Bending Towards Justice: Avatar the Last Airbender for the Global Majority

Swati Rayasam joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss The Guru and The Crossroads of Destiny (episodes 19 & 20). Subjects include supporting loved ones with addiction, enjoying platonic relationships vs shipping,  and what a bad idea banana onion juice is. Swati is a Southern fried scientist and organizer with the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (asata.org) who was raised on TV and lives every day like Avatar Kyoshi. Follow Swati on her website, swatirayasam.com. Also, you can support Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund at davisputter.org. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Sandhya and Cayden talk about whether these episodes are too dark for kids, the mechanics of earth bender lie detectors, and how Richard Nixon’s team put dog treats in his pocket so his dog wouldn’t ignore him. Cayden Mak is a technologist, writer, all-purpose nerd, and art school dropout, and works as the Publisher at Convergence Magazine. Sandhya Jha is an organizer, DEI consultant, and author who would rather be riding a flying bison. Connect to Cayden at bodywithout.org, twitter.com/cayden, and linkedin.com/in/cayden/, and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Namira Islam Anani joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss Appa's Lost Days (episode 16). Subjects include orientalist tropes, horizontality in organizing, and care and grooming of flying bison. Namira is a network weaver with experience as a lawyer, coach, and graphic designer. Follow Namira on her website, namiraanani.com. Also, you can support Saffron Community Kitchen Meal Relief in Detroit at launchgood.com/sck2023. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Cayden and Sandhya talk about The Tales of Ba Sing Se (episode 15). Subjects include the ways parenthood changes you, the ethologists studying animal cognition, and our favorite lemur’s new friendship with three mini-panthers. Cayden Mak is a technologist, writer, all-purpose nerd and art school dropout, and works as the Publisher at Convergence Magazine. Sandhya Jha is an organizer, DEI consultant, and author who would rather be riding a flying bison. Connect to Cayden at bodywithout.org, twitter.com/cayden and linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Shawn Taylor joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss City of Walls and Secrets (episode 14). Subjects include navigating class, fascism within the US, and the brilliance of a just-bear who’s the most strategic character we’ve met yet. Shawn is a pop culture researcher and folklorist.   Connect to Shawn at www.shawntaylor.net. Also, keep an eye out for his upcoming book titled, Alphabets for New and Expecting Fathers! Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Nabil Arnaoot joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss The Serpent's Pass and The Drill (episodes 12 & 13). Subjects include hiding who you’re from while being who you are, the tensions around navigating bureaucracy and who is equipped to do so, and how Nabil relates to Zuko’s desire to hunt down Aang. Nabil is a tech nerd and writer living in San Francisco. Connect with Nabil and his gifts for data analytics for social good at n4bil.com Follow Autostraddle website at autostraddle.com. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Cayden and Sandhya talk about The Library and The Desert (episodes 10 & 11). Subjects include emotional labor, discovering that our elders have their own stories outside of their connection to us, and what a bad strategic move it is to lie to a giant owl spirit. Cayden Mak is a technologist, writer, all-purpose nerd and art school dropout, and works as the Publisher at Convergence Magazine. Sandhya Jha is an organizer, DEI consultant, and author who would rather be riding a flying bison. Connect to Cayden at bodywithout.org, twitter.com/cayden and linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Salma Mirza joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss The Chase and Bitter Work (episodes 8 & 9). Subjects include the connections between fear and independence, how nondisabled people cast people with disabilities as victim, and how “Sheddy” is a horrible nickname for Appa. Salma is an organizer, strategist, and disability advocate. They enjoy nerding out over pop culture, RPGs, food/nutrition history/recipes and neuropsych/medical advances. Follow The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies at disasterstrategies.org, Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network at awnnetwork.org and Muslims for Just Futures at muslimsforjustfutures.org. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Gregory Whiting joins Sandhya and Cayden to discuss Zuko Alone (episode 7). Subjects include parental relationships, how childhoods shape adulthood, and how it is not cool to throw stale bread at turtleducks. Gregory is a clinical social worker (licensed to practice in CA and WA) with a private practice under the brand Waking Wisdom PLLC and consultant for social change under the brand Cat's Cradle LLC Follow Gregory on his website at wakingwisdompllc.com. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Shilpa Joshi joins Cayden and Sandhya to discuss The Swamp, Avatar Day & The Blind Bandit (episodes 4, 5, and 6). Subjects include the ways that systems of oppression can harm the oppressor, how we can be our ancestors’ wildest dreams, and how World Wrestling Entertainment is SO well represented in the ATLA world. Shilpa Joshi (she/her) wants to inspire you to take local action. For her, the best antidote to fear and hopelessness is getting involved in mutual aid networks and local advocacy groups in her community. She is the Policy Director for the Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund and the Board Chair for the National Queer Asian and Pacific Islanders Alliance. She likes to cook for her friends and family, organize gatherings for queer brown and Black community, and go on adventures with her partner Naike. Support Central Florida Emergency Trans Care Fund at Secure.actblue.com/donate/cfletcf. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Julie Ju-Yeon Kang joins Cayden and Sandhya to discuss The Cave of Two Lovers & Return to Omashu (episodes 2 and 3). Subjects include how hard it can be to escape playing a role in oppression, how to navigate one’s way through the darkness to emerge on the other side, and how we’re glad none of us have contracted pentapox. Julie Kang (she/they) is a 1.5-generation Korean-American mother and engineering leader, who aligns herself with the Southern Water Tribe. Julie lives in Oakland, CA, with her husband, two teenagers, and a menagerie of furry and feathered friends. Her motto is “¿por qué no los dos?” Connect to Julie at Twitter.com/juliekang. Connect to Cayden at Twitter.com/cayden and Linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Cayden introduces himself and he and Sandhya talk about SEASON TWO, EPISODE ONE, The Avatar State. Subjects include the costs of utilitarian relationships (and what drives us to them), needing hope in trying times, and how Sokka’s efforts to trigger the avatar state would be excellent hiccup remedies. Cayden Mak is a technologist, writer, all-purpose nerd and art school dropout, and works as the Publisher at Convergence Magazine. Sandhya Jha is an organizer, DEI consultant, and author who would rather be riding a flying bison. Connect to Cayden at ⁠bodywithout.org⁠, twitter.com/cayden and linkedin.com/in/cayden/ and follow his magazine at convergencemag.com. Connect to Sandhya at facebook.com/pastorsandhya, instagram.com/sandhyainoakland, and linkedin.com/in/withoutfearconsulting and sign up for their substack at https://sandhyajha.substack.com/.

Zeke seems OVERLY pleased to be passing on the mantle of I-did-not-ask-for-this co-host role to Cayden. Tune in to hear what Zeke appreciated about season one. Maybe we can get him back for a season two wrap up episode! In addition to working in county government, Zeke is an accomplished DJ and long-time Oakland resident with Chicago roots. Follow Zeke (DJ2WLV) any of these places: Zeke’s Facebook: Facebook.com/dj2wlvakadj12 Zeke’s Instagram: Instagram.com/dj2wlv Zeke’s Twitch: Twitch.tv/dj2wlv

Sandhya has big news about season two!

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the nineteenth and twentieth episodes of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Siege of the North) with Solomon Missouri, a pastor dismantling purity culture. Subjects include the evolution of Zuko, Iroh as #goals, and how cute Aang is as a snowman. Facebook: Solomon Missouri Instagram: @rev.missouri Twitter: @solomonmissouri Embodied Podcast: https://www.wunc.org/podcast/embodied-podcast Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! Pre-order Sandhya's new book, "Rebels, Despots & Saints" at https://tinyurl.com/RebelsDespotsSaints To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the eighteenth episode of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Waterbending Master), just the two of them. Subjects include highlights from the whole season plus a discussion of sexism, being a prince, and how cold the water is in the northern water tribe. Watch and chat with Zeke every Friday and Saturday at 9:30 PM PT on Twitch: twitch.tv/dj2wlv Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! Pre-order Sandhya's new book, "Rebels, Despots & Saints" at https://chalicepress.com/products/rebels-despots-saints or https://www.amazon.com/Rebels-Despots-Saints-Ancestors-Free/dp/0827233175 To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha Intro and outro music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay.

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the seventeenth episode of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Northern Air Temple) with Shari de Costa, writer and member of the water tribe. Subjects include preserving tradition, improving on the past, and how cool a lightning bug lantern would be. Kiribath Publishers: Facebook: Kiribath Publishers Instagram: @kiribathpublishers Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha Intro and outro music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay.

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the sixteenth episodes of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Deserter) with Patrick Reyes, who can take any cartoon and make it deep. Subjects include power, purpose, legacy, and how flaming fire flakes are, in fact, hot.   Sound of the Genuine podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-of-the-genuine/id1572223219 Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha Intro and outro music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay.

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the thirteenth episode of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Blue Spirit) with Patrick Cokely, a Black Disabled Southerner and a  lover of film music and all things nerdcore. . Subjects include how to lift as we climb, some pretty good martial arts, and how Sokka will show up for you every time with nothing but a joke and a boomerang. Check out Patrick's blog: https://talesoftheangrynegro.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @Angry_Negro Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha Intro and outro music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay.

Join long-time ATLA fan Sandhya Jha (withoutfearconsulting.com) and first-time ATLA watcher Zeke Robinson (@dj2wlv on Instagram) as they discuss the twelfth episode of Avatar the Last Airbender (The Storm) with RETURN GUEST Kat Liu! Welcome back, Kat! Subjects include individualism v. communitarianism, the location of honor, and HOW HUMANS WILL BREAK YOUR HEART! (But if kids are listening, EXCEPT THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE.) To learn more about the online RPG group Kat mentioned during the show, go to meetup.com/ppp-poc-pathfinder-party/ Facebook: Kat Earthren Liu Instagram: @shaktinah Twitter: @shaktinah Follow Zeke's DJ'ing on Instagram, @dj2wlv, or catch his sets at Mixcloud live (mixcloud.com/dj2wlv/) on Friday and Saturday nights! To support Sandhya's anti-oppression work and this podcast, contribute at patreon.com/sandhyaranijha Intro and outro music by Oleksii Kaplunskyi from Pixabay.