~~

*Update*

Thank you so much to everyone for listening to the first season of What’s Your Safe Word: Declarations of Resistance! 

Episode 25 - Visualize What You Want Your Life to Look Like w/ Amy Syed will be our finale episode for Season 1. We would like to thank her, as well as all of our previous guests, for coming on our show and sharing their knowledge with us! As always, if you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] and thank you again for all of your support.

With love,

Shelleena, Nneka, and Amanda

~~

This week we are thrilled to welcome another very special guest to the @WYSWpodcast, AMY SYED (@amy.syed)! Amy is the Founder and CEO of FindyourHCP.com (@findyourhcp) and 15minutesaday.ca. She is a serial entrepreneur and activist in the realm of women and children's rights. Amy is a survivor of intimate partner violence, terminal cancer and host of her own podcast: Calm After the Storm: Survivorship and other stories (@calmafterthestormpodcast). She has spent her life's work teaching others how to empower themselves to live their best life and uses technology to get them there. She is an innovator and a believer in hope for the future of our world spreading optimism to inspire change. After our weekly check-in, we sit down (via Zoom) with Amy to talk about the ways which children are often impacted by male-perpetuated violence, and how the violence is often shifted towards children as a means to hurt their mothers. This is an extremely heavy topic, but Amy shares her vast knowledge with us and also shares some incredibly useful tips for survivors currently navigating legal systems.

This week we’re drinking Pieropan Soave Classico 2018, Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara Cider Company: Rose Gold Berry Soaked Cider, and Twisted Tea Peach. We gave these drinks a buzz rating of 5/5, 4/5, 4.8/5, and 5/5 respectively.

Youtube videos mentioned during our check-in: https://tinyurl.com/gsq9ffq & https://tinyurl.com/yacdjv29

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

We are so excited to welcome another very special guest to the @WYSWpodcast today, ANURADHA DUGAL! Anuradha is the Senior Director of Community Initiatives & Policy at the Canadian Women’s Foundation. She is committed to not-for-profit work for social justice and has been engaged in many roles in the sector - management, fundraising, events, convening, public education and direct program delivery. As well as being a fierce advocate for all who identify as women and girls, she is the mother to three boys who she is raising to be feminists. And she still finds time occasionally to enjoy gardening, knitting, and swimming! After our weekly check-in, we were thrilled to lead a conversation with Anuradha surrounding what it means to be a racialized woman, and how this identity has shifted for her throughout her life. We also chat with her about how she is raising her sons, and what it means for her to raise white men.

This week we’re drinking Pascual Toso Chardonnay, Sandbanks Riesling-Gewürztraminer VQA, and Anuradha’s Smoothie w/ Bacardi. We gave these drinks a buzz rating of 3/5, 4.5/5, and 3.5/5 respectively.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

This week we are so excited to bring you the final episode of our Transformative Accountability and Justice Initiative series! Once again, we welcome SHIRLEY BROEKSTRA to chat with us about our experiences conducting research on finding  an alternative model of justice, and what our findings were. The team shares how the survivors involved in our research truly impacted us all, and the importance of reading the declarations within our final report. Shelleena, Nneka, and Shirley then also teased some of our findings, but we strongly encourage, and ask, you to read our entire final report, which can be found here: https://www.womenatthecentre.com/wp-content/uploads/Declarations-of-Truth-Final-Report.pdf

But first, we opened with our check-in a little differently this week. Given the recent rise in anti-Black racism within both the United States and Canada, and the global uprising in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, our podcast format shifted a bit this week. Understanding the importance of amplifying Black voices (while also being critical of white silence, and the violence this causes) Shelleena stepped aside this week to give space for KARIA JONES (@motorkay) to join Nneka during our check-in. Please listen, learn, and commit to doing the work of anti-racism every single day!

This week we’re drinking Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, Cape One Moscato, Jackson-Triggs Reserve Chardonnay VQA, and 13th Street Burger Blend Rose VQA. We gave these wines a buzz rating of 5/5, 3.5/5, 4/5, and 3.5/5 respectively.

Youtube link mentioned during our check-in: https://tinyurl.com/ybj4fud4

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

On this week’s episode we are so excited to welcome JAIMIE TOROK! Jaimie is an Ontario Public Service employee, a volunteer for St. Vincent Place Men’s Shelter, Food Bank, Soup Kitchen and Thrift Store, a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters Sault Ste. Marie, a single-mother, a survivor, and a passionate advocate for women and children rights. Jaimie is also a part of the @WomenatthecentrE team as a Chapter Executive Member and integral leader of our Sault Ste. Marie chapter! How she finds the time to do this all, we will never know! But we are so happy to have her on the podcast this week to talk about her experience of being a single mother raising two children, the importance of leading with love, and how she fosters healthy relationships with her sons. To learn more about becoming a member with WomenatthecentrE, please visit: https://www.womenatthecentre.com/members/ 

This week we’re drinking Open Riesling Gewürztraminer VQA, Magnotta Shiraz, Babich Sauvignon Blanc, and Riunite Lambrusco Frizzante. We gave these wines a buzz rating of 4/5, 5/5, 4.5/5, and 4.5/5 respectively.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

This week we begin with a fairly heavy check-in where Nneka and Shelleena share their collective mental noise surrounding anti-Black racism, white supremacy, and the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. They both also share their successes for the week and gratitude for the loved ones in their lives. Then, we are so excited to welcome a very special guest to the @WYSWpodcast, ELLEN KAUFMAN (@elmkauf). Ellen is a doctoral student in Informatics at Indiana University and a graduate research assistant at the Kinsey Institute. Her research focuses on the implications of technologically-mediated intimacy for the future of erotic labor, social robotics, and interpersonal relationships. On a more personal note, Ellen is also Nneka’s (soon to be) daughter-in-law, and we could not be happier to have her as a part of the extended @WomenatthecentrE family! Ellen shares some of her research on sex-tech with us, and chats with us about what accountability, ethics, and digital literacy mean within this field of work.

This week we’re drinking Sandbanks Riesling VQA, Inniskillin Late Autumn Riesling VQA, Oyster Bay Chardonnay, & El Abuelo Organic Sauvignon-Verdejo. We gave these wines a buzz rating of 5/5, 4.5/5, 5/5, and 5/5 respectively.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

This week we are so excited to welcome back Shelleena (@Shelleena), Chris, and Matthew (AKA Tucker, @matteldracher) to continue our discussion surrounding polyamory. While last week we chatted about their relationship history and how they began their journey into polyamory, this week we take a deep dive into what their relationship looks like now. As always, Nneka and Shelleena lead us in a check-in where they both share some upsetting mental noise, as well as their successes and gratitudes for the week. Then Nneka jumps right back into our conversation with Chris, Matthew, and Shelleena to chat about the ins and outs of making a relationship with three people work.

This week we’re drinking Funf 5 Riesling Rhein and Henry Of Pelham Riesling VQA. We gave these wines a buzz rating of 4.2/5 and 4/5 respectively.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

Like many other podcasts, we’ve had to change our format due to the continued physical distancing procedures that are in place to combat COVID-19. This week, our co-hosts and producer meet once again, but over a Zoom video call, to check-in and chat with our amazing guests! After touching base about the various ways in which we are all experiencing the effects of the pandemic, Nneka shares some crucial information about the impacts physical distancing has had on survivors, and their families, who are experiencing male-perpetuated violence. To learn more, please check out her latest blog post.

We are then so excited to welcome our guests this week! Nneka had the pleasure of interviewing our very own Shelleena, her husband Chris, and their partner Matthew to talk about their relationship and their experiences with polyamory. Shelleena opens up the conversation by sharing some definitions and terminology, and then Chris and Shelleena both take us through their relationship history and the ways in which they have decided to open up their marriage. While they share some of the struggles they experienced when disclosing their relationship to their family, they also share some incredible stories of supportive and encouraging responses! We then invite their partner Matthew Eldracher (AKA Tucker, @matteldracher) to share his experiences of joining this throuple!

Like always, we invite you to listen to this podcast with an open mind and kind heart, and if you are interested in learning more about polyamory or the poly community please check out the following resources: The Ethical Slut by Dossie Easton and Janet Hardy; Stories from the Polycule by Dr. Elisabeth Sheff; Turn Me On (Podcast); The L Word (TV Series); Polyamory: Married & Dating (TV Series); Esther Perel (Podcast & Books); Local events called “Munches”; & Oasis Aqualounge (Toronto based Sex Club)

This week we’re drinking Bottega Vino Dei Poeti Brut Rose, Ruffino Prosecco, and Bottega Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco DOC. We gave these wines a buzz rating of 2.5/5, 3/5, and 4.25/5 respectively.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

*Please note that we pre-recorded this episode several weeks ago, before the direction to self-isolate here in Ontario, Canada. The entire WomenatthecentrE and What’s Your Safe Word teams are now practicing physical distancing and self-isolation, as directed. Please stay safe and be kind to yourselves during these unprecedented times. We love you and hope this can add some comfort to your day!*

On this week’s episode we’re taking a deep breath and pausing for a moment. Shelleena and Nneka check in, as usual, and then invite Amanda to also share her mental noise, gratitude, and success. Our co-hosts and producer spend this episode catching up and regrouping, after what has almost been a year of planning, recording, and bringing this podcast to our listeners. We also then share some listener feedback! Please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review and maybe we’ll read your comments soon! We hope this episode can inspire all of you to connect with those around you, check-in with yourselves, and practice some self care!

This week we’re drinking Martini & Rossi Asti. We gave this wine a buzz rating of 3.8/5.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

Disclaimer: We are having some issues with our audio during certain points. We are a grassroots organization and trying our best to use the best audio equipment we can, without causing any of our team members any financial hardship. As always, we think these discussions are important and need to be heard, but if you’re concerned about the audio, now would be a great time to donate to our Patreon (http://tiny.cc/bhjuez)

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

Our team is reunited this week, as Shelleena and Nneka welcome Karia, Amanda, and Nicole to the podcast once again! While our conversation starts by chatting about an episode of Sex Education (warning: brief spoilers), it turns into a much deeper discussion about sisterhood and friendship. We end our conversation with the message from Shelleena (and the whole team) that when we talk about sisterhood, we mean that in the truest sense of the word, and that we actively want to work against cis-terhood and cisnormativity within these spaces. Nneka also shares some information about becoming a member at WomenatthecentrE, and if you would like to learn more please visit: https://www.womenatthecentre.com/members/

This week we’re drinking Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay. We gave this wine a buzz rating of 2/5.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

Disclaimer: We are having some issues with our audio during certain points. We are a grassroots organization and trying our best to use the best audio equipment we can, without causing any of our team members any financial hardship. As always, we think these discussions are important and need to be heard, but if you’re concerned about the audio, now would be a great time to donate to our Patreon (http://tiny.cc/bhjuez)

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com

This week, one of the integral members of the @WomenatthecentrE team, SHIRLEY BROEKSTRA, joins Nneka and Shelleena to take a deeper dive into the research that was conducted as a part of the Transformative Accountability and Justice Initiative. In particular, they share their experiences of conducting the one-on-one and focus group interviews, highlighting the courageous survivors who shared their declarations with the team. Shelleena also celebrates Shirley’s brilliant idea of adding an additional question to the focus group interviews! As always, the team then finishes with a check-out where we each shared one word to describe the interviews.

This week we’re drinking Louis Bouillot Perle d'Ivoire Brut Blanc de Blancs. We gave this wine a buzz rating of 3/5.

Become a Patron! http://tiny.cc/bhjuez

To learn more about any of our team members please follow us on social media! You can find WomenatthecentrE (IG: @WomenatthecentrE / TW: @WomenatcentrE), What’s Your Safe Word? (@WYSWpodcast), Nneka MacGregor (@NnekaMacGregor), Shelleena Hackett (@Shelleena), Amanda Hollahan (@AmandaHollahan), Nicole Fontyn (@NicoleFontyn), and Karia Jones (@motorkay) on Instagram and Twitter!

Amazing intro music by: @wanderallwinter

Disclaimer: We are having some issues with our audio during certain points. We are a grassroots organization and trying our best to use the best audio equipment we can, without causing any of our team members any financial hardship. As always, we think these discussions are important and need to be heard, but if you’re concerned about the audio, now would be a great time to donate to our Patreon (http://tiny.cc/bhjuez)

If you have any comments, questions, or concerns please email us at: [email protected] or check out our website: https://wysw.womenatthecentre.com