In this episode, we’re honored to feature the artist THEIA (she/her), a proud ‘wahine moe wahine’ (lesbian) from the Waikato-Tainui and Ngaati Tiipaa tribes of New Zealand. Theia shares her journey as an artist, and how her Māori upbringing and identity influenced her music and activism.

She shares her deep connection to her indigenous heritage, discussing the importance of language, traditional practices, and the concept of radical acceptance. She also examines self-care through the lense of culture, spirituality, and queerness. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

00:00 Embracing Radical Acceptance and Self-Care

00:35 Introducing the Hosts: A Celebration of Queer Identity

03:57 Exploring Intersectionality: Race, Culture, and Spirituality

04:36 The Power of Language and Tradition in Māori Culture

06:21 Understanding Incantations and Spiritual Practices

13:46 The Significance of the Haka in Māori Culture

19:29 Wellness Practices and Cultural Healing

28:14 Art, Activism, and the Impact of Colonialism

30:12 Navigating Identity and Culture Through Art

31:04 The Power of Performance in Community Spaces

34:36 Embracing Bilingualism in Music Projects

37:08 Upcoming Releases and the Importance of Language

37:42 Tour Dates and How to Stay Connected

40:09 Spotlighting Influential Māori Musicians

43:23 Closing Thoughts on Radical Acceptance and Self-Care

49:19 Final Blessings and Podcast Wrap-Up

FEATURED GUEST:

Theia (⁠@theiaofficialxo⁠) makes unapologetic, trailblazing bilingual (Māori language) alternative music! Staunchly independent and writing political, challenging anthems, the enigmatic artist who proudly represents her indigenous Māori heritage hails from Aotearoa, New Zealand and is now based in Los Angeles.

Theia has clocked up more than 17 million streams on Spotify alone and has earned critical acclaim from the likes of Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine, which described her as “one of the most exciting voices to emerge from New Zealand in the last five years”.

Theia’s now gearing up to release her debut album, which she revealed for the first time at the official LA Pride 2023 afterparty and headlining Sum Of Us festival in the Sierra Nevada mountains in September. In February she is playing the sold out Camp A Lo Hum, in March she is headlining Vancouver queer club night Babes On Babes and the prestigious WOMAD festival.

In April 2024 she is performing at Miami Beach Pride, in May she is performing at Belltown Bloom in Seattle. Theia is of the Waikato-Tainui and Ngaati Tiipaa tribes.

STAR SIGN : Libra

QUEER FUN FACT : “In my native language te reo Maaori, 'moe' means both 'to marry' and 'to sleep with' - our phrase for 'lesbian' is 'wahine moe wahine' which means 'a woman who marries or sleeps with women' - i think that's incredibly beautiful and tender."

WELLNESS RESOURCES:

Check out all the wellness resources mentioned on the podcast here.

THE TEAM:

Host: V (All Pronouns Accepted) ⁠@lovenessmonsta⁠

Executive Producer: Stevie Cua (All Pronouns Accepted) ⁠@steviesees⁠

Producer: Leah Jackson (She/Her) ⁠@djmsjackson⁠

Associate Producer: Raphaella Landestoy (She/Her) ⁠@la.vida.bruja14⁠

Music: Produced and Composed by ⁠BASK⁠ aka Eric Guizar Vasquez (He/Him)

CONNECT:

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@questwellnesspod⁠

Be a guest on the pod ⁠questwellnesspod@gmail.com⁠

Podcast is produced by pukapuka. Episode transcripts available by request ⁠questwellnesspod@gmail.com⁠.