Quirky And Or Queer

“I literally walked into the navy office and walked out and went to massage school. I feel pulled to help people that aren’t comfortable with their own bodies and the element of touch.”

Mase is a massage therapist, a yoga teacher, and a compassionate superstar of a human. They find space outside the confines of the patriarchal gender binaries enforced by society, while working with others to help them find more compassion and space inside their own bodies. 

We spent time together in Three Fathom Harbour and talked about life, gender, Newfoundland, and how to be more comfortable in our bodies. I hope you listen and appreciate Mase as I do, as someone who is making the world a better place through touch, love, and honest expression. 

“We are evolving as a society, we are evolving as people, we are evolving in our culture, so let go of that old mind frame.”

What does it mean to be accountable? This week’s episode has me interviewing Teo Ferguson. Teo and I reconnected a couple of months ago after a period of conflict, which resulted in me cutting him out of my life. He reached out to me and the experience has helped me learn a lot about what it means to be accountable to others and to myself. 

Besides the topic of accountability, we talk about gender, dating, family dynamics, and Teo’s experience of otherness. Teo is passionate, outgoing, creative, and he is pushing the boundaries of what is expected of young queer men of colour. 

“I have to let go of a lot of things I think in order to be genuine, because that’s what being an artist is. Being genuine.” - Mirrors

In this episode I sit down with Halifax based musician Mirrors, also known as Kurt Heinrich Collinet. I have known of Kurt for a little while through the digital landscapes of the Halifax Regional Municipality, but only met him in person late in the fall of 2018. I have memories of seeing him stalking up and down Gottingen Street on his way to performances while wearing these gorgeous white thigh-high boots. When we finally met, it was for a mini-photoshoot in the North End of Halifax. It was a quick shoot, but I loved the images and I enjoyed hanging out with him. 

We sat down and for an interview in February 2019 and talked about his musical process, his experiences of otherness, his upbringing, and where he sees himself in the queer spaces of Halifax. This year he will be recording and releasing 12 new songs, one for each month, and in this episode you get to hear two of his songs, Chanel No. 5 & Ran Cold. Take a listen! 

“I want love in my life and I want to show love to the people I care about and it doesn’t have to fit a traditional romantic mold.”

In this episode I sit down with April Hubbard on Valentine’s Day. April and I talk about otherness as it relates to disability, sex, community work, and relationships. April has so much wisdom and experience to share and I am very grateful for her candor and her honesty in this recording. Otherness is a complex subject, we experience it a multitude of ways, and April’s perspective on the subject of otherness is incredibly valuable.

I do not have much in the way of romantic love, but I have a lot of love for community, love for the arts, and the love found within meaningful friendships. Spending Valentine’s Day with April was better than chocolate, flowers, and even discount candy. 

“Use what we have learned about being ‘other’ to support ourselves and help other people too.”

This episode finds me interviewing Beldam Aiken at the Glitter Bean Cafe in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Beldam and I met auditioning for the Neptune Theatre’s Improv Conservatory program. We hit it off pretty much right away. We share some similar views on social justice, queer issues, and comedy. It has been a pleasure getting to know her. 

In this episode we talk about Beldam’s childhood, her views on love and partnership, and how her otherness shaped her experiences of the world. Beldam is fierce, thoughtful, and funny. Her worldview and perspective are worth experiencing. 

NOTICE: 

Following the podcast, Beldam reflected on her comments and in the spirit of being accountable for actions which could cause harm or be perceived as causing harm, Beldam would like to include this comment.

"From 18:00 to 18:30, I said something that I now regret. It was an inconsiderate, insensitive thing to say about another person whose experience I didn't and will never fully know. I regret saying this and offer an apology to anyone hurt by my statements." - Beldam Aiken. 

Richard Martin has recorded his first EP as For The Tide. The EP is a collection of songs which explore his queer identity and love. This episode finds us talking about how his otherness has shaped his music, his worldview, and helped turn him into a beautiful, radical, and creative human. Also, we preview his song Come On Over from his upcoming EP, Live at the Music Room. Check it out!

I am drawn to the idea and concept of otherness. This podcast and related content on Quirky And Or Queer will hopefully allow me to explore otherness and queerness. I want this to be an opportunity to help people tell their experiences and stories of otherness. How does being quirky and or queer influence their work, their creative pursuits, their love life, and help to shape their world view. Also, does it make their life more enriching? Funnier? 

Join me for interviews and chats with local quirky and or queer folks as we talk about social justice, equity, gender issues, comedy, mental health, and more.