AMPLIFY | The Podcast

Welcome to AMPLIFY: The Lockdown Sessions.This is the first of a series of podcasts created in isolation by members of The RISE Collective, a youth organisation that uses creative arts and media to amplify the voices of young people.In each episode we aim to explore a different theme via the work of an array of emerging and established artists, curated for your listening pleasure.This week your hosts Amy and Chloe will be talking about loneliness.Joining us on this exploration of lockdown-induced solitude is ex.sess, a sound artist, producer and founding member of the Earwax collective which champions women in sound. We also play a track by up and coming songwriter Bina, who manipulates alternative R&B beats, jazz & neo-soul. Finally, single mum Pam leaves a message on the line, detailing the trials of isolating with younguns.We hope you enjoy listening!Edit and hosting: Amy Parkes, Chloe LalagunaMusic: PembrokeTwitter: @RiseAmplifyInstagram: @therisecollectiveukWebsite: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Welcome back to AMPLIFY: The Lockdown Sessions.AMPLIFY: The Podcast is a series of podcasts created byThe RISE Collective, a youth organisation that uses creative arts and media to amplify the voices of young people.In each episode we aim to explore a different theme via the work of an array of emerging and established artists, curated for your listening pleasure.This week, your hosts Amy and Chloe are joined by poet and singer/songwriter Abena-Essah Bediako who blesses us with a poem inspired by her Ghanaian heritage and a brand new original song. We follow that with an anonymous poetry submission before answering your relationship queries (badly). To top off the show we chat with Blk Ozwald, Jax Beats and Rosie P about their latest single 'Chills'.BetterDays.fm are raising money for the Black Lives Matter movement, with 50% of funds raised heading to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust in the UK and the other 50% going to the NAACP Legal Defence Fund in the US. The RISE Collective continues to stand with, support and amplify the voices of Black artists, creators and communities as we work towards equality and social change.We wholeheartedly support the Black Lives Matter movement and those who are protesting on the ground, you can find a list of organisations raising funds towards the movement in the UK below, so please donate as much as you can as often as you can so that we can keep this momentum going.blackmindsmatteruk.comblackthrive.org.ukstophateuk.org100bml.org4frontproject.orgaccessuk.orgEdit and hosting: Amy Parkes, Chloe LalagunaMusic: PembrokeTwitter: @RiseAmplifyInstagram: @therisecollectiveukWebsite: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Welcome back to AMPLIFY: The Lockdown Sessions, our series of lockdown podcasts created byThe RISE Collective, a youth organisation that uses creative arts and media to amplify the voices of young people.In each episode we aim to explore a different theme via the work of an array of emerging and established artists, curated for your listening pleasure.This week's theme is stress. We’ve all been feeling it. Join us as we attempt to unpick the mind fuzz that has been the last few months 🌞Starting off with an ode to the power of the mind, we’ve got eclectic London musicians Amapola playing their latest single 'All In The Mind' featuring grime MC Peigh. Following that, we’ve got a powerful piece of spoken word written and performed by our all-time fave FLO Vortex poet Vala, as well as the most relaxing interview ever made with stress specialist Rosie Watson.To top it all off, South-East London legends Talk Show teach us the very meaning of catharsis with their aptly titled single ‘Stress’.A massive thank you to all our contributors 💜Social Handles:Amapola - @thisisamapolaTalk Show - @talkshowtalkshowVala - @medalsformyvalaRosie Watson - @rosieuwatsonKhulisa.comEdit and hosting: Amy Parkes, Chloe LalagunaMusic: PembrokeTwitter: @RiseAmplifyInstagram: @therisecollectiveukWebsite: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Welcome to AMPLIFY: The Lockdown Sessions, this will be the FINAL episode of our first series of lockdown podcasts created by The RISE Collective, a youth organisation that uses creative arts and media to amplify the voices of young people.In each episode we aim to explore a different theme via the work of an array of emerging and established artists, curated for your listening pleasure.As lockdown comes to an end, so does this series. In anticipation of the next series of RISE podcasts, we're back with this bonus episode.This week's theme is grief. We all face it in some form or another in our lifetime, but how has the pandemic affected the way we grieve? Join us as we unpick grief in its many forms with the help of our guests, in this final episode of The Lockdown Sessions.Kicking off this episode, Blk Ozwald joins us to talk mental health, societal pressures and self-understanding through recovery. We explore the inspiration behind his most recent project, 'Revelations', a two-track concept album which addresses the stigma surrounding mental health and aims to open up a more genuine conversation.Following that, we’ve got a beautiful poem written and performed by Aliki, a 23-year-old South London based creative and co-founder of art collective Dorsia. Under Dorsia, they have published 2 volumes of their zine entitled ‘Ceviche’, which contains works from artists from around the world across a multitude of mediums.To close the episode we're joined by writer, poet, counsellor and psychotherapist Alice Spencer for an enlightening chat about grief. Alice created RISE's Guide to Self-Preservation, a series of videos which offer advice on dealing with stress, worry, loss and more. You can find more of Alice's writings on bereavement and mental health on www.insideoutwellbeing.org and on her personal blog www.apathtoselfactualization.wordpress.com.A massive thank you to all our contributors 💜Social Handles: Chloe Lalaguna - @chloelalaguna_Amy Parkes - @aeparkesBlk Ozwald - @blackozwaldAlice Spencer - @alice_spencerAliki Vatidi-Turp - @xenodesign_Edit and hosting: Amy Parkes, Chloe LalagunaMusic: PembrokeTwitter: @RiseAmplifyInstagram: @therisecollectiveukWebsite: www.therisecollective.org.uk

Queer Joy is a collection of episodes sharing the experiences, work and stories of six exceptional queer creatives through discussion, music, poetry and more.Trailer edit and host: Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy, Lead Producer and Guest EditorMusic: PembrokeTwitter: @RiseAmplifyInstagram: @therisecollectiveukWebsite: www.therisecollective.org.ukTranscript:Arden: Good news, folks! We have the celebration of queer identity you’ve been waiting for!Pip: One, two, three, gonna hit that clap![Music by Pembroke kicks in: a jazzy number]Arden: Welcome to Queer Joy, the new series of the RISE Collective’s AMPLIFY podcast.Maia: Most representation is so focused on the difficulties of navigating identity and relationships and we really want to offer something a bit different, with a bit of joy.Niamh: Yeah, I mean I think we're a bit tired of talking about the hardships, queer love is something that deserves to be celebrated and holding on to that joy is so important, and shouldn't be overlooked.Pete: Feel yourself, love thyself. Hopefully we’ll see the representation we need to see in the world. Wink.Arden: Join us to explore the queer experience through discussion, poetry, music, and more!Destiny: Art is necessary—to question, teach, disrupt, and reflect.Pip: If you’re close to something and you love it, you need to know how to criticise it. Demand change with love!Arden: This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers.Pete: Trans people deserve sex positivity. It’s really hard sometimes to feel like you can engage with generally sex positivity when all of the people leading those conversations don’t look like you, or live like you.Destiny: I think I would say the biggest help has been finding people who believe in a better world, and encourage you to imagine it.Arden: These are our own stories, on our own terms.Kenya: By the trans—Pete: For the trans, all trans, all good, all go!Arden: Search ‘Amplify RISE Collective on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing. I’ve been Arden Fitzroy—I’ll tell you more next time…Kenya: Byeeeee![Music and ‘byes’ fade out]

Queer hosts Niamh and Maia talk about their first date, queerbaiting and lost cats. Joined by poet Troy Cabida. .Please note this episode contains explicit language, references to homophobia and sexual references. .Host Bios:.Niamh Haran (they/them) is a queer non-binary poet/writer from North London. They are a Roundhouse Poetry Collective alumnus with poems in Bath Magg, Perverse, The Interpreter’s House, The Babel Tower Notice Board and Ink Sweat & Tears among others. They are currently doing an English BA at King’s College London. Twitter @niamhjerrie Instagram @niamh.haran.Maia Yolanda Wagener (she/they) is a Dutch/Indian writer and student living in London. An English major, Maia enjoys writing poetry and plays, and hopes to combine academia and playwriting. You can find Maia on instagram, @m.wagener.s, and twitter, @maiaywagener..Guest Bio:.Troy Cabida is a Filipino poet and producer for open mic night Poetry and Shaah. His pamphlet, War Dove, was published by Bad Betty Press in May 2020 and can be found at: https://badbettypress.com/product/war-dove-troy-cabida/.Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Transcript:.Arden: Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change. I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.Maia: Hello everyone and welcome to AMPLIFY's episode of The Niamh and Maia show where we, Maia—Niamh: and Niamh—Maia: will be talking about queer love, more specifically, we'll be looking at queer relationships, with both other people, and with our own queerness. Niamh: I like the sound of that.Maia: The word queer is actually a new one for us, isn't it. Niamh: Yeah, it definitely is, I mean I love the word but some of my families can't seem to say it yet because they still think of it as an insult, we only started using it relatively recently because it just became more apt for us I think as individuals, and I believe in our relationship. For me it started to bridge the gap between gender and sexuality. Maia: I definitely agree. I think the word has become more suitable I definitely feel a lot less restricted using the word queer despite having uncomfortable feelings about it in the past, I think link to like you said, people haven't previously used that as an insult, maybe.Niamh: Yeah, I mean personally I rejected the term for quite a while, but in the last year or so, I've been engaging with people who embrace the word so much. It just gives me some sense of relief when some days I don't know what I am because it allows for that uncertainty that not knowing, and the potential for movement and experimentation without what feels like the same level of emotional consequence.Maia: Yeah I definitely agree, despite all the uncertainty, we are going to try and make this podcast as positive as we can. Most representation is so focused on the difficulties of navigating identity and relationships and we really want to offer something a bit different, with a bit of joy. Niamh: Yeah, I mean I think we're a bit tired of talking about the hardships, queer love is something that deserves to be celebrated and holding on to that joy is so important, and shouldn't be overlooked. Maia: Absolutely, who thought you'd be so sentimental Niamh!Niamh: Well I wouldn't push it. Maia: Well, yesterday we were singing Maroon 5 together so don't try too hard to play cool. Niamh: Well those lyrics needed some updating, instead of saying she will be loved we were singing, they will be loved. I think it feels very empowering to share queer love in all its forms sentimental or otherwise, with other people, with our listeners.Maia: Which is why we'll also be interviewing our first very talented guest today, Troy Cabida, poet and producer whom we both have the pleasure of knowing. We’ll be chatting with him about the relationship between queerness and creative work feelings around representation and what inspires him. Niamh: We will, which is really exciting. We will also be chatting about some fairly recent queer representation and our thoughts around it. So we will also be talking some more about ourselves, most likely.Maia: And we're at least semi qualified to do so, we are in a queer relationship after all, with each other. Niamh: I hope so, at least I think we are. I wonder how many times we're going to be saying the word queer in this podcast.Maia: Many, many times Niamh. Niamh: Yeah I'd say being in a relationship, we know a thing or two! But more on that in a minute.Niamh: Welcome back listeners. As I was saying, Maia and I are in a relationship, and have been for about a year and a half I think. I literally lived in Maia's uni accommodation for this time, got free food, so I'd say it's been alright.Maia: It's really crazy to think year and a half ago we just met.Niamh: I know. We met in Camden for our first date on a very rainy Tuesday, Maia had already eaten and made me eat alone which was which was quite a stressful experience. Maia: I was just really nervous, I don't think I'd have been able to stomach anything anyway. I think Niamh will say I was mean but I was just trying to be cool, I think it's really daunting trying to impress someone you already know you like, we've been speaking already for a couple of months. So it was just all very overwhelming. I even tried to pretend I didn't want to go on a second date to seem cool, you know, go with the flow, we can guarantee I'm not, but Niamh was so cute and drank from a straw like a cat drinks milk, and brought out my sentimental side straight away. Niamh: We actually tried to adopt a cat recently but the shelter was ageist and said we were too young. Maia: Makes no sense but I guess we've got more important things to do than clean the litter tray. Niamh: Like what? Maia: Like watching Grey's Anatomy. Niamh: That is true. We have been binging it for a couple of months now. Maia is basically a surgeon, I'd say I'm getting there, but not quite.Maia: Maybe not now,  in a past life. I did used to try and figure out what was wrong with patients on Grey's, but I didn't get very far. Niamh: To be fair, sometimes I do wish I was an architect, I'm just obsessed with looking at converted shipping containers that have now become literally kind of every other suggested post on my Facebook feed. Takes up a lot of my time!Maia: Well there's always a way Niamh, but we're not surgeons or architects, we're students actually. Niamh: Yes we are. I'm Niamh, my pronouns are they/them, I'm an English undergrad in London at King's, I'm also a poet and musician. I play Irish traditional music specifically the flute, and Uillean pipes. I'm also interested in theatre, and just seeing where life takes me I guess. Maia: Yes you are. I'm Maia, I'm doing a liberal arts degree majoring in English, I play music too, as Niamh mentioned. I play some Maroon 5 tunes here and there. If you need a two-person band to make everyone cry at your wedding just shout us. I also write, I've been lucky enough to work with the Kiln Theatre in writing a short play for Out in March, but I'm also interested in poetry, but my pride and joy will always be my Spotify playlist. I curate the best you have ever heard.Niamh: I have to agree I have to agree, I am your most loyal Spotify follower, I believe. Maia: I think you definitely are. So now that you know who we are. It's time for you to meet our fabulous guests Troy Cabida. Troy is a Filipino poet and producer based in southwest London. His debut pamphlet War Dove was published by Bad Betty Press in May 2020, which for any of our poetry and non-poetry lovers, you should definitely check out. I first met Troy at the Roundhouse poetry collective last year, when we were figuring out who we wanted to feature Troy was definitely one of the first names that came to mind and we're super excited to share his work with you. Niamh: Hi, Troy, thanks so much for agreeing to be our first guest ever.Troy: Thank you for having me. I didn't know I was the first guest.Maia: So nice to meet you properly. Troy: You too Maia, hi. Niamh: So to kickstart things, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself. Troy: Hi my name is Troy Cabida. I'm a poet, I'm a producer, I'm a university student, I'm currently at Birkbeck University. Well, online, but I'm at Birkbeck and I'm doing. Psychosocial Studies. My first year. I'm also working as a library assistant for Wandsworth libraries, and I have a another part time job in a shop called Wild Ones it's a crystal shop in Chelsea. Niamh: That sounds very cool. And yeah, like that online uni stuff. Maia: But it's yeah, it's so cool to speak to an emerging poet when we kind of, we really need some creativity at the moment. Troy: Thank you for saying that. Niamh: So before we hear you, reading a poem of yours. We're very interested, I guess, how you feel that queerness intersects with your writing or, you know, if it doesn’t, like that's cool too.Troy: Yeah. So, so my poetry. I really started getting published in 2013, and that was way before I formed an understanding of my sexuality, and I came out in November, no sorry October 2017, it was a very stressful time, and I had been in my second year of the Barbican Young Poets, which is a programme at the Barbican where it's a workshop, community as well of poets that come every other Wednesday and learn poetry and from each other and stuff like that. And that, that whole period of coming into terms of my sexuality understanding that oh I like women, I like men. Sometimes I don't like anyone sometimes I like everyone. And it's, um, that, that whole experience would ha

Resources for sex education and positivity often leave trans people out of the conversation, so let’s have a chat amongst ourselves! Stitched and strapped: sex, pleasure, and trans joy. Here we focus on the most important relationship there is—with the self..Please note this episode contains discussions of sex and masturbation, mentions of transphobia, and  discussion of medical transition..Host bios:.Pete MacHale (he/him) is a creative from Bristol, based in London. He trained at the AUB, and acts and writes for stage and screen. Recent credits include Dungarees (2019), Gangs of London (2020) and his debut solo show Dear Young Monster,  currently in development with The Queer House. Instagram: @peteyparty_.Kenya Sterling (he/him) is an actor and creative, studying at Rose Bruford. He has experience with the Royal Exchange Young Company and ALT Actors. Recent credits include ‘Liam’ in TUC’s trans awareness film, and I AM at Ovalhouse. His debut poetry collection ‘19 Years Of Skin’ is out now. Instagram: @abstractkid_.Guest bios:.AJ (they/he) is a Black non-binary queer multidisciplinary artist, and founder of ‘Beat For The Gxds’—a creative make-up space for Black non-binary people. Instagram/Soundcloud: @Non_binoiry.ZAND (they/them) is a non-binary recording artist and producer. Their Ugly Pop EP is available for streaming across Spotify, iTunes, and more. Instagram: @ihatezand.Instagrams of visual artists mentioned: @vinksart, @mypinkyourpink, @nancy_boy_erotica .Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Transcript:.INTRO MUSIC 0:00(Intro music plays, soft and jazzy)Arden Fitzroy  0:09  Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change.I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY.This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.Pete MacHale  0:58  Hi, I'm Pete, I use he/him pronouns.Kenya Sterling  1:00   Hi, I'm Kenya. I also use he/him pronouns. Pete MacHale  1:03  And this is our segment of the rise amplify podcast. And today we're bringing you a cool good trans sexy podcast… Kenya Sterling  1:11  Called Stitched and Strapped! Pete MacHale  1:13  Yeah! So on this episode, which is our first episode, we're looking at "the self" as in yourself, feel yourself, love thyself, the one to one, the solo experience. Kenya Sterling  1:24  And in this episode, we're going to be talking about our trans bodies and our relationships to them. Pete MacHale  1:30  Yeah, so we're gonna be talking about things like masturbation. toys, pornography, which reminds me Kenya, we do have a content warning. Kenya Sterling  1:37  Oh, yeah, we do. So we want this to be like informative and feel accessible, but we're talking about sex. And there might be some potentially graphic content since it's sex. So just a heads up with all that I'm not looking to get a phone call from anyone's mom and dad, because-Pete MacHale  1:56  I'm not trying to get a phone call from anyone's mom and dad, Unless, unless it's a hot dad, in which case, please tell your dad my number and tell them to give me a call.Kenya Sterling  2:05  Moving on! Much as we want this podcast to kind of like be for all trans people. And we're going to try and make it as inclusive as possible with the resources and topics but we the host both identify as trans mascs so. Pete MacHale  2:18  Yeah, so our personal knowledge and insight based on our experiences will probably lean towards the trans masculine camp. In this episode, we'll be highlighting some great trans creatives, discussing some art sharing some poetry, and then we'll be finishing off with a sexy trantham to send you all off into the night! But before we get into all that good stuff, Kenya, why are we doing this? Why is this podcast important? Kenya Sterling  2:43  Basically, I didn't have it, you know, and sex is confusing for cis people. For that it's important to have these resources and this information out there so that it can help to empower yourself, as trans people. You know, a lot of the trans narrative, it's not negative, but like, we often see trans people being told the sexy so I kind of want to change that.Pete MacHale  3:01  As well, I think as a general populace, as the human race has started to work past the stigma around things like sex and masturbation, you know, all the resources that I've seen for those things, they never seem to be trans friendly. But trans people are sexy, too. We like having sex too. We fart during sex to know those other things. Kenya Sterling  3:22  Just you're on that one mate, just you.Pete MacHale  3:24  YEAH OKAY, What I'm trying to say is trans people deserve sex positivity, it's really hard sometimes to feel like you can engage with, generally, sex positivity, when all of the people leading those conversations don't look like you or live like you or talk about the body parts that you have. So this is trans sex Kenya Sterling  3:43  By the trans,Pete MacHale  3:44  For the trans, all trans all good all go! Okay, so the first thing I think that we were going to talk about in this podcast is we just kind of wanted to set the tone with a bit of a chat about our relationships to our bodies, and whether that has kind of changed throughout transition. I don't know about you, Kenya, but I feel like my relationship to my body kind of pre medical transition was a pretty classic trans trope of... I hated it?! Um, I don't think connecting with my body was something I was very interested in prior to having access to things like hormones and surgery. The kind of simple answer to the question like, has my relationship to my body changed throughout transition would be ah-yes. Yes, as much better. I think, as my body gets closer to aligning with the way that I saw myself in my head through things like hormones and surgery, it feels a lot better, feels a lot easier to be able to go like, this is my body. This is the body that I have and feel comfortable with and want to explore. Rather than like, it's this alien thing my brain is stuck in and I don't want to like you know, I don't want to get to know it? I'm not gonna walk around, like, empty spooky spaceship, that's not mine?! But what about you? Kenya Sterling  4:55  Um, to be fair, like, I think you know, that's the difference between is you're quite... Later on in your in your transition where as I'm still... I'm a baby, you know, I think I came into the conclusion quite not late, I always knew there was something wasn't quite right. But I couldn't put my finger on it. And I think for me as well because as a person, I don't mind the sliding scale of femininity and masculinity, my relationship has changed since being on hormones in terms of like, my voice has gotten deeper, which actually makes me a lot more comfortable with the femininity that my body still has. Because I'm so earlier now I guess that makes sense.Pete MacHale  5:32  Yeah. Kenya Sterling  5:33  So I'm more like, like-Pete MacHale  5:35  It feels more like this, maybe this sounds really stupid, but it feels more comfortable enjoying the feminine aspects of yourself because they don't feel any more like they contradict your identity. Because you're like, well, there's other parts of my body that align with my masculinity so I can enjoy the feminine parts and it doesn't change that. Kenya Sterling  5:53  Yeah, absolutely. As well like as a person like I've, I've always been like really sporty and stuff anyway, so my figure has always been more quote unquote, masculine -Pete MacHale  6:03  Kenya's always been RIPPED! is what he's saying.Kenya Sterling  6:06  I'm not I'm not saying that I'm not you know, we're not going on the vanity train! That's not where I was going. Love yourself. You know, I mean love yourself!Pete MacHale  6:14  Yeah love thyself, love thyself. In the context in the context of the episode, I think the kind of more direct question is, has your relationship with self pleasure, and like, interactions with your own body changed during transition? Has it changed for like, the better for worse? Has it just changed? Kenya Sterling  6:30  It's changed for the better in terms of like, I feel like personally, like there's a lot of toys prior, but I wouldn't have looked at because I get dysphoric sometimes about like, the lower area, but then there's stuff that for like bottom growth, which if you don't know what that is, you go get a little peepee essentially,Pete MacHale  6:52  Hormones, testosterone treatment make makes you grow little penis...Kenya Sterling  6:58  Just little one. So it's, it's been kind of empowering to just have that and be like, wow, okay, like, this is a cool change. I enjoyed this. There's toys that I can use for this. So yeah. What about you?Pete MacHale  7:10  I mean, in alignment to what I said earlier, because I was so- I felt my own body was like so inhos- inhospitable in every way. Yes, is like the relationship with with myself and self pleasure has improved, because like, my ability to connect with my own body at all has improved and become like a positive thing. Although I would say there's still a whole, like maybe some internalised transphobia issues around my own body, which is kind of frustrating. Sometimes there's like, still some stuff I'm processing but certainly having, in the times where I do feel uncomfortable about my body, having some more like, obviously masculine elements that align with my masculine identity to kind of like connect to like, if I'm like, Oh, ahh, ew, eguh, having a vagina eugh! I can go Oh, you know, look at these other more masculine parts of myself, and I can kind of, I guess, yeah, like, I guess I can like romant

Pip and Destiny explore the ups and downs of the London creative arts scene, and introduce Creating Dangerously. Joined by multidisciplinary artist Mandisa Apena..Please note this episode contains discussions of misgendering, ableism, trauma, homophobia, transphobia, and racial profiling..Host Bios:.Destiny Adeyemi (they/them) is a poet. They are a Slambassadors 2018 Winner, a member of The Octavia Poetry Collective and was in the 18/19 Barbican Young Poets programme. They live in London performing at local open mics and poetry events. Instagram/Twitter: @poetryndestiny.Pip Fenton-Cripps (they/them) is a non-binary creative specialising in the field of East Asian and Japanese Studies. They were awarded the Frederick Richter Memorial Prize for Meritorious Work in the field of East Asian Arts, Music and Literature in 2019. Pip is also a digital artist, exploring synthesis of classic shōjo with darker elements. Instagram: @hello_cactus_flower .Guest Bio:.Mandisa Apena is a part-time vegan from South London. They work in poetry, sound and visuals. They are founder are host of poetry: hot 4 u. Their poetry collection ‘and twice as bitter’ was published in 2016. Instagram: @trashhhhash, Twitter: @archaicisms.Rosie Mills Eckmire is an artist and curator from South London. She is interested in the therapeutic properties of creativity and enabling art to be accessible for all. Instagram: @rosieldn, Twitter:@teenagegma.Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Links and references:.London Plant Exchange for Black Solidarity on FacebookDJ Freedem: @FREEDDDEM on Twitter and @djfreedem  on InstagramTurf Projects Croydon: https://turf-projects.com/Subject to Change: New Horizons: https://sites.barbican.org.uk/newhorizons/#section-IyNblDZKnO.Transcript:.Arden: Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change.I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.Pip: Hello, everybody. On this episode of amplify, we're bringing you Creating Dangerously with me, Pip.Destiny: And me, Destiny. This is a podcast where we platform emerging artists talk about the art we're loving, and discuss the difficulties of creating art in these hostile times.Pip: And hostile times they are indeed. But given this is our first episode, we wanted to take just a little bit of time to introduce ourselves and really set the foundations that this project is going to grow from. So this episode will be interviewing an emerging artist asking them about their work and their connection to different creative and cultural spaces in London. Hopefully, we'll be getting a little snippet of their work as well. So watch out for that.Destiny: We've got a lot in store for you, me and Pip: will be hosting artistic check-ins each episode, where we'll discuss topics relating to what it's like living the arts in London, and maybe even discuss some of the art we've been consuming at the moment. It's going to be our own cosy creative corner.Pip: I'm very excited about the artist check-ins. But in light of that, D, you want to start us off with a little self introduction?Destiny: More than happy to I'm Destiny, they/them. I'm a fat black queer poet. I'm currently studying and grinding in this London. I'm really interested in political poetry, social change, sci-fi, cartoons and baking to just throw it all in there. And I guess I'm just excited to like, discuss all the art we've consumed during the pandemic.Pip: Yes, living in London surely is a grind. But I know Destiny. And I know that they're very humble and aren't plugging themselves as much as they should be. But that's what I'm here for. Destiny: No, I'm not.Pip: Never are, never are. Everyone check out Fat, Black and Sad on the Barbican website right now or after you finish listening. Our friend Sumayyah did all the filming and editing and it really showcases some of D's incredible poetry. But hello, I’m Pip my pronouns are they/them. I'm a non-binary queer tucked away in a little corner of London. At the moment, I'm just trying to get through my final year at uni during the absolute wildness that is the COVID pandemic. I studied Japanese language and culture. But I do some digital art on the side which I will be plugging later. So watch out. Even though my main life focus is language and cultures, the London art scene really does just have a special place in my heart. In my experience, it's been a really welcoming and dynamic community for me, and I've made some incredible friends and connections just showing up to events.Destiny: Yeah, you're right. The London art scene can be really exciting. And it has some amazingly talented people. And I think that's what makes it more sad, like the lack of support for the artistic community. It's unfortunate because it's a space for growth and exploration. I remember in the middle of lockdown seeing the government's reskilling campaign, and it had this ballerina and it said, Fatima's next job could be in cyber. Just seeing how blatantly undervalued the arts are is just like really sad. And I think that heavily related to the inspiration of this podcast.Pip: Yeah, trust. It was such a blatant push towards tech overall. And yeah, I hate it made my skin crawl. But yes, we did actually struggle for quite a while deciding what to call this podcast, especially for me, like, I'm not really great at naming things. But I was super happy with the name that we landed on. I do have to give credit to my older sister because she introduced us to this essay by Camus that just like, perfectly hit on what we were both feeling about the arts at that time. Like, deep in the middle of lockdown. Watching the government just tear into the arts and seeing all of our plans and all of our social lives just melting.Destiny: Honestly, that's like really true. The name of the podcast comes from Camus’s essay called Create Dangerously, where he's lamenting how society was receiving art in his day. And a quote that really stood out to us was the outflanked by artists of today concerns the necessity of their art, hence their very existence. It's this idea of society completely undervaluing art. And that causes artists self-doubt, doubting if art really matters when it's necessary to question, teach, disrupt and reflect.Pip: Yeah, 100% like, yeah, I mean, how many times in your life have you heard that art isn't a real career? Destiny: Oh, so many times, so many times Pip: So many times, despite the fact that every human made thing that we interact with has been designed by an artist or a team of artists at some point. And this instability and undervaluing of our in society that Camus was really stressing about is still so systemic today, despite it being completely misguided. And I really do think can we said it best when he highlighted that the basic principle of free creation is the artists’ faith in themselves. And so that's what we want to highlight on Creating Dangerously, we want to create a platform for emerging artists to showcase and explore their work to feel like their expression is valid, and a space free from the weight of social media clout and societal expectations.Destiny: And that perfectly encapsulates it. So over the course of Creating Dangerously, me and Pip are going to be interviewing emerging artists, asking about how they create and the threads of pull this creativity together. And some episodes, we might just talk to our artist selves.Pip: Basically, we're trying to create a little audible map of the current London art scene for you folks tuning in. Destiny:  Exactly.Pip:  But you know, like, what always really baffled me when I went to events about London was just the sheer number of ridiculously talented people here. And how if you really get platformed, how few really get the chance to sit down and explore that are in a comfortable non-judgmental space that they can really just carve out for themselves. So that's what me and D want to do. We love you arts London, and we want to give you back just a little bit of space.Destiny:  So yeah that actually perfectly segues into the first artistic checking of craving dangerously, where me and Pip check-in on what we've been getting up to, or seeing in the art scene. Kinda like a maintenance report covering our art, current discussions and other random interesting art things. For our first episode, and because we're setting the scene, I wanted to ask you what the art scene means to you, Pip?Pip:  Okay, well, the London art scene is kind of where I gained a lot of my confidence and first felt like a sense of belonging in a group. I had a pretty bad time making friends as a kid because I don't know I’m a little bit strange. You know, you can vouch for that. Destiny:  Yeah, yes I can.Pip:  I'm not super socially awkward or anything. Or at least overtly. I'm not overtly socially awkward. But yeah, people just get a bit confused by the things I say. And I always thought when I went to university, was surrounded by people who would just as passionate about Japanese and Japanese culture and studying as I was that I find my people, but no, I was very, very wrong. I was very much wrong and I did not fit in. But that is where I met you. Actually know I met you at your poetry event round. Much before then, was actually much before. And you did not remember me? No, no, you did. No, I met destiny. Poetry then complimented that poetry. They had amazing green hair at the time, looked sick. And I went up to them. I was like, wow, your purchase so amazing. It really spoke to me. And Destiny was baffled.Destiny:  Because I was very co

Queer hosts Niamh and Maia talk writing practices, and being inspired by unrequited love and toothpaste tubes. Joined by poet Connor Byrne..Please note this episode contains explicit language and sexual references. .Host bios:.Niamh Haran (they/them) is a queer non-binary poet/writer from North London. They are a Roundhouse Poetry Collective alumnus with poems in Bath Magg, Perverse, The Interpreter’s House, The Babel Tower Notice Board and Ink Sweat & Tears among others. They are currently doing an English BA at King’s College London. Twitter: @niamhjerrie Instagram: @niamh.haran.Maia Yolanda Wagener (she/they) is a Dutch/Indian writer and student living in London. An English major, Maia enjoys writing poetry and plays, and hopes to combine academia and playwriting. Twitter: @maiaywagener Instagram: @m.wagener.s.Guest bio:.Connor Byrne is a poet from Brighton, living in London. They write a lot about being queer and trans, and their relationship to others and the world around them. They are a member of the Roundhouse Poetry Collective 2019-21. Twitter: @conrbyrne.Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Links and references:.Connor Byrne, ‘I am once again going to the big Sainsbury’s just to feel something’ https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/blog/2021/03/we-have-never-seen-something-like-this-poetry-by-the-roundhouse-poetry-collective/Maia Wagener, ‘Clavicle Hammock’ https://stoneofmadnesspress.com/maia-wagenerNiamh Haran, ‘calcium surplus’ https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/blog/2021/03/we-have-never-seen-something-like-this-poetry-by-the-roundhouse-poetry-collective/We Want It All: An Anthology of Radical Trans Poetics, ed. by Andrea Abi-Karam and Kay GabrielGertrude Stein, ‘Susie Asado’ https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46476/susie-asado.Transcript:.Arden: Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change. I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.Niamh: Hello everybody and welcome to Amplify's second episode of the Niamh and Maia show where we Niamh... Maia: and Maia...Niamh: Will be talking about queer stuff.Maia: We will this episode be talking about some queer poetry, talking about our own influences and processes of writing, as well as interviewing the very, very talented queer poet Connor Byrne. But for now, Niamh, how are you?Niamh: I’m good. We've just been hanging out with our gay neighbours in the garden.Maia: Oh we have.Niamh: And we've got a kitten everybody!Maia: We do. Jerry.Niamh: Which we didn't have last episode, when we were recording so yeah Jerry is a little kitten. She is a little monster.Maia: Before we get on to talking about some poetry. Anyone who's at home, grab yourself a nice coffee, a nice tea a glass of water hydrate yourself.Niamh: Hydrate yourself!Maia: If you're on the tube, have a look around you take a moment to observe, look at who's next to you don't look too hard, you know, don't want to offend anyone. But we will be back with you shortly. Maia: Welcome back everyone, hopefully you have a nice coffee or tea in hand, we're now going to be talking about some poetry that we've read recently, or that has resurfaced for us. Is there anything that's caught your eye lately, Niamh?Niamh: Well I recently bought this anthology, which is called, we want it all, an anthology of radical trans poetics and it's edited by Kay Gabriel and Andrea Abi-Karam. I haven't actually dug into it as much as I would have liked to yet but it's because it's quite thick and I'm just waiting until coursework's over I can start reading for pleasure again without the threat of deadlines but it looks really really good, and I've had a lot of people speak about it in a really good way, and it seems quite kind of experimental. So really looking forward to that. I recently read Frannie Choi's collection soft science which is a really really great collection, particularly there was this poem in there called on the election night, which is basically the speaker masturbating on election night, it's just a really great poem. And I also have re read, Sean Hewitt's tongues of fire which is his first collection, he's a queer Irish poet, and that is an amazing collection. It really is really really good and it's just very relaxing for me to read, and I'd love to be able to write like that, you know, especially about nature and I don't even really think of him as a nature poet, but obviously a lot of what he talks about is in the natural world, but yeah. Very interesting. What about you?Maia: Yeah, I've read a few things for one of my classes actually that I've really enjoyed reading, particularly a poem by Gertrude Stein called Susie Asado, a poem a poem of hers that I hadn't read before, but it's very sensory and there's very little meaning. The meaning is not the most important part of the poem. It's like a soundscape really, you really get into the body of Gertrude Stein, last thing for this answer, and it's very powerful and very assured and I really enjoy reading, And I would like to write like that.Niamh: Very interesting, sounds nice. Oh yeah and that poem by Franny Choi is called On The Night of the Election. Maia: Lovely, be sure to check it out, we'll link it in the show notes.Niamh: The thing is it's just like it's so easy to kind of get all these collections and get all these books and just not read them, especially at the moment it's like, well I think that kind of lockdown was providing me with kind of all this time to read, and actually I feel I've got so much to get through.Maia: Yeah, I get what you mean, there's just been books and books and collections that have piled up over the last like yeah, having to read for uni means that there's little time to read for pleasure and while reading is, often pleasurable if you're reading like essays and reports it's not not that fun necessarily.Niamh: I think it's just because you know you're going to be graded on. Maia: Yeah. What about anything that you've written recently, is there anything that you feel encapsulate your voice?Niamh: There's a poem I wrote a while ago, which is published in the Roundhouse poetry collectives anthology called, we have never seen something like this, and you should definitely check it out because they're all great poets, and there's such an eclectic group of voices that emerge there, and my poem is called calcium surplus and as I'm saying that. I'm reminded that the fact that I needs to go to the bloody dentist. I need to go to the hygienists to get my wisdom teeth checked because they've been killing my mouth recently but anyway, um, so this is actually a sonnet, because it is 14 lines, although that was not on purpose at first, and it's actually for Maia, for you. Yeah so I read that for you. Calcium surplus. My index finger is milky green from the ring you gave me, haven't brushed our teeth for two days and this is my only chance to experience calcium surplus. Luckily, my sister gave us a seal bag of toothpaste from her tube. If that's not familial love I don't know what it is. But my love for you is as thick as sunblock as clear as antihistamine, perhaps the least of those now that plants, you've got me mean something about nurturing the self, because I think I look after you, just fine. Maia: How lovely. Because it's about me. Niamh: Yeah, lovely, these things actually did happen by the way, this is not, you know total fiction. My sister did give us a sealed bag of toothpaste from her tube.Maia: Yeah, in Stuttgart we went to visit her and didn't have toothpaste, of course, so she gave us a Ziplock bag of Colgate toothpaste, and we spent the week, sticking our toothbrush in that ziplock bag.Niamh: Yeah, I mean we're not very prepared I think it's quite funny because actually also that poem. For me, when we went to see her. It was like so she was doing her year abroad there and working and I was just like, oh my god like she's such an adult, you know, like what what are we doing just kind of moving around and, yeah, it kind of hurt, even just kind of having a tube of toothpaste, not kind of like very adult thing, or so it seems to be so I feel like that kind of came in there as well. And while we were there in Germany, I did have various kind of allergic reactions and I was very sensitive to certain creams, I think. And so you had to give me some antihistamine tablets and things like that.Maia: You say allergic I say eczema.Niamh: Eczema, you say allergic, I say eczema Maia: allergicNiamh: Eczema, and also those plants that you got me, these two plants. Last year in January, and they just died.Maia: They did very much die. Yeah, but I do I do really love that poem I think it's, it's a really great way to show you and the way you're like, I love your poetry because of how fragmented, it is. It's like all these moments and memories. Kind of fitted together, and they don't necessarily always seem related but they always work. Niamh: Thank you very much, so do you want to read something as well? Maia: Sure, yeah, I'll read a poem called clavicle hammock, which was inspired by well I actually wrote it in the first lockdown, I was thinking I'm often thinking about Anne Carson's Autobiography of Red, and...Niamh: It does worry me. Maia: I think I recommend it to many people. I was thinking about it a lot, and I was also thinking about Plato's Allegory of the Cave and something connected both of them in my mind. Niamh: First of all, how do you say, alle-Maia: allegory that's how I say I think a lot of people say allegory.Niamh: I think it is allegory, but when I read it allegory, when I read it in my h

Pip and Destiny talk terminology, queer art, and She-Ra. Joined by the poetry of Phoebe Wagner..Please note this episode contains discussions of biphobia, bi erasure, compulsory heterosexuality and homophobia. There are also spoilers for She-Ra. .Host Bios:.Destiny Adeyemi (they/them) is a poet. They are a Slambassadors 2018 Winner, a member of The Octavia Poetry Collective and was in the 18/19 Barbican Young Poets programme. They live in London performing at local open mics and poetry events. Instagram/Twitter: @poetryndestiny.Pip Fenton-Cripps (they/them) is a non-binary creative specialising in the field of East Asian and Japanese Studies. They were awarded the Frederick Richter Memorial Prize for Meritorious Work in the field of East Asian Arts, Music and Literature in 2019. Pip is also a digital artist, exploring synthesis of classic shōjo with darker elements. Instagram: @hello_cactus_flower.Guest bio:.Phoebe Wagner (she/her) is a poet and theatremaker from Croydon. Her debut poetry pamphlet 'The Body You're In' was published with Bad Betty Press in 2019. She runs Crep Project, an arts collective that explores trainer culture with young working-class people. Instagram: @crep.project.Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Links and references: .Two Twos podcast. Instagram: @twotwospodcastPatrick Hemington, artist. Spotify/SoundCloud: PATRICIUS Instagram: @pxtricius.Transcript:.Arden: Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change. I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY. This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms. Destiny:  Hey, and welcome back to the second episode of Creating Dangerously with me, Destiny.Pip:  Me, Pip. I'm super excited for this episode to be honest because we're talking about all things queer. Destiny:  Yes, this is a topic very dear to our hearts. So the both of us will be enough. Think of this as an extended artistic check-in.Pip:  Yes, yes, yes, we're hijacking this entire operation, queerness is super important to me. And I felt like it's been pretty big in your life too Destiny.Destiny:  It is. But don't worry, we'll still be giving you some amazing work from an amazing LGBT artist Phoebe Wagner. Born and raised in London.Pip:  Oh yes, people who know me know that I'm a big fan of Phoebe.Destiny:  But let's start things off by saying the scene of our queerness by talking about what we both identify with, the terms we use, and why.Pip:  Yes, as queer creatives in London, I think it's a great place to start. Personally, I'm a massive fan of the term Queer. Like, I know that as with a lot of terms, when it comes to identity queer is very contested as a label, and it holds a lot of different things for a lot of different people. So I think it's really important to respect that for some members of the community, the term is triggering. But for me, a gen Z, who came out like a decade ago when I was 13. Queer acts is a really nice broad shortcut to let people know that I'm anything but straight and cis without having to get super personal super fast.Destiny:  Honestly, I agree with your last point because the vagueness and conciseness are really helpful. I like the labelsenby and bi but I mostly use queer because it's easier not having to disclose all of my intersections of sexuality and gender. I just don't really have to explain. And I also appreciate the political nature of it.Pip:  Yes, the political nature of it is really liberating in some ways. But also in other ways. For me, it just feels right. Like I said, I came out like a decade ago, and I've spent a lot of time trying different labels out and trying to settle on what felt right. And you know, first off I identified as a lesbian, bi, pan, but queer is the one that feels the most comfortable in everyday situations. When I'm with like, other queer people, you know, I'll go like enby lesbian, I feel that you know, I love the, the I love this the way it sounds, I love how it works for me, but I'm not always in the mood to have a conversation with with every straight cis person to tell them how I can be nonbinary and lesbian.Destiny:  Nonbinary and lesbian yeah!Pip:   So these are it's just, you know, so queer is just like, yes, I'm gay. Shut up, leave me alone. You know? And it does. It does also feel like when you use the word queer, you make old conservative people uncomfortable by reclaiming the term, you know what I mean.Destiny:  lol yeah,  I get what you’re saying, and that is always a good thing. But how do you and your gender and your pronouns really fit into this?Pip:  Well, in terms of gender, I think, you know, we both discussed last episode that we we both use they them pronouns, and I identify as non-binary. But I did just want to throw it out there for some people listening that people who use they them pronouns aren't necessarily non-binary, and some non-binary people, use she/her, and he/him or neo-pronouns. For me, it's all about feeling out the spectrum, finding the space that I feel most comfortable in, you know, and, for example, I am non-binary, but I actually really, really like it when my girlfriend calls me her girlfriend, it feels so overtly queer to me, like we're both very femme presenting. So it feels like a statement of the very gay fact of our relationship, you know, it just makes me happy. I love the overt gayness of the term girlfriend. And I don't know it sits well with me. I'm not a big fan of partner, but what about you D like in terms of your gender and your sexuality like because they are very distinct things like how does that fit you?Destiny:  I think that like I also really loved your point about like cis people using different pronouns because I think that is really important in like detaching the notions of like gender and pronouns. But I think I'm completely different because I love using partner like being referred to as a partner it just feels like there's something theatrical about it like we're two queer cowboys against the world!Pip:  Yes, campy as shit! Yes, I love the image of you and your partner in full cowboy getup, pistols, whips, the whole shebang, Destiny, imagining you in chaps and cow print is something that I didn't know I needed. But if Halloween comes around and we are out of lockdown and I don't see it.Destiny:  Very disappointed…Pip:   You can catch these hands by all means.Destiny:  Honestly, I love that. Like, I think it's important for me to like find language that fits and feels affirming or give me euphoria even if that means checking in with myself and changing.Pip:  Yeah, well, I mean, people never really stopped growing and changing. And it's cool that you've embraced that in your exploration of gender and sexuality, you know. And, like, for me, I tend to look to you Destiny is like a creative role model in some ways. And I'm kind of curious about how gender and sexuality fits into your identity as a creative like, if at all.Destiny:  The key thing that fits into my creativity, that I think I learned from gender and sexuality is exploration, and being open to not being fixed at any point in time, especially because like, I think my nonbinariness will probably get involved a bit later on, because it's quite fresh. It's quite new. It's quite nascent. And I'm still quite vulnerable with it. But—Pip:   Trust.Destiny:  In terms of my journey with like bisexuality, I think that's pretty much taught me to just not think that I'm any one thing for too long. And like, not feel like the things that people forced onto me are the things that I am. What about you?Pip:  You know, I don't really know. Because I think I think that I was very resistant for a very long time about letting queerness play any kind of active role in my life. And that included, you know, the types of things I chose to study, the types of things I chose to do, I was very resistant to joining queer groups. And I haven't fully unpacked all of that yet, or why that is, but I think it's so much of it is a lot of compulsory heterosexuality, a lot of internalised homophobia, a lot of internalised transphobia, that I'm still, I'm still having to work through, you know, and it's tiring, it's hard. It's, it's difficult to be confronted with your own problematic behaviour. But I'm really grateful that you know, I have people in my life that are willing to confront me with that behaviour and be like, Yo, this thing you're doing, like, I'm not trying to shit on you, but like, this thing you're doing is like not right. And I think you would benefit from doing XYZ and it's always so helpful. And, you know, and that's something like for people listening, like, even if you're part of the community does not, you know, it does not automatically absolve you of being problematic. Destiny:   Yeah.Pip:   So I think, because I've never like really, until recently, and this is through a lot of validation that you've given me Destiny, and because I haven't, like really identified with my with my creativity is something that I'm allowed to own. You know, like, I can say that I'm a creative I can say that I make things. Okay, we've been making a podcast, that's creative. Yeah.Destiny:  DefinitelyPip:  But I never let myself have that, you know, it was always like, I just do this. I draw, drawing my whole life, but it's like, I just do it. It's not me. I'm not good enough, whatever. So I think like you were saying with your gender like it's still super, super early days for me. Destiny:  Yeah.Pip:   Despite the fact that these, so I think I haven't claimed that yet. You know, but it's an exciting journey. And I like the community.

Resources for sex education and positivity often leave trans people out of the conversation, so let’s have a chat amongst ourselves! Stitched and strapped: sex, pleasure, and trans joy. Here we focus on relationships with others..Please note this episode contains discussions of sex and masturbation, mentions of transphobia, discussion of medical transition,  and mention of drug use..Host bios:.Pete MacHale (he/him) is a creative from Bristol, based in London. He trained at the AUB, and acts and writes for stage and screen. Recent credits include Dungarees (2019), Gangs of London (2020) and his debut solo show Dear Young Monster,  currently in development with The Queer House. Instagram: @peteyparty_.Kenya Sterling (he/him) is an actor and creative, studying at Rose Bruford. He has experience with the Royal Exchange Young Company and ALT Actors. Recent credits include ‘Liam’ in TUC’s trans awareness film, and I AM at Ovalhouse. His debut poetry collection ‘19 Years Of Skin’ is out now. Instagram: @abstractkid_.Guest bios:.Gabriella Davies (she/her) is a 29 year old artist. She has been published by Montez Press and was a recipient for the Montez Press Writers Grant 2020, and was selected for the Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2020. Instagram: @gobby.divvies .Felix Mufti-Wright (he/him) is a British-Maltese activist, performer, and writer. He co-founded Transcend Theatre. He is an organiser for Trans Pride Liverpool, and Transgender Day of Remembrance. Instagram: @felixmufti.Campbell King is a musician and writer. Campbell King is published with RAISE Zine, and is behind the “If I was your boyfriend” Zine, both published through Fem Zine London. Instagram: @campbell_king_ Bandcamp: campbellking.bandcamp.com.Produced by Arden Fitzroy (they/them) @ArdenFitzroy.The RISE Collective Website: www.therisecollective.org.ukTwitter: @RiseAmplify Instagram: @therisecollectiveuk.Music: Pembroke.Transcript:.Intro music 0:00  MUSICAL INTRO (soft jazzy music, Arden speaks over the top)Arden Fitzroy  0:09  Everybody welcome! You’re listening to the AMPLIFY podcast, brought to you by The RISE Collective. We champion creatives and build collectives at the forefront of social change.I’m Arden Fitzroy, Lead Producer, and this is Queer Joy, the second series of AMPLIFY.This series was created by the next generation of creative leaders and changemakers. These are our own stories, on our own terms.Pete MacHale  1:05  Hi, I'm Pete, I use he/him pronouns. Kenya Sterling  1:07  And I'm Kenya I also use he him pronouns.Pete MacHale  1:10  And this is Episode Two of our segment of the RISE: Amplify podcastKenya Sterling  1:14  Stitched and Strapped!Pete MacHale  1:16  Hello to all of the new listeners. And hello again, to those of you who heard episode one and came back for seconds.Kenya Sterling  1:21  So last time, we looked at the self, but today, the theme of our episode is "others."Pete MacHale  1:27  Yeah, so yourself and others, sexy, sexy others, which reminds me Kenya, once again, we have a content warning.Kenya Sterling  1:35  Yep, of course. So you know, we always want this information to feel accessible, but we need to give you all like a heads up. So we're talking about sex, and there might be some potentially graphic content.Pete MacHale  1:46  Yeah, and just like Episode One, as much as we want this podcast to be for all trans people, and we will try to ensure that we're being inclusive in the topics and resources that we cover, please know that we both the host identify as trans masc-Kenya Sterling  1:58  so our personal knowledge and insight will probably lean a bit more towards that camp.Pete MacHale  2:02  Yeah! So for this episode, we are going to be talking about what it's like to be a trans person navigating sex in all its glory, in all sorts with others. Kenya Sterling  2:12  So we've got hookups relationships first times and all that other stuff. We'll be discussing the theme throughout the episode, as well as showing work from amazing trans creatives, our poetry and then this week sexy Tranthem to send you off into the night.Pete MacHale  2:26  Great. So he is stitched and strapped, episode two, others. And once again, it's trans sex-Kenya Sterling  2:33  By the trans-Pete MacHale  2:34  for the trans all trans, all good, all go! Music  2:39  MUSICAL TRANSITION (soft jazzy music)Pete MacHale  2:42  So we are talking about sex with other people in this episode. I feel like it might be good to break the ice with something funny to do with sex, because everyone always gets a bit awkward about talking about sex. And you know, like, obviously, we did episode one. And it was I mean, wanking, which... usually people are more open about that! But I just think it's good to break the ice with something funny. So Kenya, do you have a funny sexy story? Kenya Sterling  3:08  Um, so it's not like a funny sexy story. But I constantly have this thing where I'm perceived as a bit of a catfish. Like, I look, I'm pretty sure I look the same as in my pictures. But people see my images on Instagram. And they think I'm like really confident really sexually forward really like Yeah, let's do this. And they meet me in person. I'm actually like, incredibly awkward. To the point where I'm like, I ask, like, Can I kiss you? Can I do this? And the persons just like-Pete MacHale  3:40  I wouldn't say that awkward. I think that's just polite. I think that's nice-Kenya Sterling  3:45  The other person is always like, Oh, I thought you were going to be really forward and I'm just like, simping and, and trying to, you know, do the most,Pete MacHale  3:53  I suppose the other thing is as well as like, you're like, You're like a handsome, handsome young man. Kenya Sterling  3:58  Thank you!Pete MacHale  3:58  Welcome. And obviously, like you're quite good at taking like a nice photo of yourself. So I can definitely see people like seeing your dating profile, or like seeing your photos and apps or whatever and being like, oh, surely not gonna be not gonna be as good in real life?Kenya Sterling  4:16  Yeah, literally.Pete MacHale  4:17  But you are!Kenya Sterling  4:18  I'm just I'm just so goofy like I am, you know, like, I look the same, but I think my personality doesn't match quote, unquote, what people perceive it to be, which is always jarring for them for some reason. Yeah, but what about you?Pete MacHale  4:28  Fair enough. So it's less of like a singular like one off story. And moreover, like my foray into... my foray into casual sex. Um, before I started sleeping with people casually I'd only slept with one person. And the first few people who I slept with I'd say probably the first, I'm going to betray myself here, the first like five people? I slept with casually they all had really massive penises like Kenya Sterling  4:51  Wow. Pete MacHale  4:52  Very big Kenya Sterling  4:52  That's a lot to deal with. For anybody.Pete MacHale  4:54  The problem was, because that I had no frame of reference. So I just was like, Is this how big All penises have been the whole time? And I just was, I don't know, low balling for lack of a better word. How big I thought they might be over like a significant amount of time. I was like, wow, dicks are huge. They're just massive. Maybe I'm really small? I don't know. Kenya Sterling  5:17  God, I love that.Pete MacHale  5:18  Yeah, then I like had some, I had a dalliance with somebody have kind of like average size. And I was like, AH! AH! Kenya Sterling  5:27  So this is what they're like?Pete MacHale  5:28  This is- may be, is this what people were talking about? I don't know. That's less a funny story about like sex and more just like me being stupid, but I thought it was a bit of a lolKenya Sterling  5:36  I mean, honestly, I feel like it's a shocker. You know, it can be an intimidating moment, if it's quite big. And you're like, Oh, okay. Pete MacHale  5:44  Yeah, I do think there's a lot of talk about, like, people wanting someone to be big dancers. But I am a firm believer in the boyfriend dick, which is just right! You know? Kenya Sterling  5:54  Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I get you.Pete MacHale  5:55  I think that, um, but I mean, like, off off the back of that, that was clearly something I didn't know, going into navigating casual sex. Is there anything that you wish that you'd known? I mean, navigating sex as a trans person? Is there anything that you know now, that you wish baby Kenya had known when you first started sleeping with other people as a trans, as a trans identified person?Kenya Sterling  5:56  I think the first thing that I wish I would have known is that, like, T4T, is like a big thing, which is like- Pete MacHale  6:15  Yeah! Kenya Sterling  6:15  Trans for trans. And I feel like that would have been a lot of smoother, you know, introduction to kind of like, the casual scene, because in my experiences, there's been a lot more care in those situations, not - you know, credit to cis guys or whatever. Like, some of them have been really caring as well?Pete MacHale  6:45  Credit to some cis guys, you aren't shit.Kenya Sterling  6:47  Yeah! You know, but I think like, knowing that was a whole thing, which I could have dived into straight away and figured out and, and quote, unquote, made mistakes. But yeah, no, oh, my God, I didn't. I knew what douching was. Okay. Pete MacHale  7:02  OH NO.Kenya Sterling  7:02  I knew this, right. So the first time I did anal was with like, my first boyfriend. And I didn't. Because I didn't know but obviously later down the line, I've learned that it's a thing, but I was like, wow, I really gonna have to do this. How do people do the you know, the one night stand that I wish I knew how people did that. I think I don't know. Still.Pete MacHale  7:24  I, to be candid, I certainly went through a period of time where I was like... God, this is so stupid. I used to just be so scared about it. I was like, I'm just not gonna eat anything for the entire day before.Kenya Ste

AMPLIFY: The Podcast is back for a third season! This year, 8 emerging creatives will be looking ahead, exploring alternative visions of the future and diving into revolutionary ideas of what’s to come 🔮From seeking solutions in indigenous knowledge, to exploring reimagined worlds - we’re so excited to introduce you to our Emerging Futures 🌎INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollectivewww.therisecollective.org.uk

In the first episode of our Emerging Futures series, Britny Virginia and Miss Jacqui discuss navigating the ups and downs of the creative industries as black, disabled women. Exploring representation, tokenism and creativity via cheesy jokes, creative exercises, music, poetry and more! .Britny Virginia is a poet, writer, director and all-round creative. She was born with Cerebral Palsy on the sunny island of St. Lucia, raised in America, and currently resides in the UK. Her work is deeply influenced by her faith, culture and disability. Her achievements include curating the first-ever disabled-led scratch night called Centre Stage for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (Sept 2022), & self-published author: ‘So, I’ll Stay, Sitting With You.’ (Oct 2019).Miss Jacqui is a poet, songwriter, artist and truth-teller. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves..INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Britny Virginia (she/her) @britnyvirginiaa and Miss Jacqui (she/her) @iammissjacqui.Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

In the second episode of our Emerging Futures series, Geneva Virasami explores music’s unique ability to inspire change. Discussing sustainability, indigenous knowledge, corporate greenwashing and the power of unity through music, poetry and discussion..Special guests include:.BaoBao Chen & Tim Cole, co-founders of the Small Island Big Song project which unites 100 musicians across 16 island nations on the Pacific and Indian oceans. They join us to discuss their project, ethos and creative journey as well as share some of their work..Chantelle Lunt is a writer, public speaker, entrepreneur, and anti-racist activist. She is the founder of Merseyside BLM Alliance (MBLMA), co-founder of the Kill The Bill coalition and chairs the Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality. She joins us to share her poem, ‘Pass The Mic’..Michael Stanton is a musician and composer whose work is inspired by a love for nature and ancestral wisdom, tapping into folk traditions from across the globe..Mahesh Parkar is a multi-instrumentalist, mainly playing the piano and tabla. A part of the Grand Union Orchestra (GUO), he is also a member of The Re:Generation Band..About Your Host:.Geneva Virasami is a British-Mauritian journalist and producer dedicated to empowering young people through liberationist politics. She learnt from London’s grassroots activists volunteering at The Spark social justice festival, and demonstrating with such groups as UK Black Lives Matter and Sisters Uncut. She has worked in TV broadcast, online, and radio news and is currently studying Public History.  .INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Geneva Virasami (she/her) and produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) on behalf of the RISE Collective (Registered Charity: 1168856)

In the third episode of our Emerging Futures series, written by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater, we delve into a post-collapse world. In this, the first of a two-part series, we explore life in barren countryside - or what remains of it.  .Jack Clearwater is a writer, director and sound artist working across theatre, cabaret and ritual. He has performed at venues including Battersea Arts Centre, Somerset House, KILN Theatre and The Royal Academy of Arts as well as at the Lyric Hammersmith, where he was a member of the inaugural Lyric Ensemble..Daniel Grimston is a playwright, poet, actor and podcaster whose work centres an exploration of the borders between humanity and the natural world. Daniel has demonstrated with Extinction Rebellion and Right To Roam. He is currently working on his first full-length play, Corpselight..INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater.Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

This episode is all about pockets of JOY! In the second instalment of ‘Sippin’ on Black Girl Magic and Disabled Joy’, Britny Virginia and Miss Jacqui discuss navigating the ups and downs of the creative industries as black, disabled women. Exploring the meaning of joy, what it means to find joy in creativity, the importance of connection & more!.Britny Virginia is a poet, writer, director and all-round creative. She was born with Cerebral Palsy on the sunny island of St. Lucia, raised in America, and currently resides in the UK. Her work is deeply influenced by her faith, culture and disability. Her achievements include curating the first-ever disabled-led scratch night called Centre Stage for Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch (Sept 2022), & self-published author: ‘So, I’ll Stay, Sitting With You.’ (Oct 2019)..Miss Jacqui is a poet, songwriter, artist and truth-teller. She is someone who always tries to challenge societal perceptions, like what it actually means to be a black woman with a disability. A wheelchair user herself, Miss Jacqui wants her poetry and music to help her listeners to see the world differently, and to inspire others to feel confident in being themselves..INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Britny Virginia (she/her) @britnyvirginiaa and Miss Jacqui (she/her) @iammissjacqui.Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)

In the second episode of our Emerging Futures series, Geneva Virasami meets Shanice McBean to discuss abolition. Discover the history of abolitionist movements in the UK all the way up to the collectives of the present day as we explore systemic oppression, carcerality and collective power through discussion, poetry and music.  .Special guests include:.Shanice Octavia McBean is a Black writer and activist in Sisters Uncut. She grew up in Handsworth, Birmingham, before moving to Tottenham. Describing herself as a revolutionary and Afro-Marxist, she has also organised in anti-racist groups and trade unions. She is the co-author of Abolition Revolution: An introductory guide to the roots and contemporary context of, and resistance to carceral politics in Britain..Kemastry is a rap and spoken-word artist, activist and facilitator. He is signed to independent hip hop record label High Focus as part of CMPND, a Brighton based hybrid rap three piece, formed of members Kemastry, Wundrop & Vitamin G. Their latest album ‘Long Live The Court’ was released in 2022. .Tayah is a singer-songwriter. Born and raised in West London, Tayah is an artist at the fulcrum of an evolving R&B scene, making music that tells her story, her way. Having performed at The Southbank, Lovebox Festival, and Notting Hill Carnival, as well as airplay on UK radio, Tayah has garnered plaudits among her peers and audiences..About Your Host:.Geneva Virasami is a British-Mauritian journalist and producer dedicated to empowering young people through liberationist politics. She learnt from London’s grassroots activists volunteering at The Spark social justice festival, and demonstrating with such groups as UK Black Lives Matter and Sisters Uncut. She has worked in TV broadcast, online, and radio news and is currently studying Public History.  .INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Geneva Virasami (she/her) and produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) on behalf of the RISE Collective (Registered Charity: 1168856)

In the sixth episode of our Emerging Futures series, written by Daniel Grimston and Jack Clearwater, we delve into a post-collapse world. In 'City', the second of a two-part series, we tune in to a radio show set in a fallen city of the future....Jack Clearwater is a writer, director and sound artist working across theatre, cabaret and ritual. He has performed at venues including Battersea Arts Centre, Somerset House, KILN Theatre and The Royal Academy of Arts as well as at the Lyric Hammersmith, where he was a member of the inaugural Lyric Ensemble..Daniel Grimston grew up queer in rural Sussex. He is a playwright, poet, actor and podcaster whose work centres an exploration of the borders between humanity and the natural world. He is a graduate of the John Burgess Writing Course, Rikki Beadle Blair’s FIERCE Youth Programme and the Royal Court’s Intro To Playwriting. He trained as an actor at Oxford School of Drama, NYT and Theatre Peckham Rep, and was a founder and co-artistic director of Founding Fall Theatre. As a poet he has worked with the V&A, Apples and Snakes, and London Wildlife Trust, and is currently under commission as Poet-In-Non-Residence for the campaign group Right To Roam. His first play, Corpselight, just won the Theatre Royal Haymarket Masterclass Trust's Pitch Your Play Competition..INSTAGRAM - @therisecollectiveukFACEBOOK - @therisecollectiveukTWITTER - @r1secollective.www.therisecollective.org.uk.Hosted by Daniel Grimston (@daniel.grimston) and Jack Clearwater (@clearwaterclark).Produced by Amy Parkes (she/her) @aeparkes for The RISE Collective (Charity number: 1168856)