioning my sexuality with a brief glimpse into a journal entry that reflects on my experience as a young teenager becoming aware of the fact that I’m not straight (oh wait… I thought everyone was like this?!). I begin to describe the way that my identity of being Christian and questioning has mattered immensely as I’ve navigated life. I hope that this might help you see where I’m coming from, encourage you in your own journey of self-discovery, or perhaps empower you in your role as an ally to those in the LGBTQ+ community. Haven’t shared much of this with many, so I sure do appreciate your listening.

Peace, love, and hygge,

Claire

Today’s tidbits…

3:40 what the hell is up with my sexuality and this idea of coming out?

6:20 why the hell do I want to share about this?!

8:30 I’m not straight ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but I have disclaimers (attraction is complicated!)

10:30 identifiers are helpful, but not everything (Pansexual? Bisexual? Demisexual? Questioning.)

14:20 style expression as I navigated my sexual orientation

17:30 Claire’s journal… a peek into beginning to come out to myself, holding my Christian faith and potentially being queer

26:00 about coming out to myself, friends, and others

30:00 my sexuality is not about phases (bisexual erasure is real…)

35:00 I’ll be showcasing more local and rising artists! So, here’s “Hero” by the lovely Heather Mae 😊

40:00 hyggeligt tip: candle lighting amidst post-apocalyptic thanksgiving darkness

Featured music:

“Hero” by Heather Mae, a singer-songwriter, queer, intersectional activist pop QUEEN. Check out what this gal is up to on her website and Instagram.

Insta: @heathermaemusic

https://heathermae.net/bio

Cover art credit: Spence Hood

Quotes:

 “Perhaps I am questioning. Maybe I will never have a label figured out. That is okay with me. I’m not stressed about that… at the moment. Maybe it’s because a friend of mine recently told me ‘don’t stress about your sexuality during this time either, it can be so fluid and ever changing. Just stay true to what God wants for you and you’ll have peace”

 “okay maybe this is something that makes me different, something that makes me unique, maybe that’s not a bad thing.”

 “the biggest thing is coming out to oneself”

 “we should celebrate diversity of gender expression and sexual orientation and not abide by these categories”

 “who I am dating now does not invalidate my identity. I don’t know why I fear their perceptions of me”

 “the pass-ability of my relationship as straight is privilege”

This episode started as an expression of my realization that I’m about to start my career as a nurse… which means that I’m getting ready to see sickness, pain, and suffering every day. As much as I’m preparing myself to encounter these aspects of life, I’ve also remembered that I’m not at all alone in seeing them. With fires devastating families in California, shootings in neighborhoods we’ve been to and know friends in, and all the other tragedies we hear of (and perhaps experience), today I just hope you don’t feel alone where you are.

Thanks for listening, my friend! Peace and love,

Claire

Read:

- Ann Wroe interview in "The great beyond" in issue 45 of Oh Comely

- You are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh

Music:

Featuring “1813” by Byland ---> check this lovely band out on insta! @bylandmusic

today's tidbits...

1:40 my heart goes out to those impacted by the shooting in Thousand Oaks and/or the fires in California

5:00 a little bit about me becoming a nurse! I’m an RN!

6:30 time to start the “real job”

9:45 nursing student grapples with suffering in the wake of her own damn privilege

15:00 preparing myself to encounter sickness, suffering, and death

17:30 nursing as an art of compassion

18:45 being aware of the brevity of life

21:30 two writers’ thoughts about death

27:00 today’s hyggeligt tip: letter writing

32:20 thank you shout out to Byland 😊

check me out on insta for more ridiculous hygge in my life ;) @claireybear101